A\N: Hi everyone! Myself and TwilightRoxas are back with another story! This one involves a teenage Hope and her twin brothers as they cross paths with some mischievous mermaids. I hope you guys enjoy!

P.S. This fic is partially inspired by an episode of the Disney XD series, Pair of Kings entitled "A Mermaid's Tail". And I may have been inspired by everyone's favorite twins, Zack and Cody, for the Swan-Jones boys ;)

"Liam! David! Stop eating so bloody fast!" Hope scolded her twin brothers as the three of them ate breakfast.

David rolled his eyes. "Stop trying to tell us what to do."

"Mom and Dad did leave her in charge. Sort of," Liam pointed out as he waved his spoon. He then dunked it back in his cereal.

David hit his brother's shoulder. Liam winced and rubbed his hand over it.

"What was that for?"

"For being a kiss-up."

Hope shook her head and muttered, "These two are gonna be the death of me."

She then stood and carried her cereal bowl over to the sink. Liam and David raced along behind her.

She sidestepped out of the way as the boys tossed their bowls in the sink. They rushed to the door and raced out of it before Hope even had a chance to say anything.

They ran until they reached the beach. Liam placed his hands on his knees and breathed in and out slowly.

David rolled his eyes. "You're such a wimp. How are you already tired?"

Liam side-eyed him. "At least I'm not failing gym."

"I'm not failing."

"Only because Dad took away sailing privileges."

David rolled his eyes. He then glanced behind him and then back at his brother.

"You don't think Hope followed us, do you?"

Liam stood up straight and crossed his arms over his chest.

"No, I don't think she did. Remember? She said something about taking photographs of the house and stuff."

"Of the house? That sounds boring."

"Well, she likes the aesthetics of it. It's sentimental and homey."

"That doesn't sound like Hope."

Liam shrugged. "She's just like Mom and Dad. They can mess someone up with magic or a sword - but they're gonna kiss afterwards."

Both boys scrunched their nose and made a face. They then shook their heads in disgust.

Liam then nudged David's shoulder. "Come on, let's get to the lair."

David nodded. He took one last look over his shoulder before he and Liam headed further down the beach.

The twins sang a sea shanty their father taught them - only for Liam to tilt his head.

"David. Are you even singing the right words?"

He only shrugged. "Dad's taught us so many that they all start to sound the same."

"I guess they do."

Liam then rubbed the back of his head. "But could you try to sing it right?"

With an eye roll, David pointed out, "Why do you care so much?"

"It distracts me."

"You'll get over it."

"Says you."

Liam then rolled his eyes as his brother continued to sing - loudly enunciating each word. A smile then brightened his features.

He grabbed his brother's arm. "Come on, I can see it." David smiled as well before the pair rushed over to the structure.

Nestled among the sand dunes stood Liam and David's lair - a castle made from wood. From atop one of the towers, a pirate flag blew with the wind.

David then slid to a stop. He fell into the sand. Liam spun around to face him.

"What are you…"

David dragged his brother down into the sand with him. He then gestured toward the water.

"Just shut up and look."

Liam followed his brother's hand. His blue eyes widened.

"Mermaids!"

"Isn't it cool? We should go see them."

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Should we? Aren't they, I don't know, dangerous?"

"Some of them, I guess. But then there's Ariel."

"That's a good point. Let's go."

The boys stood - and spied the mermaids waving them over. They smiled before they ran to them.

One of the mermaids played with her starfish necklace. She wore a smile.

"Hi, guys. What are your names?"

David waved. "I'm David - and that's my twin brother, Liam."

Another mermaid piped up, "Twins? But you don't look identical to me."

Liam cleared his throat as he ran his fingers through his black hair.

"That's because we're fraternal. I'm the oldest."

David rolled his eyes. "Only by, like, five minutes."

He then crossed his arms over his chest. "Besides, I'm the cool twin. Way more fun than my brother."

"Depends on your definition of fun and cool."

"You define it, you dork."

"You first - and you're the dork."

The two mermaids - plus the three others with them - all burst out laughing.

The mermaid continued to play with her necklace as she spoke, "You two are really funny."

The boys smiled widely. David then used his fingers to comb through his light brown hair.

"Well, it's not every day we get to meet mermaids. What are your names?"

With a smile, one of the mermaids ran her thumb over her starfish pendant.

"I'm Adella."

The other mermaid offered a wave. "And I'm Morgana." The other three mermaids waved as well.

"I'm Serena." "Larinia." "Raine."

The boys both nodded. Liam then ventured, "So, why are you guys here?"

Adella shrugged. "We just like visiting the surface sometimes."

Serena then added, "Yeah, we like checking out your world. And in fact…"

She trailed off as she shared a look with her friends. Adella then nodded and took a breath.

She wrapped her hand around her necklace and squeezed. Her gaze focused on the twins.

"Maybe you could help us see more of it."

Liam and David both tilted their heads. The latter then asked, "How would we do that?"

Adella flipped her tail out of the water. "These tend to get in the way. Could you help us gain our legs?"

Liam crossed his arms over his chest. "How are we supposed to do that? We don't have magic."

Raine then piped up: "Well, no, but you have a castle. It has to be pretty special, right?"

The twins exchanged a look before they glanced back at their lair.

"That's just something we put together a few months ago. It's not magic."

"Are you sure?" Larinia asked them as she smiled.

The boys exchanged another look, their blue eyes widening. Liam cleared his throat.

"Do you really think it's magic?"

Adella smiled. "There is one way to find out." At Liam and David's confused expressions, she clarified, "If you take us to the lair, we would be able to tell you for sure or not."

Liam pulled his brother a little further down the beach. He planted his hands on his hips.

"So? Should we take them?"

"What kind of stupid question is that?"

Liam rolled his eyes. He then punched his twin in the arm.

"I just had to make sure we were thinking the same thing. Now come on."

They rushed back over to the mermaids. The boys spoke at the same time.

"We'll help you."

The mermaids broke out into wide smiles. Adella then told them, "Thank you! We're so glad you decided to help."

"We are, too," Liam said. He then gestured behind him: "We should get back to our house so we can figure this out."

Raine then offered, "Do you have to go so soon? We want to know more about this human world of yours."

David smiled. "And we'll tell you guys all about it - but you have to get to the lair first."

Raine nodded before she and the other mermaids waved them off. The boys then made their way back up the beach.

Liam then asked, "So, how are we going to move them?"

David shrugged. "Aren't you the smart one?"

With a grin, Liam told him, "So, what does that make you?"

"The one who doesn't say stupid things like that. Now let's come up with a plan."

Liam furrowed his eyebrows. "How would you move a mermaid across the beach?"

"Why don't we just carry them?"

"Because that'll take too long. We need something faster - something that can, like, roll in the sand."

"Like wheels? Could we use our bikes?"

"I don't think they're big enough. They're not really made for multiple people."

"That's true. We'll need something else. Like…"

He trailed off as he and his brother's eyes both widened. Smiles erupted on both their faces.

"The dune buggy!"