Princess Mira's Adventure: The Fallen Star

The next evening, Mira came back with her picnic basket and lantern. But not one flower was glowing. Nella waited beneath the vine arch, looking worried. “What happened to our garden?” Mira asked.

Mira raised the lantern. Tiny silver sparkles shone along the path, leading to the hedge maze. “There!” she said. Nella followed close as Mira stepped toward the trail.

The path twisted left, then right. Nella found each turn, and Mira followed with the lantern held high and the picnic basket in her other hand. The silver sparkles led them deeper into the maze.

At the old fountain, the sparkles stopped. A tiny star glimmered among the lily pads, one point caught in a leaf. Mira knelt beside it. “It fell out of the sky!” she whispered.

Mira gently loosened the lily pad from the little star. The leaf slipped back into the water. She cupped the freed star in both hands, and it nestled there, warm and safe.

The little star began to shine brighter in Mira’s hands. One flower blinked on, then another. Mira looked from the star to the blossoms. “Your light makes them glow!” she said. Nella watched beside her.

The baby star looked up. Mira followed its gaze. One place in the sky was empty. “That must be your home,” she whispered. But the star was tiny, and the sky was far too high to reach alone. Nella looked up too.

Mira opened the lantern and carefully tucked the baby star inside. Its little glow shone through the glass. She rested her hand on the open door. “We’ll help you get home,” she said. Nella peered in.

Mira carried the lantern in one hand and the picnic basket in the other as she climbed the tower’s winding stairs. The baby star glowed inside. Nella climbed close behind, placing her hooves on each step. Up they went.

At the top, Nella lowered her head. Mira lifted the baby star from the lantern and carefully set it on the tip of Nella’s horn. “Ready?” she whispered. The little star glowed softly.

Nella lifted her head high. The baby star floated up, up, up, until it slipped into the empty place in the sky. It shone bright, and flowers glowed all across the garden. Mira clasped her hands and smiled.

Back on the picnic lawn, Mira and Nella shared their picnic beneath the moon. The baby star twinkled extra bright above them. Mira smiled at Nella. “Same time tomorrow?” Nella nodded.