The Sword of Merlin

[josie101]

Author's note- Hi everybody! This is my first time writing a fanfic so go easy on me. I do not own the little mermaid and the characters but what I do own are the following: Dariuss, Avril, Marina, and Celcius. Hope you enjoy the story!

Chapter 1 -
"Far deep in the ocean, was a city named Atlantica. It was filled with excotic and beautiful creatures, but humans never believed that their were mermaid and mermen. Sure these magnificent being have been mentioned before. One little mermaid would change it all. Now Wart, do you want me to continue with the story? This all happened before we met and I don't want to bore you...-"

"Oh please Merlin! Do go on. This is pretty exciting!" exclaimed the young King Arthur. Yes, that's right, the one who puledd th sword out o the stone and became king of England. He was sitting on his royal throne. He was dressed in a very safisticated and kingly outfit(even though it was his pajamas) Merlin was sitting next Arthur in his usual sky blue robe and cloak.
Merlin was about to argue'It's to late. Even kings need their beauty sleep.' Then he looked at the suspence and egerness in his eyes. along with a puppy dog pout.
"Alright..alright... I surrender...hehehe. O.k my boy I will continue on. Now where was I? Oh yes, that's right the girl who changed the meaningof fairy tales."
"Who was she Merlin?" asked Arthur in a curious voice.


'' Her name is Ariel and she was a mermaid.'' Arthur gasped at this. ''Her father was King Triton. He was the ruler of all Atlantica. He had seven beautiful daughters. Adrinna, Adella, Arista, ah.. ahh... hmmmm. Now you see even I can't remember the names. Ariel was the youngest and the most curious of the seven. She has always been fasinated in the human world. King Triton dispised her wondernous of the human world. In fact he hated humans peroid.

Ariel was tired of being treated like a little child. One night she gathered up all her courage and swam up to the surface. Now this is where Eric comes into the story. He was Prince Eric, second son of King William and Queen Juliet. He had an older brother named Oreain and a little sister named Olivia. The prince was turning eighteen that day and he discided to celebrate it by sailing. Once nightfall a horrible storm hit the ship. Luckily Ariel was there and she couldn't tear her eyes off the ship. She caught a glimpse of the prince falling off the ship. She had a feeling inside of her to save the prince.

She dived back to the water and hooked his left arm to her sholder. Eric was unconsious so he didn't see who saved him. Soon the two reached the shore. Ariel lied him down on his back. It was love. Oh yes, it was love at first sight. She felt so glad that she had saved the prince. She leaned in closer to him and started singing.'' Arthur raised his eyebrow ''Her voice was so beautiful it sounded like angels from heaven. While Ariel was still singing Eric started slowly, opening his eyes. The sun was coming up it shined throughout the beach. When Eric's vision came back in his eyes he saw Ariel.

There was a search party that were trying to find the prince. Once they saw him on the beach, they scurried on down there. The men were going as fast as their legs could carry them. Ariel noticed the hussle and bussle the search party was going threw to get there. She has never came close to that many humans so Ariel grew frightened and dove back into the water.

Eric was detirmined to find this 'mystery girl'. Even if people thought he was crazy. Ariel was down right love sick. Everybody wondered who or what made her feel so lovey dovey. Now this tale gets interesting. Where there is good there is evil, and boy was she evil.

'' Who was she Merlin?'' inquired Arthur. His body grew weak and tired, his arms and legs felt weightless, and his eyes were trying it's very best to stay open. But Arthur was willing to stay awake for this incredible story.

Merlin took a long deep sigh as he closed his eyes.'' Her name was Ursula.'' he replied as he opened his eyes wide open. ''Worse than Madam Mim?'' Arthur trembled at the question. He was slightly worried at Merlin's answer.

'' Far more worse than Madam Mim my boy. She was the demon of the seas. Merpeoplre would go to her and ask her to make their wishes come true.-''

'' What's so bad about that?!'' interupted Arthur.

'' There was always a catch boy. They would never foefill their dreams. You see she would come up with a deal. If you won the deal then the dream would come true and if you didn't you will be trapped like a bird in a cage. You would also be reduced to a plop.'' Arthur opened his mouth to ask ' what is a...plop' but just as like Merlin knew what he was about to ask he beat him to it.

'' A plop is a horrid looking beast. The entrance to her lair was packed and packed with them. Ursula called them poor unfourtunate souls. She looked down at her crystal ball, she saw that look on the love- sick girls face. She sneered at her. Ursula dispised Triton, absolutely hated him. More then anything she wanted to have his Triton and be ruler of all the seven seas.'' Merlin said dramaticly. Arthur gulped. '' She knew that Ariel was tha daughter of Triton. Then she got an idea to trick Ariel and daddy dearest.''

Soon enough Ariel went to Ursula's fortress and that's where the deal happened . Now the deal was that Ariel would get her own pair of legs in exchange for her voice. She would have three days to win Eric's heart. If he kissed her before the sunsets on the third day, she would remain human. If she couldn't get the kiss she would turn back into a mermaid and be Ursula's prisioner.'' Merlin sighed as he showed a face of saddness.

