Oh, Ho White was not a virgin

she slept with every young prince

knew all the tricks of the trade

the men lusted after every creamy inch.

The Queen found out and was furious

because Ho White was the fairest

in the land, prettier than the Queen

she banished Ho White to the forest.

Told the huntsman to bring back her heart

after he, also, slept with the fair maiden,

he didn’t have the will to end her life

so he put a plump pig’s heart in a box, laden

Took it to the Queen who chortled

shaking her rolls of fat like grape jellies

realizing she was the fairest because

she made sure the other maidens’ bellies

were either dead or locked in towers

where they smelled and couldn’t take showers.

Ho White came to a little cottage

and found seven little dwarfs residing

named Storm, Thorn, Lance, Stud, Manfred,

Big Boy and Bud, all there abiding.

Luckily, although they were little in stature,

they were not little where it counted –

in fact, their unmentionables were huge

she couldn’t believe the size when they mounted.

She tried one out each day of the week

and sometimes, she had threesomes or more

she was so naughty and having a great time.

Queen found out, sent a poison apple to her door

Ho White ate the fruit and fell in a coma

only a prince could awaken her.

One day, a fair prince who had known

her in the past, saw her and asked “Whatzup?”

He remembered she was a good romp in the hay

so rubbed her body sensually with oil

she began to tingle and moan, “Oh, oh! more!”

and he did and she did and their blood began to boil.

And he swooped her up on his princely white horse

took her back to palace bed where she remained

deliriously romping with the Prince day and night

Happily Ever After! For it was all preordained!

Cindy looked out the palace window. She and her husband, the prince had another public appearance. It was an adjustment being in the public eye all the time. Especially, after a lifetime of being behind the scenes. Still, her new public role, six months now, had its benefits. She had started a crisis center for abused and neglected children. How could she not, after being at the mercy of her stepmother for all these years? It was a warm and welcoming place where children and teenagers could walk in and have qualified people listen to them and offer help and support. Cindy also threw her support behind the local animal shelter in honor of her friends who helped her get through the difficulty in her previous life. Thinking of the animals, she turned to the spacious gilded cage with her beloved mice who were now royal pets, safe from predatory cats. She lifted her favorite, Gus, out of the cage. She gave him a scratch on his belly and smiled at him as he ate a large piece of cheese out of her hand.

She pet Gus idly and then looked up at the clock. She had to start getting ready for that ball. She sighed, this was one of the toughest parts of her new role. Being out in front of everybody, plastering a smile on her face when sometimes she’d just like to sit in front of the TV and watch a movie with her new husband. They were still getting to know each other. It was sweet of him to offer to marry her, especially after just sharing one dance together on a crazy evening. He, they both, would have liked to go on a few dates, have a few conversations, and get more acquainted but Cindy’s situation was dire and the public demanded an immediate royal wedding. So, here she was, married to a virtual stranger, a sudden princess. She put Gus back in his cage and slipped on her elegant ball gown “I do like the clothes,“ she thought ruefully. She picked up her custom made high heeled pumps. “I’ve always hated my feet,” she said to the mice, “Too small to buy anything at the mall. I mean, I finally don’t have to clean all the time, have time to go shopping, yet I can’t find a decent pair of shoes because nobody has my size.”

Just as she slipped on her shoes, there was a knock on the door. It was her husband, the prince. He looked at her admiringly, “You look lovely. Are you ready to go?” She gave him a wry smile, “As ready as I’ll ever be. I know I don’t have a midnight curfew anymore but can we try to slip out early. Maybe get a pizza on the way home and watch that new Netflix series?”

You always see me: carrying the prince through blistering winds and scorching deserts, waiting for him to climb to the highest room in the tallest tower to save a complete stranger, and then let them kiss on my back so they can live happily ever after. What about my happily ever after?

