Six Guardians of the Underworld

Chapter 1

Gina, Gabi, Loveth, Carly, Percy, and Pearl swam slowly into the secret underwater cave that was hidden away on the borders of Narva Kingdom. Gina and her friends had come to the Pendant Cave on a special mission. They were the brightest and bravest young Underworlders in all of Queen Diona's kingdom, and she had taken them aside to give them a very important task.

"Every year the six Pendants in my Throne fade and grow old," the Queen had told them. "When they fade, our magical Merfolk power fades too. In one week, these Pendants that you see will be no more."

The Throne was beautiful. It was at the heart of Narva Kingdom, made of shining silver and inlaid with pearls. At the top of the Throne, six magic Pendants glowed around the Queen's head like stars. But the Underworlders had noticed that the Pendants were starting to fade. They flickered red and yellow and blue, like candle flames ready to be blown out.

"We need six new Pendants, full of young strength and life, just like you Underworlders," Queen Diona had explained. "Take this key, and go to the Pendant Cave to find them. They will protect Narva Kingdom for another year. I trust you with this task, my brave young Sisters of the Underworld!"

The friends had felt proud and excited as they set off. Gina guarded the golden key in the little pink pouch of her Saviour. Kit, which was tied around her waist. They had to get the new Pendants home as soon as possible. Gina and her friends were so honored that Queen Diona had chosen them especially for the task. They didn't want to let her down, or their families, or the rest of the Merfolk.

The young Underworlders had swum for a whole day to reach the Pendant Cave. Gina had been singing happily along the way, but as she led the others into the underwater cavern, they all fell silent. They had arrived at last. Above the Underworld, the sun was beginning to set in a rosy cloud. Under the waves, the Underworlders gazed in wonder at the cave's golden, glittering walls.

"Look!" said Gina. There was a small silver door set in the wall of the cave. Gina swam toward it, gently swishing her pink tail. Then she took Queen Diona's key from her pouch and fitted it into the keyhole, turning it slowly before opening the door.

"Oh!" gasped the Underworlders, as they gathered together and watched in amazement.

Behind the door was a tiny chamber. It was no bigger than a cupboard and lined with mother-of-pearl. In the middle of the chamber were six dazzling Pendants, set out in a gleaming row.

"I have never seen anything so beautiful," breathed Gina. The Pendants shone brightly, glinting with a hundred colored sparks of light. They were glowing with magical power.

"Aren't they wonderful?" exclaimed Gabi. "And it has taken them a whole year to grow. We must look after them very carefully."

"Six Pendants for the six Sisters of the Underworld," murmured Percy dreamily. "They really are magical."

"We'll choose one each," said Gina, as she turned to the others. "Then let's try to sleep. It's almost nighttime. We can head for home as soon as the sun rises."

"We must wake up early," said Carly in a businesslike voice. "It's very important to get the new Pendants home before the old ones fade away at the end of the week."

"But it only took us a day to get here," said Pearl. She was fixing her hair, peeping into a little mirror that

she had taken from her sparkly red pouch. "We have six whole days to get back."

"I still think we shouldn't stay here too long," replied Gina firmly. "It's a big responsibility to be the Pendant Keepers on our journey home. And if we get back quickly, maybe the Queen will trust us with other tasks."

"You're right," agreed Gabi. "We shouldn't risk being late."

"And if the new Pendants aren't set in Queen Diona's Throne before the old ones have faded, the power of the Merfolk will fade too. Then it will be impossible to protect the Underworld and our kingdom from harm," said Gina, in a serious voice.

"That would be awful," shuddered Percy.

"Let's collect the Pendants," said Loveth cheerfully. "You pick the first one, Gina."

But before she could, Pearl pushed in.

"I want to be first," she said bossily.

"Honestly, Pearl," said Loveth, "does it matter who goes first?"

Pearl ignored Loveth and sulkily tossed her long dark hair over her shoulders. With a flick of her sparkling red tail and a swirl of pearly bubbles, she swam over to the six Pendants. She quickly picked up the Pendant that was nearest to her.

"Queen Diona said that the first Pendant is to protect the fish and the Underworld creatures," Pearl said. "I want to choose that one." Then she tucked it away in her crimson pouch. One by one, the other Underworlders did the same. As they picked them up, the Pendants felt full of power and energy. Their magic was very strong.

"I choose the second Pendant to protect the whales and dolphins," said Loveth. She put it in her orange pouch, which matched her bright tail.

"I choose the third Pendant to protect the Underworldbirds," said Gabi, hiding it in her purple pouch.

"I choose the fourth Pendant to protect the Underworld plants," said Carly. Away it went into her yellow pouch.

"I choose the fifth Pendant to protect the Merfolk who care for them all," said Gina. She admired its sparkling colors before putting it away carefully.

There was only one Pendant left.

"And I choose the sixth Pendant to protect the humans who come to the Underworld," said Percy softly.

"Who wants to protect the humans?" muttered Loveth. "Aren't they always causing trouble?"

"The humans are part of Mother Nature's world too, Loveth," Percy said quietly. She gently placed the sixth Pendant in her pale green pouch. As she did so, a rainbow of light poured out of the tiny chamber. As the Underworlders left the little room, the door swung closed and was Underworldled by magic. Gina carefully put the golden key into her pink pouch, next to her Pendant.