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The L i t t l e Mermaid

written by oathk33p3r

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Disclaimer: I own neither The Little Mermaid nor Kingdom Hearts. However, there will be several moments in this parody that are completely original.


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"Do not worry, miss. It will not take long to reach the castle."

The human tightened his grip around Kairi's waist and arm as he patiently waited for her to take the next step. Her forehead was beaded with sweat, and her breaths heavy. Walking was still brand new to her, and bringing one foot in front of the other seemed to involve so much focus, so much energy—energy she didn't have. She never experienced perspiration either, for she never had the need to. Despite her struggle, she was highly amused by the droplets forming on her forehead as she wiped them away.

She never felt this hot and sticky in her life. The human's coat clung onto her naked skin and made walking more difficult than it already was. Eventually, she let out an exasperated sigh and peeled it off of her.

The human's eyes widened in utter shock and he quickly turned away, blushing furiously. He cleared his throat a few times and then stammered: "Miss, p-please cover yourself."

Kairi turned towards the human in annoyed confusion. Why was he so desperate to cover her up? She looked down to make sure her breasts were still covered, for having them exposed would be extremely embarrassing.

It was until then she realized why he was so flustered.

Humans usually covered up whatever was below their navel and above their knees. Having a tail her entire life, Kairi wasn't aware of this.

Suddenly, Kairi's face turned crimson as well as she bent down to grab the human's coat and clumsily wrapped it around her waist.

The human looked relieved as he reached out to steady Kairi onto her feet again, but she swatted his hand away.

"I can do this by myself," Kairi snapped.

But the human never heard her, and neither did she.

Nothing but air rushed out of her throat as she tried to form another sentence. Kairi tenderly touched her neck with her fingertips. A sudden wave of images from the night before drowned her thoughts. The pain, the agony, the sacrifice.

"What is the matter, miss?"

The human pulled her out of her thoughts.

"Would you like to rest for a while?" he asked when Kairi did not reply.

Kairi looked down at her dirt-caked bare feet. Her thighs and calves were burning, and her throat was parched. Yes, she would like to rest for a while.

Kairi slowly nodded.

The human smiled kindly and led her to the side of the dirt road and sat her down under a tree. The moist grass carpet felt soothing, and the tree provided a nice shade.

"The castle is only about half a mile away now. Once we catch our breath, we'll reach it in less than half an hour."

Kairi nodded and tightened the coat around her. She took in her surroundings. Earlier, she was too concentrated on her walking to notice the trees and flowers. Unlike the overpowering blue of the ocean, land seemed to be dominated by greens and fluorescent accents. Kairi used to think land was just like the shore; filled with soft, brown sand and speckled with shells. But there was so much more.

"How are you feeling?" the human asked. "It seemed as though you nearly drowned back there at the beach."

Kairi was fingering the grass growing by her feet. She blinked at the human's question and then tore out a handful of grass from their roots.

How was she feeling? Overwhelmed. Exhausted. Confused. Overjoyed.

"Miss?"

Kairi turned to the human and furrowed her brows. She tried mouthing a few words, then gave up. Finally, she opened and closed her mouth as though she was talking, and then shook her head.

"You cannot speak?"

Kairi nodded.

"Well, that's mighty unfortunate. I suppose I won't know where you're from, or learn your name."

The human gave a sad smile and Kairi slightly shrugged her shoulders in response as if saying "I guess so."

"You won't mind if I continue calling you Miss then, do you Miss?"

Kairi shrugged again, and then smiled politely.

"Well then Miss, shall we continue?"

The human got up to his booted feet and helped Kairi get onto her bare ones.

The human's palace was not as colossal as Kairi's, but it was just as grand, perhaps even more. Careful designs covered the arch entrance like vines and delicate statues stood proudly on either side. Two stern-faced males opened the large gate, and another two opened the heavy doors.

As soon as the two entered, an older female dressed in frills and laces with an enormous bosom bobbed towards them.

"Oh, you are finally here, sir! Your brother has been looking all over town for you!" she exclaimed. Then she spotted the girl clad in her clamshell-bra.

