"I just think the Sweet 16 is a sacred event." -Unknown

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Ursula's POV

There she was, swimming with her friends. She was smiling and laughing at whatever conversation old mermaids would have now a days. I grinned as soon as I noticed that she hasn't noticed me. "Perfect" I thought.

With enough speed and stealth I hid behind a giant rock that served as the perfect hiding place. As their approached nears my secret location, I wait with anticipation and excitement for what's to come next.

"And then he said..." without missing a beat, I popped out of my hiding spot, covered in seaweed.

"Aghh!" I screamed with a force that surprised even me.

Much to my delight, screaming and screeching filled the ocean. Unable to contain my laughter, I wiggled out of my make shift costume and laughed hysterically. Suddenly, everything went silent and Lady Isabella, looked 10 times older!

Though the initial look on everyone's face was hysterical and priceless, it didn't feel that way right now. Like a boiling shrimp they went from being as pale as dead coral to being so red it looks as if steam were about to come out of their ears.

Then there was but none of them compare to how mother looked.

"Uh, oh." I said as mother's silver, eyes were fixated on me so, that if looks can cut I'd be dead...probably what I will be soon.

"Ursula..." Mother whispered. Which is rather scarier than if she screamed at me. Without giving her a chance to say anymore, I try and make my escape.

As I swam away, I looked back to see how far I was able to swim away. That was my mistake because now, she looked as if she were about to explode like an underwater volcano. She was as red as her fish tail!

Swimming as fast as I could, I curved around the boulder that leads to my secret hiding place, but with both shock and awe, mother managed to grab me. Should've expected that she'd be able to catch me, speed was her specialty of course.

Knowing I was as good as dead, I gulped and slowly move my eyes from her fiery red tail to her face. Note to self, angry mothers are definitely scary and worse than any monster.

"Well, there's only one way to get out of this" I thought to myself.

Before she could even speak, I gave her a look that I knew she couldn't resist. One I barely used...well...only for situations like this.

"Oh no. No, no, no." She shook her head.

"I love you, mommy." I smiled at her, adding my most innocent smile.

Though mother tried to ignore how adorable I looked, I slowly swam closer to her, giving her a big hug, and gave her no room to think. "I love you, mommy!" I repeated.

"Oh, fine!" She finally gave in, returning my hug together with a kiss on the forehead. "Just... please be a good girl and go home. There is something that I would like to discuss with you once I'm done." She gave me one last kiss and went off with her friends.

Now that the fume has diminished from her ears, it's safe to say that I can live another day. I swam away feeling happy, and an evil smile on my face. But as I swam away, I couldn't help but wonder what mother wanted to talk about.

Those thoughts stopped when I hear Lady Isabella's big mouth. "I swear, Ida. You are too soft on the girl!" I heard her complain.

"Oh, hush now, Isabella. It was just a prank!" Lady Agnes retorted. Despite her old age, she was one to have a little fun once in a while. Rumors have it that she was Atlantis' little prankster when she was my age, before she married Prince Triton's grandfather.

With the image of Lady Agnes defending me runs through my mind, I wander back to the prank I pulled, and forget about why mother would want to talk to me.

As I swam closer to home, my two best friends and partners in crime, siblings Flotsam and Jetsam, emerged from the flowing seaweeds, giggling at the action that unfolded. "That was hilarious, Ursula!" Flotsam said as he quickly swam to me, and wrapped his tail around my wrist.

"It definitely was! I mean, did you see how angry Lady Isabella looked?" Jetsam roared cheerfully as he approached us, following suit with his brother.

We continued to laugh, remembering how Lady Isabella turned so pale that it looked like Lord Hades emerged from the underworld, getting ready to take her soul.

While we laughed, darkness took over and before I can utter a word a familiar voice spoke out.

"Guess who?" the rich gentle voice spoke out playfully.

I didn't need to guess who it was. I already knew. From the feeling of his strong, yet gentle hands to his playful tone.