Then Merlin put on a perky smile that went from ear to ear. '' So anyways Ariel swam up to the surface. A while later Eric had found her. He took her in his castle because he thought that she was in a ship wreck. The prince liked Ariel more and more each day. One night on the second day, they were on a rowboat in a logoon. It was a very romantic place. The two were just about to kiss when....Ursula's eels tipped over the boat! Their moment was ruined.''

'' Why that no good cheater!!! You're right Merlin she is worse than Madam Mim.'' announced Arthur in a tempured fashion

'' Well it's a natural habbit of mine of being right all the time..hehehehe....-'' Merlin's voice trailed off with laughter. '' Oh yes well anyways.. Ursula boiled with anger and frustration. She came up with another mischivious plan to stop this kiss from happening. She transformed herself into a beautiful human with Ariel's voice. On the second night when the two were at his place Eric went to get some fresh air. Ursula hypnotized him to make him believe that she was the girl who rescued him and also forget about Ariel.''

'' It was the third morning and Ariel heard that Eric was getting married. She rushed to meet Eric but she saw her with....Vanessa(a.k.a Ursula). Her plan was to get married at sunset. Ariel was heartbroken. Absolutly morose.'' Arthur had a dumefounded look on his face.

''Morose lad, it means sad.'' Now Arthur went back to his amusing look. '' The marrige would be taken place on a boat and Ariel sat on the dock watching close by in sorrow. She saw that the sun began to set. Ariel wouldn't give up without a fight. She dived into the water and started swimming towards the boat. Once she stepped into the boat it was a total disaster. Animals of the sea were attacking the bride to be. Max(Eric's dog) trotted over happily behind her. Max then snapped his K-9 teeth on the bride's behind.'' Arthur let out a little giggle. ''There was a segall that was trying to bite off the chain to Ursula's neckless, so when Max bit her the segull cloped off the last peice of the chain and it flew in the air. The good news was that it broke. Arthur smiled widely at this happy news.

Ariel got her voice back and Eric got out of his hypnotizement. He ran straight to her and she told it was her and and the two were about to kiss when the sun set...... well oh gosh look at the time we need rest boy. We have a big day ahead of us. Our next leson is quantim physics. Ohhhhhh don't worry my boy you'll love it!!''


Arthur gulped hard at this. If he was bad at anything it was physics. Arthur sighed and leaped off his throne. Merlin stood up as well and streched. He saw the look that Arthur was giving him. Merlin furrowed his eyebrows. Arthur was looking up at him with a look of pouting and pleading combined. His eyes began to grow bigger and wider, he put his hands together behind his back and looked ever so slightly up. '' Uhhhhhhh well I guess I can tell you a little more. But once we get up to your room we will stop the story there for now.'' Merlin said under his tired breath

' Oh well better than nothing.' thought Arthur happily. Then the two started walking slowly up to Arthur's room. '' So the sun set and in a blink of an eye Ariel transformed back into a mermaid. Ursula also formed back into her old usual self. She dragged Ariel off the boat. Ursula was about to head off to her lair when King Trinton was in her path.

He ordered her to relese Ariel but she had a plan. She would give Ariel's freedom back if King Triton was her prisioner. It was a long hard disision, but the king made his choice. He agreed to the deal. He was later reduced to a plop. Ursula bellowed with joy. She had finally got the triton and she was now the ruler of the seven seas. Ariel couldn't just stand around and watch her world, her people come crashing down. Ariel charged straight at Ursula, who was to busy enjoying her triupmh. Ariel pounced on her back and Ursula quickly threw her against a rock. She aimed the triton right up close to Ariel's petrified face. Ursula whimpered out in pain to see that there was a cut on her right arm. It was none other than Eric, who had just thrown a harpoon at her.

Ariel and Eric swam up as quickly as they could. What they didn't know was that deep down under Ursula was growing bigger and bigger. She sufaced up and she stood up a monsterous size, about eighty feet. She created massive wave and a horrible storm. Ursula created a whirlpool and also made the waves carry Ariel to the bottom of it. Ships that were on the bottom of the ocean sailed upward. Eric hatched up an idea. So he swam and climbed on board this ship that broken, but it could still sail.

Meanwhile Ursula was throwing boltz of lighting at Ariel. She dogeing as best as she can...for a mermaid. Ursula got a clear shot to hit Ariel, but instead her plans were foiled. Ursula just got stabbed by a crooked, long piece of old wood that was attached to a boat. With witch Eric was on and steering. In simpler terms Eric stabbed and killed Ursula, now violence is never the answer to any problem, but this problem was self defence.''


The two stopped at Arthur's door. Merlin opened it and found the room was pitch black dark. Merlin claped his hands together and candels in his room lit up.The two walked to his bed. Arthur pulled the covers away and climbed inside his king sized bed. His room had enormous space. The room also was kind of empty because he had just switched rooms and his things were being sent up to his new room as soon as possible.

