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The Limited Transformation is the counter-spell of the Legs Spell. It was triggered by the physical exposure to water, Moon Water, snow or ice, and transformed merpeople back into their true, tailed selves. Former humans that underwent metamorphosis possessed this ability since their very first transformation, usually 12 hours after being exposed to the waters of any active Moon Pool when the Full Moon was up.[2] This was not always the case, however, as Isabella Hartley did change into a mermaid for the first time when the metamorphosis was still going on.[3]

Also, all merman hatchlings were granted this ability after being bewitched by the Legs Spell at birth, just before their mothers gave them up to human foster families on land.[4] Also, mermen and mermaids bewitched by the Tailless Spell, whose true self and magical powers were restored by the power of an active Moon Pool also possessed this ability since their very first transformation.[5]

Description[]

Once a merperson is physically exposed to regular water, Moon Water, ice, snow, and possibly other fluids that contain a high percentage of water, a ring of blue, bubble-like light surrounds them as they transform into their true, tailed self; all accessories and clothes are absorbed by the merperson, and any accessory put onto the merperson in their merperson form vanishes once they dry off and resume their human form. Since Moon Rings are magical they appear in both forms, and are the only notable exception to the vanishing accessory rule (even hair dye applied to a mermaid in their true form will vanish once they dry off).

Tears and saliva, despite containing a high percentage of water, are not enough to make a merperson transform, however, although fluids that are over 30% water cause them to transform— this implies no bodily fluids cause merpeople to transform and that the water must be from an outside source and be directly be touching their skin for the transformation to occur.

Trivia[]

  • Emma and Rikki experimented with the transformation a few days after being undergoing a metamorphosis, hoping that they could override turning into mermaids by force of will; Emma in particular as this ruined her plans to be a competitive swimmer. Unfortunately, the transformation is a biological imperative to mermaids, even those originally human; it's meant to force mermaids into their aquatic forms so they can be in tune with their natural element in order to heal and hydrate.
  • A running gag is that merpeople tend to do belly flops upon transforming against their will, on land. On the flipside, they prefer to get running starts before getting in the water; so the momentum can carrying further upon flinging themselves in a dive. This helps them in public if they get splashed; they only have ten seconds.
  • The spell makes it impossible for mermaids to dye their hair; whatever color they dye it only sticks around when they are in aquatic form, with it changing back when they dried off.
  • The spell can glitch at times. One time, Cleo was wearing a wetsuit and the bubbles didn't vanish it completely until she toppled over. Upon her first transformation, only Evie's legs were encased in tail shaped water before she fell into the water; once she had been fully emmersed, the transformation properly completed. When Rita got wet from the snow created by Lyla and Ondina, she feel over before completely changing.
  • Due to the fact only a miniscule amount of water is needed to transform them, the Limited Transformation is highly inconvenient to the human-turned if they live on land where there's snow and rainy weather; thus making them semi-outcasts due to avoiding going outside in such weather.
    • Cleo, Rikki and Emma notably kept getting bad grades for refusing to swim or go out when it rains.
    • However, if a mermaid somehow manages to dry themself off quick enough that they are fully dry before they transform, they will not transform.
    • It is also dangerous for mermaids to get jobs that involve being near water (Emma chastises Cleo when she gets a job at the Marine Park due to this).
      • Zac had to quit being a life guard.
      • Rikki took advantage of the Limited Transformation to become a deep sea diver as a profession, while still keeping her true identity as a mermaid a secret from land dwellers.
  • Rita notably avoided the rain issue by wearing long skirts and using an umbrella so that no water touches her skin. This implies slightly damp clothing is okay as it's not really wet.
  • The Limited Transformation is only natural to those humans who undergo Metamorphosis. Natural mermaids do not turn into humans when dry; they need the magic of a Moon Ring to cast the Legs Spell.
  • Whatever magic is behind the Limited Transformation appears to take both comfort and human modesty into consideration. If it was a gradual change, it would be painful and destroy the pants and shoes being worn.

Gallery[]

Main article: Limited Transformation/Gallery

Navigation[]

References[]

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