King Triton/Relationships

The relationships of King Triton.
==Romance==
===Queen Athena===
King Triton and his wife, Athena, loved each other very much. She was more than just his queen, but his best friend since they were children and they shared a love for music. When she died, he was very heartbroken and as a result, he banned music in the kingdom of Atlantica as music reminded him of his wife. 
Triton continued to mourn for his wife for many years, causing distance himself from his daughters. When Ariel proclaimed that Athena wouldn't want music banned if she was still alive, Triton was taken aback from this. Then, after finally noticing how his ban of music affected his family and kingdom, Triton decided to lift his ban on music and placed his wife's music box below her statue, symbolizing that Triton has at last let go of his grief over his wife's death and found peace.
==Family==
===Ariel===
Ariel is Triton's youngest daughter with whom he shares a strong father-daughter relationship. He is highly protective of Ariel as she is the youngest out of all of his daughters.
In the prequel film, Ariel and Triton were very close with she was younger, however, after the accidental death of her mother, Athena and Triton bans music from the kingdom of Atlantica, father-and-daughter's relationship becomes strained, however, after Triton saw Ariel getting hit by Marina in the process, he is remorseful for his actions, as he finally comes to terms with his wife's death, restoring music to Atlantica, father-and-daughter reconciles after this, becoming close once again.
In the prequel television series, Ariel and Triton's relationship is not always strained, as they do sometimes see eye-to-eye, as in the episode "Stormy", when Ariel attempting to ride a wild giant seahorse named Stormy, Triton warned her was too dangerous. After Ariel is accidentally injured by Stormy, she admits that he was right about the danger; Triton later offers her a tamer giant seahorse more appropriate to her skills.
Ariel's love for human things often clashes with her father, Triton due to his prejudiced regarding humans and human culture; despite this, he is capable of realizing his mistakes, like in the episode "Metal Fish", when he saved a human from drowning after his daughter pointed out to Triton that all merpeople, including himself, are half-humans.
In the original film, Ariel and Triton's relationship has become very strained, partly due to his overprotectiveness and mainly due to her father's prejudice towards humans, believing that all humans in general to be nothing more than savage fish eaters, which contrasts with Ariel's fascination with humans. When Ariel forgot about the concert, her father becomes very furious, and when his daughter returns home (after her friend, Scuttle the seagull had unknowingly reminded her about the concert), he scolds her for her careless and reckless behavior (despite the fact that she did not intentionally mean to ruin the concert). However, during the scolding, Flounder unintentionally reveals that she went to the surface again, in an attempt to defend her. The two get into a heated argument regarding humans, and then Ariel unintentionally disrespects her father, as after she states that she is now sixteen years old and and no longer a child who is to be protected, which is true. Triton angrily tells her to never raise that tone of voice with him (as he lacks patience with his youngest daughter). When she tries to get her father to listen to her, regarding humans, he refuses, and after being demanded by him to obey his every rule and not to go to the surface again, she tearfully swims off, after she leaves the palace, Triton correctly believes he was being too hard on Ariel.
For the last few days, Triton has notice Ariel's unusual happy behavior lately, but was completely oblivious to the reason behind this behavior of hers, until Andrina (his second youngest daughter) points out that Ariel is in love, much to his delight (initially unaware at the time that she has fallen in love with a human named Eric) believing that the person Ariel fallen in love with is a merman.
Triton summons Sebastian, wanting to know the identity of Ariel's love, the Jamaican crab incorrectly believes he already knows, as his anxiety blinds to the obvious joy the sea king feels, he then accidentally reveals that his daughter saved a human from drowning (as contact between humans and merpeople are forbidden by the sea king himself), breaking the promise he had made to Ariel (as he had promised her to keep it a secret). Sebastian is then forced to reveal Ariel's secret grotto, where he goes and confronts Ariel, not only for going to the surface again but also for saving a human, Ariel points that Eric would have died if it weren't for her, with Triton un-movingly stating that it was "one less human to worry about", she responds that he doesn't even know what Eric is like, only for him to arrogantly state that he doesn't need to know him, that all humans are the same; spineless, savage, harpooning fish-eaters, incapable of any feeling, this causes Ariel to accidentally reveal that he has fallen in love with Eric, to Triton's shock.
Out of fear that Triton may have lost his daughter, Ariel to the human world, he loses control of his temper, and destroyed Ariel's human artifacts, in a failed attempt to "get through to her" (which ultimately backfires) she begs her father to stop, but he doesn't listen, after he destroys a statue of Ariel's love, he is horrified at what he had done, feeling extremely guilty and remorseful for his unjustified actions. He leaves out of shame, knowing that Ariel is not yet ready to receive an apology from him, especially after what he had done (as the relationship becomes damaged after this). These actions of his, indirectly leads to Ariel to make a deal with his archenemy, Ursula, to become human in order to be with Eric, unknown to Ariel; she was being used by the sea witch in a plot to take Triton's throne.
