Fifteen years prior

"Evil, sustained by its own being, is tempered from the earth with the arrival of Good." With this final sentiment, the priest sprinkled water upon the baby's head as she squirmed happily. The new baby, Princess Ariel, was held up to the admiration of the kingdom – including her parents and two sisters, Aurora and Rapunzel.

Everyone of importance was at the christening – the queen had seen to the invitations and double-checked in order to make sure each member of the nobility and gentry were invited. However, one name was intentionally left off; the name of a woman who was quite determined to attend.

In time, the guests filtered up to pay their respects and greet the youngest princess. After a brief interaction, each member would leave out of the heavy wooden doors of the church. In but an hour, the chapel was empty, save for the royal family. The priest said his last goodbyes, and retreated to his study.

"Shall we head home?" King Stephan asked his wife and she nodded, drawing the children forward.

With a clap of thunder the doors of the chapel burst forth and a woman manifested herself out of a ball of green light – Maleficent. She waved her hand around her staff.

"King Stephen, Queen Leah." She looked at them pointedly. Queen Leah took the baby from the priest, and King Stephen tucked his other two daughters behind him.

"Maleficent," Queen Leah said firmly, quietly. Maleficent's reputation was notorious throughout the kingdom as the mistress of all evil.

"Oh, don't think that hiding them will do you any benefit. I know of Aurora, our queen to be. I know of Rapunzel. And of little Ariel. Of course, I was never allowed to pay my own respects." Maleficent hissed.

"We're very sor-"

Maleficent slammed her staff into the group and another burst of thunder came forth. "Your apologies are too late. Your slights have only grown with time. One christening – perhaps a mistake. Two – perhaps an oversight. But three? I must think that is intentional."

"Now, listen here!" King Stephen stepped forward.

"Hold your tongue, King, before I remove it from you." Maleficent said, lifting her staff once more. "I have come also, to bestow my gifts on the children."

Hopeful for just a moment, Queen Leah asked "So, you're not angry?"

Maleficent smiled, and cast a spell over the three girls. "For Aurora, the first time you wronged me, her gift shall be mild. On her eighteenth birthday she will fall into a deep slumber, unable to rule. But, she can be awakened from this by true love's kiss. For Rapunzel, she will have the ability to heal you and your daughters. But she will be the only source of healing you have. No other earthly remedies will work. And for your Ariel…she shall have to stab the man who loves her three days after he professes his love."

The family was dumbfounded, standing fearfully in silence for a moment before King Stephan yelled 'guards, please, guards!'. But it was too late. She was gone before they reached her, and the spell had already touched the girls too young to understand it.

But they would come to understand, in time.

…

Present Setting

Since birth, Aurora was steeped in matters of state – politics, parties, allies, and enemies. She knew she would be queen one day, and she hoped to rise to meet that challenge. She also knew there were parts she would always enjoy – like balls. She had liked every ball she had ever attended, and was squarely determined to make sure this one would be the same.

But it would be difficult. Aurora stood next to her mother in the ballroom as servants hung up bunting and smoothed tablecloths on tables.

"Do you like the flowers, dear?" Queen Leah asked. She was willing to indulge her daughter on most any decoration – after all, this was her engagement ball.

"The flowers are lovely." Aurora said. "All the decorations are. But you know that's not what I'm concerned about."

"I'm not sure why you're concerned about anything at all." Queen Leah sighed. "After all, you're approaching the happiest day of your life. A girl only gets married once, you know. God willing."

"But I don't know him, mother."

"Don't be silly. We've known the family for centuries. You've been engaged to the prince since you were a toddler."

"Yes, that's true but I don't know him at all! I've never met him, or exchanged a letter, or even seen a painting of him."

Queen Leah paused. "Some of those would have been manageable – why did you wait so long to bring this up?"

Aurora shrugged. "I'm not sure. Would it have changed anything?"

"No." Leah looked over at the bouquet that was placed by her. "You know why we set up the engagement in the first place."

Of course. The curse that was placed on her, when she was too young to remember. It had always been a part of her life – when she was eighteen, she would fall into a deep slumber that could only be broken by her true love's kiss. And who loved you more than your husband? The prince was informed of this, but few other nobility knew of her curse – or her sisters' curses. Though Aurora had always been assured that it wasn't her fault, and that she hadn't been cursed for doing anything wrong, her mother always seemed to have an air of shame around it.

