Hello Everyone! This is my first time writing a South Park fic and why not make your first time a Little Mermaid AU. As of recent I have been rewatching Mermaid Melody and with the adorable creek episode that just aired a few weeks ago I could not help but be inspired to write this small story. This little tale will contain elements from several different Little Mermaid retellings as well as a bit from the original tale and my own silly ideas. I hope you enjoy this silly little romance story of mine.
Disclaimer: I do not own South Park nor do I own The Little Mermaid.
Chapter 1
Eyes Like the Night Sky
Once upon a time a there was a beautiful castle that sat upon a cliff overlooking the sea. The castle was carved from the most beautiful marble with large magnificent towers that stretched high into the starry night sky. From the tallest tower one could look out past the cove and into the open ocean. The windows of the towers were large and open, allowing the cool sea breeze to fill the castle's halls. Long winding marble stairs led from the castle's fragrant courtyard right to the ocean's shore. At the highest tides, the ocean's waves would kiss the cool marble steps and gave the feel that they lead right into the sea itself.
The castle was the summer home of King Tucker, his beautiful Queen and his two children, Prince Craig and little Princess Ruby. The tallest tower of the castle belonged to the eldest of the two siblings, Prince Craig. Craig would spend many a night looking through his telescope up at the starry night sky but on nights when the moon was particularly bright and the stars were hard to see, he would use his telescope to look out over the calm ocean. He would sometimes wonder what could possibly be lurking under the ocean's lulling waves. Perhaps dolphins or maybe even giant squid, but what the young prince didn't know was that not too far from shore sat a kingdom full of life and magic.
Unbeknownst to any human living in the village surrounding the castle, there sat a large flourishing undersea kingdom. The magical kingdom sat past the wave break and beyond the cluster of large rocks that protruded from the ocean's surface. Once out past the drop off, if one swam only a few meters they would come across the most magnificent sight. A large castle made of pearls and sparkling shells shone like a rainbow in deep ocean. Surrounding the castle were smaller structures not too different from the homes of the humans on the land above, except these houses were made of shells and sea sparkling sea stone. An enchanting rainbow glow radiated from the kingdom.
One would think that the humans in the surrounding area must know of this under sea kingdom, with it being so large and grand, but the kingdom was protected from the human eye with magic. For every citizen of this kingdom contributed a small amount of magic every day to protecting it from the humans, as well as any other magical sea threats. This fair kingdom was inhabited by none other than the legendary Merfolk. Mermaids and Mermen swam the streets of the glowing kingdom, for it was their enchanting mersongs that protected the kingdom from danger and gave it its heaven like glow.
On most full moon nights, young Prince Craig would look out over the sea right where the kingdom lay, but saw nothing for he was a human. On this particular moonlit night, the prince was nowhere to be seen for he and his family were off celebrating.
This night, the sea was still allowing the bright moon to cast a yellow-white glow upon its surface. A small splashing sound could be heard from the cluster of rocks at the cove's entrance. If Craig had been at his window and peering through his telescope, he could have seen a sight he would not believe, for a small golden-haired merboy pulled himself from the sea onto a flat rock.
The small merboy, looking to be no older than 9, twitched anxiously as he settled onto the flat rock. He pulled his sparkling teal tail as far out of the water as he could as he shifted so his back faced the castle. His bright green eyes reflected the moon as he gazed out over the the vast ocean. He held his breath as if he expected something to jump out and grab him. A small rogue wave splashed against a nearby rock causing the merchild to release a rather long "GAH!"
The boy looked to the offending rock, his bright green eyes grew wide with anxiety as he waited for the worst to happen. What that might be only the young merboy knew. After a few seconds of nothing, the boy relaxed ever so slightly.
"It's okay, Tweek," the boy croaked in a high squeaky voice. "I think you've lost them."
Tweek looked around the surrounding rocks one last time to be sure he was truly alone. Though still nervous, he was not too surprised that not a single one of his bullies had followed him so close to shore. Tweek knew better than any merperson that the shore was a dangerous place to be, for humans were known to capture and kill merfolk, or so Tweek parents had warned.
To Tweek, it did not matter where he was, whether it be on land or in the sea he felt as if everything was trying to kill him. In the kingdom he was tormented by bullies for being so small and twitchy, the open sea was full of things that wanted to eat him and Tweek didn't even want to know what dangers the land held. Here among the large rocks, Tweek was able to seek refuge. His bullies were afraid of the surface, large sea creatures were unable to wind through the rocks and they protected him from the wandering eyes of humans, or so Tweek thought.
