Note: Swan Lake and Haven belong to the people who created them, not me.
I apologize in advance if the characters are too OOC that they become obnoxious
Otter Pond
Prologue: The Twist in the Tail
In the kingdom of Haven, there is a body of water called Rouge Pond. Dwelling in Rouge Pond, is magical female spirit who goes by various of names, but recently she calls herself Charlotte. Many people have searched for Rouge Pond to gain the power of the magical spirit, but so far, no one has been able to locate it.
Then one day, a young prince named Duke found Rouge Pond.
(Author's Note: Yes, it is unusual to name a prince Duke, but the reason his parents gave him that name is because . . . . . . shut up)
Duke came from the Crocker royal family line, who ruled the Silver Eyes Estate and its lands. Duke tried to tell his family about his discovery, but his father, Simon, didn't believe him, and beat Duke badly. When Charlotte next saw Duke and noticed his injuries, she healed his wounds. She told Duke from now on only to tell people who he trust and will not abuse her power the location of Rouge Pond. In return, she'll bless him with gifts. Duke agreed, and protected and maintained Rouge Pond. The first gift Charlotte bestowed upon Duke was the ability to communicate and understand animals, and Duke soon befriended many creatures.
Over the years, Duke kept his promise and Charlotte blessed him with prosperity and luck. Simon and his wife soon passed and all of his siblings moved away, leaving Duke with the Silver Eyes Estate.
Which brings us to today . . .
Duke was caught off guard when a large paw slapped him to the ground. He turned over and saw a Sasquatch Bear standing on his hind legs.
(Author's Note: The Sasquatch Bear is a native animal in the kingdom of Haven. It looks like a cross between a Grizzly Bear and a Kodiak Bear)
Duke rolled his eyes as the bear went back on all fours.
"Don't do that, Dwight. You almost broke my gift to Charlotte," Duke complained as he dusted himself off and reached for his knapsack. The bear chuckled.
"Sorry; couldn't help myself," Dwight said.
Just as Duke was about to get up, a northern ribbon snake slithered up his body and coiled itself around his neck.
"What'sssss up?" the snake asked, his tongue tickling Duke's ear, causing him to smile. Duke carefully unwrap the snake from his neck and placed him on the ground.
"I'm good, Tommy, and before you ask, yes, I brought presents for everyone," Duke said and quickly glanced at Dwight. "Except maybe I should give Dwight's gift to you, since he decided to be rude."
"Oh, come on," Dwight griped, trying to look pitiful. Duke smiled again as he stood up.
"I'll think about it," Duke said and headed to Rouge Pond. Dwight and Tommy followed him.
When Duke was about a foot away from Rouge Pond, he stopped, knelt down, and began unpacking his knapsack. A female wood duck swam up to shore and waddled over to Duke.
"Hello, Duke," she politely greeted in a friendly tone. Duke looked at the duck and smiled.
"Hi, Claire," Duke said and gently stroke the feathers on her head. He then got out a small container and opened it. "I brought your favorite seeds."
Duke had to chuckle as Claire cheered and gobbled up the seeds after she thanked him. He then noticed Tommy sitting up.
"I got a surprise for you," Duke said, getting out a small box and opened it on the ground, "salamanders."
"All right; come to papa," Tommy said as he hunted the salamanders escaping the box. Duke looked back to see Dwight still trying to look pitiful.
"I forgive you, Dwight," Duke said and unwrap an uncooked turkey covered in jam. "Enjoy."
Dwight expressed his gratitude before dragging the turkey off and eating it, while Duke chuckled. He then brought himself and his knapsack closer to Rouge Pond. Duke dipped his fingers into the water and watched the ripples spread. A tall thin fountain sprouted from the middle of the pond as Duke removed his fingers. The fountain slowly lowered back into the water, revealing a dark-haired woman, wearing a black dress. She smiled when she saw Duke.
"Hello, Duke," Charlotte said. "You look good."
"Thank you," Duke answered, smiling back.
"I have a feeling you got me something today."
"I did," Duke said, taking out a glass jar filled with water, with some kind of life forms swimming inside. "I got sources who said the mosquito population is going to be bad this season, so I found some dragonfly larvae for Rouge Pond."
"Duke, this is a wonderful gift," Charlotte said, as he transferred the dragonfly larvae into the pond. "To express my thanks, I will bestow a blessing upon you."