"Yes, I know mother." Aurora said gently. "I just wish I knew him more."

"Well, his parents didn't want to tell him of the engagement until he got to marriable age. As the younger prince, his parents wanted him to have as normal of a childhood as possible."

"But he's going to have to help run the kingdom as well." Aurora pointed out.

"That's true. And his parents have raised him with that in mind, I'm sure. I think they worried about him possibly resenting the whole process, I don't know. We've kept up good contact with the family, but most of it has been unrelated to your engagement. That was all done up years ago."

"Just give me some time to get to know him first, okay?" Aurora asked.

Queen Leah paused. "That's fine. He won't propose at the ball, or before. Just make sure that the proposal is soon. Your eighteenth birthday is fast approaching-"

"I know, I know." Aurora hummed. "Thank you, though."

Queen Leah smiled. "I've known this family my whole life. They've raised good children, they are good people. I promise I've made the best possible match for you, though I'm sorry it had to be this way."

"You just couldn't risk it." Aurora nodded. If no one had fallen in love with her before her birthday, her chance of being awoken would be slim to none. This was a far easier solution. It would be like taking a quick, but mandatory, nap. That's all. Her curse was far more palatable than Ariel's.

"Why don't you go see what your sisters are doing?" Queen Leah said, rising. "I'm going to go check in the kitchens."

"Okay!" Aurora said, headed upstairs. She stood up at the top of the stairs, overlooking the ballroom, much like she would when she was presented as an engaged woman, or when her bridal reception started. Quietly, so only she could hear, she tested the world. "Presenting the bride and groom…Princess Aurora…and Prince Eric."

…

Belle stretched up, wishing the ladder could somehow stretch with her. There was a whole shelve of books she had somehow missed! She stretched up on her tiptoes and grabbed the bottom of the spine, very gently trying to not too much pressure on it – she didn't want it to tear.

"Belle, dear?"

Shoot! Belle gave one quick jerk with her pointer finger and let the book tumble into her arms.

"Belle? Are you in here again, love?"

"Yes!" Belle scurried down the ladder, reaching the bottom by the time Mrs. Potts figured out exactly where she was.

"Belle, you're supposed to be with the washerwomen! What're you doing in here?"

"Oh, is it eleven already?" Belle looked around for a clock. "I'm so sorry, I can stay later today."

"Now dear, don't worry about it. Cassandra was on hand, so we sent her over. But you've been losing track of time often these past few months – that isn't like you. Is everything alright? Are you feeling well?"

"Oh, Mrs. Potts." Belle sighed. Mrs. Potts was always so kind. "I feel fine I'm just a little…restless, that's all."

"I would've thought living with your father would've kept you very busy indeed." Mrs. Potts looked at Belle's arms. "As well as rummaging through the Queen's things!"

"I wasn't rummaging!" Belle insisted. "And I was going to give it back, just as soon as I was done."

"I know, dear. You're no thief. But tell me, what can be done about this restlessness?"

"I just feel cooped up in the castle sometimes. And I know this is a wonderful job, and I am so grateful for it! I just wish sometimes I could go beyond it, and see something more exciting."

Mrs. Potts paused for a moment. "Sadly, we don't have too much work for daredevils and adventurous girls." She chuckled. "But we do have something that would allow you out in town."

"Really?" Belle asked excitedly. "What is it?"

…

Ariel looped her skirts over her arm as she stooped to pluck a shell from the water. She examined it carefully to make sure there were no little creatures using it as a home. Finding none, she dropped the shell in her bag and waded deeper.

There was a pressing feeling that there was somewhere she had to be, or something she had to do, but neither her parents nor her governess, Carlotta, had been out to yell at her yet so she figured she at least hadn't missed anything yet.

Besides, thanks to her curse, she wasn't obligated to be at many things anyways. Her parents feared putting her in groups of people in case someone were to fall in love with her. Ariel was still sometimes annoyed by it, being kept out from small parties or forced to go up to bed early at balls. She was so often supervised at these events that they weren't that much fun anyway. She could speak with her sisters, or her small group of friends, but never anyone new.

