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The First Wish
Princess Crystal sat in her chamber as her ladies-in-waiting attended her. She was stretched out on a couch in a pink dress while a girl brushed her hair. She sighed with boredom. The castle was mostly deserted of anybody but servants. Her father and all her brothers were off leading the army in battle. Crystal did not much bother herself with those kinds of masculine adventures, though she was always upset about being left behind all the time. Her eyes fell on the lamp recently gifted to her by strange dark-skinned men from a far-off kingdom.
"What's that, if I may ask, my lady," her servant inquired politely, noticing Crystal's attention given to the lamp.
"A gift from a far off king. When you are a princess important people give you gifts such as this," she said somewhat arrogantly.
"Well it is quite a lovely bauble," the servant said.
"Bauble? Watch your tongue, girl. This is a gift of great importance. It is said to contain magical properties. They probably wish me to marry into their kingdom for them to gift such a precious treasure."
"Sorry my lady. I didn't know," the servant apologized.
"You needn't concern yourself with these matters. Now leave me," she said. And with that her servant bowed and left the room, leaving Crystal alone in the room with the lamp.
The lamp sat on a stone pedestal against the far wall. Crystal stood and approached it. She studies it, thinking of what the envoy had told her as he presented the gift. "Just rub this lamp, and you shall be granted three wishes." Crystal was not a superstitious type, but boredom was getting the better of her. She sat down on the floor in front of the pedestal, her skirt spread around her. She took the lamp in her gloved hands and held it to the light. It was quite beautiful.
Holding the lamp up, she turned it in her hands. Although she was sure nothing would happen, she gave the lamp a gentle rub with her hand....