Wizard Kaia Bean was a little girl in the Enchanted Forest. She wore a tiny cape. She held a small wand. Kaia was shy, but brave.
One morning, the forest looked dull. The red berries were pale. The blue stream looked gray.
Kaia blinked. “Uh-oh. Where did the colors go?”
A Phoenix swooped down. Its feathers should be bright, but they looked dusty.
“Chirp,” said Phoenix. “Colors… gone.”
A Horse trotted in. Its mane was usually shiny. Now it was plain.
“Neigh,” said Horse. “We need help.”
A Wolf padded from behind a tree. Wolf was careful and quiet, but kind.
“Woof,” said Wolf. “I will guard you.”
Kaia hugged her wand with two hands. “I will help. I will try.”
They walked under tall trees. Leaves whispered, “Shhh… shhh…”
Phoenix sniffed the air. “I smell… smoke.”
Horse pointed with its nose. Ahead was a crooked hut. A Witch stood there. She had a big hat and a sour face.
The Witch stirred a pot. The pot burped. “Blurp!”
The Witch cackled. “I took the colors! Now the forest is mine to gloom!”
Kaia’s knees shook. She whispered, “I am small.”
Wolf leaned close. “Small can still be brave.”
Phoenix flapped. “We go together.”
Horse snorted. “Step by step.”
Kaia took one step. Then another. She held her wand up.
“Please,” Kaia said, very soft. “Give the colors back.”
The Witch frowned. “No!” She waved her hand. A gust of gray wind whooshed.
“Whooo!” went the wind.
Horse stood in front of Kaia. Wolf stood beside her. Phoenix flew above.
Kaia did not run. She closed her eyes.
“I know one spell,” she said. “A nice spell.”
She tapped her wand on her own heart. Tap-tap.
“Warm light, bright light,” Kaia said. “Come back, come back.”
A tiny spark popped. “Pop!”
The Witch laughed. “That is nothing.”
But Phoenix shook out one feather. It fell like a little flame.
Wolf found a shiny stone by the hut. Horse found a silver leaf.
They brought them to Kaia.
Kaia smiled. “Thank you, friends.”
She put the feather, the stone, and the leaf in a circle. Then she lifted her wand.
“Colors, please,” Kaia said. “Come home.”
The circle glowed. Red, then blue, then green.
The gray wind got smaller. “Whee…”
The Witch’s eyes went wide. “Hey!”
With a final swish, Kaia’s light bumped the pot. The pot tipped.
Splash!
Out poured ribbons of color, like paint in the air. They zoomed to the trees. They jumped into flowers. They dove into the stream.
The forest brightened fast.
The Witch sniffed. She looked tired. “I… I only wanted the pretty colors for me.”
Kaia nodded. “Pretty is nicer when shared.”
The Witch huffed, then grumbled, “Fine.” She stomped away, still grumpy, but the gloom was gone.
Phoenix blazed bright again. “Chirp!”
Horse’s mane shone. “Neigh!”
Wolf wagged its tail. “Woof!”
In the grass, Kaia saw something sparkle. A small treasure chest! It had a rainbow lock.
Kaia touched it. Click!
Inside were four magic crayons. Red. Blue. Green. Gold.
Phoenix said, “For you.”
Kaia giggled. “For us!”
She drew a bright heart on a rock. She drew a sunny circle on a leaf. The drawings glowed.
Kaia held her crayons tight. “I learned it,” she said. “I can be brave. And I can make colors.”
Together, they walked home through the happy, shining Enchanted Forest.