But among all the cheering and clapping, Monica was doing none of this. She saw Damon's new appearance and was impressed by how her boyfriend now looked like. And truth be told, she could not just leave him like that. If no one intervened, who knew what that Madame Illusia would do? Especially as she seemed to listen to what her audiences wanted. She couldn't let Damon in the hands of these people without at least trying something. And that meant intervening. So she rose from her seat and made her way onto the platform. She glanced at Damon, now a merman and happily turning around and swimming within his pool but she made straight for Madame Illusia. Wisely, in front of a person wielding magic powers of transformation, Monica stayed polite, leaving her anger mingled with fear for later, if need be. It was much better to be careful in front of such a woman.
"Please. Change him back," said Monica in a neutral voice.
"Well, I could. But does he want it?" said Madame Illusia as she looked straight at the new merman.
"No! I want to stay like that!" exclaimed Damon, terrified at the thought of returning to his common human self.
After being a handsome and powerful merman, Damon could not even fathom becoming a human again. He could only see advantages in remaining as he was, perhaps a bit foolishly though.
"No! Please! Let me stay the way I am! Forever!" he pleaded Madame Illusia.
"Your friend's mind is made up," sighed Madame Illusia. "Maybe you should respect his wishes."
"Then make me a mermaid," said Monica.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Go ahead. Please," the girl said.
The crowed clapped, enthusiastic at this turn of event and wanting more transformations to see. So Madame Illusia made Monica into a mermaid at once. Monica's clothes vanished. She became thinner, more slender, with rounder, fuller breasts which perked up delightfully to the eyes of the men in the crowd. Her legs become one mass of flesh, molding itself in a delicate tail of pink and gold scales, along with long fins that appeared so very fragile. Her fingers become longer too, with sharp nails and webs between her fingers. Her eyes were now larger, her facial features finer and her lips plumper. Her hair became the epitome of luscious silky locks, long and gorgeous. Monica did gasp when her throat cut itself to make way for gills, provoking a sharp pain. Luckily, before she knew it, she was in the pool and the cool water helped her gills accustom themselves to their new existence. And being in the water was magnificently exquisite. No wonder Damon wanted to remain so! Monica felt so at ease that she barely heard the audience clap its amazement or see Madame Illusia bow in deep - and well-earned - pride.