Back underwater, Ashley found the cave. It was mostly destroyed. There were holes in the walls and ceiling. "This place looks like it could use a makeover." She swam into the cave. A small gleam of light flashed briefly. She swam over to wear it reflected and gasped in shock.

There was a mermaid encased in what looked like an ice block. Her eyes were closed and her long, dark hair had drifted back behind her. There was a small hole in the center of the case. Ashley touched the glass-like substance. "Miranda?" She asked. The mermaid didn't move, nor did she seem to respond. She didn't know if she could hear her.

She looked down at her necklace. It was glowing again. She looked at the case. The mermaid stirred briefly, before going back to sleep. "All these years trapped down here. How can I save her?" Suddenly, she noticed something strange about the shape of the hole. It was shaped almost like a seashell.

She pulled out the gold shell that she found on the beach weeks earlier. "I hope this works." She placed the shell into the hole and pushed. It was like a lock and key. She focused all of her power on it. As if on its own, the prison around the mermaid broke. She fell to the floor. Ashley swam over to her side.

"Are you okay?" She asked. The mermaid finally woke up. She looked around and blinked a few times.

"Yeah. How'd you get me out of there?" She asked.

"Are you Miranda?" Ashley asked.

"Yes. So I take it you've heard the legend?"

"It's no legend. It's real." Ashley said. "You're the mermaid that lived above, right?"

"How do you know that?" Miranda asked. "And how could you have broken the lock on that thing? It was protected by dark magic."

"And it was broken by light magic." Ashley told her. "Here, you should rest on top of here."

"What if the Sea Witch comes back?"

"The Sea Witch is gone. She can't effect anyone down here anymore." Her necklace glowed again.

"That necklace…" Miranda said. "Where did you find that necklace?"

"A friend of mine found it." Ashley said. "She left to live with the humans."

"So, the ban is lifted, then?"

"I hope so." Ashley said. "You were saying about the necklace?"

"I lost that necklace before that horrible witch imprisoned me here." Miranda said. "Unusual that it would choose another mermaid."

"Unless she was only half-mermaid." Ashley said. She looked at her, realizing. "It's really you. You're my mom."

"Ashley?" Miranda looked at her. "You've grown up now."

"I'm only sixteen." Ashley said. "I didn't learn about the mermaid thing until recently. And I know what happened. Something caused an upset in the sea so you had to leave. I'm guessing it's when the ban was imposed."

"You're right, but some facts are missing." Miranda told her. "It's time you knew. I was torn between staying down here in the sea or returning to my family on land. The Sea Witch promised to help. As you can see, that didn't end well."

"Strange she didn't recognize me as your daughter, then again, she never learned of you being on land, did she?" Ashley asked.

"No. It was kept secret." Miranda said. "Before Triton had become king, he had gifted me with the ability to change my form so that I could visit the land every now and then."

"And then you met my father."

"I never meant to leave for good." Miranda said.

"I think it's time we had a family reunion." Ashley said. "I guess that same ability you had got passed down to me."

"I believe you are right." Miranda told her. "Let's head up."

"Just to let you know, the king knows about me." Ashley said. "He's the one who told me about where you were prisoned."

"If I'm ever allowed back in the sea after this, I'll visit him." Miranda said as they swam just below the surface. "So, who helped you figure it out?"

"Well, my sort-of boyfriend Brandon told me about the legend. He's been my best friend since we were kids." Ashley explained. "But if it weren't for Ariel's help, I wouldn't have been able to recognize you."

"Triton's youngest daughter?" Miranda asked.

"You know her?"

"I've only heard of her." Miranda said.

"She's a really good friend of mine." Ashley told her. "She's the one who found this." She held up the necklace. She looked up at the surface. The sun was starting to set. "What do you say we get up there?"

"I've been trapped down here for sixteen years. I think I should be allowed to head back to my family." Miranda said. Ashley jumped out of the water and returned to her human form. Miranda surfaced shortly after and was struggling.

"You okay?"

"I'm not strong enough." Miranda said. "I guess while I was trapped, I'd forgotten how to do this."

"Hang on. Let me try helping." Ashley said. She took Miranda's hand and closed her eyes. "Focus on your human life, Miranda. Try to remember what it was like. That's what helped me." Miranda closed her eyes and felt herself changing. Ashley opened her eyes and noticed she was glowing. She channeled it into helping Miranda become human.

When she opened her eyes again, Miranda was gone. "Miranda?" She asked.

"Right here." She heard her say. She turned. Miranda was sitting near the low tide area. She was wearing a red blouse with a small sweater over it. A long skirt covered her legs. Ashley looked at her.

"You have legs again." She said.

"If it weren't for your help, I'd probably still be a mermaid." Miranda said. She stood up.

"So, how do you know the king?" Ashley asked.

"We're old friends." Miranda explained. "I knew the former Queen, so I knew him through her."

"Oh, you should know, Dad doesn't know about any of this." Ashley told her.

"It's okay. I'll wait for you right here. I'm not going to go back in there. I'd like to spend some time on land for a while."

"I'll be right back." Suddenly, she walked right into Brandon.

"Hey, watch it, mermaid girl." He said.

"You watch it!" Ashley shot back, laughing. "How'd you know where to find me?"

"I guessed." Brandon said. He noticed Miranda sitting nearby. "Who is this?" Ashley looked to Miranda. She nodded to her.

"Brandon, this is my mother, Miranda."