Stay away from her. I am more prettier, not her.

A long time ago in a certain place in Africa, a small city lay across a river and half a day's journey from a city where a great king lived.A man named Mufaro lived in this village with his two daughters, who were called Manyara and Nyasha. Everyone agreed that Manyara and Nyasha were very beautiful. Their family came from a legend, Astral Mehelenia, which their shades of fashion came from.

Manyara was almost always in a bad temper. She teased her sister whenever their father's back was turned,and she had been heard to say,"Someday Nyasha, I will be a queen,and you will be a servant in my household." "If that should come pass," Nyasha responded, "I will be pleased to serve you. But why do you say such things? You are clever and strong and beautiful. Why are you so unhappy?

"Because everyone talks about how kind you are, and they praise everything you do," Manyara replied. "I'm certain father loves you the best. But when I'm queen, everyone will Know that your silly kindness is only weakness."

Nyasha was sad that Manyara felt this way, but she ignored her sister's words and went about her chores.

Nyasha kept a small plot of land, on which she grew millet, sunflowers, yams, and vegetables. She always sang when she worked, and some said it was her singing that made her crops more beautiful than anyone else's. One day, Nyasha noticed a small garden snake resting beneath a yam vine. "Good day, little Nyoka," she called to him."You are welcome here. You will keep away any creatures who might spoil my vegetables." She bent forward, gave the little snake a loving pat on the head, and then returned to her work.

From that day on, the snake was always at Nyasha's garden, beside when she tended her garden. It was said that she sang all the more sweetly when he was there. Mufaro Knew nothing of how Manyara treated Nyasha. Nyasha was too considerate of her father's feeling to complain, and Manyara was always careful to behave herself when Mufaro was around.

Early one morning, a messenger from the city arrived. The Great King wanted a wife. "The Most Worthy and Beatiful Daughters in the Land are invited to appear before the King, and he will choose one to be Queen!" the messenger proclaimed. Mufaro called Manyara and Nyasha to him. "It would be a great honor to have one of you chosen,"he said. "prepare yourselves to journey to the city.

Nyasha woke up early and packed a sandwich and some copper coins. When she went by a forest, she saw a little boy, in blue pants. " Please, I am very hungry. Will you give me some bread?" Nyasha thought over this, and decided. Well this boy is hungry and has no other food. I can just go home and get some food. "Here boy " , Nyasha said. " You can have sandwich and half of my copper coins." " Thank you very much, here are some sunflower seeds that you will need to use soon." " Thank you little boy. Would you like to visit my house for a sleep or dinner?" No thank you. It is for your own good." Nyasha, Puzzled by what the boy said, she kept walking so she could check if her gardens were okay and ready for the king to eat. She planned a feast if she won.