Happy Ending
In the final scene, Ariel and Eric are seen kissing on their wedding day. Both humans and merpeople turn out for the wedding, Sebastian escapes Louis again, and Triton accepts Eric as a part of the family.
Sad Version
Ariel is faced with an inherently unjust universe, where her love for the Prince and her wish to gain an immortal soul have a chance only through terrible sacrifices, privations and risks. Although Ariel has demonstrated over and over again by her courage, compassion and noble sacrifice, that her unconditional love for the Prince has failed ultimately. Ariel dies after throwing herself back into the ocean, dissolving into foam on the water, becoming a spirit of the air.
