00:00Beneath the rolling waves of the Sapphire Sea, where sea stars twinkle like underwater lanterns and coral gardens bloom with colour, there lived a young mermaid named Marina. Marina had the most beautiful voice in all the oceans. Her songs were soft and silvery, like moonlight drifting through water. Dolphins would dance when she sang, and even sleepy whales would hum along with her melodies.
00:25But one day, something changed. It happened during the Ocean Festival. Marina was chosen to sing the opening song in front of thousands of sea creatures. As she opened her mouth to sing, no sound came out, not even a whisper. Marina tried again, still nothing.
00:43Gasps rippled through the crowd. Marina swam away, tears stinging her eyes like salt. Back in her seashell room, she didn't want to talk. She didn't want to sing. She just floated quietly, watching her pet seahorse, bubbles, swim in slow, gentle circles.
00:59I don't understand, she whispered. Where did my voice go?
01:03The next day, Marina visited the Wise Coral Council, a group of ancient sea creatures who helped keep peace under the sea. At the centre sat Elder Anamona, an old jellyfish with a glowing centre.
01:16You lost your voice because your heart is out of tune, Anamona said, her tendrils glowing softly.
01:22You're singing for others, not for yourself. Marina blinked. But I love singing for others.
01:30Yes, said Anamona. But when you stop singing for joy and start singing for praise, the sea hears the difference.
01:38Marina's heart sank. So what do I do? Anamona pointed her glowing tendril toward a faraway reef.
01:44Find the sea heart. It will show you your true voice again. Marina set off immediately with bubbles and her best friend, Kai.
01:51A brave and clever young merman who could speak every language of the sea.
01:56They travelled past glowing jellyfish forests, through singing caverns, and over a mountain made of giant clams.
02:03Along the way, Marina tried to hum. Nothing. Not a note.
02:08You'll find it, Kai said gently. Just keep swimming.
02:12As they reached the edge of the Sapphire Sea, the water turned dark and thick with kelp.
02:16A large sign read, Danger! Currents of Confusion.
02:21They were close. The currents tossed them like tiny shells in a storm.
02:25Marina struggled to keep hold of Kai. Everything spun her thoughts, her direction, her heart.
02:31Then she heard it, a voice, soft and faint.
02:34Marina!
02:35Who's there? she called.
02:36Suddenly, the currents stopped.
02:38In a clearing of still water, stood a mirror, made of pearl, floating just above the sand.
02:43In it, Marina saw herself, not just as a mermaid, but as a child, singing joyfully, with her eyes closed, all alone in a choral garden.
02:53She sang because she was happy, Marina whispered.
02:56Not to be heard. Just because she loved it.
02:59And then, a hum, just the tiniest sound.
03:03But it was hers.
03:04The mirror disappeared, and a beam of light led Marina to a glowing underwater cave, shaped like a heart.
03:12Inside was the sea heart, a massive crystal pulsing with soft musical energy.
03:17All around it, glowing notes floated in bubbles.
03:21As Marina approached, the notes swirled around her, listening.
03:25She closed her eyes.
03:27She didn't think about crowds.
03:28She didn't think about praise.
03:30She thought about her choral garden.
03:32About Kai.
03:33About bubbles.
03:34About her love for the ocean.
03:36And then she sang.
03:37At first, it was just a note.
03:39Then two.
03:40Then a song clear and strong and full of joy.
03:43The sea heart glowed brighter and brighter.
03:45Until music filled every wave and ripple of the ocean.
03:49Marina returned home to a sea full of cheering fish and celebrating dolphins.
03:53Sing for us, Marina, they cried.
03:55But Marina just smiled.
03:57I'll sing when my heart wants to, she said.
04:00And she did.
04:01From that day forward, Marina's voice became even more beautiful.
04:05Not because she sang louder, or higher, or longer.
04:09But because every note came straight from her heart.
04:12Sometimes she sang alone in her choral garden.
04:14Sometimes she sang lullabies to baby turtles.
04:17Sometimes she sang...
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