I could feel my heart pounding, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I wasn't supposed to be here. Daddy would flip his ship if he found out, but I couldn't help it. I loved everything related to humans, especially the surface. The sky was a pale, bright blue, so different from the ocean but somehow the same. Both were an endless vast of blue, mirroring each other, I couldn't help but love it. Today the sun was beating down hard, threatening to burn my pale skin. Living underwater means that you don't get much exposure to light. I was sitting on one of the rocks near the shore, played out on the hard surface enjoying my few moments of peace and quiet. I relished the quiet, helping me think through what I had just done.

The waves were softly crashing against the wet sand, the seagulls calling out to their friends. I thought of Scuttle and the snarfblat he tried to tell me and Flounder about not too long ago. I smiled at the thought of us getting chased by that shark. I sighed as the events of that night came into my thoughts. The fight with my father, my grotto. The image of the ship creeped up into my thoughts. The memory played through, the ship was passing by throwing exploding lights in the sky.

I swam up to the side and watched the most handsome man I had ever seen, dance across the deck. His shaggy black hair was combed over to the side, bringing out his deep blue eyes. I sighed at the sight, he was muscular and energetic by the looks of it. His laugh was so free and happy that it was infectious, I couldn't help but smile as well. Dressed in normal clothing; a loose white shirt, blue slacks, red waistband, and black boots, he looked so refined and dignified.

He was playing this small silver tube, a light high pitched noise leaving the end creating a lovely sound. He was prancing about the deck of the ship with a big hairy animal. They seemed to be having a blast until the winds picked up.

The ship went down soon after, the hurricane tore it apart and my love sank to the bottom of the sea. I swam as quick as I could trying to find him and eventually yanked him back up to the surface and threw him on the sand.

Now I was here, on the rock/sand watching this mystery Prince as he slept.

I stroked his cheek softly and sang him a song of how much I wanted to be with him.

What would I give to live where you are,

What would I saw to stay here beside you?

What would I do to see you...smiling at me?

Where would we walk...

Where would we run?

If we could stay all day in the sun?

Just you and me,

Then I could be

Part of your world.

His eyes fluttered open, I started into the deepest blue of them all. Their color reminded me of a clam sea. The blue was light and beautiful. The sleepiness came from the fact that I could get lost in them forever. They were never ending and I loved them. His dog came barking and I panicked, I dove back into the water and hid behind a rock. The puppy barked happily to have found his friend but sniffed the air catching a familiar scent. He stared straight at me and barked again. By this time Eric, was his name, was shackily standing up with the help of an old man.

I watched them from behind my rock, Eric looked out at the ocean and locked eyes with me behind the rock. He gasped and stuttered "Hello? Miss? Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. You saved my life, I am forever in debt to you. Please come and talk...Grimsby, thank you. Can you leave us alone for a bit, take Max. I will be with you shortly."

I slowly crawled up the rock until only the top half of my body showed, my other half was neatly hidden by the large brown boulder. I shyly smiled and grabbed my hair hoping to fix it a bit. The old man nodded and took the dog down the beach. Eric walked over to my rock. It wasn't that far out to sea but enough where he had to partially swim there.

He made it and pulled himself alongside me. I tried to hide my tail as best as I could but I could tell that he got a glimpse of my emerald scales. He gasped once again and said "You're a...a...mermaid?" He gasped openly. I lowered my head in embarassment, I eyes the water debating on how fast I could be and jump. He chuckled softly and tucked two fingers under my chin and lifted my head up.

"I never said it was a bad thing. I'm sorry but it's not everyday that I meet an underwater beauty." He said.

I blushed and smiled. He stared into my blue eyes and I his, we stayed like that for a bit until he started to lean in. I could tell already that I loved this boy with all my heart and I was going to be with him if I could help it. He leaned in closely and closed the gap between our lips.

I had never kissed anyone before, but kissing Eric felt warm and right. He was soft and gentle, taking into consideration who he was with. I broke the kiss apart and grinned. I was blushing terribly and giggled. He chuckled as well. "What is your name?"

I looked up at him still smiling like an idiot, "Ariel."

"Well Ariel, I'd like to thank you for saving my life. If it wasn't for you I would have died. Thank you." He said softly kissing my cheek. I nodded and mumbled "No need."

I looked back out to the sea with a worried expression. I was so sushi when I got home. Daddy was going to feed me to the sharks.

Eric noticed "Ariel? What's wrong?"

I looked down at the rock under me. "My father is going to kill me when I get home. I'm breaking all the rules by being here. I can't make any contact with humans, it's forbidden. Hell, I can't even come up to the surface without causing a tidal wave. I'm sorry Eric, but I have to go."

I squeezed his hand tightly and made my way back into the water. He stared at me as I went, he had a calculating look on his face. "Come back tomorrow. I need to spend more time with you. We can talk, I can teach you about humans. I need to see you again, promise me."

I nodded and smiled. Before I knew it I was in his arms once again. I clutched him tightly, not wanting to let him go. But I had to, I relaxed mug grip on him and swam away to the depths of the big blue vast that was my home.