Title: Twisted Faerie Tales: The Little Mermaid
Author: Zoisite NightDragon
Pairings: 1x4
Status: Finished
Disclaimer/Warnings/etc: This is a retelling of the Hans Christian Anderson version, be forewarned. The original of this story was not cute and fuzzy, much as the original Grimm Brothers stories were not. For some reason, I want to do a series of these stories with different GW chars as the main roles and adding their own twists. I don't know yet. I want to see how this one goes first.
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Quatre sat upon the flat rock, his aqua eyes wide upon the sun and the endless night sky above him. He had finally reached the age of fifteen, the time when he was allowed to make his first journey to the surface that lay beyond the world of water that he had only known all his life. The full moon had been nearly blinding at first, bringing tears to his eyes until they gradually adjusted to the brightness. Where he lived in the palace, any light was muted by the depths instead of this pure. With a delicate hand still shading his eyes, Quatre still enjoyed the view, even if he had been in the same spot for an hour or more. Waves lapped about him, tinged silver from the orb above. Far off lay the city of Copenhagen, the lanterns from there glimmering like fireflies. Stretching his hands over his head, he reached for the stars, wanting to hold the glittering lights in his hands. Even the soft breezes playing along his skin was a new sensation, not completely pleasant though as dryness set in.
The sound of music drifted across the waters, the merboy's head turning towards it curiously. What was this? He had heard the whales sing their songs before, as well as the dolphins occasionally, but this? From the darkness came more points of light, the voices growing louder and merrier. With a hint of fear, Quatre dove behind his rock, peering out worriedly. Stories ran among the merpeople of fisherman who would cast nets into the sea and draw in anything. A few of his own people had been rumoured to be taken away like that and made to be circus freaks, living their lives in tiny tanks instead of the vast oceans as Poseidon meant for them to. Humans were regarded as frightening and odd creatures for the most part among he and his kind.
The ship sailed near his rock, laughter ringing onboard along with the playing of various musical instruments. Lantern light burned across the deck, illuminating the figures that danced and talked as Quatre peeked out cautiously. These didn't seem to be the cruel creatures he had been warned of. He saw no vicious claws or horns or even tanks on the floating mass. The music brought a smile to his pale rose lips, singing softly along with it. As the players stopped for a rest, the lilting notes of Quatre's voice still carried, filling the sudden quiet. Clapping his hand over his mouth, the merboy trembled, readying to dive back down into the water.
A deep brown haired male leaned over the rail of the ship, his storm blue eyes searching the water. "Hello?"
"Your Highness? Prince Heero?" asked a second one, joining him and gazing puzzled down as well.
"I heard something."
"'The singing? Twas only a mermaid, Sire. They sing, trying to lure sailors to their deaths by jumping overboard or ships into smashing themselves on the rocks. Evil creatures Sire."
Quatre's cherubic face screwed itself into a frown at this. Causing ships to wreck indeed! Never had any of his sort done that. If anything, they guided lost sailors back to the shore or ports. If all looked lost, they tried to reassure them, explaining that things were better beneath the sea. It was unfortunate that they couldn't survive down where Quatre lived. Lifting his gaze back to the passing ship, he nearly cried out at the sudden explosion of fireworks being sent off. Sparks of colour danced across the evening sky, showers of them painting designs across the darkened canopy of gathering clouds. Clasping his hands before him, the merboy's eyes grew wide. Never had he seen something like this. A stoke of lightening splitting the night brought all the festivities to an end. The sails upon the boat were trimmed as the winds raised, the waves becoming wilder as they crashed against the ship's hull and even lashed at Quatre as he clung to his rock.