Ariel understood why it had to be this way, of course. Her greatest fear was her curse coming true, and being forced to take a life, especially the life of someone who loved her – and someone whom she may even love back. She didn't know exactly how the curse would work, or how hard it would be to resist, if possible at all. She hoped she would never find out.

Another shell – no friend in this one either. She put it in her little red bag and continued on. She had given up on holding her hem, being waist-deep in the water at this point. Pushing her hair back, she dove under, enjoying her time in the water. She closed her eyes and held her breath and swam as far forward as she could before having to come up for air. She flipped her hair back and waited for the water to run past her eyes. When she opened them, there were sails on the horizon.

Oh. That's what was happening today.

…

"What's Ariel doing?" Aurora asked, re-braiding Rapunzel's hair.

Rapunzel looked out the window. "Is she okay?"

"Yes, she's fine! She's just six feet deep in the water."

Rapunzel laughed. "She's such a goof sometimes. I hope she'll stay close to shore."

"She'll be fine – probably looking for shells. Lord knows she has enough."

"My dress is almost done for your ball!" Rapunzel said excitedly, standing up once Aurora tied the ribbon at the bottom of her braid.

"Lemme see!"

Rapunzel revealed a full-skirted lavender gown. It was off the shoulder, with ruffles at the hem of both her sleeves and skirt.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" Aurora exclaimed, rushing forward and examining the embroidery on the bodice more closely. "This must've taken you forever!"

"I'm pretty quick at embroidery now, actually!" Rapunzel said proudly, running her fingers over the tiny birds and flowers.

"I think I know why you won't let any of the seamstresses do your gowns." Aurora laughed. "You're so good at this. Honestly, Rapunzel, it's the loveliest dress I've ever seen."

Rapunzel shrugged humbly. "Well, you know. It gives me something to do."

Aurora looked over at Rapunzel sadly, just as there were two sharp raps at the door. "Come in!" both girls echoed.

Carlotta opened the door and peered in. "Dears, it seems the prince is arriving!"

Aurora felt her heart stop in her chest. Prince Eric was here. In weeks they would be married. After years of knowing, years of waiting, she still didn't feel prepared. But that didn't matter. No matter how she felt she still had to march downstairs and meet the man who would break her curse.

…

Belle couldn't believe her good fortune! Out of all the places to be sent to, she was supposed to spend today in a book store. Queen Leah really loved to read – as evidenced by her library – and Belle's job was to pick out a few new books for her. What an honor! What a way to spend a day. Belle had been in every bookshop in town, but from a young age she had become enamored with a quaint bookshop run by an old man, and usually did most of her shopping there, when she could afford new books. Sometimes, if he was in an extraordinarily good mood, he would even let her have them for free! The two of them could sit in the shop and talk for hours about their favorite stores, analyzing books and plays and poems until the sun set and he had to go home for supper with his family. Belle knew that a more middle-aged man ran the book shop she would be in today and while she knew they wouldn't have the same warmth that there was between her and the old bookseller, she hoped they could get along as well.

'Beaumont Booksellers' was etched into a swinging sign above the door. Belle took a deep breath and pushed the door in, reveling in the dusty smell that could only mean piles of books. The shop was poorly lit, but inviting in its own way.

"Hello?" she called out.

No response.

"Hello?" she said again. "I'm here on behalf of Queen Leah-"

"Hello." A deep voice came from behind some bookshelves.

"Hi! I'm Belle-"

"Why did the queen send you?" he asked gruffly.

"Well I work in the castle and-"

"I don't need your entire life story. Why are you here?"

"I'm at the bookstore to buy books." Belle said snarkily.

"Alright, well then pick out the queen's books." He said dismissively.

Belle sneered a little. He was so rude!

Belle decided to ignore this, however, and picked a disorganized shelf of books that was far, far away from him. She criss-crossed her legs and sat down, holding a book to her nose and breathing in it's smell. "Book-y" she mumbled, giggling a little. No grumpy workers could ruin this for her!

"Where did you- hey!"

Belle whipped her head to the side as the bookseller locked eyes with her again.

"What're you doing? They're not for you to touch!" he snapped.

"It's a book!" Belle exclaimed, waving the book it little. "They're meant to be touched! How else would you read them?"

"Well yes I know that, I do run this book store-"

"You're the owner?" Belle interrupted.

He furrowed his brow and pointed at himself. "Adam Beaumont." He pointed at a sign hung up above the front desk. "Beaumont Booksellers."

