Disclaimer: No I don't own Sailor Moon or any of the characters that may or may not appear in my story. You guys know the drill now on with the interesting stuff.
Note: I've taken bits and pieces from both Disney's version and the original version of the little mermaid, a book called Deep Wizardry and one called Fortune's Fool as well as some inspiration from the Mermaid Melody manga. Enjoy.
Long ago, humans waged a vicious war with each other that threatened to destroy the entire planet. As the scars of battle ruined land and ocean alike one group of humans who wished for peace took a stand. Known as the Wise One's for their knowledge and command of the power given to them by the Moon Queen Serenity they used their most powerful magic to stop the war. In order to ensure a lasting peace they destroyed all knowledge of the weapons and technology humanity had almost destroyed itself with as well as the weapons themselves, erasing them from history forever.
To further the quest for harmony they transformed those humans who wished only for a peaceful and tranquil existence into denizens of the sea, permanently separated from their warlike brothers and sisters who remained on land. To those who now called themselves Merfolk the Wise One's entrusted all their knowledge and power tasking them with the duty of caring for the Earth's oceans. After that they ascended to the oceans of the Moon where they could watch over not only Earth but the other planets in the Solar System. With the help of Queen Serenity and the Imperium Silver Crystal whose power she was chosen to wield they created an age of peace and prosperity known as the Silver Millennium. However even in the midst of their prosperity the Wise One's never forgot their people on Earth and so as the ages passed they watched over their brethren, waiting for the time when they would mature enough to join them as a part of the Silver Millennium.
Darien walked along the tide line, admiring the play of sunlight on the waves. It was a warm clear morning with the sun just rising above the horizon. It was going to be a another beautiful day that he and his twin were going to miss. Instead of having fun in the waves they were going to be watching their parents sorting out petitions from the people, settling disputes and then smiling at courtiers until their cheeks hurt during the party in the evening. With courtiers and bodyguards around all day it was impossible to get time alone, he was lucky to have escaped the palace for as long as he had this morning. Endymion had covered for him after he promised to do the same for him tomorrow and so here he was walking along the beach savouring the solitude and silence and dreading the moment he had to go back and face the music.
Sighing, he picked up a stone from the sand and looked at it for a moment, "You don't know how lucky you are." He told it, before lobbing it into the water and taking one last look at the sea. Turning around to walk back to the palace, he stopped for a moment as an unfamiliar sound reached his ears. The wind was blowing down the beach towards him and with it came the sound of someone singing, faint at first but as he moved closer becoming stronger and clearer. He couldn't understand the words; they were in another language but the voice of the singer more than made up for it. It was an indescribable voice, soaring into the night sky like a bird on the wing, strong and sure, effortlessly reaching the high notes before sinking back down to softer, lower tones.
Darien rounded a large boulder and then immediately ducked back down behind it as he caught sight of the singer. Slowly inching around until he could sneak a better look he tried to make his mind believe what his eyes were telling him. Sitting on a rock not far away, the waves just lapping at her tail was a mermaid!
Her long hair moved in the wind, the sunlight turning it to gold as she lifted her head to sing, her eyes were closed but they opened once to reveal bright blue eyes that seemed to draw him in. Sparkling at her wrists, throat and ears was a fortune in gems but Darien took no notice, lost as he was in her song. For how long he stood there, transfixed by her beauty and her voice he didn't know but eventually the mermaid stopped singing and leaned back on the rock to gaze at the sky. For a moment she looked up longingly at it, tears sparkling on her cheeks, some great sorrow reflected in her eyes before she turned to look at the forest and glance down the beach.
Darien quickly ducked down to avoid being seen, but for an instant he swore their eyes met. A splash not made by waves made him scramble up the boulder to look but she'd already gone, back to the depths of the sea, or somewhere else he couldn't imagine.
