The Wedding Dress from the Deep Sea
Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Ierabon, there lived a knight named Mone. He was young, brave, and very handsome, but he wasn't appreciated by his wicked and greedy king, Claude.
Mone had a horse named Godo. Godo wasn't an ordinary horse. He had the gift of wisdom.
The Firebird's Feather
One afternoon, Mone and Godo were in the forest.
— Oh, the weather is so beautiful, and the sun so bright. What do you say, Godo? — It's wonderful, master! Let's go deeper into the forest. We can eat some fruit there.
Godo galloped towards the forest, and Mone began to look for fruit. Suddenly, Mone saw a shining feather.
— Oh, what a wonderful feather! It's like holding fire in my hand, but it doesn't burn me. — This is the feather of a very rare firebird. It cannot be obtained by just anyone. — Seriously? I should take it to King Claude. He'll finally appreciate me and give me a pile of gold. — Master, I know you want to earn the king's appreciation, but I would suggest you don't take this feather to the king, for it will only bring us trouble. — Godo, do you think this beautiful feather will bring us problems? I believe it will only bring us riches. — Hmm, it's up to you, master. I think... — It's a wonderful idea! Let's go, Godo!
Godo and Mone rushed back to the kingdom to show the king what they had found. Mone presented the wicked king with the firebird's feather.
— Your Majesty, I have brought you this wonderful firebird feather, for it represents your greatness. — Well done, Mone! You are indeed brave, but that's not much. Ha ha ha! If you can bring me the feather, you can bring me the bird too. He he he! Bring me the bird, or I'll throw you into the lion's den!
Mone was shocked by the king's demand. It was impossible for him to bring the magnificent and fierce bird.
Princess Vasilisa
Mone left the room and began to sigh.
— What's the problem? — The king, the king asked me to bring him the firebird. How could I possibly bring that magnificent creature? I'll be thrown into the lion's den. — Don't worry, master, I will help you! Go and ask the king to give us a hundred sacks of cornmeal, to be scattered across the village field, and we will bring the bird.
Mone went to the king and asked for what he was told.
— Cornmeal? Alright.
The next day, King Claude sent his men to scatter the cornmeal across the field.
— Now we must wait until evening.
Godo and Mone waited patiently. Suddenly, they saw a shadow on the field. They looked up and saw the enormous firebird that had come to eat the cornmeal.
— Wow!
They continued to watch in amazement until Godo said:
— Get the net!
Mone took the net, immediately caught the majestic bird, and brought it to the proud king.
— Here you go! The great firebird that once soared in the sky, is now yours. — How beautiful it is! You are very brave. But my test isn't over. If you could bring me the bird, you can bring me Princess Vasilisa, who lives on the coast. Bring her to me or the lion's den awaits you! Ha ha ha!
This time, Mone was afraid.
— I could trick a bird, but tricking a princess is impossible.
Mone told this to Godo. Godo nodded and said:
— No problem. The problems will come soon. Ask the king to give you a potion made from a dragon's breath, a tent, and roses. We will put the princess to sleep.
Mone asked the king for these things. He was puzzled but gave Mone what he asked for.
The Wedding Dress
Mone and Godo went to the coast and there they saw Princess Vasilisa on a silver bench, with golden eagles singing a wonderful song.
— Oh, look at the wonderful sun, how you caress me with your rays.
Mone looked at the princess and was speechless, for he had never seen such a beautiful girl.
— Quick, set up a tent and prepare the flowers!
Soon, the princess came to the shore. Meanwhile, Mone and Godo had prepared the tent and were waiting for her.
— Would you like some flowers, Your Highness? I picked them especially for you. — Oh, how wonderful they are! Roses are my favorite!
Mone gave her the flowers, and she smelled them. But she didn't know they had been sprinkled with the dragon's breath potion. As soon as she smelled them, she became dizzy.
— Oh, oh, I feel sleepy.
Mone held her as she fell asleep. Godo and Mone rushed back to the kingdom with the princess. When they entered the kingdom, King Claude was ecstatic.
— Someone ring the wedding bells! My princess has arrived!
The knights rang the bells, which woke Princess Vasilisa.