When Ariel goes missing (after becoming human) Triton blames himself for the situation and tirelessly spends his time searching for her, unable to rest until she's safe at home and to apologize to his daughter for what he had done, as he realizes he had gone too far, when Sebastian, who had been watching over Ariel, arrives from the surface and tells the sea king about Ursula's scheme (off-screen) he quickly goes out with Sebastian to rescue his daughter from the sea witch. Ariel apologizes to her father (regarding signing a deal with Ursula) who attempts to destroy the contract between Ariel and Ursula, to no avail. Upon learning from Ursula that Ariel had signed an agreement with Ursula and that she may be willing to make an exchange for someone even better, Triton willingly takes his daughter's place, despite knowing the cost of his choice, this proves just how much he loves Ariel, as he will willingly risk anything for her, even at the cost of his own kingdom.
Despite the fact that Ariel was angry with Triton for his previous actions (regarding destroying her human artifacts and statue of Eric) she never hated her father, after he takes her place, and was turned into a polyp, to her horror. Enraged by what Ursula did to him, she attacks her, only to be restrained by the sea witch.
After Ursula is killed by Eric, Triton returns to his original form. Not only does he realize just how much Ariel truly loves Eric, but his beliefs about all humans being bad were completely wrong, he also realizes that his daughter has grown up (metaphorically) as she needs to live her own life, he willingly transforms her into a human permanently, allowing her to be with the man she loves, even though he is going to miss her very much. Their relationship is repaired after this, as Ariel forgives Triton for his previous actions, to the point that he is invited to attend her and Eric's wedding, near the climax of the wedding, he gives his daughter, Ariel a hug, she in return tearfully tells her father that she loves him very much, after saying goodbye for the present, he then uses his trident to cast a beautiful rainbow over the sky; a sign that he approves of Ariel's marriage to Eric.
In the sequel of The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, despite Triton and Ariel not seeing each other for two years, father-and-daughter are still very close, as she introduces Triton to his newborn granddaughter, Melody, much to his delight/happiness, Triton is no longer overprotective of Ariel, he also respected her decisions, even if he does not agree with some of them, such as after Melody was threatened by Morgana, she decided not only should Melody not be allowed in the ocean or know about the existence of the merpeople (until Morgana has been dealt with once-and-for-all). Although Triton agreed with the decision to keep Melody out of the ocean for her own safety, he did not agree with the decision to keep her mermaid heritage a secret from her or not tell her the reason why she is not allowed in the sea, much to his heartbreak.
Twelve years later, when Melody runs away, Triton reunites with Ariel and turns her back into a mermaid and helps her look for her missing daughter. After Morgana's defeat, Ariel and Triton are able to stay in touch and remain closer than ever after Melody allows people from the land and sea to coexist together peacefully again.
===Attina, Alana, Adella, Aquata, Arista and Andrina===
Triton had also a strong relationship with his six other daughters as he was a loving father towards all of them. After the death of Queen Athena, Triton's wife and his daughters' mother, Triton's relationships with his other daughters became strained as he banned music from Atlantica. His other daughters were neither happy by how Triton did not allow them to have fun, but unlike Ariel, they were not open to express their feelings about it, not wanting to upset their father. However, after Ariel brings music back to Atlantica, Triton reconciles with all of his other daughters and continues to be a loving father towards all of them.
However, Triton is not highly protective of his other daughters as he was with Ariel; possibly because they are more obedient to his rules and that they are older than Ariel. Triton loves to watch his other daughters perform onstage and they love do performances for their father.
===Eric===
Eric is King Triton's son-in-law. In the beginning, when King Triton had learned that Ariel had fallen in love, he was very excited to meet the lucky "merman" who won his daughter's heart, unaware that Eric was a human prince. After learning the truth, King Triton's opinion quickly changed and he strongly disapproved of Ariel and Eric's love for each other. Due to his mistrust and hatred of humans, King Triton thought very little of Eric and considered him to be no different than the rest of humankind, viewing them as barbaric savages. Triton's hatred grew to the point he even used his trident to destroy Ariel's entire grotto along with her beloved statue of Eric in full complete rage. However, after Eric saves Ariel's life and defeats Ursula, King Triton realizes he was wrong about Eric and his view on humans finally began to change, seeing now that not all humans are bad. King Triton sees now that Ariel and Eric are truly in love with each other, he changes Ariel back into a human for good, allowing her and Eric to be together. At Ariel and Eric's wedding, Triton and Eric acknowledge each other, with King Triton accepting Eric as his son-in-law.
