Crossing over

Ariel knew as soon as she had seen the face of her one true love that she would do anything to become human. She just had no idea it would be such a painful process. Ursula had lied to her big time about so much that she got a headache just thinking about it.

It did not help that she had caught in a big storm shortly after Ursula's big spell. Waves that she could have normally handled as a mermaid overwhelmed her as a human and before she knew it, she had been knocked ****.

When she awoke, she was lying on a beach she had never seen before, far away from the sight of her father, her six sisters, her friends Sebastian and Flounder as well as her mermaid friends Madison, Miranda and Tully.

Her head hurt and her skin seemed much more **** without any covering like seashells or fish scales. And what were these two objects she had in place of her tail? Why were they so long and pale? And what was this odd thing that was between them and below her navel? Not to mention this weird hairlike substance that she also felt. Ariel was used to feeling hair on her head but below her navel as well -- that was a different story.

Yet the beach seemed so cold and the only thing she had to cover herself with was a few strands of wet seaweed and her own auburn hair.

She had hoped that she would wash ashore near Prince Eric's castle but right then she feared she had washed ashore at a spot very far away from said castle.

"Pardon me but are you all right?"

A voice. A woman's voice. Ariel looked up to see a young brunette woman in a purple dress and crown looking down upon her from a nearby hill that overlooked the beach. She seemed to be smiling so Ariel smiled back.

Too late she realized she had no voice so she just nodded.

"What's the matter?" asked the woman. "Can't you talk?"

Ariel shook her head.

"That's okay," said the nice woman. "I can talk for the two of us. I don't get many guests so I'd be grateful if you stay with me awhile. Why don't you come with me and we'll get you something to eat?"

Ariel nodded but then wondered why the woman was not offering her any clothes like the ones she was wearing. Probably not the custom of the country she thought.

"Here," said the woman. "Let me help you to your feet. It's been so long since I've seen another woman on this island -- but where are my manners? I really should introduce myself. My name is Circe."

Circe, thought Ariel. What a nice name.