So I ran. Okay, not really. More like speed-walked out of the library after I placed that book Harry had given me back on the shelf. I didn't have a specific destination in mind, not even an exit. So I ended up wandering the hallways pretending I had someplace to go.

Did I really think I could have a life here? That I could make a life without living with the consequences of being the daughter of the evil sea-witch.

It was my destiny to never have a place of belonging. I was clearly meant to always run and hide. There's no such thing as a home for me. A home was a place for people who didn't have the suffocating weight of another's crimes crushing them with a constant feeling of wretched envy.

Belonging, foolish girl you'll always be an outsider. Just like your mother. I inhale a sharp breath internally horrified with the possibility that I'm just like her.

I stop walking and lean on a nearby wall for support. I try to gather my thoughts and remember the true reason I was here. This was always supposed to be a brief situation. I wasn't supposed to get so attached.

Attached? What or Who could I possibly be attached too already? I was free to go wherever I please no one was holding me against my will, yet.

I take long slow breaths as I start to notice the sound of a soothing melodic hum coming from a classroom nearby. I shouldn't look.

I think as I already make my way to the opened door to covertly peek inside. On the floor, a purple-haired girl around the same age as me sat alone working on a self-portrait.

She skillfully worked on perfecting her eyes that looked cautious and searching. For what? What was this girl looking for?

Her relaxing hum slowly turned into a sorrowful song that spoke of a freedom always longed for but never known.

It told the story of a girl who never trusted anyone because she was afraid. Afraid of a mother she never wanted to disappoint. Who is this girl?

She doesn't seem to be from Auradon. Her purple leather jacket and alluringly wicked attire screamed villain kid. There's something about her. I suddenly feel a strange but familiar pull. Magic.

It pulses all around her with an enthusiasm I haven't seen before. It was as if it was beckoning for her to touch. The magic seemingly encasing its self all around her just waiting for her to say a spell. She's so powerful. How?

I find myself wanting to call the power unto me but back away from the door quickly. I can't even think about it. I'll get exposed and I don't even want to imagine what will happen next.

How can one person have all that power? Why did that scare me? Why do I even care? I'm supposed to be leaving. I don't have time to assess another person's power.

She's stronger than you. No, she's not! I start to walk but instead, I find myself sprinting forward with my mind clouded with insecurities.

You've been practicing magic your whole life and it's never surrounded you that way. Weak, just like dear old mom always says.

I am not weak! I think as I do a sharp turn before realizing at the last-minute that someone was there. I crash into them only seeing a flurry of their locks of blonde hair as I close my eyes waiting for the impact.

They give a loud slightly over-dramatic groan as we hit the floor and start to speak."If this was the Isle, I could have you walk the plank for that!" The voice said pushing me off of them. I clench my fists and open my eyes, but suddenly the smell of kelp overwhelms me.

A villain kid, perhaps? All the other Auradon citizens I've met smelled of things I wasn't familiar with but kelp, however. That was as familiar as it gets and I'm sure I've smelled this on someone before. I get up from the pristine floor and try to take a confident stance as the person I fell on glares up at me. "Sorry," I mutter under my breath not liking the sound of the word.

"Aren't you going to help me up? I thought you Auradon kids were all about manners." She does quotation marks with her fingers and puts her hand out for me to grab.

I go to grab it and pull her up. Once she's standing she looks at me with a smug grin on her face, "But you aren't from Auradon are you?"

I let go of her hand and take a step back squinting at her with suspicion. "What makes you say that?"

She gives an obnoxious haughty laugh and I feel magic stir at my fingertips. No, not now. I can't risk exposure. Calm down. I breathe in and out slowly, and she shoots me a strange look. Something about this girl doesn't sit right with me.

"Oh, you are her," She whispers tilting her head as her eyes scan me in curiosity. I find myself gulping in fear of her unknown observations. Did she know I was Ursula's daughter? How? How was that possible? Maybe, the fact you look just like her.

Impossible, no one knew what my mother's true face looked like. Only the royal family of Atlantica...gods, I'm an idiot. What if Melody was playing me all this time? What if I was just falling for the most common ruse? She gives me a chance at a comfortable life only to take it away and then I'm forever captured. The cruelest and most satisfying revenge.

Melody's not like that. She's...different. How can I possibly know that? She'll betray me and I'll have the end my mother predicted for me. I won't trust her. I won't trust anyone.

"What do you mean?" I Inquire anxiously, but she gives me an airy smile shrugging, "Oh nothing." She answers vaguely in a tone that indicated she knew something.