I always enjoyed the days when the prince and I would travel through the woods, hunting deer or just lazing about on a perfect afternoon. Of course, that was always ruined by some two-legged female in one way or another. Now, there are some exceptions, from what I’ve heard around the stableyard. Khan, horse of Mulan, said his rider is a complete bada** while Samson, Prince Phillip’s horse, said they had to face a frickin’ dragon. Now I don’t know about you, but I would hate to be in that situation. We all know how Donkey turned out...

Angus, loves Merida. Scotland is beautiful and he admires her strong bow-arm. She hits the targets every time, he gloats. None of the other steeds are really worth mentioning except for Maximus. He’s loyal, smart and can fight as well as anyone, two-legged or otherwise. I look up to him.

If you’re wondering who I am, I’m the noble and gentle steed of Prince Charming. Many have said my name is Astor, but few know of me (or remember). Sure, Snow White is kind and everyone adores her, but she’s not the only woman in the Prince’s life. I was there first and ever since she came into our lives, I’ve had to listen to her incessant singing: making our courtyard filled with all kinds of wildlife, constantly; or while she cleaned the castle and did chores. I’d wish she’d bother Cinderella if I knew how annoying it was going to be. I’ve heard “Whistle While You Work”, WAY too many times. I feel like dunking my head into the water trough just to drown it out.

Not to mention the seven, VERY short, two-legged creatures. Every time they come over, it’s a complete nightmare. Thankfully, the Prince feels as uncomfortable as I do around them and saddles me for a ride into the nearby forest. A blessing indeed. Then, when evening comes and everyone leaves, I’m content in my warm stable. Blessed for being so lucky, yet dreading what the day will bring, now that she is with us. I guess Snow White is both a blessing and a curse.

#xjenvanx, #astor, #snowwhite, #princecharming, #horse, #disney, #challenge, #rewritedisney

The horn-shaped shell blew a low, gentle hmmmmmm into the darkness as he waited, unsure of why he chose to believe the tales now. Surely no one could hear a single shell blast from anywhere across the Seven Seas.

After only a heartbeat, though, the waves began to swirl in a furious fashion and from their midst rose an epic ship, encased in algae and dripping with salt water. The Sea Witch was real!

Excited now, he rushed into the water and dove in, swimming without hesitation towards its bow. As he reached the port side, a rope ladder softly fell down towards him and he climbed up, careful not to let his hooves slip or get caught.

As he reached the deck, he looked about, breathless. The ocean mist swirled about, obscuring his vision until at last it lifted and a tall, dark figure stood in its place.

From her black-laced boots up through her black coat gilded in gold, the captain of The Sea Witch stared at him with a measuring gaze. Her jet coal eyes sized him up as her plump red lips pursed together. “Who summons my vessel?” she asked, her voice deeper than the ocean itself.

Kneeling, since standing taller than such an imposing figure felt wrong, the minotaur replied, “I am Asterion, The Minotaur.”

“Only one? My, what a snowflake.” the captain smirked and pulled off her feathered tricorn hat. Beneath it her hair lay in thick tendrils, curling outwards as if alive. “What brings The Minotaur to my ship?”

“They say you grant wishes,” Asterion replied, holding his breath.

“Maybe. They also say the earth is flat.” She laughed and the ship seemed to shake with her mirth. “What wish would you make?”

“I wish to be human,” Asterion looked up with sad desire in his deep brown eyes.

“But there is only one Minotaur. Why lose such a unique title?” She raised an eyebrow at him, her smile seeming to understand but her silence forcing him to speak his truth aloud.

“I am lonely. I...I wish to befriend someone.”

“Befriend? Surely your horns don’t hold you back from befriending anyone.”

“I want him to love me,” Asterion blurted, his words falling out in order to keep from being shut inside by his rising panic. “He could never love me as a monster.”

“He? How interesting.” Walking around him as he continued to kneel, she reached out here and there to touch his shoulder, his horns, his back. “Who is this poor fool that fails to see your potential?”

“Theseus.” the minotaur said softly.

“Really? Well, at least he’s Greek, honey - I suppose you’ve got a chance.” Standing before him again she folded her arms. “If they say I grant wishes, do they also say what they cost?”

