The Mermaid And The Beast

by Walleye

  He didn’t hesitate. He sprang to his feet and began to run. He charged through the courtyard and down the drawbridge. By the time he reached the end of the bridge her form had shifted back into that of a mermaid but she was still transparent.

  “Hold on!” He gasped into her ear between desperate breaths. “Don’t you give up on us.”

  As he pounded down the road he heard her speak for the first time in weeks. Her voice was soft and thready. “I love you.” She whispered.

  “And I love you!” He shouted. “Hold on. Just hold on.”

  He pounded around a curve and an orc leapt out at him. “I don’t have time for you.” He growled as he ran right through the shocked creature and left him crumpled on the ground.

  He saw the river was just ahead but she felt weightless in his arms. “I love you!” He shouted. “One more leap.”

  Then he was in the air and he felt the shock as he passed through the barrier. Her body was just starting to disperse and run through his hands when they hit the water. He lost all contact with her and searched desperately for her until he was forced to come up for air.

  He frantically looked around but he couldn’t see any sign of her. There was only the silently flowing river. “No. No.” He moaned and put his head in his paws and wept. His love was gone.

  He felt something as light as a breeze touch his paws and when he lowered them he saw her like a ghost floating half in the water in front of him. She reached out a transparent hand and touched his cheek while at the same time she smiled.

  He felt a sharp rap on his head and looked up to see the little fairy Thistledown glaring down at him. “Go on. And kiss her, you big idiot.” The fairy demanded. “Break the spell.”

  He felt the tickling pressure of the mermaid’s arm around his neck and then their lips met.

  At first it was the faintest of feelings but it began to grow in intensity. He could feel the magic of the river running through him and into her. Her body felt more solid and warmer with each second that they kissed and then there was a bright flash of light and he held a living, breathing mermaid in his arms.

  Thistledown watched as they kissed deeply and with growing passion. She glanced behind her, turned, and shook her head. “Uh, guys. You’re not alone here.”

  “It’s all right, fairy girl.” Rumpelstiltskin who was holding Gwen’s hand said. “How often do we get to see a true happy ending.”

  Epilog

  The Queen sat on her throne and looked down sternly at her son who was in his beast form and holding the hand of the mermaid he loved. The mermaid was wearing a soaking wet robe and sitting on a chair which put her below the height of the Queen on her throne. Off to the side of them Belle stood wearing a simple blue dress. Her two sisters and their Father were behind her standing with Cousin Elliot. Behind them was standing a wizard in his white robes and Rumpelstiltskin

  In response to her stare Johnathan kissed Maryellen on her forehead and gripped her hand tighter. The Queen sighed. “My original ruling still stands. Johnathan, you are no longer my first heir.”

  “I already made that choice.” He growled. “You’re telling me what I already know.”

  The Queen turned her glare on Belle. “And you didn’t carry out your word to break the curse.”

  “It would never have worked as it would have been a lie.” Belle replied.

  The Queen rubbed her forehead as if she was getting a headache. “What am I going to do with the three of you and the kingdom?”

  No one answered as the Queen wasn’t looking for one of them to answer her question.

  The Queen took a deep breath and pointed a finger at Belle. “You, I am impressed with. You remind me of me when I was young and fell in love with a young man named Clark who turned out to be much more than he appeared to be. Every human kingdom needs a human ruler with a heart which you have.”

  She leaned forward. “Belle, I raise you up to be a princess and declare you my heir to the throne of the Harkins Kingdom.”

  Belle gasped and started to sway on her feet. This was the last thing she had expected. Her sisters hurried forward to support her while her Father’s chest swelled so much that his buttons threatened to fly off.

  “But a ruler also needs a good advisor who can be very hard headed and practical. As my second in line I raise Gwen up to be a princess, knowing that you two will never compete for the rule but share power as well as you have shared love as sisters.”

  Gwen reeled and her father had to catch her in his arms.

  “Here now.” Rumpelstiltskin complained. “We’re thinking of getting hitched.”

  “We’ll talk about that later.” The Queen told him. She hastened to reassure him. “I don’t see that being an insurmountable problem.”

  She turned to the remaining daughter. “Ella, I would declare you a princess too but you have another destiny awaiting you.”

  “That’s true.” Declared the wizard Beckman as he advanced with his new robes of a white wizard flapping around him to take a stunned Ella’s hands in his own. “Sorry to be so late, my love, but I had to fight with the wizards to get you recognized as one in training.”

  “But, I’m not a wizard.” She protested.

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Not a wizard? Why do you think that locator spell worked so well for you? That leprechaun recognized your latent abilities long before the rest of us did.” He pulled her in close. “When you are ready we will be wed and you will begin your training.” Then they kissed.

  Thomas Fontaine wiped his eyes. “Now as a father this is what I call a happy ending.”

  The Queen turned back to Johnathan. “Son, I reconfirm your title as Duke. You will rule the Dukedom here like you always have had.” She sighed as she looked at the mermaid. “Maryellen, I give you my blessing to wed my son. May the happiness of you two last many more years than mine did with my prince.”

  Maryellen smiled. “Thank you. I wanted to let you know that we will be having my family visit. We have already sent them invitations to attend our wedding this summer.”

  The Beast took her in his arms and kissed her long and deeply.

  The Queen sighed. “Everything is changing. Whether that is for good or bad will remain to be seen.”

  Belle’s Father shook his head. “You live as long as I have you will find that good change for someone is a bad change for someone else. It is just the way of things.”

  None of them noticed that Big Boy the troll-turned green cat had already left the palace. He had just entered another fairytale where he was causing chaos. Puss In Boots would never be the same again. Whether that change was good or bad remained to be seen.