Part of Your World (Disney Twisted Tales) - Liz Braswell Page 0,103

her level and on the surface of the water like a kraken. "This is amazingV he said, as delighted as a child. "This is how you really are."

"This is how I really am," she agreed, touched that he had phrased it that way. She was no longer a human girl who became a mermaid to him; she was a mermaid first and foremost, and a human occasionally by choice. "But listen, we need to talk."

"I know, I know!" Eric said excitedly. "I had an idea!"

"So did I! I was thinking of some sort of performance, which Ursula would attend, giving a speech or something pompous that would put her in front of a huge crowd."

"Exactly! Something where, for a moment at least, she is the absolute center of attention—"

"Something that really tickles her vanity, so she absolutely agrees to go—"

"Like the encore performance of La Sirenetta," Eric fmished.

"Your opera!" Ariel said with a gasp. "It's perfect!"

"It's so perfect. Everyone will be watching. The only problem is that I just don't know how to turn her back. Maybe the altos can bring m a giant tub of salt water on their heads and splash it on her? I don't know, though, some of them are surprisingly dainty and delicate. Maybe they could each carry a small tub of salt water on their heads...."

"Or... since it's a concert for the people, you could have it outside m the town square, right next to Neptune's Fountain. And we could just knock her in," Ariel suggested lightly. Sebastian and Eric were more similar than she had even guessed. Always leaping to the most complex and fussy ideas when a simple one would do.

"Oh, right." Eric grinned sheepishly. "I hadn't thought of that. You're sure it will work?"

"Absolutely, and it's foolproof, because the water comes straight from the sea. So you need to make that fountain part of your opera, or at least stage it around it." "Easily done. This is great'' He laughed and punched the air. "I can practically feel the happily ever afters coming for us!" "Slow down there," Ariel said cautiously. "This is Ursula. Nothing is over until it's actually over."

"I know, I know, but it seems so., .perfect! Artistically, too," he added thoughtfully. "You know, ending it with an opera that's actually about the two of you, and there's singing, so it's all about your voice, and that's what does her in...."

"Yes, yes, very clever and semiotic. But I should go—I don't know if this counts as 'castle grounds' or not, but you are definitely helpmg me. It would be stupid to risk Grimsby when we're so close." "Agreed. And I should get back and. ..I don't know, walk around the beach talkmg to myself and Jona or something. Maybe sing. Keep up the whole Mad Prmce thmg a bit longer." "Oh, I hope you don't ever give it up entirely! I rather like it." "For you, it will come out of the closet occasionally." He leaned over mto the water. Ariel kicked her tail and rose up just long enough for a quick kiss—cold, wet, salty, and slapped by the sea at just the wrong moment. Heaven.

Eric good-naturedly laughed at himself as he brushed the foam and seawater out of his now-limp forelock. "You have to make sure she attends," Ariel warned.

"Oh, leave that to me," Eric promised. "I know exactly what to say. I'll also work hard to keep the original performance date—on St. Madalberta's feast day. Two weeks from now." "I hope that's soon enough—that it's before the circuex or whatever she's planning."

"Nothing m the castle has seemed out of the ordinary so far. No weird thmgs ordered, no giant cauldrons procured—in fact, Vanessa has been rather quieter than usual since her big threat. I wouldn't worry too much yet. You'll be there, right?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," the mermaid said dryly-, and dove back down into the depths.

Eric wandered back to the castle, zigzagging to pick up shells and a stray feather, sticking the latter in his cap. Just m case anyone caught him. He saluted the gull above him and could have sworn it did a victory roll m response.

"Come again?"

She was seated on her poufy chair, Vareet perched uncomfortably on a stool at her feet. Sometimes Ursula ran her fingers through the girl's hair, which, while certainly not as pleasant as stroking an eel, was at least a little satisfactory.

The prince stood before her with a strange look on his face, somewhere