Arsula

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Arsula
GENERAL
The Little Mermaid
Character	Ariel
Character	Ursula
Canonical?	Fanon
Status of Relationship	Enemies; Ursula is dead Niece/Aunt (Broadway musical/2023 remake)
IN FANDOM
Type (?)	Femslash
Also Known As	Ariessa, Uriel, Ursiel, Ursulariel, Vanessariel, Variel

2

Arsula is the femslash ship between Ariel and Ursula from The Little Mermaid fandom.

Canon

Animated Film

Unknown to Ariel she was being watched by Ursula, who plans to use the little mermaid to force King Trident into handing over his crown and trident to her. Ordering her eels, Flotsam and Jetsam to keep a close eye on Ariel was what allowed Ursula to form the perfect plan on how she could use the mermaid. By promising Ariel the chance to be with the human prince she loves and to finally become part of the human world. That why she'll be able to gain her trust, and to cause her father pain during her absence from the sea. After Ariel plays her part and Ursula has what she seeks from the sea king, she'll add both father and daughter to her polyp garden.

Because Ariel was aware who Ursula was long before she was approached by the sea witch's eels, she wasn't sure if she should go to her at all. Until she realised that Ursula was her best and probably her only chance to be with Eric. Despite being scared when she arrived at Ursula's lair and saw the "garden" that is make out of her many victims, Ariel allowed herself to hear the sea witch out. As she tells the little mermaid that the best way to be with Eric was for her to become a human like him. To keep Ariel hooked on the idea, after she asked Ursula if she is able to do so, the sea witch makes herself sound like someone who enjoys helping others with her magic. Even though the poor souls who are unable to pay her prise after she helps them forces her to them into polyps for her garden. Ursula then offers Ariel a deal that would allow her to be human for good, if she is able to have a true love's kiss with Eric before the sunsets on the three days timeline she is given her. If Ariel were to fail in being kissed, however, she'll become a mermaid again and Ursula gets to claim her soul. When Ursula mentioned "payment" for the spell Ariel was worried that she wouldn't be able to reach her price from not having anything to offer her, Ursula tells Ariel that all she asks for is her voice. This worried Ariel as she won't be able to talk with Eric, until Ursula "reassures" her that she doesn't need a voice to win him over. As Ursula gets ready to cast the spell, she makes Ariel think that the sacrifice of her voice will be worth it. Before she gets her to sign her contract and then gets Ariel to sing, so the sea witch can place the mermaid's beautiful voice into the shell she wears around her neck.

Even though Ursula has no intention of giving Ariel her happy ever after in the human world, she didn't lie about the nature of the spell she used on her. This is why she had her eels keep an eye on Ariel and to ensure that she isn't kissed at all. After a lose call and there being strong sighs that Ariel might get that kiss where her eels cannot reach them, Ursula decides to take matters into her own hands. By turning herself into a beautiful human woman who goes by Vanessa. That way Ariel won't recognise her after she uses the mermaid's stolen voice to place Eric under her control and for them to have their wedding before the final sunset. Along with ensuring that Ariel isn't invited to the wedding, to ensure that she won't get in her way. Ariel becomes aware of Vanessa's true identity after Scuttle informs her that Eric is wedding the sea witch. Ursula's voice rings in Ariel's mind as she remembers the witch's deadline and that she is running out of time to stop her. With help from Scuttle and the animals he calls out to for help, "Vanessa" was kept from saying "I do" while Ariel was making her way to the ship. By the ship she reached it, "Vanessa's" shell necklace brock and Ariel's voice returned to her.

When things start to look up for Ariel, however, victory was still in Ursula's favor the moment the sun settled and Ariel was turned back into a mermaid. Ursula's then drags Ariel back into her sea where the two run into King Trident, who arrived to save his daughter from her. The contract Ursula had Ariel sign, however, kept Trident from doing so and then started to slowly turn Ariel into a polyp. To serve as a taunt as Ursula offers Trident the chance to trade places with Ariel, after he agrees to hand over his crown and trident. Ariel was enraged by Ursula turning her father into a Polyp, and calls her a "monster" as she tries to attack her. Ursula, however, wasn't going to let Ariel cause her any trouble and just as she was about to harm her Eric arrives to save Ariel. After Ariel escaped Ursula's grip on herm she pushed the sea witch in order to stop her from harming Eric and ends up killing her precious eels. This has Ursula feel anger towards Ariel and her human prince, as she enlarges herself so she can tower over them as she gets ready to kill them. Ursula trapped Ariel in the centre of a whirlpool so she wouldn't escape her grabs or line of fire. While she was playfully toying with Ariel, as she dudes the trident's blasts, she failed to notice Eric coming at her with a ship that rams into her side. Killing her and undoing her spells on those she has harmed. With Ursula gone and no longer around to harm or use many one ever again, Ariel is granted a true happy ending without any strings attached to her permanent human.

