Chapter 1: A Fishy Friend

Hi. I am Finnegan. Some people call me Finn. I'm a fish. A normal fish. I am a Vermilion snapper. I am native to the west. I live in the Atlantic Ocean. I live with my mom and dad. I love my parents. I'm an only child. I live in the city of Coral City. My home is my favorite place in the whole world! When you started reading this paragraph, you might be thinking something like, "This is boring." Wait, don't leave! This story will become very good! I PROMISE! You're still here? Great. Now let me tell you more all about me.

I was born a year ago. If you’re surprised, it’s because fish reach maturity at two years. I go to middle school at Coral City Middle School. I have a friend there, and she is a dolphin. Her name is Charlotte. I met her on the first day of 5th grade, and we became best friends after that. Almost every weekend, we have a playdate. We love to go on big adventures like that time when we played Turtle, Turtle, Fish. It was so, much, FUN! Fin-tastic! But sometimes, we can get into a little trouble, like that time we played weed rock, and we accidentally hit the rock too hard, that it landed on Mr. Edwin's new but fragile fence. Boy, was he mad. We even have walkie-talkies (which we had since we were young) to talk to each other.

My parents are very kind to me. Almost every Saturday night, my dad cooks seasoned kelp for Saturday dinner. YUMMY! I love every happy moment I like, but the most thing I am going to like for my ENTIRE LIFE is what? You have 5 seconds to guess.

5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

What is it? The rarest and most beautiful... THE OCEAN MOON!

Chapter 2: To Be Over The Moon

The Ocean Moon is the rarest and most special thing in the whole wide universe! It only shows up once a year. And I really want to try seeing it for the 2nd time! Why did I say that? Because last time I almost accomplished my goal until this very annoying drive-in movie theater stopped my goal. But I know I'm gonna get it this year with my own plan. If you think this plan might go on pretty badly, YOU ARE WRONG. It will go right. For 48 hours, I've been thinking about an idea that will change the lives of people. I wanted to send it to Town Hall, but I know they won't approve it, so I'm keeping it. Now, from Finnegan Productions, presents...

FINNEGAN'S

ABC'S

To Having a Fun Sight for the OCEAN MOON

A. Always Find the Perfect Spot

To see the Ocean Moon, ensure you are in the perfect spot. It should have the following:

1. No bright lights. That will cover the show.

2. No loud, noisy things. You won't concentrate on a loud noise.

3. Relaxing sounds. That will make your sighting even better.

Remember that the ocean moon is only seen once a year, so get your P-E-R-F-E-C-T place ready. If you prepare properly, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking vista.

B. Be Cautious

Ahhh... you're calm in your nice watching spot. But watch out, there might be a danger on your tail! (Or no tail.) To be safe, you'll have to find somewhere safe. That is why you need F.I.S.H. Let me show you.

F. Find a place with no dangerous stuff.

I. Immediately see if the place has any weapons.

S. See if there are no predators.

H. Hold up and see if there are no fishermen or fisherwomen.

This is a simple acronym to follow, and if you do, your very good, outstanding, and fantastic sight will have even more goodness in it.

                     Welcome to...

  SHARK SPOT

C. Create a Beautiful Place

Your place is finished. The Ocean Moon is now observable! Meh, your place might seem a little dull. I understand! Let's get decorating! You should enhance your spot with lovely things. No bright lights, please. You can use a sign to inform visitors that the location is available for viewing the yearly event! Utilize snacks! Mmmmm! If you need a backrest, sit in a chair. You are free to use whatever you wish. Have fun and be creative! The moon sits high in the sky, waiting for you! As you do so, your surroundings will become increasingly lovely, and your spectacular view will become even more spectacular. You will feel more calm if you do this! If you're exhausted, bring a blanket and a sleeping bag.

Come and see the moon!

Great! Now you followed Finnegan's ABCs to Having a Fun Sight for the Ocean Moon, get ready for the BIG day! Presenting, the Ocean Moon, for ONE NIGHT ONLY folks!

Yes, Moon!

Chapter 3: No, Moon?

I came back home from school. What a day! I met with my mom in the kitchen, cooking up the pan. 

"Hey, Mom!" I said to her when I came to the kitchen. Now she would always say, "How was your day at school?" 

And I would always reply, "Well." After that, I said, "But I'm also ready for the last day of school!" 

That is right! The last day of school is Friday, June 17th. "But not only that. Saturday is the Ocean Moon! Great!" My mother was with a frown. "Wait, the Ocean Moon?" said my mom. 

