Ariel slowly swam nearer to the dark cavern of Ursula's lair, rays of burning smoke surrounding the grounds around her.

"I'm not so sure about this..." she said to herself, preparing to turn back.

But Ursula's powers were never something to be taken lightly. In that very moment, she summoned a nearby iridescent pearl on the sea floor. Glistening bright rays of a silvery light immediately emanated from the small stone, and Ariel suddenly heard Eric's voice.

"Eric?" She said as she turned back around, confused.

Ariel swam closer to the light, looking into the reflection of the platinum stone. Eric was in the great hall of his castle speaking to his manservant, Grimsby.

"I'm tellin' you, Grim, she was real! I'm gonna find that girl!" He leaned against the window, a determined look enveloping his face. "And I'm gonna marry her."

The little mermaid's heart froze completely still in shock. Hidden away quietly in her lair, the vile sea witch smiled happily to herself in triumph, knowing that she would soon be granted what she desired. And within an instant, the little mermaid's brows arched downward in determination. Fearless and ready, she confidently swam into the cavern.

"...You have very little time left, Eric," Grimsby said as Ariel swam off, not hearing this last part. "You'd do well to remember the letter that arrived from Norway a fortnight ago concerning your betrothal. If this mystery maiden of yours is not found by the time the sun goes down the day she arrives, you will wed Princess Amaryllis."

Death surrounded Ariel throughout the entire cave as she continued onward. But for each and every moment that she felt any ounce of fear, it only made her extra determined.

Dark, terrifying skeletons inlaid the floors of the cavern. And the current was strong, accompanied with the deadliest poisonous fish in the entire ocean. But they were each cast under a spell by no other than the sea witch herself, forbidden to inflict any harm on the princess.

"The legends were true..." Ariel whispered, continuing to swim farther into the darkness.

As she finally ascended to the entranceway of a single room in the cave, she paused. The black amethyst door was intriguing as it was decorated solely with only the darkest of magic, and shimmering black seashells from the ocean floor.

Ariel took one last final breath for courage before raising her hand to the door, softly knocking on the iron structure exactly three times.

"Come in, my child," said a voice from the nearby distance.

The little mermaid cautiously opened the door and slowly swam inside.

"Hello?" Ariel said, as she looked all around the cave, seeing no sign of life. "Is anyone there?"

"Look into the mirror, my dear," the quiet, sinister voice called out. "And show me what it is you truly desire."

Ariel did as she was told, swimming closer to the looking glass within her view, her fiery red hair swirling all around in the currents as she leaned in.

A vision of Ariel in Eric's arms on the seashore suddenly appeared upon the mirror's reflection. He was smiling so passionately down at her as the sun began to set. Slowly, he leaned in closer, gently resting his hand on her pale cheek and drawing her near to give her a soft, sweet kiss. The ethereal sunset behind them shimmered beautifully across the ocean's reflection as they reveled in that quiet moment.

"I love you, Ariel," Eric whispered to her as the kiss broke, still holding her close to him in a protective embrace.

And as the vision in the mirror slowly faded away, the little mermaid lowered her eyes to the floor with a look of despair.

"But it's not possible..."

Suddenly, a dark figure began to emerge from the distance. Her long, platinum hair swirled gracefully down her back in the silent winds of the sea, and her silver eyes gave off a calm yet penetrating gaze. Ursula.

"Anything is possible my dear, sweet child," the sea witch spoke as she glided nearer to Ariel, mockingly stroking the strands of her red hair in a comforting way.

There were very few tales that reached Atlantica over what the sea witch looked like. Some who escaped described her as having an unpleasant, repulsive appearance. Others claimed she possessed the beauty of the mythical goddess, Eris. For Ariel, Ursula resembled a strong likeness with the black-hearted goddess.

"But be warned, my dear — this spell of yours that you seek to become human will not be an easy endeavor."

"I don't understand..."

"The pain of this particular transformation will feel like death," Ursula spoke softly, laughing sadistically in her mind. "Once you are human, every single step that you take on land will make you feel as if you are walking on broken glass."

"I'm not afraid," Ariel said with a touch of uncertainty.

The sea witch sneered happily, "There is, also, a very steep price for this spell —"

"Please, I'll give you whatever you want," Ariel interrupted.

Ursula smiled to herself, 'This is just too easy.'

"What I want from you is," the sea witch started. "...Your voice."

The little mermaid gasped so softly it sounded like the gentlest whisper, slowly raising a hand to her neck.

"But I —" Ariel stuttered in disbelief. "My voice? But I would never be able to speak to Eric at all. How could you possibly ask for something like that!"

Ursula rolled her eyes, scoffing in irritation, "Look, honey, I haven't got all day. Either trade your voice to me or you will never see your precious prince ever again. Your voice is the price."

Ariel sighed. The thought of never seeing Eric again felt like being stabbed with the sharpest, serrated knife. It was all too much for her to bear.

Refusing defeat, Ursula quickly swam towards the floor of the cave to her cauldron, and slowly placed a small piece of wood she had taken from the shipwreck into the fire. The vision that Ariel had seen on the mirror immediately resurfaced in her mind, overwhelming her with perseverance from yet another spell.

"Very well," the little mermaid said.

Ursula smiled victoriously as she made her way over to the purple shelves on the wall resembling a large clam. After retrieving a small golden parchment and a pen in the shape of a fish skeleton, she returned to the little mermaid.

"You will need to sign this."