Chapter 3: Back to the Sea

Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I glad my little twist at the end of my last chapter got your attention. I hope you like what I have planned next. Please Review and Enjoy.

In the Catfish Club everyone was gathered around as Sebastian was looking at Leo's mirror.

"This belonged to my mom? I didn't know she had a magic mirror." Ariel said examining it.

"There was more to your mother than just music, while this isn't as strong as his trident the queen certainly made use. How did you find this?" Sebastian asks.

"My dad was sent to look for this but…" Leo frowns at the memory and instantly Sebastian knew the rest.

"I'm sorry, do you mind telling me your name?" Sebastian asks.

"It's Leo."

"Leo, you have found one of the greatest Atlantean treasures in the world. The magic this mirror holds is amazing." Sebastian said as Leo examines the mirror and a message appeared.

'From the Sea to the Shore?' What does that mean?' Leo thought.

"I suggest you all go home before people notice. I'll see you all tomorrow." Sebastian said as everyone started to swim out. "Ariel." He calls out getting her attention. "While I do not condone you coming here…I'm glad you did." He smiles.

"Thanks Sebastian. Leo, will I see you again?" Ariel asks.

"I don't see why not." Leo shrugs.

Smiling Ariel hugs him goodbye before swimming off back to Atlantica. As she swam off she didn't notice the blush on Leo's face.

Leo was about to swim home when Sebastian swam up next to him. "Mind coming with me for a little bit before you go?"

"Uh sure I guess, just not too long okay?" Leo said.

On the outskirts of Atlantica, Leo and Sebastian were sitting on some rocks looking out at the city.

"I've heard so many stories about this place but seeing it up close." Leo said.

"It's enough to take your breath away." Sebastian finishes.

"Yeah. Hey do you know why those guards tried to arrest Flounder for singing?" Leo asks.

"Music is illegal here; the law was made by King Triton himself." Sebastian said.

"But why would you ban music? Does he hate music or something?" Leo asks.

"Oh no, in fact, he loved music. Especially when Queen Athena sang. She had the most beautiful voice." Sebastian smiles.

"So what happened to make the King go this far?" Leo asks.

"It all happened many years ago when the Queen died." Sebastian said causing Leo's eyes to widen. "Everyone was devasted, especially the King, he banned music so he would never have to be reminded of the loss of his queen."

"But, that's not right." Leo said getting Sebastian's attention. "You shouldn't forget those you love. My dad used to say ohana means family, family means no one gets left behind, or forgotten."

"Your father sounds like a wise man." Sebastian said looking at Leo amazed.

"My dad was the best, when he died I felt horrible, but I couldn't let my sadness take over me." Leo frowns.

"Why's that?" Sebastian asks.

"Because my sister was going to be born and I needed to be there for her and my mom, it's what my dad would have wanted me to do." Leo said.

Sebastian looks at Leo and smiles. "You're in."

"In what?" Leo asks.

"My music club, come back anytime." Sebastian said causing Leo to smile.

"I'll be back tomorrow. I promised Ariel." Leo said before he swam off.

"Just keep that mirror safe!" Sebastian yells to him.

As the sun rose on Kauai, Leo popped his head out of the water and swam to the marine lab. Taking out the mirror he looked at the message.

"From the Sea to the Shore." Leo read aloud as a bright light engulfs him causing his gills and webbed limbs to disappear and his shark fin went into his body turning him back into a human. "Whoa." Leo said as he climbed out of the water and walked onto the dock. "This thing is gonna take some getting used to."

Putting the mirror in his pocket he walks inside to see Naia and Ruby eating breakfast.

"Morning Mom, morning Ruby." Leo said walking in.

"Leo where were you this morning? I couldn't find you anywhere." Naia asks.

"Sorry mom last night I had some things to work out." Leo said nervously.

Naia stopped cooking breakfast and looked to her son who was pouring himself a glass of juice.

"Leo, you okay?" She asks.

"Yeah I'll be fine mom." Leo smiles trying assure her.

"You know you can tell me anything." She said.

"I know mom, I know." Leo nods before turning to his sister. "So you coming later today after school?"

