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In the Blue Room of the Crystal Palace, Chibiusa, her half-sister Jewel, and their mermaid friend Princess Orca gathered to chat about the book they’d recently read, Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson. The cover was bright and playful, featuring the kids Minette and Fabio surrounded by mythical creatures.
“I think I should start since it was my pick!” Orca said, bobbing in the enchanted water with a grin.
“Go for it, Orca! You suggested it, so it’s only fair,” Chibiusa replied, her pink hair shimmering as she leaned back.
“Yeah! I’m excited to hear what you think,” Jewel added, her red hair bouncing as she leaned forward eagerly.
“Okay, first off—those creatures? Totally real! Just look at me—I’m a mermaid!” Orca giggled, her tail flicking playfully.
“Have you ever met a selkie or a Stoorworm?” Jewel asked, eyes wide. “I read they can turn into humans!”
“I haven’t seen a Stoorworm, but my grandma Queen Oceania met one in Iceland. So, yes, they’re real! As for selkies, we used to get along with them, but we haven’t heard from them in ages. Mom thinks they might have run away from poachers,” Orca explained, her expression growing a little more serious.
Chibiusa nodded. “I’ll ask Mom if she can look into it. If we’ve survived Skinwalkers and Wendigo, I’m sure there are other mythical creatures we need to find!”
“Exactly!” Orca said, snapping back to her cheerful tone. “Now, what did you guys think of the book?”
“The Aunts are so weird, but in the best way!” Jewel said, laughing. “Etta with that mustache and her daily workouts—what even is that?”
“And Coral is my favorite! She’s so artistic! I love how her outfits are so colorful and different,” Chibiusa added, her voice bright with excitement.
Mimicking a dreamy voice, Orca said, “And Myrtle is just a big kid who totally adores Herbert the Selkie! You can tell how much she lights up when she talks about him.”
“Right? And I can’t believe Dorthy is in prison for hitting someone! And don’t even get me started on Betty and her two awful kids!” Chibiusa rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Yeah, Betty is the worst. It’s no wonder her sisters can’t stand her,” Jewel agreed. “But their dad? He’s hilarious. He’s like a hundred and still has the best stories.”
“Let’s talk about Minette and Fabio though,” Orca said, her tone turning serious. “They’ve got some seriously messed-up families.”
Chibiusa’s smile faded, her voice softening. “Yeah, Minette’s parents are awful. They’re so self-centered. It’s like they don’t even see her.”
Jewel whispered, “You know what that feels like.”
Chibiusa glanced at her sister, her expression softening even more. “Yeah… It’s hard. And don’t even get me started on Fabio’s grandparents. They treat him like garbage just because he’s Brazilian. Ugh, it’s so wrong.”
“Exactly,” Jewel said, her voice firm. “It’s like Aunt Etta said: ‘Some kids need to be kidnapped to escape toxic families.’”
Orca’s face brightened with a smile. “But at least the Island helps them. They get to forget all the bad stuff and figure out who they are.”
“True,” Chibiusa said, nodding. “I’m just glad they helped the baby Kraken. And I’m glad the Aunts weren’t guilty in the end.”
“Yeah! And the illustrations were super cute, too!” Orca added, her eyes sparkling.
“Overall, I loved it. There was friendship, adventure, and so many laughs!” Orca said, grinning. “This book was perfect!”
“I’ve heard this author has other books too. We should read more!” Chibiusa suggested, nudging Jewel.
“Definitely!” Jewel said, her grin matching Chibiusa’s. “But for now, can we go for a swim? It’s way too hot out here.”
“You bet! Come on, let’s dive in!” Orca exclaimed, practically bouncing in the water.
With a chorus of laughter and splashes, the three princesses dove into the water, escaping the heat and enjoying their perfect little break.