Mitzuki

Mitzuki was the last of her clutch to hatch, and the last to find her feet and learn to totter around like her siblings. While her siblings' feathers grew in straight and sleek, hers stuck out at odd angles. As they all grew from hatchlings into fully fledged dragons, her siblings became strong and beautiful, with striking wing patterns and beautiful markings. Her purple feathers always seemed a bit dull, and her markings were far from vibrant. Her siblings were never unkind, and her parents adored her and showed her all of the love and support in the world, but she still felt melancholy on occasion.

Whenever she was feeling blue, she would wander a little ways into the forest, to a quiet little stream with an old well and tiny, glittering gold fish. She enjoyed watching the fish, beautiful and graceful, and always left feeling a bit better.

One day, after a number of attempts at flying that all ended with her nose in the dirt, Mitzuki went to the stream to watch the fish and try to lift her spirits. It was a hot day, and the lack of recent rain left the stream as barely a trickle. She watched as a few brave fish swam through the shallow waters to reach their families, until one fish found itself stuck. The water was too shallow, and it's golden belly was stuck in the mud.

Carefully, Mitzuki stepped across the stream and lifted the golden fish, carrying it gently to where its family was waiting. She set it down in the water and watched as it splashed away, soaking up the cool water and breathing once more.

As she turned to leave, she noticed that all of the fish had stopped to watch her. One, the fish she had rescued, swam up and stared right at her for a moment, then pursed its' little fish lips and shot a stream of water straight at her face.

Mitzuki stumbled back, surprised and confused, but when she got back on her feet and ran to the pool, all the fish were gone. The only thing remaining was the still water, and her reflection. And there, on the tips of her feathers, and in splotches on her fur, were patches of golden sparkles, just like those from the fish she loved to watch. She turned this way and that, watching them catch the sun and glitter.

She ran all the way home, even flying a short distance here and there, to show off her beautiful new patches. Her parents and siblings all cooed over her new markings, and she couldn't have been happier.