I know I was ranting last chapter and I apologize for dumping my arguments
on the site. But it was something I had to address, especially when
connecting to this fanfiction. I have to admit that I'm growing fond of
this story and am even considering rewriting it to an original novel
format.
Yeah, it's going to be hard to rewrite it, especially with new characters and everything. But I'm sure this can be an intriguing novel, especially if I can dig up a decent editor for my work. The only one I know of who is available probably won't do it for me though. He's a bit of a homophobe.
Thank you for all of your support and encouragement. Just wondering but is anyone out there willing to do artwork for this story? Let me know through reviews and maybe we can work things out.
And don't worry, those of you who worry about a Disney turn. Pegasus will be the character the original sea witch is: only doing everything for the amusement value. He won't be stealing Yami away with the voice. And as for the ending... sore wa hitmitsu desu (It's a secret.), to quote a very annoying mazoku.
Adrian: /dryly/ Which means you haven't thought of it yet.
You! /pummel pummel/
By the way, The Six of Hearts, the story you're wondering about is "The Fisherman and his Soul," by Oscar Wilde. And Kender, thanks for the idea and here it is!
...
Foundling from the Sea
...
I was dreaming.
I was walking, floating along the beach. My tail and fins were gone, replaced by the legs of a human. I moved like the wind, like a delicate bubble hovering. But pain stabbed me, ripped through the soles of my new feet as I walked.
I looked down at the sands.
My way was paved out for me with sharp knives as shards of glass glittered in place of grains of sand. I cried out as my legs moved on mindlessly, as the knives bit deeper, the shards dug in.
I left a trail of blood behind me as I walked down the glittering road of pain that went nowhere.
I was alone in a world of glass and gray sky.
...
My eyes opened and I was lost in ruby red as something gently shook me.
"Are you all right?" came a sonorous, familiar voice.
Yami! I scrambled to get up, trying to speak. But reality crushed me as I remembered that my voice was the price for this meeting.
The prince gently pushed me down with his firm hands. "Easy there, little one," he said. I looked down.
I had legs! I was a human! The sand pleasantly rubbed against new flesh, a thousand new touches that jolted my mind. [1] How curious it was to be human! To have a divided tail that could support the body upon land. But other things diverted me from the new, amazing physical senses of new limbs. I looked to Yami, able to observe him awake and close.
He was... unbelievable. His body moved easily, like a graceful dolphin, with all the strength of an orca. Early morning sun glistened upon his hair, its wild spikes and coloring, and his ruby red eyes glanced at me, curious. He noticed my state and I could see red dot at his cheeks and ears.
Swiftly, he took off the dark cloak he wore and wrapped it about me. "Where have you come from?" he whispered, his hand touching my cheek, his ruby red eyes studying me. "You look so much like me..."
Ah, how that touch was heaven! I leaned into it, my eyes closing slightly. "Can you speak, little foundling?" he continued. "Or is it that you cannot understand me?"
I shook my head slowly and opened my mouth, gesturing my inability to speak. His eyes softened faintly. "You remind me of someone," he said to me. "A sea spirit perhaps... who saved me, who watched over me, and guarded me to safe waters. But- it is not possible." He shook his head, as if trying to shake away fog.
My heart rose only to sink. His intuition was correct but he denied it. His hand cupped my chin.
"Violet eyes, so rare," he murmured. "You are a curious, exotic being. Are you sure you are human?"
I felt blood rush to my face and I tried to look away. He laughed softly, his deep voice rumbling.
"So shy! Well, wherever you are from or what you are, I cannot leave you here, exposed so." He then lifted me, cradling me in his strong arms.
I mouthed a yelp of surprise then felt my face grow hot as my head leaned upon Yami's firm chest. I could hear his heart thud and I moved closer, to listen better.
"You are so light," he marveled. "As if your bones are hollow. Perhaps you are something not of this world. Shall I have you touch a sword and kiss a cross?" His tone was teasing.
