Disclaimer: I own none of this.
Here's the next one, the Little Mermaid! Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 1
King Cor accepted the newborn merman, cradling the boy close to his chest, smiling softly. Talcott would be happy at no longer being the only boy. Seven children! He had never dreamed of being so blessed by Leviathan.
Three days later, his wife and Queen, Aulea, was dead.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
King Clarus laughed as he watched his son playfighting with young Ignis, the poor studious boy exasperated and trying to get Gladio to return to his studies. He loved his son dearly but he was not the mist studious of children, he would prefer to be down at the docks listening to the sailors and their stories or playing in the Castle grounds. Still, his son would be a good King when the time came, he was sure of that.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Come on Noct!" Prompto grinned as the tiny fish swam as fast as he could after the young merman. He had to be careful, his friend was tiny compared to him and he didn't want to accidentally hurt him. He loved his siblings but sometimes he needed time away from them and the Palace.
"I'm trying!" Noctis answered and Prompto scooped him up, swimming for the reef to play.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Gladio stood in formal black, head bowed, as the family crypt was once again sealed, both of his parents now within. He fought against the tears, not wanting to break down where everyone could see. He was too young to be King; the Council would govern in his name until he was older.
He felt a hand slip into his, Ignis offering silent comfort. Gladio had only just turned ten, Ignis a year younger and they were scared.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Gladio grinned securing the rope to glance over at his longest friend and adviser. "Isn't this great? The salty sea air, the wind blowing in your face...a perfect day to be at sea!"
"Oh yes… delightful…" Ignis groaned from where he was clutching the railing, trying not to be sick.
"A fine strong wind and a following sea. King Cor must be in a friendly-type mood," Biggs called out with a grin.
"King Cor?" Gladio asked, sounded like a story he hadn't heard yet.
"Why, ruler of the Merpeople, lad. Thought every good sailor knew about him," Wedge explained as they began raising the nets.
"Merpeople! Gladio, pay no attention to this nautical nonsense," Ignis scoffed, honestly, Merpeople, what would they come up with next?
"But it ain't nonsense, it's the truth! I'm tellin' you, down in the depths o' the ocean they live," Wedge gestured wildly, the fish clutched in his hand flopping wildly until it slipped from his grip and plummeted back into the sea, sighing in relief.
Gladio laughed as Wedge blinked at his now empty hand and the expression on Iggy's face. No matter how stuffy Ignis acted, Gladio never took offence, they had known each other all their lives after all. He trusted Ignis beyond all others. After his Father had died, they had practically raised themselves, with Monica watching over them as head of the Citadel staff. "Relax Ignis, we'll be home by morning," he assured the seasick adviser who nodded and then turned green at the movement, leaning back over the railing, Gladio rubbing his back.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
The six siblings returned to the Palace, worried. Prompto was adventurous, and sometimes forgetful, but to forget the concert? Had something happened to him? They hoped the search parties found him quickly and that he was alright. He was their bright little sunshine, the thought of him hurt or…worse….
If he had forgotten, Nyx would never forgive him.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Prompto, wait for me…" Noctis called, swimming as fast as he could but he could never keep up with a merman.
"Noctis, hurry up!" Prompto turned and grinned, slowing down.
"You know I can't swim that fast," Noctis panted, exhausted.
"There it is. Isn't it fantastic?" Prompto asked, pointing out the sunken ship resting on the seabed ahead.
"Yeah...sure...it - it's great. Now let's get outta here."
"You're not getting cold fins now, are you?" Prompto chided.
"Who, me? No way. It's just, it, err...it looks - damp in there. Yeah. And I think I may be coming down with something. Yeah, I got this cough," Noctis coughed unconvincingly.
"All right. I'm going inside. You can just stay here and - watch for sharks," Prompto offered before swimming towards the ship, slipping in through a round hole in the side.
"O.K. Yeah - you go. I'll stay and - what? Sharks! Prompto!" he swum as fast as he could after his friend, getting stuck in the hole. "Prompto...I can't...I mean- Prompto help!"
"Oh, Noct," Prompto laughed but grabbed his fins to pull him inside.
"Prom, do you really think there might be sharks around here?" he whispered, neither noticing the shark that passed by.