"I've been in here before. The person who owns this shop was, like, fifty-"

"My father."

"What happened to-"

"He died. Any more invasive questions?" He snapped, glaring at Belle.

"I'm sorry, but you don't have to snap at me." Belle said, glaring right back at him. How could she have known?

Adam snatched the book from her hand. "Regardless, don't touch them. You're going to break the spines."

"There's no wonder no one is in here, if this is how you treat all your customers!" Belle exclaimed.

"Just the ones who come in and start snatching books as if they already own them!"

"I have to get books for the queen! The queen!"

"Are you trying to pull rank on me? Is this the military? Should I salute?" Adam said sarcastically.

"If you're going to be rude, then I'm going to just go!" Belle threw her hands back and stood up, marching out of the shop.

"Good!" Adam yelled after her.

Belle grabbed three books that were just sitting on the shelf. "And I'm taking these!" she yanked open the door. "Send your bill to the queen!" the door crashed shut behind her, sending the bell of ringing.

Adam stood, arms crossed, fuming, until the ringing of the bell ceased to the silence he was far more comfortable in.

Belle angrily stomped back to the castle, books tucked under her arm. She peaked at what she had gotten – MacBeth, King Lear, and Othello. That must've been the Shakespeare shelf. That was a bit of a lucky break – almost everyone liked Shakespeare. Even if Queen Leah had already read them, she'd surely be happy to read them again.

Taking a deep breath, Belle calmed herself. Sure, Adam was rude and hot-tempered, but there was another bookshop in town and she never had to see him again. She had never met him before, so he must not be in town very often. She scoffed. Probably too anti-social.

Eventually, she reached the castle, and took the books straight to Mrs. Potts.

"Oh, find anything good, dear?" Mrs. Potts asked cheerfully.

"Yes, I found some plays. She may've already read them, but I figured I should probably figure out what the queen likes to read before branching out too much."

"That's fine, these look lovely, thank you." Mrs. Potts said happily. "And I'm sure you'll find even better stuff tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow?" Belle exclaimed. "I thought this was just my task for today!"

"Oh no!" Mrs. Potts shook her head. "We're constantly trying to fill up those bookshelves, and Queen Leah sends books to many of her friends. We can never have enough!"

"Well," Belle asked gently, trying to seem ungrateful. After all, Mrs. Potts probably thought this was her dream job. "Do I have to get books only from Beaumont Booksellers?"

"Well the other shop in town hardly ever has much of anything, dear." Mrs. Potts placed she books down and began rifling through some papers. "You can check there, I suppose, but you'll have to go back to Beaumont. That Adam has real knack for finding books!"

Belle bit her lip.

"I'm so happy you had such a successful day! I knew this task would be perfect for you."

…

Aurora clasped her hands together and took a deep breath to steady herself. Prince Eric's ship had just docked a minute ago, and she watched people begin to disembark. She didn't even know what her future husband looked like! But as a crowd of people moved towards her, two men took the front. One was tall, with brown hair and a blue tunic. The other was darker haired and darker skinned, in a white linen shirt. Both were certainly attractive, but her preference took right away. She just didn't dare to move to one, for fear her husband would be the other.

"Oh, Prince Eric. It's so delightful to have you hear." Queen Leah stepped forward and offered her hand to the black-haired one.

"Queen Leah, it's a pleasure to meet you. My mother says we've met before, but I'm afraid I was far too young to remember. She sends her love. My father does as well."

"I will be sure to write them straightaway, let them know of your safe return." Queen Leah took a step back, and King Stephan paid his respects as well.

"May I introduce my daughter, Aurora."

Eric did a quick scan of the three daughters. They all looked to be roughly the same age – one had beautiful green eyes and an impressive head of hair. One stood tall and poised. The last was dripping wet and gave him a weak smile that was not quite an apology, not quite a challenge. He couldn't help but smile a little. But Queen Leah gestured towards the tallest one, and Eric took that to mean this was his wife.

"Lovely to meet you, Aurora." He kissed her hand.

"You as well, Eric."

"And may I introduce my right-hand man?" Eric placed a hand on the brown-haired boy's back and pushed him forward. "This is Duke Philip. We basically grew up together. I don't know if I've spent a day apart from him."

