Maya lived in a small village near a big forest.

Maya lived in a small village near a big forest.

Every day, she baked bread and cookies in her family's shop.

Every day, she baked bread and cookies in her family's shop.

The smell of fresh bread made everyone happy.

The smell of fresh bread made everyone happy.

But the people in her village were scared.

But the people in her village were scared.

They talked about a monster living in the dark forest.

They talked about a monster living in the dark forest.

The monster made loud, scary sounds at night.

The monster made loud, scary sounds at night.

Children stayed inside after dark.

Children stayed inside after dark.

Adults walked quickly past the forest edge.

Adults walked quickly past the forest edge.

"That monster is dangerous," said Mayor Tom.

"That monster is dangerous," said Mayor Tom.

"Stay away from the forest!" Maya listened to the frightening sounds too.

"Stay away from the forest!" Maya listened to the frightening sounds too.

But she thought they sounded sad, not angry.

But she thought they sounded sad, not angry.

Maybe the monster was lonely?

Maybe the monster was lonely?

Maybe it was hungry?

Maybe it was hungry?

One morning, Maya baked extra bread.

One morning, Maya baked extra bread.

The warm loaves smelled wonderful.

The warm loaves smelled wonderful.

She wrapped them in a clean cloth.

She wrapped them in a clean cloth.

"Where are you going?" asked her mother.

"Where are you going?" asked her mother.

"To the forest," Maya said.

"To the forest," Maya said.

"I think the monster might be hungry."

"I think the monster might be hungry."

Her mother looked worried.

Her mother looked worried.

"Maya, that's not safe!" But Maya was brave.

"Maya, that's not safe!" But Maya was brave.

She believed that food could help anyone feel better.

She believed that food could help anyone feel better.

She picked up her basket of fresh bread and walked toward the forest.

She picked up her basket of fresh bread and walked toward the forest.

Her heart beat fast, but she kept walking.

Her heart beat fast, but she kept walking.

The trees grew darker as she entered the forest.

The trees grew darker as she entered the forest.

Maya walked slowly into the dark forest.

Maya walked slowly into the dark forest.

Her basket of warm bread made her feel brave.

Her basket of warm bread made her feel brave.

She heard a sad sound coming from deep in the trees.

She heard a sad sound coming from deep in the trees.

It was not a scary roar.

It was not a scary roar.

It was... singing?

It was... singing?

Maya followed the beautiful voice to a small clearing.

Maya followed the beautiful voice to a small clearing.

There, sitting by a stream, was a large dragon.

There, sitting by a stream, was a large dragon.

He had dark scales and big wings.

He had dark scales and big wings.

His eyes were golden and kind.

His eyes were golden and kind.

The dragon saw Maya and stopped singing.

The dragon saw Maya and stopped singing.

"Please don't run away," he said softly.

"Please don't run away," he said softly.

"I won't hurt you."

"I won't hurt you."

Maya was surprised.

Maya was surprised.

The dragon's voice was gentle.

The dragon's voice was gentle.

"I'm Maya," she said.

"I'm Maya," she said.

"I brought you some bread.

"I brought you some bread.

Are you hungry?" The dragon smiled.

Are you hungry?" The dragon smiled.

"I'm Ember.

"I'm Ember.

Thank you for being kind.

Thank you for being kind.

Most people run when they see me."

Most people run when they see me."

He looked very sad.

He looked very sad.

"Why?" Maya asked, sitting down near him.

"Why?" Maya asked, sitting down near him.

"I am under a curse," Ember explained.

"I am under a curse," Ember explained.

"A witch made me look scary.

"A witch made me look scary.

But I'm not scary inside.

But I'm not scary inside.

I love music and art.

I love music and art.

I just want friends."

I just want friends."

Maya felt sorry for the lonely dragon.

Maya felt sorry for the lonely dragon.

"I don't think you're scary," she said.

"I don't think you're scary," she said.

"Would you like to be friends?" Ember's golden eyes lit up with happiness.

"Would you like to be friends?" Ember's golden eyes lit up with happiness.

The next morning, Maya woke up excited.

The next morning, Maya woke up excited.

She packed fresh bread and cookies in her basket.

She packed fresh bread and cookies in her basket.

She wanted to visit her new friend Ember again.

She wanted to visit her new friend Ember again.

Maya walked through the forest to the clearing.

Maya walked through the forest to the clearing.

"Ember!" she called out.

"Ember!" she called out.

"I brought you breakfast!" The dragon's eyes lit up with joy.

"I brought you breakfast!" The dragon's eyes lit up with joy.

"You came back!

"You came back!

I was worried you might not return."

I was worried you might not return."

"Of course I came back," Maya smiled.

"Of course I came back," Maya smiled.

"Friends visit each other."

"Friends visit each other."

Every day after that, Maya visited Ember.

Every day after that, Maya visited Ember.

She brought him different foods to try - apple pies, chocolate muffins, and sweet cakes.

She brought him different foods to try - apple pies, chocolate muffins, and sweet cakes.

Ember loved everything she made.

Ember loved everything she made.

But Maya's favorite part was listening to Ember sing.

But Maya's favorite part was listening to Ember sing.

His voice was beautiful and magical.

His voice was beautiful and magical.

