(Fairy Tale Rewrite)

The frigid air swept across the sand dunes as the waves hammered the coastline. Ariel watched the waves with her neral optic scanners and read what was picked up in the air. Dimethylsulfoniopropionate, dimethyl sulfide, decomposing organisms, and salt. Closing her eyes, she tried to imagine what all of that combined would smell like. But with no nasal receptors, she just had to pretend that it was pleasant.

She opened her eyes again, blinking at the bright ocean light. It looked pleasant.

Suddenly a voice in her head made her jump.

"Lady Ariel, your father is looking for you. Again. I really wish you would just stay close, especially given your current state."

Rolling her eyes, areal reached down and with hands hovering over the controls, she moved her personal hover chair around and off the beach, back to the drainage hole just a few meters away.

"Sebastian, I thought I told you not to breach my internal comms unit while I'm off the grid."

"I shouldn't even let out off the grid to begin with but here we are so don't give me that lip and come see our father."

Smirking Ariel made her way into the drainage hole and lifted a grated gate and lowered herself into the dark of her home, Dionamuh (Die-on-ah-muh), the forgotten city of the leftover android servants of the Humans.

"Someone is a bit on the crabby side today. Did you forget to reboot overnight?"

"We are not talking about me right now. You have no idea how close I am to frying your circuits right now."

Ariel laughed, weaving her way in and out of the walkways and alleyways of the bustling, damp, sparsely city. It was getting hard to hear Sebastian as the sounds of air pressured pipes, small robots, and other androids talking.

"Tell the mighty Trident that I will be there as soon as I can." Then she turned off her comms unit, regretting not doing so beforehand when she went out to go see the ocean.

Lost in her thoughts as she slowly made her way to her father, there came a small boy's voice that sounded like it was under water to her side by her feet.

"So was is raining today?"

Ariel smiled as she looked down at the little animatronic dog trotting beside her hover chair. "Not today, Flounder. But it looked like it would have smelled nice."

Flounder, a small Australian Terrier with missing patches of fur showing off his metal android body, shook his head as he sneezed, his small legs working hard to keep up with her floating chair. HIs voice sounded like a an eight year old boy speaking under water. Ariel had found him the first day she went to the beach just a few days after her accident. They have been inseparable since.

"I still think I still have sand in my circuits. Where are you going now?"

"My dad. He want's to see me. Probably to tell me off for going out again. And for missing mom's memorial performance. I figured mom wouldn't mind me seeing the ocean, in remembrance of her."

"Did you see any of the humans?"

"No, not this time." Ariel tried to keep her voice level as she glance at her friend. "Did any come to the city while I was gone?"

"Yes, actually!" Flounder skipped a few times, his little tail wagging as his head tilted from side to side. "It was the King and his son this time."

Ariel froze, her hover chair coming to a stop but Flounder didn't notice for a few seconds and went on. 

"The Prince was curious, as always, but his dad looked worried." Flounder looked up at her but that was when he noticed she wasn't there any more so he turned. Spotting her he trotted up to her as if he hadn't shocked the lights out of her. "Your dad on the other hand wanted to give him a performance at dinner but you weren't there...

Ariel winced, her chair slowly starting up again. "THE Prince Eric?" Letting out a sigh she pulled up to the much nicer part of the city where the androids who were once human were given honorable living for being such good servants. "Of course it was tonight of all nights that the Prince came."

Flounder looked up at her, his head tilted to the side a bit. "Oh don't worry. He's going to come by again tomorrow."

Ariel gave him a questioning glance. "What do you mean?"

Suddenly there was a squawk of a bird, making the both of them look up. A seagull with piercing red eye lenses came to land on a gate pillar, his feather drawn body shining with the lights of the nearby houses. Ariel couldn't help but feel excited seeing her only friend that connected her to the human world without the fear of being ruthlessly judged or turned in to her father. Scuttle turned his head side to side as he looked at Ariel and Flounder with each of his eyes.

"I told him."

Ariel looked between her two animalistic friends with contempt. "And when were you planning on telling me."

Scuttle took a few steps and turned his head from side to side. "We just did."

Rolling her eyes and sighing, Ariel couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, thank you. But I would like to know ahead of time so I can actually see him this time."

Flounder barked and his tail wagged hard again. "Oh no you definitely will see him tomorrow, the King wants to meet all of Triton's creations. And that includes you!"

Ariel felt sick but shook her head as she moved her hover chair through the brighter and nicer streets of the Elect androids. "No, no, no, he can't see me. I'm just happy enough looking at him from afar. He doesn't need to know that a freak has been sneaking around him...uh..."

"Checking him out," both Scuttle and Flounder said at the same time.