Nodding solemnly, the minotaur answered, “I’m prepared to pay for this wish.”

“And what would you pay?”

He paused. “I...I have no money. What would you take?”

Rubbing her chin thoughtfully, the captain finally snapped her fingers. “Your strength. You will give me all the beautiful, bull-headed strength that you possess. In return, I’ll remove your horns and give you what you desire. But be warned.” A CRACK of lightning suddenly struck the sea as they clouds grew dark. “You have but one week to woo your lover. If he does not accept you in your new form, then you forfeit your humanity - and will spend the rest of your days as part of my crew.”

Another CRACK of lightning lit up the ship and illuminated the shadows around them. Suddenly Asterion could see glimpses of misshapen figures hidden in the gloom - including a hunchback aloft in the rigging, a dark-skinned beauty with toad-like scales, a fierce-looking warrior from the east, and what appeared to be a masked gorgon, until Asterion realized the snakes were just severely curly hair. They watched silently, staring at him but not saying a word or betraying a single emotion. He wondered if they still retained their souls.

Swallowing his fear, Asterion held his head high. “I accept your price, captain. Please. Grant me my wish.”

The sky cleared abruptly as the captain cackled in delight. “Excellent! A deal is a deal.” At a snap from her fingers a strange little blue creature crawled over, handing her a parchment and two pens in three different hands. “Now then to make it official sign here and we’re done.” After quickly scriving her own name on the page she handed it over.

His handwriting clumsy, but readable, Asterion signed on the dotted line. The parchment seemed to glow briefly, then faded to black. Ripping it from his hands the captain tucked it into her coat pocket.

“Very well, Asterion. At sunrise tomorrow you shall gain new life as a fair little human. And at sunset on the seventh day I shall return - on land or sea - to claim you when you have failed.” Her smile widened, revealing rows of jagged teeth laced with gold and sea glass.

“I won’t fail,” Asterion swore, rising to his hooves. With a bow, he went back to the rope ladder and descended, swimming back to shore before the dawn rendered him weak.

As the captain watched him go, her crew circled around with heavy heads. “I know, dearies. He has to learn on his own.”

Seven Days Later

Asterion’s tears fell in small, weak droplets at his feet as he wrapped his arms around his legs in a self-soothing motion. He had failed. The sun grew dimmer in the sky, and he sat on the beach alone with his misery. As he bowed into his arms the sea began to swirl again, and The Sea Witch appeared once more.

This time Asterion simply waited on the shore, refusing to make the swim. From the mists came a rowboat manned by two portly twin sailors, with the captain in front. As they reached shore she leapt down, striding over to Asterion with her arms outstretched.

“What happened, my poor snowflake? Did your man fail to notice your sweet charms?”

“Theseus didn’t even look at me. He fought some foolish battle with Pirithous and decided he made a better partner.” Wiping his face, he glared at her. “You knew leaving me weak would make me less desirable to him. That’s why you took my strength. If I had been able to fight like Pirithous I could have won his heart!”

Clicking her tongue, the captain replied, “My dear Asterion, if all you needed was strength to win his heart you could have done it without signing a contract.”

“He would never love me as a monster!”

“Then he could never love you.” The captain’s eyes sparked with silver, her gaze silencing the quivering boy before her. “You pathetic mortals never understand - people may like you for your qualities, but they can never truly love you without your flaws.” Leaning over him, her hair slid under his chin, forcing him to look up at her. “If I just made everyone perfect there would be nothing left to truly love.”

Asterion could only sob softly, his eyes filling up again with tears.

Turning her back to him, the captain snapped her fingers. “A deal is a deal, Asterion. I have no need for a weakling, so back you go.” As the sun touched the horizon Asterion began to grow, his head and horns appearing once more over his hooves and tail. His tears grew fat and continued to fall on the darkening sand. “Come. Our ship is needed elsewhere.”

Reluctantly, Asterion rose up from the beach and followed his new captain towards the small dinghy, rubbing his eyes. He knew not what future lay before him - but having already lost Theseus, he cared very little for what might come.

