Once upon a time in a far off land, there was a beautiful kingdom.

Everything was made of hearts there. The palace was a big red heart in the middle of the prosperous kingdom.

The kingdom was ruled by the good King of Hearts, the kind Queen of Hearts and they had a beautiful, chubby little princess of six years.

Princess of Hearts was a nice girl. But she actually liked doing naughty things, and stealing toffees when no one noticed.

She used to eat all the toffees alone and eventually had to go to the dentist and have her aching tooth out as it was spoiled from excessive eating of chocolates.

Thus the queen stopped her eating chocolates altogether and hid all the marshmallows, the nougats and those wobbly jellies in a big glass jar on top of the cupboard.

She used to look longingly at them, but she was too little to reach the jar.

She tried to get it down with a stick, but it was so heavy that it fell on her tiny feet and caused her a lot of pain.

Then she tried to get her small ladder from the play area. It was too short, so she brought a chair, placed the ladder over it and climbed up the ladder. She still couldn’t get it.

While coming down, she lost her balance, fell down and broke her leg.

The queen rushed in to see her daughter on the floor, screaming and the ladder beside her. She knew immediately what she had done.

She didn’t scold her though. She lovingly picked her up and took her to the doctor.

The doctor came with a big injection and pierced it in her bum.

She cried the whole time when the doctor wrapped up her leg in a white plaster and said that she had to stay in bed for a month.

The queen took her to her room.

“Momma, can I get the chocolates. P-L-E-E-E-A-A-S-E-E.”

“No, you won’t. You’ve done enough mischief, Lily. You broke your leg, and no more mischief. I’ll bring your favorite pasta soup,” said the queen, putting her hand on her hips.

“But I want toffees,” Princess Lily pouted, but her mother had left before that.

As she lay alone, she was thinking about all the lovely goodies out there in the jar.

Suddenly she felt her bed shaking. She cringed under the sheets and pulled her legs closer.

‘Who is there?”

No answer…

“Where are you?”

No answer…

She was now angry, “I’m not afraid of you, whatever you are.”

She threw back the sheets boldly and crossed her arms, to look as brave as possible.

Something black and hairy, covered with dust creeped out from under her bed and turning its back to her, shook itself, sending clouds of dust, making the princess sneeze.

A-C-C-H-O-O-O!!

“There is so much dust under your bed,” the creature complained, “The maids don’t clean your room.”

The wide eyes princess was staring at the weird creature in her room.

It was six feet tall, and had large scary teeth and had a mass of black curls on its head.

“What are you? I don’t know you,” said the princess, again drawing her covers closer.

“But I know you,” the weird creature did a mini dance around the room, “I stay under your bed and sprinkle sleep in your eyes every night.”

“N-O-O-O-O,” she protested, “It’s the sleep fairy.”

“It was me and it always will be me. You never talk to me. I am so lonely,” the creature had tears in its eyes.

“But you are a monster. I heard about you eating up kids like me. Or you take princesses to far off castles and keep them locked in towers. I will call my momma if you don’t go away now.”

“Please don’t call the queen. Trust me, I am your friend. I stay here always. I came out because I saw you crying, and I can never see my friend crying,” the creature burst into tears.

As the big drops fell on the floor, it became all wet.

“Hey, don’t cry. I won’t call my momma,” she said feeling sorry.

“You’re a good girl,’ said the monster, “And since you are my friend. I will bring that jar of toffees for you. Will you be my friend then?”

“Sure,” the princess shouted.

She was so excited to get her nougats back.

“You know how I became a monster? I was once a fairy. Small and beautiful like you,” said the creature getting up on her bed, and hugging her.

His hairs tickled her and she giggled, but seeing him offended, replied in the grimmest tone, “No, my friend.”

“I disobeyed my mommy and went to a dance. When I was returning, the sky broke apart and a clap of thunder hit me, causing me to turn like this. Since that day, nobody likes me. I was a disobedient kid,” he started crying again, the tears making the princess wet.

“It’s okay,” she pulled him into a hug, “I will be your friend. But tell me something. I am a naughty girl and I don’t listen to my mother too. Shall I become like you?”

B-O-O   H-O-O   H-O-O-O-O!

The monster kept on crying.

Finally it cleared its throat, blew its nose on the nearest tissue and said, “All disobedient children are punished by God, someday.”

Suddenly the queen came in with the soup and the monster disappeared in a puff.

“So, my baby is still crying for her sweets,” said the queen, kissing her.

“No momma, I’m a good girl. I’ll listen to you always and never throw tantrums. I don’t want to become a monster.”

The surprised queen picked her up and showered her with kisses.

“I love you, Momma,” she said, hugging her tighter.

1000 words completed.

A/N Written for the first contest by childrensfiction
Thanks to everyone for reading this. This is exclusively for children of the age group 4-10... So don't hate me for it.

I believe, that a child is nothing, but the representation of an inquisitive mind. Thus special thanks to the four people who have kept alive the inquisitive nature in me... The child in me is forever indebted to them...

Firstly my Mother and Father.
Then is KashishBelikov my special friend....
And tanuandchamp my special sis and my idol... Thanks for rejuvenating the child in me...