Gundanium Mermiad

Chapter six

Seer Vixion

Vixi: The song in this is called The Wind by Cat Stevens

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It had been a week since Her first official trip to the surface and Youko had suddenly been swamped by offers for her hand in marriage. Her father was stunned, He hadn't had this many offers for all of his other daughters combined and in truth he didn't want to give her away. most of these offers were of mermen to old for his youngest daughter, the youngest offer being in his late twenties. He sent replies back saying that his youngest daughter was not to be married for political reasons, She was to live her life in happiness and marry for love and love only. However if they wished to court his older daughters they could come to his court and try their hands at it. Youko knew nothing of these offers and he preferred to keep it that way.

"Metti!" a voice whined, "Can we go today? I want to see him and I know Duo want to see his human too! Please..."

"Youko! I told you, Your sisters and I have to meet the Princes from other kingdoms. I want to impress them. Now shoo, I will try to get you to the surface after dinner tonight. Now go, shoo, vamoose, high-tail it outta here..." Metti said grinning at Youko's antics.

Youko was discouraged. She knew that if they went after dinner they would not make it back in time. She was drifting down the hall towards her own room, when she overheard a conversation from two guards on their patrol.

"I swear it is that damned Sea Witch's fault. She promises so many things for a price. I have heard that the price is almost never worth it."

"I also heard that she cheats. If you are within succeeding the bargain she sends a creature to mess everything up! But nobody has ever been able to prove it."

"I heard that She was once one of the advisors here at the castle until the Dutches found out that she was using her magic for the dark arts. I hear that she doesn't look a day over twenty!"

The voices faded into the long halls. Youko gave it a thought. Every merfolk knew where to find the Sea Witch. If she could grant any wish, maybe it was worth it. She would be able to see her human...She swam off to find Duo.

"Duo! I have a brilliant idea!" she said happily.

"Brilliant huh? Well spill it. Then I will decide if it is brilliant or not." he said skeptically.

"Fine," she pouted, "Well I know my sisters are busy with politics, wanna go see the humans? They told us where they were... And from what they said it was really close to where we dropped the two humans off when we saved them... Please Duo!" she pouted

"There is something more isn't there? You are keeping something from me..." he crossed his arms.

"Ummm, wellyouseetheSeaWitchcanmakeushuman andwecanlivewiththehumans. Sowecouldsee themwheneverwewant." she rushed. She knew that once Dou had deciphered it he would yell at her, so she drug him away from all Merfolk

It took Duo a bit but he did decipherer it. "WHAT! What do you mean Well you see the Sea Witch can make us human and we can live with the humans. So we could see them whenever we want" he mocked, "I am not going to see Dorthy. Do you know half the rumors floating around here about her? She is a WITCH, Youko a WITCH! I don't mean to burst your bubble but your father would kill me if I took you there! You know that right? Do you WANT me to become tonight's main dinner course?" Duo completely freaked out on her. The Sea Witch was definitely bad news.

"I know a little bit of the rumors, And besides you would become human with me wouldn't you? Daddy can't eat you if you are with me. And isn't your job to be with me always as my guardian?" she asked a bit coyly and with every ounce of persuasion she had in her.

Duo rubbed his aching temples with his fingers. What she said was true... but to tell truth he was scared of the Sea Witch ever since one of her storms destroyed his first family. If he went with her he would be doing his job and if he didn't he would be royally grilled. If they did become human, he would be able to see the human that he had feelings for. If he didn't he would miss they only likely chance of becoming human... "Alright Youko you win. We go to the Witch." he gave in.

Youko beamed at him. "I know what it cost you to say that Duo. Go pack, because we are leaving now. Meet me outside the castle. I will be there as soon as I can." she said happily as she rushed to her room to grab a few possessions as Duo sped off to gather his items too. Youko grabbed a bag of jewels and her Pearl. The bag of jewels had a few gold coins in it and few small cut pieces of precious jewels like emerald and sapphire. She met Duo at the gates leading in to the castle and headed to where the Sea Witch was rumored to live.

The Sea Witch lived where the waters were always warm. Where red liquid turned black. There was rumored to be a rock wall that had an ancient creature's bone etched onto it and that the skull of the creature was the entrance to the Sea Witch's lair.

It took them most of the day to travel to the Lair of the Sea Witch. once they arrived, Youko was tempted to turn back. Here the water was thick, it was hard to breath let alone swim in it. The water was hot and their lungs felt as if they were on fire, but the thought of their humans kept their resolve and they did not falter or hesitate on going in.