I can't believe it! He thought as he slowly headed back down the beach, his mind full of what he'd just seen. Mermaids do exist! And I saw one! She was so beautiful. The last thought made him stop and think for a minute. Mermaids were supposed to be ugly, evil beings that lured sailors to their deaths at sea and called up monsters and storms to wreck ships. Was her beauty just an illusion? He wondered, then shook his head, "No, I can't believe that someone who could sing like that could possibly do the things that the stories say they do." Maybe that's what she wants you to think. The small voice inside him said. "Well, if it is she's doing a good job of convincing me but I just can't imagine her doing things like that, even if others of her kind do." Maybe if I saw her again I could —
That thought, and the certainty her felt that he must see her at least one more time took him by complete surprise. Has she cast a spell on me? No, she can't have! Not from just sitting on a rock, and she didn't even know I was there! "Ahhrrg, who cares" He slapped his cheeks and shook his head again "I'm dreaming, I dreamed it all and now I'm going to go to home, wake up and then pretend it never happened."
With that determined thought in his head Darien made his way back to the palace and threw himself into the day's activities, certain that when night came he would have forgotten the whole thing. He was wrong. Time passed, and he tried to forget his morning excursion but every time he thought about the mermaid, his heart skipped a beat and every time her song sounded in his head he ached to hear it again. Even in his dreams he sought her, remembering in every detail the instant her eyes had passed over him and her beautiful voice, echoing in the vaults of his mind.
On the Moon Lady Kaguya, the last of the Wise Ones watched the boy closely as he woke from another dream of the mermaid. Smiling to herself she murmured "It's almost time."
Ten Years Later
Serena explored the newly sunken ship looking for treasure. Her kelp bag was already bulging with strange objects and other fascinating things she couldn't wait to experiment with when she got back home but she wanted to make sure she hadn't missed anything else. As she poked around a luxurious looking room near the front of the ship she came upon a curious looking object. Debating whether to put it in her already full bag she was interrupted by a call from above
"Serena! Can we go home now? It's getting dark and we'll both get in trouble if you're home late again.
"Oh don't worry so much Luna we've got plenty of time, come see what I found!" she called back as she swam up out of the ship and into the open sea. She held up the strange fluted object made of wood for her best friend's inspection. "What do you think it is?" she asked.
The dark blue dolphin made her way over from where she'd been keeping watch for danger and looked at it closely for a minute. The object was about the size of Serena's hand and was made of brown wood, one end was large and open but then it shrunk to a small thin end that curved up, then slightly down and then up again. "I don't know Serena, it looks like an instrument of some sort but it's too small to make much sound," she said finally.
"I know but when I try to blow on it all I get are bubbles coming out." Serena was a bit disappointed, she'd been hoping it would make some sort of Dryworld sound.
"Well that's because it's underwater silly," Luna said, "Dryworlder things are made to be played in the air they won't work properly underwater."
Serena smacked herself on the head, then hugged her friend, "Of course," she cried "why didn't I think of that. Luna you're a genius," she let go and pointed upwards. "Come on let's go to the surface and see what it really sounds like!"
"But that will take too long," Luna said, "it's almost dark and it's dangerous to be outside the city when the sun goes down. We're not even supposed to be outside the city anyway. There are sharks and eels and killer whales, oh and don't forget that storms are harder to spot at night, we could be swept away by the currents." Swimming past her far too energetic friend she blocked the way. "The Dryworld will still be there tomorrow, we can get up early and go first thing in the morning but right now it's too dangerous." she herded the young mermaid away from the ship and back towards the city ignoring her protests.
"Alright, we'll go in the morning." Serena finally grumbled, "But we have to get up at first light otherwise papa will find some excuse to keep me in the palace for the next week and we'll never get a chance to go."
"Yes, yes," Luna agreed impatiently "But first we need to get there. Hurry up."
By the time they reached the city darkness had truly fallen and Serena was secretly glad Luna had made her come home; it was scary being out in the open without light to see the dangers by. It was with some measure of relief that they passed over the city's well lit border and made their way to the palace. Serena said goodbye to Luna at the stables and went on to the East wing where she and her sisters lived. She tried to sneak quietly into her room but her sisters, wise to her ways were having none of it.
