The young woman sighed as she sat on the ground, trying to dry the water from the garden hose off her body.
When the young woman was just a child, she had earned the right to make one magical wish. And like a child, she made a childish wish. Being a fan of mermaids, she wished 'to become a true mermaid just like the ones in the "H2O" series.'
After her wish was granted, she immediately began to understand the consequences of her wish.
There were some good things. She became a true real mermaid, instead of just getting a costume like the ones the actresses wore in the series. She didn't have to worry about taking care of her clothes: they would disappear when she became a mermaid and come back after she was human again. And it was fun getting to stay home from school every time it rained.
Of course it wasn't all fun and games. There were some bad things about being a mermaid. For one thing, the transformation was exhausting. It was impossible for her body to go through a quick series of transformations. Thus, once becoming a mermaid she couldn't change back for at least thirty minutes.
As she grew and became more mature, she developed her 'mermaid ability'. She didn't get water powers or any other power she saw on the show. But she eventually discovered her voice could allow her to exercise a sort of limited 'mind-control' over men.
As she changed into a young adult, so did her comprehension about the conditions of her change.
She was a true mermaid and could swim like a fish. As she grew older, she grew bolder, swimming longer and deeper each time. She discovered a fantastic new world, an uncharted wonderland full of secrets and adventure. It was wonderful. She found she could also hide her condition more easily using her voice.
Of course, the negative aspects of her transformation also become more obvious. For example, it appears that a true mermaid was a nude mermaid. Conch shells did not magically appear to hide her breasts. If she wanted to protect her modesty she had to have a bikini top nearby or search for some shells on her own. Second, although she could breathe on land, movement on dry earth was all but impossible. She could drag herself along, but at a speed that was useless.
And finally, the trigger for her transformation was really stupid! It might appear fun to young girls, but always having to avoid water, risking discovery with each drop, was really annoying.
Even working in a garden is really risky, she thought glumly as she sat on the ground of her garden. She had accidentally sprayed her legs and was now stuck in her backyard.