Adrian and the Dragon’s Secret Adrian was a curious nine-year-old boy with a mop of brown hair and bright blue eyes that sparkled with adventure. He lived in a small house at the edge of a vast forest, a place he loved to explore. One sunny afternoon, while chasing a butterfly with wings like stained glass, he stumbled upon something extraordinary. Between two ancient oak trees, their branches twisted like old, gnarled fingers, shimmered a curtain of sparkling light. It rippled gently, like water made of stars. "What is that?" Adrian whispered, his heart racing with excitement. He had read tales of magical portals in his favorite books, but he never imagined finding one himself. Without a second thought, too curious to resist, he stepped forward and passed through the shimmering light. In an instant, the familiar forest vanished. Adrian found himself in a world that stole his breath away. Trees towered above him, their leaves painted in impossible colors-red, blue, gold, and even purple. Some trunks glowed faintly, as if lit from within, while flowers along the ground shimmered with a soft, otherworldly light. The air smelled sweet, like honey and springtime, and a faint melody-like tiny bells-drifted on the breeze. Adrian spun around, eyes wide with wonder. "This is amazing!" he exclaimed. But as the thrill faded, a cold realization sank in. He turned back to where he’d come from, but the portal was gone. The space between the trees was empty, just air and shadows. "Where am I?" he murmured. "How do I get home?" Panic bubbled up, but Adrian remembered his dad’s advice: Stay calm and think. He took a deep breath, the sweet air steadying him. "Maybe someone here can help me," he decided, and set off to explore. As he walked, tiny creatures flitted around him-fairies with wings like dragonflies, sparkling in the sunlight. They giggled and danced, twirling in the air. "Hello!" Adrian called, waving. "Can you help me? I’m lost and need to get home." The fairies paused, their laughter fading. They tilted their heads, then shook them sadly before darting away, leaving trails of glittering dust. Adrian sighed and kept going. Soon, he met a squirrel perched on a branch, its bushy tail twitching. "Hello there!" the squirrel chattered. "What brings you here?" Adrian blinked in shock. "You can talk?" "Of course!" the squirrel said proudly. "All animals here talk. Didn’t you know?" "No," Adrian admitted. "I’m not from here. I came through a portal, and now I can’t find my way back." The squirrel’s eyes widened. "The Great Portal? That’s the only way in or out. But it’s guarded by Sorcerer Zorath, and he doesn’t let humans leave easily." "Is there another way?" Adrian asked, hope flickering. "Not that I know," the squirrel replied. "You’d have to go through the Great Portal. But watch out-Zorath is powerful." Adrian thanked the squirrel and trudged on, clutching the name Great Portal like a lifeline. The forest grew denser, the colorful leaves casting strange shadows. Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the ground, and a massive shadow soared overhead. Adrian’s heart leapt into his throat. A dragon! He dove behind a bush, peering out as the creature landed with a thud. It was enormous, its emerald scales glinting like jewels, its amber eyes glowing. Wings folded against its back, it looked both majestic and terrifying. Adrian held his breath, praying it wouldn’t see him. But the dragon sniffed the air and turned toward the bush. "I can smell you, little one," it rumbled, its voice deep and resonant. "Come out. I won’t hurt you." Trembling, Adrian stepped out, clutching a stick like a shield. The dragon tilted its head, curious. "What are you doing here, human child?" "I-I got lost," Adrian stammered. "I came through a portal, and I don’t know how to get home." The dragon nodded. "The Great Portal, guarded by Sorcerer Zorath. He keeps our world safe from outsiders." "Is there another way back?" Adrian asked, voice small. "Perhaps," the dragon said thoughtfully. "I’m Ember. What’s your name?" "Adrian," he replied, lowering the stick. Ember didn’t seem so scary now. "Well, Adrian, I’ll help you find your way home. But it’s a dangerous journey. Are you brave enough?" Adrian nodded, determination replacing fear. "Yes. I just want to see my family again." Ember smiled, showing sharp but friendly teeth. "Climb on my back. Our adventure begins now." Adrian hesitated, then scrambled up Ember’s scales, settling between two spikes. With a mighty flap, Ember soared into the sky. Adrian clung tight, the wind whipping past as they rose above the treetops. Below, rivers sparkled like liquid silver, mountains pierced the clouds, and fields glowed with radiant flowers. "Our first stop is the Enchanted Forest," Ember called over the wind. "We need the Forest Guardian’s permission to pass." They landed at the forest’s edge, where trees whispered secrets and paths twisted like living things. In a clearing stood a large owl, Hoot, with eyes like full moons. "Who dares enter?" Hoot hooted. "I’m Ember, and this is Adrian," the dragon said. "We seek passage." Hoot fixed Adrian with a stare. "A human? Unusual. Answer my riddle to pass: I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?" Adrian frowned, thinking. He’d heard this before. "An echo?" he guessed. Hoot’s feathers ruffled approvingly. "Correct. You may pass." The trees parted as they moved on, the forest now welcoming. Next came the Crystal Caves, their walls aglow with crystals in every hue-ruby red, sapphire blue, emerald green. Light danced around them, dazzling Adrian. "Stay close," Ember warned. "It’s a maze in here." They reached a fork-three tunnels stretching into darkness. "Which way?" Adrian asked. Ember sniffed but shook his head. "I can’t tell." Adrian spotted a narrow passage to the side. "I can fit through there. Maybe it leads somewhere." "Be careful," Ember said, worry in his amber eyes. Adrian crawled through, the walls brushing his shoulders. He emerged in a chamber where crystals sparkled like stars. On a pedestal sat a glowing crystal key. He grabbed it and hurried back. "Look!" he said, holding it up. "Good find," Ember rumbled. Soon, they found a locked gate, and the key clicked perfectly into place, swinging it open. After the caves, they reached the Floating Isles-chunks of land hovering in the sky, linked by bridges of shimmering light. Wind howled, making the bridges flicker. "We need to cross," Ember said, "but the winds are wild." Adrian watched the bridges solidify when sunlight hit them just right. "If we wait for the sun to line up, they’ll hold." They waited, and when the sun peaked, the bridges glowed steady. They dashed across, Adrian gripping Ember’s claw, heart pounding as they reached the other side. Days later, they stood before the Sorcerer’s Tower, a dark spire wreathed in swirling mist. Sorcerer Zorath appeared, robes billowing, eyes like storms. "Why are you here?" he thundered. "I need to go home," Adrian said, stepping forward. "Please, let me through the Great Portal." "Humans can’t be trusted," Zorath snapped. "You’ll expose our world." "I won’t tell anyone," Adrian pleaded. "I promise." Ember spoke, "I’ve seen his heart, Zorath. He’s kind and true." Zorath’s gaze softened slightly. "A test, then." With a wave, Adrian stood on a cliff. Below, a baby unicorn whimpered on a ledge. The portal shimmered nearby. Adrian could leave, but the unicorn’s cries tugged at him. He climbed down, rocks scraping his hands, and lifted the trembling creature to safety. The illusion faded. "You’re selfless," Zorath said, smiling faintly. "You may go." The Great Portal opened, revealing Adrian’s forest. He turned to Ember. "Thank you. I’ll miss you." "And I you," Ember replied. "Safe travels." Adrian stepped through, back between the oaks. His watch showed only minutes had passed. He ran home, hugging his mom tight, keeping his promise to stay silent. In his pocket, he found Ember’s scale-a secret treasure from a world he’d never forget. Word Count: ~3000