Ariel blushed. "Anatomically he is quite nearly perfect. I just wonder sometimes if it is ever possible for an android to look that good and if he would notice me if I ever looked like him."

"I would be freaked out if I saw another dog that looked just like me."

Ariel laughed. "That's not what I meant. I mean like....what if I looked human? Would he know when I went up to him that I wasn't like him? That I was still me but enough like him for him to be interested in me?"

Scuttle flew off his perch and landed on Ariel's lap. "You make my head hurt, sweetheart. Just stay at the palace tomorrow and be introduced to him like any of your other siblings will be. It's not like he's coming to pick a bride."

Ariel smirked, whispering under her breath, "Not that I would mind that anyway."

Scuttle gave her a glance out of the corner of his eye despite not being able to do so. "I heard that."

Ariel gave him a sweet smile as Flounder spoke up. "Did you bring any news from the humans today?"

Ariel gave the bird a true smile, his reason of coming her suddenly returning to her. "Oh yes, Scuttle, please tell me what you learned of the contraption I showed you yesterday."

Scuttle nestled on her legs as they continued to slowly make their way to the palace castle, it's lights throwing yellow, green, and blue tints all around it's underground city and it's occupants.

"Well, at first it seems as though what you found never existed, but then I found a place full of them. They were everywhere!"

Flounder barked. "Well, what were they!"

"Bracca-Braccas," Scuttle cooed with an air of awe and suspicion.

Ariel smiled wide. "What is it that they do?"

"They protect the wearer from being seen. You wear them and no one will talk to you or if they do it's for a short period of time. They also come in various shapes and colors. But they only sit on the eyes and the humans wear them only during the day when they need to hide from others, unlike at night where the shadows keep them hidden."

Flounder barked excitedly. "Oh man that sounds so cool! You are lucky you have some Ariel! Maybe you can use them when you want to spy on the prince again."

Ariel shook her head, making a ticking sound with her mouth. "I don't spy on him."

The two animals gave her knowing looks. She gave them shy smiles.

"Okay maybe a little bit but not enough to need to use the Bracca-Bracca. I'll save it for when I go to the surface again."

Flounder whined. "Don't do that again. Your father is going to ban you again."

Ariel winked at him as they all three came up to the front gates of the castle, the front guards slowly opening the doors for her.

"Nothing will stop me from seeing the surface oneday. I plan to live there too." She laughed at the look of worry her friends gave her. "Don't worry. Off you go, I need to speak with my father. I will see you in my rooms after supper."

"Be careful, sweetheart."

"Don't forget to ask for a new toy!"

Ariel smiled fondly to the both of them as they walked off into the direction of her room. "I won't."

Soon Ariel was left alone and found herself waiting outside her father's office doors, their great big mahogany wood the only barrier between her and her life sentence to be hidden from the rest of the world as she knew it. Missing her mother's memorial was a big deal but when she woke up that morning feeling better than usual, Ariel couldn't pass up the opportunity to spend the day on the beach, if just for one last time. To her, it was worth it and she was sure her mom would have agreed to it.

Taking a deep breath, Ariel entered her father's office with a small knock and a quiet 'hello'. Peeking her head in and looking around, Ariel found her father sitting at his desk, his long gray hair pulled back in a braid. He usually did that when he was worried about something.

King Triton was not like most androids. He had feeling and emotions, much like Ariel did but on a grander scale. He could shed tears, sneeze, burp, and yawn like any other human. When he was created to be one of the first human Prime Minister's first (and last) advisor, the technicians spared no expenses. They did routine upgrades with the best and the greatest improvements. Hair that grew but never aged or fell out, senses that never failed him, a conscious, the need to eat and sleep (of which were taken away the moment he was decommissioned), and the will to live and make choices.

He was such a wonderful advisor, a man in all but the name. He was later granted seamless skin over his metal frame and a rich deep voice void of all robotic echos. They even thought about giving him an opportunity to have his own wife and child, he was so good an advisor. But he refused. Even when permitted to live among humans and to look like them, Triton denied their offers because he did not want to be seen as better than those like him.

Some saw it as honorable and respectful. Others saw it as spiteful and arrogant. But Triton saw it as wise and quintessential. Being the highly advanced android he was, Triton knew of the Prime Minister's soon demise and his own decommission in  the near future. He did not want to be torn apart by the old toss aways for his pretty skin and leave his wife and child fatherless. Therefore he asked to be spared the great expenses, his precautions predictions coming to pass just as he had assumed.

But something else happened that he did not foresee nor ever thought possible.