"Uh, yeah! I have been prepared for two weeks! What's the problem?" I replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Um, son. You can't see the Ocean Moon." 

"I can see the Ocean Moon! I just did not see it last year."

"That's because you couldn't. You can see the Ocean Moon in every direction except the south."

Did she just say...the south? I LIVE IN THE SOUTH! 

My stomach was filled with flying fish. My eyes trembled, almost with tears. So I got prepared for a big event for two weeks just for nothing? If I can't see the Ocean Moon, my life is doomed. No Ocean Moon, no excitement. I swam into my room with my head down to the ground.

No Ocean Moon?! No Ocean Moon means...none of my dreams will come true. How is my dream supposed to be real now?

Chapter 4: Out Of Moon

I woke up and got excited. It was the last day of school! But I wasn't excited that I could not see the Ocean Moon. At school, I sat at my desk, frowning. Charlotte swam next to me. 

She asked, "Hey bud, why are you frowning like a blobfish?" 

I replied, "You see. The Ocean Moon is coming, and I can't wait. But, I can't find it in the south. So, because of that unexceptional cause, I am going to make my very own plan to go to the northeast!" 

"But Finn, you can't do that!"

"Why?"

"The north is MILES and MILES away from here in Coral City! You will end up in another city, Verdure City! And you have to pass, SHARK SPOT."

DO                          and                       DON'T

"How hard can it be?"

"Very hard. I don't think you can do this. Besides, your instincts know that it is a bad idea to do."

She was right. Your instincts are smart. They always know the DOs and DON'Ts. But I know this is a DO. Anyway, I'll go pretty bonkers if I don't see this Ocean Moon. l have to go on a big trip. And I'm going to make my very own map. If I don't come back, it will be a big problem. I have to leave a note first before I leave. It will read, "Dear mom and dad:

I am going to go on a trip to do some work with Charlotte overnight. Please, I wil be back home as soon as possible.

From your son,

Finnegan"

"Well, it's time for me to go to my trip! Hopefully, I'll make it back by Sunday!'' I said.

"Really, Sunday?" said Charlotte confused.

"Yup!'' I said. It's time to begin my journey! You know what they say: a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!

Chapter 5: The Journey Begins

I am already on the final day of school. Then after, I'll get ready for my trip across the ocean. Charlotte said crossing north of the equator would take 1-2 days. I know. My DO is counting on me to accomplish this mission. I know I can do this! This is gonna be AWESOME! The world will be amazed by how good I am at this. I will cross miles and miles across the ocean. Then I will land in the north and see the ocean moon! I am in the South Atlantic Ocean now, but then I will land in the North Atlantic Ocean to see the Ocean Moon far and wide across the ocean! I am not going to swim through the 

HERE

FINISH

bottom (which I can't do). When the party came, we had fun! We got tattoos from a guy who paints faces and gives us tattoos to put on. 

While we were having fun, Charlotte said, "Are you ready for your trip around the WORLD?" 

I replied, "I'm not actually going around the whole world. I just crossing the Earth, that's all"

"But what if you get eaten by the sharks?"

"What do you mean?"

"One tale says that one famous photographer, Denri Carmeir-Menson, got eaten in a shark accident. He never returned..."

"Creepy tale!"

Maybe Charlotte was right. If I get eaten by a shark,

then I would never return back home! 

I replied, "Well, maybe you have a point. Sharks are nocturnal, and they mostly hunt at night. But I need to find that ocean moon as fast as possible!"

Charlotte did an eye roll but replied, "Good luck...for a fish like you."

    Chapter 6: Bye-Bye!

I am ready. Ready to start my mission. That's right! I just returned from school, and now it's time to get to the Ocean Moon. Oh yeah, I discovered that the Ocean Moon appears for two days, so I'm lucky! As I said, I have a small walkie-talkie I used when I was little, and it still works. Charlotte got one too. I tested the walkie-talkie by turning the dial and saying, "Testing, testing, 123. Hey Charlotte, can you hear me? Over." Cool rhyme. Charlotte came on by replying, "I can hear you LOUD AND CLEAR. Over."

"Ready for this mission? Over."

"I don't think so. Over."

"What, why? I won't get eaten."

"You have to pass many dangerous places, including SHARK SPOT. Over."

"If this SHARK SPOT thinks I will be made for dinner, that's wrong because I'm gonna find my way to the moon! Okay, I'm ready to escape. Got the map?"

"Yes, but-"

"Good. Over and out!"

It's time to see that blue treasure of mine, the Ocean Moon!

