[I was not expecting this book to explode. When I saw it reaching the top place in both Popular and Collection rankings, I was honestly surprised and thankful. Anyways, thank you so much everyone for your support especially to my patrons who joined me. I'll do my best to maintain the quality of the book! By the way, I'm already thinking of adding more crossover worlds, strictly only Disney and other animated works. As for dropping the book, no need to fear for it, I don't think I'll be adding multiversal travel in this book which ruins most works in this platform, and besides, I already had the final villains (Not OCs) in mind so the book will have an ending.]
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"Thank the heavens!" Henry sighed in relief, walking back and forth in the room, though he felt a bit awkward being watched by several animals with tilted heads.
It's been one and a half days since he got stranded in Arendelle's capital city. Thanks to Dr. Dolittle's unknown supplements that he made Henry drink from time to time and Kristoff's constant visits, Henry finally recovered and was back in top shape in no time.
"Honestly, I'm impressed at how fast you healed. Most of us take longer than a day to fully recover." Dr. Dolittle pushed the rim of his glasses and said, nodding his head in approval and scanning Henry from head to toe in curiosity.
Henry couldn't help but agree with him. Maybe it was his talent kicking up his healing process or perhaps the magic inside him.
But still, Dr. Dolittle definitely contributed the most in his recovery, "Thank you, Doctor. As for my payment. I'm not short on coins and once I get home, I'll find a way to pay you back somehow."
The doctor simply waved his hand in dismissal, "Pay. Don't pay. Doesn't matter. It requires no price to help someone in need."
At this point, Henry is fairly certain that the Dr. Dolittle in front of him is vastly different from most of his portrayals in films and books.
The veterinarian in front of him is not only as old as the wrinkles on his face but also as wise.
Normally, Dr. Dolittle's story varies depending on the work itself. In some other works, his story is about enduring and facing the challenges of suddenly having the ability to understand animals and speak to them.
In other works, preferably the older versions, Dr. Dolittle's story is about using his gifts to find a cure for the monkeys of an epidemic in Africa. But most of the works that he's familiar with are the movie ones, Eddie Murphy's version, and Robert Downey Jr.
Just by the recent interactions he had with them, Henry can tell that this Dolittle is a mix of almost every story version. Basically, a timeline where Dolittle goes through various hardships, challenges, and comes out on top. Leaving behind his legend to pursued peace and became a wandering doctor.
After going through various last few tests, Dr. Dolittle finally dismissed him. Allowing him to finally leave the clinic.
But Henry has one last thing to do.
Yesterday, Polynesia approached him, actually initiating a full-blown conversation with him as if she were a human.
From what he knows, only Polynesia is truly capable of human speech that even humans themselves would be able to understand. All because of her inherent capability to mimic human voices.
In their conversation, Polynesia revealed to him how they're on the verge of bankruptcy and the doctor hasn't been informed about it yet.
"So, what's the point of telling me this? Look, I'm going to pay for my treatment, I just need to board a ship back home." This was Henry's reply.
Polynesia shook her head, "Only two merchant ships travel here in Arendelle. Due to its isolation and the recent death of the King and Queen, the entire Kingdom has been on lockdown. If my memory serves me right, the next merchant ship will arrive in 6 months." By the time she finished her words, Henry froze on the spot, wide-eyed.
What do Polynesia's words entail?
He'll be stuck here, in Arendelle for six months. Six months without contact with his family and the Lioncrest Kingdom.
That's bad news.
A hundred percent bad one. Who knows what will happen in Lioncrest Kingdom during his absence?
'I just hope that by the time they receive the news of my shipwreck, father will send scouts to search for me.'
As far as he knows, Arendelle is actually not that far from where they got shipwrecked. If the said scouts are competent enough, they'd find him in a few months or so.
With a sigh of defeat, Henry turned back to Polynesia, "What do you suggest I do then? Trust me, I clearly can't pay right now."
The parrot shook her head and said, "That's fine for us. Matter of fact, I'm not asking for payment immediately. I was hoping to get your cooperation."
Henry perked up at those words, "Cooperation how?"
"It's simple. As you know, my dear little friends and I may be animals but we're smarter than most thanks to John. We were planning to earn some coins through public entertainment, think of beggars but fancier. We will perform and you handle being the face of our group."
"We used to do this kind of thing with John whenever we lacked coins, so this isn't our first rodeo."
Henry was stunned for a few moments. Basically, the parrot is asking him to be a circus performer. It's a good idea sure and would definitely rake in enough coins in a few days.
Henry crossed his arms and asked the obvious, "Please pray tell, how would we convince the city guards that you guys are all nice and human-friendly, not a bunch of rabid animals?"
Polynesia froze on the spot. Clearly not expecting the question, which made Henry ask her again for validity, "Are you sure this isn't your first rodeo?"
"…Actually, not our first rodeo in other towns but…this is our first time in a capital city. We didn't know city guards would react that way against animals like us."
"Hmm, I'm going to assume that those other places you were referring to are rural and can barely be considered strict hence why this side job of yours went smoothly."