In his last moments of living breath, the Prime Minister, Christiern Munk, anointed Triton as the King and leader of all androids past, present, and future. He would be given his own domain to live and rule as he pleased, just as long as he kept those androids that became contentious and out of hand out of the way of the humans. Only then will they be allowed to live peacefully and given a life of their own after services instead of left to collect dust or turned to scraps. All of this was because Triton was a loyal and wise android that used his gifts and abilities with respect and honor.

Fast forward nearly just over two centuries later, Triton still ruled with a firm hand but gentle guidance, keeping the agreement between humans and androids free of contention and ruin. Androids were now allowed a new home and thrived. At one point Triton was approached by a human, a former technician and scientist of the humans, who wished to grant him what he forwent all those years ago. Offspring.

Now intrigued and open to the idea of having children to rear of his own, Triton agreed. Thus Dr. Ursula and her team were granted access to live in Dionamuh but only until his desired children were manufactured and promised to live full lives as all the other androids were.

But Ursula was not as kind and forthwith as Triton was lead to believe. Triton had chosen a wife, Athena, and together they chose everything they wished their children to be. And they both wanted several of them, all of them girls. For each child to be programed and uploaded with the necessary attributes that a child would have with a parent, each parent was asked to give part of their personality to the child.

Each of Ariel's sisters were given one attribute of each of their parents. Athena gave Aquata patience, Andrina beauty, Arista charm, Attina integrity, Adella conviviality, and Alana meekness. Triton gave Aquata leadership, Andrina wisdom, Arista intuition, Attina composure, Adella compassion, and Alana confidence.

But this did not negate their other characteristics nor did it take away from what their parents had, those attributes were the first building blocks of their mainframes that were synced with their parents'. Unfortunately, when Ariel was nary a single program, Ursula had failed to secure the link that would transfer Athena's chosen attribute to her unknowingly last daughter and Athena became corrupt. Triton had to watch as his wife's light in her eyes left her and she became a load of metal in his arms, unmoving, unresponsive, and very much gone.

Keeping his composure, Triton alone finished the last of the mainframe construction for his last daughter, Ariel, and gave him what he thought best his wife would give her. Virtue and curiosity. From that moment on, Ursula was banned from the realm of Dionamuh and never asked to make another royal child again.

Everyone was told of her mistake and how Ursula felt no remorse nor planned to ever apologize. That was when Triton first named her a witch and sleuth her plans to corrupt him and take the android city over for her own use, of which he knew not but dared not dwell on it for it was not his problem any longer.

Dr. Ursula lived on the outskirts, her human life extended by her own experiments and her home a common lure for young, inexperienced and uneducated androids to wander into and be ensnared by her wicked lies and fateful experiments. If she weren't so untrustworthy, Ariel would have asked for her to reprogram her legs. Even so, Triton forbade it.

Ariel glided over to her father, his head still bowed over papers strewn across his desk. Though his aging was slowed to a near crawl, he looked much older today. Taking a deep breath Ariel reached out and touched his shoulder.

"Father?"

Triton looked up, his ocean green eyes peering at her with worry and frustration. "Ariel, there you are. I had Sebastian call for you nearly an hour ago."

Sebastian's vice came over a comm unit as his long face and narrow eyes appeared in a hologram on Triton's desk. "I tried, sir, but she cut off her neural communications."

Triton glared at Ariel as she gave him a shy smile. "Thank you Sebastian. Please standby, I will be in need of you soon enough."

Sebastian bowed his head then disappeared. Triton leaded back in his chair, his hands rubbing his face as he sighed.

"What am I going to do with you, my dear child."

This was when Ariel thought it was time to apologize. "I am sorry, father, I didn't think missing the memorial this once was going to hurt any body."

"Perhaps you would have done well with responsible rather than curious." Triton dropped his hands from his face, his eyes hard with fatherly concern. "You were on the surface again, weren't you?"

Ariel didn't say anything as she tried to think up something that wouldn't get her yelled at throughout all the kingdom. But her father was already turning angry. Missing her mother's memorial was one thing, but secretly going to the surface was an entirely different conversation. Doing both could only end in near destruction.

"Ariel..." the warning in ther father's tone nearly made her leave the room without being dismissed. But she liked the idea of living long enough to see Prince Eric again than to leave with the small chance of being unscathed.

Wincing slightly, Ariel answered. "Just to the beach, father. No where else. I didn't see a single human."

Triton leapt from his seat and waved his hands wildly. "But that doesn't mean they didn't see you! Do you have any idea what those barbarians could do to you? You are not a service android to be programed and used without consequence. You are my daughter and you have a mind of your own that could be ruined within an instant with the tools they have."

Ariel shrieked back, her brows pinched as she challenged herself to keep eye contact. "I know papa, but nothing happened. I'm fine. I'm right here. I won't let them near me."