"Noctis, don't be such a guppy."
"I'm not a guppy," he grumbled as Prompto finally pulled him free. "This is great - I mean, I really love this. Excitement, adventure, danger lurking around every corn YAAAAHHHHHHHH! Prompto!" He screamed at the sight of a skull, crashing into a pillar causing it to cave in, before swimming frantically away, knocking Prompto over, the two tumbling in the water until a powerful stroke of Prompto's blue/green tail steadied them.
"Oh, are you okay?" Prompto asked, stroking dark blue and gold scales as Noctis pressed close.
"Yeah sure, no problem, I'm okay…" he chattered.
"Shhh..." Prompto soothed, feeling guilty for bringing Noctis along. He was so small, defenceless compared to Prompto. He spotted something gleaming in the gloomy water. "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Have you ever seen anything so wonderful in your entire life?" Prompto asked, swimming over to pick it up and Noctis looked it over.
"Wow, cool! But, err, what is it?" he asked in confusion.
"I don't know. But I bet Dino will," he grinned, putting it in the kelp bag he carried as a shadow swam by outside.
"What was that? Did you hear something?"
"Hmm, I wonder what this one is?" Prompto picked up another item, looking it over.
"Prompto…"
"Noctis, will you relax. Nothing is going to happen," Prompto assured him even as a shadow grew behind the young fish.
He turned around, eyes widening in terror as he saw the shark approaching. "AH SWIM! Swim! We're gonna die!" he fled from the window as the shark ploughed through it.
Prompto's bright blue eyes went wide in horror, darting forward to grab Noctis, swimming fast through the ship, twisting and turning to stay ahead of their pursuer.
"Oh No!" Noctis gasped as the hole approached, feeling Prompto shove him through before exiting as well, the shark simply smashing through it. They swam up and around a mast but Noctis slammed into a protruding piece, sinking, the shark seeing and going after him. Prompto swam after his friend, terrified, reaching through a human round thing to grab him and then darting back, the shark lunging forward, getting stuck.
"You big bully!" Noctis stuck his tongue out and it snapped at him, sending him rushing away after Prompto who laughed.
"Noctis, you really are a guppy."
"I am not," he grumbled.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Dino lounged on his island humming and looking through his telescope.
"Dino!"
He fumbled the telescope before looking through it the wrong way. "Whoa! Merman off the port bow! Prompto, how you doin' kid?" he yelled and then lowered the telescope to reveal Prompto at wing's length. "Whoa, what a swim!"
"Dino - look what we found," he was excited as he lifted his bag up to empty it.
"Yeah - we were in this sunken ship - it was really creepy."
"Human stuff, huh? Hey, lemme see." He picked up the fork. "Look at this. Wow - this is special - this is very, very unusual."
"What? What is it?" Prompto asked, unable to contain his excitement.
"It's a dinglehopper! Humans use these little babies..." he reached up and twirled it through the feathers on the top of his head, "to straighten their hair out. See - just a little twirl here and a yank there and - voiolay! You got an aesthetically pleasing configuration of hair that humans go nuts over!" his feathers fluffed out crazily.
"A dinglehopper!"
"What about that one?" Noct asked, pointing with a fin.
Dino picked up the pipe to examine. "Ah - this I haven't seen in years. This is wonderful! A banded, bulbous - snarfblat."
"Oohh," they were both awed by his knowledge.
"Now, the snarfblat dates back to prehistorical times, when humans used to sit around, and stare at each other all day. Got very boring. So, they invented the snarfblat to make fine music. Allow me." Dino blew into the pipe; seaweed popping out the other end.
"Music?" blue eyes went wide in horror. "Oh, the concert! Oh my gosh, my father's gonna kill me!"
"The concert was today?" Noctis asked in disbelief.
"Maybe you could make a little planter out of it or somethin'," Dino muttered before Prompto grabbed it, stuffing both objects back into his bag.
"Uh, I'm sorry, I gotta go. Thank you Dino," he waved goodbye before diving.
"Anytime sweetie, anytime," Dino called after them, settling back in to enjoy the day. Maybe he'd go looking for fish later or find a human boat to observe.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Ardyn watched the young prince swim at top speed through the ocean, smirking at the sight. "Yes hurry home, little prince. We wouldn't want to miss old daddy's celebration, now, would we? Huh! Celebration indeed. Bah! In MY day, we had fantastical feasts when I lived in the palace," he shook his head, swimming over to his 'garden'.
