,,,,,,,It's not easy being the youngest.
Especially when your older siblings are in fact six [[sisters]].
Ariel loved her family, of course, but it was easy to feel [[insignificant and ignored]]Her six sisters all had wonderful talents. From training animals to collecting shells, the kingdom never wanted for excuses to praise the King's (link-show: "girls", ?girls).
[Ariel was known throughout the seas for her [[voice]].
Despite their many gifts, the sisters fell victim to the tropes that can often consume family dynamics, especially when living under the same roof. Ariel too keenly felt the constant thorn in her side; a constant [[insecurity]] for which she blamed her sisters.](girls|It's a matter of logistics. Ariel knew it wasn't personal, that everyone was kind of exhausted when it came to all her firsts, but it still felt personal.
It felt like //she// exhausted //[[them->sisters]]//. News of this voice of hers even reached the bowls of the ocean, the humble abode of one sea witch.
Ursula, as the dreaded one was known, had already examined the potential worth of such a talent and how she could use it to advance her maniacal [[schemes]].Sometimes, these insecurities would manifest themselves into petty acts of (link-show: "rebellion", ?rebellion).
[After one particularly [[exhausting dinner]] in the meal hall, Ariel ran up to her room, slamming the door behind her. After her frustration simmered for a bit, she hatched a brilliant plan for (link-show: "revenge", ?revenge).](rebellion|
[The way she saw it, she had two options. [[Mess with her sisters]] or [[take it out on dear old Dad]].](revenge|
Ariel's eldest sister coveted her ornately decorated hairbrush. This sister was known for her beauty, and her hair played a key role.
(set: $steal to true)The best that 15-year-old Ariel could think up in her cloud of fury was to steal that dreaded brush and hide it in her own [[chambers]]. After dinner, Ariel slunk off into the hallway. From there, she shuffled down corridors until she reached her destination: her father's chambers.
She pushed open the massive double doors and let them close behind her, making sure to bring her tail in quickly so that it wouldn't get pinched.
There, before her, lay the culmination of her father's power. The means by which he secured peace and order throughout the seas.
The [[trident]]. (set: $stole to false)Still consumed by her fiery anger, Ariel felt it overwhelm her as she stole the golden trident from its pedestal.
She held it before her, feeling its power quaking throughout the room.
She returned to her [[chambers->Got it]], unsure as to how the coming hours were to unfold. As she spun around her room, Ariel's eldest sister Mariana barged in, (link-show: "fuming", ?fuming).
["Ariel!" Mariana yelled. "Why on Poseidon's blue sea would you take my brush, of all things? I'm tired of your juvenile antics. (link-show: "Grow up", ?Growup)!"](fuming|
[With that, Mariana snatched back her property and left Ariel's room, slamming the doors [[shut]] behind her.](Growup|Unable to ignore the sheer force of the trident, Ariel dove out into the (link-show: "open sea", ?opensea).
[Swimming through the seaweed and coral, she found herself dragging the trident along //everything//, leaving only destruction in her path.
Not bothered enough to stop, Ariel continued on her way even as the water ahead of her grew darker and [[darker]].](opensea|As she squeezed through two rocks, Ariel realized the perks of her new toy and simply tapped the rocks, obliterating them.
Her giggle echoed through the cavern that she had created, until it joined with another, far more sinister (cycling-link: bind $sinister, "sinister", "compelling", "intimidating", "scary") laugh.
(event: when $sinister is "scary")[[[Ursula]]]The sea witch emerged from her perch, her tenticle bottom half oozing and spreading across the boulders like some tainted volcano.
Ariel had to decide to [[speak first]] or [[defer]] to the creature before her. (set: $speak to true) Ariel began to speak: "Excuse me, I've turned myself around. Who are you? Do you know where I am?"
The witch smirked and replied, "foolish child, you know who I am. I, Ursula, have been at odds with your father long before you were born."
[[defend your father]] or [[agree with her]].(set: $held to false)Ariel held her tongue, despite her tendency to word vomit when nervous or scared or (link-show: "defensive", ?defensive).
[... in this case she was all three.
Ursula loomed over her, relishing in the might of her presence when compared to this [[young mermaid]]. ](defensive|"Any problems you've had have been a result of your own failures" Ariel quickly retorted, though she recognized the (link-show: "irony", ?irony) of her defending the merman from whom she had just stolen.
["Darling," Ursula cooed, "you know that your father put a thin coat of noble paint over a vast expanse of (link-show: "tyranny", ?tyranny)."](irony|
[Ariel found that she //did// know that to be true, despite the kingdom's best attempts to mask her father's [[crimes->agree]].](tyranny|"Who isn't?" Ariel responds angrily, though immediately chastising herself for so readily siding with her. This is the sea which, after (link-show: "all", ?all).
