Rise the Ballerina wakes up at the Mystic Statues. The statues are tall and quiet. They look like they are listening.
Rise is gentle and brave. She has soft shoes and a sparkly skirt. She does a tiny tip-toe. Tap, tap.
Princess comes running. Princess is kind and a little bossy.
“Rise! My crown jewel is gone!”
Prince follows. He is calm and helpful.
“We will look together,” says Prince.
Doll sits in the grass. Doll is small, stitched, and very smart.
“I saw a shiny blink,” whispers Doll. “Near the big statue nose.”
Rise nods. “Let’s find it.”
They walk between the Mystic Statues. The wind goes whooo. A shadow slips.
Wizard appears. He has a long coat and a fussy face.
“I like shiny things,” he grumbles. “I took it. Mine now.”
Princess huffs. “That is not nice!”
Wizard waves his wand. POOF. The jewel is hidden. The statues’ eyes look dim.
Rise feels a little scared. She holds her skirt. Then she takes a slow breath.
“I can do a dancer trick,” she says.
Prince leans close. “We believe in you.”
Doll points. “Dance makes the statues wake up. I think so.”
Rise stands on a flat stone. She lifts her arms like wings.
“One… two… turn!”
She twirls. She twirls again. Her skirt goes round like a flower.
Tap tap. Spin spin.
The nearest statue glows. A warm light goes blink-blink.
Another statue glows too.
Wizard squints. “Stop that!”
Rise smiles. “No. This is my show.”
Princess claps. “Pretty!”
Prince claps. “Strong!”
Doll claps. “Smart!”
Rise does a big, slow bow. Then a tiny hop.
The statues hum, like sleepy bees. The ground gives a gentle rumble.
A stone hand opens.
Inside is the missing jewel!
Princess gasps. “My jewel!”
Wizard stomps his foot. “Hey!”
But the statues look at him, very firm.
Wizard’s wand goes SPLAT—stuck in a sticky patch of mud.
Wizard pulls. “Ugh!”
He cannot grab the jewel.
Rise picks up the jewel carefully. It is cold, then it turns warm.
She hands it to Princess.
Princess puts it on her crown.
“Thank you, Rise.”
Prince says, “You saved it with dancing.”
Doll pats Rise’s shoe. “You learned a new skill. Statue-Wake Dance.”
Rise giggles. “Statue-Wake Dance!”
The statues shine bright again. Colors return: gold, blue, pink.
The Wizard looks small now.
He sighs. “I can share,” he mutters.
He takes out a little box.
“Here. A ribbon for the Ballerina.”
Rise opens it. A silver ribbon with tiny stars!
She ties it on her ankle.
They all dance between the Mystic Statues.
Tap, tap. Spin, spin.
The statues hum along.
And Rise feels brave, happy, and sparkly.