Two young merchildren swam into the castle’s great hall. They carried a huge bouquet of water lilies. The flowers were so big, Ariel could barely see the children who were holding them.

“Lovely!” exclaimed Adella. “Just what I wanted.” Sebastian tapped his claw impatiently. He had everything planned to the minute. The crab was determined to keep the day on schedule. That way, the concert would be just in time for sunset.

The morning was filled with mermaid talk and opening presents. Then, at precisely 1:01, the sisters finished lunch.

“So far, so good,” Sebastian told Ariel.

“It’s time for the Sea Swirl Spa!” Adella said. “I can’t wait. My tail always sparkles after a beauty treatment.”

“The deep-sea mud is terrific for my face!” Andrina added.

“The best,” agreed Arista.

“It’s wonderfully refreshing,” said Attina.

“But there are only six deep-sea clam beds,” Adella put in.

“And seven of us!” Alana cried, horrified.

“You shouldn’t get the treatment,” Aquata told Alana.

“No! You’re the one who shouldn’t get it,” Alana told Aquata.

“No, you.”

“No, you!”

“It’s okay!” Ariel raised her voice to be heard. “I won’t go.”

“But Ariel, you’re our guest!” said Adella.

“Really, Adella. It’s fine. I want to spend a little time with Flounder anyway,” Ariel assured her.

“Okay, everyone!” Sebastian clapped his claws. “Let’s get moving! We have a schedule to keep.” He turned to Ariel. “I’ll be going with your sisters. To keep everyone in line…I mean, on time.”

“Don’t worry, Sebastian.” Ariel swam away from her sisters. “I’m leaving right now. And I’ll be back in plenty of time for the rehearsal.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. When Ariel swam off to do her own thing, she always lost track of time.

Ariel did think she had plenty of time. Flounder and I will do a little exploring, she told herself. Then I’ll go straight to the concert hall.

“Come on, Flounder!” she said. Together, they raced toward a shipwreck.

Flounder swam through a broken porthole. “Come, look at this, Ariel!”

Flounder pointed at a blue vase.

“Adella would love this,” Ariel said. “She can put the water lilies in it.” Just then, her eyes fell on something. She picked it up and glanced nervously at Flounder.

“It’s a shark’s tooth,” the fish said.

A shiver ran down Ariel’s spine. Those shark sightings her father had told her about—they were for real!

Still, it was a beautiful day, and Ariel didn’t want to waste it worrying. She and Flounder met up with their old friends, the sea horses and the dolphins. They swam around Atlantica all morning.

Ariel was chasing a sponge ball, playing keep-away with a dolphin, when—blam!—she turned suddenly and swam right into Sebastian.

“Sebastian! Where did you come from?” she asked.

“From the concert hall!” Sebastian said, frowning and out of breath. “Everyone’s waiting!”