["See, I knew you weren't like the rest of them," Ursula whispered. "You're tired of always playing by their (link-show: "rules", ?rules)."](all|
[Ariel couldn't help but [[agree]]...](rules|"It's all just so overwhelming..." Ariel trailed off, as she (finally) (link-show: "took notice", ?tooknotice) of her [[surroundings]].
[Following her gaze, Ursula abruptly closed off an [[opening]], one that looked like it housed a small (link-show: "cupboard", ?cupboard).](tooknotice|
[Regaining her composure, Ursula slyly offered, "I understand, my child. Let us embark on an endeavour that separates you from your family and allows (link-show: "you", ?you) true [[INDEPENDENCE]]!"](cupboard|
[By now, Ursula's voice had risen to a roar as her excitement grew. As the cunning sea witch was well aware, such excitment lent itself to be easily shared and (link-show: "enhanced", ?enhanced).](you|
[It was thus that Ariel, thinking she was acting of her own accord despite the heavy coercion on Ursula's part, made her (link-show: "decision", ?decision).](enhanced|
["What did you have in mind?" the little mermaid [[inquired]].](decision|Ariel had grown up listening to her nurse tell tales of the dreaded sea witch. Now, she supposed, was as good a time as any to see if any of Nan's (link-show: "tall tales", ?talltales) actually held up.
[Half-listening to Ursula's ramblings, Ariel slowly swiveled her head to get a (link-show: "sense", ?sense) for the sea witch's accomodations.](talltales|
[The lighting was scarce, but the mermaid was able to make out a shape that could only be a [[cauldron]]. one point for (link-show: "Nan", ?Nan).](sense|
[As her gaze continued, she noticed a small [[shrine]] of sorts in the corner? Odd. Nan hadn't said anything about (link-show: "that", ?that)... ](Nan|
[She shuffled backwards, again partially zoning out Ursula as she continued to go on about her father's crimes against the (link-show: "sea", ?sea).](that|
["(link-show: "ow", ?ow)!"](sea| [Ariel muttered, turning around to face... [[what is that?]]](ow|
(if: visit > 3) [Having familiarized herself with the sea cave, Ariel turned her attention back to [[Ursula->inquired]]]Ariel made a mental note to do a little more digging as to what exactly lay behind that hastily-constructed [[barrier->agree]].Ariel realized this was not a word she had heard uttered in the palace. Not once was she encouraged to find herself in the ways that Ursula seemed to offer[[...->agree]]Nothing too remarkable here, just looks like your stereotypical stewing pot for witches of any variety.
What gave it some extra ~maritime~ enhancement were the [[barnacles->surroundings]] surrounding the bottom. Alright this was (link-show: "unexpected", ?unexpected).
[Turns out, despite Ursula's deep-seated resentment towards Ariel's father she had an odd (link-show: "reverence", ?reverence) for her grandfather?](unexpected|
[Gathered on this small shelf in the cave wall were small pieces of memorabilia that were all reminiscent of King Trident's father's reign.
...[[weird->surroundings]]](reverence|Startled by the unanticipated contact, Ariel (link-show: "spun", ?spun) around, completely abandoning her attempt to appear calm and collected.
[Once her eyes adjusted, she realized she was looking at some bizarre contraption that seemed to relate to some //cleaning// process.
"bet Nan never thought to think up something like this," Ariel muttered under her (link-show: "breath", ?breath).](spun| [The shock came from her realization that the object that one would use such a contraption to clean is none other than Ursulas [[tentacles->surroundings]].](breath|"Well darling," Ursula began. "I'm sure you've learned of the two-legged humans that live above the (link-show: "surface", ?surface)."
[Ariel had been //obsessed// with the land dwellers, but her father had never let her swim up to the surface again after her 16th (link-show: "birthday", ?birthday).](surface|
[She was thrilled that such an unexpected yet powerful figure had such a shared interest[[...]]](birthday|
(if: visit>1)["Yes. The one you saved? Prince Eric is his name," declared Ursula, gleeful because of the little mermaid's [[obvious interest]].]A few weeks have [[passed]].
of course Ariel [[remembered]]. The rule in the palace was that each of King Trident's daughters, upon their sixteenth birthday, were able to venture up to the surface.
The guidelines were simple: do not engage with any of the land-dwellers, but you are welcome to (link-show: "observe", ?observe).
