In the depths of the sea lived an octopus named Octavia. Everyone knew Octavia, and it was hard not to. She was the life and soul of the ocean.

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Octavia was a good-hearted octopus. She spent her days cleaning up the sea, collecting items such as plastic bottles, bags, and containers that humans had carelessly discarded. Using her resourcefulness, she created an underwater recycling centre.

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Her creations were endless. She built playgrounds for young sea creatures, safe spaces for endangered fish, and even a message-in-a-bottle delivery service. Thanks to her efforts, the sea sparkled with cleanliness, and everyone around her was happy.

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While tidying, Octavia often stumbled upon valuables that humans had lost: wedding rings, trinkets, and precious items. At night, when most sea creatures were asleep, she would swim to the shore, carrying her finds. Though she sometimes thought humans treated the ocean poorly, she also saw glimpses of their kindness. She liked to imagine the joy her recovered treasures might bring.

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Above the water, aboard a pirate ship, perched an owl disguised as a parrot. Her name was Olive. At night, Olive kept watch, alerting the pirates if danger approached. Unknown to Octavia, Olive observed her every evening and was fascinated.

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Though Olive certainly looked the part of a pirate’s parrot, she was not truly one of them. Before she hatched, her egg had accidentally ended up in a nest of parrot eggs (but that’s a whole other story). Deep down, Olive was gentle and kind-hearted, much like Octavia.

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One evening, after a successful treasure hunt, the pirates celebrated. As the night grew late, Olive became anxious. Any moment now, Octavia would appear, shimmering with gold. Normally, it was a beautiful sight: Octavia gliding beneath the surface, her treasure sparkling in the moonlight. But Olive knew pirates never missed anything that glittered.

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As they sang and clinked their bottles, Olive saw Octavia approaching. In a panic, she swooped down, trying to distract the pirates. It worked for a moment, but they quickly caught sight of the gleaming octopus. Ignoring Olive, they rushed to the ship’s edge and threw a net into the water. Before Olive could stop them, they had caught Octavia.

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The next morning, they tied Octavia to the ship with a long rope and forced her to dive for treasure. As time passed, the ocean changed. Without Octavia’s help, plastic and rubbish accumulated, harming underwater creatures. Octavia grew sad, and her once-sparkling spirit faded. Olive knew something had to be done.

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That night, once the pirates were asleep, Olive made a brave decision. Though she hated getting wet, she took a deep breath and dived into the sea. She found the rope holding Octavia and began pecking at it. She returned each night, chipping away at the knot in secret. During the day, she dried off quickly, hoping the pirates would not notice.

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After a week, the rope finally snapped. The sudden release caused the ship to jolt. Olive heard the pirates stir. Octavia swam as fast as she could, but she was still visible. Olive needed to distract them.

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She rolled in seaweed, silt, and algae until she was completely disguised. Then, with wings spread wide, she rose from the water and flew straight at the pirates. In the moonlight, she looked monstrous. The pirates screamed in terror and ran below deck, hiding under their covers. Olive returned to her perch, soaked and amused. She watched Octavia disappear into the sea, finally free again.

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The next day, the ocean shimmered once more. Octavia had returned to her community, cleaning the sea and spreading joy. She had truly been missed.

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Meanwhile, the pirates huddled together, whispering tales of the terrifying creature that had snatched the octopus away. Olive chuckled to herself and thought, “Perhaps the disguise would be useful again someday.”