Disclaimer 1: I do not own "The Little Mermaid" or its characters. They are property of the Walt Disney Company and Hans Christian Andersen.

Disclaimer 2: I do now own "Beauty and the Beast" or its characters. They are also property of the Walt Disney Company and Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont.

"Mermaids of Crimea"

By TwilightSparkle3562

Chapter 1

"Growing Russian Unrest"

It had only been a few months since the British and Danish fleets successfully finished off the French fleet once and for all at Cape Ortega on the coast of northern Spain. A lot was happening in the Danish kingdom and the recent events had taken a toll on the Danish royal family. After all, the events of recent had taken a toll on King Eric and his wife, Queen Ariel, a former mermaid of the undersea kingdom of Atlantica. During the battle, a French naval officer had attacked the royal Danish ship and had tried to claim Ariel as his prize. The events of recent were still fresh in Ariel's mind and she had been having nightmares of her attack.

Of course, there were a lot to celebrate just as much, particularly the recent wedding of Vanessa and Victor, a pair of Danish lovers that had been rescued from an attack on the French and Spanish fleets just before the Battle of Trafalgar. Little did the two rulers know of the one question that was about to be asked in their kingdom by John Nelson, the young son of Admiral Horatio Nelson killed at Trafalgar, to their young 14 year old daughter, Princess Melody.

"Melody, I cannot help but ask myself," he asked her one night as they saw the sunset over the horizon. "Of how far we had come in a short period of time together."

"I know what you mean," remarked Melody. "Everything that we had been through together just seemed to have happened so suddenly and so quickly. Why do you think that I have been dragged into this?"

John could only wonder what Melody was trying to say for he was also young and had his entire life ahead of him. So much had happened in his young life as well with the promotion to Junior Admiral and such along with the death of his father. Part of him wanted to just die and be with his father in heaven and the other wanted to stay here and be at Melody's side.

"Maybe it has been a sign," said John as he paced slightly along the balcony. "It appears that God wants us to be put through this test, like his son had when he was scourged, crucified and killed by sinful men. This is a test, Melody, to see if we could live the life of full Catholics."

"Are you sure?" wondered Melody. "Are you absolutely sure that is what you think?"

"I do," replied John. "I have been taught to realize that certain events like at Trafalgar and Ortega are similar to tests and I can only imagine what he is planning next."

Melody wondered even more after this reply by her lover. After all, it was her mother Queen Ariel that had considered keeping Melody safe after the two battles where her life was put at risk. Of course, it was only if necessary that Ariel would do so and so far, Melody had not heard anything.

"Then, what can we do?" asked Melody. "My mother is…"

"Only trying to protect you," interrupted John. "But, he probably won't allow it. He knows who you are, Melody. He wants you to go into these battles and face the challenges that Jesus had gone through."

John then placed his hand against his right britches pocket and felt a square shaped box inside of it. For some time, John had been contemplating since being assigned to Denmark that he should do what had been going on inside of him for some time. He wanted to ask this beautiful young woman's hand in marriage, but he couldn't find the right time.

"But, doesn't God know of the consequences that would befall our kingdom if something were to happen to me?" asked Melody, unaware of John's actions or thoughts. "I mean, he must have told my mother to keep me from the sea for 12 years while Morgana roamed."

"We will probably never know," answered John. "However, there is one thing that I want to ask of you, Melody."

John then reached into his pocket and pulled out the box, much to Melody's unnoticing as she was continuing to think of the impending future of her safety.

"What is it, John?" she asked, looking over at John's nervous look that he had on his face. "What is it that you want to tell me?"

John was about to pop the question when they heard the sounds of footfalls coming towards them. Turning around, John and Melody saw a young British naval officer walking up and saluting them as he arrived.

"What is it, sailor?" asked John in a firm and commanding voice as he put the box back into his pocket. "Have you any news from the Crimea?"

"Yes, sire," replied the soldier. "The enemy is preparing to leave the shores of St. Petersburg according to our recent intelligence. In fact, King Eric requests a meeting with the Danish and Royal Navy officers at once."

John knew that duty had to always come first and that he needed to be downstairs immediately. Before leaving, however, he turned his attention to Melody, although he was disappointed that he couldn't ask her hand in marriage now. However, this was something far more urgent that he needed to attend to.

"Very well, then," said John. "Notify all our fellow commanders to come to the Danish Palace at once."

The soldier saluted John and left and as he did, John turned back to Melody knowing that his question of marriage would have to wait until next time.

"There is trouble in the Crimea," he said to Melody. "Alexander I and the Russians are at it again."

"Who?" asked Melody. "What are you talking about, John?"

"I'll tell you later," replied John. "I must meet with your father and our fellow officers at once. The time for action is now, Melody."

So, John hastily left the balcony and headed down to a meeting with King Eric and the rest of the naval officers. As John left, Melody tried to guess just exactly what John was planning to ask her.

"What was it he wanted to ask me?" she thought as she left the balcony, walking back downstairs to get ready for bed. Just as she was about to get down to her bedroom, a thought crossed Melody's mind and it was a thought that would possibly change her life forever.

"He couldn't, he wouldn't have," she thought to herself shockingly. "He wants to ask for my hand. My hand in eternal wedlock, but I'm still so young."

However, Melody knew that John could not make this question his top priority given what was going on just down the hall at that moment. For everyone in that room had known by now that another major battle would soon be looming…