The Little Mermaid Marina Returns.

by S R Edwards

  Chapter 4.

  Melody goes missing during the night. In her place there is a letter addressed to Eric and Ariel.

  The next morning Ariel goes into Melody’s room to get her up. She sees that Melody is not there. She runs over to the bed and picks the letter up and reads it. ‘If you try to save her I will get you too!’ She takes the letter back to their room where Eric is still sleeping. She wakes him up and shows him the letter. Eric reads it and looks up at Ariel. “Tell Sebastian to tell your father we need to find her!” He says to her with urgency in his voice. Ariel nods and runs down the stairs and out of the door onto the beach. She shouts Sebastian and he comes running up to her. He wheezes and says. “Yes Ariel?” she picks him up and babbles.

  “Melody’s gone and we can’t do anything. I need to see my father.” Sebastian looks at her. “Ok wait here.” He disappears and comes back with King Triton. Ariel explains what has happened. King Triton tells her that he too had a letter saying that if he tried to save Melody he will be killed. “I’m sorry Ariel but there is nothing I can do.” He hugs her and they part. Ariel goes back to Eric who is putting his boot on. “Eric my father says that he can’t do anything so I will!”

  “Ok, wait what? Ariel you can’t you’ll get hurt.” Eric looks up at her. “We can’t do anything, anyway you know Melody she will find a way to get home.” Eric stands up and hugs Ariel. “Well I’d rather be dead than Melody. I’ve lived my life she hasn’t!” Ariel storms out of the room and down the stairs.

  Ariel runs down the beach and drags the boat out and starts to row out to sea. When she thinks she is over Atlantica she stands up and jumps into the sea. Flounder spots her and swims up towards her. They go to the surface. “I heard about Melody. I hope she’ll be ok.” He looks at Ariel.

  “Flounder I need to find her and I have a good idea where she might be but I can’t go like this. I need my father to turn me back, could you go and tell him I’ll be here. She hugs Flounder and he nods.

  A few minutes later Flounder reappears closely followed by King Triton. “Ariel what is it?” He holds her hand and smiles at her. She smiles back.

  “Daddy, I need to find Melody, can you turn me back please.” She squeezes his hands. “Ok Ariel, but promise me you will be careful. Flounder you will go with her and Sebastian you will stay with me.” He waves his trident and turns Ariel into a mermaid. The first thing she does is pull the boat to shore. Then Ariel and Flounder set off in search of Morgona.

  When they reach Morgona’s cave, they hear laughing from inside. “Ariel we can’t go in there its suicide. What if, if there’s a, a shark and you get hurt and, and no way you’re going in there alone. I’m coming too.” Flounder babbles.

  “Oh Flounder do you ever stop worrying?”

  “No, well, I just...” Ariel hugs him and laughs.

  “Oh Flounder you really are a guppy.”

  “I am not!” Flounder turns and starts to swim into the cave.

  “Flounder wait for me!” Ariel swims after him.

  When they get into the main chamber Morgona turns around. “Ariel what a surprise oh and you’ve brought Flopper to keep you company.” She laughs.

  “The name’s Flounder!”

  “I want my daughter Morgona. What have you done to her?” Ariel launches herself at Morgona, who pushes her into the wall. “Ah, ah now did you get the letter. If you want this...” She opens a door to reveal Melody’s still body. “I want something in return.”

  “What I’ll give you anything. As long as you promise to let her go.” She says as she finds a ledge to pull herself up on. “Oh you have my word Ariel.” Morgona replies. “You just take a seat.” She pushes Ariel into another room and Flounder swims in after her. Morgona seals the room and takes Melody to the surface. She lays Melody’s body on the beach and returns to the cave. When she reaches it she tells Ariel that she is a real mother for giving her life for her child.

  Mean while Eric is getting worried. He goes down the stairs and shouts Grimsby. “Grim!”

  “Yes Eric?”

  “Have you seen Ariel?”

  “Not since this morning why?” He questions Eric.

  “I’m going out.” Eric walks out of the door and down to the beach. Eric sees Melody on the beach and runs up to her. He picks her up and starts to walk back to the palace. “Melody are you ok?” Her eyes flicker at the sound of her father’s voice.

  “Dad mommm...” She falls unconscious, he walks through the door and shouts. “Grimsby help!” Grimsby comes running in.

  “What now Eric? Dear lord!” He takes Melody from Eric.

  “Grim take her into her bed room. I’m going to find Ariel and I know exactly where to look.” He walks out of the door again and gets into the boat. He finds Ariel’s dress stuffed under the seat. “Yep I know exactly where she is.”

  Back at the cave Morgona is slowly suffocating Ariel and Flounder. When she hears a bang, she looks up to see Eric with a harpoon! He points it at her and she laughs. “Looking for your sweetheart?” Eric’s eyes widen and he starts to swim away. “Oh Undertow!” Undertow comes out of nowhere.

  “Yes Morgona?” He looks at her and smiles. Morgona points at Eric. Undertow laughs. “Ooh my favourite prince to go.” He swims towards Eric and tries to bite him but Eric is too fast. He reaches the boat just in time. He shouts at the top of his lungs. “King Triton, Sebastian, Flounder, anyone!” Then suddenly King Triton appears.

  “Yes Eric have you found Melody?” Eric looks at him and shakes his head.

  “No Melody’s at home its Ariel.” He points to the cave entrance.

  “Oh right.” King Triton turns around and swims into the cave.

  “I knew it wouldn’t be long before you came King Triton.” Morgona laughs and opens the door to show Triton Ariel. “Let her go!”

  “I can’t do that she gave her life for her daughter’s. A loving gesture don’t you think?” She laughs and he points the trident at her. “Let her go now!” he fires a bolt at her and she falls to the floor. “Ariel!” He swims over to her and she smiles at him.

  “Where’s Flounder?” Flounder lifts his fin up.

  “Here I am, I’m ok.” They all laugh and swim to the surface.

  When they get to the surface Triton turns Ariel human and Eric smiles. “Here honey put some clothes on.” He hands her the dress. She puts it on and thanks her father once again. They go back to Melody and she looks a bit weak but otherwise fine. The family are in no more danger or so they think.