Journi the Mermaid was a girl. She was small and brave. She had shiny hair like seaweed. She loved to sing.
One morning, Journi swam to the edge of a tall mountain. Yes, a mountain! At the bottom, there was a cold pool. The water trickled down from snow.
“Brrr,” said Journi. “Mountain water is chilly.”
A Queen stood on a rocky ledge. She wore a cloak made of soft clouds. The Queen looked kind, but worried.
“Hello, little mermaid girl,” said the Queen. “Our mountain has lost its colors. The rocks look gray. The sky looks pale. Can you help?”
Journi nodded. “I can try.”
A Princess ran up the path. She was quick and curious. Her boots went tap-tap.
“I will come too!” said the Princess. “I am not scared of steep steps.”
A tiny Flower grew between stones. It was pink, but droopy.
“I used to be bright,” whispered the Flower. “Now I feel tired.”
Journi touched the Flower gently. “We will find the colors,” she said.
They climbed higher. The wind whooshed. Pebbles crunched.
Then—clang! A shiny knight stepped out. His armor glowed like the sun.
“I am the Sun Knight,” he said. His voice was loud. “No colors on this mountain! Too much sparkle makes my eyes hurt.”
The Princess puffed her cheeks. “Colors are happy!”
The Queen held her hands together. “Please, Sun Knight. The mountain needs joy.”
Sun Knight shook his helmet. “No. Gray is neat. Gray is quiet.”
Journi felt a little scared. But she was brave. She had an idea.
She sang a soft, silly song. “La-la-lu, colors for you!”
The sound bounced on the mountain. Echo, echo.
Sun Knight blinked. “Stop that tickly song!” he said, but his voice was less loud.
Journi sang again, slower. “Blue like the pool. Green like a pine. Pink like a Flower. Gold like sunshine.”
The Princess clapped. “More, Journi!”
Journi sang and swished her tail. The pool below shimmered. A thin ribbon of blue light climbed the rocks, like paint.
The gray stones turned blue-gray, then soft blue.
The Flower lifted its head. “Ooo,” it whispered.
Sun Knight stomped. “No! Too bright!”
Journi stopped singing. She spoke gently. “Sun Knight, do you feel alone up here?”
Sun Knight looked down. His shoulders drooped. “I guard the top. It is quiet. I thought gray would keep things calm.”
The Queen stepped closer. “Calm can have colors too.”
The Princess held out a small cup of snow water. “A sip?”
Sun Knight took a tiny sip. “Brrr,” he said. It was funny. Everyone giggled, even the Sun Knight.
Journi smiled. “Let’s make gentle colors. Not too bright. Just right.”
Sun Knight nodded. “Just right,” he repeated.
So Journi sang a tiny song, very soft. The Queen hummed low. The Princess clapped quiet claps. The Flower swayed.
Color returned, like a cozy blanket. Green moss woke up. Purple shadows appeared. White snow sparkled. The mountain looked beautiful.
At the very top, a hidden crack in the rock opened. Inside was a small chest.
“Treasure!” said the Princess.
Journi peeked in. There were smooth stones in many colors—red, blue, yellow, and green. They felt warm in her hands.
The Queen said, “These are Mountain Color Stones. They will keep the mountain bright.”
The Flower perked up. “I feel strong!”
Sun Knight bowed. “I will guard the colors, not block them.”
Journi gave the Princess a yellow stone. She gave the Queen a blue one. She placed a pink one beside the Flower.
For herself, Journi kept a green stone. It made a tiny glow.
“I learned a new skill,” Journi said. “My singing can paint the world.”
They all looked at the mountain. It was colorful and calm.
And Journi the Mermaid, brave girl, swam home with her treasure stone, humming happily.