Trying to stand, when you're being constantly beaten down, try to talk, and they cut your tongue, trying to cry, but there are no tears. This was the life of a dragon in captivity. It was a cruel life, and it was usually short lived. Most dragons in captivity don't die of abuse, they die of loneliness, so it was a surprise to CrystalEyes when she learned she had a visitor.

CrytalEye's prison sat at the bottom of the ocean, far away from any type of civilization. She could not breather underwater and rather a quicker death, that blasted King Triton decided to create an underwater prison filled with air just to keep her alive. She was chained by the neck to a large post, like some sort of land animal. What did they think she was going to do? Jump into the ocean and try to swim to the surface, killing herself and her unborn chick in the process?

Crystal carried herself to the edge of the prison and began to moan a low tune hoping it to reach one of her cousins, while waiting for her "Visitor to show up". Surely it was not one of her cousins, Triton would have them put into captivity too.

"Dragon!" A guard yelled at her. Dragon, the name was an insult to her. A dragon was the equivalent of a monster in their eyes and she was no monster. She did not turn, nor did she stop humming her song. "Dragon!" The guard growled in warning. Crystal turned her blank, uncaring eyes to him. "Don't try anything funny." The brown haired guard turned and his voice became softer, more polite. "Right this way, Princess Ariel." The guard lifted up a, breathtaking, beautiful, woman with fiery red hair, and eyes as blue as the sea itself.

The woman nodded to the guard, after trading her green fins for her legs. "Thank you Rodrick, I can take care of myself from here."

"But Princess, the beast-"

"Can't do anything to me in her state."

"But your father-"

"My father still thinks of me as if I'm a little girl. I am not a little girl, I know what I'm risking if I do this. Please don't tell him Rodrick!" The woman pleaded. Crystal watched closely as Rodrick fumbled with his hands in a nervous manner. "I promise not to breathe a word to my father."

The guard gave up and sighed. "I'll be within calling distance." and with that, the guard swam away reluctantly and the fiery woman turned to the dragon queen.

"Um, hello..." Ariel let the sentence hang. She wasn't sure how to address the large creature standing before her and it had been the first time she had ever seen something so amazing in proportion. The great dragon looked at her with steel grey eyes and suddenly, without warning, the dragon began to change.

Soon, there was a thin woman, with a round belly standing in front of the princess. The woman had long silky, platinum colored hair and the same silver eyes as the dragon. Her face showed puzzlement and slight annoyance. "Why are you here?" It was hard for her to talk. Her tongue was still scarred from all the cutting. "Can you not let me die in peace?"

Ariel was silent as her eyes were drawn to the dragon's rounded stomach, and she placed a delicate hand on her own belly. "You're pregnant?"

The thin woman quickly brought her hands to her stomach in a protective fashion, though she knew there was no danger besides starving. "So are you. But yours will live and mine will not."

"Yours will not?"

Crystal resisted the urge to be impolite and rubbed her stomach soothingly as she felt her chick kick. "It will die with me here. I am not close to nine months, and if it was to be born here, it would have not survived. You are lucky. You will get to see how your child will grow, and support her every step of the way."

Ariel was horrified. How could her father imprison a pregnant dragon and expect it to die along with the baby? She knew the answer. She could practically here him saying 'Good! One less monster in the world!'

CrystalEyes stared at the woman before her. She seemed familiar. "I answered your questions. Now answer mine. Who are you and why are you here?"

Ariel smiled. "My name is Ariel Anderson, Queen of Shireland, and youngest princess of Atlantica. I came here because... well I was curious."

"About what?"

"How dragons were really like."

CrystalEyes frowned. " Do not call us dragons!" Ariel backed up in surprise.

"What's wrong with that?"

"Dragons is a term used by all the other species, to single us out as "Beasts" or "Monsters". I have never heard of a monstrous Maisha, in the long time I have lived. That is what we are. Maishas." Crystal announced prideful. She loved her family and absolutely hated it when other species looked down on them.

Ariel was fasinated. Her father had told her dragons were unintelligent creatures who only destroyed. "Maisha, may I ask you name?"

"My name is CrystalEyes, one of the Memoli of the Maishas." The woman with pale hair explained. Ariel smiled.

