Old Sultan

The Wealthy Sultan

Deep in a sunny land lived an old Sultan. He never kept his sparkly gold coins or fine jewels just for himself. Instead, he made sure everyone in his kingdom had enough.

"Does anyone need help today?" he would ask with a kind smile, handing out baskets of fresh fruit and colourful cloths. His palace had tall, golden towers that shimmered brightly in the sun. But his most special treasure was a secret, magical garden, where bright flowers bloomed all year. Little silver bells chimed softly in the warm air as he walked through it.

The Envious Vizier

The Sultan's Vizier never stood in the bright sunshine like other people. He preferred the cool shade, where he could watch the happy crowd from afar, a deep frown on his face. He wanted the Sultan's fancy throne for himself, more than anything in the world.

"Why does the Sultan give away all that colour and sparkle?" the Vizier muttered, watching the Sultan hand out gifts. "He should keep it! Then everyone would have to listen to *me*." He didn't notice the joyful shouts from the children or the grateful smiles of their mums. He only saw the shimmering gold of the palace, and he longed to sit on that chair.

The Wicked Plot

The Vizier's frown deepened as he watched the Sultan. "If the Sultan was gone," he whispered to himself, "then all his sparkly gold and the big comfy chair would be mine!" He imagined everyone in the land having to do exactly what he said.

A nasty idea grew in his head: he would give the Sultan something bad to eat. He thought about being the boss and smiling a secret, mean smile.

The Sultan's Curse

The old Sultan noticed the Vizier's eyes flick away from his supper plate. He realised something was wrong. Before he could eat the food, the Sultan hurried to his favourite garden. "If my heart stops beating," he said, his voice quiet but strong. "This garden will grow only sharp thorns and prickly bushes." He added, "No one else who wants it unfairly will ever enjoy its beauty."

As he finished speaking, a strange, rustling sound started. The colourful flowers suddenly shrivelled. Green leaves twisted into sharp, hard thorns. The garden turned into a place nobody could enter, ensuring nobody could enjoy its former beauty without the Sultan.

The Travelling Prince

One bright morning, a young prince woke up ready for an adventure. He had heard sad stories about the Old Sultan's garden, which was now filled with sharp, twisted thorns. This made the prince feel determined to help. He wanted to find a way to make the garden beautiful again for everyone.

He climbed onto his sturdy horse, holding a small compass in his hand. "Let's go, old friend," he said softly, patting her neck. They rode across green valleys and over tall, rocky mountains. Sometimes, he heard birds singing in the rustling forest. Other times, he felt the hot sun on his face in the quiet, dusty lands, searching for the magical garden.

The Enchanted Garden

After many long days of riding, the sky above turned a beautiful orange and purple as evening approached. Our prince spotted a small, hidden path that was almost completely swallowed by tall weeds. He knew this secret track felt important, like a whisper of old magic. "Is this it, old friend?" he whispered, gently patting his horse's warm neck.

He carefully led his horse along the narrow track, pushing aside thick, scratchy bushes. Suddenly, a thorny, prickly wall blocked their way completely. This must be the legendary garden, but its sharp thorns made it look very unwelcoming indeed. He saw no bright, colourful flowers, only twisted, grey branches everywhere.

The Wise Garden Gnome

The prince stared at the sharp, grey thorns, trying to figure out how to get through them. A soft scuffling sound came from the deep shadows beside the wall, making him stand very still. A tiny garden gnome stepped out, no taller than the prince’s knee. He wore a pointy red hat, and his long, white beard almost brushed the ground. His eyes twinkled like small, bright lights.

"Aha, so you've come to mend the garden's broken heart!" the gnome chirped, his voice surprisingly clear and strong. "Only a truly brave and kind soul can bring back what was lost." He tilted his head. "To break this old spell, you must gather three rare things: a phoenix's tear, a whisper of the wind, and the light of the full moon held in a crystal."

