Hunk and Pidge's eyes widened when they the angry king. Quickly, they swam behind the large rock as Slav watched with guilt. Keith gave him a look, knowing that Slav had told his father. "I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules, and I expect those rules to be obeyed" Keith shrunk back at his father's tone.
"But Dad I-" before he could finish Shiro spoke up "Is it true you rescued a human from drowning?" Keith avoided his father's hard gaze. "Dad, I had to" Shiro shook his head "contact between the human world and the mer-world is strictly forbidden". Keith slowly began to move behind the statue as his father grew angrier. "Keith, you know that! Everyone knows that!".
"He would have died" Shiro scoffed as he turned around "one less human to worry about!" Keith glared at his father. "You don't even know him" Shiro turned back around to find Keith now fully behind the statue. "Know him? I don't have to know him. They're all the same. Spineless, savage, harpooning, fish-eaters, incapable of any feeling" before Keith could stop himself he spoke out whatever was on his mind.
"Dad, I love him!" everyone's eyes widened at the prince's words, including Keith's. "No . . . Have you lost your senses completely? He's a human, you're a merman!" Keith hid his head behind the statue "I don't care" he growled out. Shiro growled in response "So help me Keith, I am going to get through to you" Keith's eyes widened as his father straightened himself. "And if this is the only way, so be it" the triton in Shiro's hand glowed and the grotto turned dark, the only light was the triton.
Shiro then turned and started destroying the treasures in the grotto, ignoring Keith's pleas. "Dad!... No . . . " Shiro ignored his son and continued destroying the treasures. Debris falling everywhere from the explosions. "No, please- Dad, stop!. . ." Keith could feel his heart breaking as his treasures were destroyed. Worse, was that his father wouldn't stop with his pleas.
Keith swam out from behind the statue to try and stop his father. Shiro saw his son move from behind the statue and turned around. He pointed his triton towards it and Keith's violet eyes widened. He knew what his father was going to do. "Daddy, Nooo!. . ." Keith yelled as Shiro struck the statue with his magic, the statue breaking into a million pieces.
The darkness faded and once the smoke had cleared, Keith gasped as the statue was no longer where it had stood. His heart broke as his last connection to the human world had been broken. Shiro had somewhat calmed down from his anger fit and he replayed what had happened in his head.
His eyes widened when he realized what Keith had called him as a last resort to get him to stop. He glanced around the grotto and his heart tore as he saw his son's precious treasures were now destroyed. Keith collapsed on the spot where the statue sat and started sobbing his broken heart out.
Shiro's heartbroken even more. He wanted to say something, but nothing he could say could fix what he had just done. Shiro turned and headed out of the grotto, his heart heavy as he headed back to the palace.
Slav crawled up to Keith as Hunk and Pidge came out of their hiding spot. Their eyes downcast as they glanced around the grotto, their hard work of finding the treasures, now destroyed.
"Keith I…" Slav began to say, but Keith shook his head and spoke between sobs. "Just go away" Slav nodded sadly and exited the grotto. Pidge and Hunk following, knowing Keith wanted privacy at the moment.
From above Sendak and Ladnock had seen the whole scene. They swam in and started to head towards the crying prince. "Poor child" Sendak commented "Poor, sweet child" Ladnock continued as they swam over the prince. Keith stopped crying and glanced up at the two eels.
"He has a very serious problem" Sendak commented as they swam loser "if only there were something we could do" Ladnock said following her companion. "But there is something" Sendak said, twin smiles growing on their faces. Keith wiped his eyes and sniffled "Who - who are you?" Keith asked, his voice wavy from the crying.
Ladnock smiled and swam closer "don't be scared" "we represent someone who can help you" Sendak said from behind. Ladnock swam around Keith and popped up beside Sendak. "Someone who could make all your dreams come true" Sendak swam behind Keith and the two eels wrapped their tails around each other. "Just imagine -" Sendak started to say while Ladnock continued "you and your prince -" then in unison, they spoke together. "Together, forever. . . ." Keith shook his head. The two were speaking in rhymes.
"I don't understand" Sendak smiled. "Haggar has great powers" Keith's eyes widened at the name. "The sea witch? Why, that's - I couldn't possibly-" Keith shook his head as anger filled him. "-no! Get out of here! Leave me alone!" the eels blinked in surprise not expecting that of all things to be said.
