Once upon a time, in a little fishing village by the sparkling blue sea, there lived an old fisherman and his kind daughter named Rosa. Every morning, the fisherman would row his small wooden boat out to sea while Rosa waved goodbye from the sandy shore. Their little stone house sat on a hill overlooking the harbor, surrounded by lemon trees and bright flowers.
One sunny morning, the fisherman pulled up his net and found something very unusual. Among the silvery fish was a large crab with a beautiful shell that shimmered blue and gold in the sunlight. The fisherman had never seen anything like it. He carefully placed the crab in a bucket of seawater and brought it home to show Rosa.
When Rosa looked into the bucket, she gasped with wonder. The crab had the brightest, most intelligent eyes she had ever seen. Then something incredible happened. The crab spoke! "Please, kind girl, do not be afraid," it said in a gentle voice. "I mean you no harm. I only ask for a little kindness." Rosa's eyes grew wide, but she was not scared.
Rosa decided to care for the crab. She gave him fresh water every day and the tastiest scraps from their meals. She placed his bucket near the window so he could see the sea and feel the warm sunshine. Every afternoon, she sat beside him and told him stories about the village, the boats, and the seagulls that flew over the rooftops.
Days turned into weeks, and Rosa and the crab became the best of friends. She talked to him about everything, and he listened carefully with his bright little eyes. Sometimes he would tell her wonderful tales about faraway places beneath the waves. The other children in the village thought it was strange, but Rosa did not mind. She knew her friend was special.
One evening, a traveling merchant came to the village. He offered the fisherman a bag of gold coins for the unusual crab. The fisherman looked at the gold and then at his daughter. Rosa shook her head firmly. "He is my friend," she said quietly. "He is not for sale." The fisherman smiled and told the merchant to be on his way.
That night, a great storm blew in from the sea. Thunder rumbled and rain pounded against the little stone house. Rosa carried the crab's bucket close to the fire to keep him warm. She wrapped a soft cloth around the bucket and sang a gentle lullaby. "Do not worry, little friend," she whispered. "I will keep you safe."
When the storm passed, the sky cleared to reveal the biggest, brightest full moon Rosa had ever seen. Silver moonlight poured through the window and fell upon the crab. His shell began to glow with a soft golden light. Rosa watched in amazement as the little crab began to speak in a trembling voice. "Rosa, your kindness has been true and patient."
"I am not really a crab," he said softly. "I am a prince, enchanted by a jealous sorcerer long ago. Only someone who showed me real kindness, without wanting anything in return, could break the spell. You cared for me when others would have sold me. You kept me safe in the storm. You gave me friendship when I had nothing to offer."
The golden light around the crab grew brighter and brighter until Rosa had to close her eyes. When she opened them again, standing before her was a young boy with dark curly hair, kind brown eyes, and a small golden crown on his head. He wore a blue and gold tunic and smiled the warmest smile Rosa had ever seen.
"Thank you, Rosa," said the prince, bowing gently. "You have set me free with your patience and your loyal heart." The old fisherman came running in and could hardly believe his eyes. The prince took Rosa's hands and said, "You and your father will never want for anything again. But more than gold, I offer you my friendship forever."
From that day on, the fisherman's family lived happily in their little village by the sea. The prince visited often, and he and Rosa remained the very best of friends. The villagers would sometimes see them walking along the shore, laughing and telling stories, just as they always had. And Rosa always remembered that the most powerful magic of all is simple, true kindness.
