Four years had drifted by like the tide, carrying Ariel closer to her tenth birthday. The seasons came and went, and though nothing monumental had changed, the rhythm of life in the village remained as steady as the ocean waves. Days were filled with school, swimming, and playful adventures, but above all, one thing became increasingly clear: Ariel was captivated by the sea—and by the color blue.
It wasn't just her eyes, which shimmered like twin pools of water beneath the summer sun. No, it was everything about her. Her hair, too, had taken on a faint blue tint, as if the ocean had kissed it with its salty waves. And if that wasn’t enough, her clothes followed suit. Whether it was a sundress, shorts, or even her shoes, Ariel always chose blue.
Her closet was a sea of azure fabrics, each piece picked to match her obsession with the color.
Her mother, Selene, couldn't help but worry. She often found herself peeking at Ariel from the corner of her eye, wondering what was behind this infatuation. "She’s going to grow gills one of these days," Selene would joke with a smile, though there was a flicker of genuine concern behind her words.
"Mom, I just really like blue!" Ariel would reply, a giggle escaping her. To Ariel, it wasn’t strange at all. The ocean was blue, the sky was blue, and water Pokémon—her favorites—were often shades of blue.
To her, it felt right. But to Selene, it sometimes seemed like her daughter was disappearing into the very world she adored.
Still, even with the growing obsession, Ariel was a bright and curious child.
She had formed close friendships in school, particularly with Isla, a girl with wild curls and a boundless imagination. Isla wasn’t as taken with the sea as Ariel was, but she had her own dreams—big dreams.
"One day," Isla had declared on a bright morning as they both lay on the beach, toes digging into the sand, "I’m going to open the best bakery in the whole village. People will come from all over to taste my cakes and pies. You’ll see!"
Ariel grinned, rolling over to face her friend, her long blue hair spilling across the sand. "You’ll be the best baker ever, Isla. I’ll be your first customer!"
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"You better be," Isla said with a determined nod. "I’ll give you all the blueberry muffins you want."
"Only if you make them blue," Ariel teased, causing them both to dissolve into fits of laughter.
Most days, Ariel could be found in the water, swimming with the ease and grace of a natural-born sea creature. After Feebas had been healed and released into the sea, it had stuck around.
Whether it was too frightened of the open ocean or simply felt connected to Ariel, no one knew. But like clockwork, every time Ariel entered the water, Feebas would appear, swimming alongside her like a loyal companion.
Though, it wasn’t just Feebas. There was also Magikarp. The little Pokémon would try to dart and glide through the waves, always staying near Ariel. These underwater companions made her daily swims even more magical. The sea felt alive, welcoming her into its depths as if she truly belonged there. She would often come home late in the evenings, sand clinging to her legs, hair dripping with saltwater. And every time, her mother would sigh in exasperation.
"Ariel Rivers," Selene said one evening, arms crossed as Ariel crept back into the house after dark. "You promised you'd be back before sunset!"
Ariel’s blue eyes widened innocently. "I know, Mom, but... Magikarp and I found a cool spot in the reef, and I lost track of time!"
From the corner of the room, Kai, who had just come home from a day of full-time fishing with their father, snickered. "You're always getting yourself into trouble with that sea," he teased.
Ariel turned to him with a playful pout. "It’s not trouble! I’m exploring."
But Selene wasn’t so easily charmed. She placed her hands on her hips, giving her daughter a stern look. "You know the rules, Ariel. It’s dangerous out there. If you keep staying out late, I’ll have to start grounding you from the beach."
The thought of being kept away from the sea was enough to make Ariel’s heart race. She couldn’t bear the idea of not being able to swim every day. "I won’t do it again, I promise!" she said quickly.
Kai, always ready with a joke, piped up. "Mom, you know Ariel and Goldy are probably plotting their escape right now." He winked at Ariel. "They’ll get away scot-free. They always do."
Ariel laughed at the memory of that day years ago when she and Goldy, their old Golduck, had tried to figure out how to escape punishment after she’d stayed out late on the beach. The two had hatched an elaborate “plan” involving sneaking past Selene’s sharp eyes, though, of course, they had been caught.
"Those were the good old days," Ariel said with a grin, casting a sideways glance at Goldy, who was currently lounging in a corner of the room, observing the conversation with his usual detached air.
Selene sighed but smiled fondly at her daughter. "Just be careful, okay? The sea is a powerful friend, but it can also be unpredictable."