Estuar shakes his crystal star against the table. Tap, tap, tap. The valley is quiet, and there isn't a single rainbow.
He carries it to the window. The air smells like dew. Outside, the crystal hills glow at half strength, almost asleep.
"Please, light up," he whispers. He gives it three gentle pats on the forehead. The star stays gray, cold as a stone.
He clenches his fists. He stands at the window. Outside, the crystal hills barely glow, as if they're dreaming.
The star slips from his hands. CRACK! A tiny line runs across it, and through the crack, a thread of red, green, and blue light spills out.
He leans in for a closer look. The cracked star glows brighter than before. A flash of red, one of green, one of blue.
He lifts the cracked star to the window. A beam of light fans out into a thousand tiny rainbows. Ting, ting, ting. The hills chime.
The whole kingdom fills with color. Every crystal mountain chimes like a bell. Ting, ting, ting. Not a single one stays silent.
From every little window in the kingdom comes a whisper: "Thank you for shining, Estuar, Crystal Prince." He smiles and nods slowly.
The cracked star rests on the windowsill. Its light is thin and steady, and it won't go out. He presses his hand against the window: outside, the rainbows stay.