Keith turned back to where the statue stood and laid his head down in his arms. Ladnock sighed as they turned around "suit yourself" the eels passed the face of Lance, the only piece of the statue left. "It was only a suggestion" Sendak said flicking it with his tail towards Keith.
Keith glanced down and picked up the broken statue's face. His heart hurting at the memory. Keith turned to the eels who were almost at the entrance of the grotto. "Wait" he called out, the eels turned, smiles on their faces. "Yeeeeeeeeeess?".
Outside the entrance, Hunk and Pidge sat outside while Slav was pacing slightly. Hunk sniffled "poor Keith" Pidge nodded and turned to glare at Slav. "If only someone hadn't told his father" Slav winced "I didn't mean to tell, it was an accident". Shadows passing above them made the three turn their heads up.
Above them Keith was swimming away from the grotto with two eels beside him. "Keith - where are you going?" Slav asked as he swam backward in front of Keith. The prince refusing the look at him, instead glancing at Hunk and Pidge. "Keith, what are you doing here with this riff-raff?" Slav asked as he gestured to the two eels who glared at him, but kept going.
"I'm going to see Haggar" Keith said as he swam past Slav. Slav's eyes widened and he grabbed onto Keith's fins "Keith, no! No, she's a demon, she's a monster!" Keith froze and turned to Slav with a glare. "Then why don't you go tell my father, you're good at that" Keith then flicked the crab off his tail and continued swimming.
"But . . . But, I . . ." guilt filled Slav, while he may have told Keith's secret, he still had a job to do. He turned to Hunk and Pidge who were watching the prince swim off. "Come on" the trio then followed Keith who was already way ahead and made no intention of stopping to let them catch up.
Haggar's lair was far away from the kingdom. Of course, she was banished. The entrance to the lair of in the shape of a lion head with its jaws open. Purple and magenta lights shone through to outside. Keith stopped in front of the entrance and started to wonder if it was a good idea.
Sendak and Ladnock turned around and motioned for him to follow. "This way" Keith slowly started to follow them through the entrance. Keith was greeted by the sight of Haggar's garden, the polyps groaned and whined as he passed. Keith for once, felt fear as he passed through them. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of person Haggar really was.
One polyp decided to be brave and pulled itself up and wrapped itself around Keith's wrist. Keith's eyes widened and he quickly pulled his wrist free and pushed himself back up out of the reach.
"Come in. Come in, my child. We mustn't lurk in doorways -" Keith turned and headed further in, the eels gone now, he headed in until he reached the lair. Haggar pulled herself out of her small cave. Her yellow eyes glowing slightly "-it's rude. One MIGHT question your upbringing. . . ." Haggar said as she headed over to a couch and sat down. "Now, then. You're here because you have a thing for this human. This, er, prince fellow." Keith's eyes widened.
"How did you-" Haggar motioned for him to be quiet and patted the seat next to her. Keith sat down but kept an eye on the strange woman. "Not that I blame you - he is quite a catch, isn't he? Well, darling, the solution to your problem is simple. The only way to get what you want - is to become a human yourself" Haggar said giving the prince a smile.
Keith's eyes widened "Can you do that?" Haggar smiled and patted the prince on the head. The prince was playing right into her hands. "My dear, sweet child. That's what I do - it's what I live for. To help unfortunate merfolk - like yourself. Poor souls with no one else to turn to". Hagar got off the couch and suddenly Sendak and Ladnock appeared again.
"I admit that in the past I've been a nasty
They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch
But you'll find that nowadays
I've mended all my ways
Repented, seen the light, and made a switch
True?
Yes"
Haggar headed over to her cauldron which opened with a wave of her hand. Purple smoke filtered out of the open cauldron and lit up the room with a purple tint.
"And I fortunately know a little magic
It's a talent that I always have possessed
And here lately
Please don't laugh,
I use it on behalf
Of the miserable, lonely and depressed
Haggar waved her hand an image of a very thin merman and a fat mermaid appeared. She whispered the last word to Sendak and Ladnock who laughed in response."Pathetic".
"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?