So how do I escape? I know! I went up to Dad, who is making seasoned kelp again in the kitchen. "Hey, dad," I said. "Hey, son," said Dad. "How are you?" 

"I'm fine," I replied. "Say, Charlotte needs my help with homework today. May I please go help?" Shoot. I said something wrong. 

"But school ended," said Dad with a confused face. 

"I meant to say making a story with her. We're sleeping over too." I said. I said the right thing this time. 

"Um, okay? Make sure you look both ways before swimming across the street." 

I swam away quickly, going to get my backpack and pack all my stuff. Well, the stuff I need. My walkie-talkie, stuffed seahorse, pencil and notepad, snacks and drinks, map, and more to pack. I even packed soda! After I packed all my stuff, I went down and told Mom and Dad,

"Bye, Mom and Dad!" 

"Hold on, Geronimo!" said Mom. 

"What's with all the stuff in the backpack?" 

"Materials," I replied. 

"Oh, okay," Mom said. "Have fun on your project!" She swam away. 

Yup, I can't wait for my project! Going to the Ocean Moon!

"Oh, and watch out for the fishermen!" says Mom.

Oh, them. But I'll be okay.

Chapter 7: Leaving the City

I was ready to leave the city. Also, I left a note:

"Dear mom and dad:

I am going to go on a trip to do some work with Charlotte overnight. Please, I will be back home as soon as possible.

From your son,

Finnegan"

I was scared to leave, but if I wanted to see that blue moon, I had to go leave Coral City. I will also end up at Verdue City and have to go past Shark Spot. So I knew I had to be brave to accomplish my mission. I dialed the walkie-talkie and said:

"Hey Charlotte, are you on? Over."

"Yeah. Are you sure your mom and dad can fall for this trick? Over."

"Of course, they will! They'll, oh wait, I forgot they might talk to your parents while I'll go, but I'm miles from Coral City! Over."

"Now your gonna get into trouble. I told you this was a bad idea! Over."

"I have to swim very far away from Coral City now!"

"But bud-"

"Over and out."

I didn't know that Charlotte's parents would have to know I was coming! Dumb, Finnegan, dumb! I swam as fast as I could from Coral City. Coral City was just a small little dot when I swam away and looked behind me. But as I looked in front of me, the place looked deserted. I should still be at my ocean. I swam and looked at all of the things that made the place very black. This place did not look like a place where any

animal would live. I wanted to go on my journey, but I just couldn't keep my eyes off my home. Maybe I'm not brave enough. Then I saw something green that looked like a rock. I swam toward it to see what it was. What was that thing?

Chapter 8: The Green Rock

I swam toward a green rock. It looked normal, but as I swam closer, it had scales. When I swam even closer, it had thin lines going between scales. Then I knew it wasn't a rock. 

I touched the rock with my fin, and unexpectedly, it shouted, "Hey! Who was that?" 

I retreated fastly away from the talking rock, knowing it will catch me. The rock got out of the sand and shook off the sand, and to my surprise, it wasn't a rock! It was a turtle! The turtle escaped from the sand and looked at me. She knew I was a fish but didn't see a redfish. 

"Who are you? You look weird," said the turtle.

To me

, when sea animals see me, they know I'm a vermillion snapper, but to the turtle, she hasn't seen one. I said, "Um, well, er, I'm a vermillion snapper. My name's Finnegan. My type of fish is red. Who are you?" 

The turtle replied, "Hi. My name's Tati. I'm a sea turtle. I'm going to the north." 

"Why?"

"To see the Ocean Moon!"

"Well, I'm also traveling to the North Atlantic to see the Ocean Moon!"

"Wow! I can't believe that! We'll be traveling partners going to our destination to see our Ocean Moon!"

Wow! Partners? We'll be sure to get there faster! Besides, a turtle with flippers can swim far to see the ocean moon! I got my bag and pulled it to land it on Tati's shell. I got on the back of my turtle friend and I told her to start swimming. Politely that is. I took out my notepad and pencil and wrote:

Note to self: I just met a brand new shelly friend! 

We started moving through the water. I felt the water on my fin while we were moving. Ocean Moon, here we come! Oh yeah, while we swam, it was nighttime, so me and Tati went to sleep. We ate snacks and then slept. I slept with my stuffed seahorse too, of course. 

Chapter 9: The Current

We swam through the ocean while I felt the water on my fin. Ocean Moon, here I come! While I rode on Tati, we saw a curly white thing. We thought it was a tornado, but we saw fish going fast, saying, "Woo-hoo!" 