Was she connected with the royal family? A friend of one of the many princesses daughters? I observe her fully and take note of her pirate's outfit and then my eyes fall on her belt. "Hook."

She looks down and touches the hook on her belt fondly."Oh, do you like? My brother got my dad's actual hook but that didn't stop me from making my own. Cute isn't it."

Her dad has a hook. Plus she has a brother... Gods, that means, "You're Harry Hook's sister." I recall information about the sister that Harry mentioned went to Auradon Prep with him. "Your name's CJ, right?"

"Has my popularity precede me?" She gloats flattered, " I guess my epic pranks are practically school legends. I don't like to brag but I did hold the prince captive all by myself."

"Congratulations," I flatly replied unsure of what prince she was even talking about.

She seems to glow at the compliment not realizing my disinterest, "It all comes with being raised by the greatest villain to have ever lived, Captain Hook."

"Uh..." What is with everyone name-dropping their parents? And why is everyone convinced their parents are the most powerful villains ever? I mean clearly, that award goes to my mother Ursula the sea witch. My mom could literally control the sea and destroy everyone on land. Well, if she had Triton's trident. Even without that power upgrade, she was still very powerful.

I involuntary start grinding my teeth as CJ continues to brag about her father. I feel a surge of power run through me. Show her. Show them all whose daughter you are. My eyes widened as I try to dampen these feelings.

Why am I feeling so jealous? I didn't even like my mother. I wouldn't want to name-drop someone I despise. Liar.

"That's enough about my father the greatest pirate and villain to ever live. Did I mention I've mastered the art of teamwork lately? My friend, Freddie and I, you know, you kind of look like her!"

"I'm sure it's a coincidence." I wave off, "I should go." Mostly, because I'm tired of this conversation. At this point, I knew enough information about Captain Hook to write a book.

"Oh," She replies disappointed and I for some reason decide to elaborate more.

"I have so much to do." Like figuring out how to leave without raising suspicion.

She glances at the wall and my eyes follow to see a clock. She mumbles something under her breath. "I have to go too. My next class starts in ten minutes and I have to meet someone."

"Goodbye, then," I reply relieved as she bolts in the direction I myself had just recently come from.

I continue walking down the corridor I was currently in and found a door marked exit. Fresh air. That's exactly what I need some fresh land air. I push open the door and a gush of warm wind wraps its self around me. I slide outside fully and take in the burst of color in front of me. A garden.

I've never really seen one up close before. I've only caught the briefest glimpses as mother yelled at me to go faster as we passed them. Mother always avoided any place that had sources of life in it. Signs of life meant a mer-person or fish weren't far behind.

We always made our homes in the most desolated areas. The more depleted of resources the better she always said.

I've always wondered how she got her tentacles on the food we did eat. Probably magic. With her, it's always magic. Or Flotsam and Jetsam who I have a sneaking suspicion made sure her potion ingredients cabinets were always full.

Sweet scents guided me deeper into the garden and I found my desire to run away had entirely disappeared.

I stopped next to a doorway of hedges that lead to the inside of a maze. The flowers here were roses that begged to be touched.

"Don't!" I heard someone desperately shout and I turn to see a boy around my age. His clothes were perfectly tailored to his form and colored in the most royal blue and darkest gold I've ever seen. His hand is reaching out to me and his face is painted with frightened concern

"Those roses are from Wonderland. The white queen sent them as a sign of friendship after her sister's imprisonment but they are actually Underland Entrancers." He explained as if I was to know instantly what he was speaking of.

"Underland Entrancers?" I repeat feeling a little uneasy and confused.

"Did you feel like they were calling to you?" He inquired but his cautious glances to the flowers indicated he already knew the answer.

I nod my head yes, "It's how it lures its victims in. The roses are actually white roses, but they lure unsuspecting victims to paint them red with their blood."

"Why doesn't the school just get rid of them?" I highly doubt that the many students 'loving' parents would like having something that could easily lead their children to death's door so easily accessible.

"We've tried but the white queen threatened war. These specific species of roses were made by her father and are considered sacred to the citizens of Wonderland or Underland as it was once known."

"Oh? Why not block off this area? Could save a person from being sucked dry."

"It is." He points over to a sign that I hadn't noticed before and my eyes widened in surprise.

"How did I not notice that?" I rub my eyes perplexed at how I didn't notice such a large sign. It had the warning in large bold letters and told the reader to leave the area immediately for their safety. How did I miss that? I look down in embarrassment and tap my foot to a silent clumsy rhythm. "I guess I was truly lost in the beauty of these gardens."