Duke replaced the jar and stood up, thinking over what Charlotte said.
"Actually, I can't come up with anything right now," Duke admitted. "Can I wait until another time?"
"Of course," Charlotte said, "until we meet again."
The fountain rose, covering Charlotte, and when the water sunk down back into the pond, Charlotte was gone. Duke said good-bye to his animal friends as he returned to his estate.
"I'm back," Duke announced, as he entered the kitchen, and the servants looked at him.
"Sir, I know it's not my place to say, but you're late," an older woman scolded.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry," Duke said in an apologetic tone, as he placed his knapsack down. "Dwight decided to have some fun."
"The bear isn't our issue," another servant said, walking up to Duke. "Do you know how many times mother and I had to rearrange our schedule for you?"
"What if I offered next week off for you and Eleanor?" Duke cajoled. "Will you forgive me now, Julia?"
Julia signed.
"You're an odd man to work for, Duke," Julia said, making him smile. "You have a good heart, but you're still odd."
"All right, enough hassling, Julia," Eleanor said. "It's time for his cooking lesson."
Duke remained smiling as he listened to Eleanor's and Julia's instructions.
Duke was different from the other nobles. He treated his servants like equals, not some lower form of life. He didn't mind having them talk back or share their opinion. Duke even asked them to teach him basic life lessons, like cooking and cleaning, something that most Crockers would never dream of doing. He did inform the servants about his animal friends and Rouge Pond, but he never shared its location, and they respected his decision . . . well . . . Julia was a little annoyed, but she still respected him.
A few days later, Duke was busy in his office when one of his servants, Jess, entered.
"Excuse the interruption, sir," she said. "But . . . Lord Wade is here."
"What?!" Duke stood up hearing this and walked over to Jess.
Wade is Duke's estranged half-brother. Years ago, they got into an argument on how to rule the family's lands. Irritated with Duke's ideas, Wade left to find his own land to govern.
"Yes, sir," Jess responded. ". . . And he's brought an army."
Duke rolled his eyes; just like Wade to overreact.
"Look, just tell Wade to meet me in the middle, he'll know what I mean, but that army stays outside," Duke said. Jess nodded and left to relay the message.
Duke remained his office for a few minutes to get himself mentally prepared to talk to Wade. Soon he entered the room where he found Wade and a figure wearing a brown rode, with the hood up, hiding the face.
"Wade," Duke just said, and looked at the hooded figure. "I said to leave your army outside."
"Arla is not part of my army. She's . . . an associate of mine," Wade said. "We need to restore the Crocker's might, Duke."
"No, we don't," Duke quickly replied. Wade sighed in frustration.
"It is obvious you don't care; dressing like a peasant, giving away our lands," Wade said. "Our name used to strike fear into people's hearts. We must live up to the Crocker motto."
"Actually, our family motto is: 'Omnia Vincit Amor,'" Duke said with a tiny smile. "'Love Conquers All.' I don't see how you get fear and intimation from that."
"I'll get straight to the point," Wade said. "We need you to summon the Spirit of Rouge Pond."
Duke frowned. "I thought you didn't believe me."
"It was just an act to appease Father," Wade said. "Arla knows how to find it, but she said the Spirit will only respond to the one she trusts and cares for, which turns out to you, Duke."
"Look, Wade, I feel sorry for you," Duke said, trying to hold in his laughter. "I thought you were smart enough not to get swindled by—"
"Just think, Duke," Wade said. "With the power of the Spirit at our command, we could conquer nations, have riches, be kings!"
"Not into that," Duke replied with a carefree tone.
Wade shoved Duke against a wall and pointed his sword close to Duke's neck.
"Wait," Arla said, lowering Wade's sword. "You cannot kill him. The Spirit will know if he is murdered, and will not bond to his murderer. If he must die, his own body must fail him, by natural . . . or unnatural means."
"Then what do you suggest?" Wade asked, still holding on to Duke.
"Something more . . . creative," Arla said, and motioned Wade to step aside, who complied and removed his hand from Duke. She looked at Duke straight in his eyes. "Wade tells me you're quite the ladies' man."
Before Duke could react, Arla raised a hand and made a fist. Duke fell to his knees, screaming, as he felt the pain of some force squeezing his heart. Arla unclenched her hand slowly, and the pain in Duke's chest soon faded. He looked up at her.
"What . . .?" he gasped out.
