00:00Although there are many love stories having to do with a prince and a princess,
00:08this story is most unusual, because this princess lives in a kingdom far beneath the sea.
00:14Her father is the Merman King, and her mother, the queen of all those beautiful and mystic beings,
00:21known as mermaids.
00:22And our young mermaid princess is about to celebrate a very important birthday.
00:27Oh, I can hardly wait.
00:29You'll most likely be disappointed.
00:31What would make you say that?
00:32She's been there, and now because you have come of age,
00:35you will have a chance to find out for yourself what it's like in the upper world.
00:39It'll be wonderful.
00:41I'll get to breathe real air and see pretty moonbeams and beautiful beaches and everything, right?
00:45Mm-hmm.
00:46And you will soon tire of it.
00:48Now then, blow on the candles and wish for a safe journey.
00:51All right.
00:51And so, like her sisters before her, it was now the littlest mermaids' turn to venture up into the great beyond.
01:02Goodbye, everybody.
01:03Wish me luck.
01:05You won't need luck, my dear, as long as you remember not to make contact with those strange people who walk on their back legs.
01:10Mother, don't worry.
01:11I won't.
01:12However, the queen could not help but be concerned.
01:15She knew the dangers and temptations of the upper world.
01:18All the little mermaid knew was that her heart was pounding with joy and anticipation as she raced toward the ocean's surface.
01:25Wow.
01:25The sky is so big, beautiful, bright.
01:33There are more stars than I even imagined.
01:35Huh?
01:36What's that?
01:37The sudden despair of fireworks above the large sailing vessel frightened Little Mermaid, but her curiosity proved greater than her fear.
01:45She had never seen such beautiful patterns and colors.
01:48She could sense they signified some important occasion.
01:51Huh?
01:52Huh?
01:53What could they be celebrating?
01:55I have to find out.
01:57As if called by destiny, the Little Mermaid approached the giant ship.
02:01Her instinct had been correct, only this was no ordinary celebration.
02:05Prince Jonathan, my men and I salute you, sir, and would drink to your health on your 18th birthday.
02:11Thank you, Captain.
02:12He's the most handsome creature I've ever seen.
02:15My prince.
02:16But the prince was never to know he had captured the heart of the Little Mermaid.
02:21Suddenly, the sky erupted with lightning.
02:23Jonathan knew it could mean disaster, but the Little Mermaid was so captivated by her prince that she did not even notice it at first.
02:30And in the blink of an eye, a muddy storm was unleashed.
02:36Torrents of rain poured down and the sea was ripped into a frenzy by violent winds, sending luminous waves crashing towards the ship.
02:43All right, men, back down and be quick about air!
02:46But the storm raged relentless, continuing to pound the ship as if it were a small toy.
02:52The captain and his crew could do nothing but try to hold on for their lives.
02:55The lifeboats are abandoned!
02:59Abandoned!
03:00It was too late.
03:02The huge waves covered the entire ship, forcing it and its passengers down into the ocean depths.
03:08But it was not Jonathan's fate to drown at sea, for the Little Mermaid had not lost sight of him.
03:13Valiantly, she pulled into the surface and bravely faced the angry wind and rain and raging sea.
03:18On and on she swam, carrying her prince at her side, until at last she reached calm water and the safety of the shore.
03:25Oh, I may never have another chance to tell him.
03:29I love you.
03:31I won't be very long, father.
03:33I must look for Prince Jonathan's ship.
03:36Oh, goodbye.
03:43Oh, Jonathan!
03:45Jonathan, thank God you're safe.
03:47We heard news that there had been a terrible storm at sea.
03:50I was so afraid that you would be lost with your ship.
03:53Are you all right?
03:54Prince Jonathan?
03:55Yes.
03:58Only because I had the good fortune of your fine to meet.
04:02My ship is lost, and all of my men with it.
04:05Oh, all of them?
04:07I'm afraid so.
04:08Come, let me help you back to the palace.
04:11Thank heaven at least you have survived, my prince.
04:15Sad and still weak from exhaustion, Jonathan gratefully accepted Elizabeth's help.
04:19While the little mermaid was left with nothing to do but watch as they disappeared from view, arm in arm.
04:25I must stay near my prince.
04:26I must stay near my prince.
04:28I do not think I could ever leave him now.
04:34Long into the night, the little mermaid kept her vigil, never once taking her eyes off the young prince, whose life she had saved and whose heart she would give anything to win.
04:44But his was a sad heart.
04:48He still grieved deeply over the tragic loss of his men.
04:52I'm certain I could make him happy once again, and gain his love.
