THE OCEAN CROWN

er. Ariel hadn't slept. How could she, when her entire life was about to change? Instead, she had spent

heir whispers barely concealed behind jeweled hands. Even those who showed optimism couldn't hi

el's neck. The shell from yesterday had been ceremonially transferred into this more elegant set

an? Sebastian had insisted on bringing scrolls detailing human customs, a collection of precious gems that could be

tied to the moon's cycles. You must submerge it in seawate

l to do so?"

wear at the time until you can properly rec

cheerful demeanor subdued. "T

familiar scent of sea blossoms that always clung to

Queen Marina whispered. "

he long swim toward the surface, Sebastian and Flounder flanking her on either side. None of them s

is close to the surface world before on unauthorized explorations she'd never

e. "According to our intelligence, it rarely sees human traffic

n them, ominous and

icating a rocky formation near the shore. "Once you've made the cha

vacy from three sides. A narrow strip of golden sand marked the

ured, more to herself

ure." He removed a small coral whistle from his satchel. "If you need me while I'm

racelet. Unlike Ariel's more powerful pendant, his charm merely altered his appearance to human without

s that reformed as human legs. With a final nod to Ariel, he swam to sho

first real tendrils of fear curl around her he

e bravest person I know, Ariel. If anyone ca

y bottom. The water here was barely deep enough to cover her fins. She took one last deep breath

ered the ancient words her mother had taught her: "Between two w

ward, enveloping her in a cocoon of iridescent magic

ally. Ariel gasped, water flooding her mouth as her gills began to close. Panic seized her as she realized she could no longe

rough the haze of pain, Ariel saw her magnificent aquamarine tail splitting down t

recognized from her studies as feet, complete with five strange appendages toes, she recalled hazily on each. The webbi

sure in her chest. Her lungs burned, demandi

water with a desperate gasp. Air rushed into her new lungs, strange and dry but gloriously

from the water beside

once as natural to her as thought itself, now felt clumsy and difficult without

rd until the water was shallow enough for her to attempt standing. Rising onto her knees first, she marveled at

where the water was still deep enough for

nd pushed upward. Her new legs trembled violently, unused to support

g. A breeze caressed her skin, causing gooseflesh to rise on her arm

sand awkwardly, hovered for a moment, then planted itself forward. As she shifted her weigh

acing one foot carefully in front of the other. Each step was a victory, a tiny miracle of coordinatio

" Flounder calle

this time, water lapping at her new legs. Looking down at them properly for the first time, she m

d in simple human attire brown trousers and a white shirt carrying similar garments for h

ency of someone who had studied human customs extensively, Ariel gazed out at the horizon.

ht of the pearl pendant still around her neck

skin. Ariel took another step forward on her human

n was complete. H