A/N: Okay okay, I'm really excited about this story because I've had this idea for awhile. This first chapter is just setting up the story and next chpter you'll meet all the players in this story. First and foremost, this story is a romance. Hope you all enjoy! Reviews are like crack!

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.

Prologue

"You can do this, you can do this," Rachel Berry whispered to herself as she stared at her reflection in her mirror. She'd never had a panic attack before, but she was positive she was on the verge of having one right now. Rachel had been sitting in front of the vanity in her room, trying to convince herself to get up and get ready. After all, she was expected to be entering her own birthday party in half an hour.

Rachel wasn't a typical teenage girl, though from the waist-up she looked like one. She was a slender 17-almost-18-year-old with fair skin. She had deep brown hair that fell to the middle of her back in soft waves. Her skin was soft, free of blemishes and imperfections. Her eyes were round and chocolate-colored with long lashes. Her lips were soft and plump and she always had a smile on her face.

Below the waist, however, she was different.

Instead of two long legs, the lower half of her body was covered in a singular tail covered with green scales and complete with a fin on the end.

Rachel was a mermaid.

She was the only daughter of Byron and Marina Berry, the king and queen of the Pacific, making Rachel a princess. Her father was a descendant of Queen Aquata, which meant one day Rachel would inherit the throne and be Queen of the Pacific. It was something her mother had been training her for since she was just a baby. She taught Rachel how to be graceful, kind, fair, and just.

Today, however, Rachel didn't have princess lessons. It was her 18th birthday, meaning she was about to embark on a journey she'd been waiting for her whole life.

Many years ago, Aquata's youngest sister Ariel feel in love with a human. She left her family and traded her voice to a sea witch named Ursula for a pair of legs. She was given three days to receive true love's kiss or she'd belong to Ursula. Ursula put a spell over the prince which caused him to fall in love with her, however true love prevailed and he realized Ariel was the girl he loved. After defeating the sea witch, Ariel's father gifted her with legs and allowed her to be with her true love.

After her father's death, Aquata took the throne as she was the eldest and had no brothers. Remembering her sister, she started a new tradition for her daughters. On their 18th birthday, each was gifted with a magical shell necklace that would grant them legs and the ability to walk on land for two years, and two years only. Her hope was that the rebelliousness and curiosity of the world above would be cured by her daughters being allowed to walk on land.

It worked. Aquata's three daughters enjoyed their time on land, but were eager to return back home after their two years. Once they returned to the sea, they were glad to marry suitable mermen and live their lives under the sea. When Aquata's only son took the throne, he continued the tradition, deciding to isolate the magic into a necklace that would be gifted to his daughter on her 18th birthday.

And, to this day, the tradition continued. Rachel was moments away from receiving her necklace. That is, if she could keep it together.

She was trembling from head to tail and hadn't even bothered to change into the new top her mother had made specifically for this day. It lay on her bed, untouched.

There was a soft knock on her door before it opened and her mother swam in, stopping in her tracks when she spotted her daughter sitting down, clearly not ready for her party.

"Rachel, what's wrong?" Marina asked, placing her hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"I can't do it, Mom. I'm not ready to go up there on my own. How am I going to make it without you and Dad?" she asked, her voice trembling as she held back tears.

"Oh baby, it's going to be okay," Marina said, embracing her daughter. "I remember being nervous before my land walk. I could barely hold it together at my party, but once I put my necklace on and sat on a beach for the first time, it was the greatest moment of my life."

"But how am I supposed to survive?" she asked. "I won't know anyone up there."

"Don't worry, you'll find a way," her mother promised, kissing her forehead. "I did, and so will you. Now come on, you need to get ready or you'll be late for your own party!" Marina teased.

"Yeah, you're right," Rachel admitted, grabbing some lipstick off her vanity before starting to apply it. Marina stayed, helping her daughter finish her makeup and fixing her hair. She swam out of the room as Rachel prepared to get changed, promising she'd be waiting outside for her when she was done.