Merlin covered him up tight and fluffed up his pillow. " Now after the battle the prisioners were set free and so was the king. He had gotten back his trident and his daughter's freedom. The king knew what Eric had did and was very grateful. To show his gratitude he turned Ariel back into a human, and couple rejoiced with one and other. Soon they got married and are now living a happy life together, keeping their story fully secret. Now the story's not over yet. There is still more to come with our heros. But here is a question that I will answer tomorrow, what if Ursula came back to life?..... Well goodnight Wart, sweet dreams..'' Merlin walked to the door and opened it. He clapped his hands and the candels blew out. "Oh, and don't let the bed bugs bite!!" Merlin stated quickly as he shut the door . If you listened closely you could hear Merlin trotting off to his room snickering.

[josie101]

CHAPTER 2 -

Arthur was wide awake ever since Merlin closed the door last night. His mind was churrning and churrning with thoughts and ideas of what would happen. These questions kept buzzing threw his mind every now and then, like ' Was this all true?', ' How could Ursula come back to life?' 'And how in the right mind does Merlin know about this?!?!?!?' Arthur was so determind to find out or else he be stuck in his large bed in his large room still wondering.

He leaped off his bed and ran straight for the door. Once it opened he broke into a run for Merlin room. He figured that Merlin was still asleep because Arthur would come to Merlin's room for early lessons. He would come up there at six 'o' clock exsactly, and find Merlin snoring the mornig the day away. But today he was running to his room at five'o' clock. Arthur slammed open Merlin's door. Melin literally went flying up out of bed and fell on his back on the hard tile floor.

" Confoundent, now when are these people ever going to invent capeting!?!?!?!'' Merlin shouted out in a tempured voice standing up and twisting and stretching.

''Oh Merlin I'm sorry. I didn't mean to barge in like that, I just wanted you to finish the story before we got to our lessons. " pleded Arthur with forgiveness, as he closed the door and slowly walked over to him.

" It's all right my boy I know your sorry, I think I needed that wake up call or else I would be snoring so loud all England would wake up. Plus that little hop cured my back and neck." Merlin said happily giving Arthur a wink. "So you want me to finish the story eh boy, well I guess I can tell you it before the day ends."

Arthur put on an excited and happy face on. " Here let's sit on the table and have some tea." Merlin's room was alot smaller than Arthur's. Although it had enough space to hold his books, furniture and the rest of his inventions. Arthur sat in a wooden chair and Merlin sat in his animated walking chair. On the table there was tea cups and mini plates. The rambouncious sugar cup was sittig silently waiting for his job to start.

" Cups please start making our tea." Melin comanded and all the silverware got to work. In no more than two minutes the cups slid down to them. " So Ursula had a sister named Morgona and she heard about her sister's death. She vowed to get back at them by any means necessary''


***


Down under the sea every living creature was bustling and scurring about. The two creatures that were the fastest was a mermaid and a merboy. The merboy had brown,messy hair and had neon green eyes that shined throughout all the seas. His tale was a navy blue tale. The scales were dark yet colorful. His name was Dariuss.

The mermaid had strawberry blonde hair, that was up in a high ponytail. Her skin was crystal clear of any boils or zits. Her eyes were as brown as dark chocolate. Her lips were as red as a rose. She was wearing a light red bikini top and her tail was the lightest yellow you could imagine. Her name was Avril.

The two were racing each other threw the depths of the sea. Laughing over and over of this happy race. Both were shouting of each one victory. The two each caught sight of their stopping point. Dariuss and Avril speed up thier speed every second. In front of them was the noticeable boulder. They reaced out both of their hads to the boulder. Finally they both touched the rock, it was a tie. The two teenagers hovered there and tried to catch their breath.

''Wow that was fun wasn't it?!?!?!?!'' declared Avril in the most excitied voice. '' Yeah it's always fun to race!'' huffed Dariuss. The two looked at each other and smiled weakly.

'' I think I won?!'' Dariuss guessed happily with his smile getting bigger. ''Nah I think...-'' Avril's sentance stopped short. She straightened up her body and was looking frantically all over the place. Dariuss eyes grew a little worried. He straightened up his body to face her and he furrowed his eyebrows in confussion.

Just like Avril was readind his mind(or his body expressions) she spoke up softly '' Where are we?" His eyes went calm as he too looked around. They were at this gloomy, dark and spine-tingling place. A place where you felt like you would suddenly loose all hope. '' Do you think we're in the resticted area of Atlantica?''

" No I'm sure It's just an old abandoned place. Hey let's go further and see what's over there.'' Dariuss pleaded to his dear friend. Avril's jaw dropped nearly all the way to the sea floor. She has been in trouble alot and most of it was because of guess who? Dariuss. His mom was very strict about his rambounctious attitude. Whenever he got in the slightest of trouble Arvril would say it was her fault. Which is a wonder because she was a straight A student, she voulenteered at practially everything, and she was a role modle to youngsters.On the inside her mind was screaming 'oh my gosh yes!!!! go!! it's another adventure waiting to happen' but her heart was telling her calmly ' No tell him about those times of him doing the stunts and you that's right you had to take the blame for him.' But on the outside she just stared dumbfounded at the thing infront of her. Hey, everybody has a wild side don't they?

