The story I will never forget about Nessie

CORNTON PRIMARY SCHOOL STIRLING SCOTLAND

or many years I have been told about the monster of the deep. Hello my name is Millie and I am 86 years old and I have got a story I will never forget. Heres my story, I woke up one morning and saw my granddad reading the newspaper on an article about Nessie. After a long discussion on this interesting subject, I thought what if, just what if it is all real. I decided to ask my granddad if I could go down to the lake and he said yes, but be careful. I went to put my shoes on and then off I went. I was walking by the river when I heard a splash, I turned around thinking someone was going to be throwing stones in but in my shock I saw a green slimy thing. I took a blink and it was gone. I then took a few steps closer and I bent down. I took another blink and I found myself struggling under water only seeing red dots like a fierce pair of eyes. I was panicking and trying to get to the surface of the water so that I could get some help. I soon realized trying to get to the surface was no good. After a few minutes or so I could feel myself floating to the surface of the water... With a huge fear, holding on to the branches of an old willow tree reaching out to the middle of the lake, how could I have known that I was gotten within such a breathless adventure. I had hold the branches but half of my body was still in the lake. After a long struggle, I was able to reach the shore even it was very hard. Now, I was much more worried about red dots I dealt with, than being soaking wet. Was that all, the trick of my imagination or was it a fact beyond the fairytales told to me by my grandfather? I figured out that I had come to the first place where I had fallen down, carrying all the question marks on my mind. As far as I remember, the weather was calm and fair. Besides, according to what my grandfather told me, the current of the river was to the South. However my eyes were caught on an object moving in the direction of North. I set forth that mysterious thing, with a heart full of fear and thrill. An inner voice was screaming inside that there was a story I had to discover and I was the hero of that story. Only the key of wonder could open the doors of locked dreams said once my teacher. I, as a subtle and a curious girl following my dreams, took it upon myself to solve out the mystery in the lake. 53

The following days I began to hear some strange noises coming from the basement. One night, while I was reading old marine chronicles I fell asleep for a few seconds. My book fell on the ground. When I bent down to take it I saw a very interesting medallion lying next to it. Hmmthis is strange. I have a feeling I have seen this before! I went to the library to seek for answers. I was tip toeing so as not to disturb grandpa who was enjoying his pipe on the porch. I silently entered the room when I heard it: Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! I looked around and I followed the call. On the second shelf there was a book struggling to draw my attention. I went there and took it. Suddenly the book spoke to me. Oh, finally... Ive been waiting for you for centuries! I was so astonished and speechless at the same time! And then I sawthe emblem on its front cover was shining. The medallion in my hand was shining too. They matched! But the moment I put it on the book, a secret door on the floor opened. The next thing I remember was water all over me and the same two red dots starring at me! Please dont be afraid! a mild voice told me. I dont want to hurt you, the same green slimy thing continued. Then I knew it was her Nessie. Where am I? Is this a dream? I curiously asked. You arent dreaming. We have just crossed the border to another land, Splashland! S-P-L-A-S-H-L-A-N-D??? Whats that? I was even more surprised. Well set off on a journey and youll discover the mysteries of our underwater world. You are the only person who can enter this world because you have been chosen to protect us! she continued. Me? Protect you from whom? But then I got distracted by a delicate voice. Hey! Nessie!!! Have you forgotten about me? a cute tiny seahorse started to speak sitting on Nessies shoulder. I was supposed to teach her the very first lesson! Remember? Nessie nodded with an agreement and said: 54

Now introduce you to me! The little sea-horse turned round, stood up in front of me and said: Welcome to Splashland! My name is Buk and I am your guide and your teacher. Lets go now. I want to show you our country, so I invite you to follow me. The sea-horse turned around me again and swam forward and towards the bed. I followed it. We passed by reefs, sank ships and algae different in size and colour. They bowed when the water moved as if they danced a ritual dance. We swam through the magical underwater world and we reached to a coral mountain. Motley fish swam all around us. They hid in the chaps of the coral reefs as if they invited us to follow them. We looked around and we saw a hole behind a bush of red algae. Buk urged me to swim toward it. We entered the hole and we got into a small cave. We looked around and we noticed three doors. The little sea-horse knocked with its tail at the first door and the door opened. There was a pretty mermaid with long blond hair and blue eyes who appeared in front of us. There was a glass full of some liquid in her hands. She handed the glass to me and she said: My dear friend if you drink this magical liquid, you will learn the language of all inhabitants of the underwater world. Thus you will become one of us. I drank bottoms up and then I realized that the pretty mermaid had disappeared. Both Buk and I were alone in the cave and its three doors. I wondered what there was behind the two other doors ? I realized that even though I was breathing normally under water: the liquid that had evidently been drinking allowed me to do so. The seahorse, my teacher pointed out to me in the cave, two doors. The first was made of wood soaked by water, was full of holes and its hinges were a pile of rust. The other, however, was of gold studded with rubies, emeralds and diamonds and the hinges were intact. On the door, also was placed a placard on which were carved silver the following words: "HERE YOU WILL FIND HAPPINESS. '" I was obviously trying to direct green the golden door, because I would have liked to bring his mother and his grandmother a few precious stone. Suddenly, just as I was to grab the doorknob, I heard a loud bang in the back: the horse I had pushed powerfully towards the wooden door, which flung open with a header. Once I recovered from the shock, I saw a large sign that read: "YOU HAVE FOUND THE HAPPINESS '". At this point the seahorse told me that the gold was the door of evil, while the wood was that of good. And this must never be fooled by appearances. He also said that there was a casket inside a phial containing a liquid that could miraculously cure all the ills of the world.