"THIS time. This time you made it back safely, this time you were not seen, this time you still have the use of your body. Must I remind you what happened last time you ventured out onto the surface."

Anger built up in Ariel's core. "Do not bring that up. I apologized. It won't happen again. What happened those years ago has nothing to do with now. What happened then was my choice and I would do it again if necessary."

"There you go again, thinking about nothing but yourself. When will you think about me and what it would do to me if something happened to you. What it did to me when you left all those years ago and came back wounded beyond repair."

Ariel opened her mouth but Triton stopped her with a frightening glare she had only seen two times in her life. Once when two Prime Ministers' ago Triton was offered money in exchange for the old and useless androids and twice when Sebastian made a suggestion list of all the eligible female androids who would make excellent queens. Seeing it now made her joints rust and mind short circuit.

Triton knew what she was going to say. "Speak her name and I will ban you from ever seeing that no-good seagull spy of a friend of yours. That witch will not help you and will only make things worse. You know this."

Blinking back to reality, Arial crossed her arms. "Then how do you ever think I will learn to walk again? How will I ever find someone who will love a cripple?"

"Let us be thankful you are not next in line for the throne then, hum?"

Ariel's arms fell from her chest as her jaw dropped. Despite seeing immediate regret in her father's eyes and hearing his rushed apology, Ariel couldn't help but feel something in her chest hurt with anger and pain. With halted, robotic movements, Ariel left her father, who let her go without argument, shutting the door behind her.

Ariel leaned her head back and closed her eyes as she thought back to the last time she had the use of her legs. She had been approached by Flotsam and Jetsam, Ursula's lizard hybrid android henchmen, once or twice since it happened but she dared not get her hopes up. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the images of that fateful day flashed in her memory cortex.

It was a day of celebration on the surface. Ariel was watching from a distance as bright colors were shot into the sky where they ignited, lighting the beach around her and the fellow party goers. The ocean was calm and the air, according to her readings, seemed cool enough to be refreshing. Off to the side was a lone figure, it's manly form unmistakable against the light of the explosions and the rising moon.

This celebration was intended for Eric, but his princely duties seemed to be bogging down his mind. Ariel watched him, rather than the light show, her own mind reeling with ideas and thoughts on him and what he was thinking at that moment. Ariel had always admired the Prince. He was handsome, kind, loved animals, and always treated the androids he met on his visits to Dionamuh with awe and respect. He seemed interested in the workings of the androids and their scientific background. But it was evident his father wished for Eric to steer clear of growing attached to the idea of androids being nothing but human-like.

But due to Ariel's inherent proclivity for curiosity, she couldn't leave well enough alone. She saw a spark in him that near mirrored her own about his life that she couldn't help but be drawn to him. Therefore she found herself sitting on a rock, watching the prince think about anything but the festivity thrown in his honor.

Suddenly there was a collective uproar of gasps and screams. Both Ariel and Eric turned to the commotion, only to find people fleeing as the colorful display quickly turned dangerous. A large wave had reached up and eroded away the sand that the mount that the colorful lights shot out of, making it now fall, it's projectiles shooting every which way.

Using her enhanced abilities, Ariel watched and calculated each shot that flew near her, making sure she was at a safe distance. But Eric instantly sprang into action. Rushing toward the explosions, he became unaware of the tide and it's sudden change from calm to angry and large. It's waves growing bigger and crashing louder with every passing second. Ariel watched with stopped breath as Eric attempted to stop the mount from shooting at his friends only to be hit by a large wave.

Bothered with the idea of watching the man she came to admire getting pummeled over and over, Ariel rushed to his aid. Despite her best judgement she called out to him.

"Prince Eric! NO!"

The light show mount was still going off, it's meany casings still unused and freely fiering. Scanning each and every possible outcome, Ariel chose the one option that would lead the least amount of damage to the prince.

As he struggled for breath, Ariel dragged Eric from the waters and laid atop him as the colorful lights proceed to still go off. The mount was now pointed at them, their loud shots whizzing past their fallen bodies. Ariel spoke to him, asking him to be still and to stay calm as she promised him protection and safety.

Suddenly the whole mount exploded, shards of wood going scattering across the beach. Eric, dazed from the strong waves, tried to shield Ariel but she dared not let him see her. She shouldn't even be touching him let alone murmuring urgently into his ear. She had to save him. But not without consequence.

There was a loud crack and Ariel let out a shout of pain. One of the projectiles hit her legs, saving Eric the blow to his own limbs. Angry, excruciating pain writhed up her body as she struggled to stand. Soon she found herself singing softly under her breath as she usually did when she was worried, stressed, or scared. The beach was quiet and Eric laid on the beach unconscious from the ordeal, his dark hair falling over his peaceful face. But Ariel didn't have time to sit and gaze at him, as he was starting to stir.

