AN: I know I promised you a Yero my hero sequel. And trust me, I'm working on it, but to be honest, I'm already completely stuck on the first chapter. I think I'm going to rewrite that completely, so it might take another while - I really can't tell you how long.

This one, however, has been in my head for quite some time now, and I just had to get it out there. It's inspired by (and named after) the Train song 'Mermaid' - I get inspired by songs quite often.

Oh, yes, and I know there are no seas in Oz. Just bear with me, please? Imagine there to be one at the Eastern border of the Vinkus - say, just north of the Great Kells or something.

I hope you like this, and it would mean the world to me if you'd let me know in a review! :)

Chapter 1. Angel on the beach

'Mom!' Fiyero Tiggular was tugging at his mother's dress. His parents had taken him outside with them, to meet the Duke of Gillikin outside; the man was going to stay at Adurin Iir, Fiyero's home, for a few weeks, to discuss business with Fiyero's father, King Hamold of the Vinkus. His parents had insisted he come with them to greet the Duke, but Fiyero was bored out of his mind. He didn't understand half his parents and the Duke were saying and he wanted to play.

'Mom!'

'Not now, Fiyero.' Queen Eleonore, or Lori, as everyone called her, touched his head for a moment before turning back to the Duke. 'I'm sorry about my son, he's a little bored,' she smiled, and the Duke roared a laugh. 'That's quite alright, Your Majesty.'

Lori was still wearing her smile, but Fiyero knew she didn't really like the Duke. He could see it, too; his mother had two smiles, her sincere one and her polite one. Her current smile, Fiyero knew, fell in the latter category; it was plastered to her face, but he could see the immensely bored look in her eyes.

'How was your trip, Your Grace?' Lori asked the Duke, and the man rubbed his hands. 'Long,' he replied, after which he started an elaborate story about everything that had happened on his way to the Vinkus – which hadn't been all that much, for as far as Fiyero could hear, but the Duke managed to make every bump in the road sound like a dramatic horror story.

The boy turned around now. 'Dad?'

'Ssh, Yero.' Hamold looked down at his son. 'Why don't you go and play with Cohvu for a little bit?' he suggested, but Fiyero shook his head. 'He's out with his parents,' he said unhappily, and his father smiled. 'Well, then go and stroll around the beach for a while. But don't go too far – I want to be able to see you!'

Fiyero nodded enthusiastically. 'Okay, Dad!' With that, he dashed off, leaving the others behind to continue their conversation.

Adurin Iir, the castle in which Fiyero and his family lived, was situated in the Eastern Vinkus. To Fiyero, it was the most beautiful place to live that he could have ever imagined; not necessarily the castle itself, but its surroundings in particular.

To the south, there were the Thousand Year Grasslands; green and golden grass for as far as Fiyero could see. North from the castle was a forest, dense and wide. To the west, there was a travellers road, leading towards most big cities the Vinkus had to offer. There was another road that went through the forest for a bit and that lead to the rest of Oz, Munchkinland and the Emerald City, among other areas.

But the real reason why Fiyero loved his home so much could be found in the east. Adurin Iir itself was built on solid rock ground; but if you set foot outside the front porch and walked fifty meters or so, you would find yourself on a beach. And not just a beach; a huge, perfect, golden patch of sand, followed by the thing that awed Fiyero the most: the Mythical Sea.

Out of everything Fiyero had ever seen, the sea was the biggest, the most impressive, the most awe-inspiring. It was bigger than the forest. Wider than the grasslands. Much, much deeper than any lake Fiyero had ever seen in his life. It was called the Mythical Sea because no one was really sure what lived deep down there; and it was the inspiration for all kinds of stories and legends.

Fiyero used to venture out on a small boat with his father; they would catch fish, and sometimes Fiyero would dive for oysters and shells as well. Jellyfish sometimes washed onto the beach – Fiyero always threw them back, hoping that they were not dead yet and would swim to safety again – and every spring, he would search for the sea turtles' eggs in the sand. He always kept a close eye on them, and if he got lucky, he sometimes saw the baby turtles hatch.

His parents had taught him to swim almost before he could walk, and he knew the beach like the back of his hand. It was his favourite place to spend time, to play with other children, with his parents, or just by himself; and he loved to swim. He ventured out to the sea at every opportunity he got.

Now, he just ran along the shoreline, having kicked off his shoes to feel the sand between his toes. He dropped down into the sand, watching the sea in front of him. The water came rushing towards him, and he curled his toes; then it retreated again. He grinned and reached out with his leg, poking the water with his big toe. He gasped; it was still early spring, and the water was icy cold. Quickly, he retreated his leg again and rose to his feet once more.

He kicked against a small rock, sending it flying. He was lucky to live here, he knew that. He was also lucky that his parents were so rich that he had everything he desired; but sometimes, he wished he hadn't been born as a prince.