The Brave Prince

The prince listened to the gnome's instructions for the tricky quest. "Thank you for telling me," he said. "I will start this journey right away." He nodded at the little gnome, then began climbing the tallest mountains.

The wind howled past his ears, and the hot sun beat down as he searched. After days, he heard a small, sad peep. A young phoenix was tangled in a hunter's net! The prince quickly used his knife to cut the ropes. "Oh, thank you, kind friend!" chirped the colourful bird, its voice like tiny bells. A single, shiny tear, like pure gold, rolled down its cheek. The prince carefully caught it.

The Garden's Transformation

The prince returned to the garden, the gnome hopping next to him. "Now, Prince," the gnome whispered, "mix these special things as I say the spell." The prince carefully held the phoenix's tear, the whisper of the wind, and the crystal of moonlight. As the gnome spoke strange, quiet words, the prince gently stirred them together. A dazzling light burst from his hands!

The light spread quickly through the whole garden. He watched as prickly thorns pulled back, and green leaves uncurled. Brightly coloured flowers burst open, and heavy, sweet-smelling fruit appeared on the trees. A clear stream gurgled with a happy sound. The prince stared, his mouth open wide. The garden was free and more beautiful than any dream.

The Prince's Reward

The garden was alive again, its flowers bursting open in every colour! Old Sultan smiled warmly, his eyes twinkling, and he called the young prince over. Sultan stood among the sweet-smelling blossoms. "Prince," he said, his voice gentle and clear, "you showed such bravery and a kind heart. I want to give you a very special present." The prince leaned in, very curious, and simply nodded his head. Sultan stretched out his hand with a grand flourish. He held a small, wooden box with tiny, beautiful pictures carved all over it. "Inside this box is the key," Sultan whispered softly, "and it will bring more happiness than you can ever imagine."

The prince looked closely at the simple box, surprised it wasn't fancier. He carefully opened the lid. Inside, a single golden seed lay, shimmering brightly as the sunlight caught it. "Take this seed," Sultan said, "and plant it in your own land. It will bring good fortune and make everyone happy in your kingdom."

The Prince's Revelation

Prince thought about the Sultan’s golden seed for many days. He kept turning the small, shiny seed over and over in his hand, wondering about the happiness it promised. One afternoon, as he sat quietly in the garden, the air around him shimmered with a strange, bright light. Suddenly, the Old Sultan appeared before him, but he looked very different. His face was smooth, his grey beard was gone, and his clothes were now bright colours. The prince gasped aloud, his mouth falling open. The Sultan began to change, growing younger and younger, until he looked exactly like the prince himself! "You and I are one," the younger Sultan said, with a gentle smile. "This whole adventure was a big test."

"A test for what, exactly?" asked the prince, his eyes wide with surprise. The Sultan nodded slowly. "It was a journey for your heart and spirit, not just for the flowers in the garden. The true magic is not found in spells or enchantments. It is always found in acts of kindness, bravery, and love." The prince looked down at the golden seed, resting in his palm. He finally understood its meaning. This small, precious seed was a beautiful reminder of all the good lessons he had learned.

The Happily Ever After

"Did you hear the news?" whispered a baker to his customer. "The garden is beautiful again!" News about the young Sultan and the magical garden travelled fast. People walked along dusty paths and rode on colourful carts. They wanted to see the flowers and meet their kind ruler. A happy buzz grew louder each day.

Town squares became bustling with laughter. Musicians played lively tunes, their flutes and drums singing. "Come, let us celebrate together!" the Prince called out, his voice clear and strong. "I promise to be a good ruler, always fair and kind to everyone. Your happiness will be my greatest joy." That night, bright fireworks popped above the castle, painting the dark sky with streaks of red and gold.

The kingdom grew strong and happy. The magical garden blossomed with new, bright flowers, its sweet smell drifting into homes. The Old Sultan often sat there, smiling as children played nearby. He would tell them stories about the Prince's journey and the magic of kindness. These tales of hope and love were passed down, like precious jewels, for many, many years.