Emory was a girl who lived in a big Palace. The Palace had tall doors and soft rugs. Emory was small, but she was brave. She also liked to be gentle.
In the Palace, there was a Princess. The Princess wore a shiny crown. She was kind and a little bossy, but she loved to help.
One morning, the Palace felt strange. The hallway lights looked dull. The gold walls did not sparkle.
The Princess gasped. “My sparkle is gone!”
Emory blinked. “Gone?”
“Yes,” said the Princess. “My special jewel is missing. It makes the Palace glow.”
Emory nodded. “We will find it.”
They tip-tap walked past a fountain. They peeked under a bench. They looked behind a curtain.
“Not here,” said Emory.
Then they heard a low sound. Grrr… thump…
A Monster was in the mirror room. It was big and fuzzy, with wide eyes. It held something shiny.
The Princess hid behind Emory. “Monster!”
Emory’s knees shook. But she took a slow breath. “Hello,” she said.
The Monster blinked. “Hello,” it rumbled.
Emory pointed softly. “Is that the jewel?”
The Monster hugged it close. “Pretty. Mine.”
The Princess whispered, “Take it back!”
Emory shook her head. “We can ask.”
Emory stepped closer, one tiny step. “Monster, are you sad?”
The Monster’s ears drooped. “Palace too bright. Too loud. I hide. I want a night-light.”
Emory looked at the Princess. “It wants a night-light.”
The Princess frowned. Then she sighed. “I have a small lantern. It is warm and soft.”
Emory smiled. “Let’s trade.”
They went to the Princess’s room. The Princess brought a little lantern shaped like a star. It glowed like honey.
Back in the mirror room, Emory held up the lantern. “This is for you. Gentle light.”
The Monster’s eyes grew round. “For me?”
“Yes,” said Emory. “And the jewel comes home.”
The Monster thought. Thump… thump… Then it nodded.
It gave the jewel to Emory. Emory held it with two hands. It felt cool and smooth.
The Princess clapped. “My jewel!”
The Monster hugged the star lantern. “Night-light,” it whispered.
They walked to the great hall. Emory placed the jewel back on its stand. Click.
Whoosh! The Palace glowed again. The walls shined. The rugs looked red and bright.
The Princess laughed. “Thank you, Emory.”
Emory said, “Thank you, Monster.”
The Monster waved slowly. “Friends?”
“Friends,” said Emory.
The Princess opened a treasure box. Inside were two tiny gold stickers and a small sugar cookie.
“One sticker for Emory,” said the Princess, “for brave kindness. One sticker for our Monster, for sharing.”
Emory put her sticker on her shirt. The Monster put its sticker on the star lantern.
They all sat on the soft rug. The Palace was bright, but the Monster’s light was soft.
Emory felt proud. She had found the lost jewel, and she had made a new friend.