Prince Eric (Once Upon a Time)

Prince Eric is a character who appears in the ABC fantasy-drama series Once Upon a Time.
He is based on both the character from the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen and Disney's The Little Mermaid.
==History==
It is implied that like many of the denizens of the Enchanted Forest, he was likely transported to Storybrooke by the Dark Curse. His first appearance is in the episode "Ariel", which takes place before the Dark Curse. In his kingdom, Prince Eric holds a ball. He is immediately drawn to Ariel and he asks her to dance with him. While they dance he tells Ariel that he will be leaving the next morning on an adventure to see the world and asks Ariel to go with him. Ariel relays this information back to Snow White who tells Ariel to be honest with the prince however Ariel is reluctant as she does not want to be rejected by the prince by telling him she is a mermaid.
Ariel later returns to the dock by Eric's palace as she is about to yell Eric's name her voice has vanished. Regina tells Ariel that Ariel will not have a second chance at true love and that she took her voice so Ariel can never tell Prince Eric how she truly feels.
In tears, a muted Ariel heads back to the sea. 29 years later in Neverland, Regina and Mr. Gold are by the banks of the lake. Regina whispers something into a seashell that causes Ariel to appear. Regina returns Ariel's voice to her and asks her to go to return to Storybrooke so Ariel can retrieve a weapon from Mr. Gold's shop that will be strong enough to stop Peter Pan. Regina then promises Ariel that she can be a human permanently and if she goes to Storybrooke, she will find Eric there. After Ariel completes her mission and permanently becomes human, she finds Eric working as a fisherman. The two of them are then reunited and reconcile.
When Storybrooke vanishes all of its residents, including Eric and Ariel, are sent back to the Enchanted Forest. Eric is kidnapped by Blackbeard and is left all alone on a deserted island. Ariel eventually finds Eric on the island where they are reunited.
==Gallery==
Once Upon a Time - 3x06 - Ariel - Prince Eric Smiling.jpg
Once Upon a Time - 3x06 - Ariel - Prince Eric.png|Eric meets Ariel
Once Upon a Time - 3x06 - Ariel - Ariel and Eric.png
Once Upon a Time - 3x06 - Ariel - Eric Waiting.jpg
Once Upon a Time - 3x10 - The New Neverland - Eric.png|Eric in Storybrooke
Once Upon a Time - 3x17 - The Jolly Roger - Ariel's reunion with Eric.jpg
==See also==
*Prince Eric
*Prince Eric (The Little Mermaid 2023)
==External links==
Category:Princes
Category:Males
Category:Lovers
Category:Adults
Category:Once Upon a Time characters
Category:Live-action characters
Category:Deuteragonists
Category:Nobility
Category:Royalty
Category:Sailors