2 almost 3 years later

Ulma grabbed her backpack and placed her dishes in the sink before placing a kiss on her mom's cheek. "Bye mom, I'm off to school. Boys let's go!"

Uma chuckled as she heard the boys run towards the door. "Have a good day sweetheart."

"I will." Ulma smiled. "Hey mom, how much longer until dad gets back?"

"One more month out to sea and his ship will come to port." She replied.

Ulma sighed. "So he's going to miss my birthday, again."

Uma caressed Ulma's cheek gently in her hand. "Being in the Navy means everything to your father. You know he would be here if he could."

"Three years mom. This will be three years he has missed my birthday. It's not fair." She replied, her voice cracking.

"Ulma I'm sorry. Tell you what, why don't we-"

"No. Just... stop mom. I got to get going the boys are waiting. I'll see you after practice." Ulma turned and stormed out of the house leaving Uma wondering what to do.

"She always was daddy's little girl. Oh Harry, I wish you were here." Uma sighed quietly to herself.

🌟

Ulma: age 15

Henry: age 12

Holden: age 12

The walk to school was quiet except for the boys constant chatter. "What are you going on about wharf rats?" Ulma asked.

Henry and Holden snickered. "Nothing Ulma."

She narrowed her eyes as she glanced back and forth between the two boys. "It better be nothing. You remember what mom said after you started that food fight don't you?"

The boys nodded as they began imitating their mother, wagging their fingers as the spoke. "Boys, if you get in trouble one more time I'm sending you to the Isle with your Grandpa James and he won't put up with this foolishness."

Ulma chuckled and shook her head. "Well then, I suggest you keep that in mind. Now go on, your friends are waiting."

The boys took off towards Auradon Middle School. She watched them go inside before walking down the street to Auradon Prep. As usual everyone was busy in their own groups chatting away.

Ulma stopped by her locker and grabbed the books she needed before heading to class. However, when she shut her locker an unwelcomed guest greeted her. "Hey beautiful."

"Go away Seth." Ulma huffed, walking away.

Seth chuckled as he followed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Come on now Ulma, don't be like that. I just want to talk, ya know? Discuss homework, what classes we're taking, taking you to dinner tonight-"

"Seth enough! I told you I'm not interested!" She snapped, shrugging his arm off her shoulders. "Why can't you take a hint!?"

"Come on Ulma, I'm a prince. You should feel honored." Seth smiled. He started reaching for her hand when a hand grabbed his wrist.

"You heard her Seth, back off."

Connor stood in front of Ulma, flanked by Matthew and Max. The boys were at a standoff. "You heard him, get lost White." Max snapped.

Connor: Age 16

Max: Age 15

Matthew: Age 15

Seth White: Age 16

Seth growled as he looked back and forth between the three boys. "Fine but this isn't over." He started to leave but turned back and locked eyes with Ulma. "You'll never find anyone better than me. No one else is going to want to date a girl who's half witch."

Seth stormed off and the crowd dispersed, leaving the four friends alone. Ulma was shifting her books around in her arms, deciding to focus on them rather than the boys in front of her.

"Are you okay Ulma?" Matthew asked, breaking the silence.

Ulma nodded as she turned and started walking towards her class. "I'm fine Matt. Seth is just a jerk, as usual."

Connor frowned as he watched Ulma. She was playing with a piece of her hair with her free hand, twisting it tighter and tighter. A clear sign she was lying. Seth's comment had hurt her more than she was letting on.

Max and Matt looked back at him with worried expressions. They could also tell Ulma was hurt. Connor flashed them a smirk as he walked up next to Ulma. "Remind me, what class do I have first this morning?"

She flashed him a confused look. "Uh, Chemistry with Mr. Delay, like you have every morning."

"Ooh mmaann!" Connor groaned. "That means I have a test!" He grabbed his head and fell back dramatically into the lockers. "The formulas, the elements, they're overloading my brain! It's shutting down, I'll die a high school student! Good bye cruel world!" Connor slid down the lockers and slumped on the floor, pretending to die.

Ulma stifled her laughter as she playfully kicked his knee. "Get up you doofus. You're causing a scene."

Connor cracked open one eye and looked up at her, a smile tugging at his lips. "Did I cheer you up?"

She rolled her eyes and stuck out her hand. "Yes you did, as always. Now will you get up doofus? Everyone is staring."

