The Land of Glass Trees – A Magical Tale of Strategy and Courage

Once upon a time, in a world divided by light and darkness, there lived two distinct kinds of dwarves: the Good Dwarves and the Bad Dwarves.

The Bad Dwarves resided in a gloomy forest so pitch-black that even the boldest rays of the sun refused to enter. The trees there stood like charred skeletons—twisted, burnt, and lifeless. The entire land echoed sorrow and shadows.

But the Good Dwarves dwelled in a realm of wonder—the Forest of Glass Trees. This forest was a sight of such brilliance and beauty that even imagination struggled to capture it. The trees shimmered like towering crystal sculptures, each transparent and dazzling in the sunlight. Yet, these weren’t mere decorative marvels; the glass trees were alive, bearing fruits that could only be eaten once they had fallen naturally to the ground. If plucked prematurely, the fruits crumbled to dust and vanished—such was the magic of the forest.

But there was another secret more precious than the fruits: the trees’ glass surfaces reflected everything around them. So when a single dwarf stood among the trees, reflections multiplied their image dozens of times. Any outsider, including the Bad Dwarves, who looked into the forest saw not a few dwarves but an army of thousands. This illusion kept the Good Dwarves safe for generations, as no enemy dared to face a force so seemingly vast.

For many years, the Bad Dwarves plotted to conquer the glass forest. They believed the Good Dwarves possessed a mysterious power that made their numbers grow endlessly. In frustration, they held council, and finally, they decided to send a scout to unveil this secret.

Their chosen spy was Wickedy, a sneaky and reluctant dwarf. Though fearful, he agreed, preparing himself to sneak into the fringes of the glass forest. He approached cautiously, hiding behind the darkened trees, observing from the border. There, he noticed that the Good Dwarves seemed unnaturally synchronized: when one moved, dozens moved identically, as though bound by invisible threads.

Then Wickedy witnessed something extraordinary. A glass apple dropped from a tree, transforming into a real, edible apple as it hit the ground. A dwarf descended from a watchtower to pick it up—but curiously, Wickedy saw many identical dwarves picking up the same apple across the forest. It made no sense.

Panicking, Wickedy fled, only to realize he’d left his notebook—the one he was using to track the dwarves—behind. Returning to retrieve it, the sunlight reflected off the notebook onto the nearby glass trees, multiplying its image fiftyfold. Suddenly, he understood: the glass trees’ reflections were the secret to the Good Dwarves’ apparent numbers!

Overjoyed, Wickedy hurried back to reveal his findings. Armed with this knowledge, the Bad Dwarves sent a warning letter to the Good Dwarves, declaring, “We know your secret! In two months, we will conquer your glass forest.”

For the first time, the Good Dwarves were afraid. The reflections that had safeguarded them would no longer be enough. In their despair, they prayed to the Fairy Godmother, whose ethereal voice whispered just one phrase: “Break the trees.”

Confused and hesitant, the dwarves debated. How could they destroy their beloved forest? Yet, trusting the Godmother, they struck a tree with an axe. The glass tree shattered into countless shards, sparkling and sharp. When a dwarf held a shard up to the sun, the focused light burned the grass beneath, igniting flames!

Realizing the power of these shards, the dwarves prepared. They shattered only a few trees, amassing piles of glass fragments. Every dwarf carried a shard, and they scattered pieces across the forest border.

When the two months passed, the Bad Dwarves stormed forward, confident in their impending victory. But as they crossed the boundary, they stepped onto the scattered shards. The glass cut deep into their feet, causing them to bleed and cry out in pain. Still, they persisted, firing arrows—but the Good Dwarves shielded themselves well.

Then came the Good Dwarves’ counterstrike. They raised their glass shards, catching the sun’s rays and directing them onto the Bad Dwarves. The focused beams of sunlight set their clothes ablaze! Terrified, the invaders fled, screaming and swearing never to return.

Peace returned to the Land of Glass Trees. The Good Dwarves, grateful for their magical defense, lived happily ever after, their forest more treasured than ever.

Moral of the Story

True strength doesn’t always lie in illusions or numbers but in wisdom, unity, and the courage to adapt when old defenses no longer suffice. Sometimes, to save what we love, we must be willing to transform even what seems irreplaceable.