[Ariel's sixteenth proved no different. After years of hearing about her older sister's glorious birthday excursions, her turn had finally come. Only her moment above the waves was [[unlike any of her sisters]].](observe|
The first thing Ariel remembered was (link-show: "white", ?white)
[That was the color of the sea. The gusts of wind that buffeted the waves around her scared her. She spun her head around, trying to get a hold of her bearings when she saw something dark emerge from the crashing water. A human (link-show: "vessel?", ?vessel)](white|
[This ship had humans on it, and Ariel could tell they were in distress. As she tried to swim closer, there was a bright flash. By the time she had opened her eyes, the ship had splintered into pieces because of the [[lightning]]](vessel|=><=
FLASH!
then [[nothing->Rescue]]... With this beautiful, mysterious stranger in her arms, Ariel swam to shore. She left him on the beach, where she could see his castle towering in the (link-show: "distance", ?distance).
[She hadn't forgotten him... or his [[castle->inquired]].](distance|"Your little prince has, let's say, more than he could ever know what to do with. He's a pretty boy, but a fairly simple one. There's an opportunity there, and that's where we come (link-show: "in", ?in)."
[After the weeks she'd spent with the sea witch, Ariel had learned to sieze an opportunity when it was there for the taking. Perhaps she'd learned that before meeting (link-show: "Ursula", ?Ursula).](in|
["I'm in." Ariel declared. "What's the [[plan?]]"](Ursula|Ursula laid out the details. It was up to Ariel to choose whether to go for the prince's fortune [[together]] or [[divide and conquer]]. Ariel was still working out the details of her newfound independence. She was thrilled about having a chance to take on some responsibility in their mission, especially after [[all Ursula had done]] for her.
(if: visit>1)[The two decided she would go to the surface alone and [[report back]] to Ursula.]The little mermaid was young and inexperienced and she recognized the benefits of working directly with the Sea Witch. Ariel was all (link-show: "in", ?in)
[//The plan was simple//, explained Ursula. All Ariel had to do was go to shore and convince Prince Eric to [[fall in love]] with her.](in|The two, mermaid and sea witch, devised a (link-show: "plan", ?plan).
[Ariel was comforted by the fact that she would have regular scheduled check-ins with Ursula throughout her time [[above the surface]]](plan|While Ariel was reflecting on the boundless joys of her friendship with Ursula, she couldn't help but miss her (link-show: "family", ?family)...
[No. That's not useful anymore. Her wallowing won't help get Eric's fortune now will [[it...->divide and conquer]]](family|When the day finally came to go to the surface, Ariel and Ursula went over the plan one (link-show: "more", ?more) time.
["You understand, child?" Ursula inquired. "The way to his heart is mystery. Don't talk unless it's absolutely necessary. Once he trusts you, that's when you do what you set out to (link-show: "do", ?do).](more|
[Don't come back here until it's done."
With that, Ariel swam up through the murky water with which she was so familiar into the [[unknown]].](do|The first few days had... required some adjusting for sure.
Walking was (link-show: "weird", ?weird).
[After Prince Eric had found her on the beach that first day, he'd taken her in. The king and queen were delightfully welcoming; Ariel wanted for nothing. Now it was time to focus on the reason [[why]] she was there.](weird|The wing in the castle where she was living was (link-show: "extravagant", ?extravagant)
[The [[drapes]], her [[bedroom]], the [[balcony]]. All breathtaking.](extravagant|
(if: visit>3)[The best part of her lodging was her proximity to [[the prince.]]]The drapes for each window fell from the towering ceilings straight down to the (link-show: "floor", ?floor).
[Their embroidered edges caught the sunlight when it shone through the [[windows->why]].](floor|One of the more foreign components of the human's castle, as compared to her father's palace under the sea, was the odd variety of things in one's (link-show: "bedroom", ?bedroom).
[There were benches, chaises, and even a little footstool to get into the massive, ornately decorated bed itself.
Ariel was elated by her new [[accomodations->why]].](bedroom|This was Ariel's favorite place in the whole castle. Her balcony opened to the sea. A little part of [[home->why]].That Eric was handsome was no secret. Ariel found that she didn't have to push herself too much to enjoy his company. Her relative silence proved to not be a problem; he never seemed to tire of hearing himself (link-show: "speak", ?speak).
[Ariel could tell that she was beginning to occupy a soft spot in his heart. She smiled, knowing that Ursula would be [[proud]].](speak|Weeks turned to months, and the Prince one day took Ariel on a walk on the beach. The same beach where he had "rescued" her (and, where she had in fact rescued //(link-show: "him", ?him)//).
