Urchin didn't know whether to be amused or annoyed. Ever since he had woken up he had been watched like a hawk by his friends. It didn't help that he was confined to his tank/bed. Not that he could move anyway. Erik still hadn't given him his legs and refused to until he was sure the young merman would be alright.
Which actually suited Urchin just fine. He was healing nicely but was still sore around the middle. His magic was healing him.
His eyes went wide one day when Corla walked in human sized! "C-Corla what happened?!"
She smiled as she knelt beside the merman. Her wings were gone and she was dressed in a red dress with a white corset. "Erik was able to give me a human form." She blushed before she kissed his cheek. "You're so brave Urchin and so sweet. I've been wanting to swim with you for a long time. I...I fell in love with you."
Urchin's eyes went wide as he looked at her. "Corla…" He swallowed. "You...you didn't have to give up anything for me."
"I wanted to. I still have my magic just not my wings." She smiled. "I'd rather have a tail."
He swallowed before smiling shyly. "I bet you'll be a beautiful mermaid. I...fell in love with you too...a long time ago."
She blushed with a smile.
Urchin reached out and cupped her cheek. She blushed as they both shut their eyes and kissed.
"Well well well don't let us interrupt!"
They blushed and pulled away before turning to the door seeing Silas and Erik both grinning wide.
Both men grinned as they walked in and over to the two.
"How do you feel Urchin?" Erik asked eyes dancing in amusement.
"Good enough to walk," Urchin said hopefully.
Silas chuckled. "You seem alright now."
"Yes well seeming alright and being alright are two very different things," Erik said sternly making the merman roll his eyes.
Urchin grumbled as he let Erik look him over. Corla smiled as she stood up and stood next to Silas.
Erik finished before shaking his head with a fond smile. With a wave of his hand Urchin was given his legs and Corla stepped out so that he could dress. He and Silas helped Urchin out of the tank and dried him off before dressing him one of the outfits the royals had tailored for him.
"Alright you can walk but take it easy," Erik said chuckling. "Everyone's waiting for you."
Urchin looked at him confused. "Huh?"
The two just grinned and lead him him out to the throne room. Once at the door Raina smiled brightly before hugging him. "Oh thank goodness!"
He returned the embrace and and blushed when she kissed his cheek. "I'm ok Raina."
She pulled away and smiled tearfully. "You scared us Urchin. For awhile we thought you'd leave us."
Urchin smiled. "How could I? I have too much to live for."
She nodded. "Wait here until I call you." She went in and curtsied to the royals. "There is someone awaiting an audience with their majesties."
Truan nodded. "Very well. Announce them."
SHe smiled as she straightened. "Announcing the Sea Prince, Urchin!"
They stared as Urchin came in and bowed before them. After a moment dignity went out the window as they flew from their thrones and enveloped the merman in their arms! Tears fell freely. Words weren't spoken but they were felt.
Corla and Raina smiled tearfully at the scene before them. Silas and Erik smiled gently knowing how much the young merman meant to the couple.
When they finally pulled apart Truan put both hands on his shoulders. "It is good to see you up and about Urchin. You will be glad to know that Romas is in a tank in our dungeon."
"What are you going to do with him?" he asked uncertainly.
"That, my boy, is entirely up to you. Your word on his fate will be law and carried out."
He took a deep breath. "I'd like to try to bring his good forward. It's never been attempted before. His magic must be taken."
"Already done," Erik said. "While you were asleep I enchanted a pair of wrist guards and they were put on him. They are suppressing his magic."
Urchin nodded.
King Truan looked to the guards. "Bring up the tank. It's time Romas was punished." He turned back to the boy and smiled. "Lets get you ready. You alone hold the power to decide his fate. He can be killed. He can be set up in the town square as an exhibit. He can be human for the remainder of his life. Follow the law of your people."
He nodded as he was lead back to his room and dressed in royal garb that still held remnants of the sea. Queen Isabella took out the crown that they had made specifically for him and placed it on his head.
He was then lead back to the throne room where Romas was waiting.
The two locked eyes and Romas glared at him coldy. "So...you have become one of them eh little dolphintale?"
"Romas…" Urchin took a deep breath before putting his hand on the tank. "This is your only chance. Let me try to help you."
