Another idea is that Ariel gets caught in the middle of a war between two underwater kingdoms. Since she is often depicted as a kind - hearted mermaid who tries to promote peace, she could be killed by a stray weapon or spell during the battle as she attempts to stop the fighting.
Perhaps in some fanfiction, Ariel's death could be due to the pollution of the ocean. As she is a mermaid, her home is the sea. If there is excessive pollution, it could make the sea uninhabitable for her and the other sea creatures. She might succumb to the poisoned waters while trying to find a solution to save her home.
Prince Eric would be devastated. He fell in love with Ariel for her beauty, both inside and out. Her death would leave him heartbroken, and he might become a recluse, spending his days mourning by the sea. He could also become a bit of a crusader, trying to do things in Ariel's memory, like cleaning up the ocean or protecting mermaids.
Ariel could die due to a tragic accident. For example, she might be exploring a sunken ship when it collapses on her. Unable to escape in time, she gets trapped and runs out of air. This sudden and unexpected death would shock those who knew her, both in the underwater realm and among the humans she had befriended. It would also lead to a great deal of mourning and could potentially drive Prince Eric to seek revenge on those he believes are responsible, like pirates who might have looted the ship and weakened its structure.
In some fanfictions, Ariel's death might be a tragic result of a broken heart. Maybe after Eric chose another, Ariel, in her deep despair, could take her last breath while looking at the sea that she once left for love. It's a really sad concept as she sacrificed so much for a love that didn't end well.
It could be that Ariel has been poisoned by some dark magic from an enemy of the sea. As her strength fades and she takes her last breath, she looks towards the surface of the ocean where she first saw Eric. In her last moment, she remembers all the adventures she had on land and underwater. Her last breath is a testament to her courage to explore and love beyond the boundaries of her own world.
Another reason might be environmental disaster in a fanfiction. If the ocean was being polluted at an alarming rate and Ariel tried to fix it but was exposed to too many toxins. As she took her last breath, she would be sad about the future of her ocean home and the creatures she loved.
Perhaps in the fanfiction, Ariel and Eric get married and have to deal with the cultural differences between the underwater world and the human world. For example, Ariel has to learn the proper etiquette in Eric's kingdom while Eric tries to understand the unique traditions of Ariel's mermaid family.
There are several possible reasons. Maybe she has lost something precious in the fanfiction. It could be a magical item that was important for her connection to the sea. Or perhaps she has had a fight with a friend or someone she loves. This emotional distress makes her break down in tears as she tries to deal with the situation.
Another idea is to write a fanfiction where Ariel has to deal with a new threat to the ocean. It could be an evil sea witch who is more powerful than Ursula. Ariel would have to use her wits and the help of her friends to save the ocean and all its inhabitants.
Ariel is quite adventurous. Her sisters may be more nurturing. They could be the ones who take care of the younger sea creatures and are more concerned with the well - being of the ocean community as a whole. They might not be as eager to break the rules as Ariel was to go to the surface. Instead, they would rather maintain the harmony within their own underwater society.
In a fanfiction scenario, Ariel takes her shoes off when she reaches the shore. As she does so, she feels a strange connection to the land. It's as if the act of removing her shoes makes her more attuned to the human world. She starts to learn about different types of shoes that humans wear and even tries to make her own, using materials from the ocean. This leads to some humorous and heartwarming interactions with local villagers.