Caught on Land

Hedgewitch

~(Guess who?) Gray!~

I ran down the street, heading towards the end of the town where a hedgewitch lived. Her house spewed fumes from the chimney and I slowed, knocking on the door.

A woman with short pink hair and an unfriendly face appeared in the doorway, her clothes in tatters but she was still beautiful, for a hedgewitch.

She grinned an toothy, or toothless, smile at me "The Prince? What can I do for you, your majesty?" She said it mockingly. I looked around to make sure no one heard.

"Do you have a spell that can give a mermaid human legs?" She thought about it "Maybe, but what do you have to offer?" I thought about it, I'm the Prince, what do I have to offer?

"Riches?" She shook her head "All the herbs you could ever want?" She thought about that one but still a no "What would you like?" She gave an evil cackle "Your hand in marriage!"

I stared at her then started laughing "Ha! Good one, now, seriously, what?" She raised an eyebrow at me and I froze "B-But....is there nothing else?" She shook her head "Marriage or no legs for your mermaid."

I sighed "Fine, just give her legs," "You really love this girl don't you?" I nodded "Well then, come in, I'll get you the potion."

I went in and she threw ingredients into a large cauldron, whispering under her breath. I shook my head and chuckled lightly to myself, I was marrying a Hedgewitch because I loved a mermaid.

A normal life seems so far off now.

~flashback~

I stood in front of my father. He sat in a huge throne made for a God but my father sat in it. He was the king, a tall man with hair like mine, slicked back on his head. He smirked down at me.

"Son, one day, you will have to marry, as all prince's have to." I nodded "I know father," "Yes, well, you will have to marry a princess, a beautiful princess that could produce an easy heir."

I just blinked at him, I've heard all this before "An added bonus would be she's from a wealthy family, but all you really need is the perfect girl for the crown."

I had gone back to my room thinking, the perfect girl for the crown? What about me? Can't I choose a girl good for me?

~end flashback~

No, I thought to myself, my father just happened to be lucky, marrying a girl he loved but I? I had to fall in love with a mermaid and have to marry a Hedgewitch to get her legs.

If Juvia was a princess it would be all the better, we would be even more made for each other. I sighed and the Hedgewitch looked at me "Are you okay? You shook your head, and you're sighing."

I looked at her "Thinking about how my father told me to marry well and..." I stopped, realising I would've just insulted her. She laughed "I bet he won't be happy about you marrying a Hedgewich, eh?"

She kept laughing and stirring her concoction. A bubbling, bright purple coloured potion that gurgled and popped as the huge stirring stick moved through its think liquid.

"She'll have to drink that?" "What? No! She has to rub it in her tail, and wait for the magic," "That's all?" "What we're you expecting? A fancy spell of nonsense words and her almost dying after drinking the potion?"

"Kind of," I admitted. She snorted "Prince's, don't know nothin' 'bout anything," she grumbled under her breath and continued to stir. I watched her, she threw a few more things in and suddenly jumped back.

She eyed it warily but nothing happened. She smiled and looked at me "It's done!" "Really?" I stood up and smiled at her "Yes, now, let's go help this mermaid of yours."

I nodded and she bottled the potion in an oddly shaped flask. She opened the door and I followed her, placing my hat back into place.

As we reached where Juvia was staying I opened the door and saw Lucy standing there, looking scared to death "Oh, it's just you Gray," she gave a sigh of relief. She gave me a look of confusion when she saw the Hedgewitch.

"She's helping me get Juvia her legs," Lucy raised an eyebrow then smiled at me "How sweet of you, let's go then." We walked down the stairs and heard a small voice singing.

A female voice, a beautiful voice, soft enough that no one upstairs could hear. I peaked down the stairs and saw Juvia lightly singing to some brightly coloured fish.

"I really wanna stop but I just got a taste for it,
I feel like I could fly with the boy on the moon,
So honey, hold my hand, you like makin' me wait for it,
I feel like I could die walking up to the room, oh yeah
Late night watchin' television
But how'd we get in this position?
It's way too soon, I know this isn't love, but I need to tell you something."

I stepped down the last few steps and sung with her, making her look up in surprise

"I really, really, really, really, really, really like you, and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?
I really, really, really, really, really, really like you, and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?
Oh, did I say too much?
I'm so in my head when we're outta touch
I really, really, really, really, really, really like you, and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?
It's like everything you say is a sweet revelation
All I want to do is get into your head
Yeah, we could stay alone, you and me and this temptation
Sippin' on your lips, hangin' on my a thread, baby
Late night watchin' television
But how'd we get in this position?
It's way too soon, I know this isn't love,
but I need to tell you something
I really, really, really, really, really, really like you, and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?
Oh, did I say too much?
I'm so in my head when we're outta touch
I really, really, really, really, really, really like you, and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?
Who gave you eyes like that, said you could keep them?
I dunno how to act or if I should believe in, I'm running outta time, going outta my mind
I need to tell you something, yeah I need to tell you something
I really, really, really, really, really, really like you, and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?
Oh, did I say too much?
I'm so in my head when we're outta touch
I really, really, really, really, really, really like you, and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?
I really, really, really, really, really, really like you, and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?
I really, really, really, really, really, really like you, and I want you, do you want me, do you want me too?"

After we finished singing I smiled at her and she blushed and looked down at the fish. I looked at the Hedgewitch "Are you ready?" She nodded and walked towards Juvia, looking her over carefully.

"Now, mermaid, I will give you legs but you can always get your tail back, just get your legs wet and bam! Mermaid tail! Are you ready now, mermaid or would you like to wait a minute?"

Juvia looked at me "If you could wait a minute, Magic-Speaker-" "Magic-Speaker?" The Hedgewitch raised an eyebrow "It's what mermaids call magic users, well, if you could wait a minute, I would like to talk to the Prince."

Juvia kept her eyes on me, now breaking eye contact "And alone if you don't mind," Juvia's gaze darted to Lucy and Loke then back to me. I looked at the Hedgewitch and she nodded "Don't take too long, I've got places to be!"

The Hedgewitch, Lucy and Lole went upstairs, leaving just me and Juvia. She stared at me for awhile then spoke "Why?" "So you can have what you always wanted, legs to walk on, it's not like you can't go back."

Juvia looked at me sadly "I know, but no Magic-Speaker works without a price, I've only known one to do that and she was my own mother." I stayed quiet then Juvia whispered in a tone that was more commanding than a question.

"What was her price?"