A/N "I am a despicable human being!"
Holy crow guys, I am sorry! The wait for this update has been WAY too long, life's been hectic on this end (Never take three English classes at once, mis amigos) but you guys are incredible for sticking around!
Also, 21 REVIEWS! You guys are fantastic. :D Multiple Woots and Baymax fist bumps for everyone! "Bada-la-la-la!"
Alrighty, explanation time: Aside from Pocahontas, Ariel (And Eilonwy, but who cares abou-I DO OKAY) is the only Disney princess to have friends of her own species, namely Gabriella and Urchin. Granted, they only appear in the TV show, but still! We never find out what happened to them after Ariel transforms. Which is especially heartbreaking (And ironic) because one of Urchin's main episodes featured him freaking out because he though Ariel was getting married and leaving Atlantica forever (Albeit to an arrogant merprince with attitude, not a human dreamboat with a snarfblat). The episode, titled "A Marriage of Inconvenience", ends with Ariel reassuring Urchin that no matter what, their friendship is forever. And gosh dang it, it's cute! So this chapter is basically a reconciliation between that promise and the events of TLM. Also: Those who have seen the tv show, lemme know how I did writing Urchin's dialogue and personality.
Chapter 3: Farewell and a Friend
I'm getting married.
It should sound strange in her head, shouldn't it? But it didn't. It just felt...right.
Carlotta had recommended a walk on the beach to help clear her head and soothe her nerves. But she'd never felt calmer or more clear headed in her life. She was human now, and set to marry the man of her dreams in a few short hours.
But she'd taken Carlotta's advice anyways, glad of a chance to be near the sea, alone.
Her family would visit, Daddy had promised. Supposedly he was in Atlantica lifting the surface ban right now, and inviting half the city to her wedding along with it. And she knew she'd still see her friends. The goodbyes they had said and would say again tonight were not forever.
It was the sea she really had to say goodbye to.
Slipping off her shoes and stepping into the surf, Ariel recalled a day when King Triton had tried to explain what it felt like to wield power over the ocean. He'd described it not as moving a lifeless element, but like taming a wild giant seahorse. It had a life of its own. The sea was home and friend and a part of her own soul, all at once. Ariel had felt both its cold and warm embraces, and been at the mercy of its moods. The ocean could be calm, or angry. It could even be playful. But no matter how far or fast or deep she might learn to swim with her new legs, Ariel knew it would never be the same. Never again would she race the currents or feel the strange tug of a shifting tide. And as sea foam swirled around her ankles, Ariel took a deep breath, and remembered how it felt to breathe the sea. How it felt to know the most powerful force in the world was moving in and out of you, moving through you, as your veins pulsed and your heart beat in time with waves miles above you.
She didn't regret her decision. Ariel knew she was meant to live on land as surely as she knew she was meant to be with Eric. An ache in her soul she hadn't noticed until it was gone had vanished the minute she set foot on land. But she would still miss it. With an aching clarity, Ariel realized with she could never be part of the world she left behind again.
But that world would always be a part of her.
Kneeling in the surf and trailing her fingers through the water, Ariel began to sing softly.
"Oh, the waves roll low
And the waves roll high
And so it goes
Under a bright blue endless sky,
Waves try to measure
The days that we treasure
Wave hello, and wave..."
A lump rose in Ariel's throat, and a single drop of salt water joined the waves below before Ariel wiped her eyes.
"Goodbye." She finished quietly.
Listening to the sound of the surf, Ariel imagined she heard words in it, and smiled softly.
After standing and wringing out her skirt, Ariel started making her way back. Humming softly to herself, she almost missed the subtle splash as something slipped out of the water, and the chuckle that followed.
"Hey there, human. Know where I can find a good friend of mine?"
Ariel whirled to see green fins and a sandy head of hair reclining lazily on a rock.
"Urchin!" She exclaimed happily. "What are you doing here?
"Aw c'mon, I couldn't let my best friend get married without without saying hi." The young merman grinned.
"I'm so glad you came." Ariel said warmly.
"I figured I better get my well-wishing done before the wedding." Urchin explained. "You know practically the whole kingdom's coming up to the surface tomorrow? Didn't wanna get lost in the crowds." He added nonchalantly.
"It's so good to see you!" Ariel said.
Urchin grinned. "Yeah, it's great to see you too. And getting married! Prince Thor will be so disappointed." He teased.
Ariel's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no-Daddy didn't invite him, did he?"
Urchin snickered at her panicked expression. "Even if he had, I don't think Prince Fancy Fins would dare show up after hearing you defeated a sea witch."
"Eric's the one who stopped Ursula, not me." Ariel pointed out.
"But you started it, as usual." Urchin tilted his head. "So he took out a sea monster for ya, huh? Sounds like a decent type. Coulda tried something a little more original though." He flexed his thin arms and winked.
"I was in love with Eric before he killed Ursula." Ariel informed him. Then with a grin she added. "Besides, Ursula was a lot bigger than Crab Louie."
