Chapter 19

Ursula's Disappearance

Flotsam and Jetsam, they were still hanging around. They were slapping their tails together and beginning to giggle. They were Ursula's minions aright!. Ariel and Prince Eric hadn't noticed them. Prince Eric assisted Ariel getting her back to shore before stepping back into the lake to retrive the upside down row boat and paddle thingys.

I wanted to warn them but Scuttle gave me a peck "Woooo hang on there Urchin what do you think your doing?" the seagull whispers to me, "Ursula's eels Flotsam and Jetsam, they caused all this! We need to warn Ariel and Sebastian!" i whisper back to him. I dive under, "Urchin! What are you doing?" asks Flounder. I didn't respond to him as i swam deeper into the lake. I was on the hunt for Ursula's minions.

Flounder followed me "Urchin?" he cries as he was trying to keep up with me. After searching the whole lake in a space of 30 seconds, the eels were no where to be found "Damn! They've vanished!" i say in frustration. "What now?" asks Flounder who was puff and phanting, "Well i guess we should pay a visit to Ursula!" i suggested to him.

Flounder was stunned "Seriously Urchin? Going to see Ursula on your own!" he cries in fear, "Its a risk i am willing to take Flounder! Come with me if your so worried!" i answer to him. Just then i feel shadow coming from above. I look up to see the upside down row boat above on the surface in the body of the moonlight. The boat was drifting away from Eric who was trying to retrive it who was getting his feet stuck in the mud of the lake.

I swim up towards the row boat "Urchin? What are you doing?" Flounder asks "Just gonna give him some help!" i tell him as i decide to give it a tiny push towards Eric. It was too heavy for me to flip it back to the way it was. Flounder also decided to help "Thanks Flounder!" i say as i thanked him "No worries!" he cheerfully answers. His mood had dramatically changed "Anything to help Ariel!" he cries.

We guide the row boat back towards Eric who just managed to get his submerged foot out of the lake's mud. Flounder and i hid under some lilypads with only our heads and eyes popping out of the water to watch what was going on. "Hey, won't you look at that? Our boat is coming back towards us! Must be the lake's current!" Eric says to Ariel who looked a little concerned like she knew that the boat wasn't moving by itself.

She remained standing on the lake's edge in slience but when Eric had turned around to face her she began clapping to knowledge what he had just said and for succesfully bringing the row boat back in. Flounder and i continued to watch and Ariel was busy trying to dry herself. Eric headed towards her "Ha ha! I'm sorry for not having a towel but there might be a blanket we can use from the carriage! C'mon, its time we should head back anyway!" he suggests to her while holding her hand.

"They are holding hands! Now that's a sign isn't it?" we suddenly hear Scuttle cry who placed himself on the lilypad that Flounder was under "I guess!" i answer back to him. We leave as soon as they are out of sight, we didn't know where Sebastian was but hopefully Ariel knew where he was. We all head back to the ocean and the taste of salt water never tasted so good. The taste of that lake water was really odd!.

It was dark and the moon was still out. Flounder and i popped out heads out of the surface of the sea near the prince's castle and Scuttle flew over us. "Well i'd better go and keep track on our Ariel!" Scuttle says before he flies towards the castle. Flounder and i bid Scuttle farewell and i sigh. Flounder begins to speak to me "Urchin, your not still thinking...", i look towards him and all i say to the little fish is "The offer still stands to you would like to come with me!".

I duck under "but Urchin? What about watching over Ariel?" he asks me "You stay but i am going to sort this out! I'll be back i promise!" i answer back to him as i wave goodbye to him and head for Ursula's lair. I bypass Atlantica to avoid getting caught by anyone or even worse the king!. Certainly didn't see anyone looking like they were searching for Ariel. I pass my cave and head towards colder and darker waters.

My surroundings at an airy and ghostly feeling. This part of the ocean was always slient and was almost like a ghost town. Soon Ursula's creepy lair was in sight. It hadn't changed since i was here a day ago. I was always surprised that Ursula never had any minions guarding the entrance. I take a deep breath and slowly head towards it. Suddenly, i hear what i thought was laughing, like an evil laugh that somehow sounded familiar.

I see something coming out of the lair. I go to hide behind some coral and peered from it to see what it was or is. It was a big purplelish looking bubble and It was moving at great speed like a flash of lightening. As i caught a glimps i noticed there was something odd about it. The purplelish coloured bubble looked like it contained something or someone in it. It looked like a girl and with human legs!. Was someone else also trading their tail for legs and making a deal with the Sea Witch?.

I watch it disappear into the distance then i continue to bravely swim towards Ursula's lair. The closer i got the more nervous i got. Eventually, i make it to the front opening and was very wary of the polyups that seemed to like grabbing on to my wrists, like a cry for help. I manage to break free was swam threw deeper into the lair. I thought any minute now i would be confronted by Flotsam and Jetsam but they were no where to be seen.

Finally, i get to the end of the tunnel and to my disapointment i find the lair deserted!. I scream out Ursula's name a couple of times but there was no response. Not even her eels appeared "Where the heck could they have gone at this time of night?" i ask myself. I search the lair before going back through the tunnel and passing the lively polyups to leave.

I swim out of Ursula's lair and begin swimming away. In my head i was thinking as to why Ursula was not there or even worse disappeared. Why would Ursula disappear knowing she had a signed deal with Ariel, wouldn't see want to stay closeby?. Then it hit me like a rock "How could Ursula not be here, if i had just seen someone leaving? Unless...UNLESS URSULA HAS DECIDED TO DISGUISE HERSELF AS A HUMAN GIRL! I NEED TO WARN EVERYONE!".

I swim so fast back to where i left Flounder up on the surface near the prince's castle. The sea on the surface was starting to getting a little rough and waves were forming. I pop my head out but was unable to find Flounder anywhere. The waves were forcing me to move around, so i latch on to a rock that was nearby. I look around at my surroundings and though it was dark i could see something or someone walking on the beach.

It was a dark figure and was wearing a long cape looking thing on its back. I couldn't help notice that it also had a small glowing thingy around the neck. Soon i begin to hear singing!. It came to my surprise as the singing sounded exactly like Ariel's! Could it be that Ariel has kissed the prince and she has gained legs forever and her voice is returning to her throat?.

I continue to watch as the someone slowly walked towards the castle, while i watched i couldn't help but notice something strange. Where i notice the glow on the neck, the glow was starting to make a long clear yellow misty sea snake shape that was heading towards the castle. It sent chills down my spine, the voice was not coming from a throat but a necklace. This was not Ariel! This was Ursula in disguise!.