When Maleficent spoke of her kind, her being a mermaid, Ariel couldn't help but light up. She nodded eagerly, glad Maleficent knew her people. She was curious if the Queen knew Ursula, but it didn't seem pertinent to ask. Not that she could.
And then as if Maleficent had said the magic words (although those did come a few moments later) the mermaid beamed brighter than the sun itself as to lapped the waves.
Her throat glowed and Ariel incurred a feeling of fullness. The empty void that was her lower jaw now felt overabundant. Her tongue was back!
Ariel gasped, and upon hearing the sound she clapped her hands over her mouth and her eyes widened in delight.
Then she managed to pull her fingers from her mouth and drop them to her sides. "Thank you!" She resisted the urge to run to Maleficent and pull her into an embrace. But she didn't. She didn't want to become a frog.
"What do I owe you?" Ariel inquired softly, offering Maleficent a knowing look. All magic came with a price.