TV Series

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Ariel has had a few encounters with Ursula and her eels in the prologue series, that reveals the events before the lead up to the film.

Broadway Musical

The Broadway version of Disney's The Little Mermaid has Ursula as Trident's wicked sister, making her Ariel's aunt. Enraged that her beloved brother had cast her out for the wicked things she has done and now has the throne all to himself, Ursula decides to use Ariel as a means to get back at him. Knowing that Ariel is his youngest and thought it would be fun to take away the lovely voice that Ariel has taken for granted. Through her magic shell Ursula learns about the human that her youngest niece has fall for and decides to use Ariel's feelings for Eric as a means to gain her trust.

Ariel was told a few things about Ursula, like her magic shell and how she'll die if it was to be destroyed. After the eels bring Ariel to Ursula, the sea witch addresses herself as "Aunty Ursula" and that there was no reason for her niece to fear her. Ariel asks Ursula why her father banished his sister, and Ursula simply says that the ocean wasn't big enough for the both of them; casting King Trident as a villain in her side of the story. Ursula tells Ariel that her voice will be safety placed in her magic shell and that Trident's claims of her dying with the shell was nonsense. Before she casts the spell that removes Ariel's voice for the promise of becoming a human. While Ariel was enjoying her time on land, Ursula and her eels were doing what they can to ensure that Ariel isn't kissed by Eric.

On the third final day and sunset, Ursula appeared before everyone to claim Ariel like she said she would. As well as her telling King Trident the pain and misery she'll have Ariel suffer if he doesn't hand over his trident to save her. Not wanting to let Ursula win for what she has done to them, Ariel grabs Ursula's shell and prepares to smash it. Before she could, however, Ursula tells Ariel if she is sure that she wants to do that. Claiming that she'll end up dying in Ursula's place. To ensure Ariel carefully gives the shell back to her, Ursula plays the loving caring aunt, her plan appeared to have worked until Ariel turned around to mash it. Defeating Ursula as the destruction of the shell kills her, while Ariel is left unharmed. Proving that Ursula was lying to Ariel in an attempt to save her own life. Despite the shell being destroyed, Ariel was still able to gain back her voice by kissing Eric.

Live-Action Remake

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Like the Broadway version of the Disney film, its 2023 remake has Ursula and Ariel as aunt and niece.

Moments

Kingdom Hearts

• Once Ursula learns that Ariel wants to see other worlds, in the first game, she tricks the young mermaid into getting the sea witch and her eels into the palace. Ariel regrets this after Ursula harmed her father, and tells the sea with that she didn't want this. She then helps Sora and his friends to fight Ursula.
• In Chain of Memories, that has memory versions of Ariel and Ursula, the sea witch kidnapped Flounder as a means to force Ariel into steeling the trident for her.

Fanon

The ship between Ariel x Ursula was one of the first femslash ships from the first Little Mermaid film, from it being of its two main female characters, before it's TV series was released and presented other characters. Who aren't villains and are close to Ariel. This pleased those who aren't "Disney Princess x Villain" fans, while those who are don't mind that it is a creak ship. Along with some people making jokes about Ursula being the devil that Ariel made a deal with, due to the nature of their deal, the contract Ariel was tricked into signing and how Ursula's signer song was featured. There have even been occasions when Ariel is shipped with Ursula's Vanessa counterpart, just as Eric has been shipped with that version of the sea witch.

After Ursula was portrayed as Ariel's evil aunt, in both the Broadway musical version and the 2023 live-action remake of the Disney film, it got some people to wonder if the TLM femslash ship should be turned into a familyship. Much like the Tangled ship of Rapunzel and Gothel, that has been placed as both a familyship and femslash ship. Along there being people who are a fan of heroes who have family ties with their main antagonist. As it creates tension and excitement to the characters and their story's plot. Like having Ariel as the hero that defeats Ursula in Eric's place.

Fandom

FAN FICTION

Ariel/Ursula tag on AO3

Ariel & Ursula tag on AO3

WIKIS

Ariel's Relationship with Ursula on the Disney Wiki

Trivia

• The first version of Ursula in the Once Upon A Time series was featured as a Goddess that is respected on land and in the sea. Ariel is shown to respect her, as the party Ariel went to see Eric at was a celebration in Ursula's honour, as well as her being the reason Ariel was able to turn her tail fin into a pair of legs for that particular day. The Evil Queen even disguised herself as Ursula in order to trick Ariel, while the real Ursula was enraged that the queen dared to masquerade as her.
• Ursula being portrayed as Ariel's wicked aunt in the Broadway musical version of The Little Mermaid, has made Ariel the first Disney Princess to have an aunt. Long before Rapunzel was given one in Tangled: The Series.
  • Ariel defeating Ursula by smashing her magic shell is similar to Tiana smashing the voodoo talisman that leads to Dr. Facilier's defeat in The Princes and the Frog.

Gallery