The Little Mermaid Last Stand Read online

The Little Mermaid: Last Stand.

  By S.R. Edwards

  Copyright 2015 Sophie Edwards

 

  Ariel is looking for Melody. “Eric have you seen Melody any where?”

  “She said she wanted time to think.”

  “I know where she is.” She runs off up stairs.

  Ariel knocks on the door to Melody’s collection room. “What?”

  “Melody may I come in?”

  “Suppose.” Ariel opens the door, Melody is sat at her desk staring at the music box. “Melody what are you thinking about?”

  “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “I think you forget I was sixteen as well.”

  “It’s not that.”

  “What then?”

  “I’m seeing someone.”

  “Really?” Ariel smiles at her. “Who?”

  “A guy called Richard. He’s different.”

  “How so?”

  “You won’t like him so it doesn’t matter.”

  “Come on Mel you can tell me. No secrets remember?”

  “Yeah I remember. He’s not from round here you see.”

  “So where’s he from?”

  Melody lowers her head and mumbles. “Atlantica.”

  “Oh right. Why did you think I would disapprove?”

  “I’m human mom how can we be together?”

  “Well your father and I found a way.” She lifts Melody’s chin. “Melody if you really love him you can go and live in Atlantica with him, ok.”

  “Thanks mom.” She smiles at Ariel and they hug.

  “So what’s he like?”

  “Who?”

  “Richard.”

  “Mom everyone calls him Rick and he’s very sweet and charming.”

  “Right ok.” Ariel stands up and walks out of the room.

  She goes down to the beach and starts to skim stones across the water. “Ouch!” She looks down, Flounder looks up at her. “Sorry Flounder what’s wrong?”

  “Bad news Ariel, Morgona has escaped. She was due to be executed this morning.”

  “Flounder?” Melody runs out next to Ariel.

  “Melody, get inside now!” Ariel shouts. “Go!” Melody turns round. “I’m not a kid anymore mom. Sometimes I really hate you!”

  “At this moment in time Melody I really don’t care!” She turns back to Flounder. “What are you laughing at?”

  “Melody, she is just like you.”

  “I know scary isn’t it?”

  “Yeah well I better get back to Atlantica.”

  “I need to tell Eric about this.”

  “See you soon Ariel and don’t get yourself in any trouble.”

  “I won’t Flounder don’t worry. See you later.” Ariel walks back up the beach and goes inside. Flounder submerges and Morgona comes from behind a rock. “I could use that.” She swims off towards her cave.

  Inside Ariel walks over to Melody. “You may be sixteen but you are still vulnerable!”

  “If you would just listen!”

  “No, Melody! As long as you live under this roof you will follow my rules!”

  “But...”

  “Not another word, you are not to leave this castle do you understand?!”

  “But...”

  “Is that clear?!”

  Melody sighs. “Yes!” She runs off up the stairs. Ariel slumps against the pillar and sighs. “What’s going on out here?” “Eric walks over to Ariel and rubs her shoulders. “Melody wanted to go out but I told her not to.”

  “Ariel you...” He thinks for a moment. “She’s just like you.”

  “I know that’s what scares me.” He pulls her close and hugs her. “We can’t stop her from doing what she wants.”

  “I know but with Morgona...” Eric buts in.

  “What about Morgona?”

  “She escaped from Atlantica.”

  “So we have to find her before she tries to kill you or Melody.”

  “Exactly.” She walks to the door. “Make sure Melody stays inside.” Before Eric can argue the door closes behind Ariel. “Ariel!” He opens the door but Ariel has gone.

  Morgona is waiting in her cave. Ariel walks over to her. “Morgona!”

  “Ariel, how old is Melody now?”

  “She’s sixteen.”

  “Ah, the same age you were when you killed my sister.”

  “Your sister killed herself!”

  “As I recall it was you and your dear Eric stabbed her!”

  “We had no choice!”

  “Yes you did!” She stands up. “Ariel I will kill you even if I die as well.”

  “Just try!” Ariel stands with her arms crossed. Morgona smiles at her. “I will try my best Ariel I promise you that.” She pushes Ariel into the water. “How stupid do you think I am Morgona?”

  “Well you came after me so you must be.”