Yes, indeed"
Haggar motioned to each image as she sang and with a snap of her fingers, they changed. The thin merman was now perfectly muscled and the mermaid was now in perfect shape with beautiful locks of hair. The two smiled and hugged each other in happiness.
"Those poor unfortunate souls
So sad, so true
They come flocking to my cauldron
Crying "Spells, Haggar, please!"
And I help them? Yes I do"
Hunk, Pidge, and Slav appeared at the entrance and started to swim/crawl in. Hunk went to leave but Pidge grabbed his wrist and pulled him back in as they continued to enter Haggar's lair.
Haggar turned to the couple and the two stared at her in concern. Keith watched as the couple turned into one of the polyps in the entrance.
"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
Yes I've had the odd complaint
But on the whole I've been a saint
To those poor unfortunate souls"
Haggar then appeared behind Keith and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Keith jumped and found himself being dragged over to her cauldron "Now, here's the deal. I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days" Keith nodded and Haggar continued. "Now listen, this is important. Before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get dear ol' princey to fall in love with you" Haggar created three small suns which spun around as if setting.
Haggar waved her hand and a crown appeared followed a red heart which settled inside the crown. "That is, he's got to kiss you. Not just any kiss - the kiss of true love" the heart and crown then started to glow golden. The trio entered the lair and watched as Keith took in what the which was saying. "If he does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day, you'll remain human, permanently" Keith smiled as an image of him with legs was running in place.
However, next the image turned him back into a merman and his smile dropped. "But - if he doesn't, you turn back into a mermaid, and - you belong to me" Slav's eyes widened. "No Keith!" Slav yelled grabbing the prince's attention. Sendak and Ladnock wrapped themselves around the trio, making sure that Slav couldn't speak.
"Have we got a deal?" Haggar asked as Keith turned back to the witch. Thoughts running through his head. "If I become human, I'll never be with my father or sisters again" Haggar nodded sadly but a smile remained on her face "that's right. . . . But - you'll have your man. Life's full of tough choices, innit?" Keith pulled back and sighed.
"Oh - and there is one more thing. We haven't discussed the subject of payment. You can't get something for nothing, you know" Keith shook his head "But I don't have any -" the prince was silenced when Haggar placed a tentacle over his mouth. "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" Haggar said pointing to where Keith's vocal cords would be.
Keith stared at the witch like she was crazy "my voice?" Haggar nodded "you've got it, sweetcakes. No more talking, singing, zip" she said popping the p. Keith a held to his throat "but without my voice, how can I -" Haggar rolled her eyes getting annoyed now. "You'll have your looks! Your pretty face! And don't underestimate the importance of body language! Ha!" Haggar pushed past Keith and headed to a seashell cupboard.
"The men up there don't like a lot of blabber
They think someone who gossips is a bore!
Yes, on land it's much preferred
for ladies not to say a word
And after all, dear, what is idle prattle for?"
Haggar started throwing bottles out of the cupboard and the bottles ended up being tossed into the cauldron, the smoke now turning Blue. Keith watched with wide eyes as the bottles continued to be thrown.
"Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation
True gentlemen avoid it when they can!
But they dote and swoon and fawn
on a lady who's withdrawn
It's she who holds her tongue who get's a man!"
Haggar tossed a tongue into the cauldron and the smoke now turned to a magenta. Haggar popped up on Keith's left side then on his right side.
"Come on, you poor unfortunate soul
Go ahead!
Make your choice!"
Haggar returned to her side of the cauldron. Haggar waved his hand and a golden circle appeared, in the center was a projection of Lance's head. Keith smiled and leaned in as the projection did.
"I'm a very busy woman, and I haven't got all day
It won't cost much.
Just your voice!"
The projection then disappeared and Keith jumped back as Haggar appeared. Haggar grabbed a small blue jellyfish and tossed it into the cauldron. It was as if she had this spell memorized. Keith flinched as the smoke turned blue and explosions came from the cauldron.
"You poor unfortunate soul
It's sad but true"
Haggar then appeared beside Keith and wrapped a tentacle around his shoulder.
"If you want to cross the bridge, my sweet, you've got the pay the toll
Take a gulp and take a breath, and go ahead and sign the scroll"
Haggar waved her hand a golden contract appeared with the terms of the agreement, along with a quill. Haggar then backed up as Sendak and Ladnock appeared with smiles.