I blinked at him in confusion. Whatever did he mean by that? He studied my face. "Perhaps you do not know of such customs. Well, my little foundling from the sea, let us get you properly attired, ne?" He smiled at me and I melted at seeing that warm expression offered to me and to me alone.
...
Yami himself escorted me, allowing no one to take me. I flushed, trying to shrink from the curious looks of some humans as he took me into the castle through a small gate leading from the cliff stairway. He headed through a set of magnificent, imposing doors and entered an enormous chamber.
The ceilings loomed high as a curious thing made of thousands of pieces of crystal glittered and shed soft light below at us. Enormous tapestries of many colors covered the walls of stone and hung from the ceiling, covered in strange designs. An enormous staircase descended from above, covered with a red and gold carpet.
Many people milled about the chamber, guards with shining armor and dark violet coats, maids in gowns of pink and pale blue, men in violet tunics. There were curious glances cast my way and the buzzing of conversation quieted as all there bowed or dipped low. "Prince Yami," they murmured. I could see the curiosity in their eyes as they glanced at me through long lashes or from the corner of their vision. But they quickly looked away, as to not be impudent to royalty.
Yami nodded graciously before walking on. He took me through corridors tiled with marble and covered with soft carpets. Portraits of regal humans stared down at me gravely and imperiously. The walls were of many wood panels, gleaming red-brown. Soon we were in an enormous chamber with white walls and a floor patterned with black and white.
There was an enormous white basin of some sort, supported by four metal props in a corner. An enormous mirror, framed with gold, covered most of one wall. Tables were set against the wall, jars and bottles set against them.
Yami gently set me down and briskly went to a crimson cord hanging down from the ceiling and pulled it. I could hear the distant chiming of a bell. The prince turned to look at me.
"Are you afraid?" he asked, gently.
I shook my head. But I was lying. To hide my eyes, I turned to the single window in the room, at the sky outside and seabirds wheeling.
"But I think it would," he continued, voice still gentle. "Are you from some foreign land, voiceless one?" I could hear him walking toward me then kneel before me. He gently turned my face to look at him. "I believe you understand my words. But you have no voice to tell me what I wish to know... How did you come to that beach? Where are you from?"
His touch upon my face, his voice so tender... I thought my heart would burst. Then the door opened. Servants came in. They bore buckets of water to fill the enormous white basin with. Once done, they filed out, only to come back with more water. Soon the basin had steam rising faintly from it. Yami dismissed the servants soon after and they left silently.
He gently parted the cloak from me and I flushed. But I knew it was necessary. The cloth fell in folds onto the ground as he lifted me and carried me to the basin. Gently, he set me in the warm water.
It was pleasant, immersed in warmth and sweet-smelling steam. Yami rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. He deftly opened a bottle, pouring out sweet- smelling oil, which he applied to my hair.
"Your hair is very similar to mine," he told me, voicing his thoughts aloud for my benefit. "I suppose it would require the same cleansing as mine does."
I smiled at him shyly, nodding. He laughed aloud, strong hands massaging the oil into my hair and into my scalp. I sighed happily, leaning back and closing my eyes. It was incredibly soothing.
Soon the heaven had to end however and he gently roused me from the half slumber I had been in so I could rinse the oil from my hair. I flushed, ducking under the water to get the sweet substance out. He watched me as I sat up.
"You are indeed a nymph," he murmured with admiration. "An undine of the sea..."
I flushed, ducking my head and feeling water drip from my dampened hair. "But a shy one," Yami teased. He got up, heading over to a cabinet and opening it. Taking out a long strip of cloth, he came back.
"I believe you have spent enough time in the water, my nymph," he said.
Still flushed, I slowly rose and he helped me from the enormous basin. Pain stabbed up the soles of my feat. I was reminded sharply of the second price of my new limbs, tears leaping unbidden to my eyes.
Gasping silently with pain, I stumbled out of the white bowl and Yami caught me. Concern was in his eyes. "Are you all right?" he asked worriedly. I nodded, catching my breath from the pain.
