Dominic was a little dinosaur with a big green tail and very careful feet. He lived in the Dinosaur Room of the City Museum. By day, he stood still beside old bones and shiny stones. By night, when the moon made silver squares on the floor, Dominic could walk, talk, and wiggle his tail.
One quiet night, a blue drop of water bounced from a fountain bowl.
“Plip! Plop! Help!” it cried.
It was Nori, the Water Nymph. Her hair was like a tiny wave. Her dress was made of bubbles.
“My pearl is gone,” Nori said. “It is my moon-pearl. Without it, my fountain cannot sing its sleepy song.”
Dominic gave a small nod. He was shy, but he was kind. “We will look,” he said.
From behind a tall map case came Tuck, a Treasure Hunter. Tuck wore a yellow hat, a little backpack, and boots that went squeak-squeak.
“A treasure?” said Tuck. “I am very good at finding treasure. I have found three buttons, one spoon, and a very old sock.”
“That is not much treasure,” said Dominic.
“It was a sparkly sock,” said Tuck.
Then a soft purple puff floated near the dinosaur bones. It was Soren the Sorcerer. He had a round blue hat and a wand with a star on top.
“I can help,” said Soren. “But my magic is gentle. It makes lights, not loud bangs.”
“Gentle is good,” said Nori.
They followed tiny wet drops across the museum floor. Plip. Plop. Plip. The drops led past the big whale model, under a red rope, and into the room with old paintings.
There, they saw a tall man in a silver cape.
“Welcome!” he said with a bow. “I am Ivo the Illusionist.”
With a swish of his cape, he made ten moon-pearls appear.
“Which pearl is Nori’s?” he asked.
Dominic looked. One pearl was pink. One was striped. One bounced like a pea. One wore a tiny hat.
Tuck reached for the biggest pearl. “This one!”
“Wait,” Dominic said softly.
He listened.
The real pearl made a little sound: “Pling, pling, pling.” It sounded like water laughing.
“That one,” said Dominic, pointing with his tail.
Ivo smiled. “Very good, little dinosaur. You did not grab. You looked and listened.”
But when Nori picked up the pearl, it turned into a soap bubble. Pop!
“Oh!” Nori whispered.
Ivo’s cape swirled again. “Find me in the Hall of Mirrors!”
The friends hurried on. In the Hall of Mirrors, Dominic saw many Dominics. A tall Dominic. A tiny Dominic. A Dominic with a long, silly neck.
Tuck saw many yellow hats. “Which hat is mine?” he squeaked.
Soren lifted his wand. “Star light, small and bright.” A warm star-glow floated above them.
The mirrors showed funny pictures, but the star-glow showed their real feet.
“Follow the real feet,” said Dominic.
Step, step, squeak-squeak, plip-plop. They crossed the mirror room together.
At the end was a little door. Behind it was the museum’s secret treasure room. Gold cups twinkled. Gemstones gleamed. Old coins shone like buttons in the sun.
In the middle sat Ivo. He held Nori’s real moon-pearl in both hands.
“I took it,” he said, looking down. “I wanted someone to play my guessing game. The museum is very quiet at night.”
Nori felt sad for him. “You could have asked,” she said.
“I know,” said Ivo. “I am sorry.”
Dominic stepped close. He was still shy, but he was brave too. “Give it back. Then play with us.”
Ivo gave Nori the pearl.
Nori placed it in her fountain bowl. At once, the water sang, “Pling-plong, pling-plong.” Blue light danced on the museum walls.
As a thank-you, the fountain made a treasure for each friend. Tuck got a small golden compass that always pointed toward kind adventures. Soren got a star-shaped cookie that never got soggy. Ivo got a bright red balloon that made no tricks at all.
And Dominic got a smooth green stone with a tiny dinosaur carved on it.
“For the careful hero,” said Nori.
Dominic held the stone close. “Thank you,” he said.
Then everyone danced. Even Ivo danced. His cape got tangled around his feet, and he laughed.
When morning came, Dominic stood beside the old bones again. He looked very still. But under one careful foot was his green treasure stone, safe and shining.
And in the fountain, very softly, the water sang: “Pling-plong, brave Dominic. Pling-plong.”