In the bright Kingdom, Fairy Chole Keeton lived in a tiny blue house under a big leaf. Chole was small, kind, and a little shy. Her wings went flutter-flutter when she felt brave.
Every morning, Chole painted dewdrops with rainbow light. Pink. Yellow. Blue. The Kingdom sparkled.
One morning, oh no! The colors were gone. The grass was gray. The clouds were gray. Even Chole’s little blue house was gray.
Flower drooped in the garden. Flower had soft red petals, but now they looked like sleepy paper.
“My red is missing,” said Flower. “I feel so sad.”
Elf came running down the path. Elf wore green boots and a round yellow hat.
“The Wizard took the Color Bell!” said Elf. “He carried it to his tall tower. Without the bell, the Kingdom cannot shine.”
Fox peeked from behind a gray bush. Fox had a fluffy tail and careful eyes.
“I know a safe path,” said Fox. “Come with me.”
Chole’s wings shook. The Wizard’s tower was dark and high.
“I am scared,” whispered Chole.
Flower lifted one small petal. “You can be scared and still go.”
Elf nodded. “We go together.”
Fox smiled. “Step, step, step. I will show the way.”
So Chole took a deep breath. “Okay. Flutter with me!”
They crossed the Quiet Meadow. They walked over the Bubble Bridge. Pop! Pop! Tiny gray bubbles bounced around their feet.
At the tower door, they found a sleeping stone dragon. It was not mean. It was just very sleepy.
“Snore,” said the dragon.
Elf tickled its nose with a feather. “Achoo!” went the dragon. The big door opened.
Inside, the Wizard sat by the Color Bell. Ding-ding. But the bell made no sound. The Wizard looked grumpy.
“I wanted the colors for my tower,” he said. “But gray is all I got.”
Chole looked at him with gentle eyes. “Colors do not like being locked up,” she said. “They like sharing.”
The Wizard frowned. Then he looked at Flower’s droopy petals. He looked at Fox’s gray tail. He looked at Elf’s dull hat.
“I did not know,” said the Wizard, very quietly.
Chole flew close to the bell. Her wings trembled, but she raised her little wand.
“Kind light, wake up bright!” she said.
Nothing happened.
Flower called, “You are brave!”
Elf called, “You can do it!”
Fox called, “Flutter, Chole!”
Chole smiled. Her wings went flutter-flutter-flutter.
“Kind light, wake up bright!” she said again.
DING!
The Color Bell rang.
Red zoomed to Flower. “Hello!” cried Flower, opening wide.
Orange ran over the rooftops. Blue splashed into the sky. Green danced across the grass. Gold jumped into Elf’s hat. Fox’s tail turned warm and russet again.
Even the Wizard’s tower became purple with silver stars.
The Wizard clapped. “It is much nicer when everyone has color.”
He gave Chole a small treasure box. Inside was a shining rainbow pin shaped like a wing.
“For the bravest shy fairy,” said the Wizard.
Chole pinned it on her dress. It gleamed in seven bright colors.
Back in the Kingdom, everyone had a picnic. Flower wore a dew-drop crown. Elf ate three honey cakes. Fox chased a golden sunbeam.
Chole laughed. “I was scared.”
“And you were brave,” said her friends.
Above them, the Color Bell sang, ding-ding-ding, and the bright Kingdom sparkled all day long.