in an alternate timeline where prince eric made a fateful decision not to set out to sea, missing the storm that would bring him into contact with ariel, they both continued their lives unaware of each other's existence. but their destiny would not be denied. years later, well after ariel had reached adulthood, the prince's nautical fascinations led him to charge the royal zoological society with a mission: scour the seven seas for proof of merfolk. still over-curious about the surface world, it was only a matter of time before ariel found herself swimming unwittingly into their nets. the royal aquarium would be her destination...