Here's my interpretation of what happened in The Little Mermaid 2 when Ariel steps into the little pool of seawater at the base of the walls. I watched the movie and mostly hated it, but I thought that moment was a brilliant moment, and I felt it just needed to be expressed in words. Enjoy.

From behind the great stone walls that surrounded her, she could hear the tantalizing sound of the waves breaking upon the walls on the other side, crying aloud in that wild, piercing, liberated sound that set the blood coursing faster through her veins. As the voice of the sea thundered in her ears, she found herself instinctively turning to try and catch the sight of the water as it moved and breathed and glistened in the twilight, but at every turn her vision was blocked by the same pale gray stone. For the hundredth time, she cursed the luck that had caused her to bring this torture upon herself.

She had known, of course, that it would be like this. She had known that it would be difficult. But she could not have foreknown the way the sea would call to her every waking moment, whispering itself into her sleep so that she often dreamed that she was back among the waves, swimming deeper, deeper, deeper into the liquid world of blue. If she could have only seen how it would feel to have half of her world removed from her grasp, to have her wild mermaid blood constantly rebel against her human body, then perhaps she would have made a different choice. Sometimes, on nights like this when the moon was full and the wind blew salty from the sea, she thought that she would forsake her new life and family, just to go back. Sometimes.

Ariel wandered along the side of the castle, trying to ignore the sounds of the party that was being held inside. She couldn't really blame Melody for not wanting to attend - the truth be told, she didn't really care for these big social gathering either. But she wanted to give her daughter the chance to be introduced to refined society in the proper way - she was the princess, after all, and it would be good for a princess to set a good example. Not like she herself had ever set a good example when she was that age.... but one could always hope that one's children would turn out better than oneself. If only she could find her daughter now, then the ceremony would begin, and life could - hopefully - go on as normal.

It seemed that Melody was nowhere near by, but tonight Ariel could not bear the thought of tearing herself away from the sound of the sea to go back among her chattering and noisy guests. Just a little longer.... another minute.... surely everyone else could take care of themselves until then.

At the base of the gray wall, the sea crept in through a grate and formed a small pool - just a taste of what lay beyond the wall, not enough to satisfy the longing that rose within her, but it was something, anything. She didn't know if she dared, but the next moment she didn't care if she dared: she was already slipping her feet out of her shoes. So what if those were the feet she had longed so desperately for? At that moment she would have thrown off every trace of humanity, just to be reunited with the sea.

Her toes touched the blue green water, making delicate ripples on the surface, and her feet sank into the pool. It seemed like at that touch, a bolt of sea-wild electricity raced up her body, a jolt of remembering. How long had it been since she had felt the sea? Too long! Oh, she must go back, must immerse herself completely in the waters of her home. She must do it now, or she never would!

Wait, she told herself firmly. Wait for just a little longer. You will return someday. For now just breathe. Let yourself feel it, but don't let yourself be taken over by it. Breathe.

She didn't allow herself to think about what would happen if someday never came.