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Ignis was a magnificent dragon: emerald scales, powerful wings, and a roar that could rattle mountains. He was, by all accounts, a perfectly respectable, fire-breathing beast. But Ignis had a secret dream: he wanted to be a butterfly.

He spent hours in his lair, attempting to flit delicately, much to the confusion of his enormous, leathery wings. He tried to sip nectar from giant flowers (usually flattening them in the process). He even tried to land gently on the nose of Wilbur the worried warthog, who promptly fainted.

"It's just not working, Wilbur," Ignis sighed, accidentally singeing a daisy with a tiny puff of smoke. "My wings are too heavy! My scales are too green! I need to be light and colorful!"

Wilbur, recovering from his faint, blinked nervously. "But Ignis, you're a dragon. You're supposed to hoard gold and protect your cave, not… flutter."

One afternoon, Ignis had a brilliant idea. He spent days collecting all the brightest, most iridescent beetle shells, shiny pebbles, and glistening spiderwebs he could find. He then meticulously glued them all over his emerald scales, covering himself in a dazzling, patchwork coat of shimmering colors.

When he emerged, he looked less like a butterfly and more like a very large, very shiny, slightly confused disco ball.

"Ta-da!" Ignis announced, trying to flutter. He managed to wobble slightly.

Just then, Flicker, a wise old fairy dragon (much smaller and more sparkly), flew by. Flicker was known for her sensible advice.

"Ignis, darling," Flicker giggled, her tiny wings buzzing. "What in the name of all that glitters are you wearing? You look like a magpie's picnic!"

Ignis explained his butterfly dream. Flicker, instead of laughing, simply landed on his nose and tapped a tiny claw on one of his beetle shells.

"Ignis, the magic of a butterfly isn't just in its colors, but in its delicate lightness. You're adding weight, not taking it away!" Flicker explained. "If you want to feel light and colorful, try learning a new dance! Or paint pictures! Or simply enjoy the sunshine on your beautiful green scales!"

Ignis paused. He looked at his shimmering, heavy body. He looked at the warm sun. He realized Flicker was right. He peeled off the shells and webs, feeling much lighter already. He might not be a butterfly, but he could certainly enjoy the sunshine and perhaps learn a very slow, graceful dragon dance.