  “I have much more people behind me and I’m not scared!”

  “You should be Ariel I’m much stronger now and you will die!” She holds Ariel under the water and nearly drowns her. Morgona disappears into one of the many chambers of the cave.

  On the beach Melody looks up to see Ariel stumbling towards her. She jumps down off the rock she was sat on and runs over to Ariel. “Mom, what happened?” Ariel looks at her.

  “I told you stay inside.”

  “I couldn’t when dad said you had gone out I decided to sit and wait for you.” She helps Ariel up to the door. “Mom?”

  “What Melody?”

  “Can I go and see Rick? I’ll be half an hour.”

  “Alright but if you see Morgona, run.”

  “I will mom don’t worry.” Melody runs back down the beach and Ariel opens the door. She is greeted by Eric, who bombards her with questions. “Ariel don’t do that! Who knows what she could have done to you?!”

  “But she didn’t do anything...” She looks up at Eric. “Yet.” She starts to walk up the stairs. “What do you mean by ‘yet’?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Out over Atlantica Melody and Rick are talking. “Rick can you remember me telling you about our struggle with Morgona, Marina and Coral?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Well Morgona has escaped from prison.”

  “What!?”

  “I don’t know how but she has, now she plans on either killing me or my mother.”

  “That’s awful.”

  “I know but it means that we cannot meet again until this is over.”

  “I’ll miss you.”

  “Ditto.” They kiss and Melody swims back to shore and Rick goes back home.

  Melody walks in and tries to tip toe upstairs undetected. Ariel stands with her arms folded at the bottom of the stairs. “Melody!” Melody stops dead in her tracks and turns round. “Yes?”

  “You’re late.”

  “Am I?” She tries to sound innocent but it fails.

  “Yes you are, where have you been?”

  “With Rick like I said I would be.”

  “You said you would be half an hour but you’ve been nearly two! I was worried sick and your father was about to go out looking for you.”

  “Well I’m home now, nothing happened, Morgona was nowhere to be seen. I just lost track of time that’s all.”

  “Melody...”

  “That’s all!” She storms off upstairs. Eric walks over to Ariel and puts his hand on her shoulder. She looks up at him. “I’m afraid we’ll lose her Eric.”

  “I know you are.”

  “It seems to me like there is only one way to keep her safe.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “I think you already know the answer to that.” She walks to the door. “Oh Eric this time ma
ke sure Melody stays inside.”

  “Ariel, Don’t do this you don’t have to!” The door closes and Eric kicks the pillar at the bottom of the stairs. “Melody stay inside I’m going out!”

  “Where?”

  “To retrieve your mother.”

  “Ok.”

  “Promise me.”

  “Ok, I’ll stay inside.” Eric goes outside and sees Ariel stood at the top of the cliff. “What is she thinking about?”

  When Eric reaches the top of the cliff Ariel is knelt next to the edge with her eyes shut. He opens his mouth to speak. “What Eric?” She stands up.

  “Ariel you don’t have to let Morgona kill you.”

  “I do Eric.”

  “Melody still needs you.”

  “No Eric, she needs you now.”

  “Ariel, honey she needs us both.”

  “Eric I have to do this so Melody can live in peace and so that she can be happy.”

  “You think she’ll be happy without a mother?!”

  “Well of course not. I love you both and that’s why I must do this. Eric how many times have I fallen off this cliff?”

  “Twice, why?”

  “Well you know what they say things always happen in threes.”

  “What?” Ariel steps back and Eric watches in horror. “Ariel!” There is a big splash as she hits the water. “Well I didn’t see that coming.” Eric runs down to the beach and watches Ariel swim off to face Morgona.

  Back in the castle Melody is sat on the bottom step. Ariel sneaks in. “Mom?”

  “Melody!” Ariel stares at her. “Where’s your father?”

  “He went out looking for you.”

  “Great!”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know, well we better go and find him. You go down to Atlantica and get Sebastian and your aunt Attina. I’ll save your father from Morgona.”

  “Ok mom, see you later.” They go their separate ways.

  Ariel storms into the cave. “Where’s Eric?” Morgona stands up. “I have no idea what you’re talking about Ariel.”

  “He’s here