Lyla the Sick Shooter is small and shy. She is kind and gentle. She lives by the sea. She likes to play by the waves. She has a little water gun shaped like a seashell. She calls it her magic shooter. Lyla dreams of adventure.
One day Lyla hears a soft song underwater. She peeks in. She sees tall towers of coral. She sees swaying seaweed. She hears bubbles. She hears a gentle voice. A Water Nymph appears. The Nymph has blue hair that floats like waves. She has sea pearl eyes that sparkle. She smiles at Lyla.
Lyla says hello. The Nymph says hello back. Lyla feels warm inside. She feels brave. The Nymph leads Lyla into the Sunken City. The city is old and full of shells. The city shines with rainbow colors. Little fish dart in arches. Crabs clap their claws. Sea stars cling to stone walls. Soft sea light glows.
The Nymph shows Lyla a lost pearl toy. It is dull and gray. Lyla’s heart hurts. The Nymph says the toy was stolen by the Living Shadow. It drifts in dark corners. It scares sea creatures. Lyla nods. She wants to help her new friend.
Lyla holds her magic shooter. She fills it with warm water from her bucket. She follows the Nymph through broken gates. She passes a silent garden of shells. She passes a forest of kelp. She spots a dark shape. It sinks past an arch. It reaches out with shadowy arms. The Living Shadow is lonely and lost.
Lyla feels a flutter. She thinks of kindness. She shines her wand and her water gun. She sprays soft bubbles of light. The light swims around the Shadow. The Shadow trembles. It feels the warmth. It sees Lyla’s gentle eyes. The Shadow feels safe.
The Shadow lets go of the pearl toy. It rises up. It nods to Lyla. It smiles with shy shadow lips. Lyla picks up the toy. It glows again. The pearl toy is bright and smooth. It shines in Lyla’s hand.
The Water Nymph claps her hands. Fish dance around them. Crabs clap. Sea stars stick out their arms. The city glows. Lyla beams with pride. She gives the pearl toy back to the Nymph. The Nymph hugs Lyla with bubbly arms.
The Shadow drifts near. It waves. It is no longer scary. It is a friend. The three of them float up together. They pass through swaying seaweed. They pass rainbow fish. They reach the blue sky above the water.
They surface near Lyla’s boat. Lyla helps them climb on deck. The Nymph perches on the edge. The Shadow curls into a ball and glows softly. Lyla smiles wide. She is happy. She is safe. She is proud that she helped her friends.
Lyla walks home along the sandy shore. She carries her shell bucket and her water gun. She holds the memory of glowing pearls and new friends in her heart. At bedtime she tucks her magic shooter by her pillow. She dreams of rainbow fish, kind shadows, and playful nymph songs.
The End.