Outside the palace, almost the entire courtyard had gathered to watch them leave. Mermaids, mermen, tiny sea children, attendants, and guards—faces of every kind smiled at the sight of Class D boarding the bus. Some waved, some tapped the glass gently, and a few of the littlest mer-babies tried to swim after Boo, who blew them dramatic goodbye bubbles from the door.
Lady Maris pressed her hands together, her eyes shining softly. King Corvus raised his hand in a dignified wave. Arielle shouted, "Bye Sable!!" with her tiny voice echoing adorably.
And slowly, as Dante and Alina made sure everyone was inside and safe, the great turtle bus began to glow. Lights shone across its shell like morning sunlight rippling over waves, and the ocean around them brightened as it prepared to carry them upward.
As the bus rose, hundreds of gentle bubbles floated up around them like blessings, and the entire kingdom waved as Class D began their journey back home.