"Your highness, lovely to meet you." Duke Philip kissed Aurora's hand, and then greeted her two sisters, and then her parents.

"It's lovely to meet you as well, Philip." Aurora said. "These are my sisters, Rapunzel and Ariel."

Eric chuckled again at Ariel's state.

"I do hope you'll forgive my sister." Aurora said, a little embarrassed. "She's just come from the sea."

"Yeah." Eric laughed again. "I can see that."

"Well, lunch is approaching soon and I'm sure you're all positively famished!" Queen Leah said cordially, trying to break any lingering awkwardness. "Aurora, why don't you show Eric around the grounds a bit? Just for an hour or so?"

…

Adam angrily tucked the books just where they had been before. Who was she, just barging in here? Grabbing books? Yelling at him for trying to run his store, his way? Interrupting what he was in the middle of?

Shaking his head and pushing some one the books of the top of a shelf, Adam stomped towards the back of the store. At least she was gone now, right? And after the way he treated her, he highly doubted she would ever come back.

Returning to his fathers – uh, now his – office, Adam sat down in the desk chair again. He pulled out the one portrait his family had been able to afford commissioning. It was faded, and torn a bit in a corner, but it was still lovely.

One year ago, today. Adam thought sadly. It's already been a year…

…

"So, Eric?" Aurora asked. "How was your trip over? I hope it wasn't too terribly long."

"Oh, not at all!" Eric said cheerfully. "If anything, I wish I could've extended it a few days." His face dropped quickly when he realized how she could take that. "Not that I wasn't excited to get here. Because I was. To meet you. But I just like sailing, that's all I meant."

Aurora giggled a little. "I'm glad the trip was smooth. Here, let me take you through the gardens."

"The trip wasn't too far – only three days – and each day was just perfect sailing weather!" Eric exclaimed. "The wind in your hair, the salt in your face – it really just makes you happy to be alive, doesn't it?"

"Oh yes, I'm sure." Aurora agreed to be polite – she didn't care too much for the water. But Eric seemed to love it a lot, so she didn't want to insult him.

"Hey, maybe we could go out sailing sometime? Maybe tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is the ball."

"Right! A different time."

"Yes, a different time." Aurora politely agreed again.

"Great." Eric ran his hands over a flowering bush in the garden. "So, uh, tell me about yourself."

"What would you like to know?"

"Anything, really. My mother has told me a bit about you, but, obviously, we haven't really talked. I know you're a year older than I am, that some of your embroidery is hanging in the great hall. You like riding horses and spend a lot of time outside. But that's about all I know."

Aurora nodded. "Well, that's all true, so that's good. I don't get to spend nearly as much time as I'd like now, just on account of not being a child anymore. If I'm going to be queen then I have to be well-prepared, so I spend a lot of my days with my tutors, or brushing up on my history in the library, or shadowing my parents."

Eric nodded. "That sounds like a lot of work."

"Well, I'm sure your upbringing was similar."

Eric shrugged at this. "In a way. I had tutors, of course, and I do like to read, but my older brother is first in line for the throne so I suppose I never had the same pressure as you. Of course, I'll be helping you run the country, so I did have my own lessons and I've prepared and all. But was your land and your people before I ever got here, so I guess I always figured you'd be taking the lead."

Aurora shrugged a little. "I suppose that's true."

"The gardens are very lovely. It's clear a lot of work has gone into them."

"Oh, yes!" Aurora exclaimed. "I oversee most of the gardening work. We have people in here every day, except for winter."

"They're beautiful!" Eric smiled. "Are the beaches nearby? We brought a small sailboat with us as well, and I'm trying to see where I can take it out."

"They're down there." Aurora waved. "I think I better get inside and see how the food is coming along."

…

Rapunzel loved helping out in the kitchens – it gave her something else to do. And so many wonderful things happened in a kitchen – cookies were made, veggies were stewed, hams were roasted. There were dangers in the kitchen as well, and while Rapunzel was hyper-conscious of this, she figured it was a risk worth taking. After all, she couldn't miss out on all of life just to keep herself safe, right?

"Stuff is coming along great!" Rapunzel said cheerfully as Aurora walked into the kitchen.

"Great!" Aurora said, leaning against the counter next to Rapunzel.

"Careful." Rapunzel pointed to a nearby knife.

