1. Golden dragon

  One day, Golden Dragon flew toward the Celestial Emperor's palace, where the Emperor's birthday party was taking place.  All the dragons were there, singing, dancing, and eating. Three days and nights later, the party was still going on, but the little dragon was tired . So he flied down to earth.

But when he flew over the earth, he was shocked.  The place was a desert!  The crops were shriveled, the trees were dying, and no people were to be seen.  What happened?

At last Golden Dragon understood.  While the Rain Dragon had been having fun, leaving his work, the poor farmers did nothing but see their crops die.  "I' got to do something!" said the little dragon.

Golden Dragon returned to the palace as fast as he could.  He saw the Rain Dragon stretched out half-drunk on a couch and roused him to tell him the bad news.  But the rain dragon said he couldn't make it rain without the Emperor's orders.  He rolled over and went back to sleep.

So Golden Dragon went to the Emperor's chamber, but the guards stopped his way "His Celestial Majesty is not to be disturbed!"  Golden dragon was worried.  Fortunately, he met the Lord of Thunder and the Lady of Lightning, on their way home.

"Please help these poor people!" he said.  The couple were sympathetic but could not do much.  "To form a good storm, you need wind, and clouds - and rain, of course."  Just then, the Master of Wind and of Clouds came by, and agreed to help.  Soon the wind was blowing huge clouds across the sky, while thunder and lightning cracked and flashed.  A big storm!- but still no rain.

Golden Dragon decided to trick the Rain Dragon.  He tiptoed up and yelled at the rain dragon’s ear.  "Get up! The Emperor wants rain now!" the Rain Dragon, half-asleep, rose and tipped over his magic water-jar.  And it rained.  People were saved!

But when the Emperor heard about it he was furious.  How dare a little dragon give orders in his name!  He sentenced Golden Dragon to death.

When the terrible news reached Earth, people were angry. They fired firecrackers, beat drums, and hit big copper gongs.  The big noise echoed around the Emperor's palace and gave him a headache. Beaten at last, he was willing to reduce the punishment.  Golden Dragon would be banished to Earth - where he would have to be burned.

The people looked sad and said they would do what Emperor said.  They built a huge bonfire around Golden Dragon.  The Emperor looked out of his window and saw plenty of flames.  He watched for a while and said he was satisfied.

But, in fact, Golden Dragon was really safe - fast asleep on his pile of sticks.  The flames the Emperor had seen were only fireworks which the people had lit, to fool the cruel Emperor and save their little golden friend.