Inside was almost worse than the outside. It was dark inside they could not see more than a few feet in front of them. On the floor of the cave there were plants that kept trying to stick to them as if it was trying to eat them. The plants felt slimy and slick. They had to swim near the top of the cave to keep out of it's reach. Youko ended up following Duo after on of the plants pulled her to the bottom. Duo had to use his dagger to free her.

It wasn't long until they reached what seemed to be the main chamber. Somehow this part was all lit up. They could see shelves upon shelves of jars and bottles, all filled with different colors of liquid. In the center was a natural bowl raised from the floor and it seemed as if somebody was in the middle of making something seeing on how a green concoction was bubbling over the rim.

"Well! What a surprise! The Seventh daughter of the Sea King visiting ME! To What do I owe the honor of Princess!" said a voice that echoed off the walls.

"I have come to ask you a favor Dorthy the Sea Witch. I have heard that you have granted wishes and that your wishes come with a price." Youko said in a surprisingly calm voice.

"Y-es that is true," Dorthy hesitated, "I have granted wishes and they come with a price. What is it you want my Dear?"

"I want to be human." Youko said in the same voice

"Oh MY! What a wish to grant! Is that what you wish for too young man?" Dorthy asked surprised at such a wish.

"Yes." Duo replied neutrally. He really didn't like this witch.

"Can you do it?" Youko asked rashly

"Of COURSE I can do it! You are not the first to wish for this. Though the price will be high." Dorthy said with a sly voice.

"I will pay whatever the price for Duo and myself." Youko said "Money is not a problem."

"For you Princess, I believe that. But I do not want jewels or gold. I like more personal prices." Dorthy said. "I have two potions that will work." She browsed the shelfs until she came upon a small shelf that held bottles. One bottle held a crystal blue liquid and the other held a purple liquid. She pulled both the bottles out.

"These should do the trick. Hold out your hands please. I need a drop of your blood to mix with the potion for it to work." she explained.

Duo held out his hand first and she pricked his finger and added the drop to the blue potion. Youko did the same and her blood was added to the purple potion.

"These potions will only work for you. And now the Price. You said you are willing to pay any price? has this Human ever heard your voice?"The sea witch asked.

"Yes, when I saved him from drowning. When we got him to shore I hummed to him." she answered truthfully.

"Then your voice will be your price for both the potions." Dorthy replied with a grin knowing that this Princess was now coveted by the sea for her voice.

"My voice? But How will I talk to him? How will he be able to understand me?" Youko asked in a frightened voice.

"My Dear! there are more ways to talk than just with you voice! Use your body to talk to him!" Dorthy said gleefully.

Duo had stayed quiet. He didn't want Youko to loose her voice, but he didn't want to loose his voice either. What if the price for Duo was him becoming female! That just wouldn't do. Maybe Duo could help Youko's human understand his princess.

"I agree!" Youko said quickly.

"Good! Sing for me then!"Dorthy cackled

Youko took a deep breath and sang softly, gradually getting louder.

I listen to the wind
To the wind of my soul
Where I'll end up well I think,
Only God really knows
I've sat upon the setting sun
But never, never never never
I never wanted water once
No, never, never, never


The green liquid started to glow turning in to a goo. It acted as if it listened to the voice that was singing and suddenly started to float towards her. The goo invaded her mouth and wrapped around her voice.


I listen to my words but
They fall far below
I let my music take me where
My heart wants to go
I swam upon the devil's lake
But never, never never never
I'll never make the same mistake
No, never, never, never -

Her song ended as a whispered rasp as the goo came out. The goo was no longer green but a golden color, still echoing her song. Youko tried to talk but nothing came out. Tears filled her eyes. She rushed to Duo and he just held her close.

"Good! Now listen closely you two. The potion will loose its effects when dawn comes. You have to be at the surface by then. You have as much time as the world will grant you until your love marries another. The dawn after your love marries another, you will turn into Sea Foam. You two get this right?" Both nodded. "Good now go you only have four hours to get to the shore." Dorthy said with a smile.

Duo and Youko glanced at each other and swam as fast as they could out of that cave. Duo dragging Youko along with him. Duo kept his breakneck pace, dragging Youko along. She was trying to keep up but couldn't and just settled for swimming as fast as she could, to help Duo as much as she could.

Duo knew that he couldn't keep this pace, but Dawn was just hours away and if they did not make record time they would never reach the shore.

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Vixi : Well this chapter is Done. Just so you know. I have the next chapter finished. BUT after that I don't have anything but the Final chapter done. So i got LOTS (maybe about 10 chapters) until the end.

All these chapters are somewhat unedited. I briefly check them over. If you find anything write it in your review.