The Fish Prince
The King and Queen's Wish
Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, lived a king and queen who had all the happiness in the world. However, only one thing was missing for them to be truly fulfilled.
— When will the Almighty bless us with a child?
Yes, the royal couple had no child, and the queen prayed every day to be blessed with one. Her fervent wish was to have an heir to the throne.
The Talking Fish
Now, one day, some fish were brought into the royal kitchen to be prepared for the king and queen, when, suddenly, one of the fish spoke.
— Wow! What a beautiful fish! — Oh, sir, please, spare my life! — Huh? You can talk?
The cook was a greedy man and immediately thought that by giving the queen a talking fish, he would be amply rewarded. So he decided to take the fish directly to the queen.
Thus, to the queen's delight, the fish was presented to her. The queen was amazed and thrilled by this unexpected gift.
The Fish Prince, Son of the Queen
— It's a miracle! — I can say your prayers have been answered.
Overwhelmed with joy, the queen's eyes welled up with tears. She rewarded the cook and began to spend time with the fish, feeling a deep connection.
— You know, I have always longed for a child. I believe my prayers have been answered. From today, you are my son and you shall be called the Fish Prince. — Thank you, Queen Mother.
The Growth of the Fish Prince
Days passed and the queen was very attached to her adopted son. The entire kingdom was amused, but dared not speak of it, respecting the queen's wish.
Now, one morning, the queen woke up startled that the Fish Prince had grown so much he no longer fit in his bowl. He was far too big for his vessel.
— Servants!
The queen requested a larger bowl for the Fish Prince, but again after a few days, he didn't fit. The Fish Prince was growing at an astonishing rate.
Eventually, the queen requested a large pond for him, placing it in the royal garden. The fish was delighted to have a big, spacious home.
— Thank you, Queen Mother. — Anything for you, my son!
The Fish Prince's Wish
Things were going well, and the king and queen were very happy with their new son. The Fish Prince was enjoying his new home.
Until one day, when the queen discovered that the water in the pond was still and the Fish Prince seemed very sad. His colorful fins were listless, and his face downcast.
— Oh, my dear son, what's wrong? Don't you like the pond anymore? — Oh, it's not that, Queen Mother. All I want is to have a lovely wife to live with here, because I feel very lonely.
The Search for a Wife
The queen was surprised, but she loved her son more than anything and couldn't bear to see him sad. She was determined to grant his wish.
— There should be no reason for you to be sad. I will find you a wife immediately and create a room for her in the pond.
So, the queen created a room for the Fish Prince in the pond and ordered that whoever would give their daughter as a wife to the Fish Prince would be generously rewarded.
The Wicked Woman and Aliyah
But finding a wife for the Fish Prince was not easy. Everyone approached by the servants rejected the queen's offer, fearing that the Fish Prince only wanted a wife to eat her alive.
Finally, on the twenty-first day, the royal minister came across a house where a wicked woman lived with her daughter and a stepdaughter. Hearing the proposal, she accepted on the spot.
— Wonderful! You've come to the right place! My stepdaughter is very beautiful and will be an excellent wife for the Fish Prince. Come tomorrow with the reward and you can take her.
The minister was delighted. He thanked the woman and left, believing he had found the perfect solution.
The wicked woman told her stepdaughter about the offer, and the poor girl, whose name was Aliyah, cried. She was terrified of the fate that awaited her.
— No, Mother, please! The Fish Prince will kill me! — I don't care! I need the money and you will obey me! Now go to the river and wash your clothes. I want you to look impeccable tomorrow!
The Help of the Seven-Headed Cobra
Aliyah took her clothes and went down to the river, where she wept bitterly. She was desperate and didn't know what to do.
Hearing her cry, the Seven-Headed Cobra appeared, who was her friend. The Cobra felt Aliyah's sadness and came to help her.
— What is it, Aliyah? Why are you crying?
Aliyah told her everything, and then the Seven-Headed Cobra said, in a wise voice:
— I know all about it. Don't cry. Pick up the three pebbles next to my hole and put them in your dress. When you see the Fish Prince coming, throw the first one at him. If you hit him, he will sink to the bottom of the pond. When he rises to the surface again, hit him with the second, and the same will happen. The third time, throw the last pebble at him, and he will transform from a fish into a handsome prince. — Oh! So that means he's not a real fish? — He is the son of a king and is under the spell of his envious brother and sister-in-law. But you can break the spell as I told you. — Thank you, my friend!
Aliyah at the Palace
Thus, Aliyah wiped away her tears and the next day left with the minister for the palace. She was determined to follow the cobra's advice.
There, they showed her a beautiful little room that had been prepared for her in the pond where the Fish Prince lived. The queen was eager to meet her.
— You are the dear wife I want for my son.
Aliyah would have been quite happy, for everyone was very friendly to her, if she hadn't thought of the cold water and her fear that she might not hit the Fish Prince with the pebbles. However, she agreed to go into the room, where she sat, waiting for some time with the pebbles in her hand.
People watched suspiciously, thinking that the Fish Prince would come out and devour the poor maiden. The atmosphere was tense and full of anticipation.
Breaking the Spell
But that didn't happen, and the Fish Prince didn't surface even once. Everyone was puzzled by this situation.
Bored of waiting, everyone left, letting the cold night settle over the palace. Everything was quiet, with only the crickets chirping.
When suddenly, the water was heard splashing and waves, which undulated over the pond. Aliyah watched in fright, as a giant fish rose to the surface, swimming towards her with its mouth wide open.
Trembling from head to toe with fear, Aliyah threw the first pebble, which hit the Fish Prince right in the throat. He sank like a stone.
But after a minute, two, he surfaced again. Aliyah, throwing the second pebble and hitting the Fish Prince in the head, he sank a second time.
This time, the Fish Prince did not surface for some time. But when he did, he roared angrily and rushed furiously towards Aliyah.
Aliyah was so agitated that she missed him with the third pebble, only touching the tip of his fin. This time, the Fish Prince did not sink, but transformed into a handsome prince.
— You broke my spell! — I'm so thrilled you're no longer a fish! — And I'm very glad you're hurt. Let's go out! We can enjoy the blessing of the sun's radiance and no longer have to live in a pond.
A Royal Wedding and a Happy Ending
And so, the sun rose, bringing a new day, a new love story beginning. The prince, handsome, gilded with gold, took Aliyah's hand and went to speak with the queen.
The queen listened delighted to the Prince's story, then embraced him. She was overwhelmed with happiness and relief.
— It didn't matter to me when you were a fish. Then you were my son, and you are my son now. — Thank you, Mother. Thank you for everything.
And so, the king and queen blessed the Prince and Aliyah. It was a grand wedding and princes and princesses from all over the world were invited.
And what was written as a welcome message, you ask? The Fish Prince marries the mermaid of his dreams. Ah, and they lived happily ever after.