As Crown Prince of the Vinkus, Fiyero was supposed to take the throne when his father was too old to rule. He knew that time was most likely still far way, but he still didn't like to think about it. He didn't want to be a king. He wanted to see the world; he wanted to travel, to go to Munchkinland and Gillikin and the Great Kells. He wanted to settle down in the Emerald City and fight in the army, maybe get into the Wizard's Gale Force – perhaps he could even become Captain of the Guard! He wanted to live, really live, without the fact that his life was already completely laid out for him constantly looming over him.

He sighed, kicking at another rock. He wished one of his friends was here, but his best friend Cohvu was, as he had told his father, out with his parents, and Galinda lived all the way in Gillikin. They visited back and forth sometimes – her parents often had political meetings or something like that, Fiyero wasn't sure, with his own parents – but he still saw her way not often enough for his own liking. Galinda, along with Cohvu, was pretty much the only friend he had.

Just as he was thinking about asking his parents if he could invite Galinda over for spring break, something caught his eye and he froze. He held his breath excitedly as he leaned forward. He caught a flash of green. Was that a sea turtle? It was early in the year still, but not too early… it might be one. Perhaps it was laying its eggs here!

Quietly, he inched closer, careful as not to disturb the turtle, but then he frowned. 'That's not a turtle,' he muttered to himself, moving closer still. 'That's a…'

He reached out his hand to brush the black seaweed that was covering the green thing away… but then he realised that the black he saw wasn't seaweed at all.

His eyes widened.

'MOM!'

'What do you mean, you found a girl on the beach?' Lori demanded of her son. 'Fiyero, if this is one of your games again…'

'It's not a game, I swear!' He tugged at his mother's dress urgently. 'There really is a girl out there! I found her on the beach! I think she came from the sea!'

'She came from the sea,' his mother echoed flatly. She looked over her son's head at Hamold. 'I think he made this entire story up.'

Hamold tried to placate her. 'Now, Lori…'

She shook her head. 'Hamold, it makes no sense what he's saying. A girl that came from the sea? What, did she have a fishtail as well?'

'No, she didn't,' said Fiyero stubbornly. 'But she's green.'

His mother threw her hands up in the air. 'Of course. She's green.'

Hamold kneeled down in front of his son, placing one hand on his shoulder. 'Yero,' he said seriously. 'Don't you think you're a little too old to be making up stories like this?'

'It's not a story, Dad, I swear!' Fiyero pulled at his father's hand. 'Come with me, I'll show you!'

Hamold sighed, but rose to his feet nonetheless. 'Alright, alright. I'll come with you. But if this is a joke…' he warned, and Fiyero shook his head. 'It's not! Come on, Dad!'

Hamold excused himself and left, while Lori continued her conversation with the Duke. The King took his son by the hand and let Fiyero drag him along the beach. 'Yero…'

'We're almost there!' Fiyero let go of his father's hand, speeding up and jumping over a log of driftwood as he moved on. Hamold sighed. Fiyero was seven years old now, and he had always had a rich imagination. He had never been too sociable - partly because other children his age usually felt slightly intimidated by the fact that he was a prince – and he used to make up stories of his own instead. Hamold and Lori thought that was only normal, but if this turned out to be one of Fiyero's games again, they would have to have a stern talk with their son.

'There! Look, over there!' Fiyero was jumping up and down, pointing at something, and Hamold came closer. He frowned when he saw what his son was pointing at. That almost did seem like a girl…

He kneeled down next to the black-and-green… phenomenon. Beside him, Fiyero was rambling. 'See? Didn't I tell you so? I told you so! At first I thought it was a sea turtle, but then I realised it didn't look anything like that, and then I wanted to brush away the seaweed to get a better look, and then I saw that it wasn't seaweed at all – it was hair!'

Fiyero was right, the King noticed. He studied the girl. She couldn't be much older than Fiyero was, if not younger; she was small and slender, with waist long raven black hair and, indeed, green skin. It was clear from the position she was in that she must have been washed ashore by the waves, but that must have been some time ago already; the tide was low now and still meters away from where the girl was lying, and her hair and clothes were already dry, though there was some actual seaweed sticking to her dress and stuck in her hair.

Hamold tried to shake her awake, but she didn't stir, though she was breathing. He rolled her over. Her eyes were closed, black, feathery lashes resting on her cheeks, and her lips were a bluish gray colour. She must be freezing, Hamold realised with a start; it was still cool outside, the northern wind was icy cold, and the sea water itself was even worse. He wondered where she had come from. Had there been an accident? It wouldn't be the first time a boat sunk around here – the Mythical Sea was exactly that, mythical, and many theories were circulating about ships that had disappeared while crossing it. Never before, though, had Hamold heard of anyone surviving any of those shipwrecks – let alone washing up on the shore of the Vinkus.

