Doralynn was a tiny fairy with bright blue wings. She lived in the Galaxy, on a round little moon called Button Moon. Every night, she sprinkled star dust on the dark sky.
“Twinkle, twinkle, little lights,” Doralynn sang. “Shine softly. Shine bright.”
One night, the Galaxy went dim.
Oh no!
The red planet was gray. The silver moon was sleepy. Even the little stars looked like they wanted a nap.
Doralynn opened her star-dust pouch. It was empty.
“Who took the dust?” she whispered.
Tick-tock! Tick-tock!
A shiny blue door appeared in the air. Out stepped Time Traveler. He wore a big clock hat and boots with tiny wheels. His pockets went tick, tick, tick.
“Hello, Doralynn,” he said. “I came from tomorrow. Tomorrow is dark too.”
Doralynn looked worried. “Can we help the stars?”
“Yes,” said Time Traveler. “But we must be quick. I saw a Bandit zooming away in a black comet cart. He took the star dust!”
Doralynn was small. The Galaxy was very big. For one little moment, she felt scared.
Then she held her wand tight.
“I can be small and brave,” she said.
“Good!” said Time Traveler. “Hop on!”
They climbed into his clock-shaped ship. It had a round window, a bell, and a button that said GO.
“Ready?” asked Time Traveler.
“Ready!” said Doralynn.
Bing-bong! The ship flew past purple planets. It flew around a sleepy comet. It sailed through a cloud of soft, blue space bubbles.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Doralynn laughed. “Space bubbles tickle my nose!”
Soon they saw the Bandit’s black comet cart. It was parked behind a big golden asteroid. Bandit wore a crooked hat and huge moon boots. Beside him sat Doralynn’s pouch.
Bandit was not using the dust. He was trying to make a mountain of it.
“One star for me,” he grumbled. “Two stars for me. All the shiny stars for me!”
But each time he grabbed the dust, it floated away from his hands.
Doralynn flew close. “Bandit, the Galaxy needs that dust.”
Bandit crossed his arms. “I want something shiny too.”
Time Traveler opened one clock pocket. “I have a tiny mirror from yesterday.”
He opened another pocket. “And a silver button from next Tuesday.”
Bandit shook his head. “No.”
Doralynn looked at him kindly. She noticed something. On Bandit’s cart was one tiny, dull lamp.
“Do you feel lonely in your dark cart?” she asked.
Bandit looked down. “Maybe a little.”
Doralynn had an idea. “Give back the star dust. We can make you your own little star lamp. It will shine every time you share.”
Bandit blinked. “A star lamp? For me?”
“For you,” said Doralynn. “But first, we help everyone.”
Bandit thought. Tick-tock went Time Traveler’s pockets. At last, Bandit gave Doralynn the pouch.
“Here,” he said softly. “I am sorry.”
Doralynn smiled. “Thank you, Bandit.”
She opened the pouch. The star dust swirled out in gold and pink curls.
“Twinkle, twinkle, little lights,” she sang.
Time Traveler rang the ship bell. “Now!”
Doralynn sprinkled dust on the red planet. Sparkle! She sprinkled dust on the silver moon. Glow! She sprinkled dust on every little star.
The whole Galaxy woke up.
Twinkle! Twinkle! Twinkle!
The stars danced. The planets shone. A happy comet made a curly loop in the sky.
Then Doralynn saved one pinch of dust. With a gentle wave of her wand, she made a small lamp for Bandit. It was shaped like a star and had a friendly golden face.
“Share light,” said the lamp.
Bandit smiled a real smile. “I will,” he promised.
Time Traveler gave Doralynn a special prize: a little starboat with rainbow sails.
“It is for the bravest fairy on Button Moon,” he said.
Doralynn climbed in. Her blue wings fluttered. Bandit waved. Time Traveler’s clock hat went tick-tock-tick.
Doralynn sailed her new starboat through the bright Galaxy.
“I can be small and brave,” she called.
And all the stars answered, “You can!”