Cinderella and Alangazar - страница 14

Somewhere in the distance, an owl hooted.

And above them – high as childhood dreams – the stars shimmered softly.

The Prince’s Funny Tale

The Prince stretched, adjusted his cloak, and smiled:

– Since everyone’s sharing stories… I guess I have to confess something too.

When I was little, we had… a rooster in the palace.

A regular rooster.

But for some reason – he decided he was the Guardian of the Throne.

– A rooster? Guardian of the throne?! – Alangazar roared with laughter.

– Yep! He guarded the throne room and wouldn’t let anyone in. Not even the king!

If someone came too close – he’d charge, flap his wings, and crow like he was challenging them to a duel.

– And what did you do? – asked Ertoshtuk, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

– I put on armor, a helmet two sizes too big, grabbed a wooden sword, and marched out to face him.

Picture this: me, an eight-year-old knight, against the rooster of doom!

We circled each other…

I tripped and fell,

and he – sat on my head.

Like a champion.

The servants laughed for a week straight!

– So who won in the end? – Cinderella giggled.

– My mom.

She came in, tossed the rooster a handful of grain – and he surrendered immediately.

That’s when I realized… sometimes, kindness wins where strength fails.

Especially if it comes with breakfast.

Laughter rippled around the fire. Even the flames seemed to crackle with joy.

The Prince’s Gentle Fairy Tale

The Prince grew quiet for a moment. His voice softened:

– When I was very little, I used to have the same dream.

I was in a garden, filled with glowing trees,

and there was a bird singing.

But it wasn’t a song – not really.

It was telling a story.

– What story? – asked Fox, tilting her head.

– A story about a girl with a kind heart.

She helped others – even when she was struggling herself.

And the bird said:

"When you find her, you’ll be truly happy."

The Prince looked at Cinderella and smiled gently.

– And then… I met her at the ball.

And I understood:

Sometimes, fairy tales don’t live only in dreams.

Cinderella blushed just a little,

but smiled back – warm and real.

The fire grew quieter, cozier.

Like it, too, felt the truth of a tender moment between true friends —

and something more.

The Story of the Blue Giant

The Blue Giant lived in a place where the sky was reflected in the earth.

The grass there wasn’t green, but turquoise.

And even the trees shimmered with a blueish glow.

The Blue Giant wasn’t always blue.

He became blue after a great sadness settled in his chest,

and refused to leave.

It wasn’t just any sadness.

It was the kind that seeps into your bones,

like cold wind into a cracked window.

Before that, he had been the Laughing Giant.

His laughter rolled through the valleys like thunder,

waking up lazy bears,

and sending foxes tumbling head over paws in surprise.

He loved songs and jokes,

knew hundreds of them—maybe thousands!

His voice could tickle the sky,

and it would answer him with flocks of birds.

But then something changed.

One winter, a little girl wandered into the mountains.

She wasn’t dressed for the cold.

No mittens. No hat. Just red boots,

and a bell around her neck that jingled like a tiny chime.

She knocked on the Giant’s chest three times—

and asked for fire.

She didn’t ask for help.

Didn’t cry.

Didn’t say where she came from.

Just asked for fire.

And the Giant gave it to her.

He gave her part of his heart,

because it was the warmest thing he had.