entry @itsanamarin 30+ fwc

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Title: The Price of Silence Ariel had never felt more alive than when she first set foot on land, her legs trembling beneath her as she looked around at the world she had always dreamed of. The blue sky with little to no clouds. The bright yellow sun, shining down on her, casting her shadow onto the warm taupe sand. Sand–sand above water was something for her. The above world has everything she dreamed of. The nature was beautiful, and the views were remarkable. Ariel couldn’t wait until she could find her true love. She had made the deal with Ursula, trading her voice for a chance at love. Love, what a silly but wonderful thing. It was a desperate bargain, but in her heart, she believed it would all be worth it. The desire to finally marry her true love was a devotion she knew she could uphold. She would win Prince Eric’s heart, and they would live happily ever after. The days spent on land were magical at first. Eric was kind, and though they couldn’t communicate with words, their bond grew stronger each second. He showed her the beauties of the world above water, and every moment felt like a step closer to the future they would share. But Ariel’s silence was heavy, and with each passing day, the ache in her chest grew. She wanted to tell Eric everything—to sing, to speak, to express the depth of her love. But her voice, her one true gift, was gone, stolen by the cruel sea witch. But Ursula had her own plans. Watching from the shadows, the sea witch saw Ariel's growing frustration, her struggle. And Ursula, ever the manipulator, had no intention of letting Ariel win. She wasn’t content just with stealing the voice of a princess. No, she wanted to take everything. She wanted to make that girl miserable. One fateful evening, when Ariel was away from the castle, Ursula took her opportunity. Using her dark magic, she transformed herself into a beautiful, perfect replica of Ariel. The disguise was flawless—every detail, from the color of her hair to the way she smiled, was an exact match. Her eyes had the same blue hue as Ariel’s. The same shade of red for her hair. The same smooth pale skin. Even Eric wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. No one could tell the difference; except for Ariel herself. When Eric first saw “Ariel,” he was overwhelmed. She was perfect, even more so than the girl he had come to love. There was no hesitation in his heart. He kissed her, and the magic of the moment swept him away. He believed this was his true love, the girl he had been searching for, and he welcomed her into his life with open arms. Ariel, helpless and unseen, watched from a distance. Her heart shattered as she saw Eric fall for the impostor. She wanted to scream, to run to him, to reveal the truth—but she couldn’t. Her voice was gone, and Ursula’s magic was too strong. She was glued to the ground. No one could hear her cry for help. She tried to reach him, showing up at the castle in her true form, hoping Eric would recognize her, and would remember her. But the moment he saw her, he turned away, confused. He thought she was a stranger, a mere shadow of the girl he had once known. How could this mute girl—this silent girl—be the one he had fallen for? Days turned into weeks, and Eric and the fake Ariel’s love grew. They planned their wedding, and Ariel, trapped in the shadows, could do nothing but watch as the life she had dreamed of slipped further and further away. She had given up everything for this love—her voice, her home, her very identity—and now she had nothing. In a final act of desperation, Ariel confronted Ursula, hoping to break the spell, to find some way to reclaim her voice, her life. But Ursula only laughed, cruelly, as she stood above Ariel, knowing her victory was complete. Ursulas sinister laughter rang in Ariel's ears. “You should have known,” Ursula hissed. “You were always too naïve. You thought you could just steal your happiness from me. But now, you’ll watch as I take everything from you.” With a flick of her wrist, and her evil magic, Ursula cast Ariel into a deep, endless slumber, a fate worse than death—trapped in a world where she could never speak again, never love again, never feel the sun on her face. The last thing Ariel saw before she was consumed by darkness was Eric, the love of her life, holding the hand of the woman who had stolen everything from her. And so, Eric married the false Ariel, never knowing the truth of what he had lost. The real Ariel, once a princess of the sea, faded into nothingness—a mere whisper of a dream. The world went on, unaware of the silent tragedy that had unfolded beneath their feet. Ariel lost everything while Eric remained unaware of the deception. Ariel's voice, her love, and her future were gone, stolen by the very witch she had once thought she could outsmart. And in the end, there was no happy ending for her. No prince, no voice, no happy life. Just silence.