The summer holidays had arrived with their usual promise of long days and carefree adventures, and Tara had been sent to her grandmother's village nestled in the lush countryside. Her parents, swamped with work commitments in the city, believed it would be a perfect retreat for their daughter—a place where the air was cleaner, the sky clearer, and the pace of life slower.
Tara didn't mind. In fact, she welcomed the change. The village was a world away from the honking horns and flashing lights of the city. Here, birds chirped freely from treetops, butterflies danced over flower beds, and narrow trails between fields led to hidden nooks of wonder. Every morning, she woke up to the calls of sparrows and the gentle clinking of her grandmother's bangles in the kitchen. She spent her days watering plants in the courtyard, arranging pebbles along the garden paths, and sitting under the old banyan tree with a book in her hand.
But her favorite activity was feeding the birds. She would scatter grains near the porch and watch the feathered creatures flutter down cautiously, hopping and pecking with delicate precision. Sometimes, she spoke to them in whispers—silly little conversations about the weather or how their feathers looked especially shiny that day. She didn't expect them to understand, of course. It was just something she enjoyed, a secret ritual between her and nature.
One warm afternoon, as the sun cast golden streaks across the yard, Tara was watering the neem tree at the far end of the garden. The steady splash of water hitting the soil was soothing. Suddenly, a soft thud broke the rhythm. Startled, she looked up to see a small bird tumble from the branches and land limply on the ground.
Her heart skipped a beat. She rushed over, kneeling beside the fragile creature. Its tiny chest rose and fell rapidly, and one wing was bent at an awkward angle. "Oh no," she murmured, her voice laced with concern. With the utmost care, she scooped the bird into her hands. It chirped weakly, its eyes blinking in distress.
Back at the house, Tara created a little nest from an old shoebox lined with cotton. She placed the bird inside and spent the next two days nursing it. She fed it soaked grains and drops of water from a spoon, and gently dabbed herbal ointment on its wing, just as her grandmother had taught her to treat minor wounds. Slowly, the bird began to regain its strength.
On the third day, as she leaned in to check on her patient, something extraordinary happened. The bird looked straight at her with clear, intelligent eyes and spoke in a soft, clear voice.
"Thank you for saving me."
Tara froze. For a moment, she thought she had imagined it. Her eyes widened, and she took a shaky step back. "You… you can talk?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
The bird nodded calmly. "Yes. But I'm not just any bird."
Tara's mind spun. "What do you mean?"
There was a long pause, as if the bird was gathering its thoughts. Then it spoke again, its voice tinged with sorrow. "My name is Princess Jasmine. I come from a world you've never seen—a place called Moonshine. I was once the heir to a peaceful kingdom there. But everything changed when a dark sorceress attacked. She captured me and turned my people into animals and birds. I was locked in a cage for five long years."
Tara sat down beside the box, listening in disbelief. There was something about the bird's voice that made her believe it—something ancient, filled with pain and truth.
"But if your kingdom is in danger," she asked slowly, "then why are you here?"
The little creature fluttered its wings lightly, the injured one now moving more easily. "I managed to escape when a boy—he must have stumbled into the sorceress's lair—accidentally opened my cage. I fled and flew as far as I could. But the sorceress is still searching for me. If I return without a plan, she'll catch me again."
Tara's brow furrowed. Her imagination was vivid, but this… this felt real. "Is there any way to stop her?"
"There is one," Jasmine replied. "The sorceress draws all her power from a magical staff. It's ancient and immensely strong. If we can destroy it, her magic will break. She will be powerless."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Tara looked at the small bird—no, the princess—with a mixture of fear and wonder. Then she asked, "How can I help? I'm just… me."
Jasmine's eyes softened. "In my current form, I can't do much. I can guide you, but the task requires someone brave and kind-hearted. Someone like you."
Tara hesitated. The idea of stepping into a magical conflict was overwhelming. But deep down, something stirred—a sense of purpose she hadn't felt before. "How did you get here? And how would I even reach your world?"
"Leave that to me," said Jasmine gently. "But first, I need to know—will you help me?"
There was a long silence. Then Tara gave a small nod. "Yes. Let's go and save your world."
That night, under the soft glow of the moon, Tara spoke to her grandmother. She only said she needed to visit a special place nearby and promised to be careful. Her grandmother, though curious, trusted her and agreed.
With Jasmine perched on her shoulder, Tara made her way through the quiet woods. They walked until they reached an old, hidden waterfall—one she hadn't noticed before. Its waters shimmered strangely in the moonlight. Jasmine flew ahead and began murmuring words in a language Tara didn't understand. Suddenly, the water stopped flowing. The roaring sound ceased, replaced by an eerie stillness. And where the water had once gushed, a glowing door appeared, shimmering like starlight.
Tara stood frozen. The doorway seemed alive, pulsing gently as if beckoning her forward.
"Step inside," Jasmine said softly.
Tara's breath caught in her throat. She looked back once at the woods, at the world she knew. Then she turned, tightened her fists, and walked through the portal.
The moment she stepped through, everything changed. A strange sensation wrapped around her—as if gravity no longer applied. She felt suspended, weightless, the world around her swirling with light and shadow. Then, with a soft thud, her feet touched solid ground.
She opened her eyes.
Before her stretched a land like none she had ever imagined. The sky glowed with twin moons, trees sparkled with silver leaves, and distant towers floated above clouds.
The world of Moonshine was real.
And her adventure had only just begun.