Chapter 10

10 The turtle swam to the left of the white pillar, and the dolphin swam to the right. In a creaky voice, the turtle began to chant: "To keep our oceans trouble-free, this watch is wound by Keepers Three."

Then the dolphin took over in her squeaky voice, with her dorsal fin flashing: "For all the creatures in the sea, time will flow for eternity." A hush fell over the waiting crowd as the narwhal approached the Water Watch. The moonlight lit up Nara, making her horn shine like polished silver. Carefully, she used the tip of her horn to wind the central cog of the Water Watch. The ancient mechanism clicked as it turned. Sofia and her friends clutched one another. It was working!

Bright, sparkling light burst from the Water Watch, sending gentle ripples through the water. The crowd erupted into cheers of delight. "The watch has been wound for another year!" JellyJo explained joyfully. "And it's all thanks to you three." Pride washed over Sofia. She grabbed Grace and Zoe and wrapped them up in a wing-hug. "We did it! We actually did it!"

"Of course we did." Grace grinned. "We're a great team!" "The best," Zoe agreed. "Three cheers for the Sea Dragons!" Toothy called, and the three friends found themselves surrounded by happy sea creatures, all calling their names and patting them on the back with flippers and horns and fish tails. Sofia wanted this moment to go on forever. There had been some very difficult and scary parts on this quest, but the Sea Dragons had triumphed. It was such a great feeling. Sofia felt a tap on her shoulder, and, turning, she saw JellyJo. She knew what her little friend was about to say. "It's time to go, isn't it?" "I am afraid so," JellyJo said, a little sadly. "The Tree Queen would like to see you before you return home. Bring the shell containing the Fire Queen with you." Sofia looked at the shrunken clamshell. It was small enough for Sofia to scoop up in one paw. As

she did so, she felt the shell of her bracelet give a gentle tug. Sofia turned to her friends. "My shell will show us the way back to the glade." The three friends said their goodbyes to the crowd of sea creatures. It was hard to leave them all, especially JellyJo. "I hope to see you again one day!" Sofia said to her faithful companion as JellyJo wrapped her in her many tentacles. "I'll be here if you come back!" JellyJo replied, finally releasing Sofia and waving all her tentacles at once. With powerful flicks of their tails, the three Sea Dragons sped away. They swam side by side through the ocean, until the water became too shallow to swim in. Then they burst out of the water and into the evening sky. Gleaming droplets of water fell from their wings as they took flight. Up ahead were the tall trees of the Magic Forest, illuminated by the full moon's gentle light.

Sofia led the way, guided by the tugging of her bracelet. Word seemed to have spread of the Sea Dragons' success. Birds called out as the Dragon Girls flew past their nests. Squirrels scampered along branches to watch them pass by. "Yippee for the Sea Dragons!" "Well done, Sea Dragons!" Even the trees themselves seemed to carry a message in the rustling of their leaves. Sofia could have sworn she heard them say, "Thank you. Safe seas mean happy trees!" By the time the girls arrived at the glade's shimmering barrier, Sofia didn't feel like she was flying at all. It was like floating on pure joy! She hovered above the force field and turned to her friends. "Ready?" "Ready!" Zoe and Grace called. Zoe and Grace dove first. Sofia hovered for a moment, then launched herself down, performing her finest reverse dive yet!