I.

It was a stupid mistake.

Rey simply hadn't been able to help herself.

She had been craving it all her life; the only thing that helped her fall asleep at night.

The ocean.

She had never seen it for herself; she had only heard mutterings about it at the marketplace as she scarfed down the meager portions she earned after a full day of scavenging.

It was said to be an unfathomably enormous body of water. On some planets, so large that it covered the entire surface. It was the exact antithesis of the desert; an endless sea with only small masses of land breaking up the surface. To a girl whose experience with water was limited to how much could be held by her canteen, it sounded like a dream.

So when she had finally, and by some miracle, been flown away from Jakku and taken to such a world, she was overwhelmed by her delight.

The planet was not a single body of water, but its oceans were more grand than she ever could have imagined.

The ocean below her was the most beautiful shade of blue Rey had ever seen in her entire life. Its surface was even, but upon it the light created flickering gems that had nearly blinded her. Rey expelled a shaking breath, her eyes were wide as saucers and brimming with unshed tears. It was so beautiful, so breathtaking, so perfect.

Rey didn't stop to think. Overwhelmed by the intensity of her emotions, she had jumped from the ship as began its descent over the shimmering surface in preparation to land on a small island up ahead.

Rey didn't register the shout of surprise that had chased her as she fell. She was too excited; too eager as she waited to make contact with her beloved ocean.

It was only when her body crashed into the water, far below the surface, that Rey suddenly realized her crucial mistake.

She did not know how to swim.

Stupid! Stupid!

Panic seized her as she flailed in the water. She craned her neck up and opened her eyes, hoping that if she could see the surface then she could somehow spur her body toward it. However, the sharp stinging that assaulted her eyes immediately after she pried them open caused her to gasp, and the disgusting taste of saltwater began to choke her.

Rey quickly closed her eyes. Eventually she stopped thrashing. She began to calm. It was useless, she realized. She was absolutely finished. The ship and those upon it would not have enough time to collect themselves and come to her rescue.

After a lifetime spent dreaming, her wish was to be her undoing.

Ironic, isn't it?

The part of Rey that was slowly fading into oblivion was amused.

Then she registered something strange; a pressure around her wrist. After it came another small pressure, this time at the back of her head.

She didn't want to move. She had given in. She had accepted her fate.

But she couldn't let it go. Always curious, always hopeful, Rey opened her eyes.

And what she saw was shocking. A creature was looking back at her. It had the face of a man, all sharp lines and angular features. However his eyes were startlingly black, with no whiteness in them at all whatsoever. His lips and hair, too, were black as midnight. She also saw a strange pattern speckled on the far side of his cheek, reaching his ear.

Then, the pressure on her head increased, and she found her body coming closer to the creature's. She found the strength to look down, and nearly couldn't comprehend the sight of a long tail connected to a pale torso.

The creature's face came closer to her own, and Rey could feel her heartbeat slowing in her chest.

She was going to die in the arms of this strange being.

Inexplicably, this thought was comforting.

Once more, her eyes drifted closed. She felt the pressure on her wrist move to the small of her back, and the lean body of the creature's pressed closer to her own.

The last thing her mind registered was something soft and cool pressing against her lips.

Author's Note:

Hello! Thank you for reading. I was inspired by this image ( image/139734030442 ) created by kitigai that I saw uploaded to Tumblr, hm, about an hour ago? I wrote this first bit ridiculously fast and was obviously very inspired. I do apologize that I never went into detail about who, exactly, had taken Rey away from Jakku. I really just wanted to get to the part where Kylo is a mermaid and I did want to have to theorize what the universe would be like without him in the First Order.

This was originally intended to be a oneshot, but I may write more for it. Though for the time being the story is still going to be labeled as "complete".