"Anything to get away from Myrtle and her entourage." Ruby groans.

"Are they still giving you trouble?" Leo asks.

"I want to get those girls back so much." Ruby growls.

"Ruby don't stoop to their level you're better than that." Leo said.

"But they drive me crazy." Ruby said.

"Ruby sometimes you just have to be the bigger person." Leo said causing Ruby to sigh.

"I guess." Ruby mumbles before getting up to brush her teeth.

"Look at you being a good big brother?" Naia smiles putting down Leo's breakfast.

"I promised you that when we lost I'd always be there for you and Ruby." Leo said.

"Leo, I know things have been difficult ever since your father died, but I want you to know I appreciate everything you've done to help us." Naia said.

"We're ohana mom and I'll never leave you girls." Leo smiles.

"Not even when you find a girl yourself?" Naia smirks.

"Mom." Leo blushes embarrassed causing Naia to giggle.

"Come on Leo, you can't tell me you're not interested in meeting someone. Or maybe you already met someone." Naia said.

"Mom I'm telling you there is no girl in my…" Leo pauses as he remembered the moment he had with Ariel. 'What am I thinking? No way a mermaid would ever fall in love with someone on land.'

Meanwhile down in Atlantica, Sebastian was scuttling towards a throne where King Triton was sitting.

"Good morning your majesty." Sebastian bows.

"Sebastian." He nods acknowledging him. "Marina."

Turning to his left Sebastian saw a middle-aged mermaid with a purple dress and fins. This was Marina Del Ray.

"Good morning your majesty." She said.

"I have a problem. It's Ariel." Triton said causing Sebastian's mouth to drop.

"Finally! You see it too! She's rebellious, insubordinate and headstrong. We need to immediately implement a series of checks and balances designed to crush her spirit…What too much?" Marina asks.

"Absolutely. Your highness, she is young. Going through a phase." Sebastian said.

"I don't remember having this much trouble with any of her sisters." Triton said.

"I do! They're all a handful, we should shave their heads." Marina said causing Sebastian to yelp. "Just kidding."

"Alana wasn't difficult at all." Triton said.

"Yes your majesty but there was Arista and the blowfish incident, remember?" Sebastian asks.

"Ugh it took weeks to clean up the palace." Marina said.

"And how about Aquata and that stingray?" Sebastian adds.

"Oh, I can still feel it." Marina said rubbing her rear.

"And the time Attina got her head stuck in the conch shell." Sebastian said.

"That was me." Marina said causing Triton and Sebastian to look at her weirdly.

"Perhaps you're right Sebastian, still it seems Marina could use some help. I want you to look after Ariel. No offense Marina." Triton said swimming away.

"None taken." Marina said. "Softshell." She glares at Sebastian.

"Tardy Girl."

"Stick eyes."

"Fish lips."

"Backstabber!"

"Fashion Disaster!"

"Bottom feeder!"

"Babysitter!"

"Dismissed." Triton said causing them to stop arguing.

Up in Ariel's room she was sound asleep in her bed humming a tune when she woke up to see 6 mermaids were looking at her with interest. These were her sisters. There was Attina, who had light brown hair, an orange tail with matching seashell bikini top. Alana who had black hair, and a purple tail and seashell bikini. Adella who had long dark brown hair in a ponytail, a yellow tail and a yellow green seashell bikini. Arista who had long blonde hair, a red tail and a matching red seashell bikini. Aquata who had brown hair with curly bangs in a ponytail, a blue tail and a blue seashell bikini. And finally, Andrina who had short blonde hair, a purple tail and a pink seashell bikini.

"What?" Ariel asks surprised.

"Uh you were humming." Attina said.

"Oh I was?" Ariel smiles.

"Out loud." Arista said.

"Don't worry, it was just a dream." Ariel said swimming to the mirrors.

"I'll tell you what wasn't a dream. We woke at midnight." Alana said.

"And your bed was still empty." Aquata said.

"Oh really?" Ariel asks brushing her hair.

"Yeah and that is two hours past curfew. Ooh was it a boy?" Andrina asks.

"Ugh if it's a boy I'm gonna die!" Adella freaked out.

"Drama." Aquata rolls her eyes.

