"Look, Mom, a dragonfruit! Can we get one? Please?" Emma tugged at her Mom's hand excitedly.
"Of course, sweetie," Mom laughed. "This street market is amazing! So many colors and smells."
Emma, with her big five-year-old eyes, was mesmerized. Everywhere she looked, there were fruits she had never seen before. Long, spiky red things, tiny purple berries, and giant yellow fruits that smelled like sunshine.
As they walked, Emma heard a tiny voice, "Excuse me, little girl."
She stopped, confused. "Mom, did you hear that?"
"Hear what, honey?" Mom asked, picking out a juicy mango.
Emma bent down near a basket of rambutan, those funny red fruits with the spiky hair. “Hello? Who's there?” she whispered.
“Down here,” the voice squeaked, “I'm Dudley, the Dragonfruit Prince."
Emma peeked into the basket. There, hiding under a leaf, was a tiny dragonfruit with a little crown perched on top.
“You… you can talk?” Emma gasped.
Dudley nodded. "But I’m very shy. Being brave is hard!"
Emma knew all about being brave. Sometimes, when she felt scared, she imagined her heart glowing like a rainbow. Her secret hideout, the Magic Rainbow, was where all the bravest princesses lived!
“Don’t worry, Dudley,” Emma whispered. “I know all about being brave. It’s like having a rainbow in your heart! You can do it!”
Suddenly, a gruff voice boomed, "Alright, who's buying the last dragonfruit?"
It was a tall man with a bushy mustache, and he was looking straight at their basket.
Dudley trembled. "Oh no, he'll eat me! I’m too scared to speak up!"
Emma knew she had to do something. Taking a deep breath, she felt her heart warm and strong, like a rainbow.
“Excuse me, Mister!” she said in her bravest voice. “That dragonfruit is… is my friend! He's a prince, you see, and he's very important!"
The man burst out laughing. "A prince, you say? Well, this prince deserves a castle then!" He carefully picked up Dudley and placed him on top of a stack of dragonfruits, making a throne.
Dudley beamed. "Wow, thank you! You were so brave, Emma!"
Emma smiled. It felt good to be brave, especially for a friend.
"Mom," she said, "Can we please get a whole castle of dragonfruits?"
Mom, who had been watching with a smile, chuckled. “Of course, sweetie. Anything for a brave princess and her prince.”
As they walked back home, arms full of colorful fruits, Emma thought about Dudley. Being brave wasn't always easy, but it sure felt good to have a rainbow in your heart. And who knew, maybe she'd even find more talking fruit friends at the market next week!
