Under the Sea (2023) - TV Tropes

Under the Sea is a The Little Mermaid fanfiction currently available to read on Archive of Our Own. It combines aspects of the original Fairy Tale by Hans Christian Andersen, the first animated film, and the live-action film, while also adding new elements.

Not to be confused with the trope Under the Sea.

---

This work provides examples of:

• Adaptation Amalgamation: The story combines elements of both Little Mermaid movies and the original fairy tale.
• Adaptation Deviation: Here, it’s explained that the reason the “walking on land” spell takes away a Mermaid’s voice is because the Rite of Passage involves proving that they can lure in prey without their Siren Song.
• Adaptation Name Change: Just about everyone has a different name than their canon counterparts.
  • Ariel is now Caesura.
  • Prince Eric is now Prince Alexander.
  • Caesura’s sisters are named Serena, Nadia, Marea, and Taura.
  • The King and Queen of the Merpeople are named Aquilis and Raina respectively.
  • The Prince’s parents are named King Benjamin and Queen Gwendoline.
  • The sea witch is now named Adrasteia.
  • Her pets, Flotsam and Jetsam, are now Phobos and Deimos.
  • The Prince’s dog Max is now a female named Raven.
  • The Merpeople’s kingdom is named Nautilona.
  • The Human kingdom is named Atalon.
• Adaptation Species Change: The sea witch’s twin pets are barracudas instead of eels.
• Adaptation Title Change: The title is changed from The Little Mermaid to Under the Sea.
• Adaptational Badass:
  • All Merpeople in this story have a set of retractable fangs in addition to Human-looking teeth.
  • Caesura specifically is established as a skilled hunter when she chases down a group of Oceanids. Later, she demonstrates her lethality by killing one of the assassins and the Prince himself.
• Adaptational Context Change:
  • The Prince’s ship wasn’t sunk by lighting, but instead by a bomb in a deliberate attempt to kill him.
  • Caesura sings to the Prince in a deliberate effort to wake him up.
• Adaptational Modesty: Unlike in the movies, Caesura is provided with Human clothing before going on land and is not naked when she is found.
• Adaptational Villainy: Downplayed. Caesura isn’t exactly evil, but she performs the Rite of Passage knowing full well it will end with her killing the Prince.
• Adapted Out:
  • The talking animals from the movies either don’t appear or don’t talk.
  • Caesura only has four sisters compared to Ariel's six.
• Age Lift: The mermaid and the Prince are both adults in this version.
• Agony of the Feet: To a lesser extent than in the fairy tale. Caesura’s first steps are agonizing, but the pain lessens with each step.
• All Animals Are Dogs: Adrasteia treats her pet barracudas, Phobos and Demios, like dogs, even referring to them as “Mommy’s good boys”.
• And I Must Scream: Sort of. Caesura has a mouth, but she has no voice when she goes on land, so when her first steps are agonizing, she can’t cry out in pain.
• A Birthday, Not a Break: Just like in previous versions, the Prince’s birthday celebration is interrupted by the ship sinking. In this version, it’s because someone is trying to kill him.
• Because You Were Nice to Me: A somewhat dark example. It’s established that, following the Humans’ massacre of the Merpeople, the Oceanids helped them rebuild despite having also been attacked. Early in the story, Caesura learns that Oceanid hunter-gatherers are having more and more difficulty finding prey. Towards the end, when she and Alex are sailing away, she has the ship stop near what she says is her kingdom but is actually the Oceanids’ kingdom. After killing Alex, she visits the Oceanid King and Queen and offers them the Humans on the ship as food.
• Bodyguarding a Badass: Downplayed. Captain Winslow is Prince Alex's personal bodyguard, and Alex is capable of holding his own in a fight. Downplayed because it's clear that Alex isn’t nearly as badass as Winslow.
• Book Ends: Early on, Nadia practices proposing to her mate. Later, she proposes for real. Towards the end, Caesura proposes to her mate.
• Bottomless Magazines: Downplayed. When assassins infiltrate the castle in an attempt to kill Prince Alex, Captain Winslow has to reload his two-shot pistol repeatedly, but he never runs out of bullets.
• Canon Foreigner:
  • The Oceanids, an intelligent underwater humanoid species separate from the Merpeople, were created for the story.
  • Kishiko, Caesura's best friend and eventual mate, has no equivalent in the fairy tale or movies.
  • Kailani, the mate of one of the protagonist's sisters, also has no equivalent in the fairy tale or movies.
• Chekhov's Gun: Caesura’s retractable fangs are introduced early on and later used to kill an assassin and the Prince.
• Childhood Friend Romance: Caesura and Kishi have been friends since childhood and become lovers by the end of the story.
• Death by Adaptation: The Prince is killed by Caesura.
• Disabled in the Adaptation: Sort of. Instead of each having a glowing eye, the sea witch’s pets are each missing an eye.
• The Ending Changes Everything: The Reveal that Caesura never loved Alex and was simply using him to complete the Rite of Passage changes everything.
  • King Aquilis and Queen Raina aren’t against Caesura performing the Rite of Passage. They just think a human prince is too high-profile of a target.
  • When Caesura talks to her parents about Alex, Raina says that men like that are usually fairly naïve. Caesura doesn’t argue with that, instead simply stating that no one is perfect. It’s because she’s actually trying to convince them that Alex is a suitable target for her Rite of Passage, not a suitable romantic partner.
  • Caesura’s conversation with Kishi before visiting Adrasteia isn’t about Caesura letting Kishi down gently, but about wanting to be able to give Kishi the life she deserves.
• Failed a Spot Check: The doctor who examines Caesura’s mouth doesn’t notice her retractable fangs. Somewhat justified, since he wouldn't know to look for them. Plus, he was examining her tongue and throat to figure out why she couldn't speak, not focusing on her teeth and gums.
• First Girl Wins: Played straight. Kishiko is the first girl for Caesura.
• Friendship as Courtship: Heavily implied to be the case with Caesura and Kishi, childhood friends who have mutual romantic feelings but don't act on them until the end of the story.
• Gender Flip: The Prince’s dog Max is now a female named Raven.
• Hotter and Sexier: This version sees Caesura and Alex having sex once she has her voice back and has revealed herself as a Mermaid to him.
• If You Ever Do Anything to Hurt Her...: Happens after Nadia proposes to Kai.