"And now, look at me wasted away to practically nothing - banished and exiled and practically starving, while he and his flimsy fish-folk celebrate," he snarled in anger, he would make them all pay! "Well, I'll give 'em something to celebrate soon enough. Caligo! Loqi!" he yelled and the two eels jerked, hitting their heads on the stone above them. "I want you to keep an extra close watch on this pretty little son of his. He may be the key to Cor's undoing…"
The two eels rubbed their heads with their tails before emerging and swimming away from Ardyn's lair, the garden cowering away as they swam overhead.
Ardyn watched them go, smirking. Soon, he would have his revenge on that pompous fool. Dare to banish him, would he? He should have killed Ardyn when he had the chance. Now he would take what Cor loved most before destroying him, see how he liked it. Maybe he'd keep the little prince for himself, maybe he'd kill him, so many choices.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"I just don't know what we're going to do with you, young man," Cor sighed as he stared at his youngest child who had finally shown up, well passed the time of the concert he was meant to have been the star of and his son hung his head.
"Daddy, I'm sorry, I just forgot, I," Prompto offered but Cor cut him off.
"As a result of your careless behaviour,"
"Careless and reckless behaviour!" Nyx butted in; claws crossed.
"The entire celebration was, er," Cor glanced at Nyx, the crab swimming up to face Prompto.
"Well and truly ruined! That's all. Completely destroyed! This concert was to be the pinnacle of my distinguished career. Now thanks to you I am the laughing stock of the entire kingdom!"
"But it wasn't his fault! Ah - well - first, ahh, this shark chased us - yeah - yeah! And we tried to - but we couldn't - and gr and and we whoa oh, and then we were safe. But then this seagull came, and it was this is this, and that is that, and –" Noctis butted in angrily, wanting to defend his friend, even as Prom's hand slapped over his mouth, even as he realised what he had said.
"Seagull?" Cor demanded, leaning forward. "What? Oh - you went up to the surface again, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?" he demanded angrily.
"Nothing – happened…" Prompto ran a nervous hand through his blond hair.
"Oh, Prompto, how many times must we go through this? You could've been seen by one of these barbarians - by - by one of these humans!"
"Daddy, they're not barbarians!"
"They're dangerous. Do you think I want to see my youngest child snared by some fish-eater's hook?"
"I'm 16 years old - I'm not a child anymore –" Prompto glared, arms crossed.
"Don't you take that tone of voice with me young man. As long as you live under my ocean, you'll obey my rules!" Cor snapped at his son; mind filled with images of what could have happened to his beloved child.
"But if you would just listen –"
"Not another word - and I am never, NEVER to hear of you going to the surface again. Is that clear?" he demanded and Prompto glared before his face fell and he spun, swimming away, crying.
"Hm! Teenagers...They think they know everything. You give them an inch; they swim all over you," Nyx shook his head, landing on the arm of the throne.
"Do you, er, think I - I was too hard on him?" Cor asked tiredly.
"Definitely not. Why, if Prompto was my son, I'd show him who was boss. None of this "flitting to the surface" and other such nonsense. No, sir - I'd keep him under tight control."
Cor straightened up as Nyx spoke, watching him with a slowly growing smirk. "You're absolutely right, Nyx."
"Of course."
"Prompto needs constant supervision."
"Constant," Nyx nodded.
"Someone to watch over him - to keep him out of trouble."
"All the time –"
"And YOU are just the crab to do it." Cor smirked and Nyx froze in shock.
What? He stared at his King who nodded, sighing, before bowing and swimming away to land on the floor, scuttling along. "How do I get myself into these situations? I should be writing symphonies - not tagging along after some headstrong teenager," he paused as he saw Prompto and Noctis sneaking off and followed them. "Hmm? What is that boy up to?" He followed them carefully, watching Prompto pull a stone back, slipping through and he scurried through as it began closing, getting stuck. "Huh?" he looked around with wide eyes at the contents of the cave…all human stuff!
"Prompto, are you okay?" Noct asked as Prompto added the two new items to his collection.
