A Very Special Flower Garden

Later that afternoon, Golden sat beside her mother in the garden.

Beautiful red, golden, and blue flowers grew around them.

Her mother carefully planted a small flower.

"Would you like to help me, Golden?"

Golden nodded eagerly.

"YES!"

Her mother gave her a tiny gardening tool.

"Be gentle with the roots."

Golden nodded seriously.

"Very gentle!"

She carefully dug a little hole.

Then she placed a flower inside.

Her mother smiled.

"Wonderful, sweetheart."

Golden looked proud.

"I did it!"

"You certainly did."

Suddenly, a blue butterfly fluttered past.

Golden's eyes widened.

"Ooooooh!"

Her mother noticed.

"Golden?"

The butterfly flew toward the other side of the garden.

Golden spread her little bat wings.

"BUTTERFLY!"

"Golden, wait—"

But Golden had already jumped.

Her wings flapped wildly.

For one glorious second, she hovered above the ground.

"I'M FLYING!"

Then she lost her balance.

"WHOOOOA!"

PLOP!

Golden landed headfirst in the flowerbed.

Only her little hind legs and bat wings were visible.

Her mother stared.

"Golden?!"

A muffled voice answered.

"I'm okay!"

Her mother hurried over and gently pulled her daughter free.

Golden's golden mane was covered in dirt.

There was soil on her nose.

And a little pink flower was stuck behind one ear.

Her mother tried very hard not to laugh.

Golden blinked.

"Mommy?"

Her mother smiled.

"Oh, Golden."

Then she began to giggle.

Golden looked confused.

"What's funny?"

Her mother kissed her muddy nose.

"You're the most beautiful flower bouquet I've ever seen."

Golden giggled.

"I'm a flower?"

Her mother hugged her.

"My very special little flower."

From the doorway, Ember Heart stared at the ruined flowerbed.

"Oh no."

Golden turned.

"Daddy!"

Ember Heart sighed.

"Not another flowerbed."

Her mother looked at him with a mischievous smile.

"Another?"

Ember Heart froze.

"Uh ..."

Golden tilted her head.

"Daddy?"

Her mother began to laugh.

"Sweetheart, did you know your father once accidentally burned his own mother's flowerbed?"

Golden gasped.

"DADDY!"

Ember Heart covered his face with a hoof.

"Please don't tell her that story."

Golden began to giggle.

"Daddy burned flowers!"

Her mother laughed.

"Yes, he did."

Ember Heart sighed dramatically.

"I have a feeling I'm never going to hear the end of this."