Riley was a tiny fairy with bright blue wings. She lived near Charms Amphitheater, a round place of soft grass and shiny stone seats. Every morning, Riley sprinkled warm gold dust on the stage.
“Good morning, stage!” Riley said.
The stage twinkled. “Good morning, Riley!”
Riley liked helping. She liked singing, too. But she was shy. Her voice was very small.
One sunny day, Horse came clip-clop-clopping down the hill. Horse was big, brown, gentle, and a little silly. He wore a yellow ribbon on his tail.
“Riley!” Horse said. “Tonight is the Moonlight Music Show! I will stomp a happy beat. You will sing. The fireflies will glow!”
Riley smiled a little. “My voice is tiny.”
“Tiny songs can be lovely,” said Horse.
Then the sky went whoosh.
A Dragon flew over Charms Amphitheater. He was green, round, and had a purple scarf around his neck. Dragon was not smiling.
“Too much music!” he grumbled. “Too much sparkle! I want a quiet nap.”
Dragon puffed one small cloud of smoky gray air.
Puff!
The golden music notes flew off the stage. One note hid under a stone. One note bounced into a bush. One note floated up to a tall tree. Without the notes, the Moonlight Music Show could not begin.
“Oh no,” said Riley.
Horse lowered his head. “We can find them. I have strong hooves and kind eyes.”
Riley took a deep breath. “And I have fairy dust.”
First they looked under the stone. Horse lifted it with his nose.
“There!” said Riley.
A little golden note was shaking. “I am scared of the dark,” it squeaked.
Riley gave it a warm dust hug. “You are safe.”
The note glowed. Ting!
Next they searched the bush. Horse peeked inside. A sleepy hedgehog was using the second note as a tiny pillow.
“Excuse me,” Horse whispered.
The hedgehog yawned. “You may have it. But can I come to the show?”
“Yes!” said Riley.
The note danced into Riley’s hand. Ting!
The last note was high in the tall tree. Riley looked up, up, up. Her wings trembled.
“I am small,” she said.
Horse stood beside her. “You are small and brave.”
Riley flapped once. Flap-flap. She rose a little.
She flapped again. Flap-flap. She rose past the leaves.
At the top, the last note was caught on a twig. Riley carefully sprinkled silver fairy dust.
“Please come down,” she said.
The twig let go. Ting!
Three notes swirled around Riley like golden butterflies. Riley laughed. “I did it!”
But Dragon still sat above the amphitheater. His smoke cloud covered the moon.
“No show,” he said. “I need my nap.”
Riley flew close, though her tummy felt wobbly. “Dragon, are you cross because the music is loud?”
Dragon looked at his claws. “Yes. Loud sounds make my ears feel buzzy.”
Horse nodded. “We can make a gentle show. Soft stomps. Soft singing. Soft lights.”
Dragon blinked. “Really?”
“Really,” said Riley.
She gave Dragon a pair of fluffy leaf earmuffs. Horse placed them on Dragon’s ears. Dragon looked very funny, and even Dragon gave a little giggle.
That night, the moon shone above Charms Amphitheater. The fireflies made tiny lamps. Horse went clip… clop… clip… clop, very softly. The hedgehog sat in the front row.
Riley stood on the shiny stage. Her knees felt shaky. Horse smiled at her.
“You are ready,” he said.
Riley opened her mouth.
Her first sound was small. “La.”
The golden notes floated around her.
Then Riley sang, “La-la, moon so bright. La-la, friends tonight.”
Her little voice was sweet. It filled the amphitheater like a warm blanket. Dragon listened behind his leaf earmuffs. His eyes grew soft.
“No buzz,” Dragon whispered. “It is nice.”
Soon Dragon hummed a low, gentle hum. Horse made soft hoof beats. The fireflies blinked. Everyone sang together.
When the song ended, the stage opened with a click.
Inside was a little treasure box, covered in stars.
“For the brave music finder,” said the stage.
Riley opened it. Inside was a silver singing bell and a new blue ribbon for Horse.
Riley rang the bell. Ding-ding!
It made the prettiest tiny song.
Horse wore his ribbon proudly. Dragon curled up near the stage and slept with a happy smile.
Riley looked at her friends. “My voice was tiny,” she said.
“And very lovely,” said Horse.
From then on, Riley was the little Singing Fairy of Charms Amphitheater. Every moonlit night, there was gentle music, soft lights, and room for every friend to listen, sing, or sleep.
La-la. The moon was bright. La-la. Everything was all right.