Ursula was born to a single mother, Xylia. She looked so much like her mother, that at first she didn't think about her parentage much. Xylia was a witch and Ursula quickly became her mother's apprentice. Xylia was a strict and unloving mother that Ursula tried to please when she was a child and wished to be rid of in her teenage years. When Ursula finally got old enough to ask her mother about who her dad was, Xylia simply told her that it was not time for her to know yet. Ursula continued to try to ask, but eventually gave up when her mother became so angry that she threatened to feed her to the sharks.
Ursula would dream that her father would one day return and give her all the love she desperately wanted and needed. When Ursula became a teenager, Xylia sent her off to a private school. Ursula was excited, but quickly realized that her Octopus tail did not endear her to the mermaids that she went to school with. She always felt different and many of the mermaids stayed away from her because they knew who her mother was.
One week Prince Triton and Ursula ended up in detention together. Prince Triton was there for shocking another student with his mini training sceptor. Ursula had magically shut a mermaid's mouth closed and was serving out her punishment. Prince Triton was an adventurous young boy who was intrigued by this new and different Ursula. He took the opportunity to talk with Ursula and they quickly became friends. As their friendship progressed Prince Triton brought Ursula home to meet the parents.
Prince Triton's dad, Neandro, was furious when he met this new friend of his son's. He told Ursula to go home immediately and forbade that they see each other ever again. Ursula left very upset and that was when she met her two eel friends. Neandro then took Triton aside and explained himself. He knew that forbidding them to associate was a sure fire way to get them together. You see Neandro was Ursula's father. Years ago Ursula's mother, Xylia, had magically tricked Neandro into having a momentary fling with her. Xylia had hoped to have his first son and heir and rise to power in the underwater kingdom through her son. When Ursula came out, she changed her plan. Ursula would be used to drive a wedge in the Royal family and help destroy them for good.
Prince Triton didn't know how to take the news and did not want Ursula to ruin his family. Out of fear he avoided her from that moment on. Ursula became friendless and the teasing increased without Triton stopping it. Triton even pulled jokes on Ursula occasionally. When Ursula finally confronted Triton about what was going on and found out that they shared a father, she was so upset that she went home to her mother. Xylia used this opportunity to spin the story her way. Xylia told Ursula that she had loved Neandro and he loved her, but he was too afraid to break up his marriage. When Xylia became pregnant Neandro was furious and refused to claim Ursula as his own child. Neandro had ruined their life and would never accept them.
Ursula believed the claims and for years she worked with her mother Xylia to overthrow and kill the royal family so that they would pay for what they had done to her.
In the end Ursula had a choice, but so did Prince Triton. Prince Triton let fear of what could happen and shame of where she came from, prevent him from treating her like a step sister. Ursula decided to believe her mother and gave into all the hurt feelings of being different. She focused on all the wrongs she had experienced and punished everyone she could for her own experiences. She never could forgive Triton for rejecting their friendship and wanted to destroy him for the hurt he caused her.
Haven't you ever noticed that there are moments when Ariel herself resembles Ursula? It's her Half-Aunt and the facial expressions must come from dear old Grandpa Neandro.
Nice. Gotta love a complicated back story :)
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