My little mermaid

Pushing her long, green tail against the calm water, Ariella swam towards her favorite hiding spot: Castle Veiw Rock. Puterding out from the rocky shore bottom, Ariella could hide behind the boulder, and stare at the Castle. Ever since Ariella was a little mermaid she dreamed of having legs, having adventures, life without the constant rush of water around her. Her father, King Triton, didn't approve of Ariellas love for the humans, but he tolerated her childish dreams, and made sure she kept away from the shores. Her friend, a flounder named, Flounda, hastily swam next to her, looking worried.
"Ariella, you know your father said not to go out here."
"It's okay, Flounda, I just want to see if their out again."
"Oh, Ari. When are you going to stop obsessing over those hideous things. Your tail is much more beautiful than their skinny, pale legs."
Ariella ignored her friend, hid behind the rock, scanning the shore.
"There! There they are." she said, keeping her voice low. The Prince and Princess. Ariella had discovered them when she was only seven, and they were ten. They had been playing in the sand, and caught a glimpse of her tail as she swam by. Hiding behind the rock, she waited until their excitement had died down and they went inside with two of their maids. Ariella had always gone back to the shore since, just to see if they would ever see her again. The Prince, Prince Benjamin, was a handsome young man, now nineteen, was the most gorgeous human being Ariella had laid her eyes upon. Tusseled brown hair and a slim, yet muscular frame, the prince was a dashing young man, and his clear blue eyes dazzeled Ariella. The Princess, Princess Helen, was beautiful, with long black hair, and striking green eyes. They were walking, every now and then exchanging words. Ariella sighed with longing, and pushing herself away from the rock, sank down into the clear blue water, back towards her own castle.
"Oh, Flounda! How I wish I could be like them. I wish I had legs, and long black hair and blue eyes."
"Ariella, you are absolutely beautiful just the way you are! You have wonderfully long golden hair, a much nicer color than hers I say, and you have the prettiest skin and eyes."
"But they have something that makes them prettier than I'll ever be."
"Not legs."
"Legs. Long, amazing legs. Not some frumpy fish tail."
"Oh stop it. Now you hush. You are perfect just the way you are. Now come on, your father is going to be so mad at me for getting you home late."


"Ariella, can you help me put these books away?" asked Marissa, Ariellas youngest sister. Nodding, she swam over to where a big stack of huge volumes was spread out across the table.
"Why so many books on pirates?" she asked, curiously, aas she moved around the library.
"We are learning about them in class and I wanted to look up some stuff for class." Marissa replied.
"You and your school. Don't you want to do anything other then attend school?"
"Nope. I love it."
"Even down here? In the cold water?"
"Ariella, don't start this please."
"Oh, Marissa, just think. No water, no cold, no tails, no school! Think of being-"
"A princess? Like that girl? Ariella, I'm twelve and I'm past that wishy stage. You're sixteen. Grow up." With a bang she pushed in her last book, and swam out of the library, leaving her sister.
"Why does no one want to talk about being different around here?" thought Ariella, as she gracefully swam to her room.