Johnny was just diving underwater on a clear, sunny day. “Johnny!” his sister called. “Don’t go too far!” “Yes, Ava!” he shouted back. As he dove underwater, he saw something that shocked him. It was a crack in the ocean floor. Johnny went in, surprised that he wasn’t dead already by the pressure of the water. He was extremely surprised to find a town, much like his, except with mermaids.
Two men immediately threw spears at Johnny. “I’m sorry. I do not wish to harm you. Where am I?” he asked. “Well then,” started one of the men. “You are in the Lost City of Atlantis.” They let Johnny in and one of them whispered something to an elegant woman. The woman nodded. “Bring him to me!” she demanded. The men dragged Johnny to the woman. Johnny reached his hand out, waiting for a handshake.
The woman shook it. “Please, follow me.” she said. They went to a little palace and sat in front of each other. The woman handed him some tea. “Who are you?” she questioned. “My name is Johnny Stewart. I am from… Earth. And you?” he said. “I am Princess Mariana Trench of the Lost City of Atlantis.” Johnny almost spit his tea. “Mariana Trench? You’re crazy!” Mariana shook her head. “The Mariana Trench is named after me!” Johnny nodded. “It’s a delight to meet you,” he smiled. “But I must go now, or else my sister will kill me!” Mariana giggled. “Alright then! But meet me in front of the palace tomorrow, will you? I need to ask you some questions.”
Johnny swam back to shore. “Johnny! You’ve only been gone for, like, 10 seconds. Back already?” his sister wondered aloud. “Yeah, um, I don’t feel like it…the water was really cold!” he exaggerated, with a shiver. Ava rolled her eyes. “Sure, liar! I totally believe you! We have to go home now.” And they did.
The next day, Johnny went back into the crack, and saw Mariana waving at him. “Mariana!” he yelled. “You again! What did you want to ask me?” Mariana crossed her arms and grinned. “There is a coffee shop over there,” she said, as she pointed North. “I want to ask you one thing.” They went to the coffee shop. Johnny was incredibly nervous that a wrong answer would make him banned from the town. “So I was wondering… would you like to be a mermaid?” Mariana smiled. “And help me? Rule the kingdom? I have received a message that I am now queen.” Johnny’s eyeballs were very wide. “Become king?” he gasped. “Wow, that’s a dream come true, Mariana! My sister will angry if she finds out…but I will try!” After a chat about how royal people behave, he went back to the land.
He carefully spread ketchup onto a knife, the he put the knife onto his neck. He screamed and fell to the ground, playing dead. When Ava came into his room she shrieked. “OH MY GOODNESS!” She rushed out of the room. That was Johnny’s chance to escape. He went back to the beach and jumped in the water, then swam to the crack. He entered and Mariana was waiting for him. “Mariana, this is the biggest decision of my life,” he sighed. “Okay, let’s do this.” Mariana gave him a pearl and encouraged him to eat it. He swallowed and was shocked to see that his legs were gone. A blue tail quickly replaced the legs and his hair also turned blue. He looked at himself in a nearby mirror and smiled. “Nice!”
Mariana and Johnny went to the castle. They sat on gold thrones. He put on a large crown. “Oh, man, I’m never going back to Earth!” he joked. “This is awesome!” Mariana laughed. “I feel so weird switching worlds, though…” said Johnny. “Oh, you’ll adjust,” Mariana said. She glared at him for a moment. “You know I have more power than you. You’re not even part of the royal family!” Johnny just nodded. “Strange,” he whispered. “She never acts like that!” Mariana gasped at him. “What did you say?” she yelled. “Guards! Take him away!” Mariana cackled. Then she cried, “Ada! Please, do you have my water ready?” A lady rushed over. “Good,” said the lady. “I’m just in time.”
Mariana stared at the guards. “Guards, stop! What are you doing to him?” She smiled at Johnny. “Johnny, what in the Pacific Ocean are you doing? Come back to your throne!” She looked sweet and innocent, but there was fire in her eyes. She smiled a lot, and the grin turned evil. “HA HA HA HA HA!” she laughed. Just then, she took out a purple gem from her pocket, and hurled it at Ada.
Ada raised her hands up. “Where am I? Who am I?” she mumbled. “You are Johnny’s attacker!” screamed Mariana. Ada turned around and threw several balls at Johnny, which exploded behind him.
I can’t wait to learn what’s next!