Willow was a little ballerina with soft pink shoes. She loved to dance in the Mystic Courtyard.
The courtyard had round stones, tiny fountains, and blue flowers that chimed when the wind blew. In the middle stood a tall crystal statue. It was the Crystal Guardian. He had shiny silver eyes and a kind, deep voice.
“Good morning, Willow,” said the Guardian.
“Good morning!” said Willow. She did a small twirl. “Would you like to see my new dance?”
“Yes, please,” said the Guardian.
Willow lifted one foot. She stretched her arms. She turned once, twice, three times. Her skirt went swish, swish, swish.
Then the courtyard went very quiet.
The blue flowers stopped chiming.
“Oh,” said Willow. “Where is the music?”
The Crystal Guardian looked at the empty fountain. “Someone has taken the Golden Music Bell.”
The Golden Music Bell made the courtyard sing every morning. Ding-ding! It made the flowers chime. It made the little birds hop. It made Willow’s dancing feet feel light.
“I will find it,” said Willow.
The Guardian worried. “The path has shadows today.”
Willow felt a tiny wobble in her tummy. But she put one hand on her heart. “I can be careful. I can be brave.”
The Guardian gave her a small crystal lantern. “It shines when you are kind.”
Willow walked past the sleepy fountain. Tap, tap, tap went her ballet shoes. She crossed the ivy arch. Behind it was a little garden with tall purple grass.
“Golden Bell?” called Willow. “Are you here?”
A voice said, “No bell. Only me.”
Out from the purple grass stepped Spellcaster. He wore a big hat with a crooked star on it. In his hands was the Golden Music Bell.
“Mine!” he said.
Willow did not shout. She looked at Spellcaster’s face. He did not look mean. He looked sad.
“Why did you take it?” she asked.
Spellcaster hugged the bell. “Nobody comes to my quiet tower. I wanted music for me.”
“Oh,” said Willow softly. “Being alone can feel heavy.”
Spellcaster blinked. “You understand?”
“Sometimes,” said Willow. “But you did not have to take the bell. You could ask us to dance with you.”
Spellcaster looked down. “I do not know how to dance. My feet go clomp-clomp.”
Willow smiled. “That is all right. We can learn together.”
She put down the crystal lantern. “First, we breathe. In... and out.”
Spellcaster breathed in. Then out. His big hat puffed up a little.
“Now,” said Willow, “one step. Then another step.”
Willow went tap-tap. Spellcaster went clomp-clomp.
Willow giggled, but not in a hurtful way. “Clomp-clomp is a good start!”
Spellcaster smiled a little. “Again?”
“Again!” said Willow.
They stepped around the purple grass. Tap-tap. Clomp-clomp. Turn. Bow. Spellcaster’s hat fell over his eyes.
“Oh!” he said.
Willow laughed. Spellcaster laughed too. The crystal lantern glowed brighter and brighter.
The Crystal Guardian came through the ivy arch. His crystal hands sparkled.
“I see a brave ballerina,” he said. “And I see a new dancer.”
Spellcaster held out the Golden Music Bell. “I am sorry. I took it without asking.”
The Guardian nodded kindly. “Thank you for bringing it back.”
Willow carried the bell to the empty fountain. She rang it once.
Ding-ding!
The water jumped up in silver drops. The blue flowers chimed. The birds sang. The whole Mystic Courtyard filled with music.
Spellcaster stared. “It is even better with everyone,” he whispered.
“Yes,” said Willow.
The Guardian opened a crystal door in his statue chest. Inside was a treasure box. It was painted with moons and tiny dancing shoes.
“For Willow,” he said, “for being brave and kind.”
Willow opened the box. Inside was a pair of sparkling crystal ballet shoes. They were pink, with little silver stars.
“For me?” she asked.
“For you,” said the Guardian. “They will help you make a dance of light.”
Willow put them on. Tap! A small star shone on the ground. Tap! Another star shone. She twirled, and a circle of gentle light danced around her.
Spellcaster clapped. “Can I try the clomp-clomp dance again?”
“Of course,” said Willow.
So Willow danced in her crystal shoes. Spellcaster danced in his big boots. The Crystal Guardian made the fountain sing.
And in the Mystic Courtyard, there was music, light, and room for every kind of step.