Shouts came from the ship, loud and panicked. Winds ripped at the sails and hull, the massive wooden structure listing to one side badly as water flowed over the deck. Shrieks of men and women swept overboard rang in Quatre's ears, the cries of those the sea mercilessly swallowed. Rising up, he held to his rock still, worriedly scanning the deck for the man with piercing blue eyes. There was no one to be seen before the ship dipped again, this time going completely over until the mast splashed into the frigid water. A hand wrapped in a white glove that was flailing for some debris caught his attention as lightening cut the sky in two. He was still alive, trying desperately to cling to a plank of wood before his covered hands slipped, and he slid back into the water that would be his death.
Without another thought, Quatre shoved himself off of his sanctuary, pushing his way through bodies and the ship's smashed remains to reach the one they called Heero. A muffled cry of hurt escaped the merboy as a piece of wood cut along his upper arm, leaving a jagged tear in his pale skin. Ignoring it for now, he dove deeper until his fingers encountered the dark blue coat of the Prince. With a push of his tail, he headed back for the surface, cradling Heero in his slender arms. As they nearer the mirror like barrier between air and water, he saw the Prince's eyes open, confused and glazy blue staring up at him. One last lash of his fins brought the pair back into the open air. Quatre's lips pressed feverishly to Heero's own, trying to bring warmth or life back into their chilly blueness, pushing air into his lungs. Bobbing in the roiling waves, there was no choice but to try for the shore. The rocks were too hard and slippery, and there was little left of the ship itself. It was hard work when they hit the sandbar. Quatre was forced to drag himself and then pull the other until they were mostly out of the water.
Cradling Heero's head in his hands, the merboy swept back the soaked locks of deep brown hair, calling the Prince's name over and over only to be mostly drowned out by the howling wind. Curling about the inert form, he rubbed the man's hands with his own, snuggling against him to offer what warmth he had. After the storm abated and silence fell, he was rewarded with the sounds of weak coughing. The Prince's amber lashes parted once more as cerulean blue eyes took in his face. A weak hand rose to capture one of his sunny curls within the fingers, stroking it until Quatre pressed Heero's hand back down. "Stay still. Help will come."
Nodding softly, the man's eyes slipped closed once more, his breathing calm and steady. Pinpricks of light began to dance along the coast as the villagers came to rescue what survivors they could. Fear nipped at Quatre's heart with sharp teeth. If he were captured, they'd kill or make a freak of him. Pulling himself back towards the ocean, he glanced once more to Heero with tears in his eyes. He would live at least and be found. Hiding once more against his rock, he watched a woman with long flowing brown hair discover the Prince's body and awaken him once more. As Heero sat up, his gaze moved from her back to the ocean as if searching for something... or someone. Touching his fingers to his lips, the merboy dove back beneath the waves. It was not his world with the one he'd given his heart to.
A week later, Quatre sneaked away from his father's palace and into the darkest part of the ocean. There lived Morgana, the Sea Witch. Few ever ventured out this far, afraid of her evil powers. At one time, she had been one of the most beautiful mermaids in existence. Many would have happily taken her hand in marriage. She would have none of them. Morgana had loved a man of the surface world and had sought ancient powers that were long forbade any of the merpeople to gain what she wanted. In a way, she had. The man she had loved drowned himself trying to join her beneath the ocean. Since then, she had become a hermit, living where she never had to encounter anyone.
Pausing before her cave, Quatre wrapped his arms about himself, trying to calm his own fears. She could destroy him, deny him what he sought, or hopefully, help him. There was no other choice than this...
"Pondering something, are you?" a cracking voice asked from behind Quatre, nearly sending the merboy into a panicked flee.
Snapping around, he found himself face to face with one of the most haggard visages he'd ever laid eyes on. Her hair had been red at once, a lush crimson perhaps. Now, it hung lifeless in the water, algae and sea slime clinging to the strands. Within the folds of corpse pale flesh hung two eyes of dead amber, staring blankly at him. Lips that looked like slabs of raw liver were pursed in a scowl, exposing viciously sharp teeth of a barracuda. Blinking, he quailed, backing away slowly. The merwoman nodded to herself, swimming within the cave and gesturing him to follow. "Well, come on, come on. I haven't got all day, and you've got your heart's desire to go chasing after, don't you?"