He chuckled as he took her hand and stood up. "That's Prince Doofus, thank you very much. Now, please send me your prayers as I try to remember the atomic weight of silver."

Ulma laughed as Connor gave her one final solute before disappearing into his classroom. She then turned and waved to Matt and Max as they headed into Literature with Aunt Jane before walking into her own classroom, History of the Merfolk with Ms. Alana.

🌟

Ulma doodled along the side of her paper as Ms. Alana droned on about the traditions of the merfolk. Usually she enjoyed learning the ways of the people who lived in the sea, but today her mind was elsewhere.

"No one else is going to want to date a girl who's half witch."

His words echoed in her mind like a bad dream. She was used to people whispering about who her parents were, it was nothing new, but the fact that he had attacked her personally had stung.

"Ulma? Ulma are you paying attention?" Ms. Lana asked.

She snapped out of her thoughts and stared at the teacher. "O-Of course Ms. Lana."

The teacher narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Very well then. "As I was saying, the merfolk celebrate many traditions similiar to the ones celebrated on land. One you may all be interested in is the Sweet Sixteen Celebration. Most of you will be celebrating your own soon or have already celebrated it." Ms. Lana continued.

"In Atlantica, girls celebrate their Sweet Sixteen by throwing a lavish party with friends and family. They are presented with gifts and as of the day my sister Ariel was married to Prince Eric,  King Triton himself has presented them with magic pendants. These pendants allow them to choose whether they wish to love in the sea or venture onto land."

"What about the boys?"  Brayden asked.

Ms. Lana smiled and clapped her hands excitedly. "Ah yes, the boys celebrate their birthdays much differently. For their sixteenth birthday they venture out with older male members of the family for a hunt. They use spears passed down through the generations to hunt fish. When they return, the fish are cooked and eaten in celebration of the boy's birthday and successful hunt. Then, like the girls, the boy is presented with his own pendant. Now, the mermaids are not the only ones with traditions. Cecaelians also held special traditions for their Sweet Sixteens."

Ulma eyes snapped up from her doodles at the meantion of cecaelians. She listened intently as the teacher continued.

"It all starts with an elder family member taking them to a place called The Cave of-"

Ms. Lana was cut off as the bell rang. "Oops, looks like I got rambling again. We will continue with Cecaelian traditions next class. Have a good day everyone."

Ulma waited for everyone to exit the room before making her way to the front. "Ms. Lana?"

The teacher turned and smiled sweetly. "Yes? Oh Ulma, what can I help you with dear?"

"You were talking about a cecaelian's sweet sixteen. Could you please tell me what you were going to say about the cave?" She asked.

Ms. Lana beamed. "Of course! The Cave of Talents is a sacred place for cecaelians. On their sweet sixteen, an elder member of a cecaelian's family takes them to the cave. Once they are there, the young cecaelian ventures in on their own. From what we know, inside lays a trove of talismans. The talismans each contain a set of unique gifts and powers. It is told that a cecaelian will be able to look around the cave and will know exactly which talisman is right for them. Like it calls to them. Unlike mermaids, this tradition goes for girls and boys. It really is fascinating, I only wish we could see it in action, but the cave's location is a heavily guarded secret."

Ulma nodded as she processed the information. She had never once been told of this tradition, not surprising since her mother never spoke of her heritage and she hadn't seen her grandmother since she was 13. "Thank you Ms. Lana, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Of course dear anytime!"

🌟

Ulma smirked under her mask as her blade collided with Conner's. The sound of clashing metal sending shivers down her spine. Sword fighting was in her blood and she loved it.

Ulma forced his blade away before jumping on a nearby box. She spun around so fast that the force of their blades colliding sent Conner's blade flying across the room.

"I win, again." Ulma laughed as she took off her mask and wiped the sweat from her head. "You lasted a lot longer than last time."

Conner chuckled as he grabbed his water bottle. "Gee, thanks a lot captain. I feel so confident in my abilities."

She punched his shoulder playfully. "Come on, you did well."

"Says the girl who grew up with a sword in her hand." He retorted, rolling his eyes.

Ulma shrugged. "I'm a pirate. It's what we do."

"Alright, practice is over! How'd they do Ulma?"

Ulma smiled at the familiar voice. "We could use a little shaping around the edges but we're getting their coach!"

"That's what I like to hear! There's always room for improvement. You're all dismissed!" The coach smiled as she pulled Ulma into a hug. "So how's my favorite niece?"

