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Norway. 2.3k, link to audio version below!

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[audio]

A fisherman's son is whisked away to a strange land where he rescues three princesses and marries one of them. Plagued by longing, he returns to his family years later—but doesn't heed his wife's warning and causes her to disappear. Heartbroken, he sets out to find her and the strange land again...

Who in xiusoo is the fisherman's son, and who is the princess?

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Intermediate

13 min read

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Once on a time there was a fisherman who lived close by a palace, and fished for the King’s table. One day when he was out fishing he just caught nothing. Do what he would—however he tried with bait and angle—there was never a sprat on his hook. But when the day was far spent a head bobbed up out of the water, and said:

“If I may have what your wife bears under her girdle, you shall catch fish enough.”

So the man answered boldly, “Yes;” for he did not know that his wife was going to have a child. After that, as was like enough, he caught plenty of fish of all kinds. But when he got home at night and told his story, how he had got all that fish, his wife fell a-weeping and moaning, and was beside herself for the promise which her husband had made, for she said, “I bear a babe under my girdle.”

Well, the story soon spread, and came up to the castle; and when the King heard the woman’s grief and its cause, he sent down to say he would take care of the child, and see if he couldn’t save it.

So the months went on and on, and when her time came the fisher’s wife had a boy; so the king took it at once, and brought it up as his own son, until the lad grew up. Then he begged leave one day to go out fishing with his father; he had such a mind to go, he said. At first the King wouldn’t hear of it, but at last the lad had his way, and went. So he and his father were out the whole day, and all went right and well till they landed at night. Then the lad remembered he had left his handkerchief, and went to look for it; but as soon as ever he got into the boat, it began to move off with him at such speed that the water roared under the bow, and all the lad could do in rowing against it with the oars was no use; so he went and went the whole night, and at last he came to a white strand, far far away.

There he went ashore, and when he had walked about a bit, an old, old man met him, with a long white beard.

“What’s the name of this land?” asked the lad.

“Whiteland,” said the man, who went on to ask the lad whence he came, and what he was going to do. So the lad told him all.

“Aye, aye!” said the man; “now when you have walked a little farther along the strand here, you’ll come to three Princesses, whom you will see standing in the earth up to their necks, with only their heads out. Then the first—she is the eldest—will call out and beg you so prettily to come and help her; and the second will do the same; to neither of these shall you go; make haste past them, as if you neither saw nor heard anything. But the third you shall go to, and do what she asks. If you do this, you’ll have good luck—that’s all.”

When the lad came to the first Princess, she called out to him, and begged him so prettily to come to her, but he passed on as though he saw her not. In the same way he passed by the second; but to the third he went straight up.

“If you’ll do what I bid you,” she said, “you may have which of us you please.”

“Yes;” he was willing enough; so she told him how three Trolls had set them down in the earth there; but before they had lived in the castle up among the trees.

“Now,” she said, “you must go into that castle, and let the Trolls whip you each one night for each of us. If you can bear that, you’ll set us free.”

Well, the lad said he was ready to try.

“When you go in,” the Princess went on to say, “you’ll see two lions standing at the gate; but if you’ll only go right in the middle between them they’ll do you no harm. Then go straight on into a little dark room, and make your bed. Then the Troll will come to whip you; but if you take the flask which hangs on the wall, and rub yourself with the ointment that’s in it, wherever his lash falls, you’ll be as sound as ever. Then grasp the sword that hangs by the side of the flask and strike the Troll dead.”

Yes, he did as the Princess told him; he passed in the midst between the lions, as if he hadn’t seen them, and went straight into the little room, and there he lay down to sleep. The first night there came a Troll with three heads and three rods, and whipped the lad soundly; but he stood it till the Troll was done; then he took the flask and rubbed himself, and grasped the sword and slew the Troll.

So, when he went out next morning, the Princesses stood out of the earth up to their waists.

The next night ’twas the same story over again, only this time the Troll had six heads and six rods, and he whipped him far worse than the first; but when he went out next morning, the Princesses stood out of the earth as far as the knee.

