Part of Your World (Disney Twisted Tales) - Liz Braswell Page 0,101

went to taste it, the mermaid burst out with a bucket of salt water, utterly dousmg the birthday girl?

Ariel laughed quietly to herself. It was a pleasant and deeply satisfying fantasy. "What's with you, giggle-puss?"

Attina had been slinking around the public work rooms of the palace more and more often lately. A less forgiving sister might have thought she was hoping for apples, like a semi-feral seahorse—or that she found she liked the taste of power after all.

But maybe she just wanted to hang out and be near her little sister, offering what little support she could.

Whatever the truth of the matter was, Ariel was relieved at this new development and always happy to see her.

"You're all smiley-faced and, well, not broody," Attina pressed. "What's gomg on?"

It was true—since Ariel got back she had been more lightheaded, smiling and flipping her tail more. But when Flounder and Sebastian asked her why, she felt like she had to keep it a secret. Isn't that what sisters are for?

She put down her whelk pen, deliberating. Attina looked like she was going to explode. Finally the queen spoke. '1 kissed a boy." "WHAT?"

With two quick lashes of her tail, the auburn-haired older mermaid was over by Ariel, eyes wide. "Eric. I kissed Eric. We kissed. Eric and I kissed each other."

"When? How? What? Why? I mean, what took so long?" she added, trying to sound casual.

"Didn't seem appropriate before," Ariel said, shrugging. "There were too many other things to talk about, to plan...."

"You are so weird!" Attina practically shrieked. "And so is he. Who ever heard of a human waiting to kiss a mer? He must be weird, too. What was it like?" "Not the stuff of a teen's fantasy," Ariel said with a rueful smile. "But it was genuine, and it was...nice." "Well. The sea be praised," Attina muttered. "Something is moving ahead. What's gomg on with our father?"

"I'm working on that. I think we're going to have to get the Tirulians—uh, humans—to take care of Ursula for us. It's tricky. Maybe you can help—come up with an idea, like you did with the Celebrations?" "Sure. Just tell the humans she tastes like candy," Attina said dryly. "Or that a mouthful of her flesh can cure their diseases." "Thanks. I'll give your suggestion the thoughtful consideration it's due." "Any time, little sister."

Sebastian scuttled on the floor toward them, seeming very pleased with himself. Threll swam above, looking likewise.

"Don't talk about this!" Ariel whispered.

Talk about what?" Attina asked innocently.

Ariel made a desperate hush motion with her finger to her lips, minutely tippmg her chm at her friends.

"What are you doing? I don't think I learned that sign..." Attina said, looking very puzzled.

Ariel glowered at her.

"Oh! But wait, don't you think your friends should know as well?" her sister pressed.

"Know what?" Sebastian asked curiously when he reached them.

Ariel floated upright off her stool, fists clenched at her sides, wishing she could pummel her sister like m the old days.

"Oh, that this whole thmg with the Equinocturnal Celebrations and the Rites of Proserpine is over. She figured it out," Attina said with a sweet smile, batting her lashes at the queen.

"But we already know that," Sebastian said, confused. "You have the sister singing it. What other news is there? Oh.. .ARE YOU GOING TO SING?" His eyes twitched in the crab equivalent of widening; he tiptoed forward, claws delicately tapping each other's tips, as if afraid to scare away the idea.

Attina guffawed silently and swam off.

Ariel looked at the little crab and felt bad. She had felt bad ever smce the stern talking-to she had given him about how she would never, ever sing while she was queen. She hadn't changed her mind about that. But how could she make it up to him?

She thought about the other musician m her life, Eric. In his own way he loved an audience as much as the little crab did; he relished the goodwill of the townspeople and was very much lookmg forward to the encore of La Sirenetta, performed for all who had missed it the first time. Composmg was one thmg, but both of them felt the most fulfilled when they could directly gauge the reactions of their listeners.

That's an idea....

"Sebastian, I was serious. I will never sing for an audience while I am queen. However, that being said" she continued quickly as the crab looked like he was about to explode, "two things. One, I want you to devote a portion of your spare