Lucy and her friends blushed and smiled, their eyes sparkling with joy. Queen Neptuna looked more beautiful than ever. Her pale skin glowed as though bathed in moonlight, and her hair glinted like pure gold. She and her kingdom were full of new, radiant power. The walls of the underwater cavern glimmered with mother-of-pearl. Colored light poured from the Throne over the Merfolk, like a living fountain of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and amethysts.
But then Mantora slowly swam up from the floor, angrily rubbing her bloodshot eyes. She was weakened, though not totally conquered.
“Don’t forget,” she rasped, “the new crystals will last for only one more year. I’ll defeat you next time!”
“But why should you wish to defeat me, my sister?” Queen Neptuna stretched out her hand. “Come, I will share my kingdom with you, if only you will return to our Merfolk family.”
“Never,” spat Mantora. “If I can’t have Coral Kingdom for myself alone, I’d rather see the whole sea destroyed.”
“Then I am sorry for you,” sighed the Queen.
“Don’t waste your pity,” replied Mantora. “I’ll be back!” With a bitter curse, she and her sea serpent twisted away in a fierce flurry of bubbles, making everyone shudder as they swam past.
“Do not be afraid, my good Merfolk,” said Queen Neptuna, raising her hand for quiet. “We will not be crushed by her empty threats. She cannot return now that the crystals are renewed. Coral Kingdom is safe, thanks to our young mermaids. Let us rejoice!”
Cheers rang out on every side. The six happy mermaids hugged each other joyfully. Then Queen Neptuna beckoned them to her side.
“So, my brave ones,” she said, “I have learned that I was right to trust you with this task. And what did you learn from your adventure?”
The mermaids looked at each other. They had done and seen so many things. Memories of crabs and cuttlefish, dolphins and turtles, seals, sharks, and soaring seabirds rushed into their minds in a confused parade. But at last, Lucy spoke up.
“I think, Your Majesty,” she said quietly, “that however many lessons we have learned, there is one thing that we will never forget.”
“And what is that, my child?”
“That we’re willing to do anything, and go anywhere, and learn anything, if it will make us better Sisters of the Sea,” replied Lucy. The others murmured happily in agreement.
“Then you have all learned much,” smiled the Queen. “And I may need to ask my young mermaids to help me again soon. But life is not all tasks and lessons. Now it is time to celebrate. Here are your families to welcome you home.”
Home! They really were home at last. Lucy, Misty, Ellie, Sophie, Holly, and Scarlett threw themselves gladly into the arms of their families. There was Lucy’s mother with tears in her eyes, and Scarlett’s proud father, Holly’s beaming brothers, and Misty’s little sister, Dusty, looking as though she would burst with happiness. On all sides, the dearest mothers and fathers in the world were eager to hug and kiss their beloved mermaid daughters.
The crystals burned brightly in Queen Neptuna’s Throne once more. And in the young mermaids’ hearts, there burned a flame of friendship, that would never, ever fade.
THE END
… Or is it?
Mermaid Sisters of the Sea
Misty has flowing blonde hair and a shimmering pink tail. Misty is a really determined and brave mermaid.
Ellie is very caring and loves seabirds. She has long, wavy dark hair and a glittering purple tail.
Sophie has funky fair hair and a blazing, bright orange tail, which helps her to swim super fast.
Holly has sweet, short black hair and a dazzling yellow tail. Holly is very thoughtful and clever.
Scarlett has fabulous, thick dark hair and a gleaming red tail. She can be a little bit bossy and headstrong sometimes.
Lucy has fiery red hair and an emerald green tail, but don’t let that fool you—she is really quite shy.
The Mermaid S.O.S. series
Misty to the Rescue
Ellie and the Secret Potion
Sophie Makes a Splash
Holly Takes a Risk
Scarlett’s New Friend
Lucy and the Magic Crystal
Text copyright © 2006 by Gillian Shields
Illustrations copyright © 2006 by Helen Turner
All rights reserved. You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise
make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means
(including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying,
printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the
publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication
may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
First published in Great Britain in 2006 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Published in the United States in 2008 by Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children’s Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
Distributed to the trade by Macmillan
Electronic edition published in September 2012
www.bloomsburykids.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
available upon request
ISBN 978-1-61963-023-9 (e-book)
Lucy and the Magic Crystal Page 3