"A Prince Reborn" by Karen L. Crumley

Drowning, ...thrown from a pirate ship, and into the vast, cold, deep waters of The Corithian Ocean. The nine-year-old prince was a pretty good swimmer...but, naturally, this was much more than he could handle....

***

the Pirates were devious, no doubt. They snuck up on the little children as they played on the beach. The two young Princes were having a duel with toy swords, and the little duchess splashed around in the shallow edge of the water. It was a lovely Sunday afternoon...and this was the best way to spend it.

Suddenly, the children were startled by the blair of a horn, as the ..The captain, the one with those dark eyes, laughed wickedly as he came up behind the boy, grabbing him around the waist. The little prince recalls the smell...and, though he had always expected the breath of a pirate to smell like rum, this smelled more like smoke, sulfur...perhaps a little trace of a fishy odor. The boy kicked, pushed at the large man trying to break free of his hold. But, the captain was much stronger...and carried him onto the mysterious dark ship. The last thing the prince recalled was the sound of his best friend screaming...

"Poor, little Morgana," He thought, "How frightened she must be." He worried for her, afraid that they'd capture her as well. But, then he turned to notice that her maidservant T'avia had come down from the Palace, to rescue her... He feared for his little brother Jaryd...who was nowhere to be seen. Obviously, he'd hidden himself from the view of the Bad Men.

The man had carried him onto the large ship, never to set foot on the kingdom of Corithia again. He had made the near-fatal mistake of looking the man in the eye--not realizing who or what the Pirate really was. They were so dark, and ...if you looked really close, ...which he did... you saw the glint of....*Poof, spark,* "Fire" Raphael whispered, as he slipped into unconciousness...

He woke up, hearing footfall around him as he lay on the deck of the ship. "What shall we do with this one?" He heard a voice speak, with an inhuman hiss. "Shall we eat him?" Raphael rubbed his eyes, as he listened to them speak.
"Hmm....It is not Mer. It is not tasty."

"SSSSSS, of course we cannot eat him, are you a fool Ziel?" The more-feminine voice said. "It is HUMAN!! Human is bad for you!"

"Well, Mers are human....ssssort of."

"Mer is FISSSSH" A third voice hissed. "And, human are red meat. Our systems cannot digest red meat, anyhow. We were not inteded to eat such a vile substancccce."

As Raphael's sight returned to him...He saw three green, blurry figures looming over him. His eyes focused gradually, on what appeared to be reptilian beasts. He rubbed his eyes, again, in disbelief of what he could finally see. The boy's pale blue eyes grew wide, and his cheeks grew flushed. He became soaked with prespiration. His blonde locks stuck to his face. "Is this a dream?" He wondered. "am I having a nightmare?" He could not believe that they were real.

They had eyes, just like that of the Pirate Captain...if that is....wait a minute, it occurred to him. These things...these monsters were the pirates. These monsters could disquize themselves as Pirates, or any other Human, Probably.... Raphael opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out. They were lizard-like, in appearance, with tallonous claws. They walked on sturdy, muscular hind legs. Their forearms were long, and thin. Their torsos were only slightly human, and they were covered with blue-green scales. Thin strands of hair shot out of thier skulls. The one with the black hair seemed to be incharge.

The one they called "Beliah", who was slightly feminine in her manerisms, and in her torso. Her chest protruded more, and lighter green scales covered her stomache. Her hips were wider, as well. The other, Ziel, had greenish-yellow hair. The third had less hair than the other two atop his raptorlike head, and what there was of it was platinum white. His name was Ilkah, And, he studied the boy with those dark, horrid eyes.

"Well, then, Madame Beliah of the Fury, whatever did we steal him for?" It tapped it's hind claw. It's long forearms crossed.

Turning sharply, toward the Lizard-Man, she spoke "Revenge, Ilkah, Why elssssse?"

"Ssso you think they won't come for him, Dorndina?? He's a princcce? are you a fool?"

Sharply turning in the oposite direction of the fellow beast, she slapped him playfully in the face with her long tail.

"Of coursssse, I'm no fool!" She giggled, flirtatiously, as a human lady would. "I am the wizardine here, after all. am I not?"

"Yesss, Lady Dordnin" Ilkah hissed. "But, remember that you've failed before in restoring posterity to our raccccce."

"Ah, but persssistance pays, does it not?" She sauntered over, brushing a strand of black hair out of her dark, devious eyes. They glared at the little boy who--this time--was very careful not to look into them.

