Chapter 6

As Time Goes By

So that was that concert cancelled and a no show from the Princess. I slumped in my seat having my hopes of confessing my love for Ariel burst like a bubble. The flowers i was holding were now drooping. Everyone had left except for the orchestra who were angerly packing up their instruments. Gabriella and Ollie tried again to get me to go with them but i choose not to.

Ariel's sisters had been sent to their quarters by King Triton. Some of them giggled as they knew Ariel was in trouble. Only Sebastian remained on the stage. He remained there in slience before turning around spotting me "Urchin Mon, why are you still here? There will be no show today!" he cries towards me in disappointment. I look up towards him, letting out a breath eventually swimming out of my seat still holding the flowers i intended to give to Ariel.

"Sebastian, this is awful, i can imagine how embarrased you are!" i say to him as i sat on the edge of the stage beside him Sebastian hopped onto my tail "Oh Urchin the concert is ruined and destroyed! The King is furious that his daughter is not here! Who knows what he has instore for me!" he cries nervously. I watched as the little crab bites his claws "Would you like me to come and see the king with you?" i asked him.

Sebastian looks up at me "Thanks Urchin but i think i better face the music on my own! Wish me luck though" he says as he comes away from my tail. "Oh Urchin before i do face my possible death, do you have any idea were Ariel might be?" the crab asks me in concern "No sorry, i have no idea but i can certainly try and look for her for you?" i confidently say back. This time i was telling the truth, i didn't know where Ariel was but i was worried.

Sebastian agreed to my idea before swimming off "Oh Urchin, those flowers, were they for her?" he cheekly asks me. I look towards the droopy bunch of flowers that i had brought that were know lying on the floor beside me. I then answer him gentley and nervously "Ummmm yeah...they were...". "I'm sorry Urchin, looks like we are all have something to be disappointed about today" Sebastian simply says before swimming off towards the throne room to meet with King Triton.

The orchestra had now left and i was now alone as i sat on the edge of the stage. I look again towards the flowers feeling frustrated that i was unable to give them to Ariel today. I began to get angry, i was super ready to talk to her today but then it all turned to sea foam with her not appearing. Did Ariel really forget about the concert?. I began to wonder if she actually did attend the last remaining rehearsals like she promised me.

I lay down, with my face up towards the ceiling. Thoughts began to flow and my anger began to turn into worry. Maybe she forgotten. If i tell her dad that he would be furious! Then other thoughts came to me, maybe she got trapped while exploring a shunken ship or got into danger when visiting her seagull friend. There were so many possibilities but i had to standby our promise of not revealing to anyone where she had been lately.

I look at the flowers and started picking each petals off while still remaining layed down "Ohhh Ariel where are you?". I was beginning to feel quite miserable, missing yet another chance to express my feelings for her.

Soon the lights were starting to be switched off and it was getting dark outside. I hadn't realised the amount of time that had gone past while laying there as one of the palace guards came up to me "Sorry son, but you need to leave now" he gentley says to me. I sit up with the now fully petal-less bunch of flowers in my hand. He looked at me concernly and I ask him if the princess had returned yet "The princess has returned" he informs me.

My eyes lit up but before i could make a move in order to see her, the same guard stops me in my tracks "I'm sorry son but she is currently meeting with the king and they are not to be disturbed" he tells me. "That's ok, i'll wait for her!" i suggest to the guard but the guard wouldn't listen and kept asking me to leave the palace. I look at the petal-less bunch of flowers and toss them away in frustration, the guard then yells at me "Hey! You better clean that up young man" but i didn't listen and swam ever so fast away.

No matter what i tried to get to the throne room, i was being stopped by palace guards. I even tried to go to Ariel's bedroom only to be stopped by more guards. I soon give up and go home. As i head towards my cave, i go past Ariel's Secret Grotto on the way. I soon begin to hear a sweet melody and immeditately identified that it was Ariel's singing. She had returned alive and well.

I choose not to enter, i didn't want to disturb her beautiful song. Soon the song was finished ending in "Wish i could be part of that world". I must have been in total dreamland as her voice was always so enchanting because i soon begin to hear muffled booming sounds from up the surface. I look up and suddenly see all different colours of flashing lights.

The booming was a little scary and i has unsure about what they were. Soon i could hear the door to the grotto open and i immediately went to hide. I went to hide behind a rock and peered over so slightly to see who was leaving the grotto. Then too my surprise it was Ariel and she was swimming up to the surface to investigate the flashing coloured things. Flounder was following along with Sebastian? How did he get in? This is bad, very bad!.