"Sendak, Ladnock, now I've got her, eels
The boss is on a roll!
THIS POOR UNFORTUNATE SOUL!"
Keith squeezed his eyes and with a heavy heart signed his name at the bottom of the scroll. When the contract was signed, the contract flew to Haggar's hand and disappeared. Hagar the smiled and waved her hands over the cauldron and started chanting the spell.
"Beluga sevrgua, come winds of the Caspian Sea"
A whirlpool started to form and grew until it surrounded Keith and the witch. The trio outside struggled to see what was happening inside.
"Larynxes glossitis ad max Laryngitis la voce to me"
Haggar grabbed the seashell necklace around her necklace and turned to Keith. Purple hands grew from the cauldron and Haggar pointed to Keith.
"Now sing!" she called out as the hands slowly moved towards the prince. Keith swallowed and started to sing. His voice glowed purple as it formed a ball in his throat. "Keep singing!" Haggar yelled as the hands drew closer to the prince. Keith pulled back as the purple hands became one and slipped down his throat, though he felt no pain.
The hand then pulled the purple orb out of his throat and slowly retreated back to the witch. Keith held a hand to his throat as he heard his voice echo and glow and then watched as it disappeared into the golden seashell. The whirlpool disappeared and s golden mass surrounded Keith.
Pain flared throughout his whole body as the witch laughed. His tail separated as soon one fin, became two pale human legs. The mass disappeared and the trio's eyes widened as Keith struggled to swim and breathe. Pidge and Hunk quickly changed into their animal forms and helped Keith reach the surface. Slav followed, the echoes of the witches laughter sent shivers down their spines.
Soon they reached the surface and Keith gulped in oxygen. He weakly leaned his head against Pidge's dolphin form as she and Hunk swam to shore. Slav crawled on top of Keith's shoulder and encouraged the young prince to hold on.
Meanwhile on the beach Lance was leaning against a rock and playing his flute. Blue was running around happily as she listened to her master play. Lance was playing the same song that he had heard his savior sing when he rescued him from drowning, the song stuck in his head.
Lance sighed as he stopped playing and lowered the flute "that voice. I can't get it out of my head" Lance turned to Blue who had returned to her master's side as they continued to walk along the beach. "I've looked everywhere, Blue - where could he be?"
Hunk and Pidge had finally gotten Keith to the shore. The two laid against a rock in their mermaid forms as the action had exhausted them. The prince sat in the water and leaned against a rock. His black bangs fell in front of his face, with a hand Keith bushed his bangs out of his face and turned around so his back was against the rock, he knees pulled up out of the water as a result.
Keith's eyes widened when he saw that he didn't have a tail but two legs instead. He pulled one leg out of the water and studied his foot, his toes wiggled and his smile grew. He was not human! "Well, look at what the catfish dragged in!" Matt yelled as he flew over to the group, he landed on Keith's leg which was balanced on top of his other leg.
"Look at ya! Look at ya! There's something different. Don't tell me - I got it. It's your hairdo, right? You've been using the dinglehopper, right?" Keith gave Matt a smile but shook his head. "No? No huh, well let me see…" Keith started bouncing his leg up and down while Matt tried to figure out what was new. "I gotta admit I can't put my foot on it right now, but if I just stand here long enough I know that I'll -" Slav had finally had enough and yelled at Matt.
"HE'S GOT LEGS, YOU IDIOT! He traded his voice to the sea witch and got legs. Jeez, man . ." Matt flew off Keith's leg and landed beside his sister on the rock. "I knew that" Pidge rolled her eyes and sat up, as did Hunk. "Keith's been turned into a human. He's gotta make the prince fall in love with him, and he's gotta ki- he's gotta kiss him" Hunk said as Keith started to stand up.
Of course, with Keith never having legs before he was very wobbly. The group was lost in conversation as Slav started yelling. "And he's only got three days" Slav pointed out to the group, just as Keith toppled over and fell back into the water. The splash caused a wave to crash over the group as they turned to look at the fallen prince.
Keith had sat himself back up, a strand of seaweed in his hair. Though the smile of having legs never left his face. "Just look at him. On legs. On human legs! My nerves are shot. This is a catastrophe! What would his father say?" Slav then turned to the group and yelled. "I'll tell you what his father would say, he'd say he's gonna kill himself a crab, that's what his father would say!".