"Dude.... dude.... come back down in the water!!! " Dariuss snapped at her. Avril blinked a few time and was silent until....." WHAT ARE WE WAITING AROUND FOR LET'S GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " shouted Avril. She speed forward fast as her fins could carry her. Dariuss just sighed happily and rolled his eyes. " Gets her every time." Dariuss finally caught up with the over excited Avril, who was smiling as big as ever. She was slowly looking around and something exsoctic caught her eye. It had weird twists and turn on the outside and the color was a neon orange and a dull gray. Avril winnced at the plant. An unfimiliar voice came into her mind, that kept forceing her to touch the plant. Her eyes grew the size of the sun and she started trembling. Avril streched out her right arm and the index finger touched the plant.

Every inch inside her body shut down. Her eyes closed and she floated backwards. Dariuss noticed her fall and sprang into action. He caught her and was now holding her. His mind was just about to explode... ' Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, o.k. I'm just gonna take her to the doctor. But what is that plant?!?!?!?!?!?!?!'
shouted Dariuss.

Suddenly he heard noisy and hectic women screames coming from ahead. He glance that way and he saw puffes of diffrent colors of smoke. " What the heck is happening over there, mabey they could help Avril???" He questioned out loud But he shook his head. ' I don't even know who they are?!?!...' He thought and he looked down at her face. It was going pale every second. Suddenly she stopped trembling and... stopped breathing. He clutched his fists while still holding her. His face turned serius as he took a deep breath and charged forward.

The ruckous became louder as he came closer. He stopped and hovered infront of a cave. That is where all the noises came from. Should he do this? Will this put both of them in danger. Dariuss looked down at her again. " I'm doing this for you." Dariuss said in a very detirminned voice. He charged inside the cave. The cave was a total reck. Like it had tons of boltz of lighting sticked. Dariuss never wanted to admit it (not even to Avril) but this was creeping his soul out of his body. He came to a wide opening which showed an tall, lannky, aged women. Who was circling this cauldron. She had short dull gray hair that floated up and down as she moved. She had six tentacles and she wore a pitch black dress that was covered from the neck down. Her eyes were the same as her hair but they were more cold and more light. All of her skin was full of moles and boils. She stopped whatever she was doing and glared over at the boy. She then put on a sweet and gentle look and swam over to him.

" Oh you poor poor boy are you alright?" asked the women. She came close to him and came up on his right side. She put her arm around his shoulder and lead him towards the cauldron. " Well you see miss my friend touched this weird looking plant and I guess she just fainted, but then a couple of minutes later she wasn't breathing. I knew I had no time to swim her up to a doctor, so I'm asking if you could help take her sickness away." Dariuss pleaded. Fear and love glowed in his eyes. He really wanted his dear friend to be safe and happy. The women grinned a very devilish grin and her eyes read victory. ' Finally.' she thought

" Oh don't worry swettie we will fix her up in no time but you must do something for me-" Just as Dariuss was about to say that he doesn't have any money she cut him short. "I don't want any money you see my dearest sister died a horrible death and I am trying my very hardest to bring her back to life, but I need a special ingridient." Dariuss leaned in forward . "It was the plant that your friend touched."

Dariuss became very confused and impatient. Avril was just minutes no seconds away from dieing and this lady was talking about her dead sister!?!?!?! "But wouldn't I get poisioned too?" "Here." She grabbed this brown bag " You can just set your friend on the floor I'll get her in a minute."

He set her lightly down and the rough surface and as soon as he straightened up she tossed him the bag. " In this bag is dust that if you throw it at the plant the poision will wear off, but only for a short period of time so you must hurry. I would do it myself but I've tried and tried and it has just never worked." she pleaded.

" I'll do it if you reviel my friends sickness." The women raised her left hand and declared " I swear, that if you bring me a sample of that plant then I will save your friend from the poisoin." she swore as she put her left arm down. Dariuss was just about to leave when he asked softly "Who are you and how can I trust you?"

" You don't know huh? How can you trust me and how can I trust you? And as for my name.... believe me you'll know me later or sooner than you think." The women nodded. Dariuss exited the cave full of dizzyness and confussion. He came to the plant. He opened the bag to find an once of the powder. When he was holding it it felt like a ton, but this was just mind boggleing to find this much powder. He shrugged and cupped his hand and poured out the bag. The bag was empty and dropped it on the floor. He then threw it and and it started circleing the plant. He touched the plant he didn't grow weak at all. Dariuss realized his opportunity and yanked off one of the branches. As he was swimming the dust was falling off quickly and he speed up faster. Dariuss entered the room the two were in.

Avril was wide awake and leaning against the wall. Her face read no emotion at all as she was staring at the floor. The women popped up in front of him out of no where. " Oh thank you boy this has made me very happy!" She exclaimed. The women snatched the plant away from his hands and dunked it inside the cauldron. Avril heard what had happened and turned her head towards the women. She then looked at Dariuss. Avril swam up to Dariuss and nearly toppled him over with a hug. Dariuss was appolled with her action but it just dawned on him that he was just thankful she was still alive. Avril started breathing heavily " We have to get out of this place before it's too late." Avril was mummbling and shaking during her sentance. She looked up into his eyes and it pictured pure fear.

