Chapter Text
Most stories start with once upon a time.
Yet how long does the time have to stand? How long does a memory have to exist for it to become a story? Wilson had heard plenty of stories of humans, yet he knew they still lived above the waters. On lands that he hadn’t been able to see in his lifetime. Large shadows carrying the adventurers through waters they claimed to own. The idea of humans fascinated him. How they got to live their lives to the fullest. His father would say it’s reckless, but he would say it was thrilling.
“Wilson!” The silhouette covering the moonlight that used to reflect thought the ocean water was more captivating than any noise in the distance. “WILSON!” Sienna hollered once again, shoving him off the rock he was perched on.
It’s not like the sudden action could hurt him while underwater, regardless it did throw Wil off guard “What the hell Sienna?!?”
“I’ve been calling you for minutes now!” She huffed, her tail whipping around him. “Plus it was getting annoying watching you stare at the same drifting shadow.”
“Maybe you should mind your business.” He exclaimed, freeing himself from her grip. “I mean don’t you wonder what it’s like…you know, on land.” Wil spiraled around the buoyant ocean water.
“Actually I don’t.”
“Well you’re no fun.”
“Wil.” Sienna muttered, reaching out to gently hold his hand, “you know that it’s nothing like your books. It’s dangerous! Father has made that clear penalty of times..”
Wilson couldn’t help but glance back at the moving silhouette, which had now been much further than before, the very muffled sounds of cheers and now colorful sparks simmering across the midnight sea. Sienna started tugging Wilson’s arm in an attempt to grab his attention once more. “We should go back, it’s late and father will be awfully worried…please.”
“Yeah, yeah ....I’ll be there, can you just give me a second-” he quickly pulled away gliding towards the sound.
“Wil!”
It was pointless, any attempt at getting him to stop was out the window. Sienna had no choice but the follow along in the distance.
The sounds of celebration echoed even more the closer Wilson got. It was just like the stories he’s read, granted the pages of the book would crumble before he got to finish them, but from what he could gather celebrating like this was a form of expression. Something he wished he could express himself. He was sick and tired of being stuck in the same life, a life that felt as if he was tangled in a field of seaweed. Even the fish have more freedom than him. Swimming the seven seas. At least the seagulls have the opportunity of flight. Nothing holding them back from the world. Every day was filled with constant fighting and chaos, he and his father could never come to a common ground. Even if they tried. And they tried.
Once he reached the top he slowly lifted his head out of the water to get a better view. The sparks radiating from the human's floating shadow, which he had now realized were the so-called ships from his books. The smiles and laughs filled the air and he couldn’t help but also smile in return.
“Are you done now? We really shouldn’t be doing this…”
“Just give me a few more minutes.”
Sienna sighed, “Well I’m heading back, please don’t do anything dangerous for god's sake!”
“I won’t!”
Sienna swiftly snapped her tail, turning around. She glanced back once more time just to see if Wilson would come, but he didn’t. He didn’t even bother to watch her drift away. Now It was just him and the whole other world. Just out of reach. If he could just get to know their world. Maybe he could be freed. Just maybe.
Wilson watched as more colorful sparks flashed across the sky. It was nothing like he'd seen before. The different hues created a sudden loud sound but then muffled out into the darkness, leaving just the vibrant simmer, before those also disappeared into the night sky. The group of humans gathered around once again, seemingly to fire another flash. He tried to get a better view but the height of the ship made it difficult. The spark flew into the air but this one was different. It didn’t go as high as the previous ones. It created an ear piercing sound then exploded a few inches above the ship. The sparks that once colored the sky now covered the floating silhouette. It didn’t take Wilson long to realize whatever happened wasn’t normal. The once cheers that echo throughout sounded more distorted than before. It wasn’t happiness. Yet fear. Chaos erupted with the sounds of celebration turning into distress. The ship began to fill with salty water and crackling amber radiating off.
Wilson was about to swim off. He probably should swim off. If his father saw him, the trouble he would be in would mean he would lose the one ability that made living under the sea easier. Wilson kicked his fin, submerging himself back to where he belonged. Just before he had the chance to leave a splash of water caught his eye. He quickly glanced over to see what it was.
A human.
Wil knew humans could swim from the many washed up books on “staying safe during adventures”. Well at least most of them who rode on these ships could. And even if they couldn’t swim, the struggle would be apparent. But this human didn’t even move a muscle. The helpless body kept sinking further into the deep sea which left Wilson to make a choice. Does he help the poor human and risk everything or does he go home and pretend like this never happened?
𓆉 ⋆.˚ 𓆝⋆.˚𓆉 ⋆.˚ 𓆝⋆.˚𓆉 ⋆.˚ 𓆝⋆.˚
Being a prince isn’t easy.
