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Description
The world was small enough to fit into her hand. She picked up the glass marble between index and thumb, and held it up to the light.

Inside life went on. A little castle had been erected since last she looked, with in a tower a beautiful princess sighing. Why did she sigh? Was she not happy? Or was she very happy thinking of a prince to come rescue her from the dull politics of her father's men?

"Do you mean it?" She looked up at her own father. "You mean I can really keep it?"

He nodded. "It's time you learned some responsibility."

Her hand closed around the tiny orb, casting darkness inside, as she jumped into the air thinking wild thoughts of dragons, or battles, or maybe epic quests and love conquering all. She gazed inside again, the little world resting in her palm.

The castle had fallen to ruin. The banner of another house flew over the remains, with a single knight holding a golden braid in a blood stained gauntlet.

She looked up at her father with alarm in her eyes.

"If you learn how to take care of it, I may allow you a real pet," he confided.

She sniffled a bit, thinking the task suddenly too daunting, the prize too far removed in time. A heavy hand came to rest on her own braided hair, pulling her back to reality kindly.

"It may help if you create a safe keeping pouch for it. And give it a name." His voice rumbled from on high.

Eyes bright again, she looked up. That should help. Once, she'd had a toy doll she'd named Ariel, and it had been her favourite among all her dolls.

"I'll call it... Earth. And keep it safe." She nodded, in her rekindled enthusiasm almost dropping the tiny globe.

Description
The world was small enough to fit into her hand. She picked up the glass marble between index and thumb, and held it up to the light.

Inside life went on. A little castle had been erected since last she looked, with in a tower a beautiful princess sighing. Why did she sigh? Was she not happy? Or was she very happy thinking of a prince to come rescue her from the dull politics of her father's men?

"Do you mean it?" She looked up at her own father. "You mean I can really keep it?"

He nodded. "It's time you learned some responsibility."

Her hand closed around the tiny orb, casting darkness inside, as she jumped into the air thinking wild thoughts of dragons, or battles, or maybe epic quests and love conquering all. She gazed inside again, the little world resting in her palm.

The castle had fallen to ruin. The banner of another house flew over the remains, with a single knight holding a golden braid in a blood stained gauntlet.

She looked up at her father with alarm in her eyes.

"If you learn how to take care of it, I may allow you a real pet," he confided.

She sniffled a bit, thinking the task suddenly too daunting, the prize too far removed in time. A heavy hand came to rest on her own braided hair, pulling her back to reality kindly.

"It may help if you create a safe keeping pouch for it. And give it a name." His voice rumbled from on high.

Eyes bright again, she looked up. That should help. Once, she'd had a toy doll she'd named Ariel, and it had been her favourite among all her dolls.

"I'll call it... Earth. And keep it safe." She nodded, in her rekindled enthusiasm almost dropping the tiny globe.