Then tenderly, he dried me with the cloth. It was soft and curiously textured, as my flesh tingled after each gentle touch and pat. Leaving me wrapped in the cloth, he pulled the bellrope again.
Servants came again and I shrunk into my garment. A group of maids pulled me away and I looked to Yami, fear in my eyes.
"It is all right, just follow them," he soothed. I nodded and let them take me away.
Pain stabbed my feet as I followed them, my steps light and floating. I trod a path of blades and glass once again, but unlike my dream, this path was invisible to all eyes. Tears still welled up in my eyes but I bit my lip, trying to forget the pain.
The maids chattered and stared but I didn't listen, so intent was I on enduring this stabbing pain in my feet. It was after a century of agony we finally stopped. The maids stripped the towel from me and I flushed, realizing my nakedness in front of them and I moved to cover myself.
They giggled but swiftly dressed me. Silken undergarments, a soft shirt of white, the long tubes of cloth that human men wore of black cloth, and a curious garment of purple cloth that had no sleeves but fastened with buttons of pearl. They combed my hair and dried it and drew strange things of white cloth over my hands. My feet were shod in tubes of thin white cloth and shoes of supple, thick black cloth.
I turned, only to see my reflection in a long mirror, as a maid slipped a fine silver chain about my neck. The new garments were not uncomfortable, just- disorientating. I touched my reflection in wonder. Was this truly I? A human with real legs instead of a fish's tail?
For a moment, my heart panged, remembering the life I had left. Father, Ryuuji, Malik, Honda... they were still there, in the ocean. And I would never be with them again.
...
[1] I had to think about this part. Well, along with the legs, you do have to get some other parts of the anatomy... ahem. But I'm going to keep this relatively clean. /flinches at the chorus of "Yeah right! And what do you call the part with Pegasus?!"/
Man, this story has gotten so much attention. I started writing this on a whim, never thinking it would go far. It was for my own amusement, really. This story saw me through some tough times though. Breakdowns, broken friendships, new friendships, turmoil at school and home. And it's becoming something very fond to me.
Yeah, it's going to be hard to rewrite it, especially with new characters and everything. But I'm sure this can be an intriguing novel, especially if I can dig up a decent editor for my work. The only one I know of who is available probably won't do it for me though. He's a bit of a homophobe.
Thank you for all of your support and encouragement. Just wondering but is anyone out there willing to do artwork for this story? Let me know through reviews and maybe we can work things out.
And don't worry, those of you who worry about a Disney turn. Pegasus will be the character the original sea witch is: only doing everything for the amusement value. He won't be stealing Yami away with the voice. And as for the ending... sore wa hitmitsu desu (It's a secret.), to quote a very annoying mazoku.
Adrian: /dryly/ Which means you haven't thought of it yet.
You! /pummel pummel/
By the way, The Six of Hearts, the story you're wondering about is "The Fisherman and his Soul," by Oscar Wilde. And Kender, thanks for the idea and here it is!
...
Foundling from the Sea
...
I was dreaming.
I was walking, floating along the beach. My tail and fins were gone, replaced by the legs of a human. I moved like the wind, like a delicate bubble hovering. But pain stabbed me, ripped through the soles of my new feet as I walked.
I looked down at the sands.
My way was paved out for me with sharp knives as shards of glass glittered in place of grains of sand. I cried out as my legs moved on mindlessly, as the knives bit deeper, the shards dug in.
I left a trail of blood behind me as I walked down the glittering road of pain that went nowhere.
I was alone in a world of glass and gray sky.
...
My eyes opened and I was lost in ruby red as something gently shook me.
"Are you all right?" came a sonorous, familiar voice.
Yami! I scrambled to get up, trying to speak. But reality crushed me as I remembered that my voice was the price for this meeting.
The prince gently pushed me down with his firm hands. "Easy there, little one," he said. I looked down.