"If only I could make him understand. I just don't see things the way he does. I don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things - could be bad," he admitted sadly.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Ignis sat on the stairs, watching Gladio as he worked with the crew. While the journey had not gone to plan, at least Gladio was having fun sailing. His Prince loved the sea but every year he took on more and more responsibility and had less free time to do things he enjoyed in. Ignis tried to do what he could to give him some time. As soon as Gladio chose a partner, he would be crowned King of Insomnia. It was the choosing that was proving…difficult. Hopefully his friend would like the birthday present that the court had sent along with them, though they had further hopes for it, he had doubted those hopes would see fruition.
,,,,,,,,,,,
Nyx finally struggled free and went crashing down, landing in a bowl.
"Nyx!?" Prompto gasped in horror.
"Prompto - what, are you mad? How could you - what is all this?" the crab demanded.
"It, err, it's just my – collection…" Prompto answered nervously, running a hand through his hair.
"Oh. I see. Your collection. Hmmm," he smiled, looking around. "IF YOUR FATHER KNEW ABOUT THIS PLACE HE'D –" he shouted.
"You're not gonna tell him, are you?" Noctis demanded, swimming up in his face.
"Oh, please, Nyx, he would never understand," Prompto begged, eyes wide and Nyx sighed, unable to resist those sad blue eyes.
"Prompto. You're under a lot of pressure down here. Come with me, I'll take you home and get you something warm to drink," he offered, tugging at his hand.
Prompto glanced up as a shadow passed by overhead. "What do you suppose…?"
"Prompto? Prompto!" Nyx yelled as Prompto swam upwards. He broke the surface and stared in amazement as colours burst in the sky. Nyx and Noctis broke the surface nearby.
"Prompto, what - what are you- jumpin' jellyfish!" Nyx gasped and then spotted him swimming towards the lights. 'Prompto, Prompto! Please come back!"
Prompto looked up and then grabbed on the rope, pulling himself up and out of the water until he could see the humans moving around, watching in awe. He froze as something shaggy approached, ducking to the side but eventually he glanced back again only to be licked.
Gladio whistled. "Pelna, here boy. Hey, come on, mutt, whatcha doing, huh Pelna? Good boy."
Prompto saw the black haired human and swallowed hard, eyes wide. He was…wow.
"Hey there, sweetie! Quite a show, eh?" Dino called, flying down towards him and Prompto waved at him wildly.
"Dino, be quiet! They'll hear you."
"Oooh, I gotcha, I gotcha. We're being intrepidatious." He landed beside Prompto. "WE'RE OUT TO DISCOVER!" Prompto grabbed his beak, silencing him.
"I never seen a human this close before. Oh - he's very handsome, isn't he?" he rested his head on his hand dreamily, watching the human move around.
"I dunno, he looks kinda hairy and slobbery to me."
"Not that one –" Prompto turned Dino's head, pointing, "the one playing the snarfblat.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Silence! Silence! It is now my honour and privilege to present our esteemed Prince Gladio with a very special, very expensive, very large birthday present on behalf of the council."
"Ah, Ignis - yold beanpole, you shouldn't have," Gladio laughed, slapping his back. Ignis may be a 'beanpole' but that skinny frame was all lean muscle, well hidden by his formal suites.
"I know. Happy birthday, Gladio!" the cloth was removed to reveal a large, gaudy statue of Gladio. Pelna cocked his head to the side and then growled.
"Gee, Iggy. It's, err, it's, err - it's really somethin'," he offered awkwardly and Ignis coughed into his gloved hand.
"Yes, well…I believe Lord Besithia was the one to commission it. Of course, they had hoped it would be a wedding present, but…" he shrugged elegantly.
Besithia? Well, that explained that. "Come on, Ignis, don't start. Look, you're not still sore because I didn't fall for the princess of Accordo, are you?"
"Oh, Gladio, it isn't me alone. The entire kingdom wants to see you happily settled down with the right person," he admitted.
"Well, they're out there somewhere. I just - I just haven't found them yet," Gladio moved to stand at the railing, looking out at the horizon which he could barely make out, the sun had finished setting.
"Well, perhaps you haven't been looking hard enough," Ignis clasped his shoulder.
