Star Fish and the Lighthouse of Lost Tides
Far beyond the Marble Kingdom coastline stood a lonely island surrounded by silver-blue seas and sharp black rocks. Sailors called it Moonfin Island, though most marbles simply called it “the place where ships disappear.”
At the highest point of the island stood an enormous lighthouse known as the Lighthouse of Lost Tides.
And guarding that lighthouse was a mysterious marble called Star Fish.
Star Fish was one of the most beautiful marbles in the kingdom. Her shell shimmered with ocean colours — deep turquoise, coral pink, pearl white, and golden star-shaped patterns that glowed softly beneath moonlight. Tiny sparkling marks covered her marble surface like stars reflected upon water.
She loved the sea more than anything else in the world.
But she also carried a secret.
Star Fish could hear the tides speak.
Most marbles thought this sounded completely ridiculous.
Bernard the talking dog certainly did.
“The sea does not TALK,” he muttered while climbing aboard a small fishing boat with Jack Mitchell one windy evening.
Right on cue, a giant wave crashed over the side of the boat.
“I think it just insulted me,” Bernard grumbled.
Jack and Bernard had travelled to Moonfin Island after hearing reports that strange glowing whirlpools were appearing across the sea. Ships were becoming lost in thick glowing fog, and some sailors claimed they had seen giant shadows moving beneath the waves.
As they approached the island lighthouse, a glowing figure appeared standing upon the rocks.
Star Fish.
“You shouldn’t be here tonight,” she warned softly.
Jack frowned.
“Why not?”
Star Fish gazed toward the dark ocean horizon.
“The sea is restless.”
Bernard folded his paws.
“Excellent. We’ve travelled to a haunted island during an angry ocean.”
Inside the lighthouse, giant rotating crystal lamps cast golden light across the sea. Ancient maps covered the walls while strange seashell instruments hummed softly with the rhythm of the tides.
Star Fish explained everything.
Long ago, beneath the waters surrounding Moonfin Island, an ancient magical object known as the Tide Star controlled the ocean currents safely. But now something deep below the sea had disturbed it.
“If the Tide Star breaks,” she said, “massive storms will flood the Marble Kingdom coastline.”
Suddenly the entire lighthouse shook violently.
BOOOOOM!
Outside, enormous glowing whirlpools appeared across the sea while thick silver mist swallowed the island shoreline.
Then came the sound.
A deep underwater roar.
Bernard slowly backed away from the windows.
“Nope.”
Far beneath the waves, a giant shadow circled the island lighthouse.
“The Leviathan wakes,” whispered Star Fish.
“The WHAT wakes?” shouted Bernard.
Before anyone could answer, a huge wave smashed against the island cliffs.
The lighthouse light flickered dangerously.
“We need to reach the Tide Star before the storm fully awakens!” cried Star Fish.
Using a hidden tunnel beneath the lighthouse, the three friends descended into ancient underwater caves glowing with blue crystal pools and strange sea plants that shimmered in the darkness.
The deeper they travelled, the louder the ocean roared around them.
Finally they reached the Chamber of Tides.
At the centre floated the Tide Star — a giant glowing crystal shaped like a five-pointed starfish. But dark cracks had begun spreading across its surface while violent water currents spiralled through the chamber.
And coiled around the crystal…
Was the Leviathan.
A gigantic serpent-like sea creature with glowing eyes and silver scales.
Bernard froze solid.
“I would like to leave immediately.”
The Leviathan roared again, causing huge waves to crash through the chamber.
Star Fish rolled forward bravely.
“It’s frightened,” she said.
Jack blinked.
“Frightened? It’s enormous!”
“The Tide Star is hurting. The creature is trying to protect it.”
Star Fish slowly approached the cracked crystal while the Leviathan circled above them.
The spiralling patterns on her shell began glowing brighter and brighter, matching the rhythm of the ocean currents.
Then something extraordinary happened.
The violent water began calming.
The Leviathan lowered its head peacefully.
And the Tide Star slowly stopped cracking.
Star Fish gently touched the crystal.
A brilliant wave of blue light burst through the underwater chamber.
Across the ocean, the glowing whirlpools disappeared instantly.
The storm clouds broke apart.
And Moonfin Island’s lighthouse beam shone brightly across calm waters once again.
The Leviathan gave one final deep roar before vanishing peacefully into the dark sea below.
Back at the lighthouse, sailors from across the Marble Kingdom celebrated as ships safely returned to harbour.
Jack smiled at Star Fish.
“You saved the entire coastline.”
Star Fish looked quietly toward the moonlit sea.
“The ocean protects those who listen to it.”
Bernard stared suspiciously at the water.
“I still say it was insulting me earlier.”
At that exact moment, a small wave splashed directly into Bernard’s face.
Star Fish tried not to laugh.
“The sea has a sense of humour too.”