Not fully aware of the full extent of her injuries, Ariel rushed off the beach as best she could while limping to her hide out and back to the underground. All the while she thought up a fabrication that would save her from being utterly torn apart by her father and older sisters. Ariel also asked Scuttle to watch after the prince to make sure he was found and taken home.

Ariel was found by her father lead by Sebastian at one of the entry ways to the outside, once she was in range of his neural communication. From that day forward, her father only knew her injury to have occurred while running away from humans who wanted to spend a day on the beach, their sudden arrival startling Ariel into forgetting to turn on her water resistant bio layer, resulting in her legs being fried.

Ariel will never allow her father to learn of what happened that day. She'd dare not give him reason to stop the peaceful interactions with the Prime Minister and his son all because she was simply curious.

Suddenly Sebastian's voice filled her mind. "Ariel, your father has asked me to keep an eye on you. Would you care to meet me in your conference room and allow me to boost your spirits about being down here, away from the ridicule of the humans."

Ariel tried to smile but it was no use arguing. "Thank you Sebastian, I'll be there shortly."

Blinking back saline tears, Ariel shook her emotions off and picked herself up. Now was not the time to get emotional. The prince was coming tomorrow and she had to make sure she wasn't there for it.

~~~~~

    Eric groaned as he sat heavily on a chair in his room. His father just left the room after a long sermon about how it was time that Eric distanced himself from the androids and his startling curiosity of their build and make up. It was time for him to be a prince and be ready to take on the role of leader of his country. But Eric didn't want to lead. He wanted to be like a little child again and sit at the tall chairs in the technicians building, watching the rows and rows of assembly line scientists mass producing androids to help keep the country clean and organized.

    Eric wanted to be one of the scientists, not a leader. He wanted to see how they worked and how far he could program them until they became their own being. That was why he was so interested in Triton's people and the city of Dionamuh.

Letting out a breath and rolling his shoulders, Eric stood, looking out his window to the beach side below. He new his father was growing sicker so it was only a matter of time. There was no use in arguing about it now. Besides, he was going down to Dionamuh tomorrow anyways to speak with Triton himself. And he planned to use that time to find the woman, who was no doubt an android, that saved him all those months ago and personally thank her and perhaps ask her to be his exclusive bodyguard, considering his new and upcoming role as Prime Minister.

That thought made Eric laugh as he left his room, his spirits lifted as he found himself looking forward to this visit with a new purpose and rapidly growing excitement.

~~~~~

Ariel kept to her last secret hideout, all her others having caved in or no longer kept secret. Buth this one in particular had all her kept trinkets that either Scuttle, Flounder or herself have found while on the surface. Oddly named things littered the walls and hung from the ceiling, bringing a smile to the young android's face.

Stopping her hover chair by the long soft bench she all but worshiped, Ariel used her upper body strength and pulled herself atop it, letting out a content sigh. The words of her father slowly ebbed away as she peered up and around at her things. Just above her was a whole covered in glass allowing her a view of the inside of the ocean floor as the waves rolled deep within it. Fish and debris floated around casting shadows in her cozy cove as the light of the day streamed through the slightly murky water.

Closing her eyes, Ariel imagined what it would feel like to be basking in the sun, feeling its warmth on her body as her hand clasped the hand of the man she knew would be both fascinated and terrified of her. But she just imagined them being friends slowly falling in love.

Love was one of the newer updates Trition had allowed Ariel to download. Pure unadulterated love. Compassion was always part of her code but each of the daughters at the age of twenty one were giving Love in hopes of finding a mate. Only the royal daughters were allowed to have mates. If their favored male partners were choses they too were given the necessary upgrades to comply with the royal daughters and their advancements. But Ariel didn't want that.

She wanted Eric.

Even for just a friend, that would be enough.

Suddenly, Ariel's eyes snapped open as she heard clicking in the pipes that lead to her cove. Grabbing the nearest object, she was ready to defend her only sanctuary. But when the door slowly creaked open, Flounder's little shaggy head popped out and his tail wagged.

"Ariel! Follow me, I have something to show you!"

"What is it Flounder? I was just about to bash you in with this jabber-tab," Ariel laughed nervously as she waved around the long wooden object in her hand. "I don't want to be seen today, remember?"

Flounder barked happily but shied way when it echoed. "Sorry. No, yeah, come on! No one will see you but you will be able to see him!"

Eyes wide and suddenly eager, Ariel pulled herself onto her hover board, the young androids circuits nearly frying without excited she was.