Rachel pulled her white seashell top off, exchanging it for the new and extravagant one her mother had gifted her. It was white, just like the one she had been wearing. However, instead of being plain white shells, they were covered in gems that had been recovered from sunken ships, causing her to sparkle and shine every time she moved. A sparkling chain was attached to the shells, wrapping once around her torso.

In addition to the new top, her mother had placed a sparkling white flower clip in her hair, pinning part of it back.

Rachel looked at herself in the mirror, smiling a little. She couldn't remember ever looking this beautiful in her life. She wondered if she would be considered beautiful in the human world as well. With a final glance at herself, Rachel took a deep breath and turned away from her mirror, swimming out of her room to where her mother was waiting for her.

"Ready?" Marina asked, extending her arm to her daughter.

"As much as I'll ever be," Rachel said, taking her mother's arm. The two of them headed down the halls, passing several rooms before coming to a stop outside a set of ornate double doors. They were wooden, hand-carved, and closed, though faint sounds of music were seeping through them.

"You wait here, Finn will be right out to escort you in." Marina kissed her daughter on the cheek. "And don't forget your crown," Marina added, handing a small silver tiara to Rachel before opening the doors and swimming inside.

Rachel was alone for jut over 30 seconds before a tall, fit merman swam over to her, coming to a stop once he was at her side. Finn Hudson was 19 and the eldest son of Strom and Ondine Hudson, the rulers of the Atlantic Ocean. He had two younger brothers, Wade and Kai, but no sisters.

Finn had light brown hair that was typically styled to look messy. His skin was slightly tanned and his muscles well defined. He had a squared jaw and a smile that lit up every room he was in. His tail was covered in blue scales and he was shirtless. A gold crown was seated on top of his head, a red gem embedded in the metal.

He was also head over heels in love with Rachel Berry.

"Princess Rachel," he greeted, bowing his head.

"Prince Finn," she said, a giggle escaping her lips. Finn was Rachel's oldest and dearest friend. They'd practically grown up together. All of her memories from childhood involved him. He reached out, taking her hand and placing a kiss on the back of it, causing Rachel's cheeks to turn pink.

When Rachel was 16, her mother had revealed to her that when she returned to the sea after her land walk, she and Finn would be married. It was a union their parents had arranged from the moment Rachel was born, a marriage that would unite the Atlantic and Pacific kingdoms. At first, Rachel had been devastated to learn she had no say in who she would marry. However, once she thought about it, she realized that, in the end, she probably would have ended up marrying Finn anyways. He was her best friend and she couldn't imagine spending her life with anyone else.

"Are you ready?" he asked, extending an arm out to her. Rachel smiled up and him and took it, nodding her head. They swam through the door with the music playing and hundreds of mermaids and mermen with their eyes on the prince and princess. They swam until they were beside Rachel's parents, and everyone resumed their conversations from before Rachel entered.

"Happy birthday, darling!" King Byron boomed, pulling his daughter into a tight hug. She laughed as her father released her, placing a kiss on his cheek. "And there's my future son-in-law!" he laughed, pulling Finn into a hug as well.

"Oh Rachel, you look beautiful!" a voice gushed. Rachel turned and saw a young mermaid smiling at her.

"Quinn!" she squealed, swimming over and hugging her.

Queen Quinn Fabray was a young mermaid who had taken over the rule of Oceania when her parents were killed by a shark. She was almost 22 with short blonde hair and a face full of freckles. She was married to a merman named Beck who both helped her rule and take care of their daughter.

"It's so good to see you!" Rachel exclaimed. She and Quinn had been close as kids. Quinn had been a few years older than Rachel and naturally helped her get into all kinds of trouble as a kid. She remembered one time they'd found Ariel's destroyed grotto when she'd been visiting Quinn's family. When Rachel's father found out where they had been, Rachel had been grounded for months.

"I know," Quinn sighed. "It's been months since I've seen you. I've just been so busy with ruling and being a mom," she said, shaking her head.

"Speaking of being a mom, where is your daughter?" Rachel asked.

"Beck decided to stay home with Hali. She's still a little young to be traveling across the ocean. She'll be here for your homecoming, though. I promise," Quinn said, taking a glass of seaweed wine from a passing waiter. "So, looking forward to your land walk?"