"Please be more careful. I probably won't be here to save you next time." He emphasizes and I almost roll my eyes. So, I made one almost deadly mistake. That doesn't make me some damsel who needs a white knight to save her.

I walk closer to him and the worry on his face disappears as I stare him down."I'm no damsel this was just a rare misjudgment on my part. Very rare."

"Glad to hear that. I'm Ben," He introduces himself with an affable smile. "and you?"

"Uma," I answer a little curtly.

"That's a pretty name." He comments and recognition comes to his eyes, "Wait, Uma? Are you the new student fairy godmother told me about?"

"Why would she tell you about that?" I question as I feel my face scrunch up in both confusion and wariness.

"She tells me all important school matters even the ones I wish she didn't. I guess that's the burden of a king?" He joked.

"A king?! As in the son of King Beast?" I blurted as I put the pieces together out loud. The man that's to blame for everything wrong in my life. The reason I've spent my whole existence in hiding.

"Yes, though I rule over Auradon now."

"Is that so?" I say a little too interested and quickly clear my throat to deflect. I berate myself to tone it down and start-up again."Well, I've seen you already made some controversial decisions." Remembering Melody's ire at having to go to school with villain kids.

"Everyone deserves a chance." He answers softly but his words hold passion, "They shouldn't be punished for their parent's crimes."

"How did the apple fall so far from the tree?" I wondered aloud.

"What do you mean?" He asks insecurely as he starts to twists the wrist of the jacket he was wearing.

"Your views on the villain kids are very different from his." I express with hesitation and Ben's posture stiffens. He looks at me as if he was addressing a nation and not just one person.

"My father was lost in his own pride. Hopefully, I can fix his wrongs."

"Sounds like a heavy burden." I couldn't imagine doing something like that myself. Righting my mother's wrongs? Her many many wrongs. Yeah, I wouldn't sign up for that.

"Excuse me?" He blinks stunned as a weeble wooble that fell down.

"To undo all of your father's wrongs? That's a lot of pressure isn't it?"

"I guess it is." He quickly changes the subject, "How are you liking Auradon? I know it takes some mermaids some time to adjust. I hope you're faring well."

"Oh, yes. It's a lot to take in. There's so much new technology. It makes me feel like the sea is forever trapped in the late 80s or something."

Ben laughs, "King Triton is very adamant about no human tech down there."

"He would keep his people in the stone ages," I remark lowly forgetting Ben was so close by.

"You know the king?" He comments surprised with a curious almost radiating smile.

"No, not personally. I've always heard he's a little old-fashioned."

"I can confirm that as true but that's part of his charm."

King Triton capable of any charm? From the stories, my mother told he was anything but. I make a noise in agreement but disagreed completely. A ringing sound comes from Ben's pocket, and he reluctantly plucks it out giving me an apologizing look.

He greets the person on the phone and listens attentively."Lumiere, I have classes and I can't just drop everything because Zeus won't stop seducing everyone." He pauses and pinches the bridge of his nose as he listens, "Hera's in a jealous rage. This sounds like the job of a marriage counselor, not me!"

Regret flashes in his eyes as he nods his head, "Yes, I'm sorry. I'll be there as soon as possible." He hangs up the phone and I shoot him a sympathetic look.

"Guess the job of a king isn't easy."

"Yeah, it isn't."He answers mournfully probably remembering his life before his status upgrade. A life of a boy and not a king. "I know you don't have any classes yet but I can walk with you to Melody's dorm."

"Oh," I say as he gives me a hopeful look and I find myself unable to say the word no. "Sure, I'd like that, Ben."

A.N. This is very different from the original draft. I scrapped a scene with Uma talking to Gil just because I wanted to move the plot a little. I'll definitely rework the Uma and Gil bonding scene next chapter or so. Finally, CJ has arrived on the scene. Her introduction changed too. I originally had Harry in the scene with her but decided it'd be better to leave Harry/Uma's potential friendship up in the air. Melody will definitely be back next chapter, and we'll get back to more Uma/Melody bonding cause the world needs this.

China has a new show called Black Lightning and it's amazing. I can't wait for her to get her powers and maybe become lightning. Although, it's the first season, so I doubt she'll get her hero persona so early. But I'm gonna hold onto to this dream. Also, I really want to thank you guys so much for all the reviews, faves, and follows. They make me so happy and encourage me so much. And thank you to my friend Timothy for helping and encouraging me while I was writing this chapter. Till, next time everyone!