The third night there came a Troll that had nine heads and nine rods, and he whipped and flogged the lad so long that he fainted away; then the Troll took him up and dashed him against the wall; but the shock brought down the flask, which fell on the lad, burst, and spilled the ointment all over him, and so he became as strong and sound as ever again. Then he wasn’t slow; he grasped the sword and slew the Troll; and next morning when he went out of the castle the Princesses stood before him with all their bodies out of the earth. So he took the youngest for his Queen, and lived well and happily with her for some time.

At last he began to long to go home for a little to see his parents. His Queen did not like this; but at last his heart was so set on it, and he longed and longed so much, there was no holding him back, so she said:

“One thing you must promise me. This—only to do what your father begs you to do, and not what mother wishes;” and that he promised.

Then she gave him a ring, which was of that kind that any one who wore it might wish two wishes. So he wished himself home, and when he got home his parents could not wonder enough what a grand man their son had become.

Now, when he had been at home some days, his mother wished him to go up to the palace and show the King what a fine fellow he had come to be. But his father said:

“No! don’t let him do that; if he does, we shan’t have any more joy of him this time.”

But it was no good, the mother begged and prayed so long that at last he went. So when he got up to the palace he was far braver, both in clothes and array, than the other king, who didn’t quite like this, and at last he said:

“All very fine; but here you can see my Queen, what like she is, but I can’t see yours: that I can’t. Do you know, I scarce think she’s so good-looking as mine.”

“Would to Heaven,” said the young King, “she were standing here, then you’d see what she was like.” And that instant there she stood before them.

But she was very woeful, and said to him:

“Why did you not mind what I told you; and why did you not listen to what your father said? Now, I must away home, and as for you, you have had both your wishes.”

With that she knitted a ring among his hair with her name on it, and wished herself home, and was off.

Then the young King was cut to the heart, and went, day out day in, thinking and thinking how he should get back to his Queen. “I’ll just try,” he thought, “if I can’t learn where Whiteland lies;” and so he went out into the world to ask. So when he had gone a good way, he came to a high hill, and there he met one who was lord over all the beasts of the wood, for they all came home to him when he blew his horn; so the King asked if he knew where Whiteland was.

“No, I don’t,” said he, “but I’ll ask my beasts.” Then he blew his horn and called them, and asked if any of them knew where Whiteland lay. But there was no beast that knew.

So the man gave him a pair of snow-shoes.

“When you get on these,” he said, “you’ll come to my brother, who lives hundreds of miles off; he is lord over all the birds of the air. Ask him. When you reach his house, just turn the shoes so that the toes point this way, and they’ll come home of themselves.” So when the King reached the house, he turned the shoes as the lord of the beasts had said, and away they went home of themselves.

So he asked again after Whiteland, and the man called all the birds with a blast of his horn, and asked if any of them knew where Whiteland lay; but none of the birds knew. Now, long, long after the rest of the birds came an old eagle, which had been away ten round years, but he couldn’t tell any more than the rest.

“Well, well,” said the man, “I’ll lend you a pair of snow-shoes, and, when you get them on, they’ll carry you to my brother, who lives hundreds of miles off; he’s lord of all the fish in the sea; you’d better ask him. But don’t forget to turn the toes of the shoes this way.”

The King was full of thanks, got on the shoes, and when he came to the man who was lord over the fish of the sea, he turned the toes round, and so off they went home like the other pair. After that, he asked again after Whiteland.

So the man called the fish with a blast, but no fish could tell where it lay. At last came an old pike, which they had great work to call home, he was such a way off. So when they asked him he said:

“Know it? I should think I did! I’ve been cook there ten years, and to-morrow I’m going there again; for now the queen of Whiteland, whose king is away, is going to wed another husband.”

“Well!” said the man, “as this is so, I’ll give you a bit of advice. Hereabouts, on a moor, stand three brothers, and here they have stood these hundred years, fighting about a hat, a cloak, and a pair of boots. If any one has these three things he can make himself invisible, and wish himself anywhere he pleases. You can tell them you wish to try the things, and, after that, you’ll pass judgment between them, whose they shall be.”