But a voice in her head nearly squelched it. Nearly.

"Ariel...It's bad enough I don't tell your father about this place but knowing that you are purposefully avoiding the meeting today and sneaking around will surely make me rust over."

Ariel rolled her eyes as she followed her excited pup. "Don't worry Sebastian. That's why you are an AI. If you were a real android you would have rusted over by the time Arista was my age."

"Then count me rusted five times over in another life."

"I will mourn your passing."

"Not as much as you will mourn not obeying your father."

"Sebastian he acts like I go visit Dr. Ursula on a regular basis. I just want to see the Prince without father knowing I have seen him in person already."

"You what?"

Ariel ignored his question and moved on. "I will promise to be good the rest of my days. The price may not come down here for a while after his father passes. So be a dear and don't get your circuits in a pinch."

"I am going to be scrubbed for this. But know that I told you not to go and that falling in love with a human will only bring you more pain than losing your legs. I had hoped our earlier conversation had made it into that dreaming head of yours."

Ariel tried not to let his words affect her. "Who said I was in love? I just want a friend."

Sebastian sighed. "As you wish, princess."

Relieved the AI was gone, Ariel focused on Flounder and where he was taking her. Flounder made sever twists and turns but nothing Ariel couldn't do. FInally he stopped, his nose pointing at a grate just a few feet away.

"Over there! He is speaking with your sisters and father. I'll just be over here, being super quiet."

Ariel scooped up her friend and kissed his head. "You are the best, Flounder!"

After putting him down, Ariel made her way to the ventilation grate and peered through it's slats. There, in a large conference room was her father and her six sisters all sitting around an oblong table. Eric sat at the head with a very old android model standing at his shoulder, the letters GMSBY stamped up and down his arms and legs. They seemed to be chatting pleasantly but the longer Ariel sat there listening the more she noticed two things.

One; her father and sisters pretended that she did not exist. That it was just the six of them. It didn't hurt hearing that, in fact it helped keep her identity secret about who saved him all those months ago.

And that lead her to observation number two. The prince was asking each of his sister's direct questions where they would have to answer in their robotic voices. Each one of Triton's daughters were programed with a different voice as opposed to other female androids. That was because her mother had wished they would each learn to sing and hold different parts. Despite her mother not living, Ariel and her sisters still learned to sing.

But one thing was for sure, the prince had heard her voice that day and he was trying to find out who it was. Ariel smirked despite being slightly worried. He was smart, she has to give him that much. But why he cared so much didn't make sense to her.

For the remainder of the meeting, Ariel sat there and watched, gaging everyone's emotions and body language with her optical scanner. The prince seemed to be agitated he didn't find his savior. Point for Ariel.

But the room cleared of her family members leaving Eric with his very ancient android. They spoke in hushed tones, something she could easily picked up that confirmed his plan to find her. Ariel watched him think and walk around the conference room, picking up various display items and reading their plaques as if truly interested. He even spoke with his GMSBY android, fittingly named Grimsby, about the various items and what they did and their importance to an android.

Ariel could have watched him all day fully enjoy himself learning about her people. But Flounder came up to her, nudging her foot. Looking down, Ariel's smile was wiped from her face as she noticed the worried look on her furry friend's face.

"What is it Flounder?"

"Uh...Ariel..You might want to leave."

"No one can see me here. You picked a good spot, I don't-"

Sebastian interrupted her. "Ariel...please forgive me. I misinterpreted your father's inquiries and now...please forgive me."

Though she was not installed with new physical receptors of any kind after her accident, Ariel felt her body grow cold, her hands going numb and her vision slowing down. Flounder whimpered as he bit at her hover chair, urging her to rush to the one place she felt truly herself.

With glazed eyes, Ariel entered her once beautiful sanctuary, it's tattered walls and shattered trinkets like wounds to her artificial heart. Nothing was spared, not even her long soft bench. There was a crack in the ceiling glass, fracturing the light in harsh lines around the room like it too was angry at the state of her formally cosy cove.

Tears fell freely down her face as she let her eyes move about the room. There, in the corner, laying wait in the shadows was her father. His eyes glowed yellow and his hands smoked where his energy beams powered down after being used in such a taxing lesson that was prepared in her honor. His silver hair laid messily across his face and loosely around his shoulders, his body heaving with angry breaths.

Ariel had every right to scream. To yell. To curse. To fight back. To hit him. But she just stared at him, her body not sure how to process the suddenly new information. Her world was just destroyed and all she could feel was utter and complete hatred.

Triton stood a distance from her should he dare strike her too. "How dare you," he growled deep within his core.

