Read The Rescue Princesses #2: Wishing Pearl for Free Online

she held out the pearl.
    Emily looked confused. “We figured you were getting the pearl. That could be just what we need. But why do we have to go right now?”
    “I can hear him calling. He’s in trouble,” said Clarabel desperately. “No time to explain.”
    “One second,” Jaminta said firmly, and, taking the pearl from Clarabel’s fingers, she laid it next to the sapphire bracelet from the previous night.
    Then, with a swift tap and some careful bending of metal, she took one sapphire out of the bracelet and set the pearl in its place.
    “Thanks,” said Clarabel as Jaminta handed back the new pearl-and-sapphire bracelet.
    “If the dolphin’s in trouble, then let’s go!” said Lulu.
    Dashing out of the palace, they arrived at the beach in record time. They battled strong winds that tried to whisk them off their feet as they crossed the sands. The storm swept closer, its black clouds looming.
    “The storm will reach Ampali Island really soon,” Jaminta shouted over the noise of the wind.
    “I know!” yelled Clarabel. “But I’m not going back until I’ve helped the dolphin.”
    She could still hear his sad calls coming through the pearl and it made her run even faster.
    As she climbed up the steep dunes, she noticed a pair of footprints already leading that way, and her worry deepened.
    Reaching the top of the dunes, she stared down at the lagoon below. Gone was the clear turquoise water. Instead, the lagoon was as gray as the sky, with the surface whipped up into sharp waves.
    By the edge stood a drenched Prince Samuel, with an enormous tangled mess of fishing net in his hands.
    Clarabel ran down the slope toward him. “What have you done? Where’s the dolphin?”
    She scanned the choppy water, but there was no silky gray shape poking its nose above the surface.
    “It pulled me in,” said Samuel sulkily. “Now I’m all wet.”
    “The dolphin pulled you in! That doesn’t sound right. What were you doing, anyway?” demanded Jaminta, looking at the tangled black net.
    “Nothing! Just fishing,” said Samuel quickly.

    “You were trying to get the treasure using the fishing net!” guessed Lulu. “That’s just silly!”
    Prince Samuel jumped and turned red, then purple. “I knew you princesses were too nosy. How did you find out about my treasure? I won’t let you have any of it!”
    “We’re not here for the treasure. We’re here to help an injured dolphin,” said Clarabel.
    Prince Samuel scowled. “Your dolphin spoiled everything, getting in the way of my net.” He gave the net a kick and muttered, “All those gold bars and coins must be down there somewhere.”
    “You mean the dolphin got tangled up in your net?” said Clarabel. “How could you be so mean? He must have been terrified.”
    Dark storm clouds swept over their heads, covering every bit of blue sky.
    Prince Samuel ignored Clarabel and stomped away up the sand dunes, trying to keep his balance in the driving wind.
    Clarabel ran after him. “What happened to the dolphin?”
    “It swam down there.” Prince Samuel glowered at her and pointed toward the mouth of the lagoon.
    “I’m not staying out here in a storm,” he shouted. Then he left without a backward glance.
    Clarabel stared at the tiny channel of water where the lagoon met the sea. Her dolphin was gone.
    Emily, Lulu, and Jaminta joined her. The wind howled around them and rain began to beat against their faces.
    “Why did he think he’d catch the treasure in a net?” Jaminta wondered aloud. “It’s much too heavy.”
    “He wasn’t thinking at all. The poor dolphin!” said Emily, shaking her head.
    “He must have gotten tangled up in Samuel’s net and been really scared,” said Clarabel. “Then he must have swum out of the lagoon into the sea to escape.”
    She chewed her lip. If only she’d run faster. If only she’d stopped Samuel in time.
    Lightning cut through the sky in a jagged flash and thunder boomed. Her dolphin had left the safe