Zaidyn Ryott is a little magician. He has a small blue hat. He is kind and brave, but a bit shy.
Today, Zaidyn sits on a warm rock by the ocean. The waves go swish-swish. A gull goes kaa-kaa.
“Hello, ocean,” Zaidyn whispers.
Plop! A Ninja pops up from behind a shell. The Ninja is quiet and quick. He wears soft shoes so he makes no sound.
“Shhh. I can help,” says the Ninja.
Then, splash! A King rows by in a tiny boat. The King has a shiny crown and a big smile.
“I am the King of the Sandcastle Shore,” he says. “I need help!”
Zaidyn blinks. “Help with what?”
The King points. On the sand, a big sandcastle stands. But the flag on top is gone.
“My flag is lost,” says the King. “Without it, my castle feels sad.”
Zaidyn pats his hat. “We will find it.”
A bubbly voice comes from the sea. “Ooo-hoo!” A Genie rises from a swirl of sea mist. The Genie is friendly and giggly.
“I can make a little wind,” the Genie says. “But not too much. No boom! Just whoosh.”
The Ninja nods. “We search.”
They walk on the beach. Step-step. Zaidyn holds a little wand. It is made of driftwood.
Zaidyn tries a spell. “Wand, please show the flag!”
Sparkle-sparkle! Tiny lights dance. They point to a line of shells.
“Look!” says Zaidyn.
They follow the shells. The ocean smells salty. The water is bright.
But the flag is not there.
Zaidyn’s shoulders droop. “Maybe my magic is too small.”
The King kneels down. “Small magic is still magic,” he says softly.
The Ninja taps the sand. Tap-tap. “See?” he whispers. “Footprints.”
Little crab footprints! Dot-dot-dot, to a tide pool.
In the tide pool, a crab is holding the flag. The crab is not mean. It just likes the cloth.
The crab waves one claw like, “Mine!”
Zaidyn giggles. “Hello, crab. May we have it back?”
The crab clicks. Click-click.
The Genie leans close. “The crab wants a trade,” the Genie says.
Zaidyn looks around. He finds a shiny pebble, smooth as candy.
“Would you like this?” Zaidyn asks.
The crab’s eyes sparkle. It drops the flag and grabs the pebble.
“Thank you!” says Zaidyn.
They run back. The King climbs his sandcastle. He puts the flag on top.
The flag flaps. Flip-flap! The castle looks happy again.
“Hooray!” says the King.
The Ninja does a tiny jump. “Good teamwork,” he says.
The Genie claps. “Time for a prize!”
Poof! The Genie makes a treasure: a small chest made of seashells. Inside are three star-shaped cookies and a gold sticker crown.
“For Zaidyn,” says the King. “You are Ocean Helper Magician!”
Zaidyn smiles big. He puts on the sticker crown over his blue hat.
Swish-swish goes the ocean.
Zaidyn whispers, “My magic is not too small. It is just right.”