The Third Sister

Deep below the turquoise surface

Surrounded by swaying kelp trees

Stands the sea king’s coral palace

The ruler of the seven seas

His daughters growing wise and strong

Save the youngest, whose broken heart

From mortal man and silenced song

Had forever torn them apart

The sad sisters wept salty tears

And did not rise above the waves

For their great sorrows and their fears

But the third sister, bold and brave

Could not confine herself to grief

So Triteia, the fierce and fair

Ventured beyond the coral reef

To feel the sun’s kiss on the air

Once she had watched children at play,

Heard sweet music, and seen dancing

Had soaked in the colors of day

The stars at night, so entrancing

But when she emerged all was still

No laughter or bark from a dog

Just grey wisps in climbing tendrils

A bitter smell within the smog

A lone ship crept with tattered sails

Slowly out toward the open sea

Triteia swished her scaly tail

And followed behind cautiously

Then a sound seemed to split the sky

A great leviathan with wings!

With gaping mouth she watched it fly

To the ship and saw it circling

Then from its maw white light fell fast

The masts and sails began to burn

As the beast spit another blast

Sailors jumped from the smoking stern

Triteia swam with swift straight strokes

A boy was tangled up, sinking

On water she breathed he would choke

She took hold, pulled, without thinking

Then dragged him to the sandy shore

And waited in the shallow tide

When he awoke he gasped and swore

Triteia did not try to hide

“What monster destroyed this island?”

He gulped and said, “Twas a dragon.

She burns cities, ships; small and grand,

Enraged since her egg was stolen.”

“Who stole her egg? Where is it now?”

He shrugged. “Oh, how I wish I knew!

I’d bring it to her nest somehow.

And make peace! If I had a clue!”

Triteia had a clever mind

A plan was weaving together

A plot as good as one could find

She asked, “What’s your name, young sailor?”

“John,” he said with bright sparkling eyes.

She smiled. “Meet me here at midnight.

With your help, I’ll search out this prize.

And we’ll set this wrong back to right.”

She flicked her tail to say farewell

Then dove beneath foaming water

To return to the king’s castle

And a hidden trove of treasure

Sword of aquamarine and pearl

Hilt in hand, she traveled the way

To a dark pool that swirls and whirls

Where the sea witch ensnares her prey

“So you want legs like your sister!”

The witch cackled. “You foolish, dear!”

“That’s not quite the thing I’m after.

With all your spies, what do you hear?

Who has the dragon’s egg? And where?”

“You know everything has a price.”

“Right. How about this? It’s quite nice!”

She raised the sword and the witch squealed.

“A Nereid blade! Touch of death!”

“Yes! One prick and you can’t be healed.

You’ll pay the cost to keep your breath.”

“On his ship, Bastian has the egg.”

“Now resurrect me a small ship.

Then the draught that will give me legs,

And a second one to take grip

And change them back into a tail.”

The sea witch chanted her strange spells.

A ship from its grave rose to sail

She stirred potions of awful smells.

Triteia took vials in hand

Left the sea witch far behind her

One more thing then upward to land:

Some armor from a drowned sailor

She found fearless John on the beach

And taking her draught, screamed in pain

But the prize was within her reach

With feet beneath her and some strain

She boarded her ship, took the helm

With John as her trusted first mate

For days they sailed in quiet calm

Then cannon fire and roaring great

A dragon and a pirate ship

Both stuck in a losing battle

The ship sinking, its black sails ripped

Egg lost in the wreckage tangle

Crew doomed by their greedy captain

Mournful mother searching sadly

No sight of the dreaded Bastian

Triteia’s heart ached so badly

She dove in, sighted a red flash

Even with legs she swam with skill

Gripping the egg, a sudden clash

Captain Bastian fought for it still

She drew her shining sword and slashed

The pirate went limp, drifted down

She kicked and at last breathed and splashed

For a tailless mermaid can drown

John pulled her and the egg aboard

She raised the ruby orb up high

Above their heads the dragon soared

And watched them with a wary eye

A gentle swoop and lowered claw

Triteia released the smooth egg

No fire fell from the mother’s maw

They stood in wonder on sea legs

Watching the dragon fly away

Human and princess of water

Had saved immortal souls that day

By being both brave and clever

Triteia’s first great adventure

Was drawing swiftly to a close

What comes next for the third sister?

Wait and see where the story goes!

Author's Note: This was written for the 2024 NYC Midnight Rhyming Story Challenge. My assignment included the following: Genre - Fairy Tale, Emotion - Courageous, Theme - Fish out of water