In the land of Crumbleton lived a young dragon named Pepper. All the other dragons could breathe magnificent fire — bright red, blazing orange, golden yellow. But Pepper had a little problem.
Whenever Pepper sneezed, instead of fire, out came a rainbow.
"Achoo!" — SPLASH! A rainbow stretched across the sky.
The other dragons tried not to laugh. They really did. But a sneezing rainbow dragon is very, very hard to ignore.
One spring morning, the annual Dragon Games began. There was fire-breathing, flame juggling, and smoke-ring blowing. Pepper watched sadly from the side.
Then it started to rain.
The games were ruined! Everyone was miserable. The fire wouldn't light. The flames fizzled out.
"Achoo!" went Pepper.
A spectacular rainbow burst across the rainy sky, lighting up the whole valley in glorious colour. Everyone gasped — then cheered.
"Do it again!" roared the dragons.
"Achoo! Achoo! ACHOO!"
Three rainbows arched over the mountains. The little village below burst into applause. People came from everywhere to see the magnificent rainbow dragon.
Pepper grinned. Being different, it turned out, was the most magnificent thing of all.
And somewhere, right now, when you see a rainbow after the rain — that just might be Pepper saying hello.