He lifted the girl into his arms, noting how little she weighed. How long had she been out here? 'Fiyero,' he said urgently. 'I want you to run back to your mother and tell her to call for the doctor immediately. Tell her I'm on my way. Do you understand?'

He nodded vigorously, but he hesitated just a clock-tick. 'Dad?'

'Yes?'

He looked at the small green girl in his father's arms in concern. 'Is she going to be okay?'

Hamold shook his head. 'I don't know, son,' he replied truthfully. 'I don't know. But the doctor will know, once he examines her.'

Fiyero nodded again, sending his sandy hair flying into his face. 'I'll go tell Mom!' he said, before dashing off in the direction he had come from, Hamold following with the green girl.

Fiyero followed his parents into the castle, running to keep up with them. As soon as his mother had heard what had happened, and saw her husband approach with the girl, she had excused herself to the Duke and ran off to call the doctor. Hamold had hurried inside as well, and Fiyero ran after him up the stairs towards one of the empty guest rooms.

He watched as the doctor came and examined the green girl. Lori looked worried and Hamold was frowning, lost in thought; Fiyero himself was just fascinated with the strange creature.

'Dad?' he whispered, and Hamold looked down, disturbed from his thoughts. 'Mm?'

'Do you think she's a mermaid?'

Hamold laughed and ruffled his son's hair. 'Of course not, Yero,' he said gently. 'Mermaids don't exist, I told you that.'

Fiyero nodded. 'And they have tails, of course,' he said seriously. 'Fish tails. This girl doesn't.' He hesitated. 'Could she be a siren, then?'

Hamold just sighed. 'Fiyero, you should really stop reading those myths and legends about the sea. They are exactly that – myths and legends. Stories. Not real.'

Fiyero frowned, puzzled. 'But why is she green?'

'I don't know, son.' Hamold was looking at the girl as well as the doctor finished his examination. The two men went into the corner of the room for a little bit, talking quietly, and Fiyero inched a bit closer towards the bed to get a better look at the girl. She was pretty, he noticed, and he wondered where she had come from. His Dad had told him what he thought had happened – a shipwreck. Fiyero's eyes were gleaming. That was so awesome. He would ask her about it later, he promised himself, after she'd gotten a little bit better. He wanted to hear everything that had happened to her.

Just as he was thinking that, her eyelids slowly started to flutter open, and he yelled, 'Look!', jumping up and down and pointing at the girl. 'She's waking up!'

Hamold and the doctor were immediately back by the bedside, and Lori came closer as well. Fiyero hovered over the girl, watching as her eyes blinked open. They were a dark brown colour, he noticed. The colour of chocolate. He liked chocolate.

'Hi,' he said. 'Don't be scared, you're safe now. I found you. My Daddy took you home with us – he's really strong. Are you okay?'

She just stared at him for a moment, cowering slightly, recoiling into the pillows. Fiyero smiled at her. 'Don't be afraid,' he said, reaching out to her. She pulled away again, and he quickly pulled back his arm. 'I'm Fiyero.'

She merely looked at him, tilting her head slightly to the side, clearly confused. Her long black hair fell in soft waves down her shoulder and arm, and then shereached out for him. He allowed her to touch his arm, hesitantly; then she softly his cheek and his hair, studying him closely. Fiyero, quickly figuring out that she probably didn't speak the common Ozian language, judging by the puzzled look on her face, pointed his thumb at his own chest. 'Fiyero. Fi-ye-ro. That's my name - Fiyero.' He smiled at her. 'What's your name?'

She blinked at him, opening her mouth, then closing it again. Fiyero tried in all the different languages he knew – which, in fact, were only common Ozian and Vinkun. 'Cé tú féin?'

She still didn't seem to understand, and Hamold muttered, 'I wonder where this girl is from.'

Lori knelt down next to the bed, levelling her head with the girl's. 'Spreek je Munchkin?' she asked softly. When the girl's expression didn't change, Lori asked, 'Gillikin?'

The girl shook her head, and Hamold placed his hand on his wife's arm. 'Let's leave her alone for now, Lori,' he said quietly. 'We don't know what she's been through, and she looks tired.'

The doctor said, 'I'm going to need to examine her some more. We don't know where she's from or what has happened to her – she might be hurt or sick.'

Hamold nodded and ushered his son out of the door. 'Why don't you go and play for a while, kid,' he suggested, smiling a bit apologetically at his son. 'The doctor needs to do some more tests and we have to discuss a few things. Don't worry, we'll take care of her.'

Fiyero scowled, not happy with this development. 'Can I see her again later?' he demanded, and his father smiled again. 'Sure, Fiyero. She needs to sleep firs, but I'll come and fetch you when she's awake again, okay?'

Satisfied, Fiyero turned around and left.