The women was swimming around and around saying what seemed like jiberish. " Why? What's wrong?" Dariuss questioned. Suddenly eboney smoke spinned around the room. Avril clinged to Dariuss, and he held onto her with all the strength in his body. The winds grew and grew inside the cave. The two kids looked at each other. They stared deep into each others beautiful eyes. Dariuss saw Avril mouth ' Dariuss.... I love you....'

Dariuss was speechless as he mouthed back to her ' I love you more Avril' The two leaned in close and he kissed tenderly. They kissed until all the comotion stopped. They stopped and looked all around the room. "Come on let's get out of here!" comanded Dariuss as he grabbed her hand and tried to lead her out. Unfourtunatly they couldn't even ecape the room. There was a ice door that blocked their path. Suddenly all the smoke and wind cramed inside the cauldron. The women croaked an evil laugh. " What's so funny!?" snapped Avril angrily



" Yeah what gives?! You healed my friend and I gave you your plant, now let us go!!!" Dariuss tempure was now all the way to the top. The women still had a little smile, yet her face was a murderous stare.

" I didn't say I would let you go." The kids mouths opened in shock. Dariuss was trying to hold back the tears and Avril lowered her head. "The deal was that I would heal your friend, and I did. I still need you two to do some work for me so you are my prisioners till you are all done with them." the women said simply. " If we refuse?" asked Dariuss

" Well then I will reverse the poision in your friend and she'll die. Oh by the way, the powder you used on the plant was fake." Dariuss grew bug eyed at this. What had he done?! "Yes, the powder would only make you touch it. You will get the poision in a couple a minutes, but I swear that I have the real antidot. So work for me and I will give you both bottles of the antidot."

Dariuss let his body sink to the floor. Avril went to his level and hugged him close. How could he be so foolish?! Hadn't his mother told him not to talk to strangers!? Especially when they are a phsyco?! " Fine... fine alright we'll do it..." Darriuss cried. If you heard closely you could him sobbing. When will he ever go back to his regular life? When will he go back to his mother? His mother. Oh his mother! If only she were here right now to save him from this mess. He now prayed that his mother would be safe with his disappearence.

" Excellent..." she hissed. A poof of black smoke came from the cauldron. It started to form in the shape of Ursula. The women screamed out continuous 'yes's'. The two looked up and gasped. The black smoke formed none other than Ursula. She was now there, standing (or rather floating) in everyones pressence.

" Where are they, Morgana" The kids gasped at the name. How could they be so stupid to not know that was Morgana? King Triton had declared that Ursula's sister is still out here somewhere. He told the town to watch their backs and don't trust anybody.

Morgana grabbed two bottles of the antidot and tossed it to them. " I told you you would learn my name sooner or later. What was that dear sister."

" What happened to that Ariel and her human?" snaraled Ursula. Even thinking about them made her want to puke.

" Ariel is now married to that human and are now living up on land." Morgana told her. Ursula grinned a devilish grin. " Then we will get those fools. Those fools who rejected the real ruler of the seas. We will make them pay, one by one."


Author's notes- please read and review. I promise the story will get better!

[josie101]

chapter 3 -

The sun glistened on the beautiful sandy beach. The water rolled back and forth on the shoreline. Right next to the beach was a little town. Next to the little town was a humongous castle. It was castle of soon to be King Eric and Queen Ariel. It had been a month since the adventure and the marrige. Ariel could not be happier than to be with Eric, and he was just the same way. You could not ever see them seperated. Each and everyday the two spent more and more time together. Finding out about their childhood, parents, and practical jokes they did to their siblings, and alot of talk about their future together.

Anyways, it was early in the morning and the two love birds were in their room. Ariel awoke with a long yawn. She sat up straight and streached her arms. Her eyes followed over to where Eric was blissfully sleeping. Ariel smiled and kissed his cheak. "I love you... so much.." whispered Ariel . She pulled out her covers and walked out of the room. She was now heading her way to the kitchen, when she heard a rustling sound. She stopped walking and the noise stopped as well.

Ariel shrugged and kept walking. ' Oh no! I forgot to go to the bathroom! Well it's a good thing this palace has alot of them.' Ariel made her way inside the nearest bathroom. She found a brush there on the counter, just what she needed. All she was going to do was brush her hair and go down to breakfast. She would get ready after a good coffee break. Her red hair was loose and she was now brushing it. Ariel was wearing this long pink t-shirt that Eric's sister, Olivia,gave to her. She also wore these long gray sweatpants, that Eric wore when he was a kid. He would ask her numerous of times if it was o.k. that she wore some of his families old clothing at night. She would just replie with a little giggle and a 'Oh Eric' look.

She walked out and shut the door. There was that same rustling noise again. Ariel looked all around her. The noise stopped again. Ariel sighed. She would have to be a little late for breakfast. She walked back down the path she came from. Everything was dead silent. Another noise came from all the way from the bathroom. Ariel spun around and saw nothing. She started blinking very fast. "Mmmmmmmmorning sunshine!!!!" Eric bellowed as he grabbed her waist with both arms.

