Ursula’s Side of the Story — The Little Mermaid Retold from the Sea Witch’s

Everyone knows the tale of the Little Mermaid, of Ariel’s fascination with the human world, and the wicked Sea Witch, Ursula, who tricked her. But few know the truth — Ursula’s side of the story, buried beneath waves of slander and royal deceit.

Long before Ariel was even a glimmer in her father’s eye, Ursula lived as Princess of the Deep, sister to King Triton. When their father died, the ocean was divided between the two: Triton received the powerful Trident, and Ursula was given the magical Nautilus Shell, a relic of great and ancient power. They were to rule the seas together — balance and harmony.

But peace was not to last. Ursula’s interest in dark magic and her yearning for greater power painted her as a threat in Triton’s eyes. Whether by his word or through the whispers of his loyal advisor Sebastian, Ursula was declared a traitor and banished.

Or so the story goes.

What is often left unsaid is that Ursula never desired the throne for herself — until Ariel was born. That day changed everything.

“WHAT!? He had another child? Another heir? That foolish brother! Now, I will never reclaim my right to rule the seas. He’ll pass everything to that little brat, Ariel. And her six vain sisters? They’re no threat — but her, she might become something dangerous.”

In the dark crevices of her lair, Ursula fumed while her eels, Flotsam and Jetsam, slithered nearby, eager for action. She vowed then and there: Ariel would pay for the injustice done to her.

Meanwhile, the ocean celebrated Ariel’s birth. Triton and his wife, Queen Athena, marveled at their new daughter. They named her Ariel, meaning “lioness of God”, believing she would grow kind and wise. But not all was peaceful beneath the surface.

In secret, Sebastian met with a shadowy figure. There, in hushed tones, a dark plot brewed — the quiet poisoning of Queen Athena, ensuring Ariel’s succession to the throne.

“Triton doesn’t want her dead,” Sebastian whispered. “But the sooner a successor is named, the safer the kingdom stays in the family.”

A slow poison did its work, and soon the Queen fell ill. Before her death, she reluctantly signed the decree naming Ariel her successor. Ariel was just a child, but the burden of the kingdom rested on her tiny shoulders.

Triton, now widowed and wary, raised Ariel under a strict hatred of humans, blaming them for Athena’s death — although it was not a human who caused it, but betrayal within his court. Yet, Ariel was curious and defiant, drawn to the surface and the glittering human world.

Ursula watched from the shadows. She observed Ariel’s growing fascination with human artifacts and plotted. She knew that through the humans, she could exact her revenge.

“So, little Ariel loves the human world? Perfect. I’ll craft her downfall from her own desires.”

Ursula watched the humans through her crystal ball, particularly a certain Prince Eric, a kind-hearted and handsome young man who adored his dog and treated his crew well.

“He’ll do nicely,” Ursula sneered. “Let’s make sure they meet.”

She conjured a storm, guiding Eric’s ship near Ariel’s hiding spot. The storm capsized the vessel, and Eric was flung overboard — right into Ariel’s waiting arms. She saved him, enamored not only by his looks but by his gentleness.

Triton, however, was livid when he learned of Ariel’s fascination with humans. When Sebastian revealed Ariel’s secret grotto filled with human relics, Triton destroyed it in a rage, driving a wedge further between father and daughter.

“He doesn’t understand!” Ariel sobbed to Flounder. “Not all humans are bad, just like not all merfolk are good. My mother was killed by bad choices, not just humans.”

Ursula saw her chance. She sent Flotsam and Jetsam to whisper in Ariel’s ear, leading her to the Sea Witch’s lair, where the infamous deal was struck — her voice for legs, love in three days, or lose her soul.

But was Ursula’s intent purely wicked? Or was it the bitter maneuver of a woman who had everything taken from her — by the family that condemned her? Ursula was merely playing by the rules of power that Triton himself had enforced.

In the end, Ursula’s plot failed. Love triumphed, and Ariel won both Eric and her place in the human world. The kingdom remembered Ursula as a monster, but if you ask her, she might say:

“History is written by the victors. But beneath every wicked tale is a truth no one cares to hear.”

Moral of the Story

Power, jealousy, and family betrayals often shape the villains we think we know. Sometimes, understanding their side reveals more about ourselves than about them.