#rotiotl

Short answer: …yes?

Long answer: Uma’s shown as having a bunch of different powers across the movies, uts, and novels, but the only moments I can think of as actually showing her being able to manipulate water are her transformation scenes: when she goes from human to... caecalia? idk whatever she is, and vice versa (once at the end of d2, then again in her first scene in d3), and some of the stuff she does in Under the Sea, if you want to take all that stuff as canon.

However, since the writers didn’t bother to come up with any kind of consistent magic system for the descendants universe, you can take that to mean literally whatever you want. Is the water that rises and swirls around her just part of the transformation, or is it specifically water manipulation? Who knows? Certainly not the writers!

Some other abilities Uma’s been shown to have in canon:

In the novels:

Shapeshifting - she becomes a tiny squid as well as a giant caecalia.

Weather manipuation - she creates a massive storm (I’ve seen some people say this is hinted at in d2 as well, during it’s going down - the sky gets darker and more storm-like and ominous during the number)

Telekinesis? Idk what to call it but she calls the trident towards her and it moves when she does.

In Under the Sea:

Manifesting herself... in water?? As water? A water version of her? She can do the water clone jutsu or smth I have no idea

Manifesting herself and/or an image of herself in bubbles and reflections

Controlling sea life

In the movies:

Spell casting - she can clearly use both a love spell in d2 and use spells with Mal in d3

Shapeshifting, again.

Additionally, she reignites the ember, which... I have no idea what that says about her power. Could anyone with magic have done that? Why can she reignite the ember if only someone related to Hades can use it? It’s meant to be immensely powerful, right? How powerful is Uma?

Also, to find some of this I went back and rewatched under the sea, and paused at a truly spectacular moment:

can i get some uhhh gil appreciation please

(image descriptions under the cut)

In Rise, Fairy Godmother tells the Core Four that if they’re found guilty of stealing, she’ll send them back to the Isle. 

‘Fairy Godmother nodded. “Also, I must inform you that this is a very serious offense indeed. Stealing something that doesn’t belong to you goes against every rule we have in Auradon. I’m afraid if you are found guilty of such a crime, you will all be expelled from Auradon Prep and sent back to the Isle of the Lost.”‘ 

- ROTIOTL, Chapter 26

But in Return, Chad mentions to Ben that not only did he steal a bearskin from one of the Lost Boys, the Lost Boy in question also never got it back.

‘Chad changed his tune. “Right. I’ll stay at Auradon Prep, if you don’t mind. One of the Lost Boys is still mad that I stole his bear costume last time they played us. He brought it up again at the game yesterday, but it wasn’t my fault he never got it back!” The ragtag group was still very fond of their bear, fox, rabbit and raccoon pelts.

“But it was your fault that someone found it and turned it into a rug,” reminded Ben.

Chad sighed. “Yeah, you might have a point there.”’

- RTTIOTL, Chapter 22

And a few chapters later, when Ben meets with Faylinn the fairy:

‘She began to fly away then called over her shoulder, “By the way, when you get home, please tell Chad Charming we hope he’s enjoying his bear rug.” She winked. “And if he ever pulls something like that again, I’ll fetch Captain Hook from the Isle of the Lost to teach him a lesson.”

“Will do,” Ben promised.’

- RTTIOTL, Chapter 25

Clearly what Chad did is no secret. They all treat his stealing another person’s property and allowing it to be destroyed as little more than a joke.

‘she was fiercer than Ginny Gothel, and much scarier than Harriet Hook’

I know, right? And the books... aren’t good, exactly. I wouldn’t say they’re bad either, with the exception of the fourth. Rise is great for sea3 content, even if you’re like me and don’t love the characterisation or the background they have.