Yes! the King thanked the man, and went and did as he told him.

“What’s all this?” he said to the brothers. “Why do you stand here fighting for ever and a day? Just let me try these things, and I’ll give judgment whose they shall be.”

They were very willing to do this; but, as soon as he had got the hat, cloak, and boots, he said:

“When we meet next time, I’ll tell you my judgment,” and with these words he wished himself away.

So as he went along up in the air, he came up with the North wind.

“Whither away?” roared the North Wind.

“To Whiteland,” said the King; and then he told him all that had befallen him.

“Ah,” said the North Wind, “you go faster than I—you do; for you can go straight, while I have to puff and blow round every turn and corner. But when you get there, just place yourself on the stairs by the side of the door, and then I’ll come storming in, as though I were going to blow down the whole castle. And then when the prince, who is to have your Queen, comes out to see what’s the matter, just you take him by the collar and pitch him out of doors; then I’ll look after him, and see if I can’t carry him off.”

Well, the King did as the North Wind said. He took his stand on the stairs, and when the North Wind came, storming and roaring, and took hold of the castle wall, so that it shook again, the prince came out to see what was the matter. But as soon as ever he came, the King caught him by the collar and pitched him out of doors, and then the North Wind caught him up and carried him off. So when there was an end of him, the King went into the castle, and at first his Queen didn’t know him, he was so wan and thin, through wandering so far and being so woeful; but when he shewed her the ring, she was as glad as glad could be; and so the rightful wedding was held, and the fame of it spread far and wide.

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Every day from July 1-14, a fairy tale will be posted. Everyone is invited to assign the roles of the characters to Minseok and Kyungsoo—whether you're a reader, writer, or an artist!

Click on the + beneath a fairy tale to add your answer. Don't forget to tell us why you feel the way you feel!! Feel free to chime in on older posts too, and leave likes on the replies you like!

If you're unfamiliar with a fairy tale, we're providing links to each one of them. Liked one of these enough to create a xiusoo version of it? Sign up here (until July 22).

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Sisters Snow-White and Rose-Red love to help where they can—including sheltering and befriending a bear—but their help is not always appreciated...

Siblings xiusoo! Who is Snow-White, and who is Rose-Red?

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The embedded audio player requires a modern internet browser. You should visit Browse Happy and update your internet browser today!

There was once a poor widow who lived in a lonely cottage. In front of the cottage was a garden wherein stood two rose-trees, one of which bore white and the other red roses. She had two children who were like the two rose-trees, and one was called Snow-white, and the other Rose-red. They were as good and happy, as busy and cheerful as ever two children in the world were, only Snow-white was more quiet and gentle than Rose-red. Rose-red liked better to run about in the meadows and fields seeking flowers and catching butterflies; but Snow-white sat at home with her mother, and helped her with her housework, or read to her when there was nothing to do.

The two children were so fond of one another that they always held each other by the hand when they went out together, and when Snow-white said: 'We will not leave each other,' Rose-red answered: 'Never so long as we live,' and their mother would add: 'What one has she must share with the other.'

They often ran about the forest alone and gathered red berries, and no beasts did them any harm, but came close to them trustfully. The little hare would eat a cabbage-leaf out of their hands, the roe grazed by their side, the stag leapt merrily by them, and the birds sat still upon the boughs, and sang whatever they knew.

No mishap overtook them; if they had stayed too late in the forest, and night came on, they laid themselves down near one another upon the moss, and slept until morning came, and their mother knew this and did not worry on their account.

Once when they had spent the night in the wood and the dawn had roused them, they saw a beautiful child in a shining white dress sitting near their bed. He got up and looked quite kindly at them, but said nothing and went into the forest. And when they looked round they found that they had been sleeping quite close to a precipice, and would certainly have fallen into it in the darkness if they had gone only a few paces further. And their mother told them that it must have been the angel who watches over good children.