"And who is this lovely lady?" she asked. There was an unsettling hint of sarcasm.

"I found her by the beach, Nana. She cannot speak, and she can barely walk. Will you please treat her?"

The lady's suspicious instantly lifted and her voice was suddenly oozing with maternal concern.

"Oh dear! You poor, poor thing. Let's get you washed up. Come on, come on."

After being carried up a flight of stairs by two servants and then completely stripped by a few maids, Kairi found herself back in water. Only this water was different. It was softer, cleaner, and filled with millions and millions of white bubbles that reminded her of sea foam.

By now, most of Kairi's earlier dizziness was gone, and her violet eyes were wide with curiosity as she experienced something new nearly every minute.

Kairi cupped her hands and scooped up a handful of soap and water. She stuck out her tongue and ran the tip of it over the bubbles. She immediately spat and emptied out her hands. The bubbles tasted strong and unpleasant. Her plans of putting her head underwater vanished.

She continued admiring the strange water and her legs until the busty female rushed in.

"Oh, you still haven't washed your hair," she said.

Kairi gasped as the human started rubbing her hair and scrubbing her body with a sponge.

"A pretty lady like yourself should be nice and clean," she muttered as she dumped a bucketful of water over Kairi's head.

After being dried with a fluffy towel, Kairi found herself sitting in front of an exact replica of herself. Her damp auburn hair looked almost dark brown and fell past her shoulders like seaweed.

The next few moments overwhelmed her senses with feelings and textures she never experienced before. She was forced into a silky gown that slid right over her body when she put it on. Though she felt trapped, she felt secure at the same time. Kairi never felt so human in her life.

"And finally, here are your shoes, miss."

Kairi tore her eyes away from the mirror and looked down at the pair of slippers before her. She gingerly slid her bare feet into each one and then took a few steps forward. The room echoed every time the heels hit the tiled floors.

She was then led to the dining hall, where the human who helped her to the castle was waiting. He smiled widely and walked over to her.

"I never got to properly introduce myself. My name is Roxas, and I am the younger prince," he said warmly.

He took one of Kairi's milky hands and bent down to softly kiss it.

Kairi smiled politely in return.

"Let me show you to your seat," Roxas offered.

He stuck out his arm and waited for her to grab a hold of it. Not knowing this, Kairi merely stood and stared.

Then out of nowhere, another arm latched onto it instead.

"If you don't grab a hold of him, someone else might steal him away, miss."

Kairi gasped. It was the human. The face she was only able to see through photos in her memory was standing right in front of her. Seeing him move, smile, and alive took her breath away.

Roxas laughed and pulled his arm away.

"Sora! Where have you been? We have a lovely guest here with us, and you've been out all morning!"

"Only because I was looking for you!"

"You're only using that as an excuse. You were probably chasing some ladies all over town."

The human, no, Sora laughed good-heartedly and scratched his head sheepishly. He then faced Kairi with an apologetic look in his face.

Eye contact.

She had spent hours daydreaming about how it would've been if she had seen him open his eyes that day she saved him. She wondered what color his eyes were, what he would've said, how things would've turned out to be. Now she knew that his eyes were blue—blue like the water she once breathed and lived in.

"My apologies. I would've returned much earlier if I had known. I'm Sora. What is your name?"

His voice made her heart throb to the point of pain. She wanted to reply, or at least tell him her name so he can say it over and over for her.

"Miss can't use her voice, Sora."

Sora's face fell and an apologetic look cast over him once more.

"I'm sorry," Sora said.

Kairi shook her head. She didn't want him to be sorry. But she wanted him to know her story, know why she was there, standing before him.

None of the three noticed the girl who had walked in until she let out a small cough.

Sora whipped his head around and beamed. Roxas and Kairi looked at the incomer curiously.

"Olette!" Sora shouted. He pulled the girl into a warm embrace and then turned towards the onlookers, his arm still around her shoulders.

"This is Olette, the lovely maiden who saved my life."