The Princess and the Fairy's Wing

Princess Mirabelle had everything she could ever dream of. Toys, friends, and servants to cater to her every whim. Everyone adored her blonde curls and winning smile. Her father, the king, showered her with jewels often, and her mother cuddled up with her and told her a story until she fell asleep each and every night. Mirabelle had three older brothers whom she loved to play with, and who loved to play with her. She was a princess in every aspect of the word.1

Mirabelle had one flaw, though: her personality. She was nice enough around her family and other nobles, but with servants and the townspeople who visited the castle, Mirabelle could easily be mistaken for a little witch. She was bossy and greedy, and she gave no thought to how they felt. To put it simply, she was spoiled rotten.2

One sunny summer day, Mirabelle’s brothers took her to the roof of the castle, where she had never been before. And the view was amazing! To the north she saw the distant mountain peaks and to the west and south the Great Forest, which looked like an endless sea of green. And, if she squinted, to the east she could see the ocean on the horizon, behind the rolling golden plains. “It’s beautiful!” She exclaimed.3

After Mirabelle’s mother tucked her in that night, Mirabelle closed her eyes and pictured the view, vivid in her mind. How she wished to run through that forest, to climb those mountains, to sail on the ocean! Suddenly, the castle, though large, seemed like a prison, and Mirabelle quickly dressed into her simplest gown, and put on her cloak of velvet. She ran outside into the cool summer air, and began to march west towards the Great Forest.4

A guard stopped her as she approached the castle wall. “Whoa, lass, where do you think you’re going?” He asked.5

She put her hand on her hips. “I’m the princess,” She said haughtily, “And my father says I can leave if I want to. Who are you to question the king?”6

The guard paused for a moment, considering her words. Then he shrugged and let her through. Mirabelle planted her feet on the other side. How good it felt to be free! She giggled, knowing her brothers wouldn’t have been able to get away with such an escape so easily.7

Not sure of where she was going, but not caring, Mirabelle began to run through the forest. It felt strange, having no one watch over her, telling her that she would rip her dress or that such a thing wasn’t proper for a young princess.8

She stopped suddenly, almost running into a large wall of…scales? She smelled smoke. A large head burst through the top of the trees and looked at her. “Little girl,” it said in a raspy voice, “What are you doing, disturbing my slumber? Your laughter woke me up.”9

“Move!” Mirabelle yelled at the dragon, for now her eyes had adjusted to the darkness of the forest and she could see what it was. “You are in my way.”10

It laughed, blowing some smoke through its nose. “I’ll take no orders from a human child. Go around me, and shut up.”11

Mirabelle felt one of her tantrums coming on. “You must move! I can’t go around you, or I’ll lose the trail. I am the Princess Mirabelle, and my father rules this forest. He can kick you out, if I ask him to.”12

“Oh, a princess, are you? Well, that changes everything. Give me your pretty velvet cloak, and I’ll move for you, Princess.”13

“Why should I give you my best cloak?”14

The dragon breathed out more smoke, and small flames. This scared Mirabelle a little bit. “So I can put it over my ears and not listen to your annoying girlish giggles.”15

Mirabelle grudgingly gave the dragon the cloak, and the dragon, keeping its promise, got up and moved. The princess continued skipping and soaking in her freedom, until someone tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped and turned around to see an ugly old beggar woman standing in front of her. Mirabelle crossed her arms in anger. “What?”16

“Do you happen to have a coin or two for the poor?” The woman held out her hands, looking hopeful.17

“No. Now leave me alone, for I am Princess Mirabelle and you are a simple peasant.”18

“But you are wearing such a pretty emerald necklace—that would buy a hundred meals! You must have plenty of jewelry, being a princess. Spare one necklace for a poor old lady.”19

“Stop talking to me!”20

“I’ll make you a deal,” The woman said. “There is a swamp up ahead, right in the middle of the trail. I’ll pick you up and carry you over it, if you give me the necklace.”21

Mirabelle surely didn’t want to get her dress and shoes dirty, so she sighed and handed over the necklace. The woman, though old, was strong and held little Mirabelle high enough so that not even the hem of her dress came out clean.22

A little while later, Mirabelle saw a faint light in the distance, and ran over to it. She saw a little glowing fairy laying on a large stone, crying. “What’s wrong?” Mirabelle asked, her heart filled with pity for seeing such a pretty creature so sad.23

“My wing,” The fairy said in between sobs. “A bird snapped it, and I can’t fly home.” The fairy showed Mirabelle the wing, which was almost broken in two.24

“Where do you live?” Mirabelle asked, placing the fairy in the palm of her hand.25

The fairy sniffed and pointed in a certain direction. Mirabelle hesitated, for she would have to wander off of the trail in order to take the fairy home, and then she might get lost. But, taking a deep breath, she took the fairy to her home, where the fairy’s family was relieved to see her. “Thank you so much,” they said to Mirabelle.26

She sighed. “You’re welcome,” she said, “Except now I don’t know how to get to my home.”27

The fairy smiled as the others healed her wing. “I will take you to the castle safely,” she said.28

“How did you know—” Mirabelle began, but before she could finish the question, she was flying in the air above the forest, and she could see the dragon, which was sound asleep. She soon landed at the castle, and ran to her room. To her surprise, the fairy appeared beside her. “Thank you,” Mirabelle said, yawning.29

“I hope you learned something,” The fairy said in a stern voice.30

“Yes. I’ve learned never to leave the castle alone at night.” Mirabelle giggled.31

The fairy shook her head. “No, what did you really learn?”32

Mirabelle sighed, becoming serious. “I learned that if I am kind to others, even if they aren’t as rich as I am, they will be kind in return. The dragon and the peasant weren’t kind—they made me give up my cloak and necklace!—but with you, I did a nice favor for you, and you freely did one for me in return.”33

“Much better,” The fairy nodded. “You should remember that always, Mirabelle. Every creature on this earth, rich and poor, are just as important as you are. Now, I have to leave you and return to my family.”34

“Please, don’t go!” Mirabelle begged. She had grown quite fond of this kind and wise fairy.35

“I’ll visit,” the little fairy promised. “Good night, Mirabelle.”36