The Plan
Vanessa
After the big win, Vanessa went home feeling untouchable.
She slipped into a warm bath, letting the steam soothe her muscles as she leaned back and closed her eyes. The day's tension melted away, but she couldn't stop smiling.
Ariel's heartbroken face played over and over in her mind like a beautiful memory. The way she had run off, panicked and desperate—oh, it was priceless. Everything had gone exactly as she had planned.
And the best part? No one could stop her.
Ariel couldn't talk or sing for a while, and Vanessa fully intended to make the most of it. The talent show was coming up, and she needed something even more significant than her stolen national anthem moment.
A dance performance. Something sexy yet breathtaking.
She just couldn't think of the perfect routine.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Vanessa," her mother's voice came through the wood. "Your uncle is here. He has something he wants to ask you."
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
Uncle Triton.
She hated that man.
Of course, she adored her mother, but Triton and his goody-two-shoes family were unbearable. When Vanessa's mom was sent to jail for a while, she was forced to stay with them.
A big, happy family. Disgusting.
But the worst part? The youngest girl.
Ariel.
They were the same age, but everyone loved her. She was praised for her voice, kindness, and "pure heart."
No one ever corrected her or told her she was wrong. No, they encouraged her to sing. To be herself.
Vanessa had never felt so invisible.
She had never been happier than the day her mother came back and took her away. No more competition. No more sharing the spotlight. She was an only child again, and she got everything she wanted.
Thanks to her mother's brilliance, Ariel's voice was gone.
And Vanessa was finally getting what she deserved.
She sighed deeply, exited the tub, dried off, and put on a robe. Already annoyed, she made her way downstairs before seeing Triton's face.
He was standing in the living room, his arms crossed, a hardened look in his eyes. He wasn't alone. In his hand was a small bottle.
Vanessa stopped in her tracks.
Oh, no.
"Hello, Vanessa," Triton said, his deep voice firm. "I have a question I need to ask you."
Vanessa tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Oh? What is it?"
Triton held up the bottle.
"Is this yours?"
Vanessa kept her face blank.
Ariel must have kept the bottle. What an idiot.
Triton's jaw tightened. "Ariel told me you gave this to her. And now her voice is gone. I know this has your mother's hands all over it. She always knew how to manipulate people."
His anger was evident, but Vanessa?
She was thrilled.
She kept her expression calm, but inside, she was smirking. She had hurt Ariel, and it was tearing Triton apart.
Vanessa shrugged. "Yes, it's mine. And I did give it to Ariel. But I had no idea it would take her voice." She batted her lashes. "My mother just told me to give it to her."
A lie. But what could he do about it?
Triton glared at Ursula, who was sitting on the couch, watching the exchange like a theater show.
"Can't you just leave my daughters alone, Ursula?" Triton snapped. "Ariel has worked so hard for this moment. I hope you have a way to fix what you've done."
Ursula smirked, completely unfazed. "Oh, Triton, of course I do."
Triton's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"But," she continued, her voice dropping into something sickeningly sweet, "it'll come at a price."
Triton's jaw clenched again. "What do you want?"
Ursula leaned forward, her eyes gleaming.
"Your endorsement."
Triton blinked. "What?"
"I want your political endorsement. You have connections, and I need them. There's a seat opening on the school board, and I want it." She smiled. "I hear it pays well. And a little power never hurts, right?"
Triton exhaled sharply. "You're ridiculous."
Ursula raised a brow. "Oh, am I? You're the one who needs a favor."
Triton's hands balled into fists. He knew how this worked. Ursula was dangerous; once she had power, she would use it against him.
But then he thought of Ariel.
How hard she had worked. How crushed she had been when she lost her voice.
"Fine," he muttered. "I'll endorse you. But you'd better fix this, Ursula."
Ursula grinned. "Pleasure doing business with you."
Vanessa sat back, watching with amusement. Her mother had won.
But then, it hit her.
Ariel's voice would be restored.
Which meant she would be back.
And Vanessa knew—if Ariel got back on that stage, people would love her again.
Her plan was falling apart.
And now, thanks to her mother's deal, she could do nothing to stop it.
For the first time all night, Vanessa felt uneasy.
Ariel
Sitting by the window, silent and trapped, was unbearable.
Ariel had never felt so empty.
Her voice was more than just something she used—it was a part of her. A part that had been stolen.
She let out a small sigh, her fingers tracing the glass as she stared outside at the moonlit sky. The once-bright sparkle in her blue eyes had dulled into a grayish haze.
She wanted to sing. She wanted to feel like herself again.
But all she could do was sit in silence.
A beep echoed from her computer just as she was about to head to bed.
Ariel blinked, then walked over and clicked the screen.
Sebastian was online.
Sebastian Crab: Hey, sweetie, how are you doing? Any luck with that voice of yours?
Mermaid Adventure: Hey… and no. Still gone. I can't believe I didn't think she would do something.
Sebastian Crab: It's understandable. She's always unreadable.
Mermaid Adventure: Yeah. Doesn't make me feel much better.
A new message popped up.
Guppy: Hey Ariel! It's good to talk to you.
Ariel smiled softly. Flounder.
Mermaid Adventure: Flounder! It's good to talk to you too. And no, I still don't have my voice back.
Just as she was about to type another message, she heard footsteps from downstairs, followed by her father's voice.
"Ariel! Come downstairs for a second!"
She tensed.
Right. She couldn't respond.
Instead, she quickly typed a message.
Mermaid Adventure: I have to go. My dad is calling. I'll be back on in a second.
With that, she logged off and hurried downstairs.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, her father stood in the living room, holding something small in his hand.
Ariel tilted her head, then pointed to the bottle, silently asking what it was.
Her father gave her a gentle smile, his eyes filled with relief.
"It's a formula that will help you get your voice back," he said. "It came at a high price but was worth it for you. Now, drink up and try to sing again."
Ariel hesitated, staring at the small bottle.
She didn't know what deal he had to make, but she could tell from his eyes that he had done it for her.
Slowly, she reached for the bottle and took a sip.
The taste was strange—bitter, like cough medicine. Her throat burned slightly, making her wince.
But then… the sensation faded.
Ariel swallowed, her hands trembling.
What if… it didn't work?
What if her voice was gone forever?
She bit her lip, fear creeping in. What if she opened her mouth and nothing came out?
Her father must have noticed her hesitation because he stepped closer and touched her shoulder reassuringly.
"It's okay, Ariel," he said softly. "Trust me. Just try. Please?"
Ariel took a deep breath.
And then—
She opened her mouth.
"Look at this stuff
Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection is complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl
The girl who has everything?"
Her heart soared.
The moment the first note left her lips, she knew.
Her voice was back.
Her honest, beautiful, powerful voice.
Tears pricked her eyes as she threw her arms around her father.
"Daddy, thank you! I love you!" she whispered against his chest, overwhelmed with joy.
Her father hugged her tightly. "I love you too, sweetheart."
As soon as she pulled away, she ran upstairs, practically skipping.
She needed to tell her friends.
Ariel quickly logged back in.
Mermaid Adventure: Flounder, Sebastian! I have my voice back! I'm going to sing again—at the talent show!
Guppy: That's great, Ariel! But… I don't know any good songs for you.
Ariel smiled at the screen, her heart racing with excitement.
Then, Sebastian's message popped up.
Sebastian Crab: I know the perfect song.
