A Winner's Spirit

"A Winner's Spirit" is the second segment of the first episode of Ariel. It premiered on June 27, 2024 alongside "Atlantica Day".
==Plot==
Today is the All-Atlantica Swim Race, and Ariel tells Lucia that she's excited to see the speedy racers. Fernie and Flounder are at the racers' check-in line, deciding to join the race. They think it's a good idea to participate in the race, although they will be going up against fast fish. Flounder states he wants to be a champion racer, but for now, he wants to have fun. Ariel states that Flounder has never raced before, while the other fish are much faster than him because they took lots of practice. She also mentions that Flounder being left behind in a trail of bubbles would crush his dream of being a champion racer one day. Flounder then meets Alanna and Ayanna so he can get a racer bib.
Ariel and Lucia decide to check on the other racers to see how ready they are. They see them fast and ready to rest, unlike Flounder, who just needs a whole lot practice. Ariel then decides for her and Lucia to train Flounder so that he's ready. The first test is how fast Flounder can swim. His pacing partner is Fernie. They are tasked to swim around the plooferdoodle and back, and whoever high-fins Lucia first wins. The race then begins, and Fernie easily wins, while Flounder is distracted by the other fish. He then gets stuck in an anchor and drags his way back.
With the racers warming up, Ariel tells Flounder to put a coral barbell on his tail so that it gets stronger, as a strong tail swims faster. Flounder curls it around his tail, but he falls, and Ariel catches him in time. Up next is the battle rope exercise. Flounder soon gets the hang of it, but gets tangled by them. The third exercise is drafting, which Ariel and Fernie demonstrate. Flounder and Lucia are impressed by it, and Flounder practices it with Fernie. Flounder soon swims out of control. Ariel decides on the first swim test, with Flounder getting closer that time. With Flounder still not racer-ready, Ariel decides for her sisters to help with that.
Alanna and Ayanna then decorate Flounder so that he's ready to race, but he is having trouble keeping his composure. Ariel thinks looking like a racer will help Flounder feel like a racer. Ariel, Fernie, and Lucia find a place to watch the races, and Flounder takes off his gear while thinking that racing was supposed to be fun. The All-Atlantica Swim Race then begins without Flounder, and Ariel, Alanna, and Ayanna search for him by splitting up.
Ariel finds Flounder under her bicklescoodle. Flounder states he's hiding because he changed his mind about racing. He wasn't worried about being fast or winning, and he just wanted to have fun. Ariel thought helping Flounder win would make the race fun for him, and realizes that she wasn't being a good friend, as she was wrong for not listening to him, Fernie, or Lucia. Flounder thanks her for that, and states that when he is ready to race for a championship, Ariel will be his trainer. Flounder then joins the race, and decides to swim at his own pace.
As the race continues, Flounder joins the race, swimming at his own pace. Although he doesn't win (with the wahoo fish doing so), Flounder eventually completes the race with everyone cheering for him. He then decides to sign up for next year's race, with Ariel, Lucia, and Fernie doing the same.
==Cast==
*Mykal-Michelle Harris as Ariel
*Elizabeth Phoenix Caro as Lucia
*Gracen Newton as Flounder
*Cruz Flateau as Fernie
*Jessica Mikayla as Alanna
*Dana Heath as Ayanna
==Song==
*The Right Pace
==International premieres==
*June 29, 2024 (Disney Channel Netherlands)
category:Ariel episodes
Category:Series premieres