As if reading his thoughts, the captain’s head turned ever so slightly. “Your heart will harden, young bull. Don’t worry. I’ll keep you so busy you’ll forget that foolish mortal in no time. Now, be a dear and row us back - the twins here could use a rest.”

With a heavy heart, he replied, “Yes, captain.”

And with her new crew in tow, Captain Ursula returned to her ship.

Lucy Lipp

was a liquorice whip

who let it go to her head,

that she was loved,

and held above

the licorice sticks that were red.

She always laughed,

when the half of the bag

with red at the bottom remained.

Lucy never was grieved,

for she firmly believed

that black should hold red in disdain.

’Til a sweet ’Lil Miss

with a sweet ’lil wish

took Lucy’s bag home to eat.

Three cheers for black,

pulled first from the sack

still every child’s favorite treat.

But Lucy was tricked,

she only got licked,

’Lil Miss didn’t like her a little.

Lucy tasted like ash,

and was thrown in the trash

replaced by a packet of Skittles.

Missy put the red back

in their candy-store sack

to save for another day.

When Skittles were done,

red was better than none,

so she wouldn’t throw them away.

It all goes to show

that you never should grow

too sure of your place in the sack.

Lucy learned a hard truth,

not every sweet-tooth

cares for licorice, red or black.

So if you think

your sugar don’t stink

and you belong at the top of the list,

remember the riddle

of ’Lil Miss Skittles,

and her licorice tale with a twist.

When you're a queen, your word is law. When your word is law, people fear you. They cower, they hide, and they bend over backwards to assure your satisfaction. Without question they listen, attentive and responsive with keenness, but in that same pleasant breath they scorn your existence.

When you're a queen, you rule the world. Every man and woman nothing, but a pawn on your playing board as they bow, their backs near breaking point—and Amora liked it that way. She liked having every pathetic man on their knees begging for her hand, her lips, and her body. Some times she'd give in, allowing those desperate men to bed her into senselessness, but there was always something missing.

Her body felt empty and unsatisfied. Deep down, Amora knew she wasn't as callous as everyone assumed her to be. Her heart throbbed against her chest with a longing; a longing to be cradled in someone's arms and loved. Genuinely loved. She wished to feel the soft touches of their affectionate hands, to feel fluttering kisses against her neck, and to stare endlessly into their eyes, seeing the very depths of their being. She wanted the sensations of butterflies in her stomach and to feel the burning of her cheeks from embarrassment. She wanted to feel their soul flow through her as they made love. Everything that love should be she sought. She sought it so badly her kingdom’s emblem reformed into a heart—and she was the Queen of Hearts.

Amora was allowed a scarce moment of freedom and in that time she took to her private garden—she always visited her garden. Daintily she touched the petals of her bright and brisk roses, their petals large and soft under the tips of her fingers. Smiling, she pulled herself back and admired her time consuming work, although her smile fell flat. There was something unsettling and off about the small bush that she couldn't place. Something drastic. Was she not watering the roots adequately? Did she not shower the growing buds in enough adoration? What did her garden need?

It was lacking something, much like her heart. It yearned for something neither could obtain and Amora felt the wound in her chest all the more. The one thing she tendered with such affection was also suffering and dejected. Was Amora not exhibiting the love it truly deserved? Were her touches like the men she bedded? Lifeless, dull, and unfulfilling? She didn’t want to think of himself in such a dishonorable way. No, she knew the reason.

Slowly she turned on her heel, staring at the center of the greenery. It held an enormous clear crystal; one no one was allowed to go near and only her most trusted of guards were allowed to gaze upon. It was Amora's most cherished and prized possession—it was her heart itself. Prickly vines that flowered the most stunning roses encircled it and inside floated a man. He drifted in a boundless slumber with blazing red hair, his long lashes making his face amply tantalizing and exquisite.