"Pleasure to meet you CrystalEyes. I'm afraid I have over stayed my visit and must be going soon. I hope to see you soon." Ariel turned and was grabbed by the arm. CrystalEyes looked at her with hopeful eyes.

"You will come again, yes?" She was afraid of being alone again. It was one of the saddest things, to be a Maisha and not having a companion.

Ariel nodded. "I promise." And maybe I could get you out, she added to herself.

Over the next month, Ariel kept her promise, visiting CrystalEyes and telling her stories to keep the dying dragon occupied. She thought every night of how to convince her father to let her go, and as each day passed, Crystal grew weaker and weaker, barely being able to feed herself and keep her unborn chick satisfied as well. Soon, it became Crystal's last day.

The Queen of Shireland stepped onto the floor of the prison, expecting so her friend happily waiting patiently as usual. Instead, she was completely grief stricken when she saw the thin shape of the Maisha curled up in a corner. The malnourished woman was hugging herself as she stared blankly ahead.

On closer inspection, Ariel noticed that Crystal bore many bruises and blood trickled down the side of her mouth. She quickly rushed to the dragon's side. "Crystal!"

The dragon looked up with a small smile, but she could not speak. Her tongue was severed earlier that day, so she could no longer speak, nor sing to any passing life form. Ariel quietly cleaned Crystal's wounds, in anger. How could the guards do that? To hurt any creature was horrible, but to hurt and starve a pregnant soon-to-be mother, that was unforgivable.

The Queen stopped. Perhaps it was also her fault. She did not tell her father in time and now her friend was suffering the consequences. "I am so sorry Crystal..." Ariel hugged the woman. "So sorry."

Crystal gently pulled away and began to write in the dirt of the prison floor. "May I ask for a last request?" the message read.

Ariel nodded. "Y-yes, you may."

The Maisha hesitated before writing again. "Can you make sure my chick lives?"

"How could I do that?" Ariel asked quietly. She would not deny the request, she felt like it was her duty to help out the unborn dragon child. She watched quietly as the dragon quickly wrote in the dirt.

"It is a simple transfer of the fetus. It is only used as a last resort for Maishas, but it is possible for us to give our unborn children to others to ensure its safety. It will not harm your existing child, but the two would be considered twins... If you should take on this responsibility..." Crystal looked up, uncertain.

Ariel pondered this for a while. She wondered how her husband would feel... He would not expect two babies, but it could be a surprise. Before she could make the decision, Crystal pointed back to the ground where a new message waited.

"If you do agree, just know that in the future, when the time comes, she will have to go back to her home..."

The mermaid princess was faced with a hard decision. If she agreed and had the child of the Maisha, and got attached, then how could she ever give it away? Then again, it was a chance to keep it alive. She looked at CrystalEyes, who was writing another message.

"It is a hard decision. I will not be angry if you chose not to."

Ariel shook her head at this and smiled. "No, no it's alright. I'll do it." Crystal returned the smile.

Soon, Ariel found herself lying on the floor with Crystal's hands placed on her head and stomach. Crystal told her the transfer was a short process, involving a short spell on Crystal's part.

CrystalEyes concentrated with all her might. If she mis-hummed a single tune, the chick's life could be in jeopardy. In either case Ariel would have been fine. Ignoring her thoughts, the Maisha began to hum a lovely tune. It was a short tune, and when it was finished, Ariel's stomach began to glow with a brilliant light.

The Queen was amazed by the light, however as the light grew brighter, she grew fainter. Just before she passed out, she heard Crystal's voice.

"Thank You"

Personal Bubble

I'M NOT DEAD!

*clears throat* Sorry about that. Actually, I'm terribly sorry that I haven't been on story duty since Summer. Today is the day after Christmas, I hope you all had a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Anywayz, if you're wondering what this is all about, I've decide to rewrite Misunderstood Melodies. I've decided to change a couple of things as you will soon witness. I recognized that the story previous was not exactly organized. I hope I can really get it right this time, and I hope to have a Spark of insanity very soon.

*WARNING*

Since this is a newer version, there will be characters cut... or new characters created, in either case, I hope I don't become a target of bloodthristy Zombie Librarians... HAVE A GOOD DAY!

ps.

I hope I'll get another chapter out by this week.

pps.

Does anyone know what Maisha means?