[He told her of the emotional (cycling-link: bind $dependency, "dependency", "craving", "reliance", "appreciation", "connection", "longing") he had formed for her ever since her arrival. He declared his love for //her//. And with that, he [[knelt]] on one knee in the sand.](him|The wedding came and went, and soon Ariel found herself quite accustomed to the master suite in that same castle. She and Eric continued to get along quite (link-show: "well", ?well).
[He still had [[no idea]].](well|It was time to re-establish (link-show: "contact", ?contact) with Ursula.
[Ariel knew just what to [[do]].](contact|She once again found herself at the beach. As she felt the sand encompassing her toes, she was struck by how bland the feeling was. She knew that the humans around her raved about that sensation, yet for her it just screamed (link-show: "mediocrity", ?mediocrity).
[But, once she ventured towards the ocean her senses exploded. Ariel hadn't touched that glorious salt water since she'd parted with Ursula. The endorphins rushed to her head upon this (link-show: "reunion", ?reunion).](mediocrity|
["Focus, Ariel," the new queen reminded herself. With that, she submerged her head underneath the [[water]] to [[summon the sea witch]].](reunion|For a moment, (link-show: "calm", ?calm).
[Ariel had forgotten the comfort that the (link-show: "sea", ?sea) brought her.](calm|
[Nevermind that. Time to [[focus->summon the sea witch]].](sea|Ariel prepared to do as she and Ursula had decided, all those weeks ago. Her instructions were simple: grab a shell off of the sea floor and perform the ritual the sea witch had taught (link-show: "her", ?her).
[Yet, as she lowered her hand down to her feet, she found herself [[hesitating.]]](her|"What had Ursula done all this time?" Ariel muttered to herself. "Where was her hard work?"
After all, she'd sacrificed her tail, her friends, her //(link-show: "family", ?family)//!
[Not exactly a fair trade, [[is it]]?](family|The little-mermaid-turned-queen raised herself from the sea and strode towards the castle, sea witch (link-show: "unsummoned", ?unsummoned).
[She had a [[job]] to do.](unsummoned|[[....]]It was easy, (link-show: "really", ?really).
[Almost embarassingly [[so]].](really| Years later, Ariel looked out of her balcony window, onto the rolling waves. This was a view of the ocean that //she// was the first to encounter. Nestled on a rocky landscape, miles away from all she had known in her youth, Ariel's new home was hers (link-show: "entirely", ?entirely).
[Eric's wealth had allowed her to make herself quite comfortable. She was in her own place, truly independent for the [[first time]].](entirely|=><=
THE END.=><=
Under and Over the Sea
by Eleanor Lilly
[[play->Meeting Ariel]] Ariel and Ursula had spent the days planning their ascent to the (link-show: "surface", ?surface).
["Ursula," Ariel started, "what exactly is our plan once we get to land?
"Oh, my little mermaid," Ursula whispered softly, "do you remember the prince you [[saved]] on your sixteenth birthday?"](surface|With Ursula's blessing, Ariel departed for the shore. Upon her arrival, Prince Eric was actually on his morning walk with one of his (link-show: "siblings", ?siblings).
[Quick to save the damsel in distress that Ariel //obviously// was, Eric ran to her side on the beach and assured her that they'd welcome her graciously [[at the castle]]](siblings|As the days turned to weeks, Ariel found herself quite at (link-show: "home", ?home).
[The wing in the castle where she was living was (link-show: "extravagant", ?extravagant)
[The [[curtains]], her [[room]], the [[porch]]. All breathtaking.](extravagant|
(if: visit>3)[The best part of her lodging was her proximity to [[Eric.]]]](home|The curtains for each window fell from the towering ceilings straight down to the floor.
Their embroidered edges caught the sunlight when it shone through the [[windows->at the castle]].One of the more foreign components of the human's castle, as compared to her father's palace under the sea, was the odd variety of things in one's (link-show: "bedroom", ?bedroom).
[There were benches, chaises, and even a little footstool to get into the massive, ornately decorated bed itself.
Ariel was elated by her new [[accomodations->at the castle]].](bedroom|This was Ariel's favorite place in the whole castle. Her balcony opened to the sea. A little part of [[home->at the castle]].That Eric was handsome was no secret. Ariel found that she didn't have to push herself too much to enjoy his company. Her relative silence proved to not be a problem; he never seemed to tire of hearing himself (link-show: "speak", ?speak).
[Ariel could tell that she was beginning to occupy a soft spot in his heart. She smiled, knowing that Ursula would be [[satisfied]] with her performance thus far.](speak|Despite herself, Ariel found that she eventually enjoyed Eric's company beyond the requirements of her (link-show: "mission", ?mission).