Polynesia sighed in defeat, her shoulders or wings slumped with her head bowed down, "…I see. My apologies for asking you about this. Forget I said anything. Please be on your wa—" Just as the parrot was about to spread his wings and fly, Henry stopped her in time.
"Hold on. I haven't refused yet."
Polynesia stopped in her tracks, her head tilting in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"I meant what I said. I haven't refused yet. Just because I told you about what you'll face doesn't mean there's no solution for it."
Polynesia tucked her wings back before replying, "How? If you don't mind me asking."
He then confidently said, "Just trust me."
———
—{Ariel}—
I'm back at the same beach where I last saw him and once again, he's nowhere to be found.
"It's okay Ariel. Maybe he'll come someday. Or maybe tomorrow." Despite assuring myself, I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment and small unexplainable pain in my heart. I was very eager to see him yesterday and earlier, I even abandoned the rehearsals with Sebastian, not like I attended them in the first place.
'I didn't even get to know his name…'
Just as I was about to turn around to leave and maybe come back again tomorrow, there was a shout in the distance, "Ariel!"
All of a sudden, the bright colors appeared back on my face. When I turned around there he was, wearing the weird human clothes on his body. He had his left hand raised and he was waving at me.
Without further thinking, my tail quickly brought me back to the beach, my hand touching the grainy sand as I awaited him to come to me.
"H-Hi. It's good to see you again. I'm sorry but I-I didn't catch your name when we last met." When I hear myself stutter, my face quickly turns beet-red. Why now of all times!
I've practiced a thousand times in front of a mirror and even used Flounder to practice holding a conversation with. Though he's not exactly reliable to talk to.
The charming man had a smile on her face. By Poseidon's Trident, he truly looks like a prince out of those books that I collected from various wrecked ships.
"I get that. My name is Henry Charming, the first Prince of Lioncrest Kingdom and heir to the throne. Nice to meet you, Ariel." Henry stood up straight, bearing a deeply practised etiquette with a bow.
Hearing his introduction made me gasp. I-Is he the Prince Charming from those human books? The ones who save their lovers while in their large and mighty steed!
"Y-You're Prince Charming?!" I almost choked on my words. Oh for Poseidon's sake, get a hold of yourself, Ariel!
He, or should I call him Henry, chuckled at my words as if he understood the meaning behind them and replied, "Yes. Yes, I am."
Just as I wanted to ask him about what humans are like and every hundred of questions I've been bottling up for years, I hesitated.
Would he find me weird for it? H-He probably doesn't know I'm a mermaid, right? Hasn't he seen my tail yet?
"Something's bothering you?" All of a sudden, his charming voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Looking back up at him and seeing his curious gaze, I steeled myself and finally said.
"H-Henry…do you know what I am?" It would be a lie to say I'm not feeling nervous, perhaps the most nervous I've ever been in my whole life, much more nervous than when I was caught by a mysterious hook with a string and had to be saved by my father when I was a child.
To my relief and surprise, Henry answered, "What else but a mermaid that is as beautiful as her voice? For all my entire life, I've never heard such an alluring voice as yours." his piled-up courteous words made me blush.
I could only meekly thank him for him, "T-Thank you. M-My father and sisters always tell me the same."
"So what brought your question up? Are you afraid that I'll be scared of you?" As of now, Henry was crouching, using his hand to lean on as his elbow rested on his knee.
"…You're right. I just couldn't help it. Mermaids and Merfolks have always been the…scary monsters that I used to hear being sung by humans. They say that our beautiful songs bring storms and thunder when the only reason we sing on the surface is when we feel a storm coming, it's our attempt to warn humans about it..."
For a brief moment, I became engrossed in talking to him, losing my vision of the surroundings with only Henry being the only one left.
In the middle of our conversation, he would bring up some of his stories from time to time. Ranging from how Kingdoms were built and the gods they pray to. Sometimes, he would describe what life is like as a human.
However, just as I leaned forward to hear more of his story about how he was chosen as a student by a great magician, Master Elias, we were interrupted.
A panicked voice came from behind. It was a familiar one because it belongs to my small friend, Flounder.
"Ariel! Ariel! Your father is looking for you! He said he's going to send his soldiers to search for you! Ariel, you've been gone for seven hours!"
That quickly made me recoil in shock. Seven hours!? My father is going to kill me!
"I-I'm sorry, Henry but I gotta go. C-Can I see you again?" The entire part of me was hopeful for him to say yes. While at the same time, there's a flicker of disappointing expectation that he'd say no.
"Of course. Same time tomorrow?" Henry nodded his head and asked.
A smile bloomed on my face and I quickly nodded my head several times, "Of course! I-I'll be here again! I'll wait for you!"
With that, I left the beach. Even though my heart is being rattled that my father is going to give me a loud scolding once again but the feeling of getting to meet Henry, knowing more about him, and humans along with the surface world made it all worth it.
———
—{Henry Charming}—
"…It's been a few seconds and I already want to talk to her again," I murmured to myself, clenching my fists as excitement reverberated across my entire body.
Nevertheless, I'm meeting her again tomorrow and maybe even get introduced to what the underwater world is like. With my Water Bubble, there'll be no breathing problem for me.
As for meeting King Triton, I'll leave it to the future me.