"That must be a current," said Tati. When we went to the entrance, the sign said:

Route 6; dirt desert → VERDURE CITY

"Verdure City! Our next stop!" I cried. 

"Why do we need to go there?" said Tita. 

I told her that Verdure City is the first stop to get to the north for the Ocean Moon. We go and find a fish who sits near a kelp leaf and is scared while other schools of fish and groups of sea animals go into the current having fun. Tati and I swam up to him. 

I told him, "Hey, little fish. Why aren't you going in the current?"

The fish sighed. "Sorry. I am just too scared to go in."

I replied, "Why are you here anyway?"

"I got carried away in a water storm. Our family has a plan: if we get separated, we take the currents. I live in the north."

"Me and my turtle friend are going to the north too!"

"Maybe I can come with you?"

"Sure! We are a trio now!"

"Yay!" shouted Tati.

"Now we'll help you get in the current." I continued with the conversation.

"But I'm too scared?"

"You can go on Tati's shell so you can swim with us!"

"That's great!" said the little fish. "I'm Danny, by the way."

Well, Danny went on the shell. We were ready to go to the current. Danny and I held hard on Tati's shell as she started to go through the current. I counted, "Three, two, one, SWIM!" We swam through the

current when we were whooping with excitement. This they could have gotten better! But we were going a little fast when we were going through the current. Okay, too fast. We were going so fast that Danny almost fell off Tati! I gripped Danny's fin as we were going too fast. We saw other fish going too fast. We found a sign that said:

VERDURE CITY: 100 Miles Ahead

We were almost heading to our destination! Tati felt a little drop on her nose. 

She shouted, "RAIN!" Rain? We just got started on our journey! We moved tilting side to side as we held a strong grip onto Tati. But we almost slipped off.

Danny was frightened when he saw other fish slip off from the current. This day had gotten worse. Very worse! Looks like this turned from a DO to a DON'T.

Chapter 10: Verdure City

We were swimming through the current very fast. Tati couldn't hold on. Danny and I couldn't hold on either. We were going too fast through the current! We found another sign, and this sign meant something good to us:

        Welcome to VERDURE CITY: 

                  Imagine, Vizualize, Dream Up

We saw a clear spot which was the end! When we reached the end, we got pushed off, rolled, and fell. It hurted. But when we stood up, we were very suprised

VERDURE CITY

 Imagine, Vizualize, Dream Big

When we saw the big scenery, man, it was cool! We saw lights, people, and cool underwater mobiles. We saw the big sign that said Verdure City: Imagine, Visualize, Dream Out. That is a big city for many people to live in! We bumped into a flounder that looked rich. He said, "Hey, watch it, please, ladies!" He swam away from us. That was an accident. Why did he shout at us then? Mean. There was a woman squid that had a hat that said, "Tour Guide." She must be the tour guide! We swam up to her, and when she saw us, she said, "Hi! You must be tourists! Welcome to Verdure City! Imagine, Vizualize, Dream Out!" She did some moves when she said the motto. Me and the other two laughed at her.

"What are you people doing here?" she asked. 

I told her, "We're going to see the Ocean Moon up north!" 

"Don't you want to have a tour around this place?" the tour guide replied. 

"Um, no. Let's go, guys," said Tati. 

We swam with her. We saw a lot of things around here. We even saw kids playing on crossing stripes. 

"Maybe this isn't a place we would go?" 

We then saw a big kingdom that said, 

"Verdure Kingdom."

Tati grinned and said, "That's a big kingdom!"

I replied, "Let's go see what's in there!"

"I don't know. It's pretty big."

"But no guards are outside. It must have been a home to a royal family!"

"Come on, guys!" said Danny. "We're only here to get to the north for me to get home and for you two to see the Ocean Moon." 

Danny was right. We're only here for our quests. But I told Danny, "Come on! Let's just go and see what's inside!"

So for a reason, I just swam inside the castle. Tati and Danny were after me telling me to stop on my path. I knocked on the door to see if anyone was inside. Then the door opened...with NO ONE INSIDE! Creepy... I swam inside to see someone. No one. Tati and Danny followed behind me, warning me. I ignored them, looking around at all the valuable things in the castle. I was so surprised when I looked at everything! Then it hit me. I saw a light in one door.

Someone must be living here! I thought. I went to see what was inside. I opened the door slowly. Iswam inside the room. And when I swam inside, someone was in there! 

Chapter 11: The King

It was a king. A big one. But not just a big one...it was a whale! The whale was looking in his mirror and was grinning. 

He said to himself, "Who dares question the fairest of them all? Verily, it is I, the sovereign of beauty!" 