I had legs! I was a human! The sand pleasantly rubbed against new flesh, a thousand new touches that jolted my mind. [1] How curious it was to be human! To have a divided tail that could support the body upon land. But other things diverted me from the new, amazing physical senses of new limbs. I looked to Yami, able to observe him awake and close.
He was... unbelievable. His body moved easily, like a graceful dolphin, with all the strength of an orca. Early morning sun glistened upon his hair, its wild spikes and coloring, and his ruby red eyes glanced at me, curious. He noticed my state and I could see red dot at his cheeks and ears.
Swiftly, he took off the dark cloak he wore and wrapped it about me. "Where have you come from?" he whispered, his hand touching my cheek, his ruby red eyes studying me. "You look so much like me..."
Ah, how that touch was heaven! I leaned into it, my eyes closing slightly. "Can you speak, little foundling?" he continued. "Or is it that you cannot understand me?"
I shook my head slowly and opened my mouth, gesturing my inability to speak. His eyes softened faintly. "You remind me of someone," he said to me. "A sea spirit perhaps... who saved me, who watched over me, and guarded me to safe waters. But- it is not possible." He shook his head, as if trying to shake away fog.
My heart rose only to sink. His intuition was correct but he denied it. His hand cupped my chin.
"Violet eyes, so rare," he murmured. "You are a curious, exotic being. Are you sure you are human?"
I felt blood rush to my face and I tried to look away. He laughed softly, his deep voice rumbling.
"So shy! Well, wherever you are from or what you are, I cannot leave you here, exposed so." He then lifted me, cradling me in his strong arms.
I mouthed a yelp of surprise then felt my face grow hot as my head leaned upon Yami's firm chest. I could hear his heart thud and I moved closer, to listen better.
"You are so light," he marveled. "As if your bones are hollow. Perhaps you are something not of this world. Shall I have you touch a sword and kiss a cross?" His tone was teasing.
I blinked at him in confusion. Whatever did he mean by that? He studied my face. "Perhaps you do not know of such customs. Well, my little foundling from the sea, let us get you properly attired, ne?" He smiled at me and I melted at seeing that warm expression offered to me and to me alone.
...
Yami himself escorted me, allowing no one to take me. I flushed, trying to shrink from the curious looks of some humans as he took me into the castle through a small gate leading from the cliff stairway. He headed through a set of magnificent, imposing doors and entered an enormous chamber.
The ceilings loomed high as a curious thing made of thousands of pieces of crystal glittered and shed soft light below at us. Enormous tapestries of many colors covered the walls of stone and hung from the ceiling, covered in strange designs. An enormous staircase descended from above, covered with a red and gold carpet.
Many people milled about the chamber, guards with shining armor and dark violet coats, maids in gowns of pink and pale blue, men in violet tunics. There were curious glances cast my way and the buzzing of conversation quieted as all there bowed or dipped low. "Prince Yami," they murmured. I could see the curiosity in their eyes as they glanced at me through long lashes or from the corner of their vision. But they quickly looked away, as to not be impudent to royalty.
Yami nodded graciously before walking on. He took me through corridors tiled with marble and covered with soft carpets. Portraits of regal humans stared down at me gravely and imperiously. The walls were of many wood panels, gleaming red-brown. Soon we were in an enormous chamber with white walls and a floor patterned with black and white.
There was an enormous white basin of some sort, supported by four metal props in a corner. An enormous mirror, framed with gold, covered most of one wall. Tables were set against the wall, jars and bottles set against them.
Yami gently set me down and briskly went to a crimson cord hanging down from the ceiling and pulled it. I could hear the distant chiming of a bell. The prince turned to look at me.
"Are you afraid?" he asked, gently.
I shook my head. But I was lying. To hide my eyes, I turned to the single window in the room, at the sky outside and seabirds wheeling.
"But I think it would," he continued, voice still gentle. "Are you from some foreign land, voiceless one?" I could hear him walking toward me then kneel before me. He gently turned my face to look at him. "I believe you understand my words. But you have no voice to tell me what I wish to know... How did you come to that beach? Where are you from?"
