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mermaidmelodyedits · 2 years

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Melody's Beginning Ch.3

Author Notes: This fanfic is a SEQUEL to my Return to the Sea AU Fanfic where Melody is 19 instead of 12. This story is a retelling of The Little Mermaid 3 with Melody as the protagonist. Previous story has 24 chapters and a prologue.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO READ THE FIRST TO UNDERSTAND THIS SEQUEL!

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Chapter 3: How Things Are Done

Melody had been in the expansive throne room once in the past, under very different circumstances. Before she was sneaking in as a servant to steal, now she was swimming in as a princess.

She could hear her grandfather’s voice echoing long before she saw him or even entered the audience chamber.

“Well? Anything to report?”

A voice she was less familiar with replied, “Unfortunately the sprat and the smelt are still squabbling…” the speaker cleared his throat.

As the seven Princesses entered Melody could make out a small red crab riding In a adorable tiny sea shell chariot pulled by two little gold fish. The youngest princess stifled a giggle.

“But not to worry your majesty. I threatened you’d sic the salmon on them.”

King Triton gave a deep hearty laugh, “Oh Sebastian, what would I do without you?”

Sebastian ungracefully disembarked from his chariot to his spot at the King’s side,

“You’d be stuck negotiating with the sprat and the smelt, that I can assure you.”

The mermaids had been unable to stop giggling and chattering all morning, but as they entered the grand hall each fell uncharacteristically quiet.

They lined up before their father one by one in what seemed to be a specific order, one Melody was unsure of. She decided to stay in the middle only for her Aunt Andrina to pull her down to the end. That’s when she realized they went in order of age, Attina first as the eldest, then Alana, Adella, Aquata, Arista, Andrina, and herself.

In unison they spoke, “Good Morning father.”

Melody’s “Good Morning Grandfather” started too late and awkwardly threw off her Aunt’s synced voices.

Triton cleared his throat before speaking, “Today is perfect for Melody’s first day,”

The teen beamed as the King continued, “Every Saturday we assign the week’s royal duties.” Her smile fell away immediately.

“Let’s see, Attina… I expect your alliance plans to be drawn up soon?”

Melody peeked at her eldest Aunt, noticing her face very visibly falter. “Y-yes father, they should be done soon…”

Her other Aunt’s shifted uncomfortably.

Triton noticed nothing, and continued down the line.“Wonderful, Alana how are stables looking?”

Alana sighed, “The sea horses and dolphin training is taking longer than usual, and this year’s breeding season went… not well.”

Triton sighed, “I wish it was better but no one is more experienced than you Alana.” Alana’s eyes couldn’t meet her father’s. “Adella, how are the reserves looking?”

Confusion and a look of intense thought took over Adella, “Well uh I think the new recruits should balance out the retirees. And umm…” she began counting on her fingers, Attina gave the slightest shake of her head. Adella continued to struggle, “There are currently uhh..”

Attina spoke up, “There are only 4 generals at the moment, we should have 7…”

Triton shot his eldest a disapproving look, “I believe Adella is in charge of that.”

Attina’s response was swift, “Sorry your majesty.”

Adella looked even more frazzled than before.

“Aquata, how are the sea games coming together?”

Aquata kept a stone face, “Teams are being selected now.”

The approval was evident on Triton’s features, “Yes and how about the upcoming balls?”

“Invitations were sent out yesterday.”

“Wonderful, now then, Arista…”

Aquata boldly spoke up again before her dad could move on. “Father, relating to the sea games, I was hoping to compete on behalf of Atlantica? Prince Thor is competing on behalf of Olympia.”

Triton ran a hand over his beard, “I will consider it then. Could be a good opportunity…” A small smile danced onto Aquata’s lips, one Adella took careful note of.

The King cleared his throat, “Ahem, now then Arista, how are the gardens doing?”

Arista gave her biggest smile, but the awkwardness made the fakeness evident.

“Coral is doing great this year, no problems there! Barnacles are totally in check, and there are no snapping clams infesting the seaweed beds!” Triton raised an eyebrow.

“Why would there be snapping clams in the sea beds?”

Arista quickly shrugged, “Not sure, but there aren’t any!”

Alana interjected, “Father, the coral is in bloom and I thought maybe we could go for a walk there instead?”

Arista’s smile vanished, and she shouted “No!” Before her dad could even answer.

Everyone shot her a surprised look, and Triton spoke up. “It’s for the best, I have a very important meeting with Marina today. The number of magic artifacts being confiscated inside the city are staggering.”

Alana seemed devastated, “It’s only in bloom once a year.”

Her sisters shushed her, one even whispered to her to clam it.

Sebastian replied on behalf of the king, “Your father said, no.”

