Untold Stories of the Little Prince

By Nikola Misovic and Mijo Elezovic

The Little Prince wakes up in the middle of the desert since the snake’s poison didn’t send him home. He embarks on an adventure that will take him to a hidden forest. Along the way, he meets creatures who are struggling on their own journeys: a turtle racing with a hare, a desperate hedgehog crying because nobody can hug him, a grasshopper who believes his destiny is to grow wings, a wise buffalo, a withering flower growing from a crack in a rock and dreaming of floating in a lake… The Little Prince learns principal life lessons from the animals and plants. And, kind as he is, the boy tries to help them all. But who will help him return to his world and beloved rose?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781387832620

Book preview

Prologue

Even a sheep becomes a wolf when it encounters its prey.

Chapter 1

The boy woke up in the middle of the night. He was dizzy and his first attempt to get up failed. The Sahara gently embraced his petite body and his eyes met with the sky. His sight was blurry, and the stars seemed as small and dense as grains of sand, making the Little Prince wonder if he was already flying back to his planet and looking at the desert from above.

You are still in the desert, a deep voice sounded.

But even the Earth can be the sky if you know how to fly.

Who said that? the Little Prince asked in disbelief.

We... the stars, they replied as one.

I never thought that the stars could speak, the boy remarked.

We never thought people could listen, the stars replied.

He is a child, one of them said.

Shouldn’t children be the ones to differ the Earth from the sky? another one asked.

Only one human foot is enough to turn the heavens into the Earth. Apart from looking down its nose at the ones who can’t reach it, the sky is not so different from the Earth, a third star piped up.

The Little Prince stood on his feet. He was still dizzy, but his vision cleared enough for him to see the dark between the stars and distinguish one from another. They were mischievously blinking and giggling among themselves.

He turned his gaze to the west, searching for his little planet. It was there, patiently waiting for his return. Although it looked a bit strange, the Little Prince thought. But he was different as well. He could not hear it from the racket the other stars were making.

Could you be quiet for a moment, please? the boy asked politely. I would like to speak with my star.

The stars burst out laughing.

A humble wish, they mocked him.

To silence the heavens so his voice could be heard!

People are insane, mark my words!

I heard that a boy who didn’t sleep well even yelled at the sun to stop shining so he could snooze!

Realizing that he will not get his quiet moment, the boy continued walking. The poison obviously didn’t work, so he decided to find the snake and ask her to bite him again. However, he remembered that those snakes have venom for only one bite. Luckily, there are other animals; animals that are big and strong enough to send him home with a single touch.

While sauntering over the dunes, the boy stumbled upon his friend. The rider of the iron bird was sleeping, leaning on his creature. The boy approached him and almost touched his face, but stopped at the last moment. The pale man needed a good rest before heading home. It isn’t easy to ride such a big and strong iron bird. The Little Prince knew that the man should get as much sleep as possible. So he went on into the night to find a creature that would set him off on his journey home.

Along the way, the Little Prince rolled over the dunes more than a few times. When dawn greeted him, his step regained balance and he even watched the sunrise on foot. He didn’t see that many sunrises. To the boy, it seemed like the sunset turned upside down.

Just a few moments before the sun reached its peak, the Little Prince encountered a vast mountain of dark yellow and red rocks. It was tall and wide with a narrow gorge in the middle. When he passed it, the boy came across a big forest that started shyly with a few trees and grass dispersed around the short plain sprawling around the foothill.

Good. Forests are full of animals. I will surely find someone who will help me return home, he said to himself while approaching the shade of the first tree line.

Chapter 2

As he walked through the woods, the Little Prince stumbled upon a white hare. He was dozing below a tree and lazily stretching his paws.

Good day, the Little Prince greeted him politely.

What are you doing?

The hare peered with one eye and blinked since he was too lazy to say hello.

What are you doing? the Little Prince repeated.

I am racing, the hare answered.

That can’t be true. You can’t be racing while you are laying down, the Little Prince objected politely.

But instead of replying, the hare turned to his side and began snoring.

What a strange being, the Little Prince thought and continued walking.

As he proceeded deeper into the woods, the boy stumbled upon a turtle. She was lying on the back of her shell and wiggling her arms and legs.

Good day, the Little Prince greeted her.

It took time for the turtle to turn her head to the side and look at the boy from below. When the Little Prince asked, What are you doing? the turtle replied, Good day. Only when the Little Prince repeated his question, the turtle managed to answer, I am racing.

What a strange place this is, the Little Prince

remarked, scratching his head. I thought a race is all about speed. And here you are laying on your back while that white little fury creature was sleeping near the edge of the forest.

Did it have long ears? the turtle asked quickly. Ears that can hear all the way here?

I don’t know how far they can hear, but they were as big as wings, the boy replied.

Oh, they can hear far all right! You can bet on that… It was the hare. The turtle sounded disappointed.

The hare?

Yes! And he is almost done. He will win again, the turtle said and exhaled. But there is still a chance. The finish line is at the beginning of the gorge.

I don’t think you will get far by just laying there,