The Crystal Ball

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

Classic quest beats—helpers, tasks, and a satisfying resolution. Easy to read in sections and pause after each milestone.

Story Synopsis

A princess has been enchanted, and no one can reach her. The youngest prince decides to try, guided more by steady courage than pride. On the road, he meets animals in trouble and chooses to help. Those small acts become powerful later, because the animals return as loyal allies. The path leads to a hidden castle with strange rules and guarded rooms. Somewhere inside is the crystal ball—the key to breaking the spell. With animal help and calm cleverness, the prince completes the tasks, reaches what’s hidden, and restores what was lost.

Story Excerpt

There was once an enchantress who had three sons. The boys loved one another dearly, but their mother did not trust them. She believed they would one day try to take her magic, so she cast a terrible spell on the two oldest. The eldest son she transformed into an eagle. From that day forward, he soared among the rocky peaks, circling high in the sky. The second son she changed into a whale, and he swam deep in the ocean. Sometimes sailors saw a great jet of water rise from the waves and knew he was there. Each brother could return to his human shape for only two hours each day. The youngest son feared his mother would change him too—perhaps into a bear or a wolf. So he slipped away in secret, determined to find his own path. He had heard of a princess who was trapped under a terrible enchantment in the Castle of the Golden Sun. She was waiting for someone brave enough to free her. Many had tried—twenty-three young men had already faced the danger and failed. Only one more could attempt the rescue, and then no others would be allowed. The youngest son's heart was fearless, and he set off to find the Castle of the Golden Sun. He traveled for weeks, crossing hills and valleys, but could not discover the way.

In One Glance