Writing Camp - Celia Octon

Week 1 Chapter 2

Ursula goes to the surface and finds Ariel. She tries to get her to go back down into the ocean, but Ariel refuses. She has already found a place to stay and managed to get enrolled into an academy for free. Ursula later finds out that Ariel is sponsored by Eric. When she tells Poseidon this, he tells her to remain up on the surface and continue to watch over Ariel. Ursula tells her sharks to bring her treasures to the surface. She sells it and uses the money to rent a room and pay for her own tuition at the academy.

Ursula has a skin tone that is pale and bluish, which is unnatural for the people on the surface. Before long, there is a rumour in the school that Ursula is carrying a disease and she loses all friends before she gets a chance to make any. In contrast, Ariel is alway showered with attention. Eric brings her everywhere he goes, and naturally, she meets many people. Her inability to speak does not stop her from communicating with the people around her.

Scene 1: at the beach

Ursula coughs up the seawater that she had swallowed coming up to the surface. She has to rest until nightfall. She is also stark naked. Although she personally does not mind, she knows that the surface people do not take kindly to those who walk around baring their flesh like this. Luckily for her, she finds a young couple nearby who are trying to reproduce. They had left their clothes in a neat pile on a rock while they use the darkness of the night to cover their deeds. Too bad for them. Ursula takes off with the man's set of clothing. At least the woman can go back home with some dignity left.

Scene 2: at a tavern in the beach city

In her newly acquired shirt and pants, Ursula carries out her orders. She limps from one place to another to look for the princess. Her fresh pair of legs had barely learned to stand when she forced them to start walking.

Ursula: excuse me, have you seen a girl with long, blond hair?

Tavern owner: there's a bunch of those around. Be more specific.

Ursula: she has legs- two of them.

Tavern owner: aren't you just messing with me?

Ursula: she's not wearing any clothes.

Tavern owner: now that, I've heard of.

Ursula (loudly): Where is she?

Tavern owner: calm down. Let me think. My best mate said that his cousin saw a mate of his pull her out of the water. And then where did he take her? Hm... That's right! A beauty like that they must've taken her to the palace!

Ursula: where is this 'palace'?

Tavern owner: oh, you'd be breathing seawater sooner than you'd get into that one. (laughs) But whatever she's doing in there, you can rest assured that she's living her best life.

Ursula thanks the man and leaves the tavern. The night is getting colder and she is hungrier by the minute. She heads back to the beach. In a desperate attempt, she tries to breath in seawater and almost chokes to death. Realising that she cannot go back home, she summons her sharks with a whistle and tells them to bring her treasures up to the surface. Among the pile of rubbish, she manages to find a heavy pouch of coin and brings it with her. She tricks some children into telling her the value of the different sized coins and then goes off to find a room in an inn nearby.

Scene 3: in Ursula's room at the inn

Ursula tries to rest up so that she has enough energy to find the princess the next day. Out of water, her body feels unusually heavy. The stiff mattress makes it even harder for her to fall asleep. Just as she is about to drift off, she hears Poseidon's voice. It carries a looming rage and demands her immediate attention. When she looks to the side, she sees light emitting from a jug of water on the nightstand. Sleep clears up from her head like fog blown away by the wind. She hurriedly grabs the jug and looks into it.

Ursula: your majesty.

Poseidon: where is my daughter?

Ursula: ... she is residing with the king of the surfacers, your majesty.

Poseidon (impatiently): where is she? why is she not with you?

Ursula: Th-the surfacers judge that I am too lowly to reside with her highness. If my king wishes to see her, I can only wait until morning.

Poseidon: That's not the problem! Why has she not returned to the ocean?

Ursula: That's because... (long pause)

Poseidon (angrily): What is the reason?

Ursula: please spare me, your majesty. I have informed her highness of your order, but I was not able to convince her.

Poseidon: None sense!

Ursula: It is true, your majesty! Her highness has told me that she would like to think it over.

Poseidon is quiet for a while. Ursula hears the ministers and the other princesses advising Poseidon to be patient for the time being.

Poseidon: I will see my daughter tomorrow or my men will have your head.

Ursula: of course, your majesty.

The light in the jug fades away. Ursula puts it back on the nightstand. She can no longer fall asleep. Instead, she starts to plan her route into the royal palace.