The Birds and the Bees

Blossom was born in the spring.

Her mother named her because she knew, although now she was just beginning to sprout, one day she would blossom into the most divine maiden in the entire kingdom of Florence. Her mother was right.

There were many men who wanted her hand in marriage, but there was only a single man who she wanted to give it to. His name was Sprout. They lived together in the meadows of Florence where there was rolling green pastures speckled with the most beautiful flowers as far as the eye could see. Love was in the air…

…though, unfortunately that wasn’t the only thing roaming the skies.

Swarms of bees patrolled Florence to make sure that all of the flowers stay put. The bees were greedy and would not share any of the flowers.

If you were to steal… one of their precious daffodils, daisies, or dandelions, or maybe one of their hydrangeas, roses, or sunflowers, or perhaps even the tulips, violets, or the forget-me-nots… then you could forget it, because they would get furious! They would come after you with wings buzzing and stingers armed. So nobody dared to touch the flowers. Most people didn’t even look at them, except for Blossom. She stared longingly at the flowers every day until one day Sprout bestowed her with the loveliest one she’d ever seen.

It was a daisy. She knew she could not have it but she could not resist. She tucked the flower behind her ear but for that she was mistaken because that night a hundred bees ambushed her. She wished she turn back time and never had accepted the offering but it was too late. She fell into a deep sleep and could not be disturbed from her slumber.

“What have I done?” Sprout cried. “This is all my fault!”

Perhaps a true love’s kiss co...

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... hive, which was flowing with streams of viscous honey. Sprout collected all he could carry in his arms and fled from the hive. The swallow, however, stayed behind. With vengeance on her mind, she began to peck at the hive.

“Now I shall do unto you as you have done unto the most beautiful maiden in the land!”

The hive fell from the tree and exploded on the wet earth. Honey splattered over all of the bees and trapped them in the sticky goo. The bees could not free themselves from the honey and they all perished.

Sprout returned to Blossom and gave her the honey. She was revived and her and Sprout lived together for the rest of their days. They were happy in each others company but now, without the bees, they couldn’t even enjoy the sight or the smell of all of the flowers. The bees could no longer create or protect the flowers that made Florence so beautiful.