What none of them knew was that Bud was nearby. Robbie used to be, but decided to leave. He knew that if Wendy saw him then he and Bud wouldn't be able to get Mermando to trust Gideon.

"Poor child," Bud feigned sympathy as he swam down. "Poor sweet child. You have a very serious problem. If only there was something I could do...oh wait, there is."

Mermando, having stopped sobbing to look at Bud with confusion, wiped an eye.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Don't be scared, I represent someone who can help you. Someone who can make all your dreams come true. Just imagine: you and your princess together forever."

"I don't understand." Mermando shook his head.

"Gideon has great powers." Bud smiled.

"The sea sorcerer...?" Mermando had vague memories of someone named Gideon living in the palace...including one of his papa banishing him. "Why that's...I couldn't possibly...no! Get out of here, leave me alone!"

"Suit yourself." Bud shrugged, pretending to swim away...only to nudge the rock containing Mabel's face towards Mermando. "It was only a suggestion."

Mermando heard the rock land near him and looked at it. He instantly remembered his love for Mabel, and even though he still didn't trust Gideon he knew there was no other way of being with her.

"Wait!" He called.

"Yes?" Bud turned around smiling.

Meanwhile...outside...

"Poor Mermando..." Wendy sniffled, still a bit upset as well.

"I didn't mean to tell, it was an accident." Soos sighed regretfully.

Shadows moved over them. They looked up to see Mermando and Bud swimming away.

"Mermando? Where are you going?" Soos swam up to them. "Mermando what are you doing with this riffraff?"

"I'm going to see Gideon." Mermando said cooly.

Soos gasped.

"No! Mermando no he's a demon, he's a monster!" Soos grabbed his tail.

"Why don't you go tell my father? You're good at that." Mermando retorted, flicking Soos off.

"But...but I..." Soos tried to defend himself and then frowned with determination. "Come on!" He said to Wendy.

"I'm right behind you." Wendy this time was on Soos's side.

They continued swimming until they reached Gideon's cave. Inside a bunch of polyps desperately tried to grab Mermando, and one did. Creeped out, Mermando broke free. The same thing almost happened when Wendy entered the cave, except she swam out of reach due to having already seen one grab Mermando.

"Come in, come in, my child." Gideon's voice said. "We mustn't lurk in doorways, it's rude."

Mermando entered and saw Gideon leave his little cave. Wendy caught up with him, but Soos remained hidden.

"One might question your upbringing." Gideon finished as he went to his vanity table and gelled his hair. "Now, you're here because you have a thing for this human, this princess lady... Not that I blame you, she is exquisite isn't she?" He chuckled; he then noticed Wendy. "And what are you here for my dear?"

"I'm just here to make sure nothing bad happens to my friend." Wendy crossed her arms.

"Don't worry about that. Now, for the prince's problem." Gideon turned to Mermando. "The solution is simple: the only way to get what you want is to become human yourself."

Mermando gasped slightly as Wendy's eyes bugged out.

"Can you do that?" Mermando asked.

"My dear sweet child, it's what I do." Gideon smiled. "To help unfortunate merfolk like yourself. Poor souls with no one else to turn to."

He sang:
I admit that in the past I've been a nasty
They weren't kidding when they called me a male witch
But you'll find that nowadays
I've mended all my ways
Repented, seen the light, and made a switch
To this

Gideon went to the closed pedestal where his TV crystal ball usually rested - it wasn't there now since he didn't need it at the moment - and opened it so that he could use it for a cauldron. He continued singing as he did this:

And I fortunately know a little magic
It's a talent that I always have possessed
And dear man, please don't laugh
I use it on behalf
Of the miserable, the lonely, and depressed (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

Those poor unfortunate souls
So sad, so true
They come flocking to my cauldron
Crying, "Spells, Gideon, 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
Yes I've had the odd complaint
But on the whole I've been a saint
To those poor unfortunate souls

Gideon showed images of a couple merpeople he helped, and then showed what happened to those who couldn't pay the price: they became polyps.

"Now here's the deal: I will use a potion to turn you into a human for three days." Gideon pulled Mermando over to the cauldron. "Got that? Three days. Now listen, this is important: before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get the lovely princess to fall in love with you. That is she's got to kiss you. Not just any kiss: the kiss of true love. If she does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day then you'll remain human permanently. If she doesn't, you turn back into a merman and...you'll belong to me."

"No Mermando-" Soos said only to be muffled by Bud's hand; Bud then got the pinchers on his hand.

"OW!" He let got with pain.

Soos swam out of reach and glared at Bud. Gideon gave Bud a warning glare as well. Bud just grinned to Gideon sheepishly.

"Have we got a deal?" Gideon then asked.

