Once Miranda finished her spell, both teens found themselves unable to form coherent word. They were now only able to babble like the babies they were dressed as.
"Well", said Miranda, "that's better". She smiled at the hapless teens and said "Now that I've got the floor, I'll tell you what's in store for the two of you". Her smile grew to large grin. "As you no doubt recall my sister, from that so-called fairy tale, fattened up children and roasted them when they had gotten nice and plump. Fortunately for you, we can't digest teenagers, they make us very sick. So, in order to earn your keep around here, you will create children for me and my sister witches. And you," she said, pointing to Gretel, "will also help around the house doing chores, cooking and such. You," she continued, now pointing to Hansel, "will be sent out all over to create children in areas where my sisters live. To facilitate this, you will have the power to transform girls into willing teenage babies . You will impregnate 8 girls a day, 6 days a week. If you fail, I will turn you into a real baby for a week, and your girlfriend will have to take care of you and do all her chores". Turning to Gretel, she warned "If you make a mistake, it will be YOU who's turned into a little baby. Understand?". Both teens nodded their assent.
"Good", replied Miranda, "I'm glad we're on the same page. Since it's easier to understand you if we all talk like adults, I'm going to return the ability to you. Be warned that if either or both of you sass me, you'll spend a week as a baby. Agreed?". The teens nodded.
Miranda mumbled a spell and the two teens realized that they could again think in the same terms they had moments before.
"Well", said the witch "it's been a tiring afternoon for the two of you, so I think it's time for all good babies to be in bed". Hansel started to make a scathing reply, but one look at Miranda's scowling face and he decided against saying it. "Follow me" said Miranda, "and don't get any silly idea of escape, 'cause you won't get far. Once you pass outside the fence around my house, you'll get a year younger for every yard you go. By the time you're 50 yards from the fence, you'll be too young and small to walk or crawl". Miranda laughed a true witch's laugh.
The witch led them back up the hall they had passed through earlier, stopping about half way through. She opened a door that neither Han-sel nor Gretel remembered seeing before. Gesturing for the teens to enter, they did so reluctantly. As soon as they had entered, they heard the clang of a steel bar door shutting and turned to see Miranda looking in at them. "Sleep tight, babies", said the witch in a sickly sweet voice.
"I'll close the outer door, so you'll have a little privacy as you make love", she said and laughed her witchy laugh once more.
When the outer door had closed, Gretel turned to Hansel and said "What are we going to do?".