Malec - the little Mermaid AU

Chapter ten

"Will you be ready to give up your current life. Will you be ready to give up your family, your beautiful black fish tail and the ability to live under the water forever, so will I fulfil your wish immediately and make you a human. I warn you once you said yes, you cannot take it back. You will have time for the human boy to fall in love with you until the first day after his marriage. If it is not you who he marries, then so will you lose your life and there will be no second chance. You will win the love of a human or lose it all."

Magnus watched the sea witch slightly grinning as if he was happy with the tragedy of what Magnus hoped would not come true. "Say yes and I will brew you a potion for your fish tail to vanish. Say no and you will have to leave, I will not offer you this ever again." For Magnus, he didn't have to think about his answer. Of course it was hard to leave his life behind, to leave everything behind he has learned to love and enjoy. And he was aware of the risk of losing it all but there was only one chance and Magnus took it.

"Yes!", the young Prince finally said, excitement all over his face. "Before you decide, you have to consider your payment." "What is it that I have to give up now?" "Well", he half-shark stood up once again and swam closer to Magnus, pointing at his mouth, "I have heard of your voice and its popularity. Be ready to give it to me and I will offer you the chance to get a soul." "But how can I communicate with the Prince without my voice?"

"There are plenty other ways of communication the humans use, choose one." These were the last words of the sea witch. This was the price Magnus had to pay. He closed his eyes and took a minute for himself to collect his thoughts. The decision became harder and harder the more Magnus thought of it. "I agree", he said, breaking the silence.

"Perfect!", replied the sea witch with a devilish grin. He was about to cut off the tongue of Magnus but the Prince asked something before he could do it. "Can I ask you a question? A last question before I will lose the ability to speak?" The sea witch nodded. "I wonder why are some people calling you the 'Morning Star' ?" The witch started to smile a little. It was not a grin like the expression he always showed, it was a smile built of happiness. "This is a very long story, little Prince, and no one ever wanted to hear it." "But I do. At least it is a chance to keep my voice for a few more minutes."

"Well.. it all started long ago when was to considered to be the most beautiful sea creature. Believe it or not but I did not had a shark tail since the beginning. The others were amazed by my black eyes but also aware of my ability to manipulate them easily. So they started to haunt after me with the reason of stopping me to let everyone believe in me. It was your father who leaded it all. I escaped and found this place. I made it to my own and since then I live here and keep out of the way of the royal family. You are the first one who visits me. This name you mentioned was the one everyone - well almost everyone - gave me. I do not know why exactly but I enjoyed it."

"Wow", said Magnus after the sea witch was done, he felt quite different after hearing this short version of his story. "Now that I gave you an answer, are you ready give me your voice?" Magnus nodded and watched him preparing the potion. He put one ingredient after another in it, including a little of his own black blood. Then he took out a knife and swam once again to the Prince. "Open your mouth and stretch out your tongue." Magnus did as said and felt seconds later pain in his mouth. The good thing was the pain only lasted a few seconds, the bad thing was he couldn't speak anymore.

After putting the tongue - as the last ingredient - into the potion, the sea witch filled it all into a little glass bottle which now glimmered dark red. “Here”, he gave it to Magnus, “swim upwards and sit down on land. When you drink it, your fish tail will vanish and human legs will appear.” Magnus thanked him for this mixture and left the house and the area of the sea witch. He didn't dare to swim back to his home to see his family one last time. He watched the castle in the distance and shut his eyes, leaving his old life with a picture of his home before he looked up and swam upwards. Would he miss his life? Yes. Would he regret his decision? Never.