My Writetober 2020

Day 27: Fins

Disclaimer: This was inspired by another fic, so credit to the author! It's sort of a part 2 to their fic, so go read their's first! https://archiveofourown.org/works/27176342

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Grian was a walking contradiction.

A fish who loved to fly? Unheard of.

But here he was, using the elytra as much as he could. It was like swimming through the air, feeling more natural to him than walking.

But flying so much led him to forget somethings, like how the merman part of him would come out randomly if he hadn't gone swimming for too long.

Last season was easy enough to avoid, making his base in an ocean and taking on the identity of the Salmon Ghost. Earlier this season was also easy to avoid, having his starter base right next to a small lake.

But now that he was farther in the season, he's started forgetting his needs. No one else really knew his secret, even though it was kind of an open one, and that was probably why he found himself in the situation he was in.

Well actually, there was one person who knew, for the sole reason that he had the same secret.

Scar.

Grian had found out when Scar and him had both built their starters next to that lake, and Scar had claimed he'd suspected Grian's secret from day one.

Either way, Grian was stranded on the floor of the Nether Hub in Merman form, with no way to contact anyone.

Great.

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If Mumbo had a nickel for every time he tripped of a Merman's tail that day, he'd have two nickels. Which wasn't a lot, but it was weird it had happened twice.

All Mumbo had done was sep out of the shopping district portal and into the nether, and had just face planted after his foot caught on something that felt familiar.

As Mumbo picked himself up off the floor, he caught sight of the tail. This one was calico, white with black and red splotches, likely a black and red koi. He then recognized the human end of the fish.

"Grian!?"

"Uh, yeah, I'm a Merman, long story-" Grian started.

Mumbo interrupted him. "Not you too..."

"Oh. You saw Scar in his merman form, didn't you?"

Mumbo nodded.

Grian laughed weakly. "That aside, can you help me out? I transformed seconds before you tripped over me, so I'd like to get out of the nether as soon as possible."

"Oh! Right!" Mumbo bent down to pick Grian up. He was much lighter than Scar, likely because he tail was shorter. Grian's eyes had gone from their regular brown to the same color as Scar's had been. When Mumbo lifted Grian up, his tail didn't drag on the floor like Scar's, but it did flap around a little, smacking him a couple times.

Grian apologized profusely. "Sorry, my tail is really sensitive."

"It's okay, let's get you to some water." Mumbo stepped back into the shopping district portal, the purple particles sweeping them away quickly.

Grian held on as Mumbo walked him off the cliff. Scar was still swimming around in the water, and poked his head above the surf when he spotted the two.

"Hi Scar!"

"Hi Grian! Join me?"

Grian giggled glancing back at Mumbo.

"I got it." Mumbo held the merman out off the cliff and dropped him. A happy shriek escaped from Grian as he splashed down into the water. He swam quick circles around Scar, both laughing. Then Grian whispered something to Scar, who nodded.

Before Mumbo could react, Grian threw a sea pickle at Mumbo, who lost his balance and toppled into the water. Still shocked, Mumbo sputtered out seawater as the two mermen laughed and swam around him.

A dolphin swam over, making clicks and whistles as it swam around Mumbo.

Grian grinned mischievously, guiding Mumbo's hands to hold onto the dolphin's dorsal fin. "Hang on!"