Ariel didn't even blink as she watched the man before her turn into a man she no longer saw as her father. She let him yell at her just as harshly as he had thrown her trinkets around. She kept her eyes on the ceiling of her cove, the cracked surface now a representation of her shell that could no longer keep her from doing the unthinkable. With a hardened resolve, Ariel flitted her gaze to the android infront of her, his seething words ever ending.

Calmly, Ariel spoke, "Are you finished?"

Triton paused, his eyes flashing green. "No, I am not. You never learn."

Not caring what he would think, Ariel backed out of the room, her eyes never leaving his. "Tell the walls. They will listen to your useless words since it was them you took your anger out on. I have no use of your condescending prejudice." Then she left, her father's voice yelling down the narrow tubes and vents.

Ariel was unfeeling. Completely unresponsive to Sebastian's urgent attempts to talk to her and apologize. She turned off her comms unit, taking her finger and making it hot enough to press to the back of her left hear, frying the system, shutting him and everyone else out. Flounder nipped at her heels but she ignored him. Scuttle even came over to peck lightly at her hands to make her see reason.

But she no longer cared. She had no reason to listen to them any longer. There was only one person she wanted to see right now and she knew who to go to to make that happen.

Flounder and Scuttle followed her and urged her to come back home for as far as they dared. Because where Ariel was going no android of any kind ever went without something bad happening. The dog and bird came to a stop at the edge of the providence, just at the cusp of a dark drop off that lead deep into a cave only lit by old android batteries that flickered omoniously.

They watched as Ariel slowly turned into a slightly speck in the darkness, their own small emotions bursting with worry for their devastated friend.

Ariel didn't flinch as she entered the darkness, following the lights to the doctor's domain. Flotsam and Jetsam creeped out of the shadows and over to her, their sharpened teeth and own respective yellow and white eyes soaking up what little light there was, glowing with an eery humor as they slithered closer.

Flotsam licked his lips as Jetsam shivered with excitement. They both crossed over each other behind her chair, each of their heads popping up on either side of her.

"Come to be cured, princess?" They coldly cooed in unison

"Just take me to her."

"It will hurt," Jetsam started.

"And will come with a price." Flotsam finished.

Together they moved in front of her, each one taking one of her hands as they spoke together. "Are you willing to change your life?"

Ariel didn't care. She had nothing to lose.

"Shut up and lead me to her."

"With pleasure," they sighed darkly.

Ariel didn't miss their shared glances as they took either side of her chair ad lead her to the dark laboratory of the woman who killed her mother.

The room Flotsam and Jetsam took her too was deeper in the cave still, but now a purple light filled the area. Swinging back two metal doors, Ariel found herself in an operating room, several metal beds and trays of tools scattered the room. It looked like it would smell cold and dank. Android parts laid splayed on the ground and pinned to walls as cords splayed like dead worms on the ground. In the corner of the room there was the sound of a woman working, her deep voice murmuring about needing a new subject.

Looks like today she got her wish.

Flotsam and Jetsam swept her into the room and bowed, speaking loudly for their leader to hear them.

"Welcome to Dr. Ursula's laboratory," started Flotsam.

"Where androids are made reporn." Finished Jetsam.

"But not without a price." They both laughed.

Ariel ignored them as the woman in the back stopped what she was doing and came into the light. Ursula was human and she was a large lady. Not only was she wide but so tall her head nearly touched her ceiling. She had dark dreadlocks that matched her skin and a nasty grin that took up her whole face. The purple light of the room made her look nearly mad. But that didn't seem hard to do.

Taking a mockingly deep swooping bow, Ursula lifted her head and grinned greedily at Ariel. "And the cripple has arrived."

Ariel didn't blink as she stared the woman down. "What do you want for you to fix my legs and make me a Nearly."

Ursula looked taken aback but recovered quickly, shooing her henchmen away. "My, my you are your father's daughter. Getting straight to the point."

Ariel hardened her gaze, her voice growing stiff. "The price!"

Ursula's smile grew. "My dear, the price alone for your legs to be recovered will be nearly too much for you."

Ariel moved closer to her, picking up one of her legs and moving it off the hover platform where it dangled. "Does it look like I care what it takes?"

The large woman barked a billowing laugh. "I like you already, and that's not good for business." Ariel didn't look amused so Ursula went on, turning her back to the girl as she walked around her lab, her white lab coat rustling behind her as she walked with long strides. "Perhaps I can make you a deal."

Ariel didn't say anything as she watched the woman walk around, her hand running across the limbs on the wall making them clank against each other.

Ursula looked over her shoulder at the princess with a raised brow. "What is it that you want exactly?"