"Oh." Aurora said, shifting a little. "Well, what do you think of Eric?"

"He's cute!" Rapunzel said optimistically. "And so is the duke."

"Yeah…yeah!" Aurora said, trying to keep up her enthusiasm.

"Did you guys go on a nice walk?" Rapunzel asked kindly, chopping some vegetables.

Aurora grabbed the knife that was by her and grabbed a carrot to help Rapunzel. She didn't understand why Rapunzel liked cooking so much, but she felt odd standing idly.

"So, you do like him, right?"

"I mean he is cute. And perfectly nice. Was kind enough on our walk. But it has only been, you know, fifteen minutes. About ten of which he used to talk about the ocean." Aurora rolled her eyes, stopped cutting, and leaned against the counter again.

"He has a passion."

"Yes, well, why couldn't the passion be for something more interesting? I can't believe I'm going to have to spend the rest of my life pretending to like sand in my hair and water on face, or whatever it was that he said."

"Maybe-"

"And I don't know anything of his upbringing! Yes, he's a prince, and he was raised to act like one. And I don't mean to imply that he doesn't have any manners of something because he certainly does, but he's a second born and his brother is the intended for the throne. Why couldn't I have married him?"

"Because he's already married."

"Details. I'm sure that being cursed by a witch has lowered my stock, or whatever, but I feel like our parents could've held out for a first born, maybe from a less prominent country. And he's so young!"

"I think being cursed by a witch make us more interesting!" Rapunzel said, grabbing another carrot to cut.

"I don't care what it makes us, I'll just be glad when I can get my kiss and get this whole curse out of the way."

Rapunzel wanted to say something here. It was terrible with the second worst curse. Aurora's was ominous and high stakes, but after only one kiss she would be free of it forever. Once her marriage to Eric was sorted, it would only really affect her for a day. Not even. An hour. Maybe just a minute, if she woke up straightaway. She had to carry the burden of knowing she was the only source of physical healing for her family, ever. They had no other ability to care for themselves. Even small injuries turned life-threatening, as bandages and medicine were ineffective. She could make her family better in seconds, but that pressure was forever on her shoulders. And how was she to complain when there was a worse curse? Ariel could never know romantic love, as she was cursed to kill whoever proclaimed their love for her three days after they said it. She was kept from events, and ushered away from any available men. How could she complain?

So instead she just nodded and agreed. "It'll all be over for you soon."

"Oh, Rapunzel. I'm sorry." Aurora said quickly, somehow still picking up on everything Rapunzel was thinking. "I didn't mean to be so insensitive."

"Oh, not at all!" Rapunzel said. "You're going through a lot right now."

"It's just-" Aurora flicked her wrist, forgetting she was holding the knife, and sent it sailing at her feet. "Ow!" she exclaimed, yanking up her skirts. The knife had cut her ankle.

"Here!" Rapunzel said, pulling out her braid.

Aurora lifted up her leg. While the cut itself was not terribly deep she did not have the ability to heal herself so her blood did not clot, and ran over the cut and down her hems. Rapunzel wrapped her hair around it and it began to glow, healing the cut within seconds.

"Please, be careful!"

"Thank you, Punzie." Aurora said, hugging her sister.

Rapunzel sighed. "You're welcome. I think we've done enough for one day. I think I'm gonna go paint."

…

"You've gotta be careful around here!"

Eric turned at the sound of this warning and the splashing that accompanied it.

"Ariel!" He laughed again.

"I'm serious!" she exclaimed, ducking so she was shoulder deep in the water. "There's a patch of coral like four feet from you. Don't step in it."

"Oh!" Eric said, craning his head to see that, between seaweed, there in fact was.

"What're you doing here – I thought you and Aurora were taking a stroll?" Ariel asked, plucking out another shell and holding it up to her eye.

"We did!" Eric said, pulling off his boots and wading into the water. "What're you doing?"

"I'm working on a project – I glue shells on basically everything in my room." Ariel held open her canvas bag to reveal several other shells.

"Oh wow!"

"My mom probably wouldn't be fond of that, but she doesn't know, so it's okay."

"Do you put it on jewelry boxes?"

"Yeah, but those are all covered. Right now I need tiny ones to glue to my wall."

"You might not want to let the queen see that, yeah." Eric chuckled, but pulled up a few shells and tipped them into her back.