  Caesura: Kai, you're a lucky man. Don't screw this up.

  Kai: Marea has already made several unnecessarily detailed threats regarding that particular subject.

• In Spite of a Nail: Referenced in the unnamed book-within-a-book.

  Alex: Their bodies littered the bridge and courtyard. Fifty, sixty, seventy in all. In spite of a nail, the battle was lost, and all but the messenger slain. Her words reached the Emperor too late to save her city, her parents, her child, but when she returned, there would be Hell to pay.

• Love Confession: Twice.
  • First, Alex confesses his love for Caesura.
  • Later, Caesura confesses her love for Kishi.

    Caesura: Kishiko. My love. You are my world. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like you weren’t. You deserve the life of a Queen, and this was the only way I could give that to you that didn’t involve having my sisters killed.

• Mauve Shirt: Captain Winslow, the personal bodyguard to Prince Alex, is given enough characterization to rise above the rank of Red Shirt.
• Meaningful Name:
• Mythology Gag: Although all of the songs from the films have been Adapted Out, the title has been changed to Under the Sea.
• Noodle Incident: Adrasteia doesn't elaborate on how her relationship with Nimora ended.
• Person as Verb: Caesura does this to herself when Taura is late for breakfast.

  Caesura: Taura, you’re pulling a me. If you’re finally ready to tell Mom and Dad about who you spend your free time with, that’s fine, but maybe don’t do it like this.

• Pet the Dog:
  • It’s established that, following the Humans’ massacre of the Merpeople, the Oceanids helped them rebuild despite having also been attacked.
  • Serena is the least sympathetic of the five sisters, but she still listens to Nadia’s practice proposal and gives her honest feedback. Later, when Caesura surpasses her sisters as heir to the throne, Serena is understandably not happy, but she admits that Caesura has earned it.
  • Taura helps Caesura by telling her about Adrasteia.
  • A somewhat dark example. Early in the story, Caesura learns that Oceanid hunter-gatherers are having more and more difficulty finding prey. Towards the end, when she and Alex are sailing away, she has the ship stop near what she says is her kingdom but is actually the Oceanids’ kingdom. After killing Alex, she visits the Oceanid King and Queen and offers them the Humans on the ship as food.

    Queen Tethys: Then why have you come?

