Mermaid lived in a bright blue pool beneath the Palace. The Palace had tall gold doors, soft pink flags, and a little bridge over the water. Every morning, Mermaid waved her shiny tail. Splash, splash! She was kind, brave, and a little shy.
Above the pool lived Princess. Princess wore yellow boots and carried a tiny silver bell. She loved to help. Queen lived in the biggest room of the Palace. She wore a warm red cloak and gave the best hugs.
One sunny morning, Princess ran to the bridge.
“Mermaid!” she called. “My special seashell is gone!”
Mermaid peeked from the water. “The rainbow shell?”
“Yes,” said Princess. “It sings a sleepy song at nap time. I looked under my pillow. I looked in my boot. I even looked in the soup bowl.”
“Was it in the soup?” asked Mermaid.
“No,” said Princess. “Only peas were in the soup.”
Queen came outside. She looked worried, but her voice was calm. “We will look together,” she said. “No one looks alone.”
Mermaid nodded. “I can help. I know every bubble and every stone in this pool.”
They began to search. Princess looked by the Palace flowers. Queen looked behind the big gold door. Mermaid swam around the silver fish.
“Shell?” Mermaid asked a fish.
The fish blew three bubbles. Pop, pop, pop.
“That means no,” said Mermaid.
Then they heard a sound from behind the Palace hill.
Rumble. Sniff. Rumble.
A small green Dragon sat there. Dragon had a long tail, round purple glasses, and a very big sneeze. He was holding the rainbow shell in his two paws.
“Ah-ah-ah... CHOO!” Dragon sneezed a tiny puff of warm smoke. It made a cloud shaped like a donut.
Princess stepped back. Mermaid felt shy. But Queen held Mermaid’s hand above the water.
“Let us use kind words,” Queen whispered.
Mermaid took a little breath. She swam close to the hill. “Hello, Dragon. Is that Princess’s shell?”
Dragon looked down. “Maybe,” he mumbled. “I found it by the bridge. It was so pretty. I thought it was a singing snack.”
Princess blinked. “A snack?”
Dragon’s tummy made a loud growl. “I am hungry. And lonely,” he said. “I did not want to take it. I only wanted to hear its song.”
Mermaid listened carefully. Dragon did not look mean. He looked sad. His glasses were foggy. One little tear rolled down his green cheek.
“You can listen,” said Mermaid. “But first, please give the shell back.”
Dragon gave it to Princess at once. “I am sorry.”
Princess held the shell. “Thank you for giving it back.” Then she smiled. “Would you like some berry bread?”
Dragon’s eyes grew wide. “Berry bread?”
Queen laughed a gentle laugh. “We have a whole basket.”
They sat on a soft blanket near the Palace pool. Queen gave Dragon berry bread. Princess gave him apple slices. Mermaid found three sweet water lilies for him to smell.
The rainbow shell began to sing. La-la, loo-loo. It was a soft, sleepy song. Dragon smiled so much that his purple glasses slipped down his nose.
“I like this song,” Dragon said. “It makes my big sneeze feel small.”
Mermaid had an idea. “Dragon, can you make warm smoke very gently?”
“I can try,” said Dragon.
He took a careful breath. “Pffft.” A tiny warm puff floated over the pool. It warmed Mermaid’s chilly fins.
“Again!” said Princess.
“Pffft!” said Dragon.
The warm puff made little bubbles rise. Mermaid twirled through them. Splash! Princess clapped. Queen rang her silver bell. Ting-ting!
“You have a new skill,” Queen told Dragon. “Gentle warm puffs.”
“And you have a new friend,” said Mermaid.
Dragon smiled. “Can I visit tomorrow?”
“Yes!” said Princess.
“Bring your glasses,” said Queen.
“And no eating shells,” Mermaid said, with a giggle.
Dragon giggled too. “No eating shells!”
Queen opened a small treasure box from the Palace. Inside were four sparkling shell necklaces: one for Mermaid, one for Princess, one for Queen, and one very large one for Dragon.
Mermaid wore her necklace proudly. It shone blue and silver like the pool at morning.
That night, Princess put the rainbow shell beside her pillow. Mermaid floated under the moonlit bridge. Dragon slept on the grassy hill, warm and full of berry bread.
The shell sang, “La-la, loo-loo.”
Everyone was safe. Everyone was fed. And Mermaid, the shy little helper with the brave heart, had found a treasure, a friend, and a very cozy song for bedtime.