Blaklee is a little girl in a small Village. She has bright eyes and a soft hat. She is shy, but she is brave inside.
Today the Village looks dull. The painted doors look pale. The flower pots look gray.
Blaklee pats her pocket. “Oh no,” she whispers. “My color pebble is gone.”
A tiny Mouse pops out from a bread basket. Mouse has quick paws and a big grin.
“Squeak! I can help,” says Mouse. “We find it together!”
Blaklee nods. “Together.”
They walk past the well. They look under a bucket. No pebble.
They walk to the market. Mouse sniffs apples. “Sniff sniff. Not here.”
Blaklee looks behind a scarf stand. “Not here.”
A warm wind whooshes. A Phoenix lands on the roof with a flap-flap. Phoenix is shiny and loud.
“Mine! Mine!” Phoenix cries. In its beak is Blaklee’s color pebble. It glows like candy.
Blaklee freezes. Her voice is small. “Please… that is mine.”
Phoenix tilts its head. “I like shiny,” it says.
Mouse steps forward. “Hello, big bird! Let’s trade.”
Phoenix laughs. “Trade? For what?”
Blaklee thinks hard. She remembers her pocket has a biscuit. A round, sweet biscuit.
She holds it up with both hands. “Biscuit?”
Phoenix’s eyes go wide. “Snack!”
But Phoenix does not move. It hugs the pebble.
Mouse whispers, “We need a plan.”
Blaklee takes a deep breath. “Phoenix, can you help the Village?” she asks. “If you give it back, we can make the Village bright again. You can see it shine.”
Phoenix blinks. “Shine… for everyone?”
Blaklee nods. “Yes. And you get biscuit.”
Phoenix flaps once, then twice. “Deal!”
Phoenix drops the pebble into Blaklee’s hands. It is smooth and warm.
Blaklee smiles. “Thank you.”
She rubs the pebble on a door. Whoosh! The door turns red.
She rubs it on a pot. Pop! The pot turns yellow.
Mouse claps tiny paws. “Yay! More!”
Phoenix hops down. “More!” it chirps.
Blaklee rubs the pebble on a flag. Swish! It turns blue.
Soon the whole Village is bright. Doors, pots, and ribbons glow like a rainbow.
Phoenix looks around, amazed. “So shiny,” it says softly.
Blaklee gives Phoenix the biscuit. Phoenix munches happily. “Crunch!”
Mouse squeaks, “Teamwork!”
Blaklee giggles. She is still shy, but now she stands tall.
The mayor of the Village comes with a small box. Inside are two prizes: a tiny gold bell for Mouse, and a new pouch for Blaklee.
“For your color pebble,” says the mayor.
Blaklee puts the pebble inside the pouch. It fits just right.
She waves to Phoenix. “Come visit. We can make more colors.”
Phoenix nods. “Friends,” it says.
Blaklee, Mouse, and Phoenix watch the bright Village sparkle. Blaklee feels brave, and her pocket feels safe.