His Mermaid Princess: A Huma fanfiction

chapter 13

Uma lay sprawled on the smooth, sun-warmed surface of the rock, still catching her breath after the mad dash through the waves. Sebastian and Flounder panted beside her, utterly exhausted. The sun beat down, warming her skin in a way that felt different now. As she slowly sat up, she brushed her braids from her face, still winded but unable to shake the strange, tingling sensation. A part of her felt lighter, and then she noticed—her legs.

Legs.

For a moment, she was frozen, staring in disbelief at the two appendages that replaced her familiar tail. It felt alien, but at the same time, the sensation was exhilarating. Slowly, she lifted her foot into the air, marveling at the sight of her toes. Wiggling them, she felt a nervous laugh bubble up inside her chest. She couldn’t speak, but her thoughts raced—These are my legs. My own human legs.

"Well, look at what the catfish dragged in!"

Scuttle’s unmistakable voice interrupted her silent awe, and he landed, in his clumsy way, right on top of her leg.

"Look at ya! Look at ya! There's something different. Don't tell me—I've got it. It's your hairdo, right? You've been using the dinglehopper, right?" Scuttle’s eyes widened with excitement as he fluttered around, inspecting her with great interest.

Uma shook her head, feeling a little exasperated.

"No? No, huh?" Scuttle cocked his head. "Well, let me see. New... seashells?"

She sighed and shook the leg that Scuttle was perched on. Couldn’t he see? Didn’t he notice the most obvious change?

Scuttle wobbled on his feet, completely missing the clue. "No new seashells. I gotta admit, I can't put my foot on it right now, but if I just stand here long enough, I know that I'll—"

"She's got legs, you idiot!" Sebastian finally burst out, his familiar voice cutting through the scene with his thick, frustrated accent. He scurried in circles, waving his claws in the air. "She traded her voice to the sea witch—who happens to be her mother—and got legs! Jeez, man…"

Uma glanced at Sebastian, grateful someone had finally put it into words. She nodded slightly, confirming his outburst, but Scuttle only puffed his chest, acting like he had known all along.

"I knew that," Scuttle added nonchalantly, as if that were a fact.

Flounder, still bobbing by the water's edge, chimed in next, his voice filled with concern. "Uma's been turned into a human. She's gotta make the prince fall in love with her, and he's gotta... he's gotta kiss her."

The reality of the situation came rushing back to Uma. The weight of the task pressed on her again, a sharp contrast to the fleeting joy of feeling free on land. Three days, she reminded herself. Only three days.

Sebastian, pacing again, groaned in frustration. "And she's only got three days!" His face was scrunched in worry, his pincers fidgeting. "Just look at her. On legs. On human legs! My nerves are shot. This is a catastrophe! What would Triton say? I'll tell you what Triton would say." He grabbed Flounder’s face dramatically, "He’d say he's gonna kill himself a crab, that's what Triton would say!"

Uma tried to stand, but her new legs were unsteady, unfamiliar. The muscles twitched and buckled beneath her, sending her sprawling back onto the rock. Water splashed up around her, soaking Sebastian and Flounder in the process.

"I'm gonna march me-self straight home right now and tell him, just like I shoulda done from de beginning—" Sebastian declared, turning to leave, only to be stopped in his tracks as Uma scooped him up into her hands. He waggled his claw, still protesting.

"And don't you shake your head at me, young lady!" he chided, trying to sound authoritative. But his voice softened when he saw her sad expression. "Maybe there's still time. If we could get that witch to give you back your voice, you could go home with all the normal fish and just be... just be..." He trailed off, seeing her face. "Just be miserable for the rest of your life. Alright, alright," he sighed. "I'll try to help you find that prince."

Uma smiled, her heart lifting slightly. She pressed her lips to Sebastian’s shell, grateful for his help, before setting him gently down.

"Boy. What a soft-shell I'm turning out to be," he muttered, adjusting his shell and avoiding her gaze.

Scuttle flitted about, picking up bits of wreckage. "Now, Uma, if you wanna be a human, the first thing you gotta do is dress like one," he said, grabbing hold of an old sail. He fashioned it into a makeshift dress, tying it together with ropes, inspecting his handiwork with pride. "Ya look great, kid. Sensational!"

Just then, the sound of barking startled her. She barely had time to register what was happening before Max, the dog, came bounding toward her. Flounder splashed away, diving into the sea while Sebastian scuttled into the pocket of her new dress. The dog’s tongue slobbered over her face as she scrambled back onto the rock.

"Max, quiet!" a voice called, familiar yet distant.

Uma’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized him—Harry. He approached, concern in his eyes as he spotted her.

"Oh, I see. Are you okay, miss?" Harry asked, gentle but cautious. "I’m sorry if this knucklehead scared you."

He looked her over carefully, his gaze softening. "You... you seem familiar to me. Have we met?"

Uma nodded, her eyes widening.

Harry frowned, unsure. "We have met?"

She nodded again, more insistently.

He stepped closer, taking her hands in his. "You're the one... the one I’ve been looking for! What’s your name?"

Uma opened her mouth, but nothing came out. The silence crushed her, and she touched her throat, a wave of disappointment washing over her.

Harry’s face fell. "You can't speak?"

Uma shook her head, feeling the weight of his confusion.

"Oh, then you couldn’t be who I thought…" Harry trailed off, the connection slipping away. He looked at her, not with frustration but with sympathy.

Uma stumbled, and before she knew it, she was in his arms. His hands were warm, steady, holding her up as her legs trembled beneath her.

"Whoa, careful," he whispered. "Gee, you must have really been through something. Don't worry, I'll help you."

Together, they walked, each step harder than the last, but with him by her side, she felt hope stir again. The clock was ticking, but maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something more.