The newest fic, "Beauty and the Klingon", should give a hint as to what classic tale parallels and crosses with Deep Space 9. :) The show itself provides mere inspiration, so overall this new story will be mostly fantasy elements in comparison to the believable sci-fi of the show as we all know. Worf and Jadzia Dax's relationship won't change much, but there is no telling just yet - even on my part. This is a refreshing and exciting challenge for me, and for all of you.

There has been various fanart that has the couple in "Beauty and the Beast" format, and I never thought of it until discovering it with the help of friends. When I did, the idea dawned on me and became so irresistible that I could not avoid it. To do one of my favorite couples in this format is a dream, and "Beauty and the Beast" never gets old no matter how much time goes on. There will be twists and turns on the way, no spoilers. ;)

I rarely do first person point of view, but the story is told in Jadzia's voice.

Disclaimer: NONE of Star Trek DS9 and the characters belong to me.

Chapter One

Pale Grass Blue

I am Jadzia Idaris, and I have accomplished so much in my life.

I spent my entire life on Trill and just wanted to do something with my life. I was so young when I first learned about the fascinating discovery of my people being joined to these...symbionts which latched onto a host and helped wisen that being, before that host's life came to an end and the symbiont would be passed onto a new host, carrying on years of experience for the next "young" one. Two functioning as one - it aroused my excitement to no end. To wonder what it would be like to actually be joined!

In school, as I was first exposed to this subject by my teachers, I can recall childish excitement at being made better and smarter by this "worm in the belly" - until I was told by my instructors that it would not be easy to be handed to you just like that. You have to get years of training, from early to mid-twenties years of age. Trill lifespans are the same as humans, but that is another story. The point was, you have to spend a lot of time learning and training to show the Symbiosis Commission that you are capable of becoming a host to a symbiont.

In high school years, I began to learn everything I could in school, put my studies above everything including my personal and social life - I never had a boyfriend, either, despite being persuaded to be set up with anyone my friends and family would place me in front of. Boys are not important as what you wanted to do with your life.

I was one of the top students and won many scholarships, much to the appraisal and pride of my instructors and my family. I was accepted into Starfleet Academy because I held passionate interest in scientific studies - primarily astrophysics, exobiology, zoology and others. Soon I will be joined after graduation, applying to the Commission and awaiting word on who would be the one to see if I am suitable for the symbiont - but when I did, the man who would supervise me for the next two weeks would be the one to change my entire life.

~o~

Silvery blue glinted off wings of the birds, soaring amid the cloudless sky and the sun, symbolizing the irony of my situation. The wind wasn't even blowing. Today would be my last day on this planet which I had been born and grown up, fought long and hard -

- and just for the moment, all I wanted to do was enjoy nature and stay out here all day.

I was given permission to have one week home with my family before I was gone for good. I had just graduated Starfleet Academy with the rank of Ensign, but not much longer. Depending on how I would go through the Initiation Program, I may get a promotion to lieutenant once I returned to work in the field. All my degrees were set, my career getting into place, and my application to the Commission has been accepted, so I couldn't be any more excited than I was now.

Or should I say, excited and nervous? I had every reason to be because all my life I waited and worked hard for this, and I have no idea what to expect given outside classroom in youth was nothing compared to what really awaited me out in the universe.

I breathed the smell of the air, of the flowers and wildlife, then allowed myself to fall back onto the grass to let myself be blinded by the sun. My uniform was abandoned for now, replaced with a loose cotton dress of light pink, hanging off my body, and my long raven hair was left wild; I rarely let my hair down, because it always got in my way. Beneath, I was devoid of underwear because I wanted to breath. Closing my eyes, I inhaled through my nose and spread my limbs out on either side. Now, I felt the wind pick up, and the fabric slightly lifted off my body to caress my skin. My breasts chilled until the peaks turned hard, and the apex of my legs sensitized and throbbed because it was allowed to inhale the oxygen...

"Jadzia!"

I jolted upwards, the back of my head and neck warm and swirling with my billowing mane now as I looked around, blinking away the whiteness until I saw the familiar face of my little sister who was like my best friend. Ziranne was striving to become an artist, having been accepted into the best art school. When we were children, we always did each other's homework. However despite our age differences, I knew I was the more shy one than she ever was.

"I thought I'd find you here," Ziranne said as she plopped herself down beside me. "I wanted to know if you wanted to head to the Baths today."

I couldn't help but laugh. The Hoobishan Baths I was often dragged to from my studies in teenage years, and while I enjoyed them, I knew I had to get back to work. Time and time again I'd be pressured to focus on life instead of pleasure, but how insane could you get when you work too much? I have learned the hard way, but there's always more to come.

Seeing the look on my face, my sister quickly changed the topic. "Or better yet, we'll head down to the beach, watch the water turn purple when the sun goes down..."

Trill was known to have oceans all over, and from space, the purple could be seen in the water. I'd had a glimpse myself upon coming home and realizing how beautiful it was from space as it was on land. I had one more day and then tomorrow I would be at the Commission to meet with whoever my field docent would be, so I wanted it to be worth it. "No," I said, "let's hit the Baths." Nothing but a good old massage and a dip into the pool, to indulge and pass out only to wake up and head to the transport.

