Some Type of Way Ms CEO was a Time Traveler. She was small, but brave. She wore a round watch that went tick-tock, tick-tock.
She lived near the Sunken City. The Sunken City was under the sea. Old towers peeked out of green water. Fish swam through windows. Bubbles went pop, pop.
One morning, the Sunken City looked gray. Even the corals looked sleepy.
A gentle Queen came to visit. She had a shiny crown and a calm voice.
“Hello, little traveler,” said the Queen.
“Hello, Queen,” said Some Type of Way Ms CEO. “Why is the city sad?”
The Queen pointed to a tall stone gate.
“The Time Portal key is gone,” she said. “Without it, the city cannot glow.”
Some Type of Way Ms CEO held her watch.
“I will find it,” she said. “I am scared… but I can try.”
They swam together past a broken statue and a sleepy turtle.
Drip. Drip.
Then they heard a whisper.
“Hee hee,” said a Smuggler hiding behind seaweed. He had a bag full of shiny things.
The Queen gasped. “Smuggler!”
The Smuggler hugged his bag. “Mine,” he said.
Some Type of Way Ms CEO took a deep breath.
“Hi,” she said, very polite. “Please give the key back.”
The Smuggler shook his head. “No. Shiny key. I keep.”
Some Type of Way Ms CEO looked around. She was clever. She saw the Smuggler liked shiny things.
She tapped her watch. Tick-tock.
“Want to see a shiny trick?” she asked.
The Smuggler blinked. “Shiny?”
“Very shiny,” said Some Type of Way Ms CEO.
She turned her watch one small click.
Whoosh!
Tiny bubbles became bright pearls for just one moment. They twinkled like little moons.
“Ooo!” said the Smuggler.
While the Smuggler stared, the Queen floated close and peeked in the bag.
But the bag was tied tight.
Some Type of Way Ms CEO did not grab. She did not shout. She used a soft voice.
“Smuggler,” she said, “the key helps everyone. Even you. If the city glows, you can see more treasures.”
The Smuggler paused. His eyes moved left, then right.
“More treasure… if city glows?” he asked.
“Yes,” said the Queen. “And we will give you one safe treasure, not stolen. A real gift.”
The Smuggler’s shoulders dropped. He looked tired.
“I just like shiny,” he whispered.
Some Type of Way Ms CEO nodded. “Me too. Let’s do kind shiny.”
The Smuggler slowly opened his bag and pulled out the Time Portal key. It was shaped like a little starfish.
“Here,” he said.
“Thank you,” said Some Type of Way Ms CEO.
They swam to the tall gate. The Queen placed the key in the lock.
Click.
Glow!
The Sunken City lit up. Blue and gold light danced on the stones. Fish swirled like ribbons.
The Queen clapped. “You did it!”
Some Type of Way Ms CEO smiled. “We did it.”
The Queen gave the Smuggler a gift: a small shell box that sparkled, and it was his to keep.
The Queen gave Some Type of Way Ms CEO a bigger reward: a new charm for her watch, a tiny coral star.
“With this,” said the Queen, “your watch can make one extra safe jump in time.”
Some Type of Way Ms CEO touched the charm. “Tick-tock,” she whispered, happy.
And in the glowing Sunken City, everyone swam and giggled, and the water felt warm and bright.