"I mean I'm happy for you it's just I'm two years older than you and the only boy I've even come close to kissing is Stevie." Adella said.

"Ew Squid Lips Stevie?" Andrina giggles.

"It was on a dare!" Adella said quickly.

"Whatever." Andrina said.

"Girls, let's stick to the subject." Attina said.

"Well I may have met someone, out past the Kelp Forest." Ariel said.

"Ooh out past the Kelp Forest. It wasn't a boy it was a bad boy." Aquata said.

"Ariel!" Arista gasps.

"Simmer down sister." Aquata said.

"So does any of it explain where you got this?" Attina asks pulling out a maraca causing the other sisters to gasp. Acting quickly Ariel grabbed it and hid it under her bed. "Can you imagine if dad found out?"

"He's never here." Ariel said.

"Don't get cute with me, this is serious. Where were you?" Attina asks.

"I was just, listening to music in an underground club." Ariel confesses.

"Okay really? Where were you?" Attina asks not buying it, but Ariel's face said she was telling the truth causing the others to swim over.

"Come tell us." Arista said.

"What was it like?" Andrina asks.

"It was amazing. The energy, the dancing, the music it makes you feel like…"

"Like what?" Aquata asks.

"Like when Mom was here." Ariel said.

"Ariel I want to hear it too." Arista said.

"You do?" Ariel asks as all but Attina agreed.

"Please Ariel." They begged.

"We'll go tonight." Ariel said getting the excited.

"Ooh I'm so excited!"

"The music!"

"What should I wear?"

"Will there be boys there?"

"Only one way to find out."

"This is not happening!" Attina said swimming up. "You go again and I'll…"

"Oh lighten up." Andrina said.

"Please." Ariel begs along with the rest of her sisters.

"Oh alright." Attina sighs in defeat causing them all to cheer when Marina and her assistant Benjamin come in.

"Come on girls uppy up—" Marina stops when she sees they are all awake.

Smiling all the girls swim out.

"They're early." Benjamin said surprised.

"Yes…why?" Marina asks suspicious before swimming out.

Back on the surface, Leo was feeding the fishes when he took out the magic mirror to examine. Even though he wasn't in his water form he was still feeling some effects of it, including the ability to understand fish.

"Should I really go back there?" Leo asks himself.

"Why not? You had fun yesterday." A fish said surprising him.

"Can you please not do that? I'm still working on figuring this whole magic thing out." Leo pants.

"Sorry, hey can you get me one of those delicious Peanut Butter Sandwiches? I love those."

"I knew it." Leo said seeing his theory was correct.

Suddenly they heard a knock at the door startling Leo.

"Hello. Anyone home?" Popping their head in Leo saw a teenage boy around his age with tan skin and black hair, this was David, Leo's best friend.

"Oh hey David." Leo said.

"Hey Leo, there's some killer waves down at the beach. Want to come?" David asks.

"I'd love to, just let me finish feeding these guys and then we can go." Leo said as he walked to the fish food. "Hey David, can I ask you something?"

"Sure Leo, what's up?" David asks placing his surfboard down.

"Yesterday I met someone." Leo confesses causing David to smile.

"Way to go Leo, what's she like?" He asks clapping him on the back.

"Well that's the thing she's a little…different." Leo said.

"Well so are you Leo. I mean when I walked in, I swear I thought I heard you talking to the fish." David said.

"Well lately these fish have been great to have conversations with." Leo said causing David to chuckle.

"Leo, look I know you spent most of your childhood taking care of your mom and sister, but it's normal to sometimes have doubts about meeting someone. But maybe this girl likes you. You should give her a chance." David said.

"I guess I could." Leo said.

"When are you meeting her again?" David asks.

"Tonight." Leo said.

"Wow, she must really like you. Well then what are you waiting for? You should go get ready." David urged.

"But what about surfing? And I got to pick up Ruby from school." Leo said.

"I can do that, and I'll just take her with me. She'll understand. Now go get ready for your date." David smirks.

"It's not a date and thanks." Leo smiles before running off.

"Way to go Leo. I'm happy for you." David smiles as he grabs his board and walks out.