Keith stood up again but manage to keep himself standing this time. He pulled the seaweed out of his hair. He turned to Slav with wide eyes at the crabs next words. "I'm gonna march myself straight home right now and tell him just like I shoulda done de minute-" Keith picked up the crab as Slav headed into the water and shook his head as the crab continued to ramble on. ". . . and don't you shake your head at me, young man" Keith stopped shaking as Slav scolded the prince.
"Maybe there's still time. If we could get that witch to give you back your voice, you could go home with all the normal fish, and just be . . . " Keith's face fell as his smile faded and a very sad look appeared on his face. The thought of leaving the human world now, after what he what went through the be here, depressed the young prince. He would be miserable at home. "just be . . . just be miserable for the rest of your life" Slav sighed as he continued to stare at the prince's fallen face.
Slav shook his head and sighed "all right, all right. I'll try to help you find that prince. Boy. What a soft-shell I'm turning out to be" Slav commented as Keith patted his head and placed him back down on the rock.
Matt flew over to where a pile of cloth sat. "Now, Keith, I'm tellin' ya, if you wanna be a human the first thing you gotta do is dress like one. Now lemme see" Pidge sighed as Matt dragged the fabric over. She pulled out a small pouch and ended up pulling out a pair of scissors, thread, and a needle. "How about you let me see instead Matt since I'm the one who can actually make and sew something".
Lance and Blue continued their walk along the beach. Lance was walking ahead of Blue as the dog stopped and started sniffing the air. Smelling a familiar scent, Blue started to bark and run ahead. "Blue? Huh . . . what, Blue!" Lance yelled as Blue turned to bark at him and then ran ahead, following the scent. Lance running after her.
Pidge had ended sewing Keith a pair of capris and a shirt with no sleeves out of the cloth Matt found. Luckily, it fit Keith perfectly. "Ya look great kid. Ya look - sensational" Matt commented just as Blue ran up, barking at Keith.
Hunk and Pidge hid in the water while Blue chased Slav. Slav then jumped into the pocket of Keith's pants and hid int here, while Keith ran up the rock while Blue barked at him. Slav poked his head out but ducked down when Blue jumped up and licked Keith's cheek, just as she's done the night of the sinking.
"Blue . . . Blue" Lance yelled as he ran into the area. Keith's eyes widened and a smile grew on his face. Blue ran up to Lance and jumped on him, Lance grabbed her paws and held her up."Quiet Blue! What's gotten into you girl?" Lance asked as he glanced up. He stopped his antics with the dog and his eyes widened. "Oh . . . Oh, I see" Lance said as Blue ran back over to Keith. "Are you okay., here? I'm sorry if this knucklehead scared you. He's harmless, really -" Lance commented as Blue tried to jump in between the two.
Keith continued to smile, Lance stared at the violet eyes, those eyes that seemed all so familiar. " - . . . You . . . seem very familiar . . . to me. Have we met?" Keith nodded and Lance started to help hope rise in his chest. "We have met?" Keith nodded once more as Lance grabbed his pale hands and held them in his own tan hands. "I knew it! You're the one - the one I've been looking for! What's your name?" Keith went to say his name but his smile fell as he remembered that he couldn't speak.
"What's wrong? What is it? You can't speak?" Keith shook his head sadly. Lance's face fell "oh. Then you couldn't be who I thought" Blue and Keith shared the same frustrated looks. An idea popped into Keith's head, he started to sign with his hands trying to show Lance that he was the one, even without words. However, Lance didn't seem to be getting it.
"What is it? You're hurt? No, No . . . You need help" as Keith continued to sign he ended up losing balance and falling off the rock. Luckily, Lance was there and caught the prince before he could fall. "Whoa, whoa, careful - careful - easy. Gee, you must have really been through something" Keith nodded slowly and Lance smiled.
"Don't worry, I'll help you. Come on . . . come on, you'll be okay" Lance said as he wrapped an arm around Keith's waist and helped him walk on still wobbly legs towards the palace. Keith turned back to his friends who waved to him while Matt gave him a thumbs up. Blue barking all the way to the palace, despite Lance's tried to get her to quiet down.