Rachel shrugged. "A little. I'm more nervous than anything."

"Oh, would you relax? It'll be fine. I remember mine like it was yesterday. I experienced things I'll never regret. I even learned how to swim like humans do," she laughed.

Rachel opened her mouth to ask her more, but at that moment her father cleared his voice and everyone fell silent.

"Thank you all for coming," King Byron said, his voice resonating all through the ballroom. "As you all know, my only daughter Rachel turns 18 today, and tonight will embark on her land walk journey as my wife did on her 18th birthday. As Rachel's parents, we've been preparing her gift for months." Byron swam over to Rachel with Marina at his side, a black box held in her hands. Byron pulled the lid off, displaying a purple shell on a silver chain. "Rachel, this necklace contains enough magic to turn you into a human for two years. From the moment you put it on, you will be transformed into a human and will not turn back into a mermaid until the magic wears off. We gift this to you in accordance of the wishes of Queen Aquata."

Rachel took the box, staring down at the necklace with a huge smile on her face. "It's mine?" she asked. "Really?"

Her father nodded his head. "Yes, it's yours. You're free to go whenever you wish to. Your mother and I wish you all the luck, and we love you very much," he said, embracing Rachel again. Marina followed suit, kissing her daughter's cheek.

"We'll be right here when you return," she promised Rachel before pulling out another bag. "This is from my land walk. There's some money and human clothes for you to use."

"Thanks Mom," Rachel said, giving her mother another hug. She turned and spotted Finn waiting for her. She swam over to him, closing the lid to the box so she wouldn't lose her necklace. "I'm going to miss you, Finn," she said, throwing her arms around him.

"I know, but I'll be here waiting for you," Finn promised, kissing Rachel's cheek. "I love you, Rachel."

Rachel smiled at him, her stomach flipping. She cared about Finn, but love? That was a big step. "I know you do, Finn." She placed a hand over his. "I'll see you in two years," she promised before giving her parents one last hug. She swam out of the ballroom and through the castle she'd lived in her whole life. She left through the castle doors, swimming quickly away.

It was a freedom like Rachel had never experienced in her life. From the moment she was born, she'd been surrounded by servants, maids, and nannys who catered to her every wish. She couldn't adventure off on her own without someone following her.

Rachel turned back for a moment to make sure she really was alone. The only creature near her was a lone fish quickly swimming by her. All the other mermaids and mermen in the area were back at the castle, enjoying her birthday party. She guessed she could have stuck around longer, but she had a long swim ahead of her and she wanted to cover as much water as she could.

Rachel would swim a few hours then take a rest break in a nearby cove, making sure to keep herself hidden from roaming sharks and other predators. After a quick nap, she would set out and swim again, her destination in her mind.

When Rachel first started to plan her land walk, she was positive she was going to stay close to home, planning on settling in southern California. That's where her mother had gone, so that's where she wanted to settle. It was her mother who talked her out of it. She was convinced Rachel would never truly get to experience life as a human if she was close to home.

So instead, Rachel was going to the other side of the world instead. Quinn had sent her a few suggestions on where to go and Rachel had finally settled on Bell's Beach in Victoria, Australia. She'd be all alone there and free to do as she wished.

After a full night of swimming, Rachel slowed as she began approaching the beach. She made sure to stay a bit off shore in case there were any humans in the area. The box containing the necklace her parents gifted her was strapped to a belt around her waist. She unhooked it and pulled the lid off the box, admiring the beautiful purple shell that rested on a satin pillow. She ran a finger over the shell, smiling as she did so.

Rachel had no idea what to do or expect now. Her father had said the shell's magic would work as soon as she put it on. She glanced up from where she was in the water. The surface was about five feet above her. She just hoped once her tail was gone she'd still be able to swim. With a tight grip on the bag her mother had given her, she pulled the necklace out of the box and pulled it over her head, the shell settling just above her breasts.

Nothing happened for a moment. Then, after about 30 seconds, the necklace began to shine and grow warm. It was pleasant at first until the warmth started spreading from the necklace and through Rachel's whole body, becoming slightly unpleasant.

