Chapter Text
In. Out.
There was a gentle thrum in his mind as his lungs sputtered to life. Desperately Tommy gasped for air as he attempted to breach the surface.
In. Out.
The sky was ashen from days of explosions sending layers of debris and particles into the already choking air. A film was forming over his eyes as he tried to reach out for it, a tiny foothold made of smog. His eyes were stinging, he could no longer tell if it was from the water or the tears that fell from him with every desperate shout.
In. Out.
His limbs were getting heavier but he couldn't stop thrashing against the ocean's cold embrace. Water was crawling down his throat. Another wave knocked into him plummeting him under in a cacophony of screaming noise.
I N. O U T.
His vision was darkening as the last of the air was knocked out of his lungs. Tommy's movements were slow as he clawed at the world around him. It was so big yet so small. There was everything and nothing. And slowly he was going numb
I N. O U T.
Cold was prickling his skin. Warmth and ice fought in sensations underneath the ripped thin shirt that clung to his skin. It was stabbing and conflicted, rippling across his limbs in a tormented dance.
I N O U T.
"please…" he attempted to whisper to a god who would not answer. It was a prayer to a friend who never existed. It was a plea that would never leave his mouth.
…
His eyes inched shut as a current curled around his body. His mouth agape as he sunk like a rock no longer able to keep his own body afloat. The melody of the waves turned the child's body away from the lingering remains of land and out to sea. The ocean welcomed its newest victim as it tore him away from the world he knew.
Lizzie sucked in a deep breath as she lifted the covers from her head. The soft sea breeze pressed against her cheek, gently rubbing against her with the silent urge of get up . A small smile curled upon her lips as she heeded its advice, carefully pulling herself away from the comfort of her bedding.
Her eyes were still bleary as heard the ding of a communicator. Without thinking she reached for it before recoiling. Claws sunk into bluish skin of her palm and she bit back a hiss.
Her sight became clearer in an instant. Right… claws. Bile rose in her throat as the sickening realisation reared its head. Fangs bit into her lip as a single word floated through her mind, monster. That was what she was now. A monster with blue skin and a tail. A monster with fangs and gills.
Her communicator pinged again. This was fine, it could be the distraction she needed.
There was a moment of hesitation before she reached for her communicator. Darkened nails carefully wrapped around the lightweight metal as it flickered to life.
14 missed calls
38 unseen messages
Almost as quickly as it was turned on it was switched off and flung to the side. Lizzie's hands shook as she counted her breaths. In, out, up to four. She was fine.
She had to be for her people.
For at least if anything her people would not cast her wary glances. They would welcome her with an easy smile and a gentle offering. In her people she could trust, for they were like her. More fish than human and more human than fish. Touched by the ocean and welcomed by the sea.
But that itself was a problem wasn't it. Her lily pads were her people's only home. She knew of the glances given by traders or the remarks of her fellow rulers. If that was what they thought of her people, with beautiful scales and elegant fins, what would they think of her? For Lizzie was a towering monster with glowing eyes and sharpened claws. For Lizzie was once human and now she is not at all.
Her breathing once again quickened, sharp and tight. Lizzie couldn't deal with this now, it was better to just not deal with it at all. That's what she was going to do. The perfect solution, a blissful denial underneath layers of isolation.
The ocean empire was already isolated wasn't it? With all the vicious sea and haunting tides, few sailors dared to come out far enough to find her presence. Hell she'd even managed to completely avoid a demon due to her location. Her exports could be handled well enough without her, the prismarine was fully stocked and they'd easily be able to use the barrels.
Besides, technically she'd already had a three day head start after the incident had left her dishevelled and groggy, barely allowing her to move from her now comically undersized bed.
Nodding to herself Lizzie solidified a plan in her head. She just needed to stay out of sight… for eternity…
OK maybe this wasn't as well thought out as it could have been- but that was fine! No biggie! She could figure out the kinks in the plan later. Picking up the remains of her old bed she sped off towards the central tower of the prisma palace. The sooner she got this done the sooner she would be in relative solitude. Slowly she manoeuvred her way down to her map room, slightly cramped from the lack of accommodation to her now 8ft tall height. It was something she'd be able to fix later, it'd easily be able to fill the empty time.
Lizzie managed to scrap together a somewhat decent bedroom out of the dimly lit area before the day was done. It was shabby by her normal standards, the wood was uneven and the quilt was coming apart not to mention the lanterns- but there wasn't much she could do about it. This would be fine for there wasn't much she could do without revealing herself.
Her small hideaway came to a halt when she had a minor realisation. Her stocks were running low and they had been for days. She had severely miscalculated the amount of food she'd need to take into account with her new size and apparently metabolism. Without much else of a choice she understood what she had to do as a whisper at the back of her head became an urge. She needed to hunt.
With hesitancy she emerged into the open world, taking a few moments to check for any unwanted visitors before she dove.
The water embraced her like an old friend, easing the tension within her lungs and humming a lullaby in her ears. Lizzie laughed as she called back, because if anything the ocean would protect her, shading her from the dazzling lights of the setting sun. What was able to breach the murky water fell down in streaks coating the feathery gills of her followers.
A few of her guards swam by, passing along their small gain before joining her on the search for more. A small army followed her obediently as she willingingly sunk to the depths. The dark was a comforting presence as she sliced through schools of fish with an unknowing ease. Claws quickly sank into the unsuspecting bait as her followers watched in joy.
Yet nothing truly peaked her interest on this small collection trip until she heard the chirps of her personal guard.
They were soft and frantic as they quickly approached, "My Queen please come quick!" Lady Marceline beckoned as Sir Strawberry tugged anxiously at Lizzies dress. She quickly stilled as she cupped her hands around her tiny servant.
"I am! What seems to be the problem?!" The two axolotls stayed almost silent as they began to pull her along completely uninterrupted by the current or waves. This on it’s own would not have set her off, but the ocean was silent, not calm. It was completely still- it was completely tense.
Only did they begin to slow as Lizzie was brought to a drifting pale mass. Looking closer it seemed to have the form of a boy. "Sir Strawberry, what have I said about playing with corpses while we're laying low!" Her voice shook slightly as she attempted to play it off. Dead sailors washing within her waters wasn’t exactly uncommon but it wasn’t something pretty and it absolutely wasn’t something anyone would like to see. Yet her guards stayed determined, Lady Marceline gently head butted her closer as Sir Strawberry stayed stiff in his position. Lizzie hesitated as she treaded the water a fist curled tight to her. “Truly I- I don’t see the point of this, why can’t we just head back with our catch.” The pink axolotl narrowed his eyes before placing a tiny arm upon the child's chest. His eyes were piercing as he stared her down, quickly joined by his partner it was quickly able to wear her down.
Sighing, she complied, mimicking her companions' actions. Much to her surprise she was greeted by a faint drumming of a heart beat.
"Ah, so it's not a corpse." There was a pause as she turned to swim away.
" Oh. ”
…
“OH IT’S NOT A CORPSE!"