Sure there was the luxury and the comfortability but Brando felt like no one truly knew who he was. Every person he talked to would either be scared of him or see him as “the hot prince” that they could swoon over. He couldn’t blame them though. It’s not like he had a chance to speak to anyone outside of the princely act. The only time Brando really got to feel free was when he had the opportunity to go out and venture. It was the kingdom's 200th birthday, which meant he got to celebrate out on the sea with the sailors. The whole week was full of celebration but this was a chance to have some time to himself, to be out on the water without having to worry about his actions. There is something freeing about being out on the sea that being on land didn’t really give him. No need to be too princely, no need for his mother to eye him every second, and no need to step up and start conversations. Just him and his friends enjoying the moment at hand.
Brando jumped down from the edge of the boat in hopes of finding Dante. They’ve been friends ever since childhood and it would be hard to find Brando without him right by his side. Dante was gathering the fireworks that the crew was planning to launch later into the night. The whole celebration was perfectly put together and planned out. The night truly couldn’t get any better than this.
“Well, well, I see our Prince over here is really enjoying himself huh!” Dante exclaimed, nodding towards the bottle in Brando’s hand. It was the third drink he’d had since the party started. “Remember not to get ahead of yourself, we still have plenty of time left for fun.”
“I know, I know!” Brando placed the bottle on a shelf right beside the box of fireworks. “ I thought we were planning to launch these later?”
“I was thinking maybe later into the night…” he took a quick look around. “but the gang looks like they will pass out from the drinks before that even happens so how about we just get started? Whatcha think?”
“Well, I’m not opposed…let’s do it!”
“Great!”
Dante handed Brando a box of fireworks and both of them walked over to the middle of the ship. There were already many cheers erupting across the ship and beer bottles scattered across the floor. Over top, the moon was illuminating onto them creating a beautiful atmosphere. Something Brando didn’t want to ever go away. The soft sounds of waves and the seagulls passing by late at night captivated him every time, no matter how many trips he went on. He placed the box down and began watching Dante and the other men start lighting the flames. The flashes of color lit up the night sky. With the moon above and the different hues, it was like a childhood dream. Brando watched as the group gathered to light one of the bigger fireworks.
He quickly covered his ears as the noise raced through the air. But the blast happened a lot sooner than he expected. The sudden noise made the ground shake and he had the same feeling in his chest that a person would get when falling from the air. Brando watched as the tiny flames from the firework fell onto the ship. Fire rose, covering the sailboat and that’s when everything went into chaos.
Men running to the life boats. Others jumped off into the sea and swam as far as possible. It all happened instantly. He didn’t even have time to process it properly.
“Get the prince!”
One of the men grabbed his arm running towards one of the life boats. But something still felt off.
Dante.
He pulled back looking around in search of his friend.
“Bran!”
He was stuck between two pieces of wood that had fallen from the ship's topsail. Brando ran toward him and tried pushing off the lumber, and for the first time they felt like bricks. Dante Swifty pulled himself off but just as he was free the ship started to tilt. He held onto a door right beside him and Brando and reached out so Brando could grab his hand.
He wasn’t quick enough.
In a blink of an eye Brando slipped hitting his head on the railing of the ship tumbling off to the deep sea below.
Everything happened so quickly. A night of celebration quickly turned into a night that none of them would ever forget.
Brando could feel the cold water wrapping around his skin like a blanket. Blankets are supposed to be warm and fuzzy and bring comfort and for some reason he was still able to find that same comfort from the salty seawater. It was like that same free feeling he got when he was on that boat. Something about the feeling of being weightless and not having to keep up with the expectations placed on him. Besides, death is inevitable and he always knew that.
All he could think about was everything that he didn’t have a chance to experience. He didn’t have the chance to live a life where there were zero expectations placed on him. He didn’t get a chance to find a hobby outside of what a Prince was supposed to do. And he never got to experience love.
That’s until he heard a soft angel-like voice.
𑣲𝄞“What would I pay to stay here beside you”𑣲𝄞
It was the most beautiful voice he had ever heard and maybe this is what heaven was. Maybe this was the sound of the gates to the afterlife.
𑣲𝄞“And I could be….part of your world…”𑣲𝄞
Brando‘s eyes slightly flattered open and saw what he could only describe as:
“Oh an Angel…”
“BRAN!”
The noise scared the Angel away and in a flash the boy he saw was out of sight. He picked himself up from the sandy ground and for a moment, he assumed everything was a dream. That was quickly turned down when he felt the pain in his head and body.
“What happened-…”
“Oh thank goodness you’re alive!” It was Dante. “ we all thought you died! Please don’t do something stupid like that again! We have to tell the guards that-“
“Did you see that?”
“See what?”
“That boy?” Brando mumbled under his breath.
“Maybe we should get your head checked, you have no idea how glad I am you’re ok, Jesus.”
And just like that. He lost him. Sure he only knew him for like a few seconds, and honestly it could’ve been a figment of his imagination. But deep down inside he knew it wasn’t a dream.
There was no chance his life could’ve been saved out of coincidence.
“Yeah….yeah let’s go.”