One sunny morning, a little bee was very, very proud. She had just made the most delicious, golden honey you could ever imagine. It shimmered in the honeycomb, and the smell was so sweet it made all the other bees buzz with delight.

"This honey is too good!" she thought. "What if someone tries to take it all?" She worried and worried. Then, she had a bright idea. "I'll go to Zeus, the king of all the gods! He lives high up on Mount Olympus. Surely, he can help me protect my amazing honey."

So, the little bee carefully collected a beautiful comb, dripping with her finest honey, and flew all the way up, up, up to the cloudy palace of Zeus.

Zeus was sitting on his big throne, looking very grand. The little bee buzzed nervously but bravely flew forward. "Oh, mighty Zeus," she chirped, "I have brought you a gift of my very best honey."

Zeus smiled. He loved sweet things. He took a taste of the honey. "Mmm! Delicious!" he boomed, his voice like gentle thunder. "This is the best honey I have ever tasted, little bee! Tell me, what can I do for you in return?"

The little bee felt encouraged. "Great Zeus," she said, "my honey is so wonderful, but I'm always afraid someone will come and steal it. Could you please give me a weapon, something sharp, so I can defend my honey and poke anyone who tries to take it?"

Zeus looked at the little bee. He was pleased with her gift, but not so pleased with her wish to harm others. He thought for a moment.

"Alright, little bee," Zeus said slowly. "I will grant your wish. You shall have a sting to protect your honey. But, there is a condition. If you use your sting on any creature, especially a human, you will lose the sting, and with it, you will lose your own life."

The little bee was a bit surprised. That wasn't quite what she had hoped for. But she had her sting.

And so, from that day on, bees have had stings to protect their precious honey. But they learned to be very careful, because using their weapon to hurt someone else would mean it was the last thing they ever did. It made them think twice before getting angry.

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