The Dragon Who Loved Rainbows

Lily thought for a moment. Then she smiled—a smile so bright it rivaled any rainbow. I know where the real ones are, she said. But you will have to be patient. And you will have to be gentle.

Every day for a week, Ember returned to the meadow. He helped Lily gather wildflowers. He blew warm air to dry her clothes when she got caught in the rain. He learned that she loved to paint, and he told her stories of the mountain peaks where the stars seemed close enough to touch.

And on the seventh day, something magical happened. The rain stopped. The clouds parted. And as the afternoon sun touched the remaining raindrops in the air, a rainbow arched across the entire valley—a bridge of color more magnificent than Ember had ever imagined.

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Each color seemed to sing.

Ember felt tears prickle his eyes—actual tears, which sizzled softly as they touched the grass. Thank you, he rumbled.

Lily reached out and placed her small hand on his massive snout. Sometimes, she said softly, the best treasures arent the ones we find alone. They are the ones we wait for, together.

From that day on, Ember still loved rainbows. But he loved something else even more: the friendship that had taught him patience, kindness, and that the most beautiful things in life are worth waiting for.

And whenever a rainbow appeared over the valley, two friends would be there to see it—one big, one small, both exactly right.

Sleep tight, little one. Remember: the best things come to those who wait with a kind heart.