The sea was dark and quiet, save for the rhythmic lull of the currents that tugged gently at the strands of Uma’s long braids as she swam through the deep waters. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of excitement and guilt. The cavernous grotto loomed ahead, filled with the strange trinkets and treasures she'd collected from the world above. The soft glow of bioluminescent coral illuminated the space, casting a dreamlike shimmer over the various oddities she had gathered—fish hooks, forks, old rope, and even a glass bottle with something trapped inside it.

Uma barely had time to appreciate her collection before a familiar voice cut through the water.

"Uma!"

She flinched, turning to see Sebastian, his claws crossed as he floated closer, his face a mixture of shock and frustration. Flounder hovered beside him, wide-eyed as usual, nervously glancing between her and Sebastian.

"Uma, what, are ya mad?!" Sebastian scolded, his voice thick with his familiar Jamaican accent. "How could ya? And what is all this?"

A pang of guilt hit Uma’s stomach, but she tried to brush it off. "It... it’s just my collection." She waved a hand toward the shelves of trinkets, acting as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

Sebastian wasn’t convinced. He picked up a fish hook and gave her a disbelieving look. "Oh, I see. Your collection, hmm? IF YOUR FADDA KNEW ABOUT DIS PLACE–"

Before Uma could retort, Flounder interjected, his small voice trembling. "You're not gonna tell him, are you?"

Uma shot him a grateful look, before turning back to Sebastian. "Please, Sebastian," she pleaded, "He would never understand."

Sebastian let out a long, frustrated sigh, his antennae twitching as he tapped his claw against his shell. "Uma... ya under a lotta pressure down here. Come, lemme take ya home. I'll get ya somethin' warm to drink." His tone softened as he gently took her hand in his claw.

Uma bit her lip. She knew he was right, but something pulled her in another direction. Before she could respond, a shadow passed over them, momentarily casting the grotto into darkness. She jerked her head up, squinting as the shadow moved through the water above them.

"What do you suppose?" Uma whispered, swimming out of the grotto, her curiosity piqued.

"Uma?" Sebastian’s voice wavered. "Uma!"

Ignoring his warning, she swam up toward the surface, her heart racing with anticipation. Breaking through the water, Uma gasped as she took in the scene above. A ship loomed in the distance, illuminated by bright bursts of light in the sky. Fireworks. They crackled and exploded in vibrant colors, reflecting off the ocean's surface in an enchanting display. Her eyes widened in awe as she watched them, entranced by the beauty of the human world.

She barely noticed when Sebastian and Flounder surfaced beside her.

"Uma, what—what are ya–" Sebastian stammered, his eyes widening in horror. "Jumpin' jellyfish!"

Uma wasn’t listening. She had already made her decision. Before either of them could stop her, she propelled herself out of the water, making her way toward the ship. Her heart raced with excitement as she reached the wooden hull, gripping it tightly as she climbed up.

"Uma! Uma! Please come back!" Sebastian’s voice was faint in the distance, but she pressed on, curiosity driving her forward.

Once on deck, Uma peered over the edge, her breath catching in her throat. The ship was alive with music and laughter. Sailors danced and sang, their feet stomping to the rhythm of a jaunty tune played by three musicians. Laughter echoed around her as the ship swayed gently with the waves.

As Uma edged closer, a bark startled her. She turned to see a large, shaggy dog bounding toward her, its tail wagging excitedly. Before she could react, the dog leaped at her, licking her face with slobbery enthusiasm.

"Ugh!" she squeaked, wiping her cheek as the dog continued to bark happily.

From across the deck, a voice called out, rich with a heavy Scottish brogue. "Max! Come 'ere, boy!"

Uma froze. The voice belonged to a human—one of the crew. She watched as the dog obediently scampered over to the man. He was tall, with wild dark hair and a charming grin. The way he moved, with such ease and confidence, left Uma breathless.

The man, Prince Harry, ruffled the dog’s fur. "Aye, good boy, Max," he murmured. His voice was warm and rich, tinged with laughter. "Whatcha been up to, eh?"

Max barked happily, wagging his tail, and Uma couldn’t help but smile. There was something about the man that drew her in, something magnetic. He was... beautiful.

Before she could gather her thoughts, a familiar voice interrupted her musings.

"Hey there, sweetie! Quite a show, eh?"

Uma nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned to see Scuttle, flapping his wings as he landed beside her, oblivious to the need for discretion.

"Scuttle, be quiet!" she hissed. "They’ll hear you."

"Oh, right, right, gotcha," Scuttle whispered dramatically, as though they were part of some grand espionage mission. "We’re bein'... intrepidatious. We’re out to discover!"

Uma grabbed his beak, silencing him. "I’ve never seen a human this close before," she whispered, her eyes drifting back to Harry.

Harry had pulled out a small flute and was playing a soft, lilting melody that made her heart flutter. He was graceful in a way she hadn’t expected, his fingers dancing over the instrument as if it was second nature.

"Oh," she breathed, feeling her pulse quicken, "he’s very handsome, isn’t he?"

Scuttle squinted, then looked at Max, wagging his tail beside Harry. "I dunno. He looks kinda hairy and slobbery to me."

Uma couldn’t help but chuckle softly. "Not that one," she said, her voice barely audible. "The one playing the snarfblat."

She couldn’t tear her eyes away from Harry, her heart racing in her chest. This world, this life—it was so different from everything she had known. And in that moment, Uma knew she was irrevocably drawn to it.