Snow-white and Rose-red kept their mother's little cottage so neat that it was a pleasure to look inside it. In the summer Rose-red took care of the house, and every morning laid a wreath of flowers by her mother's bed before she awoke, in which was a rose from each tree. In the winter Snow-white lit the fire and hung the kettle on the hob. The kettle was of brass and shone like gold, so brightly was it polished. In the evening, when the snowflakes fell, the mother said: 'Go, Snow-white, and bolt the door,' and then they sat round the hearth, and the mother took her spectacles and read aloud out of a large book, and the two girls listened as they sat and spun. And close by them lay a lamb upon the floor, and behind them upon a perch sat a white dove with its head hidden beneath its wings.

One evening, as they were thus sitting comfortably together, someone knocked at the door as if he wished to be let in. The mother said: 'Quick, Rose-red, open the door, it must be a traveller who is seeking shelter.' Rose-red went and pushed back the bolt, thinking that it was a poor man, but it was not; it was a bear that stretched his broad, black head within the door.

Rose-red screamed and sprang back, the lamb bleated, the dove fluttered, and Snow-white hid herself behind her mother's bed. But the bear began to speak and said: 'Do not be afraid, I will do you no harm! I am half-frozen, and only want to warm myself a little beside you.'

'Poor bear,' said the mother, 'lie down by the fire, only take care that you do not burn your coat.' Then she cried: 'Snow-white, Rose-red, come out, the bear will do you no harm, he means well.' So they both came out, and by-and-by the lamb and dove came nearer, and were not afraid of him. The bear said: 'Here, children, knock the snow out of my coat a little'; so they brought the broom and swept the bear's hide clean; and he stretched himself by the fire and growled contentedly and comfortably. It was not long before they grew quite at home, and played tricks with their clumsy guest. They tugged his hair with their hands, put their feet upon his back and rolled him about, or they took a hazel-switch and beat him, and when he growled they laughed. But the bear took it all in good part, only when they were too rough he called out: 'Leave me alive, children,

'Snow-white, Rose-red, Will you beat your wooer dead?'
When it was bed-time, and the others went to bed, the mother said to the bear: 'You can lie there by the hearth, and then you will be safe from the cold and the bad weather.' As soon as day dawned the two children let him out, and he trotted across the snow into the forest.

Henceforth the bear came every evening at the same time, laid himself down by the hearth, and let the children amuse themselves with him as much as they liked; and they got so used to him that the doors were never fastened until their black friend had arrived.

When spring had come and all outside was green, the bear said one morning to Snow-white: 'Now I must go away, and cannot come back for the whole summer.' 'Where are you going, then, dear bear?' asked Snow-white. 'I must go into the forest and guard my treasures from the wicked dwarfs. In the winter, when the earth is frozen hard, they are obliged to stay below and cannot work their way through; but now, when the sun has thawed and warmed the earth, they break through it, and come out to pry and steal; and what once gets into their hands, and in their caves, does not easily see daylight again.'

Snow-white was quite sorry at his departure, and as she unbolted the door for him, and the bear was hurrying out, he caught against the bolt and a piece of his hairy coat was torn off, and it seemed to Snow-white as if she had seen gold shining through it, but she was not sure about it. The bear ran away quickly, and was soon out of sight behind the trees.

A short time afterwards the mother sent her children into the forest to get firewood. There they found a big tree which lay felled on the ground, and close by the trunk something was jumping backwards and forwards in the grass, but they could not make out what it was. When they came nearer they saw a dwarf with an old withered face and a snow-white beard a yard long. The end of the beard was caught in a crevice of the tree, and the little fellow was jumping about like a dog tied to a rope, and did not know what to do.

He glared at the girls with his fiery red eyes and cried: 'Why do you stand there? Can you not come here and help me?' 'What are you up to, little man?' asked Rose-red. 'You stupid, prying goose!' answered the dwarf: 'I was going to split the tree to get a little wood for cooking. The little bit of food that we people get is immediately burnt up with heavy logs; we do not swallow so much as you coarse, greedy folk. I had just driven the wedge safely in, and everything was going as I wished; but the cursed wedge was too smooth and suddenly sprang out, and the tree closed so quickly that I could not pull out my beautiful white beard; so now it is tight and I cannot get away, and the silly, sleek, milk-faced things laugh! Ugh! how odious you are!'