Without missing a beat, Ariel listed it off. "Skin, physical receptors, my legs, and stronger human emotions. Not necessarily in that order."

Ursula smiled slowly, her teeth flashing in the ominous lighting. "Perfect."

She started moving things about, the sounds echoing in the low vaulted lab making Ariel slightly uneasy but she showed nothing. The doctor looked nearly ready to dance around the room but she too kept her composure, wanting to say on the young android's level of control.

"Now it will take a few hours so that alone will cost you at least a foot of your hair. Skin is two years off your lifespan. Extra emotions and physical receptors I can lump together for a killer deal of me choosing the color of your skin. Oh and your legs will cost your voice."

Ariel didn't blink as she nodded, hovering over to Ursula. "Do it."

Ursula gave a small laugh, raising her hands. "Now I know, I know it sound's a bit much but..." she paused, her eyes widening as Ariel's words clicked, "You can't be serious," Ursula's voice was small but hopeful."

"You get what you want and I get what I want. Anything else?" Ariel gave her a look of utter stoic amusement.

Ursula smiled wide and clapped her hands, Flotsam and Jetsam sleeking into the room with tools and parts bundled in their arms. "Not at all. Get yourself comfortable and this will be done in no time." Ursula turned her back and whispered to her goons. "It's like stealing candy from a baby."

But just before Ariel was powered down she saw Ursula's face and her ugly sneer. "Oh dear, there is one more thing. You have three months. That's as long as your updates will last before you can get the real ones. It's a trial run, you see. But I can give you all of this permanently and for free if you do one itty bitty, little thing for me. Have the prince fall in love with you. Kiss him, marry him, sleep with him, I don't care. Just do that one little thing for me and all of this is yours. Three months remember!"

~~~~~

Ariel blinked as she tried to make sense of where she was. Looking around she slowly got her bearings. She was in her cove, but it was still in ruin. Scuttle and Flounder rushed up to her, their voices overlapping each other as they bombarded her with questions. Still on her back, Ariel looked up at the ceiling, the cracked glass still there.

Did she imagine going to Ursula's?

But jsut as she wondered that she saw two forms clung to the ceiling, their yellow and white eyes glowing in the shadows. Startled Ariel opened her mouth to tell them to shoo but nothing came out. They hissed in laughter. Suddenly all at once she knew what was going to happen. With regretting eyes, Ariel grabbed her two little friends and with ease as if she always had legs she stood up and tossed them out of the cove, closing the door behind them. Ariel looked up and watched as Flotsam and Jetsam finished the crack on the glass. Ariel let out a silent scream as the ceiling broke and water poured in, drowning her in darkness.

~~~~~

Eric held his middle as he looked out his window, the sky just as dark and dreary as his mood. With his father now gone, Eric wasn't sure if he was ready to take on any of the things his father had planned for him. But his moping was cut short.

Out his window and down on the beach a small form washed up on the sand. Watching for a few more seconds he realized it was a body. Without a second thought, Eric rushed out of his room and down to the beach, not minding the sour weather and the wet sand.

Once he got closer he saw it was a girl with flaming red hair. Kneeling down next to her, Eric pulled her up by her shoulders so she was out of the water. The gray clothes on her looked too big but stuck to her like a wet sack. Laying her down on dryer sand, Eric turned her onto her back, her pale white skin looking nearly gray. Her lips were blue but she was breathing. Just barely.

He moved hair out of her face and stroked her cheek, her skin cold to the touch. She looked to be about twenty, twenty two, but he wasn't good at guessing that type of thing. She was beautiful with perfect skin and bright hair. She looked as though she would have green eyes or blue. He wondered if he could sing, or if she spoke with an accent of some far off land. But he had to make sure she was alive first before he started to imagine anything else.

Gently, Eric shook her shoulders, calling out for her to wake up. After a few tries she suddenly opened her eyes and took a deep breath, sitting straight up. Eric sat back, but kept his hands on her shoulders. Her eyes were a bright blue, wide and surprised.

But when she looked to him she changed from surprised to exited in a matter of seconds. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. So instead she started making frantic hand gestures, making Eric laugh. He took her hands in his and helped her stand.

"Slow down, it's ok. You washed up here."

She wobbled on her legs, leaning on him as he held her to his chest. "Whoa there hold on. Here, let's get you inside and in some dry, warm clothes. Then we can see if Grimsby can interpret for me."

The woman nodded eagerly, her eyes never leaving his face. Eric couldn't help but smile as he helped her inside, her legs wobbly still and her mouth opening and closing wordlessly. But as he guided her to the ladies laundry room, he couldn't help but look at the woman and wonder if he had ever seen her before.

If only he could hear her speak.