It had been a week and a half since the incident with the mermaid, and Uma still enjoyed the respectful looks the Aurodanians gave her. Yes, it was good to feel like the girl she had been on the Island, without the worry of having to get food or protect herself from others. Also, she hoped the little show had been enough to send a loud and clear message to anyone who dared insult her people. Uma was not Mal, she would not become a soft princess, and she would always defend what was hers.
Breakfast that day was raspberry crepes, and Harry, Gil and Uma streaked across the cafeteria the moment they smelled the deliciousness. They remembered the taste of Frollo's crepes and the raspberry was their favorite. There was a long line to receive the food, but Harry and Gil used their intimidating skills (and smug muscles) to get them to "give" them a place ahead. Harry took the crepes on the tray and they headed to the table, although Uma couldn't wait and started eating on the way.
By the seven seas! This was the best she had ever had on Auradon, and she enjoyed trying new things that were not on the island. After all, she had lived there for a relatively short time, which made things like hot showers, three meals a day, or toiletries make her feel like a queen in a luxurious palace.
"They're better than Frollo's," she moaned, closing her eyes at the taste of raspberries combined with something creamy and smooth in her mouth. "Harry, try this."
She took a large piece with her fingers and brought it to Harry's mouth, who was holding the tray with both hands, then she licked the rest of the jam that was left on her fingers. It was delicious.
"These were your favorites, darling" Harry said.
"Yes, but these don't have mold," Uma replied cheerfully.
Harry smirked at how innocent Uma looked with the muddy jam at the corner of her lips. He reached over to wipe it with his tongue, and he heard her gasp as he felt her press against him. Harry resisted the urge to take her right there.
"At least wait until you get out of the cafeteria," Desiree giggled.
"How is your wrist, Bonny?" Asked Uma.
She was in a good mood, Harry noted. He thought with happiness and satisfaction that perhaps this was due to the nightly attentions he had given her. Or maybe what had happened in the shower in the morning. Or it could also be their last meeting, the one in the hallway. Harry felt his body vibrate as he remembered how he had held her against the wall while Uma practically cried his name. He wasn't surprised, after all, they had several years of unresolved sexual tension.
"It´s better, captain. The inflammation is gone, see?"
Uma nodded.
"And what about you first exams?"
The crew groaned. The first exams. Well, Harry had never cared much about school before. Uma had taught him the basics like reading and writing and at Serpent's the best classes were Accelerated Piracy and Evil Conspiracies. The classes in Auradon were more boring, but the one Harry liked the most was History of Woodsmen and Pirates, although he had to put up with Tinker Bell. However, Uma wanted the best of them, and Harry tried hard. So far, they had only had the first Remedial Goodness test and Harry didn't think he was going to get a 10.
"I need help with chemistry," Gonzo admitted.
"I'll help you study," Uma said. "Actually, we could study in a group."
Harry and Gil grumbled a bit, but Uma knew they would do what she told them to do. So, the week was tough. Uma prepared them as best she could for the exams. Friday night they had sword practice, and all of that, along with the constant nightmares that woke Uma at night, left her exhausted for the weekend.

On Sunday morning, Harry saw her so peacefully asleep that he didn't want to wake her up. He kissed her hair adoringly, covered her naked body with the blanket in case someone accidentally entered the room, and showered and dressed to join Gil in the cafeteria. Sunday breakfasts were always relaxed, there was no pressure to rush to class, and everyone enjoyed the food calmly and gluttony.
"Where is Uma?" Gil asked.
"Tired," Harry replied, "I think she's been doing too much."
"Well," Gil said, stuffing a boiled egg into his mouth, "she's used to it. The double shifts at Úrsula's store were to die for. "
Harry frowned. It was true, Uma was used to hard work and little rest. On the island, there were times when she would only lie on the table for a moment, as small as she was, and she would doze for an hour or two before opening the Shoppe. Perhaps what was really happening was that she was now calm, and that was why she could sleep more.
Breakfast with the crew was one of Harry's favorite moments. Nothing had changed since the Island, they used to joke, punch each other, and throw food in their faces and that was exactly what they did there in Auradon.
They were singing The Drunken Sailor at the top of their lungs when Harry noticed that Uma had just entered the cafeteria. Harry held his breath. How could she be so beautiful and powerful? He got up from the table and ran to her.
"Good morning Captain. What do you want for breakfast?"
Uma, still sleepy, pulled him by the shirt to kiss him roughly, not that Harry was going to complain about that.
"I'm starving, Harry," she complained.
Harry raised a suggestive brow.
"Well, Captain, we can go back to the room if that's what you want."
Uma reprimanded him with a smack on his arm, but Harry saw her smile.
"I'm serious, silly."
"Well, breakfast is ready and served, Gil has finished eating eggs so it should be safe now. Come on."
Uma ate everything on Harry's tray. And then she got up to have some more food. Harry took a lock of hair between his fingers and kissed it reverently.
"You're a little hungry today, lass."
"Hmmm, could you bring me some of that red fruit with black dots?" Uma asked, trying to sound innocent.
Harry smiled.
"Watermelon?"
"Yes, yes, that. Could you please?"
He didn't need to be asked again. He remembered how hungry Uma had been on the Island, always sharing what she had among others. His captain deserved so much more, and while they might have had to leave things behind, going to Auradon was worth it just to see her be happy.

"So, do you think your mother might be looking for you?" Gil asked. He was sitting with Harry and Uma in one of the Auradon Prep grounds. It was Tuesday and they had an hour break before their next class. Uma had decided to tell Gil because, despite being distracted and inconspicuous, he was her best friend and he deserved to know. Besides, if Ursula really was hanging around, neither Harry nor Gil were far from danger. Her mother knew about her relationship with them and, as in the past, it was possible that she tried to hurt them to annoy her.
