Chapter One
"We're here!" said Misty eagerly. "We're at the Crystal Cave at last."
Misty, Ellie, Sophie, Holly, Lucy, and Scarlett swam slowly into the secret underwater cave that was hidden away on the borders of Coral Kingdom. Misty and her friends had come to the Crystal Cave on a special mission. They were the brightest and bravest young mermaids in all of Queen Neptuna's kingdom, and she had taken them aside to give them a very important task.
"Every year the six crystals in my Throne fade and grow old," the Queen had told them. "When they fade, our magical Merfolk power fades too. In one week, these crystals that you see will be no more."
The Throne was beautiful. It was at the heart of Coral Kingdom, made of shining silver and inlaid with pearls. At the top of the Throne, six magic crystals glowed around the Queen's head like stars. But the mermaids had noticed that the crystals were starting to fade. They flickered red and yellow and blue, like candle flames ready to be blown out.
"We need six new crystals, full of young strength and life, just like you mermaids," Queen Neptuna had explained. "Take this key, and go to the Crystal Cave to find them. They will protect Coral Kingdom for another year. I trust you with this task, my brave young Sisters of the Sea!"
The friends had felt proud and excited as they set off. Misty guarded the golden key in the little pink pouch of her S.O.S. Kit, which was tied around her waist. They had to get the new crystals home as soon as possible. Misty and her friends were so honored that Queen Neptuna had chosen them especially for the task. They didn't want to let her down, or their families, or the rest of the Merfolk.
The young mermaids had swum for a whole day to reach the Crystal Cave. Misty had been singing happily along the way, but as she led the others into the underwater cavern, they all fell silent. They had arrived at last. Above the sea, the sun was beginning to set in a rosy cloud. Under the waves, the mermaids gazed in wonder at the cave's golden, glittering walls.
"Look!" said Misty. There was a small silver door set in the wall of the cave. Misty swam toward it, gently swishing her pink tail. Then she took Queen Neptuna's key from her pouch and fitted it into the keyhole, turning it slowly before opening the door.
"Oh!" gasped the mermaids, as they gathered together and watched in amazement.
Behind the door was a tiny chamber. It was no bigger than a cupboard and lined with mother-of-pearl. In the middle of the chamber were six dazzling crystals, set out in a gleaming row.
"I have never seen anything so beautiful," breathed Misty. The crystals shone brightly, glinting with a hundred colored sparks of light. They were glowing with magical power.
"Aren't they wonderful?" exclaimed Ellie. "And it has taken them a whole year to grow. We must look after them very carefully."
"Six crystals for the six Sisters of the Sea," murmured Lucy dreamily. "They really are magical."
"We'll choose one each," said Misty, as she turned to the others. "Then let's try to sleep. It's almost nighttime. We can head for home as soon as the sun rises."
"We must wake up early," said Holly in a businesslike voice. "It's very important to get the new crystals home before the old ones fade away at the end of the week."
"But it only took us a day to get here," said Scarlett. She was fixing her hair, peeping into a little mirror that she had taken from her sparkly red pouch. "We have six whole days to get back."
"I still think we shouldn't stay here too long," replied Misty firmly. "It's a big responsibility to be the Crystal Keepers on our journey home. And if we get back quickly, maybe the Queen will trust us with other tasks."
"You're right," agreed Ellie. "We shouldn't risk being late."
"And if the new crystals aren't set in Queen Neptuna's Throne before the old ones have faded, the power of the Merfolk will fade too. Then it will be impossible to protect the sea and our
"We're here!" said Misty eagerly. "We're at the Crystal Cave at last."
Misty, Ellie, Sophie, Holly, Lucy, and Scarlett swam slowly into the secret underwater cave that was hidden away on the borders of Coral Kingdom. Misty and her friends had come to the Crystal Cave on a special mission. They were the brightest and bravest young mermaids in all of Queen Neptuna's kingdom, and she had taken them aside to give them a very important task.
"Every year the six crystals in my Throne fade and grow old," the Queen had told them. "When they fade, our magical Merfolk power fades too. In one week, these crystals that you see will be no more."
The Throne was beautiful. It was at the heart of Coral Kingdom, made of shining silver and inlaid with pearls. At the top of the Throne, six magic crystals glowed around the Queen's head like stars. But the mermaids had noticed that the crystals were starting to fade. They flickered red and yellow and blue, like candle flames ready to be blown out.
"We need six new crystals, full of young strength and life, just like you mermaids," Queen Neptuna had explained. "Take this key, and go to the Crystal Cave to find them. They will protect Coral Kingdom for another year. I trust you with this task, my brave young Sisters of the Sea!"
The friends had felt proud and excited as they set off. Misty guarded the golden key in the little pink pouch of her S.O.S. Kit, which was tied around her waist. They had to get the new crystals home as soon as possible. Misty and her friends were so honored that Queen Neptuna had chosen them especially for the task. They didn't want to let her down, or their families, or the rest of the Merfolk.
The young mermaids had swum for a whole day to reach the Crystal Cave. Misty had been singing happily along the way, but as she led the others into the underwater cavern, they all fell silent. They had arrived at last. Above the sea, the sun was beginning to set in a rosy cloud. Under the waves, the mermaids gazed in wonder at the cave's golden, glittering walls.
"Look!" said Misty. There was a small silver door set in the wall of the cave. Misty swam toward it, gently swishing her pink tail. Then she took Queen Neptuna's key from her pouch and fitted it into the keyhole, turning it slowly before opening the door.
"Oh!" gasped the mermaids, as they gathered together and watched in amazement.
Behind the door was a tiny chamber. It was no bigger than a cupboard and lined with mother-of-pearl. In the middle of the chamber were six dazzling crystals, set out in a gleaming row.
"I have never seen anything so beautiful," breathed Misty. The crystals shone brightly, glinting with a hundred colored sparks of light. They were glowing with magical power.
"Aren't they wonderful?" exclaimed Ellie. "And it has taken them a whole year to grow. We must look after them very carefully."
"Six crystals for the six Sisters of the Sea," murmured Lucy dreamily. "They really are magical."
"We'll choose one each," said Misty, as she turned to the others. "Then let's try to sleep. It's almost nighttime. We can head for home as soon as the sun rises."
"We must wake up early," said Holly in a businesslike voice. "It's very important to get the new crystals home before the old ones fade away at the end of the week."
"But it only took us a day to get here," said Scarlett. She was fixing her hair, peeping into a little mirror that she had taken from her sparkly red pouch. "We have six whole days to get back."
"I still think we shouldn't stay here too long," replied Misty firmly. "It's a big responsibility to be the Crystal Keepers on our journey home. And if we get back quickly, maybe the Queen will trust us with other tasks."
"You're right," agreed Ellie. "We shouldn't risk being late."
"And if the new crystals aren't set in Queen Neptuna's Throne before the old ones have faded, the power of the Merfolk will fade too. Then it will be impossible to protect the sea and our
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