Amora sauntered towards it, carefully placing her palm and cheek against the cold imprisonment. She craved to be held in his arms. To feel his kisses, the warmth of his body, and gaze upon the honeyed smile of his face. She yearned for his fingers to grace her bare skin as their bodies laced and melted together into the night. Amora wanted his love so badly; she desired it with an unexplainable aching, but her love…her love was not reciprocated.

She was a Queen. She could have any hog faced man she wanted. Why did this one in particular disobey her? Amora didn't want to do this, but the thought of him lying with anyone else made her jaw tighten and her heart pound with a mad rage. The imageries of him loving someone so undeserving made Amora livid—so she took him. She took what was rightfully hers, capturing him in a prison of ice for all eternity, for only Amora to gaze at.

No one else would have him. No one.

“No one compares to you, Egantine. Not even the roses I so adore…” Amora breathed against the ice, her hot breath fogging against it, “You are the most beautiful. The most beautiful rose….and mine forever. To love and cherish….”

The icy response made Amora unstable. She collapsed onto the ground, tears falling from her eyes as quiet sobs rumbled from her throat—and there she sat. There she sat in the middle of her rose garden, the bushes filled with the heads of men, their mouths sprouting bloodied red flowers. The faces of men who didn't, and would never, love her the way she knew Egantine would.

It was like fate had twisted us into a whole new world. I could remember that last day many eons ago. I was the prince of thieves and Jasmine a true princess. I think of those crazy nights we had and remember what fun it used to be. Now I’m in an endless void of an eternity of indentured servitude. If it weren’t for that Damned Jafar and Iago I would’ve married the princess and became the Sultan. Yet here I am years later answering to foolish masters.. people used to worship genies. Now we are just second rate citizens. I hate that people made new technology. I mean what was so wrong with rubbing a damn lamp and getting three wishes? Now everyone can access a genie no problem because of these things called mobile phones. And what’s worst yet is that they got around the whole three wish thing because they created this new thing called the internet and it lets you download an app to skim more wishes off the top. My master currently is snooty rich kid who uses my wishes to torment poor children. And the only way for me to change masters is if their phone ends up being stolen or they say that they’ve been satisfied . I have been trying to get rid of this kid for the past three weeks!

“Brandon, my master, are you not pleased with the wishes I have granted you this far?” I’m trying to trick him into some sort of satisfactory affirmation.

“No! Now stop asking me that Aladdin. Or should I say Al-Dim! I’ll tell you when I will be satisfied and that won’t be until phones can talk for themselves”

Man is this kid stupid or what?! I am finally free of this idiot.

“So you’re saying once phones can talk I am free is that correct master ?”

Brandon looks at me haughtily and says

“ Yes and only then will I be satisfied”

I look at him and grin.

“Hey, Siri why is Brandon an idiot”

“I can’t answer that because my processor system can’t handle stupidity”

Brandon widens his eyes as he realizes he fucked up. I flick him off as I’m sucked into the computer codes and data of the world and float across the cosmos to my next master. Man I hope it’s someone clever this time.

C’mon... jus’ a few more stitches.

“Af’er te’ beast boys!” her father’s voice roared throughout the dense forest, accompanied by a hellish symphony of war horses and swords clanging with each gallop; blue irises darting back and forth from the tapestry to the rapidly brightening sky; it was ever clear that she was running out of time.

North of her, she could hear the mighty growl of a grizzly bear fleeing from the murderous rampage that was quickly gaining on them; the sensory overload that was bombarding her proved to make the current task of stitching the torn tapestry of her mother rather difficult, but she was ever determined to change her fate.

“Faster! C’mon!” the red haired archer demanded of her steed, who would promptly obey by galloping at the fastest speed it could muster; the young princess could only pray to the gods of old she would make it in time.

Thread would find itself mending the fabric at a much more accerlated rate now, the archer’s full attention glued to the task at hand so much so that she failed to pay attention to where she had been riding; with a startled scream, she and the tapestry would be ejected from the horse, her body coming to a crashing halt on the outskirts of the familiar clearing encircled by stone pillars. In the center, she would lay eyes upon the grizzly she had only heard moments ago, the creature in a clear hostile state as it looked for a way out of its current predicament.

