Princess Zariah is a girl. She is small, kind, and brave. She lives with the King and the Queen.
Today, they walk into the Enchanted Forest. The trees sparkle. The leaves whisper, “Hello, hello.”
Princess Zariah holds a tiny pouch. Inside is her favorite little crown pin. It is shiny. It is special.
A soft wind goes whoooosh.
“Oh!” says Princess Zariah. “My pin!”
The pouch is open. The crown pin is gone.
The Queen kneels down. “Sweet girl, we will help you.”
The King looks left and right. “We will find it together.”
A Monkey swings down from a vine. He has bright eyes and a silly grin.
“Eee-eee!” says Monkey. Then he points. “Ook!”
Princess Zariah giggles. “Monkey wants to help!”
They all listen.
Drip, drip. A little stream sings.
Tap, tap. A woodpecker knocks.
“Let’s look,” says Princess Zariah. “Slow steps.”
They walk. Step. Step. Step.
Monkey hops ahead. He sniffs a mushroom. “Ook?”
The King chuckles. “Not food, Monkey. We seek a pin.”
Monkey claps. “Eee!”
Princess Zariah looks under a big fern. No pin.
The Queen looks near a mossy stone. No pin.
Princess Zariah feels a small worry in her tummy.
The Queen takes her hand. “It’s okay. We keep trying.”
Princess Zariah nods. “I am brave.”
Monkey suddenly freezes. His tail points like an arrow.
“Ook-ook!” he squeaks.
They follow Monkey to a sunny clearing. In the middle is a tall old tree. Its roots make a little tunnel.
Princess Zariah bends down. “Hello, tunnel.”
She crawls a tiny bit and looks.
Twinkle.
Something shines in the shadow.
Princess Zariah whispers, “I see it.”
The King says, “Careful, little star.”
Princess Zariah reaches in with her small fingers. She wiggles. She reaches.
“Almost… almost…”
Monkey leans in too far.
Boop!
His nose bumps Princess Zariah’s hair.
“Eee!” Monkey sneezes.
Princess Zariah laughs, “Bless you, Monkey!”
And then—plop!—the crown pin drops into her palm.
“I got it!” she cheers.
The Queen claps softly. “Well done.”
The King bows. “Princess Zariah, Finder of Shiny Things.”
Monkey does a funny dance. He spins, then bonks into a bush.
A bunch of golden acorns rains down.
Plink. Plunk. Plink.
Princess Zariah’s eyes go wide. “Treasure!”
The King picks up a golden acorn. “These are forest gifts.”
The Queen smiles. “For your courage and patience.”
Princess Zariah puts her crown pin back in the pouch and ties it tight. “Safe.”
She fills a little basket with golden acorns.
Monkey holds one on his head like a hat. “Ook!”
They walk home through the Enchanted Forest.
Princess Zariah feels warm and proud.
“I lost it,” she says, “but we found it. Together.”
The King and Queen say, “Together.”
Monkey says, “Eee-eee!”
And the trees whisper, “Goodbye, brave Princess Zariah.”