"Believe me, Ignis, when I find them, I'll know - without a doubt. It'll just - bam! Hit me - like lightning." Lightning lit up the sky as thunder crashed and Gladio straightened in alarm, storms at sea were never good.
"Hurricane a'commin'! Stand fast! Secure the riggin'!" Tredd yelled down from the crow's nest.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Whoa! The wind's all of a sudden on the move here," Dino clung to the ropes but then lost his grip, tumbling away. "Oh! Prompto …"
The ship crashed through storm as lightning struck the sails, catching them alight ,a rock looming ahead.
Prompto held on tight but eventually his grip failed and he plummeted back into the water, sinking into the calmer waters before heading back to the surface to watch the ship strike the rock.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Look out!" Gladio grabbed the wheel, trying to turn them but it was too late. The ship crashed, sending them most of them tumbling into the water. Gladio and those who remained ran for the boats, lowering one into the water to look for the others. "Iggy, hang on!" he yelled as he spotted his friend, grabbing the back of his coat to haul him out of the sea. He glanced back at the ship and his eyes widened in horror. "Pelna!" he dove out of the boat, swimming for the ship.
"Gladio!" Ignis screamed after him.
Gladio climbed back on board and made his way towards the stairs only for some of the boards to break under his foot, trapping his leg. He held his arms out to his pet. "Jump Pelna! Come on boy, jump! You can do it Pelna," he urged and Pelna finally leapt into his arms. He twisted and threw Pelna overboard, knowing he would swim for Ignis. He grabbed his leg, trying to pull free, seeing flames heading for the remaining fireworks and gunpowder.
"GLADIO!" Ignis screamed loud enough he could hear him over the fire and storm.
Gladio closed his eyes as the ship blew around him.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Prompto pulled back in horror as the ship blew apart in flames. He swam for the wreck, looking around wildly for his human. There was nothing…there! He saw the human slip from a piece of debris, going under, and dove after him. He wrapped an arm around his middle and swam for the surface, humans needed air. He swam all night until he finally reached land, dragging the human up onto the sand, sitting beside him, the sand feeling strange on his tail without the water.
He looked up as Dino landed beside them. "Is he - dead?" please let him have been fast enough.
Dino opened one of Gladio's eyelids. "It's hard to say." He waddled down and lifted a bare foot, pressing it to his ear. "Oh, I - I can't make out a heartbeat."
Prompto trembled but then a soft sigh left the humans lips. "No, look! He's breathing. He's so, beautiful," he gently brushed wet hair from his face. "What would I pay to stay here beside you?" he whispered longingly, feeling the warmth of the rising sun against his back as amber eyes fluttered open, widening as they stared at each other.
Nyx and Noctis had washed up and were watching scene, Noctis pushing Nyx's chin up to shut his mouth.
Hearing something coming, Prompto turned, diving back into the water, moving behind a rock to watch.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Gladio! Oh, Gladio. You really delight in these sadistic strains on my blood pressure, don't you?" Ignis demanded, kneeling beside his Prince as Pelna licked his master.
"A boy - rescued me… He was – singing…he had the most - beautiful voice," he mumbled as Ignis helped him up, stumbling.
Ignis chuckled at his words. "Ah, Gladio, I think you swallowed a bit too much seawater. Off we go. Come on, Pelna," he called after the dog who was playing in the surf. He supported Gladio as they began walking back to the Citadel. He had been terrified when they had seen no sign of Gladio in the water after the explosion. He had thought he had lost him… what were the chances of him washing up on the beach at home?
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"We just gotta forget this whole thing ever happened. The sea king will never know. You won't tell him; I won't tell him. I will stay in one piece," Nyx muttered to Noctis who nodded, no way was he saying anything!
Prompto watched the two humans walk away, silently promising himself that someday, someway, he would see him again.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Caligo and Loqi surfaced, each with an eye glowing gold from Ardyn's magic.
Ardyn laughed as he watched the lovesick merman. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. I can't stand it - it's too easy. The child is in love with a human. And not just any human - a prince! His daddy'll LOVE that. King Cor's headstrong, lovesick boy would make a charming addition to my little garden," he glanced back and his 'garden' cowered from him. Tentacles reached into the cabinet, needing to check he had every component he may need for the plan he was forming.