"Serena, do you know what time it is? We were worried about you, do you know what would have happened if we hadn't told papa you were still in the city playing with Luna? How can you be so irresponsible?" Rei demanded, "I'm so sick of covering for you, when will you start to act like the princess you're supposed to be?"
"You'll never get your hairpins if you keep this up." Lita cautioned, "Maybe you should be good for a while, get your hairpins and then do what you want."
"I agree with Lita," Amy said, "Mother and Father will never see you as responsible and mature enough to wear them if you don't get your act together."
"Oh you guys worry too much, I was as bad as her when I was eighteen and I got my hairpins." Mina brushed off the other girls worries with an airy wave of her hand, "Don't worry Serena, you'll get yours right on schedule." She swam up to her younger sister "just think, soon you'll have permission to go wherever you like in the sea, even to the other kingdoms!"
Serena looked hopefully at Mina, "Do you really think so?" she asked, her eyes sparkling at the thought of finally be allowed to go outside the city, not that she hadn't done that before but that was without permission and she hadn't been able to spend much time there. If she was actually allowed to go out she could spend as much time in the open sea as she wanted and that would give her more opportunities to go to the surface.
"Ohh but when can I get them? Soon is not a good answer I want a measurement!" she complained, "I want to get out now!"
"Patience is a virtue," Jupiter sang.
"Oh be quiet," Serena growled, then relented, "I'm sorry girls it's just that seeing you all free to go anywhere you want is really hard when I'm stuck in the palace all day. I'll try to be more patient and proper." She hugged each of her sister's in turn, "I'm going to bed now you guys, thanks for covering for me," she entered her room and closed the door.
The next morning Serena was already up and waiting impatiently by the city gates when Luna sleepily arrived.
"Come on, come on, hurry up Luna." She complained, "We have to go before someone invents something boring for me to do."
She swam in impatient circles around her friend who refused to be rushed into a swim sprint before her muscles had properly warmed up. After a good deal of stretching and flicking her tail to see how the water felt Luna was finally ready and they quickly swam out of sight of the city. Once they'd gone far enough to avoid getting caught they did a quick check to make sure no one was around and then like swift arrows swam upwards, straight and true.
Serena's head broke the surface and she immediately covered her eyes until they got used to how much brighter it was above water than below. Once they'd adjusted and she could see normally without having to squint she took out the strange little pipe she'd found and blew. A pathetic squeak emerged.
"Well I guess it's not an instrument then," Luna observed dryly. "No instrument above or below the sea ever sounded anything like that."
"Well, then what is it? Oooohh, this is going to bug me for weeks I know it."
"Well there's not much I can do about it Serena, I'm not exactly an expert on Drylander things."
"I know, I know. I'll put it with the rest of our stash and then do some research later. Right now though I want to go to the beach."
For several months now Serena had been visiting a particular beach on the coast where a certain seagull could often be found.
Luna sighed and nodded her assent, there would be no dealing with Serena until she found out if he was there or not.
"Lets go then!" Serena did a quick somersault underwater and then arrowed off towards the mainland. After several leagues they finally saw the rising seabed that signalled the beach was not far off. Serena was almost breathless with excitement, she couldn't wait to show Melvin her new discoveries.
Melvin was thankfully at the usual spot and Luna looked on indulgently, as he and Serena examined, debated over and experimented with her latest finds, the chief one being the strange pipe which neither of them could figure out a use for. Finally, they ran out of ideas and called their 'meeting' to a close. Melvin promised to see if he could find out about the pipe while Serena promised to look for more treasures.
With one last look at the shore she and Luna dived beneath the waves and turned towards home. Fortunately they managed to avoid being caught before they reached the palace, however as soon as they opened the door to Serena's room she knew she was in deep trouble.