(She wakes up slowly) where..where am I? Dad, what’s going on..?
Don’t worry about it, Melody. I talked to your Mother, and she said you can come and live with me instead, but I have a better idea..
What do you mean, dad? Are you and mom gonna get married again?
No, no.. but I’m going to set you free
I don’t like the sound of that, dad…I’m not a goldfish
Not quite, no.. but you’re closer than you think.. now, here we are.. isn’t the view wonderful, Melody?
Dad… why are we on your boat? And who is that strange woman..?
Don’t worry about any of that, Melody.. just.. here. (He hands her a cup with a pink, glowing liquid) dad’s friend here made you a special drink..
I.. I don’t like this, dad… why is it glowing?
Just drink it up now, you little worm!
No.. something isn’t right here…
Melody, listen to me.. darling you have to drink it all, alright? Then you can come and live with your dad and your mom won’t be able to tell you what to do anymore!
You’ll.. you’ll really let me come and stay with you..? And all I have to do is drink this..?
Of course, my little darling.
MELODY!!! Don’t listen to him!! Come here!! He’s trying to poison you!
What?? Dad, is this true? (She tries squirming our of his arms, but can’t)
Of course not, Melody! And Ariel, how did you wake up so quickly?
Unlike you Eric I have people who care about me! (She brandishes her father’s trident) now let go of my daughter.. or else
(She breaks down crying) no!!! No!!! Don’t you two see what you’re doing? This is why I don’t know where to live! All either of you care about is hurting each other! What happened to me? Why don’t either of you still love me?
Melody, of course we love you! That’s why we are fighting! Because ONE of us, (she points her trident at Eric) isn’t fit to be a parent and as your mother I have to eliminate the obstacles that will hurt you!!!
Go ahead and try to shoot me, Ariel. You won’t be able to.. (he takes the glass of hot pink liquid and approaches melody. He forces her to drink half of it and downs the other half) and I’m taking melody with me.. (he grabs her as she changes into a mermaid and jumps into the water, his tail forming as well)
NO!!!! ERIC YOU FUCKING SELFISH BASTARD SHE’LL DROWN IF SHE DOESN’T DRINK ALL OF IT! (She strikes herself with her trident and grows her tail and jumps in after them)
(bobbing her head above the water, gasping) what’s going on, dad??? Why did I grow a tail? Why does breathing hurt so bad??
Because I messed up… if I don’t fix you soon, you’ll be in pain the rest of your life.. I can’t put you through that. I’m big enough to handle it, but your body is much too tiny … there’s only one thing I can do, my darling melody.. (crying softly, he leans forward and starts trying to push her head underwater)
Eric you fucking selfish asshole she will be able to breath just fine if you let her go! Her body just needs time to adjust now let her GO! (She smacks him over the head with the trident and lifts melody out of the water with its powers and onto the ship) now I’m gonna go and save melody… you could drown for all I care
No.. no mom! Let dad live, please! I know he tried to drown me, but.. but he’s still my dad and I love him!
Melody… no. It’s time Eric has faced the consequences for his actions
No!!!! (She runs forward and grabs the trident. She uses it to lift her dad into the boat, but the strength of the magic makes her fall over weakly)
Melody!!! Are you alright? Speak to me!
I… I feel so sick and angry… you’re both horrible people! You’ve done nothing but hurt me ever since you’ve divorced! Mom, all you do is stalk me and never let me do anything fun, and dad, you tried to drown me because mom wouldn’t let me live with you! I can’t trust either of you…(she’s crying) I just wanna go back to how thing’s used to be.. I want a normal, happy family…
Melody… come back home.. I’ll make us your favorite dinner, and i’ll.. I’ll take you to the movies and we can be a family, just you and me..
No…. no!!!! I’m tired of this! Tell me the truth! Why did dad wanna turn me into a mermaid so bad??? Why do you have to track me all the time?
Melody.. I wanted to turn you into a mermaid because you were meant to be one.. isn’t that right, Ariel, daughter of Triton?
Not quite… I am the daughter of triton, and I was a mermaid, but.. melody was never meant to be one… in fact, she’s only related to us because I used.. dark magic to make her…
What.. what are you saying, mom?
My beautiful little Melody.. when I became human, I discovered quickly that I could not give birth or even conceive a child with Eric.. I considered lying and finding a merman that looked like him, but I couldn’t bring myself to cheat on your father.. so while your father was away on a trip, I went back to Ursula’s lair and started studying the books she left behind.. I found out that I could simulate a fake pregnancy, and all the while, I studied how to create life in other ways and formed you with magic and strands of your father and I’s hair so you’d be ours, but.. something much darker fell into it last minute, and I… I couldn’t take it out, and now I’m afraid you still hold that darkness.. it’s pure dark sea magic, and .. No one knows it’s limits, but it’s very vile and I didn’t want you to find out…
So… your cursed me..? And you don’t even know what with?!
I’m… I’m sorry, Melody. When you were finally being brought to life I considered killing you but then I saw your little face and you held my hand and I couldn’t do it… I know I’ve burdened you a lot by giving you this… curse, but I do truly love you. You know that right?
I don’t know anything right now, mom… I’m going to go home.. maybe try and go hang out with my friends.. I need some time on my own right now…
Melody you need to come with one of us. We don’t want you to get hurt...