Once upon a time, deep beneath the ocean waves, there lived six beautiful mermaid sisters. They were the daughters of the Sea King and lived in an elegant underwater palace adorned with coral and pearls. Each sister had her own little plot of the sea to look after, and they would often share stories about their discoveries when they returned home.
The youngest sister was particularly curious and dreamy. She loved to hear tales from sailors on passing ships and longed for the world above the waves. Her heart yearned to see the green hills, the towering trees, and the mysterious creatures that roamed the land. Unlike her sisters who were content with their undersea lives, she dreamed of experiencing the human world.
One day, she saved a young prince from drowning during a fierce storm. Though she couldn't understand his words, she watched over him as he recovered on a nearby shore. The sight of his kind face and the sound of his laughter filled her with longing. She decided then that she would do anything to be part of his world.
She visited the sea witch, who promised to help her by giving her a potion that could turn her tail into legs. But the price was steep: she would lose her voice and feel constant pain whenever she walked. Determined, the little mermaid agreed. After drinking the potion, she felt herself transform. With trembling steps, she climbed onto the shore to meet the prince.
The prince was charmed by her beauty and kindness, but he never knew it was she who had saved him. She followed him everywhere, though she could not speak. The little mermaid endured great pain with every step, but her love for the prince made it bearable.
As days passed, the prince grew fond of her, but he planned to marry another. Heartbroken, the little mermaid's sisters appeared, offering her a knife. If she killed the prince and let his blood fall on her feet, she could return to the sea and become a mermaid again.
But the little mermaid couldn't bring herself to harm the prince. She threw the knife into the sea and felt herself dissolve into foam. However, instead of disappearing, she became a spirit of the air, able to observe the world and even earn an immortal soul if she did good deeds.
Thus, the little mermaid found a new way to live, cherishing the memories of her brief time among humans while continuing to seek happiness in her new existence. And so, the story of the little mermaid remains one of hope, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love.
