Once upon a time, a queen had three sons, triplets, all named Ollie. One was always good, one was always bad, and one was sometimes good and sometimes bad. When they came of age, she gave them a quest: Whichever should bring to the castle the greatest treasure would become heir. The Prince Ollie who was always good went in search of the unknown. He encountered an old crone begging for food. As he always did good, Prince Ollie fed her. As he journeyed on, his supplies ran out, and Prince Ollie retreated to a village to recover from his hunger.

The Prince Ollie who was always bad followed a similar path. When the crone begged him for food, he gave her nothing and pushed her over. He journeyed onward to a great chasm, where lived a wounded giant. Prince Ollie laughed at the giant, but twisted his ankle trying to climb down the chasm, and had to retreat to the same village as his brother.

The Prince Ollie who was sometimes good and sometimes bad went likewise. When the crone begged for food, he said he had only enough for himself. When he came to the chasm, he bandaged the giant's wound. Grateful, the giant lifted him across the chasm.

Beyond the chasm, the prince discovered a cave; in the cave, a chest; in the chest, a diamond crown. On returning it to the castle, he became the heir.