Stories

The Most Precious Gift

This is my first short story. I wrote it when I was 12.
I didn't change any part of it, so please be kind :o)
It's a fairy tale written for children.

Once upon a time, in a faraway Kingdom, there lived a king who had
two sons. Since the king was getting old, it was time for him to decide
which one of his sons would be the future king. Just then, the king had
an idea how to choose the future heir. He would send his sons off
into the woods and they were to bring back the most precious gift they
could find. Well, the first son, who was the oldest of the two,
didn't waste any time to begin his search. But, just to make sure
his younger brother didn't win, he told his little brother that he could
find wonderful things at the very end of the woods. The oldest
prince knew that there wasn't anything there, but mud and swamps.
The younger boy, who had great trust in his brother, decided to take
his advice and left in search of the most precious object he could find.

The older prince, very proud of his little trick, found a beautiful
diamond only a short way into the woods. During this time,
his younger brother was still searching for the perfect object that
would make his father proud of him. By this time the younger boy
had discovered his brother's trick. He didn't know what to do.
Since it was getting dark, he knew he would have to return
to the castle soon. Just then, he spotted a man sitting on a rock near
a swamp. The young boy approched the bizarre looking man very
carefully. He asked the man if he had any idea where he could find
the most precious gift for his father. The old man just looked at him
and then he said: "The most precious gift is love".
The youngest son, not sure what he meant, decided to bring back
the next thing he saw - a frog. He liked frogs and since there was
nothing else he could find, he had no choice. At least he tried.

Back at the castle, the king was admiring the beautiful gem his
first son had brought him. He could not wait to see what his other son
would bring him. Just then, the young boy came rushing in
and presented the frog to his father. Well, the king took
one look at the creature and gave the crown to the oldest boy.
Confused at how his son could imagine bringing him back a frog,
the king asked him why he would bring such a disgusting creature
into the palace. The young boy, furious at his father and brother,
thought about what the strange man in the woods had told him
about love and yelled: "I love the frog and you can't say
such things about him". Then, he kissed the frog.
Well, as soon as his lips touched the creature, the frog
turned into a beautiful princess. The king and his oldest son looked
in astonishment at the princess and the young boy. The king,
almost speechless, told his younger son that he had already given
the crown to his older brother. The younger boy told his father that
he didn't care about some crown or being king. He was happy
just being himself. A couple of days later, the young prince
and the beautiful princess got married in the royal palace.
And, of course, everyone lived happily ever after.

THE END