The Prophecy of Atlantis

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  Titan saw Lilliana just as she spotted the crystal.

  “You traitor!” he yelled to her. “If you will not be my wife, then you will not live either!”

  The shark rushed at Lilliana and she swam down to the crystal. “Help me,” she whispered to the crystal whose light felt like the only thing that could save her. She felt a rush of water and turned in time to see Titan’s huge teeth covering her head. The dark stench of his mouth covered her gills and Lilliana closed her eyes waiting for the teeth to crush her head. Instead Titan shook his mouth and Lilliana saw Spike before her. He had stabbed the shark’s mouth with his venomous spines.

  Titan whirled around spitting the poison from his teeth. Lilliana reached in her pocket and threw urchins at the shark.

  Titan laughed still shaking his head. “Is that all the mighty princess of Atlantis can do? After escaping from the pit, I thought there was more to you, but now I know you were just lucky. You're all out of luck now.”

  “I don’t need luck,” the princess said as she popped some white berries from the bottom of her pocket into her mouth. Lilliana swooped up the crystal and swam quickly to Spectrum. By the time she reached her horse she was invisible and the large shark was turning to look for her.

  “Don’t think I can’t find you little princess. I know your scent,” Titan growled as he wagged his head back and forth through the water sifting through the smells of battle.

  Spectrum reared on his good legs as Lilliana touched him.

  “Shh. It’s me,” she whispered in his ear. She took the crystal and placed it by his mangled front feet. The crystal hummed and flashed a brilliant white light. Spectrum’s legs were healed and Lilliana climbed on his back. “Let’s show this shark who really rules the ocean.”

  Spectrum pawed at the ground and turned towards Titan.

  “Does the horsey want to play again?” Titan taunted.

  Spectrum lowered his head, and Lilliana grasped the crystal. It vibrated in her hand and she looked at it again. It had become a glowing sword. She knew what they had to do.

  She wrapped her invisible legs around her horse and felt that he was thinking the same thing. She lowered her body close to her horse. “For the Star!” she shouted.

  Spectrum put his head down and charged at the shark. The shark swam up and Spectrum followed. The shark dove to the right and turned to face the horse. Spectrum spun in time to find the shark’s teeth right in front of him.

  Titan growled and lunged at Spectrum. The horse dodged to the left and Lilliana sliced off the shark’s dorsal fin with her sword. Titan turned to look at her and his eyes were as black as coal. He swung his tail blindly at Lilliana’s head and she dodged it easily. He wobbled and started to sink; blood was surging out of the thick slice on his back and his balance was gone. He feebly moved his fins, trying to move forward again, but the motion just sent him in a downward spiral. Titan’s eyes were huge as he realized the fight was lost.

  “Nooo…” Titan gurgled as he spun to the floor of the ocean in a swirl of blood. A cloud of sand rose up as his body hit the floor of the ocean.

  Lilliana looked with surprise at the sword in her hand. The first rays of dawn were just beginning to cut through the darkness and they made the sword shine brilliantly against the receding shadows.

  The clearing erupted in cheers and shouts. The few sharks that remained were quickly captured by the larger swordfish and marlins, and Lilliana swam over to the king and queen.

  Lilliana looked down at her hands and noticed with relief that she could see their outline. The berries were wearing off.

  “Do you still have the crystal the Morning Star gave you?” asked the queen swimming slowly towards the princess.

  Lilliana opened her hand and the crystal was small once more. It radiated a warm and glowing light that sparkled in the morning rays. “I have it,” she answered and she swam towards the queen. The water was thick with the sand and blood from the battle, and it hurt Lilliana’s gills to breathe in the grit.

  “You must use it on the injured. Only the star can bring life to this field now,” said the queen and her crown brightened.

  Lilliana grasped the crystal and placed it over the king’s head first. Light poured out from the crystal and washed over the king. He moved his tail, and then his head and he opened his eyes. Queen Doris nudged him and they rose to the surface for a breath of air.

  Lilliana lifted her crystal to view the scene and the light cleared a path through the blood and sand. Lance was approaching her with a big grin.

  "Nice work Beastie. I'd say we make a pretty good team."

  "Thanks Lance. I'm just glad it's over."

