Athena was a little mermaid with a shiny blue tail. She lived in the warm Ocean.
Every morning, Athena waved to the fish. “Hello, bubbles! Hello, coral!”
Athena was kind. Athena was brave. But sometimes, Athena felt very small.
One day, the Ocean looked gray. The red coral was pale. The fish swam slowly.
“Oh no,” said Athena. “Where are the pretty colors?”
A fluffy Imaginary Animal popped from behind a seaweed leaf. His name was Pompom.
Pompom had round purple ears, three tiny fins, and a tail like a rainbow ribbon.
“I saw something!” said Pompom. “A big Monster took the Rainbow Shell!”
“The Rainbow Shell makes our Ocean bright,” said Athena. “We must find it.”
Pompom gulped. “The Monster is big.”
Athena held Pompom’s little paw. “We can go slowly. We can go together.”
They swam past sleepy turtles. They swam past tall green sea grass. Swish, swish, swish.
Then they met Spellcaster, an old octopus with eight silver bracelets.
Spellcaster was gentle and clever. His name was Orin. He made soft magic with his arms.
“Please help us,” said Athena. “The Rainbow Shell is gone.”
Orin closed his eyes. “I can make a glow bubble. It will show the way.”
Wiggle, wiggle, went his arms. Pop! A golden bubble floated before them.
“Follow it,” said Orin. “And remember: a scared heart may need a friend.”
The golden bubble led them to a dark cave under a rock. Drip, drip, drip.
Athena’s tail shook a little. Pompom’s rainbow tail made a tiny knot.
From the cave came a loud sound. “RUMBLE! RUMBLE!”
Athena took one deep breath. “Hello?” she called in her small, clear voice.
The Monster came out. He was huge, green, and covered in bumpy spots.
Pompom hid behind Athena. But Athena looked closely at the Monster’s eyes.
They were wet. The Monster was crying. Big bubble tears floated up, up, up.
“Why are you sad?” Athena asked.
“My cave is dark,” sniffed the Monster. “I found this bright shell. I did not want to be alone.”
Athena saw the Rainbow Shell in his big hands. It glowed with red, yellow, and blue light.
“You may have light,” Athena said, “but the Ocean needs its colors too.”
The Monster looked down. “Can I have a friend instead?”
Pompom peeked out. “I can be a friend. I know a funny tail dance.”
Pompom wiggled left. Pompom wiggled right. He spun in a silly circle. Plop!
The Monster laughed. His laugh was not scary. It was warm and rumbly.
Orin swam into the cave. “I have an idea,” said the kind Spellcaster.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle! Orin made little star lamps for the cave ceiling.
Now the cave shone softly. The Monster clapped his big hands. “Thank you!”
He gave Athena the Rainbow Shell. Athena carried it back to the coral garden.
The shell sang, “Ting-a-ling!” Red coral turned red again. Yellow fish turned bright.
Blue water sparkled. The whole Ocean danced with color.
The fish cheered. The turtles clapped their flippers. “Athena! Athena!”
Orin gave Athena a tiny pearl crown with one rainbow jewel. “For brave, kind Athena.”
Pompom got a treasure too: a little box of sparkling shell buttons.
The Monster got a new home full of star lamps, and many friends came to visit.
Athena wore her pearl crown. She smiled at her friends in the bright, happy Ocean.
“Being brave can be quiet,” she said. “Being kind can make room for everyone.”
Then Athena, Pompom, Orin, and the Monster swam in a happy circle. Swish, swish, swish.
And above them, the Rainbow Shell glowed all day long. Ting-a-ling! Ting-a-ling!