Ulma laughed. "I'm fine Aunt Lonnie."

"Ulma!"

She broke the hug just in time to be tackled by another smaller body. "Marilla! Hi!"

Su Li: age 15, daughter of Lil Shang (Lonnie's older brother) and Yi-Min (daughter of Yao)

Marilla: age 13

"Hi! We brought the boys as promised!" Marilla giggled.

Su laughed. "They complained the whole way."

Ulma looked to where her brothers were standing off to the side. "How was school boys?"

"Why did Su have to come get us?" Holden moaned, ignoring the question. "She never let's us have any fun."

"Because little brother, I have a team who needs their captain and as captain, I can send my best sword-fighter to go get you." Ulma retorted.

The boys rolled their eyes as Ulma shouldered her bag and put her sword away. "Let's head home boys. Su thanks again for picking them up."

"It was no trouble, I'm staying at Aunt Lonnie and Uncle Jay's for the weekend because I need to study and Lily's Hula music is always too loud. Plus, I had to get Marilla anyway." Su shrugged, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

"We're having a slumber party!" Marilla grinned. "Mom and dad left for the weekend to celebrate their anniversary so I get to stay with them!"

Ulma laughed as she lead them outside. "Sounds like fun. Just don't get too excited, a weekend getaway is how I ended up with these two."

"Hey!"

"Come on boys you know I love you, my wittle brothers." She teased, ruffling their hair.

"Ulma stop embarrassing us!" Holden groaned, straightening his hair.

"Yeah we're not babies." Henry huffed.

"Of course you're not. That's why you both still sleep in your pirate rubber ducky pjs." She smirked.

"Ulma!"

"I'm telling mom!"

The boys took off down the driveway towards the house as Ulma sighed. "I guess I'll see you guys Monday. Have fun with your slumber party weekend."

"We will! Bye Ulma!" Marilla and Su called back as they walked off.

🌟

Ulma trudged into the house and dropped her book bag by the door. She had done her homework in study hall so she didn't need it as she headed upstairs.

"Ulma!"

"Yeah mom?" She asked, turning around.

"Why were you embarrassing your brothers?"

Ulma rolled her eyes. "I didn't mean any harm. I was making a point. The boys need to grow up anyway."

"Lose the attitude young lady." Uma scolded. "You hurt your brothers' feelings. Apologize, now."

Ulma turned towards the dining room where the boys were doing their homework. "I'm sorry boys! I shouldn't have told them about your pjs!"

"Thank you." She sighed, heading back towards the kitchen.

"Mom, why didn't you tell me about the Cave of Talents or the Cecaelian Sweet Sixteen tradition?"

Uma froze in place but did not turn around. "How do you know about that?" She asked, her voice low.

"Ms. Alana told me in History of the Merfolk today. Mom, why didn't you tell me?"

"There was no point. I never got to celebrate that tradition, neither did your Uncle Michael. No one knows where the cave is. The tradition is lost." Uma said coldly, moving towards the kitchen once more.

"What about grandma?" Ulma suggested.

Uma shook her head. "Grandma Jessica wouldn't know anything."

"I was talking about Grandma Ursula."

The sound of glass shattering echoed through the house as Ulma stared at the cup her mother had dropped. "Mom?"

"We are not to speak of her in this house." Uma whispered, gripping the counter tightly.

"But mom-----"

"I said no Ulma!" Uma snapped. "We are not discussing this anymore!"

Ulma gripped the railing tightly as she glared at her mother, her anger boiling. "Why won't you give her a chance!? It's been almost three years mom!"

"Because she's dangerous Ulma!"

"That's what everyone says about Grandpa James but we call him once a month!" Ulma snapped. "Why can't you let me learn about our heritage!?"

"This is not up for debate! I said no and that's final!"

Her whole body shook with rage as she gripped the railing. "I hate you! I wish you were locked on that stupid Isle and dad was here!"

Ulma stormed upstairs and slammed her bedroom door as Uma allowed her body to slide down the kitchen cabinets and into the floor. She heaved out a heavy sob as the boys came to sit beside her, their faces filled with concern.

"Mom?"

She wrapped her arms around them as they did the same to her. "I'm okay boys." She sniffled quietly. "Just know everything I do, I do to keep you safe."

Author's Note

Hi guys here's another chapter! Enjoy, comment, and I'll see you next time!

                              -Meloetta246