Attina gave Alana a harsh message, just loud enough for only them to hear. “Nice job Alana.”

“Let’s see, that just leaves us with Andrina. How has the castle staff been? Anything to report?”

Andrina sighed, “Nothing, as usual…” She whispered the last part quietly enough that only

Melody heard.

“Perfect, then let’s begin our morning swim. Shall we?”

King Triton rose from his golden throne and each of the girls bowed as he passed them. Melody knew how to curtsy as a human, but her attempt at bowing as a mermaid looked and felt completely awkward.

One by one the mermaids lined up behind their father and followed him out, Melody last in line all the way at the back.

They silently glided through the main halls, and exited the palace through the ornate front entrance. A golden path extending from the castle into the city, completely surrounded by the royal gardens.

Hundreds of merfolk lined the path, and as the royal family appeared there was an uproar of cheers.

Melody overheard her Aunt Andrina whisper to Aunt Adella, “There hasn’t been this many in… like ever.”

Adella whispered back, “Duh, this is the first time anyone in Atlantica has ever seen the human princess…”

Some of the spectators threw purple flower petals as they went by, the tide slowly making them fall like rain. Alex had once told her purple was the family's royal color, and anyone associated with them, like the castle staff, had to wear living lilac flowers. Melody wondered where Alex was right now, was he in the crowds watching her? Or back inside the castle working with the other staff? Was he even in the city at all right now? As usual, her lack of information about him released an uneasy feeling in her stomach. Especially since he and the rest of Atlantica knew more about her past than she herself did.

The procession diverged from the main city road into the private royal gardens, where the public could not follow and a more private portion of their walk could begin. Just before the family disappeared from the public, Melody noticed Adella giving a completely telling look. When she followed her aunt’s gaze she saw the subject was a merman in the crowd, wearing a shark tooth necklace. Melody couldn’t stifle her smile and giggles this time.

The young princess half expected everyone to relax once they were out of the public's eyes, but they stayed silent as ever in their perfect chronological order. If things didn’t loosen up soon Melody was going to go crazy, and wasn’t the point of a family walk to be together?

Melody broke from her place in the back and went up a few spots, “So Auntie Adella, who is shark tooth boy?” All of her aunt’s gave varying levels of laughter in response, some able to hold back their chuckles better than others.

“Uh boy? I think you mean man.” Aquata poked her sister in the side, Adella’s entire body was flushed a bright crimson red. “I’m going to kill you Aquata.”

Melody placed a gentle hand on Adella’s shoulders, “Don’t worry, you were looking at him so hard there is no way he didn’t notice… unless he traded his brain for the ability to enchant a princess.”

None of the mermaids could keep from laughing now, Adella’s face combined with their niece’s unexpected cheekiness was too much.

King Triton on the other hand was not amused, and the girls had been so distracted they hadn’t even noticed someone else had joined them.

The King cleared his throat, “Girls, say good morning to Marina.”

They all went silent and Melody saw an older mermaid beside the king. She was dressed in all purple, even her hair, jewelry, and makeup.

The princesses all bowed, “Good Morning Military Captain Marina.”

The woman seemed to have a very disapproving look etched into her features, one that didn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.

“The Captain and I have some important meetings to attend, you girls are dismissed.”

Another group bow, “Thank you father.”

The mermaids turned their backs to leave, and Melody went to follow them before her grandfather stopped her.

“Melody, could you stay behind? We have some very important issues to discuss.”

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mermaidmelodyedits · 2 years

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Melody's Beginning Ch.2

YOU DO NOT NEED TO READ THE FIRST TO UNDERSTAND THIS SEQUEL!

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Chapter 2: Echoes

King Triton had never been the same, and thus his kingdom changed forever too. He blamed many things for what happened, magic, humans, the very coastline itself even. In the name of safety he ordered any and all mers living in coves, bays, or by isles to leave their homes immediately, move to Atlantica or suffer the consequences. Any and all enchantments were made illegal, punished by life in prison, regardless of the use or intent. Illusions, potions, enchanted instruments… the same ones that had made the music Athena had loved and grown up with. Triton’s heart couldn’t bear to hear the playful tones they made, all he could see was her dancing and smiling. He couldn’t stand the sight of the magic that had drawn the pirates to them, couldn’t bear to think his wife was killed to plunder meaningless trinkets. Humans were evil, murdering, thieves, and he would not let any more of his people fall victim to their wicked ways. So even if it made him hated, even if he was destroying his wife’s home and culture, he would protect his people and his children.

And so it was… for 35 years.

Melody rolled over in her fluffy satin soft bed, her hair tickling her face as it moved with the waves. She rubbed her tired eyes, and momentarily forgot where she was. As her vision cleared she was greeted by two tiny seahorses, curiously watching the newly arrived princess.

