One bright and sunny day, a big group of bunnies were playing games in The Big Meadow. Some bunnies were playing Tag, and some other bunnies were playing ball games. Other bunnies hopped around, smelling the bright, colorful flowers.

Two white fluffy bunnies hopped along the meadow together. The first bunny was a boy named Freddie Bunny. The second bunny was a girl named Sally Bunny. They were holding hands while they hopped around together.

"It sure is a pretty day today," said Sally Bunny.

"It's a perfect day," Freddie Bunny agreed. "I just hope that big scary dragon doesn't come out to scare us."

All the bunnies in The Big Meadow knew that there was a dragon in the forest. He lived in a dark cave, and sometimes he came out and scared the bunnies. He had blue scales, with giant blue wings, and long white claws and teeth. When he roared, all the bunnies went back into their bunny holes until he went away. Once in a while, the bunnies could hear him in his cave, growling and snorting.

"I'm not scared of the dragon," Sally Bunny said bravely. "He won't come out to scare us. Not today."

"He's just a big meanie," Freddie Bunny said. "He only scares us because he has no friends."

The two bunnies stopped hopping for a minute. Sally Bunny had a funny thought in her head.

"Do you think that if the dragon had friends, he'd stop picking on us?" Sally Bunny thought.

"But there aren't any other dragons around," Freddie Bunny said.

"Then, maybe we could be his friends!" Sally Bunny said happily.

Freddie Bunny was worried. "But Sally, he's really big and grumpy. What if he tries to eat us?"

"He won't try to eat us if we're nice to him. Come on."

Sally Bunny grabbed Freddie Bunny's hand, and they hopped away from the meadow and into the forest. While they were in the forest, they saw lots of tall trees. The trees covered the sunlight, so it was very dark. Freddie Bunny hopped slowly behind Sally Bunny. He started to shiver.

"Sally, I'm scared," said Freddie Bunny. "Let's go back to the meadow."

Sally Bunny didn't listen to Freddie Bunny. She kept hopping through the forest anyway. Farther ahead of her was a large, dark cave. From the cave came a loud, grumbly noise. It made Freddie Bunny jump. Sally Bunny inched closer to the cave, slowly, while Freddie Bunny stayed behind.

"Hello?" Sally Bunny shouted into the cave.

More loud noises came from the cave. Sally Bunny was surprised. She knew the dragon was inside, but it didn't sound like he was roaring; he sounded like he was crying.

Sally Bunny carefully hopped into the cave and saw a huge, blue dragon. His large wings were wrapped around his back, and he held his face in his claws. His long tail was also wrapped around him.

Sally Bunny hopped toward the dragon and patted his head. "What's wrong, Mr. Dragon?" she asked.

The dragon sniffled and looked up at her. "No one will play with me," the dragon responded. "Every time I go to the meadow, all the bunnies run away. I'm so lonely. I wish you wouldn't run away."

Sally said, "We run away because we think you'll try to eat us or be mean to us."

"I won't be mean," said the dragon. "I just want to have friends. There are no other dragons around here, so I thought I could play with the bunnies."

"It's OK," said Sally Bunny. "I'll be your friend. My name is Sally Bunny. What's yours?"

The dragon dried the tears from his eyes and smiled. "My name is Benny Dragon. Can I go back to the meadow with you? Maybe you can show the other bunnies that I'm nice."

"I'll try," said Sally Bunny. She hopped out of the cave and went near Freddie Bunny.

"The dragon is sad and lonely," said Sally Bunny. "He doesn't want to scare anyone, he just wants friends. I said I'd be his friend, and I'd show the other bunnies that he was nice."

"How do you know he wasn't trying to trick you?" asked Freddie Bunny.

"He looked happy when I said I'd be his friend. I think he means what he said."

Sally Bunny took Freddie Bunny's hand and went back into the cave.

"This is my friend Freddie Bunny," she called. "Would you like to be friend with him, too?"

"I'd love to!" shouted Benny Dragon. "Is it OK if I go back to the meadow with you?"

"That's fine," said Sally Bunny. "We'll show the others that you're a nice dragon.

The three walked through the dark forest and came out into the sunny meadow. All the bunnies were playing, but when the looked up, they saw the dragon and started to run off.

"Wait!" Sally Bunny called. "It's OK! He's a nice dragon! You don't have to run away anymore!"

"He wants to be friends with us!" Shouted Freddie Bunny. "Let's give him a chance!"

The other bunnies stopped running. The hopped slowly closer to Sally, Freddie, and Benny. Most of the bunnies still looked scared. One small bunny girl hopped next to Benny Dragon. She had a red ball in her hand.

"Would you like to play ball with me, Mr. Dragon?" she asked.

"OK," said Benny Dragon. The little bunny threw the ball at Benny. When he tried to catch it, he popped the ball with his claws. The little bunny looked very sad.

"I'm so sorry," said Benny Dragon. "I didn't mean to pop it. Let me try to fix it for you."

Benny took the ball and took a deep breath. He breathed out into the hole, filling it with air again. Then, he took a scale from his back and put it over the hole. It stuck, and it covered the hole. He gave the ball back to the little bunny, who now looked very happy. A few more bunnies approached him, but a few still stayed back.


"Oh no!" yelled Freddie Bunny. "There's a wolf outside the meadow!"

All the bunnies looked up ahead and saw a big grey wolf standing farther away. He had big yellow eyes, and sharp, pointy white teeth. He growled loudly, and the other bunnies started to run away.

"You're a lot bigger than that wolf, Benny," Sally Bunny said. "You can make him go away, can't you?"

"Don't worry, I won't let that wolf hurt you," said Benny Dragon. He walked closer to the growling wolf, and breathed in lots of air. Then he let it out in a huge puff of fire. The wolf saw the fire and ran away. The other bunnies came out of hiding. They ran towards Benny Dragon and cheered.

"I knew you were a nice dragon!" said Sally Bunny.

"He sure is!" said Freddie Bunny.

"Gee, thanks," said Benny Dragon. "I'm glad that I finally have friends."

All the other bunnies in the meadow agreed that Benny Dragon a very good friend, so he stayed in the meadow with them, playing ball, picking flowers, and helping the bunnies when they were in need. Sally Bunny, Freddie Bunny, and Benny Dragon always played together from then on.

The End