Part of Your World (Disney Twisted Tales) - Liz Braswell Page 0,84

it settled down to preen itself.

Eric laughed and reached out to scratch it on its neck, like he would have Max. The bird seemed to enjoy it immensely.

1 deserve this, Ariel thought as she delivered the news of her failure agam and again and again. Of course the general populace was disappointed. She expected the frowns and the occasional dramatic tears.

Telling her sisters was extremely unpleasant. They wept real tears and swished their tails back and forth m dismay. And then they swam off: all but Attina, who gave her a quick hug before leaving.

The Queen's Council was also disappomted—though not terribly surprised, and quick to talk about the future, and Ariel's loyalty to her people, and how maybe further rescue attempts should be turned over to those who weren't the acting queen.

"We should send an army of merfolk—with legs—up through the castle, and seize it," the captain of the merguards suggested. Her eyes shone and her partner, a giant bluefish, nodded eagerly. "It will be like battles of old, sword agamst sword! We will retrieve the king triumphantly and remind humans of our might!"

"And while you are waving your shiny swords, the humans will be shooting at you with their guns," Ariel said wearily. "That's why I wanted to do this alone—and stealthily. To limit the loss of life."

"Forget the army. Use the power of the sea," a merman senator suggested. "Use your trident and teach the humans a lesson!"

"Yes," Ariel said, leaning back on her throne. "I've actually thought of that. I could destroy the castle and everyone in it with one mighty wave. The advantage of killing Ursula this way is that ray father and all of her prisoners would be transformed immediately upon her death and released directly mto the sea."

Flounder and Sebastian exchanged surprised—and shocked—looks. Had she really considered this?

Ariel turned her eyes to the glowing dome of the surface to avoid seeing their faces. Yes, she had thought about it.

If her goal was truly just to get her father back and wreak revenge on Ursula, it was probably the most direct and efficient route. A giant tsunami wiping out a kingdom's castle and all within... Some would call it a natural disaster, but others would suspect the truth and tell stories. Maybe people would start respecting the sea agam, properly. Maybe they would stop fishing it out and dumpmg their garbage into it.

And, from an artistic perspective, how utterly apocalyptic and perfect: destroying her enemy and possibly her lover at the same time. Very Old God. They'd be singing about her for centuries.

One side of her mouth tugged mto a wry smile. The old Ariel wouldn't have even had these thoughts; she would have dismissed them immediately as horrific and unthinkable.

Now she could think them. She just couldn't do them.

"No, guys,'' she said aloud. "I'm not actually killmg everyone m the castle in a tidal wave of utter destruction.'' Sebastian and Flounder looked chagrmed that she had read their minds—but also relieved.

"Your Majesty, I must attend the Planktonic Life Interior Committee meeting," Klios the dolphin said apologetically, with a bow. "I will contmue to ponder our problem of rescuing the long. But for now, other duties call." "Yes, go. We could all use a break anyway," Ariel said, rubbing her head for the second time that week. "We'll reconvene on the next tide to discuss further."

As most of the council swam off, Sebastian approached her, sideways and slowly. "Well, then, while we are taking a break thinking about all this.. .maybe we can talk about something else! My next masterpiece, maybe? A celebration of the tides. A celebration of the sea. A celebration celebratmg the return of your voice, starring..."

Ariel narrowed her eyes at him.

"...well, your voice?" He gave her a winning crabby grin. "Queens. Do not. Sing. Sebastian." "But Ariel, now that you can sing agam.

"My father did not put on pantomimes or act in farces. My mother did not perform burlesque. My station does not allow for such gross frippery. No one would take me seriously agam."

"Your mother's voice was terrible."

"Sebastian!"

"Sorry, but it's the truth. And you are not your father...."

"No, but would you suggest this if I were a prince? Somehow I think not."

"But Ariel! Think of your people! They have lived without hearing your voice for so long! Don't they deserve to hear your singing?"

"My smging is my singing," she said, bending down to put her eyes on level with the little crab. "My voice is my voice. I gave