A/N: This is the first chapter of my Peter Pan/Ariel crossover. I'm planning somewhere from 20-25 chapters (maybe more, maybe less). I would like to thank all the people who read, reviewed, or PM'ed me about my Percy/Annabeth one-shot. You guys are awesome, and you continue to inspire me to write! Love you all!

Disclaimer: All characters belong to their respective owners

Chapter One- Rebellious

"Ariel, I just don't know what I'm going to do with you!" King Triton said. "How many times must I tell you? You must never go up to the surface-it's dangerous. You could have been seen by one of those barbaric humans!"

"Daddy! They're not barbaric!" exclaimed Ariel, a fiery, red-haired mermaid. Her tiny form was quaking with anger and her blue eyes flashed dangerously.

"Ariel! How can you say humans aren't barbaric when they were the ones that killed your own mother? You are forbidden to return to the surface, and if I ever hear of you disobeying my orders. . . so help me Ariel!"

The little mermaid quivered as her eyes filled with tears and her jaw started to tremble. She balled her hands into fists and quickly turned, her green tail flashing briefly before she darted out of father's throne room.

"Do you think I was too hard, Sebastian?" the king asked, turning to his most trusted advisor, a crab.

"No, you High-nees. Eet iz her nat-rool inst-eenct to be curious about de hyoo-mans. Eet iz in her blood after all, Sire" the crustacean replied.

"I know, Sebastian. That's why I must shelter her from the human world. It is too dangerous if she finds out what she is capable of. Her powers are enough to alter the course of the world, both mer-folk and human.

After swimming out of her father's grand throne room, Ariel swam towards the servant's quarters, which was located in the back of the castle. She looked around to make sure no one was watching before she darted down a corridor. When she reached the end of the passageway, she opened a door and quietly slipped outside.

Ariel sighed in relief and swam past the colorful coral and other various types if sea-plants that made up the palace gardens. When she reached the looming, golden gates that surrounded the castle, Ariel checked in both directions, her eyes scanning the water for patrol guards. When she could find none, she swam over the top of the gates.

She swam as fast as she could until the palace became a tiny, golden dot behind her. Slowing down, Ariel looked around her. There were various types of colorful coral, with purple and blue sea anemones attached to them. Fish darted in and out of the green and red seaweed, and orange starfish clung to the grey rocks. A large oyster opened its mouth to reveal a small, white pearl.

After swimming for about a mile or so, Ariel stopped at a cluster of rocks. Using all of her strength, she pushed a small boulder out of the way. Behind the rock was a hidden cavern. It was filled with treasures from the human world. Ariel loved to explore sunken ships and collect bits and pieces. It connected her with the human world and flamed her burning desire to know more about these strange creatures. Ariel kept her many treasures in the cavern, for fear her father would discover them.

Ariel swam to the back of the circular room and moved aside a ship's compass, a box of silverware, and a painting of a sunset. Tucked inside a crevice was a small wooden chest with a strong metal lock. Once while poking around the castle's attic, Ariel had found it hiding beneath a kelp basket.

Ariel moved the chest to a large, flat rock that dominated the sand floor of the circular cavern. Light filtered in from an opening at the top of the tall room, and bathed everything in a heavenly glow.

Ariel removed her necklace- a small, bronze key that hung from a chain on her neck. The necklace had been her mother's, and Ariel salvaged it after her mother's death, not knowing that it actually opened something.

Sliding the small key off the chain, Ariel slipped it into the lock on the chest. Both the chest and key had "ALR" engraved on them. The letters represented Ariel's mother's maiden name, Athena Lorena Rainier.

Ariel felt the key turn and the lock click as it came undone. She lifted the lid of the chest and removed three items: a black and white photograph, a small leather diary, and a piece of rose colored material. All of the articles were incased in plastic covering, and the pages of the journal had individually been coated in a hard, clear sealant.

Ariel laid the three items side by side on the rock. She gazed at the photograph. It showed her mother as a teenager, her long, red hair in a braid that curled around her shoulder and her freckles lightly dotting her nose and cheeks like an exotic spice. She was smiling a beautiful smile, her white teeth seeming to sparkle.

Next, Ariel picked up the diary and opened it to a well-worn page. She read the entry, dated years ago, to when her mother was twenty two.

"Today is my last day as a human," it started. "Tomorrow, I shall be joining Triton in his underwater kingdom as a mermaid. Not only will I be a mermaid, but I will be the queen! My transformation is tonight, and my wedding and coronation are tomorrow. Who would have thought that a poor, orphaned girl like me would one day end up being a mer-queen?"

"I am nervous for my transformation. I hope it doesn't hurt too much. Triton has also warned me that once I am a mermaid, I will never be able to change back to a human. But I love him with all my heart and I want to do this for him and for myself. I'm worried though- being human is all I have ever known!"

Ariel closed the diary, put the journal and the photograph in the trunk, locked it, and grabbed the key. She swam out of the cavern with the pink material pressed against her chest.

"See Mom? Everyone has their secrets. Even you," Ariel said as she swam towards the surface.

Haha a little cliff-hanger. I am working on chapter two, but it might be a while before it's posted. I am on vacation and it is hard to post new chapters and stories. Thanks so much for reading and make sure to check back! By the way, Ariel will meet Peter in the next chapter. I was also hoping somebody might be able to explain to me how to post new chapters to existing stories. I don't really understand how they describe it on fanfiction, but I can try to see if I can figure it out.

Love, imaginathatt