Looks like he was self-sensitive. He then looked at me and said, "Ho! What curious little fish swims within my halls?" 

I replied, "Oh, um, I was just going to go somewhere. Well, um, bye!" 

He said, "If thou seekest release from this chamber, behold—the way lies yonder!" 

He pointed at the window next to him. A sign said, "Now Leaving Verdure City." Shoot, I should have looked at the sign. I told him that I'll just take

WHERE YE KING LAYS

the bus to the north. "Also," continued the king. "I suggest thou taketh the 8 route bus."

BUS

I was starting to leave until when I looked behind me, I saw the whale looking at the mirror. I went to him and said, "Um...why do you always look in the mirror?"

"Yet oft do I wonder, is there some flaw upon my visage? Dare I be called uncomely? Tell me, am I marred by ugliness?"

"Well, no. You don't need a mirror to see if you're ugly."

"What treachery or no treachery is this?! Guards, to me at once!" 

Now I'm surrounded by a bunch of guards trying to catch me. 

So I swim away.

The guards are after me! I see Danny and Tati in front of me, right on time.

Oh, man. I'm just standing here talking to a whale when I'm really supposed to be leaving! I need to go see the moon! The Ocean Moon, that is! 

I tell my friends, "Guys! I met the king! And he sent guards to get us." 

Then we see the guards coming to us! We have to swim away! So we swim. They're still there! So we take the shortcut. We go through a squeezed pathway. And they turn... What are we going to do? 

"Look!" says Danny. 

It's a dead end! When we get there, the guards surround us. Then I have an idea. I open the window and say,"Jump off here!" 
"But," says Tati, "We'll get hurt!" 

"It's the only way." I reply.

So we jump off...and onto a mattress! When we landed on it, I wondered what it was doing here. Maybe it was left for delivery. When we find the 8-route bus, I take out my bus license. Every teenager has this. When we get on, the bus started to move. Right on time! Time to move.

Chapter 12: The Dark

The bus stops in a dark area. My friends and I get off. When the bus leaves, me and my friends look around the area. It looks like the deserted area I have been at, but more creepy. I wrote a note in my notebook:

Notes to self:

1. Met a new friend and went through a current!

2. We went through our first stop.

3. Met the king of the city.

4. Landed at a dark stop...

"This looks creepy..." says Danny. "I'm scared. I need to get home."

"And I need to see the Ocean Moon!" says Tati. 

I said, "Don't be scared, guys. We're fine!" I then said. "We still have each other and are still safe, right?" 

I went through my backpack and got out my map. I went through my map and checked where we were. That's when I found out we were in a lost city. I didn't know this city, but when I looked around the place, I saw a golden seahorse hiding behind the grass. I could tell it was a seahorse because I see a curved tail. 

I went near the seahorse and asked him or her, "Hey, little one. What are you doing?" The seahorse got frightened and jumped out of the kelp. 

"AHHHH!" shouted the seahorse. I could tell by the voice is was a female. So I told the seahorse, "It's okay; I'm just a friend." The seahorse stared at me for a couple of seconds. Then she said, "You're a Vermillion-"

"Yes," I continued for her. "I am a Vermillion Snapper."

"I'm Sam." the seahorse said. "What are you doing here?"

I then said, "Three of us are heading to the north. The turtle's name is Tati, and the fish's name is Danny."

"Well, I'm going to the north too!"

"Why?"

"Well, you see, I'm going to see my parents at our reunion. But when we were taking the bus as I put my head out the window, I must have done it a little too far, because I fell off the bus. I wasn't hurt, though. Now I have to see if I should go to the north, or stay here for the bus to get me."

"Where are we anyway?"

"They say this is the Water Desert Ruins. It's a long desert. To get out of here, you need to take a current that is far from here." 

A current? Again?

Well, if we need to get to the north, we need to take a current. 

"Guys, she's right. If we need to get to the north, we have to take a current." All of us agreed. 

So we hopped on Tati's shell, and Tati swam through the water. While she was swimming, my walkie-talkie screeched. It was Charlotte! I dialed the walkie-talkie and said, "Agent Finn here! Over."

Charlotte replied, "Loud and clear! Over."

"I'm getting near to the north Atlantic! Over."

"Have you passed, well, SHARK SPOT? Over."

"Not yet. I'm taking a current right now. I have to leave the walkie-talkie. Over and out."

"All right! Over and out." I can't believe my adventure is going great! I looked at my map, and we were pretty, not too far from here. It's DO time! Ocean Moon, here I come!

I'm a seahorse!