She noticed her skin starting to shine as her necklace was. She looked down at her tail and saw it was glowing bright. She placed a hand on her green scales before pulling back instantly as they were white hot.

She started to feel a pulling sensation, as if some invisible force was trying to force her tail off of her body. She shut her eyes tightly, willing it all to end. After another few minutes, the warmth started to fade. Instead, it was replaced with a tightness in her chest She opened her eyes but shut them a second later as the water burned her eyes. She opened her mouth only to have it fill with salty water.

When she tried to propel herself up with her tail, she realized she no longer had a tail. Instead, she was left with two limbs she had no idea how to use. Rachel desperately gasped for air, taking in more water instead. She started grasping around for something, panicking. She was going to drown. She knew she was right, she could never make it as a human.

Her hand grasped onto something pointed and smooth, and suddenly she felt herself moving in the water. Her head breached the surface and she started coughing violently, taking in as much air as she could. She opened her eyes, seeing the darkness surrounding her. She had left home at night, yet it still appeared to be night here. How strange.

Rachel looked down at her companion and saw a dolphin was towing her to shore. "Thank you," she whispered, holding onto the dorsal fin tightly, her legs hanging uselessly below her. Eventually, she was close enough to shore where her new feet touched the ground. She let go of the dolphin and attempted to stand, but almost instantly lost her balance.

The dolphin, still beside her, swam behind her to catch her as she fell. Rachel smiled down at her new friend and attempted to stand again. This time, she seemed to get the hang of it and remained standing. Carefully, she waded through the water until she reached the shore, collapsing with exhaustion on the wet sand.

"Thank you!" Rachel called out again to the helpful dolphin. She heard a cheerful click before there was a loud splash and the dolphin disappeared from view.

Rachel sat up and looked down at herself for the first time. She still was wearing the jeweled top from her party, but that was it. She pulled open the bag her mother had given her and fished around, finding a skirt. She pulled it on over her exposed body and stood up, wobbling a little as she did.

She looked on the side of the bag and noticed a tag with a local address. Without any other options, Rachel set off into Bell's Beach, completely barefoot.

After wandering aimlessly for almost an hour, Rachel came to a stop outside of a small shack. Her feet were sore and she was exhausted. She checked the address again on the card before walking onto the porch, knocking on the door.

She heard someone grumbling inside as a light flicked on. The door swung open and there stood a young guy, probably about five years older than Rachel. He looked as though he had just woken up. He was tall and thin with sandy blonde hair, dressed in a tee shirt and a pair of boxers. He also had a stunned look on his face as he took in Rachel's appearance on his front porch.

His eyes went from the wet hair on her head before zoning in on the necklace she wore. "You couldn't have shown up here before one am, could you?" he muttered before holding the door open for her.

Rachel walked inside, glancing around with fascination. There were so many things covering the room, she didn't know where to look first. She turned around again and saw the man who seemed to live here pulling somethings off something large that was covered in pillows.

"I know who you are. Or rather what you are," he said, stifling a yawn. "I've never seen one of you in your true form, though," he added, looking Rachel up and down for a moment, as though he expected her to regrow her tail. "Right, I'm Ryder. It's too late and I'm too tired to get into who I am, but basically I'm descended from Ariel. My family has been helping you guys when you get on land for a long time, way before I was ever born. Tomorrow I'll get you all set up with a place to stay and everything, but for now you'll have to crash on my couch cool?"

Rachel stared at him, a blank expression on her face.

"Right, you have no idea what I'm talking about. Lie down there and sleep," he said, pointing to the large object he'd just cleared off. "You can use the blanket on the floor if you get cold, which I expect you will since your hair is still wet." He watched as Rachel collapsed onto the couch, letting out a big yawn. "We can talk more in the morning when we're both more awake." He flipped the switch on the wall and the lights in the small house extinguished, leaving the room dark. "Good night," he added as Rachel heard him head away from her. "And good luck."

Before she had time to contemplate what he meant by that, Rachel's eyes had grown heavy and she fell asleep, not knowing what would happen when she awoke.