Romas snarled. "I don't want your help! Order my death and be done with it Urchin!"
Urchin's hand glowed white and everyone waited.
He frowned when nothing happened. The merman pulled his hand away and looked at it. "I don't understand…"
Romas smirked. "I'm immune to your light magic. You can't change me."
"When did that happen?"
"You really don't know your history?" He smirked. "Of course not. I killed your parents."
Urchin's eyes went wide and his wasn't the only ones! "Wh-what?"
He smirked wickedly. "Your father I killed in battle. He died protecting you and your mother. She swam away and I hunted her down. She hid you within the reefs before turning to fight me."
Urchin swallowed as his hands clenched. He felt Silas put his hands on his shoulders.
When I killed her the other dolphintales came and chased me away. I swore I'd end you and finish what I started."
Urchin's eyes hardened. "Death is too good for you Romas! You don't win! Your fate is in my hands now!" He took a deep breath. "Romas...I sentence you to live the rest of your miserable life in this tank and put on display for the kingdom to see!" Tears fell from his eyes and his voice cracked in pain. "The war ends now! The killings end now! We're all that's left of our people! It's just us Romas! This is senseless! What started it?"
Romas looked into the tearful eyes of his enemy. "Ruling the ocean. Only one species of merman can rule."
Silas wrapped his arms around Urchin and held him protectively. He glared at Romas. "Urchin is now the ruler. He's right. Death is too good for you."
He was about to speak again but Erik stepped forward and took his voice away. Romas glared at the wizard but Erik glared right back! "You will never harm anyone ever again!"
"Captain, take Urchin to his room," Truan growled. "Stay with him. Corla, Raina go prepare yourselves for the ball."
"B-ball?" Urchin asked.
Isabella nodded. "We are going to celebrate your recovery tonight. Tomorrow morning you and Corla will return to the sea."
Urchin swallowed before burying his face in Silas' shoulder as the captain lead him away.
"Erik…" When the wizard turned to the king, Truan smirked. "Don't enjoy making this exhibit too much."
The wizard only smirked back before turning to Romas making the merman nervous.
Once in the room Silas sat in a corner with Urchin in his arms. His own heart broke when Urchin let out body wracking sobs that shook his entire frame. The captain said nothing as he comforted the young merman.
After a long moment Urchin let out a shaky breath. "I'm sorry…"
"Don't be Little Buddy. I'm so sorry about your parents. They were brave and they loved you." He held him at arms length and cupped his cheek making him look up and meet his eyes. Urchin swallowed at the softness in his eyes. He then smiled gently as he leaned forward and kissed his forehead in a fatherly fashion. "You will always be my first mate."
Urchin smiled tearfully before hugging him.
That night Urchin stood with the royals and his eyes went wide when he saw Corla dressed in a beautiful gown and looking like a princess.
She smiled as she approached Urchin and curtsied.
He blushed and smiled before bowing and holding out his hand. "Would you like to dance?"
She blushed lightly with a smile as she put her hand in his and went to the center of the ballroom.
When the music started he lead her in a waltz and everyone smiled as they watched them. The night passed in joyous celebration.
The next morning both Urchin and Corla sat on the rock and held hands as Erik gave them both dolphintales. He smiled as he watched them jump into the water and swim away.
Raina smiled as she wrapped her arms around Erik and returned the embrace. Not too far away King Truan and Queen Isabella smiled as they too held each other and watched the sunrise over the cove where the Gilligan sailed as the official ship of the royal family.
Silas stood by the railing of his ship and looked at the water where he saw two tails swimming and jumping as they went out of the cove and into the ocean. He knew they would always be nearby. The captain pulled out his flask and opened it but instead of drinking he poured it over the side and into the sea.
Prince Urchin and Princess Corla swam and dove through the water hand in hand towards their bright future.
And of course, they all lived happily ever after.
The End.
Credits:
Urchin: Gilligan
Silas: Skipper
Erik: Professor
Corla: Mary Ann
Raina: Ginger
King Truan: Mr Howell
Queen Isabella: Mrs Howell
Romas: Jonathan Kinkaid
Thank you all for your support and reviews. I hope you enjoyed this little fairy tale as much as i enjoyed writing it.