His touch upon my face, his voice so tender... I thought my heart would burst. Then the door opened. Servants came in. They bore buckets of water to fill the enormous white basin with. Once done, they filed out, only to come back with more water. Soon the basin had steam rising faintly from it. Yami dismissed the servants soon after and they left silently.
He gently parted the cloak from me and I flushed. But I knew it was necessary. The cloth fell in folds onto the ground as he lifted me and carried me to the basin. Gently, he set me in the warm water.
It was pleasant, immersed in warmth and sweet-smelling steam. Yami rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. He deftly opened a bottle, pouring out sweet- smelling oil, which he applied to my hair.
"Your hair is very similar to mine," he told me, voicing his thoughts aloud for my benefit. "I suppose it would require the same cleansing as mine does."
I smiled at him shyly, nodding. He laughed aloud, strong hands massaging the oil into my hair and into my scalp. I sighed happily, leaning back and closing my eyes. It was incredibly soothing.
Soon the heaven had to end however and he gently roused me from the half slumber I had been in so I could rinse the oil from my hair. I flushed, ducking under the water to get the sweet substance out. He watched me as I sat up.
"You are indeed a nymph," he murmured with admiration. "An undine of the sea..."
I flushed, ducking my head and feeling water drip from my dampened hair. "But a shy one," Yami teased. He got up, heading over to a cabinet and opening it. Taking out a long strip of cloth, he came back.
"I believe you have spent enough time in the water, my nymph," he said.
Still flushed, I slowly rose and he helped me from the enormous basin. Pain stabbed up the soles of my feat. I was reminded sharply of the second price of my new limbs, tears leaping unbidden to my eyes.
Gasping silently with pain, I stumbled out of the white bowl and Yami caught me. Concern was in his eyes. "Are you all right?" he asked worriedly. I nodded, catching my breath from the pain.
Then tenderly, he dried me with the cloth. It was soft and curiously textured, as my flesh tingled after each gentle touch and pat. Leaving me wrapped in the cloth, he pulled the bellrope again.
Servants came again and I shrunk into my garment. A group of maids pulled me away and I looked to Yami, fear in my eyes.
"It is all right, just follow them," he soothed. I nodded and let them take me away.
Pain stabbed my feet as I followed them, my steps light and floating. I trod a path of blades and glass once again, but unlike my dream, this path was invisible to all eyes. Tears still welled up in my eyes but I bit my lip, trying to forget the pain.
The maids chattered and stared but I didn't listen, so intent was I on enduring this stabbing pain in my feet. It was after a century of agony we finally stopped. The maids stripped the towel from me and I flushed, realizing my nakedness in front of them and I moved to cover myself.
They giggled but swiftly dressed me. Silken undergarments, a soft shirt of white, the long tubes of cloth that human men wore of black cloth, and a curious garment of purple cloth that had no sleeves but fastened with buttons of pearl. They combed my hair and dried it and drew strange things of white cloth over my hands. My feet were shod in tubes of thin white cloth and shoes of supple, thick black cloth.
I turned, only to see my reflection in a long mirror, as a maid slipped a fine silver chain about my neck. The new garments were not uncomfortable, just- disorientating. I touched my reflection in wonder. Was this truly I? A human with real legs instead of a fish's tail?
For a moment, my heart panged, remembering the life I had left. Father, Ryuuji, Malik, Honda... they were still there, in the ocean. And I would never be with them again.
...
[1] I had to think about this part. Well, along with the legs, you do have to get some other parts of the anatomy... ahem. But I'm going to keep this relatively clean. /flinches at the chorus of "Yeah right! And what do you call the part with Pegasus?!"/
Man, this story has gotten so much attention. I started writing this on a whim, never thinking it would go far. It was for my own amusement, really. This story saw me through some tough times though. Breakdowns, broken friendships, new friendships, turmoil at school and home. And it's becoming something very fond to me.