“Oh!” Melody sat up with a small gasp of fright, sending the sea horses scampering off. Then she remembered, it had been her first night in Atlantica. She giggled and stretched her arms, excited for what the day would hold for her.

Suddenly she heard whispering coming from the other side of her curtain entrance.

“Is she up yet?”

“Shhh you’ll wake her.”

“So? Let’s wake her up ourselves and surprise her.”

“I know you're excited but she just got here. We don’t want to overwhelm her.”

“But she is our only niece! I wanna spoil her.”

Melody giggled, “Good morning aunties.”

She heard six simultaneous voices gasp at once. Then her Aunt Attina cleared her throat before entering, pulling open the curtain of her new bedroom.

“Good morning Melody!” They all sang rushing in to see her.

“Rise and shine.” Aquata teased

Alana went in for the cheek pinch, “Did you sleep well? A girl needs her beauty sleep!”

Andrina drolled off in her monotone voice, “What do you think of Atlantica? Not much right?”

“Were you dreaming? Was it about a boy?” Adele raised an eyebrow.

Arista cooed, “Oh she is so cute when she just wakes up!”

“Girls!” Attina clapped, and her sisters instantly quieted.

The eldest sister’s face went from a scowl to a smile, “Good morning Melody, we wanted to invite you to join us getting ready. We are to meet with dad-er I mean, the king in an hour.”

Melody looked at each one of her Aunt’s faces, hope written all over their features.

“I’d love to.”

Melody had never seen such a luxurious dressing room. Seven beautiful crystal vanities built into a pillar of silver enladen with jewels, towering up to the ceiling. Her Aunt’s immediately went all about the pillar, and to Melody’s surprise each jewel was actually a handle revealing shelves and cubbies full of beauty supplies. Some seemed similar to things she’d find at her gold vanity back home, other’s seemed so foreign she wouldn’t even know what to do with it.

Aquata took Melody’s hand and pushed her gently to sit at one of the vanities. “Oh I was so excited I could hardly sleep all night long.”

“Awww look, she is sitting at Ariel’s mirror. Ooo she is so precious I can’t take it.” Adella slipped into her spot next to Melody, ruffling her still loose raven locks as she did so.

Arista giggled as she began brushing her hair with some kind of coral comb.

“I just remembered, this is the same comb I fought with Ariel for… remember girls? Daddy beached us on the day of the carnival.”

Melody looked flatly at the supplies before her, and had no idea what to do. She picked up something that looked vaguely brush like, but instead of bristles there were sharp coral spikes.

Attina smiled, she hadn’t seen her sisters this excited in a long time.

“Gosh, how long has it been since each one of these seats were full like this?”

Andrina answered flatly, “25 years.”

The sisters went quiet briefly, Adella looked to her niece. The young girl attempted to start brushing her hair, but not in any way Adella had ever seen. Poor thing kept stroking down, only for the current to immediately lift her curls back up floating above her. “Girls, I think we should teach Melody how Atlantican Princesses get ready.”

And just like that, her aunts went from dolling themselves up to pampering their niece. Attina kindly took the brush from Melody, helping the poor thing brush out the tangles. Suddenly Attina remembered doing this for her baby sister, all the way back when they were teens. She could see it so clearly, giggling together in their room, the thick red hair in her hands, two teenagers.

Aquata held up a shell to Melody’s ear in one hand and a crown above her head with the other. “Do these shells go with this tiara?”

Alana instantly shook her head, “Ugh no, scallops are what’s popular now.”

Aquata instantly shook her head in agreement, pulling out beautiful mint green scallops and clamping them on Melody’s ears. Adella went to secure the tiara in place on the girl’s head but Melody stopped her.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to swim so well with that… still not quite used to that yet.” Melody hoped Adella wouldn’t realize that she didn’t like being instantly recognizable as royalty.

Adella laughed, “We never could get your mother to wear a crown either. Oh gosh I was so shocked when I saw her with one when she came back from the human world…”

Arista dabbed some kind of pink on the teens lips, before carefully using a brush to coat her lashes in octopus ink. Finishing off her makeup job with globs of silver goo she painted on the girls shoulders, cheekbones, all over her coral tail and a dot on the tip of her nose.

Finally, Alana painted what appeared to Melody to de diamonds all over her fingernails. What makeover would it be without a proper manicure?

When they finished Attina squeezed the girls shoulder’s lovingly.

“Ok girls we can’t be late. Princesses are presentable, punctional, and perfect. So let’s get those tails moving!”

Andrina rolled her eyes, “You can’t tell us what to do just because you’re the eldest.”

Attina wasted no time in her reply, “Yes I can.”

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