Ariel nearly jumped all the way to the ceiling with that suprise. She couldn't keep a stern face at all. She bursted out laughing as soon as he grabbed her. "ERIC!!!!!!!! YOU SCARED ME TO DEATH!!!!!!!!" Ariel blurted out trying to get out of his hug.

"Yeah and aparently I'm laughing you to death." Eric stated still holding on to her. She was hystarically laughing, espically with that comment he just made. " Was... was.... wa..." Ariel tried to say but this was really a laughing fit to her.

" Was it me that made all that noise? Yeah.......it was me." Eric confessed with a sheepish smile on his face. "Eric I am hungry and I want go to breakfast." Ariel said now that part of her laughing was over.


" Ariel what is the magic word." He whispered in her ear. His hot breath tingled down her spine. She turned to face him while still in his embrace. The two looked into each other's eyes.

" Please......" Ariel said quietly Suddenly the two pressed their lips in a tender kiss. When the two stopped they looked at each other again. "Well let's go get's some breackfast!!" He exclaimed happily as he let her go. " Shall we merially skip into the kitchen." Eric said happy as ever. He held out his left arm to her.

"Yes, yes we shall!" Ariel exclaimed, hooking her right arm to his. Then the two skipped through the halls shouting out 'tralalalalalalalalalal.....-' the song just went on and on. They skipped and sang all the way to the kitchen. The two were happily laughing and walking about their joyous skip. Ariel saw two cups of coffee on the counter. She grabbed her coffee and took a sip. "WOW!!!!! That was hot!!!!" She shouted setting her cup back down. "Eric...Eric where are you...-" No answer. "I swear Eric if you sneak up on me again, I'll pour down this hot coffee down your shirt!!!!" Ariel smiled at that threat. 'That would be a funny way to get back at him, but it would have to be water.' Ariel thought with a devilish grin.


"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Boomed a yell that echoed through out the castle. Eric came rushing in the castle. He zoomed back and forth, checking every inch of the room. " MOP THE FLOORS, WASH THE DISHES, GIVE MAX A BATH, MERLIN IS COMING!!!!!!!!!!!" announced Eric at the top of his lungs. The whole palace was quiet but then maids and servents came bustling in and out of the kitchen.

"Eric what's going on?!?!?!?!" Ariel paniked as she came up to Eric's side.

Eric sighed happily "Oh nothing, just that Merlin was coming." Ariel stood there with her arms crossed on her chest and a raised eyebrow. "Oh you mean the yelling thing." Eric said softly enough so that his wife could hear. Ariel nodded her head. " Oh it's just a thing we do when somthing important happens today or an important person comes here. It's just a yell to prepare ourselves berfore that important thing happenes. I mean you can't whisper to everybody in a 50 foot tall castle that what is going to happen today. This is one biggggggggg castle." Explained Eric pacing over to the counter. He grabbed his cup and took a huge gulp. " Oh my god that is hot..." he blurted out and set his cup down immediately.

Ariel giggled and walked over to Eric and hugged him tightly. He returned the tight hug and soon both were kissing.

"Huh, Merlin could be here in any minute and you two are kissing the day away?!?!?! What on earth am I going to do with you?!?!" huffed a grouchy old voice. The man stopped infront of them. It was the loveable Grimsby!( or in Ariel and Eric's case Grim.) He was dressed in his normal uniform with his clothes looking clearner than ever, and his black shoes neatly polished. He had a grumpy expression on his face with his arms crossed and his foot tapping on the tile floor. The two broke from each other's grasp and stared off around the room like nothing happened.

"Oh, come now don't give me those innocent looks. Now we have a big day ahead of us. Go on and have your breakfest and after get dressed and ready for Merlin's arrival." declared Grim.

" Woke up on the wrong side of the bed huh, Grim?" asked Eric grabbing his coffeee again.

" You have no idea..." Grimsby sighed and mouped out of the kitchen. Eric and Ariel shrugged and made a little giggle. They grabbed their coffee cups and headed for the dining hall. Ariel and Eric grabbed two chairs next to each other and sat down.

" So who's Merlin again?" asked Ariel while yawning.

" He's the one who taught me how to use magic. He taught me everything I know. My parents knew Merlin very well and he was the one who taught them magic. So they asked Merlin if he could teach us and he was more than happy, trust me." told Eric sipping his coffee. " As the years rolled by I was an expert at magic. Now I am Merlin's apperntance. I don't know why he's coming here, but I hope it's important."

Ariel was just wide eyed with this information. Eric glanced over at her and laughed. Carlotta suddenly bursted threw the dining room from the kitchen with plates of their breakfast. She set the plates infront of them and zoomed back in the kitchen . Just as Ariel was about to take a bite of her toast she heard Carlotta loudly nagging at her staff. Her voice was so loud that it could be heard all the way up in Ariel and Eric's bedroom.

The two slowly turned their heads towrds the kitchen. The two looked back at each other. " I don't even wanna know.'' sighed Ariel finally taking a bite out of her toast. Breakfast had been a long conversation about Merlin. ' What kind of magic does he use, what does he look like, how long has he been a sourcerer, does he have any other apprentances'

Eric answered all theses questions with patience and love. ' She's just curious. She should have seen me when I was meeting Merlin for the first time.' he thought. Carlotta came back with a hapy smile. She grabbed their plates and was about to go back in the kitchen when Eric got up and stopped her. " What was with the yelling?"

