“Yes, we must go,” Sophie agreed. “Queen Neptuna is waiting for us and the crystals.”
“Ooh, crystals! Can we see them?” asked Smudge.
“Of course,” smiled Sophie. “Just for a minute.”
The mermaids quickly drew the crystals from their pouches. They held them out on the palms of their hands, so that Smudge and the other dolphins could see their beauty. As the sun glinted on the magic stones, a dazzling arc of light suddenly shot out from them and poured over Silver. She looked as though she had been crowned in warm, golden sunshine.
“I can feel all my strength returning,” she exclaimed. “Your crystals have cured me. Now I am ready for our long journey!”
“And we really must begin our journey again,” said the mermaids. “It’s time to say farewell.”
“Why don’t you swim with us?” begged Silver and Serena. “We are going in your direction for a while. It will be one last race for you.”
“Pretty mermaids, swim with us!” said Smudge.
Sophie and Scarlett looked at each other and laughed.
“One last race,” smiled Scarlett. “Let’s make a splash together!”
The mermaids hid the gleaming crystals in their pouches. Then they set off joyfully with their dolphin friends, speeding through the water. Their tails glistened orange, purple, red, green, pink, and yellow in the sparkling waves.
On and on the mermaids raced, their hearts proud and brave, longing to reach their home once more. Sophie and her friends felt that nothing could stop them from returning to Coral Kingdom now.
But as the steadfast young mermaids continued on their way, Mantora was already scheming to spoil their hopes and dreams. She had plenty of trouble brewing for the Sisters of the Sea!
The Mermaid S.O.S. series
Misty to the Rescue
Ellie and the Secret Potion
Sophie Makes a Splash
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
www.bloomsburykids.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request
First U.S. Edition 2008
ISBN: 978-1-61963-070-3 (e-book)