Princess Lily lived in a castle made of clouds, but she wasn’t very happy. All the sparkle had gone out of her fairytales! She used to love imagining brave knights and talking animals, but now, whenever she tried, the stories felt…dull. She sighed, watching the stars begin to twinkle.
A tiny firefly named Flicker noticed Princess Lily’s sadness. He zipped closer, his little light blinking worriedly. “What’s wrong, Princess?” he asked in a voice like a tiny chime.
“Oh, Flicker,” Lily said, “I’ve lost the sparkle in my fairytales. I can’t seem to imagine anything magical anymore. It’s like…like the stories are empty.”
Flicker thought for a moment. “Maybe,” he said, “the sparkle isn’t *in* the stories, but *inside* you! When you believe in something with all your heart, that’s when the magic happens.”
Lily frowned. “But I *want* to believe! I just…can’t.”
“Let’s try something,” Flicker suggested. “Close your eyes and think of something kind you did today.”
Lily closed her eyes. She remembered helping a little lost bird find its nest. A warm feeling spread through her chest.
“Now,” Flicker said, “imagine that bird, soaring through the sky, happy and free. Add a little sparkle to its wings. What color is the sparkle?”
“Silver!” Lily whispered, a small smile appearing on her face. She imagined the bird with shimmering silver wings, dancing among the clouds.
“Good!” Flicker exclaimed. “Now, imagine a friendly forest creature. Maybe a little bunny? What makes this bunny special?”
Lily pictured a fluffy bunny with a bright red bow. “It’s very brave,” she said. “It helps other animals find their way home.”
As Lily described the bunny, she noticed something amazing. A faint glow began to surround her hands. The room seemed a little brighter.
“You see?” Flicker said, his light shining with joy. “The sparkle is coming back! It’s your kindness and your imagination that make the fairytales magical. It’s not about grand adventures, but about the good things you think and do.”
Lily continued to imagine, adding more and more details to her stories. A wise old owl, a playful stream, a field of glowing flowers. With each new image, the sparkle grew stronger, filling the castle with light.
Princess Lily realized Flicker was right. The magic wasn’t something she needed to *find*; it was something she already had inside her. She thanked Flicker for reminding her, and together, they continued to create wonderful, sparkling fairytales, filled with kindness, bravery, and the joy of believing.