"Oh it was nothing deary. Gertrude didn't wax the ballroom floors." Carlotta huffed.

"Well try to calm down a little. We all know how Gertrude gets, but just relax when it comes to him." Eric said with a smile. Carlotta smiled back and nodded.

"Thank you Eric, it's just that it's the busiest time of the season." She smiled, patted him on the back, and went back in the kitchen. Ariel followed close by and grabbed his hand. The two just grinned and walked up to their room to get ready.

***

A knock on the towering front doors echoed threw the castle and yet nobody came. The door cracked open a little bit and then widely opened revealing Merlin. As usual he was wearing his blue cloak and matching blue hat. His glasses were wide and round and it seemed that his already long beard grew longer. "Hello..... is anybody here.... I came just in time....didn't I?" questioned Merlin to himself.

Eric was taking his old time desending the staircase, waiting for Ariel to catch up to him. Once he heard the sound of Merlin's voice he zoomed back up the staircase to Ariel. She was now brushing her teeth in the bedroom. Eric came straight in the bathroom.

"Ariel, Merlin's here. I heard his voice coming down from the hall." Ariel stopped brushing and faced him. She gave him a smile with tooth paste still in her mouth and gave him a thumbs up. "Well come on let's go down there." Eric said happily but he saw her shake her head 'no'.

Eric went wide eyed at this. His mind was about to explode. ' Oh my god, is she o.k.? Is she nervous? I have to find out.' Just as he was about to panic Ariel spat out tooth paste in the sink. She laughed at the expression on his face. Which was confussment and happiness.

"I was brushing my teeth. I don't want to go down there with a mouthful of tooth paste." she joked. She was wearing a light green dress with her hair tied up in a long ponytail. Her dress was made of silk and cotton. She also was wearing and neckles with green, red and white circle jewles around the chain. It matched perfectly with her dress and her eyes. Eric was about to faint right where he was standing.

Ariel was about to faint as well. He wore a white buttoned shirt and long, black pants. Complete with his amazingly polished black boots. With a long black jacket that reached up to his hip that fit in perfectly with the outfit. Eric streached out his right hand to her and asked " You ready for this?''

"I was born ready." Ariel said confidently gripping his hand and the two walked out of the room and shut the door.



Chapter 4 -
The two rushed down the stairs as fast as they could. Merlin was still at the edge of the door when he saw the two coming down the stairs. He let himself in and shut the door. The two got off the stairs and straightened up after that little run. "Merlin!" Eric shouted happily. Merlin turned to see Eric walk up to him and an excited expression. Merlin returned the happy gesture back to him . They shook hands and embrced each other with a good 'man hug.'

"How have you been my boy? I got word a week or two ago about your marrige. I'm sorry that I was unable to come, Archmedes had a terrible case of the flu, and you know he doesn't have aposeable thumbs." joked Merlin nugging at Eric's sholder.

" I've been doing really well, thank you Merlin. My happiness could not be done without my loving wife." Eric turned around and saw Ariel standing on the bottom of the stairs. He gestured her to stand next to him. Ariel breathed in slowly.

'Nothing to worry about Ariel, it's just a man who has taught my Eric everything he knows. Think about what you are going to say before you say, look him straight in the eye, and if anything do not call him sir. O.k. I got this. I can face him. No presure....right?' Ariel stressfully thought. Ariel stopped next to Eric. She felt a touch of Eric's hand on her's. She looked at him with the quarter of her eye and smiled.

"My name is Ariel. It is an honor to meet you. I heard about you and Eric's adventures when he was younger and I wish I was there to experience it ,sir. I mean..I mean..-" Ariel stammeredMerlin laughed in a croaky, old voice.

"It is alright,miss Ariel." Merlin stated politely. 'Finally somebody who doesn't call me by my royal name.' Ariel thought happily. Ariel snickered at her thought. "It is an honor to meet you too. I would love to hear about your adventures uder the sea." Merlin said with an excited grin on his wrinkled face.

Ariel stood there looking at him with cautious eyes. "How did you know that I was a mermaid?"

" I am a sorcerer, Ariel, I know everything." Eric glanced at Merlin with a doubtful and questionable face. "Alright not everything." Merlin confessed with a sigh. "Now there is something important I need to tell you two. It has something to do with your future. Is there a place where we can discuss this issue?" Merlin asked.

"Umm... yeah.. yeah let's go outside." Eric said under his worried breath. The three walked away from the front entrance and off into the backyard padio. Grimsby stode into the entrance hall to find that not a living soul was in the room. Where was everybody? What up?!

"Hello....hello? Where is everybody? Uhhh, I'm going to take a little nap." Grimsby huffed in a sleepily tone and went up the stairs to his room.


Ariel opened the doors to the padio and a garden full exsotic plants filled thier eyes. It was filled with plants of all shapes and sizes. Sping was moving all around in thier garden. Roses were blooming making part of the garden more colorful. Trees were growing fast and the leaves were as green as ever. The grass was long,soft,and of course green. To top it all off a little pond that was crystal clear blue like the ocean. They walked over to white chairs and an identical white table up close to the castle wall. Ariel and Eric sat together while Merlin sat across from them.


