Grandpa Siren scratched his head. “Some members of royalty assume their royal positions early, but it’s not required until you turn twenty-one years of age. Since you know everything now, I will let you decide what you want to do.”

Shelly listened to her grandfather. She didn’t want to make any big choices—she was only a third grader! Her head hurt from wearing Pearl’s ridiculous tiara, and all she really wanted to do was go to Shell Wars practice. But what if Coach Barnacle told her she wasn’t allowed because she was a princess?

“I’m going to the park,” Shelly told her grandfather. She raced out of the museum, not sure of what would happen when she got there, but knowing she had to go.

The End of the Vampire Squid

SHELLY RACED OVER TO MERPARK, holding Pearl’s tiara. When she reached the park, no one was practicing Shell Wars, and the Tail Flippers team wasn’t flipping. A huge group of merkids huddled in the middle of the kelp field.

“What’s going on?” Shelly asked Kiki. Kiki answered, “All practices were canceled because the teachers had an after-school meeting. But Rocky is saying the vampire squid are going to attack our school. Where does he come up with these wild ideas? I’m afraid of what he might do next.”

Shelly squeezed Kiki’s hand. “I’m really sorry about lunchtime. I let this princess thing get out of hand.”

Kiki smiled. “I understand. You are special—no matter what.”

Shelly sighed. She didn’t feel special, but she was worried. What was Rocky up to? “Come on, let’s go listen.”

The two mergirls glided up to the large crowd gathered around Rocky. He said, “We have to get the vampire squid before they get us!”

Shelly couldn’t believe her ears when lots of merkids shouted “Yes!” in agreement.

“But they haven’t done anything,” Shelly argued. “You’re spreading rumors, just like those stories about me.”

Echo nodded. “That’s right. Mrs. Karp said that legend about them being bloodsuckers is just made up.”

“Do you want to wait until they bite us and it’s too late?” Pearl shrieked.

“Old stories are sometimes true!” Adam shouted out.

Kiki shook her head. “This isn’t right. Rocky, if you bothered to read a seaweed book, you would know that these squid are peaceful.”

The other merkids looked at Rocky. “Is that true?” one of them asked.

“Of course not!” Rocky answered. “Let’s get them!” he yelled, pumping a fist in the water. “We’ll make them sorry they ever came near Trident City!”

Echo grabbed Shelly’s arm and whispered, “You have to stop them.”

“Me?” Shelly gulped. “Why would they listen to me?”

“You are a princess,” Kiki replied desperately. “If you don’t stop them, there is no telling what Rocky and his friends might do.”