Luna was a little firefly, but she had a big problem. She couldn’t shine! All the other fireflies in Flickerwood Forest blinked and glowed, lighting up the night with their cheerful sparkles. Luna tried and tried, squeezing her little firefly tummy, but nothing happened. ‘It’s impossible!’ she sighed. ‘I’ll never be a proper firefly.’
Old Man Tiber, a wise beetle who’d seen many firefly seasons, overheard Luna. He slowly climbed onto a mushroom and said, “Impossible is just a word, little one. It means something is hard, not that it *can’t* be done. What makes you think you can’t shine?”
Luna explained, “I’ve tried everything! I’ve wiggled my wings, I’ve eaten extra glow-berries, I’ve even practiced in front of the mirror! Nothing works. It’s just…impossible.”
Tiber chuckled. “Perhaps you’re trying too hard. Sometimes, the brightest light comes when you simply *believe* it’s already within you.” He pointed to Celeste, a firefly known for her particularly brilliant glow. “Celeste used to think she couldn’t shine brightly either. She worried her light wasn’t good enough.”
Luna flew over to Celeste. “Really?” she asked. Celeste smiled. “Oh yes! I used to hide behind leaves, afraid my light was too dim. But my friend, Orion, reminded me that every light is special, and that even a small sparkle can make a big difference.”
Orion zipped over. “Luna, don’t give up! Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and imagine your light already shining. Don’t *try* to shine, just *feel* the glow inside.”
Luna closed her eyes. She pictured a warm, golden light filling her tummy, spreading to her wings, and then… a tiny flicker! It was small, but it was *there*! She opened her eyes and blinked. A small, but definite, glow pulsed from her.
“I… I did it!” Luna exclaimed, buzzing with excitement. It wasn’t as bright as Celeste’s or Orion’s, but it was *her* light. She practiced, remembering to believe in herself, and with each blink, her light grew a little stronger.
Soon, Luna was flying with the other fireflies, her little light adding to the magical glow of Flickerwood Forest. She learned that even when something seems impossible, believing in yourself and having good friends can make anything possible. And Old Man Tiber smiled, knowing that sometimes, the most beautiful lights are the ones that take a little extra effort to shine.