The Lost Princess
Once upon a time, on a stormy evening, the churning waters of the sea heralded the arrival of two little girls who were born at the same time.
One was a princess, from the royal family of the Eastern Hills. She was named Naomi.
The other girl, born to a humble couple of shepherds who lived in the Western Meadows, was named Daisy.
Naomi, the Spoiled Princess
Over the years, living in the palace, Naomi was greatly loved by her parents. Her every wish was fulfilled, and so she became arrogant.
— How beautiful! Mother, Father, I want the moon! — The moon? But how? — I don't care how, I want it! — But... of course, my dear. Soldiers, bring the princess the moon! At once! Oh, yes, Your Highness!
Daisy, the Shepherds' Daughter
— Here you go, dear, it's yours. — Yay!
Meanwhile, at the shepherds' home...
— Daisy, did you go clean your room? — Mother, I'll get my dress dirty! Please, you do it. — Oh, alright, dear.
Daisy had been so pampered and spoiled that she had become very proud.
— Am I not the most beautiful? Don't I deserve the best? Am I not the most beautiful? Don't I deserve the best? — Yes! Yes! Yes!
The Fairy Godmother's Plan
Born under the same star and equally stubborn. At eighteen, I'll teach you both a lesson.
So, on the right day, the Fairy Godmother went to Naomi's palace.
— Ugh! Nobody listens to me! I'm sick of this palace! — Are you sure? — Ha! Who are you? — I'm your Fairy Godmother. — What fairy godmother? — You said you're sick of the palace, didn't you? What if I gave you the chance to live somewhere else, of your choosing? — Oh! I'd love to be able to leave here! But why would you do this for me? — As I said, I'm your Fairy Godmother.
Naomi's Choice
Naomi found herself in a gallery with a multitude of different paintings.
— What? Where am I? — Oh, hello! You're in the room of choices. The paintings are magical, and if you step through one, you can go wherever you want. — So pick me! — No, pick me! Pick me! Me! Me! — Oh!
Naomi looked at a painting where the meadows were green and endless and the rivers were as blue as the sky.
— Ooh, I think... I think this place is calling me! I choose this place!
She stepped into the painting and disappeared.
Daisy's Choice
Meanwhile, the Fairy went to visit Daisy.
— My beautiful hands! How can they ask me to do such a thing? Oh! I don't want to stay here anymore! — Are you sure? — Oh! Who are you?
The Fairy Godmother introduced herself, but Daisy was suspicious.
— How can I believe you? — Hmm. Well, at sixteen you cried all day because you didn't get the birthday present you wanted. — Ah! How do you know that? — As I said, I'm your Fairy Godmother. — Alright, let's see, Fairy Godmother. Can you take me away from here? — Of course! — Ha! Where am I? — You're in the room of choices! You can go wherever you want by stepping through these magical paintings. — Wow! What should I choose? — Pick me! Me! Me!
Swapping Lives
Daisy walked around, intrigued by the wonderful paintings.
— Hmm. That's, oh! My boring house. Wait! Who's that girl?
It was Naomi. But Daisy, uninterested, moved on. She saw a painting of Naomi's kingdom, with the grand castle and majestic flags.
— This is perfect! A palace! Oh, wow!
Smiling happily, she carefully stepped through the painting. The girls had now each arrived in the other's realm, while the Fairy Godmother watched.
Naomi in the Shepherds' World
Meanwhile, Naomi's parents were devastated by her disappearance. The king sent his soldiers to search for her everywhere. But no one could find her.
— Wow! How grand! But how do I get in?
Suddenly, she saw a royal servant.
— Ah! She probably works at the palace. I'll try to work there too. That way I'll be able to get in!
And so Daisy managed to get a job in the royal kitchen.
Daisy in the Royal World
But at home, her parents were desperately searching for her, devastated.
— Daisy! Oh, where are you? Oh!
The shepherdess was amazed when she found Naomi sleeping on the ground. She had stepped through the painting and was lost and exhausted.
When the princess woke up, she was surprised to find herself in a little cottage covered with straw.