He would have his vengeance and King Cor would give him everything to save his beloved son.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Talcott watched his little brother, something had changed, but what? As the only boys they stuck together, looked out for each other but Prompto was hiding something. Something that had him humming and sighing…oh! Oh dear, he was only sixteen, Dad might not be ready for this! Not even Aranea had chosen a partner yet and she was the oldest of them. He just hoped they were a nice mermaid or merman and that everything would be okay. The last thing he wanted was Prompto getting his heartbroken.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Prompto, dear, time to come out. You've been in there all morning," Cindy called to her littlest brother. They'd all noticed his odd behaviour over the last few days and she had a feeling she knew why. Who could it be? Finally. Prompto emerged, singing to himself.
"What is with him lately?" Crowe asked, watching her brother as he floated around the room before leaving it, a flower in his hand.
He literally ran into his Dad in the doorway. He smiled and slipped the flower into Cor's hair. "Morning, Daddy," he kissed his cheek before swimming away, twirling happily. Cor chuckled and plucked the flower from behind his ear.
"Oh, he's got it bad," Aranea grinned.
"What? What has he got?" Cor asked in alarm, was Prompto ill?
"Isn't it obvious, Daddy? Prompto's in love," Luna smiled happily, it was so cute!
"Prompto? In love?" Cor stared at his children in shock, it couldn't be…could it?
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Nyx paced on a rock, Prompto lounging above him. "O.K. So far, so good. I don't think the king knows. But it will not be easy keeping something like this a secret for long," he muttered, glancing up as a petal landed on his face.
"He loves me. Hmmm, he loves me not…" he plucked the last petal and squealed, hugging it. "He loves me! I knew it!"
"Prompto, stop talking crazy," Nyx demanded, had he lost all sense? They hadn't even spoken! You couldn't fall in love like that.
"I gotta see him again - tonight! Dino knows where he lives," Prompto grinned, excited with his plan, totally ignoring Nyx.
"Prompto - please. Will you get your head out of the clouds and back in the water where it belongs?" Nyx demanded, grabbing his caudal fin in a claw.
Prompto didn't even notice as he spun about in the water. "I'll swim up to his castle. Then Noctis will splash around to get his attention, and then with –"
"Down HERE is your home!" Nyx yelled, finally getting the prince's attention. "Prompto - listen to me. The human world - it's a mess. Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there. Find a nice mer and settle down with one of your own kind, there are plenty of mermen and maids who would love the chance." He paced and ranted, not noticing when Noctis snuck up and tugged Prompto away until they were long gone. "Prompto? Prompto?" he looked around and sighed. "Oh. Somebody's got to nail that boy's fins to the floor."
"Nyx! Nyx, I've been looking all over for you. I have an urgent message from the sea king!" Libertus called as the seahorse swam up to him.
"The sea king?"
"He wants to see you right away - something about Prompto."
"He knows!" Nyx gulped. He was doomed.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Cor followed Nyx, struggling to control his rage. How many times had he warned Prompto to stay away from the surface, to stay away from humans? They were the reason he was King! Regis should have been the one on the Throne, not him, but Regis had died at human hands, forcing him to become King. Humans could not be trusted, could not be reasoned with. They were worse than any shark, worse than even the sea witch himself! He would not lose his son to them, he would not!
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Gladio flopped down on his bed. It had been several days since Ignis had found him on the beach and he couldn't stop thinking of him…who was he? How had he saved him? they'd bene at sea, where could his mystery boy have come from? He knew Ignis was worried about him but he wanted to see him again, to thank him for saving him, to get to know him.
With the sun behind him, Gladio hadn't been able to make out much but incredibly wide eyes, blue maybe? His hair had been a bot long, tumbling down his shoulders, a light colour. He would have thought his saviour a girl if not for the voice, the voice he couldn't get out of his head!
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Noct, why can't you just tell me what this is all about?" Prompto laughed as he followed his friend to his cave.
"You'll see. It's a surprise," Noctis was excited to see his reaction, he'd had to get a lot of help to get his gift to the cave. Sometimes he hated being so little, and not having hands, that would really help too.