The Creature spoke as if she knew who he was, "He is the heir. The first born son of Marciussss the third. The great, great, grandson of the Cruel King who banished us from Corithia long ago...." She raised her eyes, to meet those of her comrades. "Is this not perfect, for our plan? Is he not the ideal victim of our vengencccce?"

"Perhapsssss........." Ilkah responded. "but how well, My lady, have you thought through thisssss.....It makes little senssssse."

Indeed, they did know who he was. And, his whole family as well....His ancestry. Raphael quivered, as he realized these creatures were The Dorndin. Hiddeous dragon-people who just about devoured all of the creatures of the sea. Their destructive nature led to poverty for the fishermen of Corithia, and practically impoverished the kingdom...the shores were scorged by these monsters. Covered with the bones of many living sea creatures, including the ocean's most precious treasure--the merfolk. It wasn't untill the Mers sent word to Marcius I, asking for help that the king realized how grave thier situation really is.

A leigion of Mages and Prophets came at the king's special request. And, a decree was made... The dorndin race was were banished, and exiled from Corithia. Thus, a spell was cast over the Kingdom That it would never again be plagued by dorndins, as long as the heir of Marcius sits on the throne. Raphael realized why they had taken him.

"Well, Beliah of Fury, aren't you overlooking something?" Ilkah said. "Isn't their another heir of Marciusssss."

"HMMM!" Puffed the dorndin sorceress, Moving to her crystal ball. It sat on a small stand, in a far corner. The creature took it in her tallon, and held it to the sunlight. Swirls of rainbow colors merged, as she recited an incanation that the young boy couldn't comprehend.

With a wicked hiss, Beliah held it to the sunlight...and upon the deck, next to her showed a holographic image that both shocked and saddened the boy prince.

A young king, dark wavy hair and brown eyes full of sadness. Dressed impecable, as King Marcius always had....and a beautiful damsel. Raphael gased upon her beauty, and long, golden curls. It took a moment... only a moment for him to recognize her face. Duchess Morgana D'Laiec. The little girl he had just been playing with on the shore. The king, no doubt, his younger brother Jaryd.

The image quivered, and the figures came to life...acting out a future that Raphael would not be a part of...even if he lives past this day. They showed the damsel reaching for Jaryd, a tear in her eye... He pushes her away, as she falls to the floor...landing in an ocean of tears that drown her. Then, the young king takes the hand of a beautiful woman, a scarab ring upon her hand...the hand of the woman becomes a tallon. A green, scaly tallon exactly like the one holding up the mysterious crystal orb....Glancing at the claw, he screams...seeing that it is decorated with a black scarab ring. The image of his brother screams, surronded by flames ....threatening to devor him...and in a puff of smoke, his brother disappears.

The creature grins, seeing a victory in her future. A rather easy one at that.

The boy screams, again. "YOU!!! YOU CANNOT DO THIS!! YOU WILL NOT!!! YOU DEMONS!!"

The beast cackled, wickedly. "Foolish boy, you cannot stop me from doing anything." She glanced at the two male dorndin, who now looked at her with favor. Pleased that she has a plan that may...just may finally bring them conquest.

The boy trembled in fear, laying at the mercy of three wicked creatures. "First, we'll get rid of this one... Then, I will work at winning poor Jaryd's heart. Corithia will be mine!! And, we shall reign!! And, dine on Squid, Shark, and Merm until we've had our fill. Drink the wine of the Corithian vineards, and wear the finest Sirenian silk." She cackled wickedly, as she grabbed the little boy. He fought, kicked, and screamed ....Praying that Angels heard him. That he'd be rescued, as the Dorndin Sorceress hurled him into the sea...

***

...The water was cold, chilling the boy through to his marrow. He breathed in sharp gasps, that felt like 1,000 needles jabbing his lungs. His body, pushed around, tossed by the waves. Each one crashing over, or aroud him...His mouth opens, to scream in fear, and is instantly filled with icy fluid...gulping, as his body drifts downward....He knows he is drowning...seeing his head has come far below sea level. His heart raises a final prayer...He closes his eyes, prepared for death.

***

He awoke on a marble table, inside a well-lit cavern. the water around him felt warm. And, though he realized he was completely surrounded by water, he was not drowning. He was breathing it, and basking in its comfort. "Is this Heaven?" he whispered, in childlike innocence.

"Some feel it is." a voice said. The voice was etherial, a deep masculine tone with a sing-songy quality. The boy gasped, seeing the bearded man with golden, wavy hair standing over him. Strong in form, Eyes like shining emeralds. On his head a crown of gold and pearl. In his hand, some sort of septre.

