Emarelys was a little fairy. She lived in the Mystic Courtyard, where the stones were warm and the air smelled like sweet leaves.
Emarelys was kind and a bit shy. When she felt shy, her wings went “frr-frr” very softly.
One morning, Emarelys blinked. “Oh no.”
The courtyard flowers looked gray. The tiny fountain looked gray too.
A small elf jumped from behind a pot. “Hi! I’m Pip the elf,” he said.
Pip was playful. He liked to hop, hop, hop.
Emarelys whispered, “The colors are gone.”
Pip tilted his head. “Let’s find them!”
They walked on tiptoes. Tap, tap, tap.
They looked under a red bench. Nothing.
They looked behind a sleepy statue. Nothing.
Pip pointed. “Look! Sparkles on the path.”
The sparkles led to a big archway covered in vines.
From the shadow came a Giant.
He was very tall. His shoes were like boats.
He rumbled, “Who is in my courtyard?”
Emarelys held Pip’s hand. Her heart went thump-thump.
But she stood straight. “I am Emarelys. We want the colors back.”
The Giant blinked slowly. “I did not steal them,” he said.
Then he sniffled. “I stepped on a paint pebble by accident. Now my eyes feel stingy. I can’t see bright.
So everything looks gray to me.”
Pip whispered, “Maybe the colors are hiding because he is sad.”
Emarelys flew up, just a little. “Giant, can we help your eyes?”
The Giant nodded. “Please.”
Emarelys said, “We need three color drops.”
Pip cheered, “A color hunt!”
First, they found a blue drop in the fountain. Plip-plop.
Emarelys caught it in a tiny leaf cup.
Second, they found a yellow drop on a sun-warm stone. It shone like butter.
Pip giggled, “It’s tickly bright!”
Third, they found a red drop inside a rose bud.
Emarelys asked gently, “May we borrow it?”
The rose bud opened. “Yes,” it seemed to say.
Emarelys mixed the drops. Swirl, swirl.
She made a small, soft magic wipe.
She touched the Giant’s eyes very carefully.
The Giant sighed. “Ahh.”
His eyes sparkled.
Then—whoosh!
The courtyard colors rushed back.
Green vines! Pink petals! Blue water!
Pip did a silly dance. “Color party!”
The Giant smiled, shy too. “I was scared to tell anyone,” he said.
Emarelys nodded. “It’s okay to ask for help.”
The Giant reached into his pocket. It was like a cave.
He pulled out a little box.
Inside were candy-bright crystal marbles.
They glowed with every color.
“For you,” the Giant said. “A treasure for brave helpers.”
Emarelys held the box. It felt warm. Her wings went “Frr-frr,” but now it was happy.
Pip said, “Can we play in the Mystic Courtyard now?”
“Yes,” said Emarelys.
And in the bright courtyard, they rolled the glowing marbles—slow, safe, and shiny—until the sun went sleepy.