Tweek often came to these rocks to relax and meditate. It was one of the only places he truly felt he could let some of his guard down. As the moments passed, Tweek relaxed and his twitching subsided. The fluke of his teal tail lazily splashed in the water as he enjoyed the warm summer sea breeze. The bright full moon shone down on the now relaxed merboy like a spotlight. Taken in by the beauty of the moment, Tweek began to sing.
Like all merfolk, Tweek sang like an enchanting bell. His song had not words but the message was understood nonetheless. His small voice harmonized perfectly with the sound of the ocean. As he sang, a small pearl that hung from a chain around his neck began to glow. It glowed a calming teal light that matched his tail. As Tweek gave in more to the ocean's song, the scales on his tail sparkled like glitter in the moonlight.
All merfolk carried a song of the ocean in their hearts as well as a pearl around their necks, and when they sang and their pearl glowed they were able to access their mermagic. Tweek's particular magic was that of healing. Whenever Tweek came to this rock, he would sing and could feel his fears melt away.
On this particular night, Tweek's sweet song held much sorrow, for he was a very lonely merchild. He had no friends, for no one wanted to hang around a small twitchy freak such as himself. As he sang, Tweek wished for nothing more than a friend who could like him regardless of his anxious disposition.
His voice grew stronger and stronger as his heart reached to the heavens to grant his wish. His bright green eyes shown with small tears as he sang to the moon. The notes of his sad song carried out far across the ocean and beyond the horizon.
Unnoticed by the small merboy came light notes from a wind instrument. The wind instrument blended well with Tweek's pure voice. Tweek closed his green eyes as he sang along with the instrument. As he sung his song became less lonesome and more calming and joyful. The tune he sang reminded him of a warm summer day sunbathing on his favorite rock. He felt less alone. He felt less scared and much less hopeless. He felt happy and his sweet singing voice reflected those feelings.
As Tweek's song came to an end, he opened his bright green eyes, expecting to look yet again up at the bright moon - but he was met by something much different. In front of Tweek was not the moon but a dark-eyed boy looking down at him from a small ship. Tweek's mouth hung open in shock as his green eyes grew to be as round as the moon itself. A human was looking right at him. Tweek wanted to flee but could not seem to move. He sat stunned and stiff as the dark-eyed boy looked down upon him.
The boy didn't seem nearly as frightened as Tweek. In fact, he didn't even seem to be surprised to see a merboy sitting on the rock. His calm, dark blue eyes studied Tweek with very little emotion.
Without realizing it, Tweek became lost in the other boys dark blue eyes. They reminded him of moonless nights where the stars shone the brightest in the sky. For some reason this calmed Tweek down. It was only then that Tweek had an idea that this boy looked to be around the same age as him, he was unsure though since this was his first time ever meeting a human.
Tweek studied the young human boy. He had jet black hair and pale skin. Tweek was taken aback at how handsome the mysterious boy really was. He felt his cheeks go pink as he gazed at the beautiful human in front of him. Tweek could not see how large this boy was for only the upper half of his body poked out over the boat's railing. He had the sudden need to see what the bottom half of a human looked like for he heard they did not have a tail like merfolk did.
The boy's dark blue eyes connected with Tweek's bright green gaze and something passed between the two boys. Something that caused Tweek's heart to beat in a very pleasant way. He felt the need to reach out to the human boy and take his hand.
"Why are you sitting on that rock?" the dark-eyed boy asked in a nasally voice, breaking the enchanting silence.
"Gah!" Tweek belted as he came to his senses.
The dark-haired boy didn't seem to be startled in the slightest by the outburst.
"P-please! Please don't kill me," Tweek pleaded in a shaky voice.
"I'm not going to hurt you," the boy replied, his eyes holding the slightest hint of surprise.
"B-But! The stories! Humans they… kill and… and," Tweek blabbered in an incoherent fit.
"What are you talking about?" the boy questioned. "Why would I kill you?"
"Gah!" Tweek replied, unable to answer the question.
The dark-haired boy thought for only a moment as he seemed to decide to change his tactics.
"I like your tail," the boy said as his dark eyes studied Tweek's shimmering teal tail. "I like how it shines in the moonlight and when you sing."
"Oh!" Tweek gasped in surprise. No one had ever complimented his tail before. "Um thank you," he replied as his heartbeat increased with joy. He gave his tail a few small flicks.
"I liked your singing too," the boy added, happy to see that his plan to calm the merboy was working.
"Th-thank you," Tweek said as he looked to the boy and smiled. He was happy to see that the boy was smiling back.