— Where am I? — Well, I found you sleeping in the bushes and brought you here. You must be hungry. — Don't give me ordinary food! I'm a princess!
The two were surprised by this claim.
— Maybe she's in shock, poor girl. — What are you two whispering about? Bring me better food! — Hmm. Here you go. Come, dear, let's leave her to enjoy her meal.
Naomi looked at the food unhappily, but since her stomach was growling with hunger, she ate it. She didn't think to be grateful at all.
Naomi's Lesson
As she was coming down the stairs, she overheard the two whispering sadly.
— That was the last goat cheese. — Don't worry. We must take care of the girl. She's the same age as our daughter and reminds me of Daisy. We still have some bread and soup for dinner. — Yes, at least we won't go hungry.
— What? That was the only thing they had and they gave it to me?
Suddenly, Naomi began to feel guilty for being so rude. She had never felt the shame that now made her want to be better.
Over the days, Naomi began to observe, to feel, and to help the two poor people a little at a time.
— Ooh! Mmm, oh, it's delicious! — I'm glad! Thank you for peeling the potatoes! Now eat.
Daisy's Lesson
While Naomi was changing for the better, Daisy was having an increasingly hard time at the palace.
— Daisy! Wash the dishes! — Yes! — Daisy! The silverware must sparkle! — Yes!
Daisy was sweet as sugar to everyone there, but people managed to see what she was really like.
— I have to leave here! Everyone is mean! A person as good as me doesn't belong here!
The Reunion
One day, Daisy managed to find out about Naomi's disappearance. When she recognized the painting with Naomi, she had an idea.
— I know exactly what to do! There, a little more salt and a little more and a little more! — What? Who made this soup? Bring me that person! How dare you cook something so horrible for me! — I did it on purpose to get your attention. You see, I know where your daughter is! — What? Where? — She's in my realm! I can take you there, but... — But? — But I want a reward! Otherwise you won't see the princess!
The king clenched his teeth, but when he thought about finding his dear Naomi, he agreed.
Soon they set off for the meadows. Daisy didn't think about the harm she would cause her family. She was only thinking about the reward.
When they arrived, they saw Naomi laughing with the shepherd and the shepherdess. The grumpy princess from before was hard to recognize, for now she had rosy cheeks and a smiling face.
— Is that Naomi? — Yes! Oh, Naomi! — How dare you steal my daughter? — Mother! Father! Wait!
But the king was too angry and sent his soldiers after the poor people. Seeing this, Daisy began to tremble with fear.
— I didn't know she was a princess! — Silence! You will be imprisoned! — What? — Daisy! — Do you know her? She didn't bring her here, but she will be imprisoned too! — No, no! Please, Your Majesty! Take us, but let our daughter go!
Seeing how her parents were begging for her, even though she had hurt them, the girl felt ashamed of how badly she had treated them.
— Mother! Father! I'm so sorry! I've been a terrible daughter!
The Lessons Learned
Suddenly, the Fairy Godmother appeared, smiling broadly.
— Great King, I was the one who made Naomi leave the palace, so she could learn to be better. — What? — Dear shepherd, I was the one who convinced your daughter to leave, so she could learn to be humble. And it seems they've both learned their lesson. — Yes, I will never be proud again! Oh, how badly I behaved! Even when I caused you pain, you still protected me! — My dear, we will love you no matter what. — Father, please, set them free! They took great care of me and I learned so much from them! Thank you so much for what you taught me! — Now I understand what a disaster I've been, and I promise to change! Thank you, Fairy Godmother! — Oh, we're very sorry too for the way we behaved! — I'm very proud of you both and I will always protect you. Well, goodbye!
Naomi and her parents said goodbye to Daisy and her family and returned to the palace.
Daisy, as she had promised, became a humble and understanding daughter, which pleased her parents. And Naomi became sweet and kind, which surprised everyone, but they all began to like her more.
The two girls learned that by being humble and kind to others, you receive what you give. But giving is more important than receiving, and I'm sure they will always remember that.