Author: Zoisite NightDragon
Pairings: 1x4
Status: Finished
Disclaimer/Warnings/etc: This is a retelling of the Hans Christian Anderson version, be forewarned. The original of this story was not cute and fuzzy, much as the original Grimm Brothers stories were not. For some reason, I want to do a series of these stories with different GW chars as the main roles and adding their own twists. I don't know yet. I want to see how this one goes first.
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Quatre sat upon the flat rock, his aqua eyes wide upon the sun and the endless night sky above him. He had finally reached the age of fifteen, the time when he was allowed to make his first journey to the surface that lay beyond the world of water that he had only known all his life. The full moon had been nearly blinding at first, bringing tears to his eyes until they gradually adjusted to the brightness. Where he lived in the palace, any light was muted by the depths instead of this pure. With a delicate hand still shading his eyes, Quatre still enjoyed the view, even if he had been in the same spot for an hour or more. Waves lapped about him, tinged silver from the orb above. Far off lay the city of Copenhagen, the lanterns from there glimmering like fireflies. Stretching his hands over his head, he reached for the stars, wanting to hold the glittering lights in his hands. Even the soft breezes playing along his skin was a new sensation, not completely pleasant though as dryness set in.
The sound of music drifted across the waters, the merboy's head turning towards it curiously. What was this? He had heard the whales sing their songs before, as well as the dolphins occasionally, but this? From the darkness came more points of light, the voices growing louder and merrier. With a hint of fear, Quatre dove behind his rock, peering out worriedly. Stories ran among the merpeople of fisherman who would cast nets into the sea and draw in anything. A few of his own people had been rumoured to be taken away like that and made to be circus freaks, living their lives in tiny tanks instead of the vast oceans as Poseidon meant for them to. Humans were regarded as frightening and odd creatures for the most part among he and his kind.
The ship sailed near his rock, laughter ringing onboard along with the playing of various musical instruments. Lantern light burned across the deck, illuminating the figures that danced and talked as Quatre peeked out cautiously. These didn't seem to be the cruel creatures he had been warned of. He saw no vicious claws or horns or even tanks on the floating mass. The music brought a smile to his pale rose lips, singing softly along with it. As the players stopped for a rest, the lilting notes of Quatre's voice still carried, filling the sudden quiet. Clapping his hand over his mouth, the merboy trembled, readying to dive back down into the water.
A deep brown haired male leaned over the rail of the ship, his storm blue eyes searching the water. "Hello?"
"Your Highness? Prince Heero?" asked a second one, joining him and gazing puzzled down as well.
"I heard something."
"'The singing? Twas only a mermaid, Sire. They sing, trying to lure sailors to their deaths by jumping overboard or ships into smashing themselves on the rocks. Evil creatures Sire."
Quatre's cherubic face screwed itself into a frown at this. Causing ships to wreck indeed! Never had any of his sort done that. If anything, they guided lost sailors back to the shore or ports. If all looked lost, they tried to reassure them, explaining that things were better beneath the sea. It was unfortunate that they couldn't survive down where Quatre lived. Lifting his gaze back to the passing ship, he nearly cried out at the sudden explosion of fireworks being sent off. Sparks of colour danced across the evening sky, showers of them painting designs across the darkened canopy of gathering clouds. Clasping his hands before him, the merboy's eyes grew wide. Never had he seen something like this. A stoke of lightening splitting the night brought all the festivities to an end. The sails upon the boat were trimmed as the winds raised, the waves becoming wilder as they crashed against the ship's hull and even lashed at Quatre as he clung to his rock.
Shouts came from the ship, loud and panicked. Winds ripped at the sails and hull, the massive wooden structure listing to one side badly as water flowed over the deck. Shrieks of men and women swept overboard rang in Quatre's ears, the cries of those the sea mercilessly swallowed. Rising up, he held to his rock still, worriedly scanning the deck for the man with piercing blue eyes. There was no one to be seen before the ship dipped again, this time going completely over until the mast splashed into the frigid water. A hand wrapped in a white glove that was flailing for some debris caught his attention as lightening cut the sky in two. He was still alive, trying desperately to cling to a plank of wood before his covered hands slipped, and he slid back into the water that would be his death.
