In the soft, wide Galaxy, little Wizard Royal lived on a round blue moon. Royal wore a purple hat with three silver stars. His wand was small. It went ping when he was happy.
Every morning, Royal waved at the planets. “Hello, red planet. Hello, ring planet. Hello, tiny star!”
One morning, the Galaxy looked gray.
The red planet was gray. The ring planet was gray. Even Royal’s purple hat was gray.
“Oh, no,” said Royal. “The colors are gone.”
Ping! His wand made a sad little sound.
At the Crystal Cave, Crystal Guardian opened bright crystal eyes. The guardian was tall and shiny, but very gentle.
“Monster took the Color Comet,” said Crystal Guardian. “Without its light, the Galaxy cannot glow.”
“Where is Monster?” asked Royal.
“Near the sleepy moon,” said the guardian. “But Monster is big.”
Royal’s knees felt wobbly. He was a little wizard. Monster was very big.
Then a warm feather floated down. It was orange, gold, and red.
Phoenix flew from behind a cloud. Her wings made a soft whoosh. “I will fly with you,” she said. “Brave can mean scared and still going.”
Moon Child popped out from a silver moonbeam. Moon Child had a round face and moon boots that went tap-tap.
“I know the way,” said Moon Child. “Follow my glow!”
Royal smiled a small smile. “We go together.”
They flew in Phoenix’s star boat. Whoosh! Past a purple planet. Whoosh! Past a sleeping comet. Moon Child pointed left, then right, then left again.
“Not that cloud,” said Moon Child. “That cloud sneezes.”
The cloud said, “Achoo!”
Sparkly rain fell on Royal’s nose.
Royal giggled. “Bless you, cloud.”
At last, they found Monster on the sleepy moon. Monster was huge and fuzzy. He had six feet, two tiny ears, and one very worried face.
Beside him sat the Color Comet. It was tucked under his big blue arms.
“Monster,” said Royal, using his kind voice, “please give back the comet.”
Monster sniffed. “No.”
Phoenix folded her bright wings. “Why not?”
Monster looked at the gray sky. “I was lonely. The comet is warm. It makes a pretty nightlight. I did not want the dark.”
Moon Child stepped close. “You can have moonlight,” they said. “I can share.”
Crystal Guardian held up one shining hand. “And you can visit the Crystal Cave. It is safe there.”
Monster’s big eyes blinked. “Really?”
“Really,” said Royal.
But the Color Comet was stuck. Monster had hugged it too hard. It would not rise.
“I can try magic,” said Royal. His knees felt wobbly again.
Phoenix touched his shoulder with one warm feather. “You can do it.”
Moon Child held up a moonbeam. Crystal Guardian made a circle of crystal light. Monster opened his arms.
Royal lifted his small wand.
“Color Comet, fly high. Make the Galaxy shine!”
Ping!
Nothing happened.
Royal took a slow breath. “Friends, help me.”
Phoenix flapped her fire-bright wings. “Whoosh!”
Moon Child sang, “Glow, glow, little moon.”
Crystal Guardian chimed, “Ting-ting-ting!”
Monster hummed a deep, soft hum.
Royal waved his wand once more.
“Together light!” he said.
PING!
The Color Comet jumped up. It zoomed around Monster’s ears. It zoomed around the sleepy moon. Then it raced into the Galaxy, leaving red, blue, green, yellow, and purple behind it.
The planets glowed again. Royal’s hat turned purple again. The sneezing cloud became pink and said, “Achoo! Thank you!”
The Color Comet dropped a little treasure into Royal’s hands: a star-shaped box.
Inside were magic color beads. Red beads for courage. Blue beads for calm. Yellow beads for happy days.
“For Wizard Royal,” whispered the comet.
Royal gave Monster a blue bead. “For your nightlight.”
Monster smiled a giant smile. “Can I be your friend?”
“Yes,” said Royal, Phoenix, Moon Child, and Crystal Guardian.
That night, they had a picnic on the blue moon. Monster brought moon cookies. Phoenix toasted them warm. Moon Child made the crumbs dance. Crystal Guardian made crystal cups sparkle.
Royal looked at his friends and held his new treasure box tight.
His wand went ping, ping, ping.
The Galaxy was bright. Monster was not lonely. And little Wizard Royal knew he could make big magic with kind friends.