Princess Poppy lived in a beautiful castle, but she was a very worried princess. Her mother, the Queen, had announced a contest! She wanted Poppy to choose a prince, but Poppy wasn't sure any of the princes were *right*. They all seemed to care about shiny swords and grand parties, not about being kind.
One day, a traveling gardener arrived at the castle. He carried a tiny, brown seed. “This,” he said to the Queen, “is a Wishing Seed. Plant it with kindness, and something wonderful will grow.” The Queen, eager to impress the princes, decided *they* would plant it.
Prince Reginald stomped on the ground, making a big hole, and tossed the seed in. “There! Done!” he boomed. Prince Bartholomew carefully placed the seed, but only because he wanted everyone to see how gentle he was. Neither prince watered the seed or spoke kindly to it.
Princess Poppy felt sad. She quietly took a small watering can and gently watered the seed. She whispered, “Grow strong, little seed. Grow with kindness.” Every day, she visited the seed, talking to it and making sure it had everything it needed.
The Queen and the princes laughed. “What a silly princess!” they said. “Talking to a seed!” But Poppy didn’t mind. She knew kindness was important, even if others didn’t understand.
Then, one morning, a tiny sprout appeared! It grew and grew, not into a rose or a lily, but into a beautiful, shimmering plant with leaves like velvet and flowers that glowed with a soft light. And nestled amongst the flowers was… a tiny, sparkling hummingbird!
The hummingbird zipped around the castle, landing on Poppy’s shoulder and singing a sweet song. The Queen realized that the Wishing Seed hadn’t grown a beautiful flower for a prince, but for someone with a beautiful heart.
Poppy didn’t need a prince who cared about shiny things. She had a friend in the little hummingbird, and she learned that even the smallest seed, when nurtured with kindness, can blossom into something truly magical. And that’s much more important than a grand party!
From that day on, Princess Poppy continued to be kind to everyone she met, knowing that inner beauty and a gentle heart are the most wonderful treasures of all. Now close your eyes, little one, and dream of magical seeds and sparkling hummingbirds.