Reading Short Stories for English Learners

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Short Story 17 – The Dragon’s Gift

01- Lilly and Leo were twins who lived in a small village near the mountains. They loved to explore the woods and the hills, looking for adventure and magic. One day, they found a cave that they had never seen before. It was dark and mysterious, and they felt a strange pull to enter it.

02- They grabbed each other’s hand and walked into the cave, holding a torch to light their way. The cave was full of stalactites and stalagmites, sparkling like jewels in the torchlight. They followed the winding path deeper and deeper into the cave, until they reached a large chamber.

03- There, they saw something that made them gasp in awe. A huge dragon was sleeping on a pile of gold and jewels, its scales shining like fire. Its wings were folded around its body, and its tail was curled around the treasure. Its snout was resting on its front paws, and its eyes were closed.

04- Lilly and Leo were both terrified and fascinated by the dragon. They had heard stories about dragons, but they had never seen one in real life. They wondered if it was friendly or fierce, if it could breathe fire or fly, if it would wake up and notice them.

05- They decided to take a closer look at the dragon, but they were careful not to make any noise. They crept closer and closer to the dragon, until they were only a few steps away from it. They could see its scales up close, each one a different color and shape. They could hear its breathing, slow and steady. They could feel its warmth, radiating from its body.

06- They reached out their hands to touch the dragon, but before they could, the dragon opened its eyes. It looked at them with curiosity and kindness, not anger or fear. It smiled at them, showing its sharp teeth. It spoke to them in a deep and gentle voice.

07- “Hello, little ones. I’ve been expecting you.”

Lilly and Leo were stunned by the dragon’s words. They didn’t know how to react. They wondered if they were dreaming or if this was real.

08- “Who are you?” Lilly asked, finding her voice.

“I am Zara, the guardian of this cave. And you are Lilly and Leo, the chosen ones.” Zara said.

“The chosen ones? What do you mean?” Leo asked.

09- “You are the ones who have been destined to find me and receive my gift. You are the ones who have the courage and the kindness to enter my cave and approach me. You are the ones who have the magic in your hearts.” Zara said.

“Magic? What magic?” Lilly asked.

10- “The magic of imagination, of creativity, of wonder. The magic that makes you see beyond the ordinary and seek the extraordinary. The magic that makes you dream and hope and love. The magic that makes you special.” Zara said.

11- Lilly and Leo felt a warm glow in their chests, as if Zara’s words had touched something inside them. They felt a connection with Zara, a bond that they couldn’t explain.

“What is your gift?” Leo asked.

12- “My gift is a part of my magic, a part of myself. It is something that will help you in your journey of life, something that will make you happy and fulfilled. It is something that only you can use, something that only you can understand.” Zara said.

13- She reached out her paw and touched their foreheads gently. They felt a surge of energy, a flash of light, a burst of color. They closed their eyes and saw images in their minds, images of places they had never been, people they had never met, things they had never done. They saw themselves flying on Zara’s back, exploring new lands, having new adventures. They saw themselves writing stories, drawing pictures, making music, expressing their creativity. They saw themselves growing up, finding their passions, following their dreams. They saw themselves happy and free.

14- They opened their eyes and looked at Zara with gratitude and awe. They felt a new power in their minds, a new joy in their hearts.

“Thank you, Zara. Thank you for your gift.” Lilly said.

15- “Yes, thank you. You are amazing.” Leo said.

Zara smiled at them again. She wrapped her wings around them and hugged them gently.

16- “You are welcome, my children. You are amazing too. Remember, your gift is yours to keep and yours to share. Use it well and use it wisely. And whenever you need me, just call my name and I will come to you.” Zara said.

17- Lilly and Leo nodded. They hugged Zara back and thanked her again. Then they said goodbye to her and left the cave, holding each other’s hand. They walked back to their village, feeling happy and excited. They couldn’t wait to use their gift and share it with others.

18- They knew that their lives had changed forever. They knew that they had found a friend for life. They knew that they had met a dragon who gave them the best gift ever: the gift of magic.

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