I had to. Inspiration struck and I just had to. Hope you enjoy it!
Everyone was rejoicing in the mermaid Kingdom of Sirèneia. Their king and queen finally had their first-born child, the heir to the throne. A ball was being staged to commemorate this momentous occasion. The entire kingdom was decorated from top to bottom with streamers and banners. Everyone was dressed up in their finest. Women wore their best seashells while the men wore their finest bow ties. The gates of the castle and everyone swam in, eager to get a glimpse of the new baby.
"Melena?" the king, Oscar, said, swimming into the room.
The Queen turned around, a soft smile on her lips. "Is it time yet?"
Oscar nodded, his face softening as he looked at the infant, wrapped in a royal blue blanket in his wife's arms. The baby opened its eyes and began to fuss.
"It's alright, little one," Melena whispered, stroking the baby's cheek. After a while, the infant calmed and a small smile played on the edges of its lips.
"Come, it's time now," Oscar said, wrapping his arm around Melena's waist and leading her out into the ballroom.
"Announcing their royal majesties, King Oscar and Queen Melena!" the herald announced. Everyone clapped as Oscar and Melena swam in.
"My fellow merpeople," Oscar began, his voice echoing throughout the room. "Today is a very special day." He waited for the clapping to die down before he continued. "Today, we celebrate a new life." He motioned for Melena to come forward. "Now, I would like to introduce you all to my new… daughter."
Melena slightly moved the part of the blanket blocking the baby's face from the view of the other merpeople. The crowd gasped. The baby's skin was unnaturally… green. Emerald green. Melena gave her husband a frightened look. She had feared this reaction from the public. Oscar gently placed his hand on Melena's shoulder. Soon, a few people started clapping. More people joined in, and soon, everyone was cheering and clapping. Melena smiled in relief as she looked down at her baby.
"Her name is Elphaba," she announced to everyone, and the crowd cheered even louder.
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" a child's voice echoed through the palace.
An oomph and Oscar looked down, chuckling as he saw little Elphaba clinging to his tail.
"I got your tail! I got your tail!" sing-songed the precious three year old happily. A giggle and she tightened her grip.
"Hello, Fabala," Oscar smiled, lifting Elphaba into his arms and spinning her around.
"Are you finished yet?" Elphaba asked, her wide eyes staring at the stack of papers on her father's desk.
"Almost." Oscar sat back down, Elphaba settled in his lap. Elphaba giggled as she swished her emerald green tail up and down, obviously entertained by the little bubble it created.
"All done," Oscar announced, signing one last paper. "Should we include Mama in our little walk?"
"Yes!" Giggling, Elphaba swam away to find her mother. She returned a few seconds later, pulling her mother behind her.
"We were just about to go for a walk," Oscar said, seeing Melena's confusion.
Melena smiled. "That sounds like fun." She swam over to Oscar and wrapped her arms around his neck. "And it would be good for you to get away from all this work."
"I couldn't agree more," Oscar smiled, gently pulling Melena closer to him.
Elphaba made a face as she watched her parents kiss. Huffing, she crossed her arms and pouted. Melena and Oscar pulled away and looked down at their daughter.
"Are you ready to go?" Melena asked, lifting Elphaba into her arms.
"Uh-huh!" Elphaba nodded.
Chuckling, Oscar grabbed his trident and followed Elphaba and Melena outside.
Outside, everything was peaceful. The royal family decided to take a stroll through the main village. Everyone smiled as the saw the king and his family. Women would go up and talk to Melena. Oscar would talk to everyone he met as if they were old friends. Elphaba stayed close to her mother's side, not wanting to wander off.
"Melena!" a voice called.
Melena looked up and smiled. "Liranna!" She swam over to her twin sister and gave her a hug. "We weren't expecting you until next week."
"I hope it's alright that we're here early," Liranna said. "Uran's meeting had to be changed."
"Of course. Hello, Galinda," Melena smiled at the young girl clinging to her Liranna's tail.
Galinda looked up at Melena, her large blue eyes never leaving her face. Her shoulder length blonde hair gently flowed in the water and her hot pink tail shimmered in the light.
"Elphaba," Melena said, turning around and gently pried Elphaba off of her. "You remember Auntie Liranna and your cousin, Galinda, right?"
Elphaba looked up and Liranna and then at Galinda. She tilted her head to the side before looking back up at her mother.
"Go on. Say hello," Melena gently urged.
"H-Hello," Elphaba said shyly.
"H-Hello," Galinda whispered, still clinging to her mother's tail.
"Come, you must be tired after your long trip," Melena said. "Where's Uran?"
"Look's like he's found Oscar," Liranna giggled. Melena turned around and saw the two mermen talking with each other.
"Oh boy. Let's get them before they get too deep into conversation and block out the rest of the ocean," Melena said, hurrying over to her husband and brother-in-law.
"Okay, leave some conversation for dinner," Melena chuckled, approaching the two.
"Hello, Melena," Uran smiled, hugging his sister-in-law. "It's so good to see you. How long has it been?"
"Long enough. It's good to see you, too," Melena smiled, escorting the men back to where Liranna, Galinda and Elphaba were waiting. Galinda was fast asleep in her mother's arms. Elphaba was slowly drifting off to sleep. Melena quickly scooped her daughter into her arms and they all headed back to the palace.
"So…" Elphaba whispered. She was sharing her room with Galinda during her stay at the palace.
"So…" Galinda whispered, looking down at her tail.
"How old are you?" Elphaba asked, not knowing another way to start a conversation.
"Three and a half," came Galinda whispered answer. "H-How old are you?"
"Three and a half," Elphaba smiled.
Galinda giggled. "What's your favorite color?"
"Blue."
"Oh. I like pink," Galinda smiled, swishing her tail.
"Do you like to play with dolls?" Elphaba asked, grabbing her red-haired mermaid doll from her bed.
"I love to play with dolls!" Galinda gigged, swimming over to her suitcase and pulling out a blonde mermaid doll.
The two cousins laughed and swam around the room.
"Can I ask you a question?" Galinda asked as they laid on their backs on Elphaba's bed.
"Sure," Elphaba giggled.
"Why is your skin green?"
Elphaba immediately frowned. She sat up and twisted her long, raven hair around her finger. "I… I don't know. I was born like this."
"Oh," Galinda whispered. "I like it."
"Y-You do?" Elphaba stared back at her cousin.
"Yeah. I think it suits you, Elphie."
"Elphie?"
"Yeah, Elphie. That's my new nickname for you now that we're bestest friends."
"We're cousins," Elphaba responded dryly.
"That still doesn't mean we can't be bestest friends. You're my new bestest friend, Elphie!" Galinda smiled, throwing her arms around Elphaba.
Elphaba stared at the bubbly blonde before returning the hug. "I've never had a bestest friend before," she admitted sadly.
"Well, now you have me," Galinda chirped. "And you always will."
Yes, I just had to type another story. And "sirène" is French for "mermaid" which is where I got the name of the mermaid kingdom. Reviews are most appreciated.