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at that instant when I was taking hold of that precious phial In the dark Buck heard a voice say: You were wrong to push Millie to the wooden door. For that youll get a punishment. Just then Buck disappeared. Having grasped the phial I was dragged out of the cave by a strong current. Huge waves with mountains of foam swept over me. All of a sudden I

heard Motley scream: Watch out, take cover! Theres a shark! Fortunately Nessie came and hid us in the underwater valleys, then she fought the long, white creature, which had a cavernous mouth full of teeth. Their struggle was long and hard, but eventually Nessies skill and courage won through. Unfortunately, when we came out of our shelter, we realized that Nessie was seriously injured. How can we help her? Motley asked me. I thought for a while, then said: The phial! I took the little bottle and poured its contents into Nessies mouth. After a few minutes. ...Nessie was alright and we could move forward. Splashland was wonderful. I loved at the first sight. Everything was blue and green and I liked Nessie and Motley a lot. We had to swim very quickly, because Nessie said that mermaid called Elena wanted to meet me. Elena was beautiful. She had long, red, curly hair and was really nice. She told us a story about a treasure hidden in an underwater cave. The king of Splashland was really afraid about his gold so he decided to have it safe in a place where nobody could steal it. But he died and only Elena, who was really old, knew where to find the treasure. She asked me for help. Splashland was in danger and only paying an enemy a lot of money could help to keep it safe. I promised to do whatever I had to to help Splashland. But soon I started to feel exhausted and I asked Nessie to bring me home. She agreed but then... ...but the enemy came, and they came in bundles! Hundreds of soldiers made of mud suddenly materialized from the sea bootom, as their leader drew near on a giant sea serpent.

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He was a powerfully clad creature , wearing blue armour-like crystals for protection, and holding a sword made of the same material. "I have come for my money. I am the one known as Aquarius, leader of the army of Splashland. Fetch my money! " "...any failure at my demands will lead to the trampaling of this world." said "You shall never have it, you treacherous scum!", said Elena in anger. Aquarius began laughing maleficly. Nessie tried to fight off the enemies, but she was quickly overpowered by a single swing of Aquarius' sword. I was paralyzed with fear as I watched the scene play out. "...fine, than I shall take you to the treasure... anything to save my home.", sighed Elena. Elena climbed onto the sea serpent. Yet Aquarius said before leaving: "I have no need of this place any longer. Destroy it and leave none standing ! " The soldiers relentlessly started attacking Splashland. I gasped as I heard him say that, he was indeed a very cruel monster. I ran up to Nessie and said "You can't abandon us now, you have to help us!" "But I...am weak and can't do anything..." , she said in a weak voice. "You have to...if you don't, this place and all it's beauty will disappear forever!", I cried as I touched Nessie's heart. My bond with her was very strong, and even though the situation looked hopeless, our bond shined amidst the darkness, and broke through. Nessie was shined with a grand aura. She quickly dispatched of the soldiers attacking the underwater world. "Come on, this is a job for both of us!", she urged me. I mounted on her back and we left to stop Aquarius and save Splashland! Nessie and I talked for a long time trying to find some allies in our fight against Aquarius but Nessie was sad she must save Splashland but she didnt want a war which destroyed the world which she loved so much. So we came back Elenas cave there we sat to rest near the wooden door and our tiredness made us to fall asleep. Wake up I listened and I opened my eyes lazily and I saw a strange dog which were licking my face softly, she has a long brown and curly hair, she was a waterdog. she took me through the door inside the cave where we swam for hours till we arrived to a big colourful room , the beautiful lights came from the cave ceiling and at the back of the corridor sitting 57

on throne on a pile of bones there was a pretty woman , blonde and long haired without a well defined age. Come Millie, I have been waiting for you she said. Who are you? I need your help, I answered. She told me that she was the whisperer and with her hands in my shoulders and staring me with her deep blue eyes said that I had to listen her story: We are at the bottom of the Moon spring, it has always been a magic place, the Ancestors came here to adore the goddess but in my time this used to be a beautiful place where the lovers swore love forever. That made Gonzalo and me, he was my servant and this didnt please my father who ordered the soldiers to kill him by paying a little amount of money. Crazy because the pain I threw myself onto the water, I wanted to die but now I am trapped for the eternity only the first night of every February, I can go out to the edge of the fountain, comb my hair and sing my sad story. But I am very sad too much time singing I am tired. Take my comb and give it to Nessie she will know what to do. On my way to Nessie I came to this silver coated door with a golden outline. I stood frozen then I heard Aquarius saying search for that Millie and Nessie. I got scared and ran into the door. As I ran into the door I could feel myself getting trapped in between the two doors. The doors were very big and stiff. I suddenly had visions of my granddad outside of the lake looking for me. I tried speaking to him, he stopped curiouslyhe heard me! I told him I was alright and would be home soon but really I had no idea where I was going to end up.Two minutes later I heard Nessie saying she had been taken by Aquarius. I realised the only way out was to trick Aquarius and his army. My plan had to be quite clever. I would take Aquarius to the evil door and trap him and his army there forever. So off I went with my comb to trick Aquarius and to see if Nessie lives. So I caught up with Aquarius and told him the golden door was good and the wood door was bad. He entered the golden door determined to get his jewels and he stood at the door curiously. He said this looks bad, are you sure? Yes. I replied. ARGHHHHHHH! Aquarius was gone. But what about Nessie? I thought Nessie had a horrible ending but really she was fine. Once I had said my goodbyes to everyone I left splash land forever. A few months later when I was sitting on the bank of the lake, I saw a ripple in the water. I thought for a few secondsthen I realised IT WAS NESSIE! She soon disappeared and I said Ill never forget you Nessie. I began to walk away and heard in the distance Ill never forget you either Millie.

The end

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