===Neptune===
Coming soon!
===Melody===
Melody is Triton's granddaughter. Upon the birth of Ariel and Eric's daughter Melody, he attends a celebration of her birth that takes place at sea. As a gift, he gives Melody a special locket that reveals a picture of Atlantica. However, Ariel later makes the decision to withhold all knowledge of Atlantica and mermaids for Melody's safety, and Triton orders a search for Morgana and no one will rest until she is vanquished. A sea wall is put up around the kingdom, sadly cutting Triton off from his daughter and granddaughter. After the defeat of Morgana, Triton and Melody then officially meet and Melody immediately hugs her grandfather, delighted to finally getting to know him. Triton feels that Melody has earned the right to decide which world she wants to belong to, is his granddaughter and a child of two different worlds.
==Friends==
===Sebastian===
Sebastian is Triton's Chief of Staff where the two showed a very good relationship with one another. When Triton's wife, Queen Athena died, Sebastian felt saddened to see his king so heartbroken. After Triton banned music from Atlantica, Sebastian seemed to support the ban, but secretly rebelled against it by secretly performing in an underground club. When Triton angrily discovered Sebastian organizing the club, he wrongfully throws Sebastian in prison. However, Triton manages to realize the error of his ways, thanks to Ariel and Sebastian, and lifts the ban on music while pardoning Sebastian and appointing him a royal court composer.
Years later, Triton enjoys Sebastian's musical performances and is always eager to watch them. When Triton started to have problems dealing with Ariel's rebelliousness, he had Sebastian watch over her after the latter suggested the idea to him. When Triton talked to Sebastian about Ariel's love-struck behavior, Sebastian accidentally revealed Ariel's rescue of the human Prince Eric, leading him to destroy Ariel's Grotto in a fit of rage.
When discovering Ursula to breaking her bargain with Ariel by marrying Eric in disguise, Sebastian alerted Triton of the situation. When Triton was transformed into a polyp by Ursula to take Ariel's place, Sebastian showed sorrow for his king. However, after Ursula's defeat, Triton realized from Sebastian that he needs to let Ariel be free to make her own choices in life where he allows Ariel to become human again so she can be with Eric. During the wedding of Ariel and Eric, Triton and Sebastian exchange smiles as they watch Ariel; whom they both cared about, leave to start her new life with Eric.
===Urchin===
Coming soon!
===Dudley===
Coming soon!
==Enemies==
===Ursula===
Triton was arch-rivals with Ursula the sea witch. For reasons unknown, Triton banished Ursula from Atlantica. This caused Ursula to develop a powerful grudge against Triton where she vowed to get revenge by overthrowing Triton and taking over his kingdom. Ursula saw an opportunity to get revenge on Triton by using his youngest daughter, Ariel.
When Triton was informed by Sebastian that Ariel was in danger of Ursula, he immediately set off to rescue his daughter from the sea witch. However, upon learning that Ariel made a bargain with Ursula, Triton tries to destroy the contact, but to no avail as Ursula tells him that it's unbreakable, even for him. In exchange for Ariel's life, he's willingly decided to take Ariel's place and became a polyp as he wanted to keep his daughter safe from Ursula (and to make up for destroying her grotto earlier). However, after Ursula was destroyed, Triton was restored to his true form and regained both his crown and trident.
===Morgana===
Coming soon!
===Marina Del Rey===
After death of his wife, Triton decided to appoint Marina Del Rey as a governess to look after his seven daughters where they followed a strict schedule. Triton did seem to trust Marina in looking after his daughters where he even decided to have Sebastian help Marina look after his youngest daughter, Ariel. However, unknown to Triton, Marina secretly loathed her job and hated his daughters while longing to replace Sebastian as the royal Chief of Staff.
After Marina exposed Sebastian as the head of an underground music, he appointed her as the new Chief of Staff, much to her delight. However, after promoting Marina and getting into an argument with Ariel, Triton did not seem interested in listening to Marina's ideas, as he was regretting his decisions in wrongly punishing his daughters and putting Sebastian and the fish club in jail.
When Triton saw Marina trying to kill Sebastian, he became horrified to witness Ariel push Marina out of the way, in order to protect Sebastian, getting injured in the process. Upon seeing Marina trying to kill his good friend and harm his daughter, Triton finally realized Marina's true nature where he then sent Marina in prison, as punishment for her crimes.
Category:Relationships
Category:The Little Mermaid relationships