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![]() The underwater
realm is a world of entrancing, exotic beauty, full of undiscovered
riches. In the midst of this splendor there lies on the bottom
of the sea a quiet and peaceful city, home to a diverse array
of fish and other aquatic creatures. It is a rather ordinary
underwater city-safe and secure.
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![]() For
the most part, Roya Is happy and content in this city.
Everything she needs is right there. All the same, she is restless,
sensing that something is missing. Things are, thanks to Mr.
Octopus, completely under control: the rhythms of life in
the city are perfectly regulated, precise to the point of rigidity.
Roya can t help but be bored. She yearns for a little
excitement, a little adventure-anything to break the monotony.
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![]() The other inhabitants
of the city don t think twice about this. They go about their
business secure in the knowledge that nothing can disturb the
peace of their city. Mr. Octopus has seen to that - his
ugly black statues hide the city from the prying eyes of their
enemies, the dreaded “cruel whales . These ebony scarecrow-like
constructions are so ugly, in fact, that they scare the common
knowledge that outside the confines of her safe little city life
is cruel, unforgiving, and dangerous. Seclusion is a small price
to pay for safety. |
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 One day, Roya and Sam
hear a story about a magical city far away from their boring abode.
“Dream City sounds like such a fantastic place that Roya
immediately yearns to go there. Sam (who likes adventure
as much as anyone), however, is not so sure. He reminds his companion
of Mr. Octopus warnings that it is not safe to venture beyond
the borders of the city. No one, absolutely no one, questions
this-Mr. Octopus authority is unassailable. |
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| Later that afternoon, Roya and Sam find a deposit
of beautiful pearls (and other assorted sea treasures) behind
one of the black statues. Amazed to discover such riches (such
beauty) right inside her own, rather ordinary little city, Roya
is inspired to go on an adventure, a journey penetrating some
of her city s unexplored regions. Roya thinks to herself: there
is much to discover even in her home town - you need only a new
pair of eyes to see what was hidden before. |
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Despite the derisive laughter
of the other fish, and Mr. Octopus' vociferous objections, Roya
and Sam prepare to embark on their search, unaware that they are
being spied upon by Ray. Could Mr. Octopus be afraid of
what they might find? |
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| Soon Roya and Sam plunge headlong into a harrowing
series of adventures, culminating in their discovery that the
fabled Dream City is, in reality, their own city. Thanks to
Roya and Sam, the other inhabitants open their eyes to the beauty
which exists all around them. They also learn that the cruel
whales do not exist - the selfish Mr. Octopus created an imaginary
danger, using fear to gain control of the city. |
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![]() In
light of this knowledge, Mr. Octopus is no longer held in
respect. Humiliated, his image shattered, the old grey octopus
slinks between a crack in the rocks as the fish begin to tear
down the ugly ebony statues.
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