Without another thought, Quatre shoved himself off of his sanctuary, pushing his way through bodies and the ship's smashed remains to reach the one they called Heero. A muffled cry of hurt escaped the merboy as a piece of wood cut along his upper arm, leaving a jagged tear in his pale skin. Ignoring it for now, he dove deeper until his fingers encountered the dark blue coat of the Prince. With a push of his tail, he headed back for the surface, cradling Heero in his slender arms. As they nearer the mirror like barrier between air and water, he saw the Prince's eyes open, confused and glazy blue staring up at him. One last lash of his fins brought the pair back into the open air. Quatre's lips pressed feverishly to Heero's own, trying to bring warmth or life back into their chilly blueness, pushing air into his lungs. Bobbing in the roiling waves, there was no choice but to try for the shore. The rocks were too hard and slippery, and there was little left of the ship itself. It was hard work when they hit the sandbar. Quatre was forced to drag himself and then pull the other until they were mostly out of the water.
Cradling Heero's head in his hands, the merboy swept back the soaked locks of deep brown hair, calling the Prince's name over and over only to be mostly drowned out by the howling wind. Curling about the inert form, he rubbed the man's hands with his own, snuggling against him to offer what warmth he had. After the storm abated and silence fell, he was rewarded with the sounds of weak coughing. The Prince's amber lashes parted once more as cerulean blue eyes took in his face. A weak hand rose to capture one of his sunny curls within the fingers, stroking it until Quatre pressed Heero's hand back down. "Stay still. Help will come."
Nodding softly, the man's eyes slipped closed once more, his breathing calm and steady. Pinpricks of light began to dance along the coast as the villagers came to rescue what survivors they could. Fear nipped at Quatre's heart with sharp teeth. If he were captured, they'd kill or make a freak of him. Pulling himself back towards the ocean, he glanced once more to Heero with tears in his eyes. He would live at least and be found. Hiding once more against his rock, he watched a woman with long flowing brown hair discover the Prince's body and awaken him once more. As Heero sat up, his gaze moved from her back to the ocean as if searching for something... or someone. Touching his fingers to his lips, the merboy dove back beneath the waves. It was not his world with the one he'd given his heart to.
A week later, Quatre sneaked away from his father's palace and into the darkest part of the ocean. There lived Morgana, the Sea Witch. Few ever ventured out this far, afraid of her evil powers. At one time, she had been one of the most beautiful mermaids in existence. Many would have happily taken her hand in marriage. She would have none of them. Morgana had loved a man of the surface world and had sought ancient powers that were long forbade any of the merpeople to gain what she wanted. In a way, she had. The man she had loved drowned himself trying to join her beneath the ocean. Since then, she had become a hermit, living where she never had to encounter anyone.
Pausing before her cave, Quatre wrapped his arms about himself, trying to calm his own fears. She could destroy him, deny him what he sought, or hopefully, help him. There was no other choice than this...
"Pondering something, are you?" a cracking voice asked from behind Quatre, nearly sending the merboy into a panicked flee.
Snapping around, he found himself face to face with one of the most haggard visages he'd ever laid eyes on. Her hair had been red at once, a lush crimson perhaps. Now, it hung lifeless in the water, algae and sea slime clinging to the strands. Within the folds of corpse pale flesh hung two eyes of dead amber, staring blankly at him. Lips that looked like slabs of raw liver were pursed in a scowl, exposing viciously sharp teeth of a barracuda. Blinking, he quailed, backing away slowly. The merwoman nodded to herself, swimming within the cave and gesturing him to follow. "Well, come on, come on. I haven't got all day, and you've got your heart's desire to go chasing after, don't you?"