"At least he didn't invite the sea monster to spend the night!" He shot back.
"That was one time!" Ariel protested. "And Simon did end up saving the kingdom." She reminded him.
"I just hope this fella knows what he's getting himself into."
"I did sort of drive us off a cliff...but we were fine!" Ariel protested.
"You what!?" Urchin held his ribs as he cracked up. "Oh, boy. Sounds like one heck of a guy, your prince."
"Oh Urchin, I can't wait for you to meet him, he's brave and kind and handsome-"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Urchin waved both hands in front of him. "I don't need to hear all the mush!"
"But, if ya like that sorta stuff" Urchin backtracked quickly, holding up his hands as Ariel gave him a look.
He decided to change the subject. "Do ya think King Triton would ever give me feet?" Urchin examined his fins. "Just for a day or two, for exploring and stuff?"
"I don't know." Ariel mused. "I guess you'd have to ask him."
"Eh, I'll wait a bit, let him get used to the idea." Urchin decided. Then he grinned. "Besides, somebody's gotta explore the rest of the ocean while you're running around up here. And I'm just the guy to do it." Urchin jerked a thumb at his chest.
"I can't think of anyone better." Ariel assured him.
Urchin nodded. "Me and Flounder have been guarding your collection, too. Is there anything you want? I could bring some of it up for ya."
Ariel blinked. She'd almost forgotten her grotto, filled with all the human things she'd collected over the years. "I..." now that she'd been human for a few weeks, Ariel had realized that many of her "treasures" were common household items. Having a large candle-holder filled with silverware would seem a bit silly. But there were a few things that would make good keepsakes. Her thingambob collection wasn't too big, and she still hadn't seen anything like her spinning dancer statue yet... "I'll make you a list." She finally decided.
"You got it." Urchin said. "So...what's it like, having two tails?" He asked, peering at her feet.
"Legs." She corrected him. "And it's wonderful. I can jump and run and dance, and I've gotten a lot better at keeping my balance then I used to be."
"What else is it like, being human?" Urchin asked, eyes sparking with curiosity.
And for the next hour or so Ariel told him everything she could think of; what sand felt like between your toes, about all the funny rules they had in the castle, and what human food tasted like. He laughed when she tried to imitate Chef Louie, and got excited when she told him about the ballet she'd seen with Eric.
"Wait till I tell Gabriela you saw real-life dancers!" Urchin slapped the water with his tail. "She'll flip her gills over this."
"Say hi for me!" Ariel said as Urchin slipped into the water.
"We'll see you guys tomorrow at the wedding." Urchin waved and got ready to dive.
"Urchin, wait!"
"What?" Urchin popped back up, hair now plastered to his head.
Ariel remembered a promise they'd made a long time ago. "Friends forever, right?"
"So long as you don't forget us little people." Urchin winked.
Rolling her eyes, Ariel kicked an incoming wave and splashed him. "Hey!" Urchin spluttered and laughed. "You got some-"
"'Noive'?" Ariel finished innocently.
Urchin's ears turned pink, but he grinned all the same. "Yeah. Noive."
A/N: Alrighty, you guys know the drill! Tell me what you liked, what you disliked, compare to previous chapters and what you'd like to see more of! Your reviews are the the gas in this thing's tank, so keep 'em coming!
On the Ocean's farewell; This chapter turned out completely differently from what I planned. It was supposed to be just Urchin's bit. But then I blinked while typing and in that moment the first half of this chapter possessed my hands and wrote itself. As it wasn't quite long enough to be its own chapter and I wanted to end on a happier note, it got added to this one! Lemme know what ya think!
Okay, for anyone who didn't get the Prince Thor joke: In the TV series, there's an episode titled "Marriage of Inconvenience." Basically there's a big misunderstanding, and everyone ends up thinking that King Triton has gone off to arrange a marriage for Ariel. While Urchin is trying to convince her of this, Ariel says "That's ridiculous! I'm too young to get married!" At which point I always crack up, because according to canon the TV series occurs only months to a year before TLM 1.
Some people think that Urchin has a crush on Ariel, mainly because of the aforementioned episode. I disagree. Personally I think his behavior is more a mixture of excitement at finally having friends and a platonic appreciation for his very first, Ariel, than a crush. Which he explains, actually. "I was just afraid of losing the first real friend I ever had..." Plus if you thought your best friend in the whole world was being forced to marry a huge jerk, you'd probably be upset too. Also in "Trident True" Urchin is essentially adopted into the family when Triton admit that he thinks of Urchin as a son, and his daughters affectionately admit he acts just like an annoying little brother. The point is, their relationship is very much platonic.
Also: I know I'm referencing the tv show a lot. Sorry not sorry, folks. We get to see details of Eric's life on land in TLM 1 and 2, but most of Ariel's Life-Before-Eric details come either from the TV series or TLM 3, and TLM 3's details are rather situation specific. So if you feel out of the loop, my best suggestion is watching the series on youtube or on a free site, because its (sob) not on DVD.