We were in our suits and wraps in no time, just looking to have fun for today. Soon I would be off to get one more thing I wanted, and let's see how my baby sister would fare with hers. She was smart, but she wasn't as...ambitious as I was. We were both raised by our father Kela after he and Mother divorced, although our uncle was the one we spent the majority with.

We were led into one of the many rooms, where steam was blowing, and it was just us girls to enjoy the privacy - or so we both thought.

"Well, young ladies. I thought I'd have this alone for the day."

Ziranne and I were startled together by the voice of a man in the room. We'd had thought we would be alone. But as soon as the steam cleared, there was a man of elderly years. Judging by the looks of him, he was one of us, for he had the darker, larger spots of the male side of our people. He had white hair, a nicely wizened face and a charming smile - but the look in his eyes made me feel a little unnerved, but I couldn't look at my sister to see if she was feeling the same.

"Well," I said nervously, clasping my hands together, "I'm off to the Symbiosis Commission tomorrow, so we are spending today here before I leave."

"Ah." He chuckled. "A newcomer, eh?"

He was being polite and curious, but something about him was beginning to set me off. I didn't quite feel...comfortable. A part of me wanted to bring my sister out of here, but I could see he wasn't a predator of any form. "I'm going to be," I answered; upon feeling Ziranne's hand on my arm, I looked down at her.

"Jadzia, I think we should leave," she whispered harshly, but the man heard her.

"Relax, my dear. I'm not going to harm either of you."

Now that I was looking at him closely, some part of my mind was nagging that I had seen him somewhere. I KNOW I did, because there was nothing I never did research on. "Then who are you?" I asked carefully, pulling my wrap around myself more tightly and suddenly feeling vulnerable.

He smiled. He was sitting across the room from us, steam hissing upwards and thickening only to soften again. "You girls don't recognize me?" he questioned, still overtly polite. He then laughed. "I'm Curzon Dax, the man who secured the peace between the Federation and the Klingons."

I don't even know how to describe what I was feeling next, nor did I know what to think, but I knew one thing for sure: I was overwhelmed and suddenly intimidated more than ever now that I'd met the legendary ambassador to the Klingon Empire, the man who spent more time with the former enemies of the Federation and secured the bridge to peace.

~o~

I am not sure if I have the smartest words to describe how I felt when I met with the Symbiosis Commission Council and looked them all in the eyes, seeing the stern eyes and emotionless faces of the ones who beheld me as they did other initiates before me, and more to follow my turn. I, Jadzia Idaris, was more nervous than I could remember, but I also knew I had to be strong. I always liked being challenged, but maybe I could be taking it too far.

This was where I would spend the majority of the program and my training. Passion and dedication, nothing else; that was all that was required of me, and I was determined more than ever to do whatever it took to succeed. And if anyone is wondering the identity of the host of the symbiont I was a candidate to join -

Curzon Dax.

I couldn't believe it, as I did my best to contain my excitement as I was told who the field docent was. Of all places I first met the notorious representative, it was at the Hoobishan Baths where he had been taking a break himself. Such powerful men could have the time they wanted for activities like that. Now that I thought of it, maybe I should feel more awkward than ever, but hopefully it would change as I would get to know him over the two-week course I would have with him soon.

I was dismissed from the circle afterwards, feeling the weight leave momentarily only to return as I found myself face-to-face with the man himself. Dax looked me down again, this time with a friendly smile that soon changed to an expression no different than the council members of the Commission. "Jadzia."

"Ambassador Dax," I answered, happy my voice remained steady, and then he chuckled. His swings were making me baffled by the second.

"You can call me Curzon, dear."

To say his name made me feel a little more friendly, but I still had no idea what was in store for me. "Curzon," I answered, "when do we begin?"

His hand came over to rest on my shoulder. Some of my hair which was held back was brushed by his finger, and briefly made in contact with the skin of my neck. The sensation made me shiver a bit. "Very soon," he answered, "but it won't be child's play for you, little girl. This journey will prove to be even more difficult than you may think. You've had my interest since yesterday, but it's only just begun. You have yet to prove to me you truly are capable of one day becoming Jadzia Dax."

From here on, each chapter and their content is named after and inspired by songs of one of my favorite artists, Enya. Just like one of my Re-Animator fics, "Bleeding Rose", had chapters all named after and inspired by Evanescence songs. :)

The information about Jadzia's family came from "Nine Lives of Dax" as well as talking to friends and fellow fans of Jadzia. Since she is un-joined as of now, she's the shy and studious one mildly different from the one we know from the show. As we know from "Facets" near the end of season 3, Curzon really did intimidate her, but she also did look up to him as a teacher, never knowing until when he was joined with Odo why he washed her from the initiation program. Their relationship is going to be explored more in here, with elements of the show as I said before.

Reviews one hundred and ten percent appreciated over the course. :)