Luna the Gothic Frog Princess was a girl. She wore a tiny black crown. She had a soft cape that swished. She liked quiet places, but she was brave.
She lived near a Haunted Mansion. The house was big. The windows went creak. The curtains went whoosh. The floor went tap tap.
One night, Luna lost her shiny music box key.
“Uh-oh,” said Luna. “My key is gone.”
In the hall stood a Samurai. He was tall and polite. His sword stayed asleep in its sheath.
“I will help,” said Samurai. “I am calm. I look carefully.”
On the stairs sat a Doll. She had button eyes. She was giggly and a little bossy.
“I will help too!” said Doll. “I can peek under things.”
In a flower vase hid an Elf. He was tiny and quick. He was kind and curious.
“I can listen,” whispered Elf. “I hear secrets.”
They walked into the Haunted Mansion together.
Tap tap. Creak creak.
Luna held her friends’ hands.
“I feel a little scared,” Luna said.
Samurai bowed. “We go slow.”
Doll said, “We go silly!”
Elf said, “We go smart.”
A long shadow slid on the wall.
Ssshhh.
Then—WHOOM!
A Dragon curled in the ballroom. Big wings. Big eyes. A big yawn.
“ROAR,” said Dragon, but it sounded sleepy.
Luna’s knees wiggled.
“Hello, Dragon,” Luna said. “Did you see my music box key?”
Dragon sniffed. Sniff sniff.
“I like shiny things,” Dragon said. “I found a tiny shiny.”
He lifted one claw. But the key was stuck under it.
Samurai did not shout. He spoke softly.
“Please,” said Samurai. “May we have it back?”
Doll hopped closer.
“Dragon,” she said, “do you want a trade? I have a ribbon. It is very pretty.”
Elf nodded fast.
“And I have a leaf candy,” said Elf. “Sweet and small.”
Dragon blinked. Blink blink.
He looked lonely.
“I want… a friend song,” Dragon murmured.
Luna’s eyes grew warm.
“I can sing,” she said.
She sang a tiny, gentle song. “La la, night is soft. La la, friends are near.”
The mansion stopped sounding so scary.
Creak turned into a small squeak.
Whoosh turned into a hush.
Dragon smiled.
He moved his claw.
There was the key! It sparkled like a star.
“Thank you,” said Luna.
Dragon pushed a chest forward with his nose.
Clunk.
Inside were stickers shaped like moons, and a little silver bell.
“A treasure,” said Dragon. “For brave singing.”
Luna put the key in her pocket.
She gave Dragon the ribbon and the leaf candy.
Samurai bowed again. Doll clapped. Elf giggled.
Back in the hall, Luna turned the music box.
Ting ting.
A soft tune filled the Haunted Mansion.
Luna the Gothic Frog Princess smiled.
“I was scared,” she said, “but I asked nicely. And I sang. And we did it together.”
Dragon waved one wing, slow and friendly.
“Good night,” he said.
Good night, mansion.
Good night, friends.
And Luna held her treasure close as the music played on.