Tiana couldn’t believe it. Mama Odie needed her help? Mama Odie, the most magical woman in New Orleans, the terror of the bayou, needed the help of a humble cook?

“Of course I’ll help you however I can,” Tiana said. “But what—”

Tiana’s breath caught. Mama Odie was holding up a pearl. It was beautiful—large and shiny and perfectly round.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” Mama Odie said. “It’s even prettier when it’s glowing.”

“Glowing?” Louis asked. He looked as confused as Tiana felt.

“This pearl has magic powers,” Mama Odie explained. “But it only works when it’s with its sister.”

“Pearls have sisters?” Tiana said.

“Well, this one does,” Mama Odie said. “See, way back when, before you were born, I found these two pearls in an enchanted oyster deep down in the bayou. They were like two peas in a pod. They’ve got big magic, but it only works when they’re together. And just last week, well…one of them was stolen.”

“Stolen!” Louis exclaimed.

“How?” Tiana asked. She couldn’t believe someone would be able to steal from Mama Odie. She might be blind, but she still knew about everything going on in the bayou.

“No idea!” Mama Odie said. She threw her arms into the air in frustration. “Whoever it is, she is sneaky. And powerful, too. It isn’t easy to get in and out of the bayou without me noticing. I asked the pearl where her sister is. All she knows is that the thief has hidden it somewhere in New Orleans.”

“That pearl can make conversation?” Louis asked, his eyes growing wide.

“If you know how to listen,” Mama Odie said. “She says the thief has hidden her sister on a string of normal pearls.”

“So,” Tiana said, “someone in New Orleans is wearing a magic pearl…”

“…and nobody’s any the wiser,” Mama Odie finished. “Hold out your hand, child.”

Tiana obediently put her hand out. Mama Odie dropped the pearl into her palm and closed her fingers around it.

“Take this back with you to New Orleans,” Mama Odie said. “You can use it to find the other one. When they get close to each other, they’ll glow. And watch yourself. You’re probably dealing with bad magic here.”

Tiana clutched her fingers around the pearl. It was smooth and slightly warm.

“I’ll do my best, Mama Odie,” she said.

“That’s my girl,” Mama Odie said.

“How are you gonna find that pearl, Tiana?” Louis asked as they made their way through the bayou the next morning.

Tiana swatted a mosquito and sighed. “I don’t know, Louis,” she said. “But as soon as we get home, we’ll start working on a plan.”

“Home?” said a voice.

“But Louis…” said another.

“…we thought this was your home,” finished a third voice.

Tiana and Louis whipped around. The three huge alligators they’d seen before were standing behind them.

“Uh,” Louis said. He waved awkwardly. “Hi?”

Before Tiana could even blink, the three alligators leaped at Louis, who disappeared in a pile of scales and tails.

“Louis!” Tiana screamed.