There once was a young princess who loved a handsome prince.

The prince was known throughout the land for heroically saving thousands from the claws of evil-spirited dragons which roamed the earth at the time…

This young princess loved the prince very deeply and vowed to do all that he asked of her.  The prince was touched by her humble vow and out of his respect for  her, gave her a special gift.

He explained to her, as she marvelled at it’s beautiful wrapping, that within this gift was a hidden power.  He told her that if she took great care with it, it’s power would grow stronger day by day.

She wondered joyfully as to what it could be.

Quick as a flash the  prince  disappeared and she was left to open her present.

Gently she untied the dainty lace ribbons and bows and placed them on her dresser.  She slowly clipped it’s wrapping, careful to cherish every moment, until finally her gift from the prince was before her.

It was shinier than any of the jewelry her mother, the queen, ever wore  and more splendid than anything she had seen even the king wear before.

Her true excitment came when she realized it was a looking-glass.  Knowing it may be the only one she would ever possess, she determined to treat it with ultimate care.

Suddenly a gladness overwhelmed her, as she pulled her new looking-glass close to her heart and without  being heard, she thanked the prince over and over.

Curious to know what the prince had meant when he spoke of it’s power, she looked into the mirror.  She was happy to find her reflection was crisp and clean, so much so, that even small blemishes were not apparent.

She checked her mirror for hours as she swept and dusted her bedroom chamber—taking a peek now and then to see if anything had changed.

Finally suppossing she was too tired to notice it’s magic, she decided to go to sleep and in the  morning she would watch for it again.

The next morning she arose, remembering the gift and quickly dressed herself to search the palace; in order to thank the prince properly  for the beautiful looking-glass.

Not finding him anywhere, she returned to her mirror and gazed lovingly into it.

Quite unexpectedly, she heard a soft voice whisper to her, “Keep looking.”   Spinning quickly around to find where the voice came from, she found  no one anywhere  with her.