Uma quickly pushed the memories away. If she started down that road, she was going to have a very bad time.
"Yes, Gil. She wants the necklace I stole from her, or so I think. Ben is helping, but she is not seen near the shore. In other circumstances I wouldn't worry, but she can take her human form and come here. "
"Well, don't worry Uma. We'll fix it, right? "
Uma smiled. Oh Gil. He was always like that, innocent and optimistic, even on the Island, where even the youngest children learned to despise life.
"Yes, Gil, we will fix it. Now Harry and I are going to meet Ben. Could you keep an eye on the crew after school? "
Gil accepted. The three of them went back to class and in the afternoon Uma and Harry said goodbye to Gil and headed to Ben's office.
She was nervous, Harry could feel it and that worried him. There weren't many things that scared Uma. But she was afraid of her mom and Harry knew why. It was just that they never talked about it; if they did, Uma would lose herself in memories and Harry couldn't bear to see the pained expression on her face. Thinking of Ursula made his knuckles clench.
He pressed her against him and felt her exhale hard, relaxing. He looked at her, the question hanging in the air wordlessly, and Uma nodded. Uma knocked on the door and a few seconds later she heard Ben's voice: "Come in."
Harry was taken aback by Ben's eternal happiness. He just couldn't understand how someone could be so patient and friendly all the time. But now he was grateful for it because that seemed to calm the atmosphere.
"Hi guys, please sit down. I have some news."
Harry and Uma spread out onto the nearest couch.
"Well, let it go," Uma said, her voice tinged with rudeness and the mask of fierce on her. Harry frowned. He could recognize the Island mode in Uma's actions, which meant that she was preparing to protect herself from something.
"Good," Ben began, a little taken aback. "First, Úrsula has not been seen since the day the barrier fell. I sent a couple of people to inspect the store and the hideout that Uma mentioned, but it was empty. She is definitely not on the Island."
Uma felt a strange weight fall on her heart. She couldn't imagine the empty Chip Shoppe, it had somehow been her home. It was strange to her to think of her mother and what she would be doing.
"On the other hand, there are rumors that two eels corresponding to the description of Flotsam and Jetsam have been seen very close to here, not once, but several times. And… well, there is also an island, approximately twice as far from the Isle of the Lost, where a small town lived. This morning, strange giant waves hit the coast and destroyed everything. Villagers say they saw tentacles in the water before the waves started, so… I think it could be her. "
Uma fixed her gaze on a distant point.
Úrsula was free, really. She could show up at any moment and take everything from Uma. She could attack Harry and Gil, her crew, could attack her and finish once and for all what she had not dared to do when Uma was born. There was a memory that Uma had buried deep in her mind, but at the real possibility of being in danger, the memory came back to her as clear as water.
Uma was about to turn four and she had been working in her mother's store since she learned to walk. She always had to be doing something, washing dishes, or clearing tables, or Ursula might get in a bad mood and lock her in Flotsam and Jetsam's pond for hours. She was still a little girl, and she didn't understand why her mother was so angry all the time. One of those afternoons, while Uma was dragging a bucket of water as best, so she could wash the dishes, she heard the voice of her aunt Morgana from her mother's cave. She was saying her name, so Uma stopped and listened carefully.
"Uma is too small, Ursula," said Aunt Morgana. "She is the weak child, a weakling. She is not as tall as the kids her age and she is very skinny. You must have abandoned her at sea before she recognized you."
"I know!" Her mother yelled. "You think I didn't think so? I have sent her with Flotsam and Jetsam to the far shore of the barrier hundreds of times, but she always comes back. Although now, at least, I think she will help me working in the store."
Uma felt tears welling up in her eyes. She must have sobbed or something, because the next thing she knew was that a tentacle lifted her through the air and Ursula screamed at her for having been snooping and not working. She could still remember the pain it had caused her to think that her mother did not love her, that she wanted to get rid of her. Uma knew that no little child should go through that.
"Uma," Harry's voice brought her back to reality, which was becoming a habit. She only knew a way to protect herself, so she pretended she was not affected by the news in the least.
"Well, what if she did? She's crazy and she's probably just going far from here. Perhaps she will lost at sea," she said the last words bitterly.
Harry understood the meaning of that phrase and knew immediately what Uma had been thinking about. He was the only person Uma had ever told about that, because she felt too embarrassed.
"You said she wanted her necklace and I think it's most likely. Maybe she's trying to deflect attention in some way so that we think she won't get close to Auradon, but we won't let our guard down, Uma. I promise you. Besides, there is something else I want to talk to both of you about."
That caught the attention of the two pirates, because Ben was almost smiling.
"Well, I think you'll be glad to know that I have finally made all the arrangements and the Lost Revenge will arrive in port tomorrow morning."
"You didn't, damn it, King Benny," Harry blurted out, too stunned by the news to care a bit about his language. Uma's mood changed in an instant, the shadow left her face, and it was replaced by a bright smile and a happy laugh.
"Of course he did, Harry," she told him. They had both gotten up from the couch and Uma was so happy at the news that she even felt dizzy. Harry and Uma hugged, happy at the prospect of getting back on their ship. Their place, their home. Uma gave Ben a grateful look. "Thank you."
Ben looked pleased.
"We'll have to do a proper reception, don't you think?"
"Oh Ben, you don't know what a real pirate party is," Harry said, a mischievous look in his eyes.
Uma drew her hand up to Harry's face to kiss him in celebration and Ben looked away. He didn't know why, but whenever those two did something, even hold hands, everyone around them would blush.