"Just a curse," Arla casually said. "The next woman who breaks your heart, your heart will break apart . . . for real."
Duke stood up, stupefied, as Wade grinned, pleased.
"Call it . . . motivation to summon the Spirit of Rouge Pond for us," Arla said and went over to Wade. "Let us wait outside and give him time to think."
"Stop!" Duke yelled, as Wade and Arla walked away. "Get rid of it!"
The two paused, and Arla turned around. "You do not have the authority to command me, Duke."
"Hey!" Duke shouted, as Wade and Arla began leaving again. He raced over and tried to get Arla. "Remove this curse!"
When Duke grabbed Arla's cloak, he pulled down the hood, hard, ripping the fabric. Duke stopped, because what he sensed in his hand felt like something else besides fabric. What he held in his hand felt like . . . flesh?
He looked down to see in his hand a torn piece of cloth and a thin layer of skin, the size of a napkin.
Disgusted and appalled, Duke dropped the . . . things in his hand and looked at Arla, now without her hood up. Arla turned around to face him, furious. Arla had pale blonde hair, dull blue eyes, and her skin . . . was sown together, like a patchwork quilt. A good-sized section of the inside of her cheek was exposed where Duke ripped off her skin. Wade looked . . . somewhat shocked, as if he knew what Arla really looked like. Arla screamed.
"You have no . . . right!" she screamed, glaring at Duke. "You need to learn your place!"
Arla waved her hand, and once again, Duke fell to the ground, screaming, as his insides crawled with pain.
"What are you doing to him?" Wade asked, not out of concerned for his brother; he didn't want Duke to be unable to summon the spirit.
"Aren't you curious how Duke is going to charm the ladies, if he no longer looks . . . human?" Arla said, and Wade grinned, liking the idea.
Duke knew he had to escape and get to Charlotte to lift both curses before Arla finished her spell. Lucky for Duke, while Wade was gone, he made some revisions to Silver Eyes Estate, creating many secret compartments and hidden passageways, in case of an emergency; one of those passageways was located in this room.
Duke rolled around on the floor, acting like he was in more pain than he was really was experiencing. He moved himself under a tapestry and opened the hidden door behind it. Thankfully, the pain from Arla's second curse lessened, the further away he was from her, but he could still feel his insides changing. Duke found the strength to get up on his feet and ran to Rouge Pond, knowing full well Wade and Arla will figure out he'd escaped, find the passageway, and follow him.
Duke ignored the concerned questions from his animal friends as the pain inside him intensified, while he ran towards Rouge Pond. He couldn't take the pain anymore when he reached the pond, and collapsed but his hand fell into water. Charlotte soon appeared.
"Duke, what—" Charlotte rushed over to Duke and touched him; the pain dulled. Duke looked up to see Charlotte's worried face.
"I slowed down the speed of the curse," Charlotte said, helping him to sit up a little. "Duke, tell me what happened."
Duke quickly explained the events. Charlotte's eyes widen as she heard the details, never looking away from Duke, except for one moment where she looked over his shoulder, then concentrated on him again.
"Duke, I can sense Arla and Wade approaching," Charlotte said, placing her hands on his shoulders, as his animal friends surrounded him. "You know they must not find me, which is why I will hide myself deep within Rouge Pond. I do not have the time to remove your curses, Duke, but I can make . . . alterations."
Before Duke could ask, Charlotte removed her hands and kissed Duke on his forehead. Duke felt the pain return, but less severe. His arms felt unusual and he looked down to see fur, the same dark brown color as his hair, growing all over his body. His fingers shorten, changing his hands into paws. He could feel his mustache and goatee rearrange to become whiskers. Duke looked cross-eyed as he watched his nose and mouth form into a small broad muzzle. He felt an odd sensation at the base of his spine and looked behind him to see he was growing a long dark brown taper tail. Duke tried to talk to Charlotte, but she was growing further and further away from him. He then realized what was happening; he was . . . shrinking. He found out he was right when he saw his clothes cover him.
Soon he felt the changes were over, and freed himself from his now gigantic clothes, finding he was only able to walk on four feet now. He went over to the water's edge and saw to his horror and wonder he was no longer human.
He was now an otter! Duke was changed into river otter! He looked up at Charlotte, his eyes filled with questions.