Then something passed between the two yet again and their smiles grew.
"Was that you playing the instrument?" Tweek asked in a less shaky voice. He felt as if he could trust this human boy.
"Oh, this old thing?" Craig said as he pulled a flute from his pocket and played a few notes.
Tweek relaxed and smiled as he enjoyed the crisp tune. It resembled the song he had just sung a moment ago.
"It's nice," Tweek unintentionally sighed aloud. He could feel the tension in his body ease up completely.
"I like that song," Craig agreed after finishing the piece. "It starts off so sad but ends on such a high note."
The two boys smiled at each other yet again. Tweek's heart gave a pleasant beat. Tweek had never encountered such a situation in his whole life. Most merfolk either ignored him or made fun how anxious he was. This is the first time anyone other than his parents had ever shown such kindness to him. Tweek felt as if the tales of humans being evil were all wrong for the boy he looked at now showed him nothing but kindness.
Tweek suddenly had the urge to join the boy on the boat. To get to know him more. To learn more about him and other humans. Without realizing it, he reached his small hand out to the dark-eyed boy. He had a desperate need to be with him, and for the first time in a long time Tweek felt safe.
"What are you doing?" the boy asked as Tweek reached toward the boat.
"Please take me with you," Tweek replied in a small voice.
"There is no way I'd be able to reach you from here," the boy pointed out, as he too reached his arm out to show his point.
"Would you even want me… Could I come stay with you?" Tweek asked in an uncertain tone as he pulled his arm back and held it to his chest. Perhaps the boy didn't really want Tweek to hang around.
The boy sat in confused silence as he gazed down upon Tweek. Tweek's tail flicked with nerves as he gazed at his tail fluke, too afraid to hear what the boy might say.
"I'd love to have you," the dark-eyed boy replied after a moment of silence. "But don't you have a family? What about your friends?" the boy questioned.
"My family won't miss me… and… I have no friends," Tweek replied in a small voice.
The boy did not reply to this. He merely looked at Tweek as Tweek hung his head low.
"You have me as a friend," the boy said after a moment of thinking.
Tweek said nothing as he looked to the boy in shock, for no one had ever asked Tweek to be their friend. The boy's expressionless gaze melted into a kind smile, causing Tweek to smile as well. Tweek's heartbeat pounded with joy.
"But, I don't know how to get you up here," the boy sighed as he looked around the boat.
Tweek felt a wave of panic brush over him, causing him to twitch. What if he could not join the boy on the boat? What if he was destined to stay glued to the ocean forever never being able to join his new friend? This thought sunk Tweek's heart and made him quiver.
"I have an idea!" the boy announced.
"What is it?" Tweek looked up to the boy hopefully.
"Why don't you just swim down deep and jump out of the water and into the ship like a dolphin?" the boy explained.
"What?!" Tweek squeaked. "Me?! Jump that high?! But I… I can't I… Gah!"
"Have you never tried to jump out of the water?" the dark-eyed boy asked calmly.
"Gah! No!" Tweek replied with a squeak as he gave his hair a small tug. The mere idea of taking flight frightened him. What if a strong wind were to blow him into the rocks?
"I think you should give it a try! It might be the only way," the boy coaxed, his voice still calm.
"No! I… I can't… I'm not a very good swimmer and what if I don't make i?t" Tweek practically shouted the last bit in terror.
"It's okay. I will reach out and grab you and pull you on board," the boy reassured.
"Gah… Oh God," Tweek gasped as he looked to his new friend. His fears melted slightly at the determination in the boy's dark eyes.
"I know you can do it," the boy proclaimed.
Tweek looked to the boy for only a moment longer before sighing a quivery "Okay."
"Don't worry. You'll be okay! I know you will," the boy reassured in his calm voice yet again.
When Tweek heard his friend's cool voice he felt as if he could indeed do it!
"Okay, here goes nothing," Tweek said as he slipped off his rock and into the water.
Tweek dove down as deep as he could, knowing he would need to gain as much speed as possible. He had seen dolphins do this many times but had never tried to breach fully out of water himself. With as much speed as his small tail could muster, he shot as fast as he could to the surface.
Surprised by his own speed, Tweek shot out of the water and up higher than the boat's rail. For the first time that night, the two boys got a good look at each other as Tweek shot up past the boy and came back down.
Time seemed to slow down as Tweek took in the handsome young boy. Their faces were only inches apart from each other. Tweek got a whiff of spice and pine as he passed close to the dark-haired boy. The boy's dark eyes were even more enchanting up close and his hair looked soft as silk. Tweek had the urge to reach out and stoke the human boy's face.