  "Woohoo! Did you see me? I sure gave that shark a mouth full of spine!" Spike flipped backwards in front of her.

  "You were great!" said Lilliana.

  "As were you," said a deep voice beside the princess. She turned to see the king and queen swimming together. Their crowns were shining a brilliant path of light over the scene.

  "I am deeply grateful to you for your brave actions. Without you, my kingdom would have suffered greatly," said the king.

  Lilliana didn't know what to say. She had only done what she felt she had to do.

  "The Morning Star was the one who really helped," she replied.

  "Don't belittle the part you played. The Morning Star needs a willing heart to do his work, and you were both willing and courageous."

  "We thank you, and Star Shadow is in your debt," said the queen with a glimmer in her eye. "Now, it is time to treat the wounded and start our new day.

  22. Healing

  Lilliana worked through the morning as the first light of the sun shone through the water. She swam side-by side with Aura healing the fish of Star Shadow first. Spectrum refused to leave her side as she worked her way through the ranks. The Queen had ordered that after the citizens of Star Shadow were healed that Lilliana and Aura should heal the sharks one by one.

  As Lilliana healed each shark, Lance or Pierce would come and give them a choice. They could swear their allegiance to Morning Star and serve King Nereus or they could go to the pit of darkness forever. Lilliana was shocked at how many of the sharks lined up to go back through the cave to the pit.

  “Why would they choose something so terrible?” asked Lilliana after yet another shark chose the path of darkness.

  “They don’t trust the light, and they know the darkness. Even though it smells horrible and the bubbles of sulfur hurt, they would prefer the wretched darkness over the fear of having to change, of having to become good.”

  “But the Morning Star helps them to be the best of what they can be. Surely he doesn’t want them to perish.”

  “Sadly princess, some choose to perish. They feel that the pit of darkness is freedom and that the freedom the star offers is slavery.” Lance turned and took another shark to the line at the cave.

  When all had been healed there was a long line of sharks waiting to be led back to the pit where the king would use his magic to keep them there. The last to be healed had been Titan. He seemed smaller and thinner than the others and his eyes appeared dull. As the Queen had commanded, he was led to the cave with no choice given to him. His choice had been made when he led the army against the king. Lilliana was surprised to see Brutus and Smiley swimming next to the dolphins with the three great white sharks who had chosen to stay.

  “Here comes the thing now,” Smiley whispered loudly to Brutus.

  “Her name is Lilliana,” Lance said, thrusting his sword at Smiley’s throat.

  “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” Brutus said. “He’s sure to kill us for all the torture we put him through.”

  “Tempting as that may seem,” Lance said glancing at his scars, “if the Star grants you forgiveness than I shall too.”

  “If?” Smiley asked. “What does he mean if? What if the Star doesn’t like us?”

  Lance sm
iled at his question, and nodded toward the dolphins.

  A large and old sea turtle had appeared in their midst. He was bigger than Spectrum and his shell was covered with beautiful yellow and green patterns. Each small section of his shell had a star shape in the middle of it so that as he swam he looked as if he sparkled. His eyes were calm and peaceful and Lilliana felt the Star’s presence as she looked at him.

  “Who is that?” she whispered to Lance as a hush fell over the group.

  “I am the prophet, Levi,” answered the turtle with a mellow voice. “I have waited my lifetime for your coming young one." The turtle slowly swam closer to Lilliana. "You have obeyed the Star and you have done well," he said slowly and clearly. "Your days ahead will be difficult and blessed. Remember, young one, to listen to the Star when he speaks to your heart.”

  What did that mean? Lilliana opened her mouth to ask him, but the turtle had turned to speak to the sharks.

  “Do you renounce all evil and pledge you life and your soul to the one and only God, the Morning Star?” he asked the first great white shark. The shark looked over at Spectrum and bowed his nose in respect. He looked back at the turtle.

  “I do,” said the shark and the turtle touched the shark’s forehead. The shark gasped as a blazing white star appeared and then faded back into the shark’s gleaming skin.

  “Go,” said the turtle, “and use your strength to serve the Lord and keeper of your soul.”

  The shark turned and moved upwards then he swam to the surface