Prompto froze as he saw the statue in centre place, weak sunlight filtering down on it from the surface. "Oh, Noctis- Noctis you're the best! It looks just like him. It even has his eyes," he laughed, twirling around the statue, folding his arms on one of its stone arms. "Why, Gladio, run away with you? This is all so - so sudden…" he turned and gasped as he saw his father emerging from the shadows, trident clutching in one hand, face locked in anger. "Daddy!"
"I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules, and I expect those rules to be obeyed."
"But Daddy!"
"Is it true you rescued a human from drowning?" he demanded.
"Daddy, I had to-"
"Contact between the human world and the mer-world is strictly forbidden. Prompto, you know that. Everyone knows that," Cor snapped at his son.
"He would have died!"
"One less human to worry about!"
"You don't even know him."
"Know him? I don't have to know him. They're all the same. Spineless, savage, harpooning, fish-eaters, incapable of any feeling-"
"Daddy, I love him!" Prompto gasped, slapping his hand over his own mouth, shocked and scared now.
"No…Have you lost your senses completely? He's a human, you're a mermaid!"
Prompto took a shaky breath and met his father's eyes. "I don't care."
"So help me Prompto, I am going to get through to you. And if this is the only way, so be it." he raised his trident and began destroying everything Prompto had collected over the years.
"Daddy!...No…No, please-" he flung himself at his father, grabbing his arm and in doing so left the statue exposed, eyes widening as the king took aim. "Daddy, stop!...Daddy, Nooo!" he howled in grief and fear as the statue shattered. Prompto threw himself down on the rock sobbing and Cor froze.
He sighed and lowered his trident, bowing his head in grief at his sons tears. He hesitated, going to speak, but then he shook his head and left the cave.
"Prompto, I…" Nyx scuttled closer.
"Just go away." Prompto whispered, still crying.
Nyx flinched but slowly left, Noct following him sadly – leaving him alone and vulnerable.
Caligo and Loqi appear slipped out from where they had been lurking, gliding through the water towards the young merman.
"Poor child," Caligo crooned sympathetically.
"Poor, sweet child."
"He has a very serious problem," Caligo swam lower as Prompto lifted his head to stare at them warily.
"If only there were something we could do," Loqi sighed.
"But there is something."
"Who - who are you?" Prompto pushed up from the rock, ready to bolt.
"Don't be scared," Loqi cooed.
"We represent someone who can help you."
"Someone who could make all your dreams come true."
"Just imagine –" they began in unison.
"You and your prince –" Loqi continued.
"Together, forever…" they finished together, twining their bodies into a heart shape and Prompto stared at them in confusion.
"I don't understand."
"Ardyn has great powers," Caligo answered and Prompto gasped, flinching back.
"The sea witch? Why, that's - I couldn't possibly - no! Get out of here! Leave me alone!" he commanded, going back to the rock.
"Suit yourself."
"It was only a suggestion." Loqi flicked the statue's broken face towards Prompto with his tail as they began to leave.
Prompto picked up the stone, staring at the chiselled face, torn. "Wait."
"Yeeeeeeeeeess?"
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Noctis sniffled, "Poor Prompto."
"I didn't mean to tell, it was an accident," Nyx promised, he had never wanted to be the cause of that! He looked up as Prompto's shadow passed overhead. "Prompto - where are you going? Prompto, what are you doing here with this riff-raff?" he demanded, struggling to keep up.
"I'm going to see Ardyn," Prompto answered stiffly, without even looking at him, an eel on either side.
"Prompto, no! No, he's a demon, he's a monster!" Nyx called and Prompto finally looked at him, glaring tearfully.
"Why don't you go tell my father? You're good at that."
"But…But, I…" they swam on and he looked at Noctis, "Come on." The began following the trio, hoping to stop Prompto before he did anything crazy.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Prompto hesitated as they reached a foreboding cave…it almost looked the skeleton of a massive creature, with the mouth as the entrance.
"This way," they called and he took a deep breath, following them inside, only to gasp as something lunged up, wrapping around his wrist. Strange, shrivelled creatures tried to hold him back and he struggled to get free.
"Come in. Come in, my child. We mustn't lurk in doorways - it's rude. One MIGHT question your upbringing…." A masculine voice chuckled and Prompto finally managed to get free, entering a room with a bubbling cauldron in the middle. From a floating shell, tentacles emerged and then the sea witch became visible. He had wild red/violet hair hanging down his shoulders and purplish skin that led down to black tentacles, and his eyes were gold.