Both boys were so enamored by the other that they forgot to reach out their hands and grab onto each other. Tweek feel back into the sea with a very loud splash.
"GAH!" Tweek shrieked as he broke the surface of the water.
"Are you okay?!" the boy asked with a hint of worry in his calm voice.
"Did you see that!? Did you see how high I went?" Tweek cheered triumphantly.
"You went really high. Even higher then me!" the boy said with a nod.
"I know! I didn't make it into your ship but I didn't think I could even jump that high but I did!" Tweek gasped in joy. Never before had he felt so accomplished over something.
"Well, let's try again. One more time and I will grab onto you for sure this time and pull you into the boat," the boy coaxed, anxious to pull his new friend aboard.
Before Tweek could reply another voice came from the boat. Tweek felt his heart go cold. He had no clue other humans were on the boat.
"Craig! Craig where are you?" came the approaching voice of a woman.
"I'm over here, mom!" the dark haired boy, Craig, replied, vanishing from the side rail.
"What was the splashing sound?" the woman asked in a sharp tone.
Tweek pressed his body to the boat's side in an attempt to hide himself in its shadows. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to stay with the boy, Craig, longer but wasn't ready for other humans to interact with him. What if this other human was not as kind as Craig was?
"Craig, a young prince such as yourself should not be running off like this" the woman scolded.
"Prince?" Tweek whispered to himself.
"Mom! I'm just talking to my new friend," Tweek heard Craig explain.
Tweek heard the woman's angry footsteps approaching their side of the boat. His body tensed up. He couldn't bring himself to face someone who sounded so aggressive. With a panicked "Gah!" Tweek dived deep into the water.
When Craig and his mother looked over the rail's edge into the sea, they were met by nothing but the moon's reflection on the water.
"No, he was here," Craig mumbled to himself as his dark blue eyes searched the flat rock and the surrounding ocean.
"What are you going on about, Craig?" his mother signed as she attempted to lead her son away from the rail.
"No! There was a golden-haired boy on that rock! He was singing. I was going to help him onto the ship," Craig explained as he stubbornly looked over the rail's edge.
His mother searched him for a moment, surprised to see her normally calm son show so much emotion.
"Listen, Craig," she began as she crouched down to his level. "I know you are not a fan of large crowds but it is your duty as the prince to attend royal events, and no outlandish story is going to get you out of it."
With that, she began to lead her son away from the railing. Craig struggled against her pull in an attempt to search for the golden-haired merboy he so desperately wanted to see again, but to no avail. The young prince was dragged to the party.
Moments later, Tweek surfaced yet again in hopes that Craig was still there. To his dismay the railing was left empty and lonely.
"Craig! Prince Craig! Are you there?" Tweek called. His heart sank when he didn't get a reply.
Leaning against the ship's side, Tweek let loose a sad sigh. Perhaps he should not have run away when the lady came. Maybe she would have allowed him on the boat and not have killed him.
Tweek closed his eyes and imagined the dark, dreamy eyes of the human boy he had just met moments ago.
"Prince Craig, I'll be waiting here for you," Tweek whispered with a smile as a light dusting of pink graced his cheeks.
….
I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter! It was really fun to write. I personally love any sort of mermaid AU so I am very excited to write this. I have been wanting to write a creek fic for about a year now and have finally been inspired to do so.
As for the song Tweek sings I decided not to make it any specific song so that you, the reader, can insert whatever song you wish. I will post a link here to the song I like to imagine. It is from the anime Mermaid Melody the songs name is Beautiful Wish ( watch?v=1ozV84f3zwo). Just in case any of you were wondering. I recommend listening to the song from the anime but be warned that you may come across spoilers for the anime in the process.
As of now it seems like this fic will be about 8 to 9 chapters or maybe a bit more or less depending on how much I write per a chapter. It's hard to say. I have the whole story outlined and the first few chapters have been written and are in the process of editing and such. I hope to get a chapter out about once a week to every other week depending on what life allows.
I would like to thank my beta reader, Teenage Mouse. If it were not for her than this whole thing would be nonsensical mess and hard to read. I am horrible with grammar. Please, if you have free time swim on over to her page and check out her work.
I would love to hear from you, my readers, so please leave a review and let me what you think so far of this story. Also, please feel free to leave any other type of comment positive or negative. I am always looking to improve my writing. You can also reach me on Tumblr if you'd rather not post here. My name is pastaprincess.
Thats is all for now. See you all next chapter.