The sun had nearly risen by now, and it would not be much longer until all the hard work the princess had put into lifting the witches’ spell was all for naught; all around her, she could hear the war party draw close to signal that they would arrive here any moment now. She struggled to rise to her feet, several groans of immense pain escaping her as it become quite clear she had broken at least a few bones in her body; fueled purely by adrenaline, the princess slowly limped her way over to the creature, her dead arm dragging the tapestry behind her.

Jus’ a lil’ farther...

As she drew closer, blue irises would meet the black ones belonged to the bear, sending the creature into a less hostile state; a few more hobbles would see her finally come face to face with the grizzly bear, the archer using the very last ounce of her strength to drape the creature in the tapestry.

“We did it mum’!” the princess would exclaim with joy, pulling the beast into a hug as the now fully risen sun began to slowly warm her skin.

One moment would pass, followed by another, it was growing quite clear that something wasn’t right; the red head would flutter her teary eyes open to realize the misfortune that had befallen her. At the very bottom of the tapestry tear lay a gap that would have been drawn shut with a single stitch of the thread; she had failed to mend the bond that had been torn by pride.

“M-mum...?” fear consumed her voice, eyes gazing up toward the face of the beast that was once her mother.

She was met with a deafening roar, followed swiftly after by a shove to the mossy ground beneath her.

“Merida!” a voice screamed out, clearly belonging to her father who was rushing to the scene with his longsword drawn.

Her eyes would turn back to the grizzly above her, the last thing her sight registering being a massive claw swinging downward towards her.

I jus’ wanted te’ change my fate...

Coldness of tears began to paint her cheeks.

Followed by a warmth flowing out and around her throat.

Finally, there was nothing left but silent darkness.

Raging waves tossed the ship around as if it were nothing more than a piece of driftwood. The winds tore at the sails from every direction, threatening to rip them to shreds at any moment. Lightning flashed across the green tinged sky while thunder crashed as if Heaven had suddenly started to crumble. Soon the rain came; sheets of water, mixed with stinging bits of hail.

This was something that happened all too often in this stretch of the Ocean waters. Great hurricanes often sprung out of thin air, dashing many an unsuspecting and helpless ship along with all her passengers on the rocks beneath the cliff line. From her perch on the rocks, Ariel watched the crew in their desperate attempts to keep their ship upright. One member, the wheelmaster, in particular caught her eye. His dark curls were plastered with seawater, his clothes drenched through, and his lean, tanned arms strained as he fought to hold the wheel steady, a look of steady determination on his youthful face. Suddenly a large wave rose up over the hull of the ship and came crashing down over the deck with such force that he lost hold of the wheel and was cast into the dark waves below.

Ariel could see him still struggling to stay alive, but quickly losing. He fought to stay upright, but the rain beat against him and the waves tossed him around - his arms grew tired and he could barely stay up, gasping for air above the surface, and again thrust down by the waves. He soon lost consciousness and sank down, deep into the dark ocean. Ariel’s own body easily slid through the waves after him, and she caught him in her strong arms. His body was still warm, his heart still beat ever so faintly. Ariel was captivated by his features, and a tendril of regret trickled into her heart. She didn’t want him to die, she realized. She knew that once the sea claimed a soul, they were forever bound to it. Yet in that brief moment, before she could think too much, she darted towards the shore, his body still in her arms. She emerged from the water, the storm now beginning to die, and laid him gently on the sandy beach. He lay, lifeless for what seemed like years. She watched, half submerged in the water, knowing she should leave. Her heart beat fast, wondering, hoping perhaps that he would wake. Suddenly the man started to cough, and rolling over, expelled the water from his lungs. Ariel froze in a mix of excitement and trepidation, realizing she had just saved someone who should rightly have died, and scared of the consequences.

