In Spirit Garden, the morning was soft and gold. Dew drops shone on every leaf. Little Fairy Brave Fairy of Journey Land woke inside a blue bell flower. She had silver wings, a yellow hat, and a very brave heart.
“Good morning, garden!” she sang.
The roses opened. The bees buzzed. A tiny snail waved one slow feeler.
Then Fairy saw something sad near the round pond. One small flower was closed. Its petals were gray. It did not lift its head at all.
“Oh,” said Fairy. “Little Flower is sleepy-sad.”
A deep, gentle voice came from the biggest oak tree.
“Hello, Brave Fairy of Journey Land,” said Tree Spirit.
Tree Spirit had a warm brown trunk, green leafy hair, and bright acorn eyes. He was old, kind, and patient. When he smiled, two little birds made nests in his branches.
“Can we help the flower?” Fairy asked.
“Yes,” said Tree Spirit. “The flower needs three happy things: a sunbeam, a drop of pond water, and a tickle from a laughing feather.”
Fairy nodded. “I can do it. I am small, but I am brave!”
First, she flew up, up, up to a cloud. A sunbeam was hiding behind it.
“Please come out,” Fairy said. “A little flower needs you.”
The cloud made a fluffy puff. “I am too big and bouncy,” it said.
“That is okay,” said Fairy. “You can be bouncy. Just move a tiny bit.”
The cloud moved a tiny bit. The sunbeam slipped out. Fairy caught it in her yellow hat. It glowed like warm honey.
Next, Fairy flew to the pond. A frog sat on a lily pad.
“Plop, plop,” said the frog.
“May I have one clear drop of water?” asked Fairy.
The frog blinked. “Only one?”
“Only one,” said Fairy.
The frog made a very small plop. One bright drop jumped into Fairy’s little cup.
Now Fairy needed a laughing feather. She looked under leaves. She looked behind stones. She looked inside a pumpkin-shaped bush.
“Feather, feather, where are you?” she called.
A white feather floated down from above. It landed on Tree Spirit’s nose.
Tree Spirit tried not to laugh.
His nose wiggled.
His leaves shook.
“Ha-ha-choo!” Tree Spirit laughed.
The feather danced in the air. “Hee-hee!” it giggled.
“There you are!” cried Fairy.
She carefully carried the sunbeam in her hat, the water drop in her cup, and the laughing feather in her hand. Her wings felt tired, but she kept flying.
“I can do one more flap,” she whispered. “And one more. And one more.”
At the gray flower, Tree Spirit bent his branches close.
Fairy placed the sunbeam on the petals. Warm gold spread over them.
She tipped the pond drop. Sparkly water rolled down the stem.
Then she brushed the flower with the laughing feather.
“Tickle, tickle!” said Fairy.
The flower gave the tiniest sound.
“Hee!”
One petal opened. Then another. Then all the petals opened wide! The flower was pink, purple, and bright blue. In its middle sat a little golden treasure: a shining seed with a star on it.
“For you,” said the flower. “You helped me wake up.”
Fairy held the star seed gently. “Thank you!”
Tree Spirit smiled his big tree smile. “Plant it beside your bell flower,” he said. “It will grow into a special gift.”
Fairy dug a small hole. She covered the seed with soft soil. The frog gave it a drop of water. The sunbeam gave it a warm blink. Tree Spirit hummed a low, leafy hum.
Pop!
A tiny tree grew. Its leaves were shaped like little stars. From one branch hung a new treasure: a golden wing clip.
Fairy put it on her wing. It sparkled, but it was light and comfy.
“Now you have brave wings,” said Tree Spirit.
Fairy flapped. Her wings made a happy sound: whirr, whirr, shine!
She flew around Spirit Garden, not too fast, not too slow. The flower smiled. The frog plopped. The birds sang.
“Brave Fairy of Journey Land!” they cheered.
Fairy waved her tiny hand. “Being brave means helping, even when my wings feel tired.”
Then she flew home to her blue bell flower, wearing her golden wing clip. Above her, the star-shaped leaves twinkled all day long.