— Oh, where am I? — You are here, with your groom! He he he! — Groom? — Yes, my dear princess, you will marry me! — What? I cannot marry! — Why not? — I can only marry in my wedding dress. — Don't worry. I will bring you the best royal tailors who will make you a wonderful dress! — I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but my wedding dress is the most exquisite dress and cannot be replaced. It is kept at the bottom of the sea, under the largest stone. I will marry you only if you can bring it to me. — Mone, did you hear what she said? Bring me the dress immediately! This time, however, I will give you nothing. You bring me the dress or I will throw you into the python pit! Ha ha ha!
Mone was shocked. Godo had heard everything.
— That's it! I know exactly what needs to be done!
Godo galloped towards the coast.
— But what are you doing? — Wait and see! O, yoo-hoo, yoo-hoo, yoo-hoo! — But, but what are you doing? — O, yoo-hoo, yoo-hoo, yoo-hoo!
Suddenly, the waves intensified, and a giant crab appeared.
— Hello, Larry! — Well, friend, good to see you after so long. Tell me, how can I help you? — Princess Vasilisa is getting married! — He he! Have you come for the wedding dress? — Of course!
Larry danced in the water, and as he did, two large crabs surfaced.
— Now you will have our help, but only the bravest can reach it. — I'm coming too to bring the dress.
Larry nodded and gave Mone a small bottle of magic potion.
— Here you go! It's called the breathe-under-water potion. Swallow it and you'll be able to breathe in the water.
Mone swallowed the magic potion and jumped into the water. As he swam, Mone saw the giant stone. He lifted it with ease, and the crabs took the dress.
— I'm coming now, King Claude!
Mone emerged from the water, and the crabs followed him.
— Ah, the dress at last! I'm almost done with all the problems. — Almost? Why almost? — Because we have only one more problem to deal with. — Alright. Good luck! See you next time! — No! I need a favor from you for that problem. — What is it?
Godo told Larry the crab and Mone everything he had planned.
— Is that all? It's very simple! Let's do it!
Godo and Mone returned victoriously to the kingdom.
— Your Majesty, Your Highness! I have the wedding dress from the bottom of the sea that the princess requested. I hope you are pleased. — Ha ha ha! Wonderful! Now the princess will finally become my queen! The king and queen lived happily ever after! He he he! But I'll only give it to you if you apologize to the kingdom. — Apologize? For what? I am the greatest king in the world, and you tell me to apologize? I'll never do that! — Then, you leave me no choice.
Suddenly, the crabs entered the room, clacking their claws.
— What are these miserable crabs doing here? — We are not miserable! Attack!
The crabs attacked him, and the king ran away.
— Leave me alone! Idiot crabs! Guards!
The guards went towards them, trying to stop them, but they were thrown aside. The king ran to the balcony. The crabs cornered him.
— Say it! Say it! Oh, fine, fine! I have been a wicked and deceitful king. I apologize. — Now abdicate! — No! — Oh, okay, okay, I will abdicate! — Perfect! Now let's take him to the dungeon!
King Claude was taken to the dungeon and locked up.
— Is there any problem left? — Hmm, I don't think so.
Princess Vasilisa thanked Mone.
— Oh, thank you very much, brave young man! — You don't have to thank me. It's all thanks to my friend Godo, the fearless horse, and Larry the crab and his friends.
Princess Vasilisa smiled and nodded, looking at Godo and Larry.
— However, princess, may I ask you something? — Yes? — Why did you agree to become his queen, knowing you were kidnapped?
Then, Princess Vasilisa and Larry laughed.
— Ha ha ha ha ha! — He he he!
Mone and Godo were puzzled.
— What's going on? — You see, the reason I kept my wedding dress at the bottom of the sea was to ensure that I would only marry the person I liked. That dress has been guarded by my good friend Larry from the beginning. — But Larry is your friend? — Yes! And I told him that if anyone else tried to come in my place to get the dress, it meant I was being forced to marry against my will and that he had to save me. — Ah! Oh!
Conclusion
And so, our story comes to an end. Mone became the new king of Ierabon. He often visited Princess Vasilisa, for they had become good friends. And Godo and Larry... well, you'll see for yourselves.
— You know, you could have told me about the princess thing instead of waiting for the grand finale. — I was just fulfilling my promise to the princess. — Of course! And the promise between us, our friendship? You made me appear... — Oh, here he goes again!
The moral of the story is that true love and friendship can overcome any obstacle, and courage and wisdom are rewarded.