"Hello, Prince Triton." I removed his hands so that I could turn over to have a better look at him. Unaware by just how close we were, he blushed, and even deeper once he saw my face.

Giving us some distance, he swam an inch out, but it was still close enough that to someone else, it could be mistaken for intimacy.

Though I held no feelings for him, there's no denying his beauty. His long, dark hair flowing past his shoulders gracefully, making waves of it's own, and his kind, eyes bluer than an part of the ocean and as warm as the sea on a hot day.

For a Merman his age, he had a very firm body. The type that one would usually get after years of training. Yes, he was indeed very handsome. I guess that's the perk of being part of a long lineage of royalty. It's also no wonder the mermaids of Atlantis would send me death glares everytime he'd come to visit me.

But no matter how subtle he tried to be, I was well aware of Prince Triton's feelings. Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for every other mermaid in Atlantis, I just don't feel the same way. I, and apparently everyone else in Atlantis, knows me as the girl who could never get too serious, especially with life. I was fun, spontaneous, daring, and fun! Being in a relationship, especially with a prince, will just...stop that. Sure, as Queen, I'd probably get away with it. But I just don't care or plan to find out. 

"So, what brings you here today?" I asked. Though I am not oblivious as to why he's here, I act this way in order to avoid having to face his feelings for me.

"I just wanted to give you something." He pulled out an oyster from his bag, grabbed my hand, and placed it on my palm.

I chuckled. "An oyster?" I raised an eye brow at him confused.

He suddenly became nervous and stuttered his words. "Oh, uh...n-no. Please... open it." I frowned at the oyster and started to get suspicious.

"Please, I hope this isn't what I think it is" I silently prayed to the gods. I opened the oyster and I exhaled in relief.

"Do you like it?" He asked nervously.

It was a necklace with a black string looped into a golden shell. "It's really beautiful, Prince Triton!"

The necklace was indeed beautiful. Without hesitation, I  placed it  around my necklace, and revealed it to him.

"How does it look?" I asked. He had the biggest smile on his face.

"It suits you." He says. I gave him a hug, but I started to wonder.

"Why did you give me this, Prince Triton?" I saw a small hint of annoyance. Maybe because I pretended to be oblivious to his feelings for me or because I insist to call him 'Prince.'

Smacking the palm of his hand on his forehead he says, "Ursula, remember what I said? Please. Just call me Triton. No honorifics." He said sternly. As if he knew tension was starting to build his shoulders sunk and said "please". Making sure to use the smoothest tone of voice he has.

I started to laugh at how serious his face was and how it changed quickly.

"Okay, fine! Triton! Are you happy now?" I continued to chuckled. He smiled when I finally said his name.

"Now, tell me. Why did you give me this necklace?"

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked the other way before looking back at me. "Well, it is your 16th birthday and I wanted to give you something special."

Usually, people would be happy it's their birthday. But unlike most people, only I would forget that it's today. My eyes, wide open in horror, and forgetting everything else I screamed, "No way!" Surprised by my reaction Triton looked worriedly at me. But before I gave him the chance to ask what was wrong I quickly said "I can't believe that I forgot about my 16th birthday!" As I grabbed his shoulders and shook him violently.

"Ursula! You're killing him!" Jetsam screamed in horror. I noticed that he started to get dizzy from all the shaking.

"Whoops. I am so sorry, Triton. Are you okay?" He held his hand over his head.

"Yes, I'm fine." He smiled at me reassuringly. "sometimes I forget how strong you are." He said jokingly. "I'll remember not to ever cross you"

"I really am sorry" I said, feeling remorse over what had happened. "I'm glad you're okay, but I really have to head home! There's a tradition mother and I would do every year on my birthday, so it's kind of important." I explained to him.

Needing no other explanation, Triton placed a gentle squeeze on my shoulder. "Go." He smiled.

Before leaving, I thanked him one last time and left.

"He's a really sweet guy, Ursula. Why don't you give him a chance?" Asked Flotsam.

Rather than responding, I ignored them and swam  home.