Dr. Opal stood at the entrance of the examination room, her expression calm yet firm. She glanced at the three men who were chatting animatedly near the corner, their voices rising above the soft sounds of medical equipment. As Opal try's to collect blood samples.
"Excuse me," she began, her tone polite but authoritative. "I need to ask you to step outside for a moment."
The men turned to her, surprise flickering across their faces.
"I appreciate your presence and support," she continued, "but your conversation is making it difficult for me to conduct the girls' examinations effectively. It's important that they have privacy during this time."
Chris nodded, understanding dawning as he glanced at his King and the Sea Witch. "Of course, we didn't mean to be disruptive," he said.
Sean and Zander were reluctant to leave. "Come on let's go get them something delicious to eat! I'm sure they will wake up soon and be hungry".
Dr. Opal offered a reassuring smile. "Thank you for understanding. It will only take a little while, and then you can come back in."
With that, the three men swam out of the room, their voices lowering as they stepped into the hallway. Dr. Opal took a deep breath, ready to refocus her attention on the girls. Starting with Molly she drew her blood first noticing that the brunette had a light pink and silver tail a color she'd never seen before. In fact all the girls tails were bizarre in color. She broke a package under her nose and soon Molly gasped.
Molly POV.
I turn my head side to side, feeling the worst pressure headache of my life. My eyes are shut tight against the dull thrumming in my head. A stiffness in my arm catches my attention, and I slowly open my eyes to take in my surroundings.
I'm connected to an IV, and my gaze drifts to the trash can next to the pole, overflowing with empty IV bags. Confusion washes over me. What's going on? I wonder, trying to piece together my situation. I attempt to swing one of my legs off the bed to sit up straight, but as I do, I lose my balance and come tumbling to the floor.
As I land, I glance down and freeze in disbelief. Instead of legs, I see a pink and silver mermaid tail. The vibrant colors shimmer slightly under the light, and my heart races as I try to comprehend what has just happened.
As I lay on the floor, my confusion deepens, and I try to make sense of my new form. Suddenly, a soft splash draws my attention. A mermaid swims into view, her iridescent blue and green tail gliding gracefully through the water. I hadn't noticed her until now, her presence both soothing and surreal.
"My goodness, are you alright?" she asks, her voice melodic yet tinged with concern.
I blink, trying to focus on her. "I… I think so," I reply in a neutral tone, still grappling with the bizarre reality of my situation. "I just… fell."
The mermaid tilts her head, studying me with wide, curious eyes. "You seem disoriented. This place can be overwhelming at first."
I nod slowly, still processing the shimmering world around me and the oddity of my situation. "I don't understand what's happening," I admit, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in my mind.
"Take a moment to breathe," she encourages, her expression softening. "You're safe here. We can figure this out together , I'm Dr. Opal it's nice to meet you Molly." I smile in reply and she helps me get back into the bed.
Third's POV.
Dr. Opal expertly drew blood from Brooke, her focus steady as she prepared the next step in the examination. Suddenly, she cracked open a small package under Brooke's nose, and a sharp, acrid scent filled the air.
Brooke's POV.
"Uh, what's going on, and why is my nose burning?" I asked, pushing myself up on my elbows. My legs began to itch, and I instinctively tried to kick the blanket off, but it wouldn't budge. Frustrated, I ripped the blanket away and gasped, discovering a shimmering purple and light blue tail in place of my legs.
Shock washed over me, and I let out a yelp of surprise.
"Shh, it's okay," came a soothing voice, as a figure approached. A mermaid with a stunning blue and green tail glided over to her, concern etched on her features.
"I'm a mermaid too," Brooke stammered, her eyes darting between her own tail and the newcomer. "What's happening? Where am I? Why do I have a tail? Is this real?"
The mermaid took a deep breath, her voice steady and reassuring. "You're in a safe place, and yes, it's real. You've transformed. We're here to help you adjust. Just take it one question at a time. I'm Dr. Opal, it's nice to officially meet you, Brooke."
I blinked, my mind racing as I tried to wrap my head around the situation. "How long will I be like this? I ask trying to move my tail but finding it extremely difficult."
"As long as it takes for you to understand your new abilities and the world you're in," Dr. Opal replied, her tone patient. "You're not alone in this. We'll figure it out together." "Me too!"Molly piped up only a few feet away from me.