Once, long ago, there was a King and Queen with three sons and three daughters. The two eldest of the daughters were born on the same year, same day, at the same time but could not have been more different. The older princess Claude was bold with the confidence of her parent`s preference as she was the eldest daughter, and her marriage prospects were almost guaranteed. Her long, gold locks were considered a national treasure and with a silver tongue she had the kingdom`s love, but her heart was full of greed. The younger was equally fair of face with dark hair but a tongue that hardly ever moved as she hardly spoke a word in her life. Gentle and compassionate she had been given the name Grace. Her eyes barely escaped either a book or the floor as she had become timid by the onslaught of her sister`s greed.

　　Since Claude had learned of her superiority in rank, she had done her upmost to remind her younger sister. When they were younger Claude would trip Grace as she walked down the hall reading. Claude would steal Grace`s favourite toys and would blame injuries on her sister to gain her parent`s sympathy. As they grew Claude spread rumours about Grace`s failing health or questionable temperament throughout the palace which would reach the kingdom so the people`s opinion of Grace was very low, and her marriage prospects would be meagre. Grace`s rumours conditions once compared to a frog, pale, sickly, and slimy, and the princess became referred to as Gibit even to her mother and father.

　　The princess Gibit to escape her sister`s crosshairs would either retreat into her books or if that was not far enough then into the forest behind the palace where she would feed the squirrels. The squirrels, who would not ever judge her, climbed into her lap and were always very loving to her. When the girls had reached their 15th year, Claude had learned where her younger sister would escape and called out the huntsmen saying the forest had been overrun with rodents and could feed the people for many months. When Gibit returned to the forest to find blood and a few carcasses that had not been taken, she silently cried and ran to her eldest brother, the crown prince.

　　Having always protected her from rumours throughout the palace maids, Gibit pleaded with him to take a stance on her behalf. "I am sorry dear sister, I truly do love you, but our parents` favour is with Claude, and I cannot change their minds."

　　With tears in her eyes, she turned to her younger brother who would always hold her close when she was crushed by the world. "I am sorry dear sister, I truly do love you, but Claude has our parents favour and I cannot risk their wrath."

　　She then took her plea to her mother, begging for mercy. "Gibit, your dear sister has done nothing, but you take it upon yourself to slight her. I cannot let such an accusation against Claude by something like you stand."

　　Having not even the forest to turn to, the young princess crawled up to the tallest tower where she kept her most favourite books and toys hidden from her sister. She picked up one of these loved books, on the cover of which was a strong white stallion. She sat by the window framing a grey sky and opened the book. She tried reading but tears blinded her and as she closed them, tears fell onto the pages.

　　"I wish, I wish I had this once,

　　A savior to save me and not a dunce.

　　My sister hurts me, provide me a shield.

　　Make my home not a killing field."

　　Her tears fell onto the open pages and from the book sprang a white stallion with thick shoulders and strong hooves. The stallion towered over her as tall as two men. Gibit trembled in fear for a moment before the beast nuzzled her shoulder. Once looking into the beast`s eyes, she felt a kinship with it and pulled its forehead to hers, pleading with the pony. Soon after it took off down the tower right to the princess Claude.

　　The stallion reared up at the princess, but she did not cower, instead ordered the horses head to bow to her, "Foolish Pony! Come to your senses and bow to your better!" and it did. Claude jumped on the horses back and ran through the palace halls showing everyone her new prize stallion. Gibit saw this commotion and felt betrayed by the beast and left back up to the tower. She grabbed another book and tried to read this story instead as the idea of a firebird did not upset her as much as a story of a stallion now did. She read a few words but again her vision became hazy with tears.

　　"I wish, I wish I had this once,

　　A savior to save me and not a dunce.

　　My sister hurts me, provide me a shield.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author`s consent. Report any sightings.

　　Make my home not a killing field."

　　The princess cried onto the pages of this new story and sprang from it a majestic firebird. Red and gold sparks flew from the edges of its feathers. From its razor-sharp beak, a squealing cry came, murderous and shrieking. First, the princess Gibit shrank back in fear but feeling camaraderie in the bird`s eyes she reached out a hand to its beak and it bowed to her. She pleaded with the bird and soon it took off down the tower to find the princess Claude.

