The Firebird

Long ago there was a Tsar named Berendei, whose prized possession was a wondrous apple tree that bore golden apples. One morning the Tsar discovered that some apples were missing. Every night, a thief was stealing them! The Tsar's eldest son kept watch but fell asleep, and the middle son as well. Finally Prince Ivan Tsarevich, the youngest, stood guard. Just as midnight struck, the garden lit up as if by many lanterns: a brilliant Firebird swooped down to the apple tree. Ivan crept up and managed to seize it by the tail. The Firebird struggled and escaped, but Ivan was left with one long feather of its tail – a feather that glowed with magical golden-red light.

In the morning, Ivan presented the tail feather to his father. Though it was beautiful, the Tsar was not content. He desired the entire Firebird. He ordered his sons to journey forth and not return until they had caught the Firebird. The eldest brother soon gave up and stayed in a tavern. The middle brother rode a while, then turned back out of fear. Ivan Tsarevich, brave and determined, rode on alone through dark forests and wide steppes.

On the third night of his quest, Ivan made camp in a clearing. When he awoke, he found his horse had vanished! In fact, it had been eaten by a giant gray wolf. Out of the shadows the Gray Wolf appeared, its eyes glinting. Ivan drew his sword, but the wolf spoke: "Do not be afraid, Prince. I have devoured your horse, it's true. But I will now serve you faithfully to make amends. You seek the Firebird, do you not?" Ivan nodded. The Gray Wolf said, "Climb onto my back – I know where to find it."

Ivan Tsarevich mounted the Gray Wolf, and off they raced, faster than any horse. In a distant kingdom, at last they came to the walled garden of another tsar, where the Firebird was kept in a golden cage. "Listen carefully," advised the Gray Wolf. "You may take the Firebird – but do not touch the cage, or you'll be caught." Ivan snuck into the garden and found the Firebird sleeping. He grabbed the bird – but then he thought, "How will I carry it without its cage?" Forgetting the warning, he lifted the heavy golden cage from its stand. At that moment, alarm bells rang out. Guards seized Ivan and delivered him to their Tsar.

The foreign Tsar, seeing that Ivan had managed to catch the elusive bird, decided to send him on another impossible task instead of punishing him. "Prince Ivan," said the foreign Tsar, "I won't execute you for attempted theft – if you do me one service. In a far-off kingdom, Tsar Afron owns a horse with a golden mane which I desire. Bring me that Golden-Maned Horse, and I will forgive you and even give you the Firebird in its cage."

The Gray Wolf returned and scolded Ivan gently: "I warned you, Prince, but you gave in to temptation. Still, do not despair. Climb on my back again – we must now quest for the golden-maned horse." They sped across another third of the world until they reached the next kingdom. By night, they crept into Tsar Afron's stable. In the stall stood the magnificent golden-maned Horse; around its neck hung a dazzling bridle studded with gems. "Take the horse but leave the bridle," urged the Gray Wolf. Ivan caught the horse and led it out – but then thought, "Such a horse deserves its splendid bridle." The moment he lifted the bridle from its peg, an alarm resounded. Ivan was captured by Afron's grooms.

Brought before Tsar Afron, Ivan hung his head. The Tsar, however, had heard of Ivan's quest and the Firebird. He said, "I will spare you, young man, and even allow you to take my Golden-Maned Horse… if you perform one task. In the kingdom of Never, there is a princess of unearthly beauty – Elena the Fair. Bring her to me to be my wife, and you may have the horse and bridle as well."

✦The Firebird's feathers glowed with a magical golden-red light that illuminated the night.✦

The Gray Wolf came to Ivan again. "Ah, Prince Ivan," he sighed, "you yielded to temptation a second time. Now we must fetch the fair princess. Come, climb on." Off they went to the distant land of Never. By this time Ivan felt quite hopeless, but the Gray Wolf had a plan. Near Princess Elena's palace, the wolf said, "I will take care of this. I'm going to impersonate the princess. You wait." The wolf magically transformed – taking on the exact likeness of Princess Elena! The real Elena the Fair was carried off by the Gray Wolf (in her shape) from her rose garden, but she never felt any fear, for the wolf's magic lulled her to sleep. The Gray Wolf then raced back and presented himself (disguised as Elena) to Tsar Afron. The Tsar was overjoyed, believing he had finally won the famed beauty. That night, as Tsar Afron prepared for the wedding, the Gray Wolf returned to his natural form and escaped the palace, even as the real Elena the Fair awakened miles away in Ivan's camp.

Princess Elena was indeed as beautiful and kind as reports had said. Prince Ivan explained to her why he had come. As Ivan spoke with her, his despair vanished – he and Elena fell in love at first sight. She agreed to go back with him, not to marry old Tsar Afron, but to be with Ivan. The Gray Wolf reunited with them on the road. Ivan now had Elena the Fair and the Golden-Maned Horse. But still he owed the first foreign Tsar the horse in exchange for the Firebird.

With Elena riding the golden-maned horse and Ivan carrying the caged Firebird, the trio made their way back. The Gray Wolf escorted them until they were near Ivan's home. The wolf said, "My Prince, I have served you loyally. Now you have the bird, the horse, and your love. My work is done. Farewell!" Ivan thanked the Gray Wolf with tears of gratitude, and the wolf bounded away into the forest.

Ivan Tsarevich continued toward his father's kingdom with Elena and his treasures. Along the road, they came across his two older brothers, who had accomplished nothing all this time. Jealous of Ivan's success, the wicked brothers hatched a plan. While Ivan was asleep, they murdered him – killing their own youngest brother – and took Princess Elena, the Firebird, and the horse, threatening Elena to keep silent. They arrived at Tsar Berendei's court, each brother claiming credit for the feats. The Tsar was joyous to see the Firebird and eagerly accepted beautiful Elena as a prospective bride for one of his elder sons (though she wept quietly).

But Ivan's great deeds were not destined to end so tragically. The Gray Wolf had sensed Ivan was in danger and secretly had stayed nearby. When the treacherous brothers slayed Ivan, the wolf used some of the Water of Life (given to Ivan long ago by a kind soul) to restore the prince. Ivan was revived, whole and hearty, and hurried to his father's palace. There, during a great feast, Princess Elena saw Ivan enter the hall alive and cried out with joy, revealing the truth of the brothers' betrayal. The villainous older princes turned pale as milk; as punishment, Tsar Berendei banished them to distant lands.

Prince Ivan and Princess Elena the Fair were married, with the Firebird's plumage lighting the celebration. The Tsar also delighted in the Golden-Maned Horse which Ivan gifted to him. And Ivan never forgot his friend the Gray Wolf – some nights, villagers reported a giant gray wolf with shining eyes seen guarding the palace from afar. Ivan and Elena reigned in harmony, and under their care the magical Firebird continued to thrive, bringing wonder and happiness to their kingdom.