Bella was a little fairy in a big palace.
The palace had tall doors and shiny floors.
Bella was kind and brave, but a bit shy.
She had a friend.
An Imaginary Animal named Pompom.
Pompom could look like anything.
Today, Pompom looked like a tiny blue bunny with wings.
“Hi, Bella,” said Pompom.
Bella whispered, “Hi. Let’s be quiet.”
Pompom giggled, “Quiet feet! Tip-tip!”
They tip-tipped down the hall.
Bella stopped.
“Oh no,” she said.
The palace colors were going away.
A red rug looked gray.
A gold chair looked dull.
In the corner, something moved.
A Living Shadow.
It slid like a long, soft night.
It did not talk.
It only swished.
Bella held her wand close.
She felt a little tremble.
Pompom scooted near her.
“I’m with you,” Pompom said.
Bella took a breath.
“Colors, come back,” she tried.
A tiny spark popped.
Not enough.
Pompom sniffed the air.
“Shadow likes corners,” Pompom said.
“And it likes lonely places.”
Bella nodded.
“I will not run,” she said.
They walked to the palace garden room.
There were big windows.
Sunlight made warm squares on the floor.
But the squares were fading too.
Bella saw little paint drops on the ground.
Pink. Yellow. Green.
Like lost candy dots.
“Lost colors!” Bella said.
Quest time.
They would restore the colors.
They would bring them home.
Bella picked up one drop.
It felt like a jelly bead.
Pompom picked up another.
He balanced it on his nose.
“Boop,” he said.
Bella smiled.
The Living Shadow slid closer.
It stretched toward the jelly beads.
Bella stepped in front.
“No,” she said.
Her voice was small, but steady.
She had an idea.
“Shadow,” Bella said softly.
“You can have a light of your own.”
Pompom blinked.
“A gift?” he asked.
Bella nodded.
Bella waved her wand.
“Twinkle-lamp!”
A little lantern of gentle light appeared.
It was not bright.
It was cozy.
Like a bedtime night-light.
The Living Shadow paused.
It touched the lantern.
The shadow did not disappear.
It became softer.
Not scary.
Just quiet.
Then, the shadow let go of the palace colors.
Whoosh.
The red rug turned red again.
The gold chair shined.
The warm sun squares came back.
Bella and Pompom clapped.
Pompom did a tiny hop.
“Boing!”
The shadow slid into a corner with its new lantern.
Now it had its own glow.
It seemed calm.
The palace chimed.
Ding-ding.
A secret drawer opened in the wall.
Inside was a treasure.
A small box with rainbow stickers.
And inside the box: a bag of sparkle beads.
“For you, Bella,” said Pompom.
Bella gasped.
“Sparkle beads!”
She put one on her wand.
It made a happy tink sound.
Bella looked at the palace.
Bright. Safe.
She looked at Pompom.
“Thank you,” she said.
Pompom said, “Teamwork.”
Bella flew a little circle.
Not shy now.
“Tip-tip, twinkle,” she sang.
And the palace stayed colorful, all day long.