　　When it did, great flames poured from its eyes and danced on its wings and yet Claude merely jumped for a brief moment. She then threatened the noble bird, "Hurting the princess would only result in your wings clipped and your beak muzzled." Soon the bird lost the fire in its eyes and fell harmless at the lady`s feet. Claude paraded her new pet around the palace and when Gibit saw this she returned once more to the tower. She took a third book from her shelf and in anger forced tears from her eyes,

　　"I wish, I wish I had this once,

　　A savior to save me and not a dunce.

　　My sister hurts me, provide me a shield.

　　Make my home not a killing field."

　　A Prince now came from the pages, strong and brave. He unsheathed the sword from his side and looked into Gibit`s eyes and she felt a bond with this warrior. He took a knee and kissed her hand and then rushed down the stairs to find the princess Claude. As Claude walked around a corner, the prince grabbed her quickly with his sword to her throat. Trembling in fear for her life, princess Claude pleaded with the attacker, "Please do not kill me dear sir! If you let me live, I will grant you half my father`s kingdom for I shall marry you and my father and mother, and older brother shall die, I have arranged it so!" The princess offered many a more riches and wealths until the prince sheathed his sword once more and bowed to his future Queen. Claude then announced to the castle that this man shall be her husband and there was great rejoicing throughout the palace.

　　Upon hearing this, Gibit returned to the tower dismayed. She thought on it and realised she accomplished nothing. She provided her sister a stallion, swift and true, capable of fleeing any guards. A firebird, noble and dangerous, with the power to level armies. And a prince, strong and brave, to take the world for her. Her anger had got her nowhere and given her greedy sister everything. She walked by the shelf and took the last remaining book. Her fingers caressed the cover, and she opened the pages. She was now helpless and betrayed and she cried once more onto the pages,

　　"I wish, I wish I had this once,

　　A savior to save me and not a dunce.

　　My sister hurts me, provide me a shield.

　　Make my home not a killing field."

　　When her tears hit the pages, the room remained silent and she was alone, nothing came from the book. She realised she spent the three wishes this world would grant her and her heart ached. Her greed would not bring her anything.

　　"I pray, I pray that I am not bitter.

　　Give me the strength to survive this winter.

　　Protect my family, my sister too,

　　For I do not know what she will do."

　　Gibit now exhausted from her aching heart fell asleep on the windowsill of the tower and did not wake for many hours. While she slept the princess Claude handed a bag of gold to a huntsman with a knife in his hand. "When my eldest brother enters the forest to hunt the great stag, use this knife to slit his throat four times. My family will then grieve that he was killed by a wolf!" The huntsman nodded and greedily took the bag of coins. As soon as the gold was in his hand, the King with all his royal guards surrounded the princess, her prince, and the assassin. Confused Claude looked innocently at her father," What is it father?"

　　"You twisted girl you cannot deceive me further. Your prince has told me the truth and I now see your true intent! You greedy girl!" He cried.

　　The princess turned to look at her betrothed, but he drew his sword and aimed it at her heart as he joined her father`s men.

　　The Queen came to stand beside the king, "We gave you your riches and your life and they shall be just as easily taken away!"

　　Claude wailed and pleaded with them. The prince was surely lying, and this was a scheme against the kingdom, but the king finally had enough, "Someone take that silver tongue of hers that deceived me for so long! I will listen to it no longer!"

　　The storybook prince then took his sword and removed Claude`s tongue from her mouth. A string was then fastened to it and the necklace placed around her neck.

　　"Her clothes are now ruined with blood!" The Queen proclaimed, "one of you maids, give her your apron!"

　　So, they stripped the princess and then dressed her in a maid`s apron. Her tear-filled eyes turned back to her father.

　　He replied, "You will not look at me with your doe like eyes again for I know now that they are no different than a vixen`s. Remove them so they are not cast upon me or another mercenary!" And so, the Princess`s eyes were carved out by the prince at her father`s command.

　　"Her hair is now ruined with blood and is not worth its fortune." The Queen proclaimed, "Cut it off so she does not have to clean it." The prince then shorn her of her greatest beauty, and she stayed on her knees.

　　"She is no one but a blind mute! Only fitted to work in the dungeons. Take this beggar away from the palace courts!" The King decreed and she was dragged off and the floors cleaned. The prince then traveled up the tower to where the Princess Gibit lay sleeping by the window and gently woke her. She was spooked but the prince held her hand tightly.

　　"Your sister is now gone from sight and missing from word, she will not harm you or the kingdom again."

　　The princess Gibit was then betrothed to this prince who was granted a third of the king`s land as reward for his service. Claude`s name was never again mentioned in the kingdom, and they all lived happily ever after.