[So, after all their time together, when he proposed to her one day in the rose garden, she couldn't help but feel [[butterflies]] alongside her satisfaction that her mission was one step further](mission|It was time to re-establish contact with Ursula.
Ariel knew what she [[had to do]]. She once again found herself at the beach. As she felt the sand encompassing her toes, she was struck by how bland the feeling was. She knew that the humans around her raved about that sensation, yet for her it just screamed (link-show: "mediocrity", ?mediocrity).
[But, once she ventured towards the ocean her senses exploded. Ariel hadn't touched that glorious salt water since she'd parted with Ursula. The endorphins rushed to her head upon this (link-show: "reunion", ?reunion).](mediocrity|
["Focus, Ariel," the new queen reminded herself. With that, she submerged her head underneath the water to summon the sea [[witch]].](reunion|Ariel prepared to do as she and Ursula had decided, all those weeks ago. Her instructions were simple (click-append: "simple") [ (were they what she wanted?)]: grab a shell off of the sea floor and perform the ritual the sea witch had taught (link-show: "her", ?her).
[Yet, as she lowered her hand down to her feet, she found herself (link-show: "hesitating", ?hesitating).](her|[What about Eric? What did he deserve in all this? Did she... love him as [[he loved her]]?](hesitating|With a sudden rush of clarity, Ariel turned and ran back towards the castle. She could feel the force of the wind spitting off of the ocean's surface, trying to push her back towards the (link-show: "sea", ?sea).
[She didn't let it stop her though, and kept running until she was in [[Eric's arms.]]](sea|Breaking through her tears and exhaustion, Ariel told her prince [[everything]]. He forgave her, of course, as any man in love would.
The two made plans to rule from the castle (link-show: "forever", ?forever).
[All that Ariel added to the plan was a simple request: no venturing towards the open beaches [[alone]].](forever| The two lived happily ever after and their love for each other grew [[daily->first time]]. "Ariel, how nice of you to join me in my humbled abode," boomed Ursula. Her voice quaked with such force the walls of her cave loosened slightly to release a few small (link-show: "pebbles", ?pebbles).
[The people are frustrated with your father, little mermaid, and the way he's been ruling the [[kingdom->agree with her]].](pebbles|Before she even had time to think, Ariel found herself swimming towards the (link-show: "wreckage", ?wreckage).
[A flash of black caught her eye bobbing on top of the ocean. Before she could even process what was happening, the young prince was in her arms.
She [[held him]].](wreckage|Ariel fled back to her room, marveling at her new addition and tossing the trident between both [[hands]].Ariel fled back to her room, marveling at her new addition and running the brush through her [[hair]].Unable to rein in her frustration, Ariel dove out into the (link-show: "open sea", ?opensea).
[Swimming through the seaweed and coral, she found herself moving far beyond the castle's walls. As she swam, she kept replaying every moment where her sisters had made her feel less than.
Not bothered enough to stop and recognize her surroundings, Ariel continued on her way even as the water ahead of her grew [[darker and darker]].](opensea|Still not truly aware of the distance she'd traveled, Ariel kept swimming. She squeezed herself between two rocks that had suddenly appeared in her (link-show: "path", ?path).
[This space was even darker than before, and Ariel spun around as she tried to get her (link-show: "bearings", ?bearings)](path|
[Her nervous giggle echoed through the cavern, until it joined with another, far more sinister, laugh.
[[Ursula]]](bearings|The girls had entered the dining room to meet their father and all was well. A typical (link-show: "night", ?night).
[However, once the topic of conversation shifted towards Ariel's future, all (link-show: "hell", ?hell) broke loose.](night|
["What if I don't //want// to marry him, Dad?!" Ariel screamed, referring of course to her (link-show: "betrothed", ?betrothed).](hell|[ This boy was the son of one of the King's distant relatives, a boy whom Ariel loathed. His skincare routine, one could say, needed [[improvement.]]](betrothed|"You have a duty, child" bellowed King Trident. "And I won't see years of political work destroyed because of //your// (link-show: "impetuousness", ?impetuousness)."
["Listen Ariel," her eldest sister Mariana chimed in, "we all must do our duty. It isn't fair of you to pitch such a fit when we're (link-show: "all", ?all) in the same boat.](impetuousness|
["of course she'd have something to say about it," Ariel thought to herself, glowering. //No one in this family [[understood->insecurity]] her!//](all|Knowing and fearing this, King Trident had always kept Ariel on a shorter (link-show: "leash", ?leash).
[//I know she might not understand it, but it's what I need to do to keep her safe//, the king thought to himself whenever Ariel's quick temper boiled [[over->sisters]]. ](leash|Double-click this passage to edit it.