"Oh confoundant! Where is that blasted bag?!'' questioned Merlin angrily at himself. Melin's eye's wondered around the area and his eyes caught sight of the brown bag. It was sitting all the way over at the enterance trembling. Merlin sighed as he rubbed his temples. The two tured around and saw the bag move farther inside the castle. "Oh don't worry, he has never been here before." Melin assured them as he stomped over to his brown bag. The two eyed merlin's arrival to the brown bag. Merlin furiously pulled the brown bag and suddenly he fell backward. Ariel and Eric got up from their seats and hurried over to Merlin.

''Huh thank you two.'' and soon he was back on his feet. Mlin cluthed the handle on the bag and lifted it close to his face.''You be good. That's all I need to say" Melin ordered waving a finger at him. Without a word the three returned to the table and sat down.


''Now on about your future...." Merlin paused and turned to Ariel. " Your home is in danger. A dark force is lerking somewhere and it will soon take over your hometown." Ariel sat there dumbfounded. Who could it be? How does he know? (Besides the fact the he is a powerful sorcerer and he knows almost everything.)

" I know you are a sorcerer and you know almost anything but how do you know about this?"


"I have a way to sence when there is a dark powerful being about to harm the ones I care about. It is strange that Eric has not felt it yet, but, this is a force so dark and powerful only the very well mastered can feel this. Merlin explained.

Eric had a blank look on his face. "I can sence evil?" he asked.

"Yes, very well actually, but I'll explaine that later. I didn't clearly make out who it is though. It is a girl with puple skin, gray hair and she had a croaky old voice." Merlin stated closing his eyes.

Ariel's eyes grew wide from realization. " I think it's Ursula." Ariel whipered softly, loud enough for Eric to hear. Eric widened his eyes also.

"But isn't she dead?" Eric inquired softly looking at Ariel. Both of their eyes grew worried.

" Wait their is another women." Merlin finally spoke up with his eyes still closed. Ariel and Eric leaned in closer. "She is very thin, has green skin, and white poofy hair." described Merlin and opened his eyes.

"Morgana." The couple said simultaneously. Ariel explained to Eric about Ursula's sister and how she will never do anything that evil or dangerous. Boy, were they wrong.

"She must have brought Ursula back to life or at least a spirit." guessed Ariel.

" I have to go back and help my family." Ariel said very detirmined about the journey ahead of her.

" You aren't thinking of doing this without me are you?" Eric requested in a questionable and playful voice. Their eyes locked to each other. Ariel wanted to bring him to Atlantica BADLY! If this was ever a time to bring him, it would be now. The two hugged in a tight embrace. " I wasn't even considering it." Ariel sighed happily in his ear. They let go and looked at Merlin. He set two large sword cases.

"Before you two go on your journey I must tell you two things. First..." Merlin opened both of the sword cases and the two looked at the most beautiful swords they have ever seen. The handels were painted in the finest of silver and was melted in the brightest of silver. On the end, near the handle engraved thier names. Both were too suprised and excited to say a word.

" These swords are each your own and they are called the swords of Merlin. Now these are very powerful and magnificent swords and must be treated with care. They will be used in time when you need them. Whenever you are in danger and you don't have the sword, just say your name and they will appear. This was suposed to be my wedding gift to you two by the way." Ariel and Eric were still awestruck. Merlin closed the cases and the two were free from the swords hypnotizement. They both grabbed each of their cases and held it on their laps. "The second thing is that I must come wtih you on your adventure."

They looked at Merlin in suprisement. "Hey, I am not that old! I can still go on life threatining advetures don't you know." Merlin huffed as he stood up from his seat and walked towrd the door. The two stood up as well and carried the cases to the door. A while later they were all in the grand hall entrance. Eric's mind popped in realization. Grimsby! Oh, what would he ever say about going on a perilous journey.

" I have to go find Grim or Carlotta. Just go down to the beach and wait right there." And as quickly as Eric spoke he ran off. Ariel and Merlin looked at each other and shrugged.

"He does this every time." Ariel smiled happily as Merlin opened the door for her.

"You have no idea." Huffed Merlin with his mind blowing in memories.




***

Eric was literaly bumping into every statue and wall that was in his path. " I'm going to need an operation on my head if I keep bumping into stuff...then I'll really be in trouble.' He was searching for somebody, anybody in the palace that could tell this news to Grim nicely. 'Ahhh, a newbie. He will have to do.' Eric thought. He took one quick sigh and put on a straight face. The two were walking down the hall when Eric stopped the newbie kept walking. Eric still with a straight face raised an eyebrow. The guy stopped and quickly turned around, realizing who he passed.

The newbie raced back to Eric nearly going to topple over him. "I...I... I am terribly sorry your highness. I didn't see you." he stammered quickly.

" Hey, no worries, listen closely I need you to tell Grimsby a little something."

[josie101]

Please, I just want to know what you think about it. Please read and review

[josh89]

i LOVE it keep up the good work its great.!!