Symiah is a tiny Fairy in the Underworld. The Underworld is dark, but not scary. It has soft blue rocks and warm glowing mushrooms.
Symiah is kind and brave. But Symiah is also a little shy. Symiah whispers, “Hello, shadows.”
One day, Symiah’s light pebble is gone. The light pebble is small. It makes a gentle glow for bedtime.
Symiah looks left. Symiah looks right. “Where did you go?”
A Lion walks up. The Lion is big, but friendly. He speaks softly.
“Roar… I mean, hi,” says Lion. “I will help. I am strong.”
An Adventurer comes too. The Adventurer has a map and a calm smile.
“I will help,” says Adventurer. “I am good at finding things.”
They walk together. Step, step, step.
They pass a river that hums like “mmm-mmm.” They pass a bridge of bones that is really just old white stones. Symiah holds Lion’s mane. Lion says, “You are safe.”
In a cave, they hear a clunk.
Clunk. Clunk.
Symiah hides behind a mushroom. “Is it a monster?”
Adventurer kneels. “Let’s look with curious eyes.”
Lion sniffs. “I smell… soup.”
Then—an Ogre appears. The Ogre is tall and grumpy. He has a big pot and a bigger frown.
“Mine!” growls the Ogre.
Symiah peeks out. “Did you take my light pebble?”
The Ogre opens his hand. In his palm is the light pebble. It shines like a tiny moon.
“I wanted it,” says the Ogre. “My cave is too dark.”
Symiah feels a little sad for him. But Symiah also feels brave.
Symiah flutters closer. “We can share light,” Symiah says.
Lion sits down with a heavy thump. “No stealing,” Lion says. “We can make a new light, too.”
Adventurer points to the glowing mushrooms. “We can trade. Mushrooms for the pebble.”
The Ogre blinks. “Trade?”
Symiah nods. “Yes. Please.”
The Ogre grumbles. “I like soup mushrooms.”
They pick mushrooms together. Plop, plop, plop into the Ogre’s pot. The Ogre smiles a tiny bit.
“Okay,” says the Ogre. He gives the light pebble back.
Symiah holds it. Warm glow. Safe glow.
But Symiah has an idea. Symiah taps the pebble with a gentle fairy finger. “Ping!”
The pebble makes three little light beads. One bead for Symiah. One bead for the Ogre. One bead for the path.
Lion’s eyes go wide. “You learned new magic!”
Adventurer claps. “A light-splitting spell. Very useful.”
The Ogre looks at his bead. It shines on his soup pot. “My cave is not so dark,” he says, softer now.
They walk home. The Underworld feels cozy.
At Symiah’s nook, Adventurer gives Symiah a small treasure: a shiny star coin found in the cave.
“Good job,” says Adventurer.
Lion purrs like a drum. “Brave Fairy.”
Symiah whispers, “Thank you.” Symiah puts the star coin beside the light pebble. Glow and sparkle.
And in the Underworld, everyone has a little light to hold.