There was a storm coming and Chandler could tell. He had been on the boat for longer than he had wanted to be. The waves got larger and the sky became grey. The crew started working to move the sails and the captain commanded all the passengers to head inside. This would be a great storm.
Chandler headed inside as the captain commanded and sat down on his large comfortable bed fit for, him, the crown prince of Elbrus. Outside the cabin window he could see the waves growing. Larger and larger they got and then finally the first crack of lightning came down. Chandler laid down and closed his eyes until he realized trying to fall asleep would do no good.
Chandler's first night on the boat it had stormed and on the second night they had sent fireworks flying into the sky. He could have sworn he had seen something swimming in the water the night of the fireworks, but after a couple moments of looking into the water and not seeing anything he just thought he had imagined it. Tomorrow he was to return home to the castle and eat dinner with the Duchess of Bordeaux. She was a prat in his opinion, but he would never say that out loud. Chandler had acquired his distaste for her when he was eight. She was three years older than him at that time and had used that to get away with damaging castle property.
Chandler paced around his room and looked out the window every six seconds. The waves continued to grow larger and the boat swayed back and forth. He wanted off. He wanted off this ship.
In the moment he did something ludicrous. He strode down the hallway, through the doors, and out onto the deck,which was soaked and slippery. Then Chandler headed up to the second level, the captain's quarters. Waves and lightning were everywhere. He did not even stop to remember what the captain had said the first time it had stormed. What had the captain said? "Don't go on the deck during a storm, less you go overboard."Just then a huge wave that was surely larger than the rest came crashing down on him. It swept him down two stairs and off the boat. His world went dark like the sky.
When Chandler's life returned to him he realized he was on a beach and the most beautiful girl he had ever seen was leaning over him. She had an odd colored skin; it was blue like the sky. Her hair was gold like straw and she wore pearls around her neck. Then he slowly sat up, rubbing his head. When he looked at her again he realized she was a mermaid. For a moment he panicked because he had heard stories of mermaids, but then, after a minute or so, he calmed down enough to ask her what she wanted. You see, if and when you encounter a mermaid you must offer them a wish or else you get placed upon you a curse. Chandler was not very keen of magic and curses and all those things, but he knew that if he did not give her a wish he would be in quite some trouble.
"What is it you wish for?"
"I want a golden apple off of King Aleron's tree."
"King Aleron's tree?"
"Yes. Is not his daughter coming to Elbrus tonight?"
"Yes, but..."
He was going to get an apple off that tree. Even if he had to pry one out of the Duchess's cold dead hands. Plus, she brought one every time she visited. How hard could it be?
Chandler buttoned the last button on his jacket and walked towards the great hall. It was good to finally be home. When he got back he was informed that he had given the captain and his father quite a scare after disappearing off the boat like that. He had also made a solid agreement to the mermaid and if he broke it he would be cursed. The mermaid told him not to tell a soul about their agreement as she, even though the prince did not know, was about to do something so cunning that a fox himself couldn't have thought it up.
The Duchess of Bordeaux was waiting at the table when Chandler walked in. She was wearing a very large white dress that made her look eight times her size and her wig did not help the situation as she was already very ugly. Chandler took his seat and sat in it awkwardly as the Duchess gave him a death stare.
"I must say you have become much more doltish, prince Chandler," said Duchess, sneering at him.
Chandler held his tongue.
"I think you would really enjoy this mousse."
"Pass it here."
Chandler passed it and slipped a bit of something into it. What was it? Mermaid powder, at least that's what Chandler had been referring to it as. The mermaid had told him to put it into Duchess's food to make her totally obedient to him. After she ate that there was no stopping him.
"Duchess?"
"Yes?" She said, staring blankly at the wall in front of her.
"Could you please give me a golden apple?"
"Those are from my father's garden."
"I know, but I really need one. Please, Duchess."
"Alright."
And that was how he got the golden apple from Aleron's garden.
He met the mermaid in the spot they had originally met and he passed her the apple. Then he turned his back on her and started to leave. Remember, Chandler was not keen on magic and those golden apples were full of magic.
"Your task is not yet complete."
Chandler looked back in shock. "What?"
"Take a bite."
She threw him the apple and he took a bite. Then she beckoned for him to pass it back and he did.
"My name is Angeline," she said before taking a big bite of the apple.
Suddenly something magical happened. Chandler grew fins and Angeline grew legs.
"I saved you. You saved me. We're even."
Chandler just sat there looking shocked, afraid, and angry.
The end.