He saw her. A strange creature, illuminated by the moonlight that had started to filter through the remaining storm clouds. He had never anything like her (for her knew it was female). Her face was covered in shining blue scales, her hair like green seaweed, and her eyes deeper than the darkest oceans. He felt that he should be afraid, but after his near death experience, he couldn’t feel fear. He tried to speak, ask her who she was. But she darted away into the waters, gone in an instant, so fast he couldn’t even be certain she was there to begin with. He was filled with a sudden urge to follow, to solve this mystery, but he was too weak to move, and he fell back on to the sands.

Ariel knew she had broken the rules. She feared what might happen, but she couldn’t bring herself to be sorry. She swam down, deeper and deeper into the ocean until she reached a reef, slipping into the opening and into the hollowed out cave. She hid there for several days, the fish her only company. But she knew she couldn’t hide from her actions foever. Eventually she came out of her hiding spot, and went home. Her father was there - waiting. She knew he would be. You don’t disobey the Ocean’s rules without Her guardian Triton, guardian and lieutenant of the Ocean, knowing. He was angry. She could tell, but his face was impassive, as if chiseled from stone.

“Do you realize what you have done?”

Ariel remained silent. There was not much she could say to help her case. In fact she still could not justify to herself why she had done it.

Her father crossed his massive forearms. “I thought I raised you better than this. You know the rules! Never take from the Ocean what she has claimed! There is only one thing you can do now. You must return what you stole.”

“But I - ” Ariel tried to speak, but Triton cut her off.

“No arguements! You will do as I say, for the consquences of these actions will be much worse if you do not. I am giving you a chance to fix this. Do not fail, for if you do, even I can not save you from the Ocean’s wrath. Go and fix this now.”

Ariel choked back her tears - or what might have been tears if she could cry. She turned away and left the way she came. She knew there was only one way to fix what she had done, despite everything in her straining to avoid it. She went to Ursula. Ursula, the sorcoress of the sea, the one with the power to help her as nobody else could.

Ursula gave her what she asked. She took only her voice in payment, promising that Ariel could reclaim it when her task was accomplished. Alluring beauty for her voice - not too much to ask. For after all, if Ariel did not fulfill her task, she would not exist to have a voice. She would be nothing more than foam on the Ocean’s surface.

Ariel swam to the beach on which she had left him. He was there. He had come every day since that night, hoping to catch another glimpse of the creature he believed to be his savior. Nobody had believed him when he stumbled back to civilization. They could hardly believe he was alive, and attributed his wild story of a mergirl to be just a dream from his near death drowning.

The moon was beginning to wane that night, but it cast a bright enough light over the waves that he immediately saw her as she rose from the waters. She looked different than before. Her hair was no longer like seaweed, but a deep beautiful red that cascaded down over her bare skin and into the waters where it floated in long tendrils. Her skin was the softest of blues, her lips full and tempting. He knew it was her from her eyes, those same deep blue eyes that had stared from him out of her previously scaled face. He followed her. How could he not? Her smile teased him, her whole being was one of mystery and a promise of something so beautiful and wonderful, he only had to follow and it would all be his. With each step he took into the waters, she drifted slightly back. He wanted her, he needed her - he couldn’t describe it, but his whole being ached to touch her, embrace her. The water lapped at his knees, then to his waist, his chest, his neck. He stopped for a second. In the back of his mind there was a voice yelling for him to go back before it was too late. But he could see her, just a step away, beckoning with her hand, that mysterious and playful smile on her lips. He pushed away any doubts, as he took one last step into the ocean, and his entire body was completely submerged in the water as he reached out and met this beautiful creatures embrace with his own.

He barely noticed as Ariel softly pulled him deeper. He was too caught up in her gaze. Ariel’s heart burned with sorrow and pain. She had never felt this before for anyone. She had guided countless souls down into the ocean’s depths before, but never quite felt anything like sadness or remorse, and certainly not to this degree - it was just what had to be done. She wanted to stop, let him live again, but she knew this was her responsibility - her job. Nothing would save him. Even if she let him go again, someone else would be sent to finish her task. The only thing she could do was make this as easy as possible, and he smiled as he brought his lips to hers and she let the icy waters flow from her mouth into him.