    Caesura: There is a Human ship anchored just outside your eastern border. It has a crew of over 150 men, and to my knowledge, none of them have any idea that you and your people even exist. They, along with the food in their cargo hold, are a gift to your people from me.

    Queen Tethys: A gift?

    Caesura: Yes. I’m too young to remember the aftermath of the Humans’ attack, much less the attack itself. I was born well after we finished rebuilding, and I’ve been fortunate enough to live a life free of such suffering. However, I’ve also been educated on the hardships my people lived through, and I know that your predecessors helped us rebuild even though they also lost people to the Humans’ attack. You helped us in our time of need, and I think it’s only right that we help you in yours.

• Pretty Princess Powerhouse: Caesura is fifth (and last) in line for the throne, but she's perfectly capable of holding her own, as demonstrated when she rips an assassin's arm off and throat out with her fangs.
• Pronouncing My Name for You: Caesura does this twice. First, she corrects Adrasteia’s pronunciation from “Suh-zair-uh” to “Suh-zyur-uh”. Later, she teaches Alex to pronounce her name while she’s mute.
• Red Herring: A meta example. According to Word of God, Taura and Coco's relationship only exists to justify the use of the lesbian relationship tag on Archive of Our Own without spoiling The Reveal of Caesura's true feelings for Kishiko.
• Relationship Upgrade: Caesura finally acts on her feelings for Kishi after completing the Rite of Passage by confessing her love and claiming Kishi as her mate.
• The Reveal:
  • The Rite of Passage isn't about walking on land and living as a Human. It’s about proving that a Merperson can lure in and kill prey without their Siren Song.
  • Caesura went through the Rite of Passage, not because she was in love with Prince Alex, but so that she could give Kishi the life she deserves.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something: Like in the live-action film, Caesura and her sisters each serve as ruler and guardian over a part of the kingdom.

  Caesura: I am Princess Caesura. Daughter of King Aquilis and Queen Raina, ruler and protector of Southern Nautilona under them, fifth in line for the throne. In their absence, you answer to me.

• Secret Relationship: Caesura's sister Taura is in one with Coco, one of the royal guards.
• Shotguns Are Just Better: A blunderbuss is among the weapons used by the assassins who infiltrate the castle.
• Stock Lateral Thinking Puzzle: While in the library, Alex asks several of these to Caesura, including the St. Ives Puzzle and "If two's company and three's a crowd, what are four and five?".
• Sure, Let's Go with That: This exchange.

  Kishi: Are you Adrasteia?

  Adrasteia: I am. Have we met?

  Kishi: No. I'm Kishiko. Kishi.

  Adrasteia: Oh. Right. Caesura’s…best friend.

  Kishi: Sure, let's go with that.

• Shout-Out:
  • One of the stories Alex reads to Caesura is Frankenstein.
  • This exchange brings Airplane! to mind:

    Caesura: There’s just one thing I need to do before I see my family.

    Alex: What's that?

    Caesura: A group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit.

• Sirens Are Mermaids: Even more explicit than in the live-action film. Caesura’s three days on land without her voice are actually a Rite of Passage to prove that she can lure in prey (read: make someone fall in love with her) without her Siren Song.
• Spared by the Adaptation: The Mermaid Queen is alive in this version of the story.
• The Speechless: Just like in every other version, the little mermaid becomes this when she goes on land.
• Superpowers For A Day: Just like in the fairy tale and movies, the little mermaid is able to walk on land for three days.
• To Serve Man: Early in the story, Caesura learns that Oceanid hunter-gatherers are having more and more difficulty finding prey. Towards the end, when she and Alex are sailing away, she has the ship stop near what she says is her kingdom but is actually the Oceanids’ kingdom. After killing Alex, she visits the Oceanid King and Queen and offers them the Humans on the ship as food.
• True Love's Kiss: Played With. In this version of the story, it’s made explicitly clear that the love in question does NOT have to be mutual for the Rite of Passage to be completed.
• Truer to the Text: Unlike the movies, this short story keeps the neutral portrayal of the sea witch from the original fairy tale.
• Wham Line: When Caesura finally confirms the reason she went through the Rite of Passage.

  Caesura: Kishiko. My love.

• Wicked Witch: Discussed but Averted. Like in the original fairy tale, the sea witch is True Neutral.

  Adrasteia: I get that a lot. People hear “sea witch” and automatically assume that means “evil sea witch”.

---