"If I become human, I'll never be with my father or brothers again." Mermando hesitated. "Not to mention Wendy."

"But you'll have your woman." Gideon chuckled. "Life's full of tough choices, isn't it? Oh, and there is one more thing-"

"Hold it!" Wendy interrupted; she then sighed. "Mermando, does Mabel really mean that much to you? Are you willing to become human just to be with her."

"Sí...I am." Mermando admitted.

"Okay, then I'm going to become a human with you." Wendy decided.

Mermando and Gideon stared at her. Soos dropped his mouth open.

"But Wendy-" Mermando said.

"No buts, you're my best friend and I'm going to help you." Wendy smiled.

Mermando smiled back.

"Gracias." He said.

"Hm, I rarely do two transformations at once. Please wait right here while I think this over." Gideon frowned.

Wendy and Mermando shrugged and let Gideon swim out of sight to where Robbie was hiding.

"Oh please agree." Robbie whispered. "If you work out the terms right you can get the throne and I can get Wendy for my bride."

"I did think of that..." Gideon nodded. "Okay then this is what I'll do: I'll make Wendy think that she'll belong to me like Mermando, when she'll actually belong to you forever."

"Wonderful!" Robbie whispered happily.

Gideon swam back to Mermando and Wendy.

"I decided to agree to this, I have enough magic to pull it off. Now that that's settled, there is one more thing." Gideon said. "We haven't discussed the subject of payment. Neither of you can get something for nothing you know."

"But we don't have-" Mermando said.

"I'm not asking much, just a token really, a trifle! You'll never even miss it." Gideon held up a hand."What I want from you Mermando is - your voice."

"My voice?" Mermando wasn't expecting that.

"You got it lover boy, no more talking, singing, zip."

"But without my voice, how can I-" Mermando protested.

"You'll have your looks, your handsome face." Gideon shrugged. "Oh, and two transformations doubles the price. Wendy, I'll need your voice too."

Wendy groaned.

"Fine." She gave in reluctantly. "But only for Mermando. I still don't trust you."

"Fair enough." Gideon smirked to where Robbie were hiding.

Robbie smiled evilly, he couldn't wait to have Wendy in his possession. Bud also smiled but he hid its evilness.

"And again don't worry about not being able to speak." Gideon added. "You have no reason to Wendy, and in your case Mermando most girls prefer guys who listen instead of talk and brag. Oh, and your end of the deal Wendy: if Mermando is kissed in time then you can decide whether to stay human or turn back into a mermaid. If he isn't kissed in time then you belong to me as well. Deal?"

"Deal." Wendy nodded.

"Good." Gideon smiled.

"I don't know about this..." Mermando hesitated, not wanting Wendy to become a prisoner as well.

"Come on, you love the princess so much right?" Gideon rolled his eyes.

Mermando thought it over for a few seconds and nodded. Even though he didn't know Mabel that well he did look into her eyes as he sang to her and had immediately been enchanted by her soul.

"Then she's bound to love you back and kiss you so no worries." Gideon said.

He then started tossing ingredients into his cauldron as he went back to singing:

Come on you poor unfortunate soul
Go ahead!
Make your choice!
I'm a very busy man and I haven't got all day

It won't cost much
Just Wendy's and your voice!
You poor unfortunate soul
It's sad but true
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

"Bud now I've got them, boy." Gideon whispered.

Bud smiled in agreement.

GIDEON:
The boss is on a roll
This poor unfortunate soul

Mermando frowned with determination and signed the scroll Gideon conjured up earlier. Wendy then took the pen and signed it too. Soos wanted to protest but it was too late. Besides, he didn't have much power over someone who could use magic...he didn't even want to think about what Gideon might do to him if he interfered too much.

With the deal all set Gideon performed his spell, which conjured up two smoky hands out of the cauldron:

Beluga sevruga
Come winds of the Caspian Sea
Larengix glaucitis
Et max laryngitis
La voce to me

"Now, sing!" Gideon said. "Both of you."

Mermando and Wendy both vocalized. Wendy wasn't really a singer, but she didn't have a bad voice for it. The smoky hands neared their throats.

"Keep singing!" Gideon grinned.

One smoky hand got Mermando's voice, while the other hand got Wendy's. Wendy's voice was drawn into a shell at Gideon's waist, while Mermando's was drawn into a shell around Gideon's neck.

After that, magic swirled around Mermando and Wendy. Gideon laughed insanely and Soos watched with horror as Mermando and Wendy turned into humans. This unfortunately meant that they lost their gills as well, but luckily Wendy hadn't lost her speed. With Soos's help she was able to get herself and Mermando to the surface in time. They started swimming for shore.