| abstract
| - Past the Ships Graveyard, past the Canyon of Rocks, down, into the ravine filled with purple geysers that spewed noxious gas, a skeleton of a monster long forgotten sat. A pair of jaws large enough to swallow a whale gaped as if frozen in its last dying scream. Candlehead stopped right in front thankful that the jaws were so large so there was plenty of room to swim between the dead, but still razor sharp, teeth. She bit her lip as her heart and courage flutter for a moment. Jet and Gear: "This way." Taking a nervous gulp, she entered the belly of the beast. The hallways were dark and the Turbo Twins led the way, and a nervous Candlehead followed him. But as they went in further, she heard a moaning and howling sound as they entered the next hallway. The deeper they were in, the louder it got, as Candlehead looked down and noticed something moving along the bottom. She then paled in fright as some light shined in and showed the horrifying polyp cake toppings. And then suddenly, one of them shot at her, wrapping around her wrist. She struggled, trying to pull it off, until one final tug, she broke free. In fear, she swam fast to twins' side as they reached their final destination. It was a room with a huge conch hung from the ceiling, along with a few shelves full of strange concoctions, a vanity mirror, and a cauldron shaped like a closed clawed hand. It was when they entered the room, Mishaela spoke up from the conch, Mishaela: "Come in. Come in, my child. We mustn't lurk in doorways -" Candlehead nervously came in, as she saw Mishaela slither her way out of the conch and land on the floor, as she quirked, Mishaela: "it's rude." An orange seashell necklace hovered over her rather large bust. Mishaela strutted towards a vanity in the corner and her words brought Candlehead out of her amazed stupor. Mishaela: "One MIGHT question your upbringing. . . ." She chuckled and sat down examining herself in the mirror Mishaela: "Now, then. You're here because you have a thing for this human. This, er," one of her long dark tentacles squirted some foam from a shell onto her hands. Her red nails ran through her dark blue hair. Mishaela: "prince fellow. Not that I blame you - he is quite a catch, isn't he?" Red lips puckered as she applied lipstick, Mishaela: "Well, angel fish, the solution to your problem is simple." She finished the phrase with a pop of her lips. Mishaela: "The only way to get what you want - is to become a human yourself." Candlehead gasped in surprise by that solution. She figured it was impossible to even become a human; she even knew her father wouldn't allow it with the power of the Trident. But then she looked to Mishaela with hope in her eyes, Candlehead: "Can you DO that?" Mishaela smirked as she turned towards Candlehead, Mishaela: "My dear, sweet child. That's what I do -" She then swam towards Candlehead as she stated, Mishaela: "it's what I live for. To help unfortunate merfolk - like yourself." She then sighed sadly as she cupped Candlehead's face with one of her tentacles, causing Candlehead to flinch away, Mishaela: "Poor souls with no one else to turn to." She swam up and Jet and Gear snaked around their mistress, her husky voice low and almost hypnotizing. Mishaela: "I admit that in the past I've been a nasty They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch Jet and Gear laughed as they swirled around Mishaela who also twirled in circles. Mishaela: "But you'll find that nowadays I've mended all my ways Repented, seen the light and made a switch" The twins circles one last time before leaving Mishaela with a flourish as she floated back down towards the mesmerized mermaid. Mishaela: "True? Yes" The eels returned to circling her again as she strutted over to the claw hand cauldron growing out of the ground. Mishaela: "And I fortunately know a little magic It's a talent that I always have possessed" With a wave of her arms the claw opened and pink steam rose up and whatever was inside cast an eerie glow on the witches face. Mishaela: "And here lately, please don't laugh" She grinned and waggled a finger at the princess who was slowly swimming closer, curiosity over coming her fear. Mishaela: "I use it on behalf Of the miserable, lonely and depressed Pathetic" Mishaela had pulled up two mer-candy-people made of the glowing pink steam and Candlehead was too enthralled to hear the last part she had whispered to her laughing servants. Mishaela: "Poor unfortunate souls In pain In need This one longing to be thinner That one wants to get the girl And do I help them?" A snap of her fingers and the two figures were transformed, the scrawny bow peppermint man was now a handsome peppermint man and the chubby peppermint girl was now a slim peppermint girl, both were the way they wanted to