Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-15247275-20130824021144/@comment-6175354-20130902161451

ShadowLian wrote: I think it's confirmed that she will appear in Neverland because it was said that she is not like the other mermaids living in Neverland (that we'll meet in episode 1 I think). While Ariel will debut in Neverland, she is probably not  a Neverland mermaid.

I think, Ariel is actually native to the Enchanted Forest. She somehow ended up in Neverland, instead of Storybrooke. It would explain why Ariel is so different from the other mermaids, and how she met Prince Eric.