The Garden of Paradise
Andersen's Fairy Tales
Imagine a prince who knew almost everything from books. He had read about stars, faraway lands, and ancient kings. But even with all his books, he felt a little bit lonely. He read stories about a magical place called the Garden of Paradise, and oh, how he wished he could go there!
One blustery afternoon, WHOOSH! A mighty wind blew open his window. This wasn't just any wind; it was the East Wind, a cheerful fellow with rosy cheeks, dressed in a flowing silk robe.
"Hello there, Prince!" boomed the East Wind. "I've just come from China, where I danced on the rooftops and played with paper lanterns!"
The prince, quite surprised, said, "Oh, Mr. East Wind! You travel everywhere! Do you know the way to the Garden of Paradise?"
"The Garden of Paradise?" whistled the East Wind. "Of course! It's the most beautiful place you can imagine, full of sparkling flowers, singing birds, and a lovely Fairy Queen. But it's not easy to get to, or to stay in."
"Oh, please, please take me there!" begged the prince.
The East Wind chuckled. "Alright, hold on tight! But remember, it's a special place with special rules."
So, the prince hopped onto the East Wind's back (well, not really his back, more like he was carried in a comfy gust), and ZOOM! Off they flew, faster than any bird, over mountains and oceans.
Soon, they arrived. The Garden of Paradise was even more wonderful than the stories. Flowers glowed with soft light, and music seemed to float on the air. A beautiful Fairy Queen, with a smile as bright as sunshine and eyes like clear blue water, greeted them.
"Welcome, Prince," she said gently. "You may stay here and be happy. But there is one very important rule. You see that big, shimmering tree over there? That's the Tree of Knowledge. When I sleep under it, you must not, absolutely not, kiss me. If you do, this beautiful garden will sink deep into the earth, and you will be sent away."
"Oh, I promise! I promise I won't!" said the prince, his eyes wide with wonder at the garden's beauty.
The prince spent a wonderful time exploring. He talked to wise old animals and tasted fruits sweeter than honey. The Fairy Queen showed him all the wonders of the garden. Then, tired from her day, she lay down to sleep under the big, wise Tree of Knowledge.
The prince watched her. She looked so peaceful and lovely, her hair like spun gold. A little thought popped into his head, "She is so beautiful. Just one tiny kiss wouldn't hurt, would it?" He tried to push the thought away, remembering his promise. But the wish grew stronger and stronger. He tiptoed closer.
And then... he leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek.
CRASH! BOOM! Thunder roared, lightning flashed! The beautiful garden began to shake and tremble. The flowers drooped, the music stopped, and the whole place started to sink, sink, sink down into the dark earth.
The Fairy Queen woke up, her eyes full of sadness. "Oh, Prince," she sighed, "you broke your promise."
The prince felt a terrible wave of regret. He was gently pushed out of the sinking garden, back into the stormy night, with the East Wind looking very sorry for him.
A cold, quiet wind found him. This was the Wind of Death, not scary, but very serious. "You have learned a hard lesson," said the Wind of Death in a low voice. "Because you are truly sorry for what you did, you will have a chance to do good in the world. But you cannot return to Paradise now."
The prince understood. He had made a big mistake by not keeping his promise. He knew he would always remember the beautiful garden and the important lesson he learned: sometimes the strongest thing to do is to resist a wish, especially when you've made a promise. And though he couldn't go back to the Garden of Paradise, he carried its memory, and the lesson, in his heart forever.
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