Ardyn smirked at him. "Now, then. You're here because you have a thing for this human. This, er, prince fellow. Not that I blame you - he is quite a catch, isn't he?" Ardyn snapped his fingers, chuckling. "Well, angel fish, the solution to your problem is simple. The only way to get what you want - is to become a human yourself.
"Can you DO that?" was that even possible?
"My dear, sweet child. That's what I do - it's what I live for. To help unfortunate merfolk - like yourself. Poor souls with no one else to turn to," Ardyn smiled widely, a tentacle coming up to caress Prompto's cheek and he moved back a bit, unnerved. "Granted, I have a reputation, but I assure you, I've mended my ways. Now I use my meagre talents to help those in need, like yourself." He waved his hand above the cauldron, bring up the image of a mermaid and merman, the girl over wait and the man scrawny. "See, one longing to be thin and the other to get the girl. So of course, I helped them," he snapped and their images changed, embracing. "Of course, now and then, those whom I help, can't pay the price and well… I'm afraid I had to rake 'em 'cross the coals."
Prompto fought not to recoil as the images shrank down…to match the creatures that had tried to hold him back.
"Now, here's the deal. I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days. Got that? Three days. Now listen, this is important. Before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get dear ol' princey to fall in love with you. That is, he's got to kiss you. Not just any kiss - the kiss of true love. If he does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day, you'll remain human, permanently, but - if he doesn't, you turn back into a mermaid, and - you belong to me," Ardyn explained as he went to the cabinet to get the necessary ingredient.
"No Promp- urmmmm," Nyx was cut off as the eels restrained him and Noctis, silencing them as they struggled.
"Have we got a deal?"
"If I become human, I'll never be with my father or siblings again," Prompto whispered, could he do that?
"That's right. . . . But - you'll have your man. Life's full of tough choices, innit? Oh - and there is one more thing. We haven't discussed the subject of payment. You can't get something for nothing, you know," Ardyn smirked, back to Prompto.
"But I don't have any –"
"I'm not asking much. Just a token, really, a trifle. You'll never even miss it. What I want from you is…your voice."
"My voice?" a hand went to his throat. How could he live without his voice? How could he get Gladio to fall in love with him?
"You've got it, sunshine. No more talking, singing, zip," Ardyn mimed zipping his lips.
"But without my voice, how can I –
"You'll have your looks! Your pretty face! And don't underestimate the importance of body language! Ha!" Ardyn laughed and began tossing bottles in the cauldron. "Trust me child! The men up there don't like a lot of blabber. Come on, you poor unfortunate soul," Ardyn crooned in his ear, tentacles around his shoulders. "Go ahead, make your choice! I'm a very busy man, and I haven't got all day," he warned before a golden scroll and pen appeared.
Prompto hesitated, torn, and then an image of Gladio formed in a bubble and he reached for the pen, taking a deep breath before signing, not seeing the triumphant expression as Ardyn released him, moving to the cauldron, speaking words Prompto couldn't understand.
"Now…sing!" he commanded.
Prompto opened his mouth, simply vocalising since he wasn't sure what else to do. He fought not to try and swim away as clawed hands rose from the concoction, one swiped at his throat and missed, fading away, but the other moved down his throat and he gasped, clutching his neck even as it pulled out with a glowing orb…that kept singing. He tried to speak, to make any sound, but nothing happened. A bubble formed around him and he writhed within it, mouth open in a silent scream.
The bubble popped and he hung there, before beginning to franticly try and kick, unable to breath.
Noctis and Nyx swam towards him, pulling and pushing him to the surface where he gasped in a breath of air, limp between them as they began heading for shore.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Ardyn watched them go, rubbing the shell that contained the boy's voice. He really did have a nice singing voice and it would come in handy should the child actually appear to be close to receiving the needed kiss. Nothing in the contract said he had to play fair and he had a much bigger prize in mind than the youngest Prince. No, Cor's Kingdom would be his and all the power that came with it.
TBC…
I couldn't think of a better title than sea witch and witch can be a guy so I left it.