"She usually doesn't come into my room. Something about ignorance being bliss."

Eric chuckled again and shook his head. She was funny. "Won't your mother be upset about you being wet for lunch? It's pretty soon, I think, and you are quite literally immersed in the ocean."

"This is true!" Ariel agreed. "And she wasn't thrilled when I met you like this – sorry."

"Don't apologize, it was funny."

Ariel smiled. "But in my defense, I did forget that you guys were coming in today."

"It was either going to be today or tomorrow – the sailing just happened to be extra good."

"So, I figure, I've already gotten my share of wrath. And you don't seem to care. I'll change dresses, of course, but my hair is going to be soaked no matter if I get out now, or if I got out an hour ago."

"That seems reasonable enough. Your hair is very long." Eric nodded. While Ariel moved quickly – all graceful little darts, her hair got caught in the water and dragged for a few seconds behind her.

"I see you brought a sailboat." Ariel continued. "Well, you came in a big one. But I saw you dragged a smaller one behind you."

"That's true."

"Is it up for grabs?"

"What do you mean?"

"Can I use it?"

"Do you know how to sail?"

"I know enough." Ariel nodded, confidently. "I've been out a few times, and done it by myself twice."

"Alright, just let someone go with you. At least the first few times."

"Okay, you can come with. It is your boat, after all, I suppose you're implicitly invited."

…

"Oh, Aurora!"

Aurora paused and turned to see Philip walking up towards her.

"I mean, Princess." He bowed.

She curtseyed.

"A-are you okay?" he asked quickly, pointing at the blood at her hem.

Aurora yanked back her hems, having already forgot about the incident in the kitchen. Injuries were common and gory around here – especially with the sort of antics that Ariel found time to regularly get into.

"Oh, oops!" Aurora said, trying to be as nonchalant as one could be with a skirt covered in blood. "I just had a small cut. It's taken care of, I'm fine. Thank you, though."

"Good, I'm glad." Philip nodded. "May I have a minute of your time?"

"Of course."

"Well, I just wanted to introduce myself properly. I am Duke Philip, I am the prince's 'right hand man', so to say."

"Lovely to meet you."

"It will be my job to help organize everything for the wedding and your marriage."

"Oh, there isn't a wedding officially. Yet." Aurora said quickly.

Philip smiled. "I am aware, Princess Aurora. Whenever you are ready to proceed with the union, simply let me know and will tell Eric to propose." Philip paused, as if he was waiting for Aurora to give him the go-ahead now.

"Very well." Aurora said diplomatically.

Philip gave her a quick nod. "Well, I do not intend to monopolize your time, Princess Aurora." He turned, but Aurora almost immediately called him back.

"Philip!" she said, and paused. "Please, just call me Aurora."

…

Their midday meal passed without incident. Ariel's hair dripped onto the floor, to the clear but silent discontent of Queen Leah. Aurora conversed with the two people to her side – Eric and Philip – alternating between the two. Rapunzel brought her lizard to the table again, feeding him bits of carrot she had chopped up. Queen Leah decided to let this go as well.

After eating, each party retired to their respective rooms for a midday rest.

Eric and Philip lounged for a bit, both too excited about their new prospects to sleep.

"So, what do you think of everything?" Philip asked.

"It's really beautiful here." Eric said, leaning back. "I knew it was bigger than our kingdom but…wow. This palace? Their coast is fantastic! I was admiring it coming in. They've got these huge sandy beaches that go up forever – landing boats but be as easy as flipping your wrist."

Philip smiled. Leave it to Eric to study the landing beaches and water before anything else. "I mean more of the marriage situation. What do you think of Aurora?"

"She's a sweet girl." Eric nodded.

"Yes, she's lovely, isn't she?"

"I don't really know her all that well, Eric. We went for a walk and had a meal together."

"I know. I was more asking for first impression." Philip said, resting his cheek in his hand.

"She's very pretty." Eric nodded. "And she seems very nice. Very poised. Queenly."

"She's been readying herself to be queen her whole life."

"And if that doesn't terrify me, I don't know what does." Eric laughed.

"What do you mean?"

"I thought I lucked out by being second born." Eric said. "Of course I'll help her run the country, I don't want anything bad to happen to her people or mine, and it should have to be all on her shoulders, but, God, I don't want to be king."

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