He sang songs about flying through clouds and dancing with stars.

He sang songs about flying through clouds and dancing with stars.

Sometimes he hummed gentle melodies that made Maya feel peaceful.

Sometimes he hummed gentle melodies that made Maya feel peaceful.

"Your singing is wonderful," Maya told him one afternoon.

"Your singing is wonderful," Maya told him one afternoon.

"It makes me happy."

"It makes me happy."

Ember blushed.

Ember blushed.

"No one has ever said that before.

"No one has ever said that before.

In my village, everyone was afraid of my voice."

In my village, everyone was afraid of my voice."

"That's silly," Maya said.

"That's silly," Maya said.

"You have the most beautiful voice I've ever heard."

"You have the most beautiful voice I've ever heard."

As weeks passed, Maya and Ember became best friends.

As weeks passed, Maya and Ember became best friends.

But Maya noticed something strange.

But Maya noticed something strange.

Sometimes, when Ember was very happy or sad, his scary appearance would flicker, like magic was fighting inside him.

Sometimes, when Ember was very happy or sad, his scary appearance would flicker, like magic was fighting inside him.

One sunny morning, Maya sat with Ember by the old willow tree at the edge of the forest.

One sunny morning, Maya sat with Ember by the old willow tree at the edge of the forest.

The ancient tree's leaves rustled softly in the wind.

The ancient tree's leaves rustled softly in the wind.

Suddenly, a gentle voice spoke from the tree itself.

Suddenly, a gentle voice spoke from the tree itself.

"Hello, young ones," said Old Willow.

"Hello, young ones," said Old Willow.

Maya gasped in surprise, but Ember smiled sadly.

Maya gasped in surprise, but Ember smiled sadly.

"Old Willow has been my friend for many years," Ember explained.

"Old Willow has been my friend for many years," Ember explained.

"She knows about my curse."

"She knows about my curse."

The wise tree spirit's voice was warm and kind.

The wise tree spirit's voice was warm and kind.

"Maya, I have watched you visit Ember every day.

"Maya, I have watched you visit Ember every day.

You bring him food and friendship.

You bring him food and friendship.

You listen to his songs and stories.

You listen to his songs and stories.

Most importantly, you see his true heart."

Most importantly, you see his true heart."

Maya looked confused.

Maya looked confused.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Old Willow's branches swayed gently.

Old Willow's branches swayed gently.

"Ember is under a powerful curse.

"Ember is under a powerful curse.

It makes him look scary to frighten people away.

It makes him look scary to frighten people away.

But you are different, Maya.

But you are different, Maya.

You looked past his frightening appearance and saw his kindness.

You looked past his frightening appearance and saw his kindness.

You saw his gentle soul."

You saw his gentle soul."

Ember's eyes filled with hope.

Ember's eyes filled with hope.

"Can the curse be broken?" Maya asked eagerly.

"Can the curse be broken?" Maya asked eagerly.

"Yes," Old Willow whispered.

"Yes," Old Willow whispered.

"The curse can only be broken by someone who truly sees Ember's heart.

"The curse can only be broken by someone who truly sees Ember's heart.

Someone who loves him as a friend, not because of how he looks, but because of who he is inside."

Someone who loves him as a friend, not because of how he looks, but because of who he is inside."

Maya walked back to Ember with a warm heart.

Maya walked back to Ember with a warm heart.

She had listened to Old Willow's words carefully.

She had listened to Old Willow's words carefully.

The curse could be broken by someone who saw Ember's true heart.

The curse could be broken by someone who saw Ember's true heart.

Maya already knew that Ember was kind and gentle.

Maya already knew that Ember was kind and gentle.

She loved him as a friend, not because of how he looked.

She loved him as a friend, not because of how he looked.

When Maya found Ember by the stream, she sat beside him.

When Maya found Ember by the stream, she sat beside him.

"Ember," she said softly, "you are my dear friend.

"Ember," she said softly, "you are my dear friend.

Your heart is beautiful.

Your heart is beautiful.

I care about you just as you are."

I care about you just as you are."

As she spoke these words from her heart, something magical happened.

As she spoke these words from her heart, something magical happened.

A bright, warm light surrounded Ember.

A bright, warm light surrounded Ember.

The scary dragon shape began to change.

The scary dragon shape began to change.

When the light faded, a young man with kind eyes stood before Maya.

When the light faded, a young man with kind eyes stood before Maya.

"The curse is broken!" Ember said with joy.

"The curse is broken!" Ember said with joy.

"Thank you, Maya.

"Thank you, Maya.

Your friendship saved me."

Your friendship saved me."

Maya smiled.

Maya smiled.

"Now you can come to the village with me.

"Now you can come to the village with me.

Everyone will love you as I do."

Everyone will love you as I do."

They walked to the village together.

They walked to the village together.

When the people saw Ember's gentle smile and heard his story, they welcomed him with open arms.

When the people saw Ember's gentle smile and heard his story, they welcomed him with open arms.

Maya had not only found a friend, but helped her village find one too.

Maya had not only found a friend, but helped her village find one too.

From that day on, Ember lived happily in the village, sharing his music and art with everyone.

From that day on, Ember lived happily in the village, sharing his music and art with everyone.