"Arla's curse was meant to change you into some lowly aquatic creature, but I redid the spell into a form more . . . suitable to your persona," Charlotte said in a sympathetic tone, as she knelt down besides Duke and gently petted him. Being petted was something new to Duke, and . . . he kind of liked it. "The curses Arla placed on you are powerful, Duke. So powerful, that even if Arla was killed, the curses will remain."
Duke couldn't stop himself from whimpering.
"I made adjustments to both curses," Charlotte said. "From sun-up to sun-down, you will remain an otter, but from sun-down to sun-up, you will change back into a human. I also made a modification to the first curse so you'll be able to lift both of them."
Duke looked hopeful hearing this.
"You must find someone who will love you and live with you, accepting the curses and who you are," Charlotte explained. "However, if that person falls in love with someone else before you two live together, and declares it, that will . . ."
Duke nodded, understanding what Charlotte meant: it would break his heart, and because of Arla's curses, it would surely end his life now. This was a lot to process, and he didn't know what to say, so he rested his head in her hand as a gesture to show his appreciation and gratitude. Charlotte sadly smiled.
"Oh, just one more thing," Charlotte said, and stopped petting him. She moved her hand in a circle, and wisps of mist swirled around Duke's body, before fading away. Duke gave Charlotte a curious look.
"I made it possible for clothes to materialize on you when you change into a human; I'm sorry to disappoint you," Charlotte said with a teasing smile, trying to lighten up the mood. Duke smiled back, understanding her joke. They then heard the sounds of people crashing through the forest.
"I must go now," Charlotte said and looked at the otter. "I wish I had more time to help you. I will return when Arla's magic is no longer a threat. Duke, I believe that you will find someone who will help lift the curses. I have faith in you."
Charlotte kissed Duke on the top of his head, and then sank underneath the waters. A minute later, Wade and Arla appeared. Duke's animal friends protectively encircled him.
"We know you're here, Duke," Wade said, trying not to look frighten by the Sasquatch Bear. "Show yourself, or I'll give Arla permission to make a bearskin rug, a snake skin belt, and roasted duck."
Duke told his animal friends to stand down in a soft tone, as he walked forward. Arla and Wade looked perplexed when they saw the otter.
"An otter?" Arla said, confused. "I was going for a newt, perhaps even a minnow."
"I thought you were going to change him into a frog," Wade admitted. Arla gave Wade an incredulous look.
"Oh, please; changing princes into frogs is like so 500 years ago," Arla said in a bored tone. She then inspected Duke. "Only the Spirit of Rouge Pond has the power to override my curses and I can see where she made revisions."
Arla went over the changes Charlotte made, while Duke's animal friends kept an eye on the humans.
"How are we going to summon the Spirit now?" Wade asked.
"You need to look at the big picture, Wade, and see all our options," Arla said. "Do think Duke is capable to continue his business as an animal? Let's wait and see how patient and tolerant he is living and surviving as an otter."
"I get to rule Silver Eyes Estate now," Wade realized; Arla grinned.
"No!" Duke yelled, but it came out as an explosive snort. Duke's eyes widen in horror. "I . . . can't communicate with humans as an otter . . . Charlotte didn't have enough time to fix that part of the curse."
"Let us know when you finally come to your senses and are willing to cooperate," Wade said and turned around. "We'll be waiting at my estate."
"Enjoy your life as an otter," Arla said and they both walked away.
Dwight growled, watching the humans leave. He really wanted to tear them apart, but he did hear Charlotte describing the curses, and he knew slaying them would only make Duke's life more miserable. Instead, he turned around and joined Tommy and Claire watching Duke, who walked over to the water's edge and studied his reflection. Dwight carefully walked closer to Duke.
"Duke . . ." Dwight began.
"I need . . . to be alone now, okay?" Duke said and slid into the pond.
Dwight was about to go after him, but Claire held out a wing, stopping the bear.
"Give him some time and space," Claire advised, and Dwight listened to her.
Duke surfaced when he got to another side of the pond and walked out onto the grass. He then collapsed and did something he hadn't done in years, he cried. Soon, he felt something touch him and looked up to see his animal friends. Dwight laid down in front of the otter. Duke moved to rest his head on Dwight's huge front paws and cried more. Dwight gently touched Duke with his nose, as Claire and Tommy rested their heads on Duke's sides.
"Just let it out, Duke," Claire said in a reassuring tone, as she and the others continued to comfort Duke. "Just let it all out."