"God?!?" He asked, in bewilderment and awe.

The man chuckled. "No, my child. Though I do serve him..." He smiled down at him, a tear in his eye. He looked at Raphael as if he knew....as if he knew all about him, his family, and what had happened to him... "And, I am to see that nothing further happens to you. You are in my charge now, grandson of my dear old friend."

He looked at the man somewhat puzzled...For, he did not look old enough to be around when the boy's grandfather was still alive. He saw Joy and laughter in the eyes of this King. Surely, he must me a king. And, a very grand one to have a septre and a crown like that, with a cape of green and gold, flowing down from his shoulders. The man laughed, Boistrously.

"I am King Dylyn." He said, "Ruler of the Sea...." The man glanced upward, through an entrance to the cavern where light streamed in, and set an etherial glow to his noble head. Those golden curls bore a reddish hue as the light hit it. "Those beasts so cursed your Grandfather's land and devoured schools of my people years ago. I saught his help to Protect our Kind years ago. And, He Gladly gave it." The man smiled at the boy, with as sentimental tears welled up in his eyes. "Now, young prince, it is my turn to return that favor. My people found you and brought you to me. You were rescued right in the nick of time. You were drowning. Your lungs filled with water. And, there was no way to save your..." The King sighed. "To save your human life....unless, You were made able to breathe the water. Able to swim in our seas."

The man reached forth, and touched the boy on the side of the neck. It tickled the boy, a little. It made him quiver. "Gils, my Lad. My healers saw that you were given gils." The Sea King floated upward, a few feet or so, revealing what had been hidden from the boy's view. Instead of legs, the king had a shimmering fish tail, glowing in a gold and green hue. "And, gave you a tail, as well. My son, now you are one of us. It was the only way we could save your life..."

Raphael gasped,in astonishment. Sat up and felt the strange sensations that came from breathing in the water. Feeling it flow in and out of his gils. He felt at one with the water as he moved his arms. The sheer, white blanket that had covered him fell off as the boy floated upward. Surprising himself with the grace and ease of his movement, he smiled. Looking down, at himself, he saw that he had a shinny fishtail where his legs would normally be. It was pearl white. It's sheen reflecting the colors of the cavern that surrounded him, with an opalescent glow. His bright, blue eyes beamed. Bewildered by this new, astonishing change to his form.

"Ahh...Wait until my brother sees this!" He exclaimed, flapping it joyously. In boyish, daring he swam up, and over into a backward sumersault. Just as much the little show-off as he'd always been. He giggled.

"Oh, best be careful, My Lad." The King Dylyn said, ruefully. His face turning upward, as the cavern grew dim. Obvioiusly from a ship passing overhead, but it cast a dark mood over the cavern that had an ominous effect, as the King said "Dorndin have returned. You must ne'er venture too close to land. For, they would like nothing more than to feast on a young merman who wanders too far ashore...especially one who is the Heir of the Corithian throne." He instantly took the boy's hand, in both of his. Looked him straight in those blue eyes, full of amazement and awe. "My dear friend's grandson. I would like very much if you would let us be your rightful Guardians--My Wife and I, that is. I would like to adopt you as my heir.

"We had a daugter of our own. Lovely, little Mermaid she was. But, she wandered out too far one night during a storm ...and, she never returned. We have been childless, since our sweet princess left us. And, to watch over you, grandson of Marcius the First, would be our greatest honor and privledge."

"Well, Sure." The young prince said with a shrug. "What happened. Did the Dorndins get her?"

"No, My son." The king said, "I would have known if She was dead. We would have sensed it. Rhumors tell that she was seen on Sparia Island, amoungst the humans that dwell there." The king shook his head. "Damned Ruffians, and Pirates those sparians. I hate to think of her there. They say she'd been taken in by a fisherman, and his wife. But, Rhumors are rhumors..." He shook his head and laughed. "Who knows which are true, and which are not."

Prince Raphael looked into the King's eyes. He saw the sorrow as he talked of losing thier only child. He though of his own family, and his brother...even little Morgana, and wondered if they had that same look in their eyes when they thought of him...And, decided. If ever he had it in his power, He would find the King's daughter. If ever he had it in his power, he would protect Jaryd and Morgana... From those horrid creatures.

The king took his hand, and led him to a beautiful castle made of coral and mother-of-pearl. He thought to himself, "Well, I guess this is my home now." And, felt a peace wash over him. He had accepted his destiny with much grace. As he would, for the rest of his new life...