True love can give power and confidence when its needed most. With Ursula defeated, the trident returned to Triton's hands.

But now Ariel and the prince couldn't be together. He was a human, and she was a mermaid. Triton saw how sad Ariel was, and how deeply the two loved each other... and knew it was time to let his daughter go. He used the trident's power to turn Ariel into a human permanently. She thanked her father, and told him she would always love him.

Ariel and the prince were married, and they lived happily ever after.