be. Mishaela: "Yes, indeed" The two embraced each other and Mishaela continued to strut and sing around the cauldron. Mishaela: "Those poor unfortunate souls So sad So true Chuck and Jay had secretly entered. Shaking with fear, they sneaked past the polyp cake toppings. Mishaela: "They come flocking to my cauldron Crying, "Spells, Mishaela please!" And I help them? Yes, I do Now it's happened once or twice Someone couldn't pay the price And I'm afraid I had to rake 'em 'cross the coals" Her hand clenched into a fist and the two dissolved in a tornado, scraggly little polyp cake toppings in their place. Mishaela closed her claw hand cauldron, grabbed one of the pink fluorescent curling seaweeds that hung from the ceiling and began playing with it. Mishaela: "Yes, I've had the odd complaint But on the whole I've been a saint To those poor unfortunate souls" She loomed over the other polyp cake toppings until they all began to quake and cry in fear again. Candlehead was distracted by them before Mishaela pulled the mermaid closer to her with the seaweed. Mishaela: "Now, here's the deal." She began pulling her over towards the cauldron, releasing the plant once her surprisingly strong hand had a hold of Candlehead's arm, sharp maroon claws biting into the soft flesh. Mishaela: "I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days." A distracted look crossed her grimacing face as she tried to brush off a stray tentacle that had wrapped itself across her shoulder and chest. Mishaela: "Got that? Three days." They had arrived at the terrible black claw which had sealed up again and leaning over it Mishaela grabbed Candlehead's chin with a tentacle as the girl had been unconsciously looking for a way out. Mishaela: "Now listen, this is important." She opened her claw hand cauldron again. Three glowing yellow suns floated out between the cracks in the claws Mishaela: "Before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get dear ol' princey to fall in love with you." A crown followed as the suns set and a heart, pulsing and beating red floated up in the center. Mishaela: "That is, he's got to kiss you. Not just any kiss - the kiss of true love." The heart pulsed and it's shinning red glow over powered the gold of the crown. Jay and Chuck were swimming around the corner, keeping out of sight, and saw what was happening and heard everything. Out of the cauldron then popped a silhouette of Candlehead and Swizzle together, but this image, Candlehead had legs as Mishaela explained, Mishaela: "If he does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day, you'll remain human, permanently," Candlehead smiled at this outcome, but then frowned as the silhouette changed from her and Swizzle together, with her back as a mermaid. Mishaela: "but - if he doesn't, you turn back into a mermaid, and -" she was sucked back down and Mishaela's grinning face filled her vision, Mishaela: "you belong to me." Chuck couldn't take it anymore Chuck: "No Candlehead!" But then he and Jay were quickly silenced by the witch's twins and Mishaela once again grabbed her chin bringing her attention back to her. Mishaela: "Have we got a deal?" Seeing Chuck and Jay reminded her of home and an interesting thought crossed her mind that caused her to furrow her brow. Candlehead: "If I become human, I'll never be with my father or sisters again." Mishaela faked her concern as she nodded, Mishaela: "That's right. . . ." But then she smirked and chuckled, Mishaela: "But - you'll have your man. Life's full of tough choices, innit?" she jeered lying back on the claw. Mishaela: "Oh - and there is one more thing. We haven't discussed the subject of payment. You can't get something for nothing, you know." Oh that look on her shocked little face! Hmhmhm! Even though this witch and her magic scared her she a touch of desperation colored her voice at the thought of the chance being taken away. Candlehead: "But I don't have any -" A thick dark tentacle cut off her sentence. Mishaela: "I'm not asking much. Just a token, really, a trifle. You'll never even miss it. What I want from you is . . . your voice." The way it came out, the way that red nail insisted on touching her chin again, it felt…sinister. Candlehead gingerly touched her throat Candlehead: "My voice?" Mishaela: "You've got it, sweetcakes. No more talking, singing, zip." She listed off the stipulations on her fingers and ended it with a pop of her lips. Candlehead: "But without my voice, how can I -" but was cut off again. Mishaela: "You'll have your looks! Your pretty face! And don't underestimate the importance of body language! Ha!" Mishaela responded in rhythm like she was singing on "body language", she started shaking her butt and began to sing again. Mishaela: "The men up there don't like a lot of blabber They think a girl who gossips is a bore" As she said this, she went to a cupboard and opened it. Mishaela: "Yes, on land it's much preferred For ladies not to say a word And after all, dear, what is idle prattle for? Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation" She threw five bottles with a few ingredients into a cauldron as Candlehead looked on. Mishaela: "True gentlemen avoid it when they can But they dote and swoon and fawn On a lady who's withdrawn" Mishaela then threw a tongue into the cauldron, causing more smoke. Mishaela: "It's she who holds her tongue who gets her man Come on, you poor unfortunate soul Go ahead! Make your choice!" and then as Candlehead looked in the smoke, Swizzle's face began to form. She absentmindedly gazed into it until she heard Mishaela's voice, Mishaela: "I'm a very busy woman And I haven't got all day It won't cost much Just your voice!" And then Mishaela's face shot through the image, scaring Candlehead as she finished. She threw a little blue jellyfish cookie right into the pit of her cauldron. It exploded into blue smoke, and I couldn't help feel a tad twinge of pity for the poor creature. Mishaela: "You poor unfortunate soul It's sad But true" Mishaela then put a hand on Candlehead's shoulder and gave her a very, very long golden scroll and a quill. It is a contract that Mishaela gives to mer people who had to make thier deals with her, official. Mishaela: "If you want to cross a bridge, my sweet You've got to pay the toll Take a gulp and take a breath And go ahead and sign the scroll!" Candlehead read the first part, which read, "I, hereby hand over to Mishaela, one voice. Signed X._" Mishaela: "Jet, Gear, now I've gother, boys The boss is on a roll This poor" A stern look came onto Candlehead's face as she looked up. Mishaela: "un" Candlehead grabbed the pen as Chuck and Jay gasped in shock. Mishaela: "fortunate soul." Candlehead then turned her own head away while clenching her teeth as she signed "Candlehead" on the dotted line. When Candlehead finished signing her own name, she opened her eyes and Mishaela took the contract scroll. The deal was done! Rosaline smiled evilly, spread her hands over her cauldron, chanting a spell and Her cauldron then started glowing blue. Mishaela: "Paluga, sarruga, come winds of the Caspian Sea. As Mishaela chanted this, a blue whirlwind appeared around her and Candlehead who looked extremely nervous. Mishaela: "Now rings us glossitis and max laryngitis, La voce to me!" Then two huge green phantom like hands, symbolizing Mishaela's hands appeared. Each was to her left and right, and Mishaela looked towards Candlehead as she stated, Mishaela: "Now . . . sing!" she looked at Candlehead with an insane look in her eyes and an evil toothy grin. Without any hesitation, she sang out, or vocalized, the tune of her song. But as she sang, a small golden sphere glowed in her throat; the small golden glowing sphere in her throat was none other than her voice. The spell was working Mishaela: "Keep singing!" As Candlehead did so, the hands reached out for her. As one hand reached for her, Candlehead flinched a little, but still held her tone. And then like a viper striking for a mouse and getting it, the hand shot into her mouth and ventured down Candlehead's throat. And in a few seconds, it pulled out, along with Candlehead's voice as it continued to hold the notes in her song. Candlehead saw the golden orb that was her voice, and held her throat, knowing it was lost forever. And then the hands were reeled right into Mishaela's shell necklace, which she insanely grinned at as she cackled like a maniac. Then Mishaela began to laugh wickedly as Candlehead got trapped in a yellow bubble and she began to completely change. Chuck shooked and Jay closed his eyes as they watched in complete horror as Candlehead was transforming from mermaid, into human. Candlehead felt her fins splitting into two, her lower fish body begins to disappear as it starts to lose it's color and match Candlehead's skin tone. Her legs emerge and her tail fins become feet. the bubble disappeared, but now Candlehead was left unable to breath underwater and she couldn’t swim either. Chuck and Jay darted from their hiding place and went on either sides of the now human princess and swam to the surface as fast as they could. Mishaela cackled evilly as they left her lair. The group kept swimming and swimming until finally managing to get Candlehead above water. Candlehead took a huge breath of air upon reaching the surface. With that problem solved, everyone guided her to the nearby shore. But will they be able to help their friend, especially in this dire time, and without Candlehead’s voice? This was now a serious problem for them.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)