The children tried very hard, but they could not pull the beard out, it was caught too fast. 'I will run and fetch someone,' said Rose-red. 'You senseless goose!' snarled the dwarf; 'why should you fetch someone? You are already two too many for me; can you not think of something better?' 'Don't be impatient,' said Snow-white, 'I will help you,' and she pulled her scissors out of her pocket, and cut off the end of the beard.

As soon as the dwarf felt himself free he laid hold of a bag which lay amongst the roots of the tree, and which was full of gold, and lifted it up, grumbling to himself: 'Uncouth people, to cut off a piece of my fine beard. Bad luck to you!' and then he swung the bag upon his back, and went off without even once looking at the children.

Some time afterwards Snow-white and Rose-red went to catch a dish of fish. As they came near the brook they saw something like a large grasshopper jumping towards the water, as if it were going to leap in. They ran to it and found it was the dwarf. 'Where are you going?' said Rose-red; 'you surely don't want to go into the water?' 'I am not such a fool!' cried the dwarf; 'don't you see that the accursed fish wants to pull me in?' The little man had been sitting there fishing, and unluckily the wind had tangled up his beard with the fishing-line; a moment later a big fish made a bite and the feeble creature had not strength to pull it out; the fish kept the upper hand and pulled the dwarf towards him. He held on to all the reeds and rushes, but it was of little good, for he was forced to follow the movements of the fish, and was in urgent danger of being dragged into the water.

The girls came just in time; they held him fast and tried to free his beard from the line, but all in vain, beard and line were entangled fast together. There was nothing to do but to bring out the scissors and cut the beard, whereby a small part of it was lost. When the dwarf saw that he screamed out: 'Is that civil, you toadstool, to disfigure a man's face? Was it not enough to clip off the end of my beard? Now you have cut off the best part of it. I cannot let myself be seen by my people. I wish you had been made to run the soles off your shoes!' Then he took out a sack of pearls which lay in the rushes, and without another word he dragged it away and disappeared behind a stone.

It happened that soon afterwards the mother sent the two children to the town to buy needles and thread, and laces and ribbons. The road led them across a heath upon which huge pieces of rock lay strewn about. There they noticed a large bird hovering in the air, flying slowly round and round above them; it sank lower and lower, and at last settled near a rock not far away. Immediately they heard a loud, piteous cry. They ran up and saw with horror that the eagle had seized their old acquaintance the dwarf, and was going to carry him off.

The children, full of pity, at once took tight hold of the little man, and pulled against the eagle so long that at last he let his booty go. As soon as the dwarf had recovered from his first fright he cried with his shrill voice: 'Could you not have done it more carefully! You dragged at my brown coat so that it is all torn and full of holes, you clumsy creatures!' Then he took up a sack full of precious stones, and slipped away again under the rock into his hole. The girls, who by this time were used to his ingratitude, went on their way and did their business in town.

As they crossed the heath again on their way home they surprised the dwarf, who had emptied out his bag of precious stones in a clean spot, and had not thought that anyone would come there so late. The evening sun shone upon the brilliant stones; they glittered and sparkled with all colours so beautifully that the children stood still and stared at them. 'Why do you stand gaping there?' cried the dwarf, and his ashen-grey face became copper-red with rage. He was still cursing when a loud growling was heard, and a black bear came trotting towards them out of the forest. The dwarf sprang up in a fright, but he could not reach his cave, for the bear was already close. Then in the dread of his heart he cried: 'Dear Mr Bear, spare me, I will give you all my treasures; look, the beautiful jewels lying there! Grant me my life; what do you want with such a slender little fellow as I? you would not feel me between your teeth. Come, take these two wicked girls, they are tender morsels for you, fat as young quails; for mercy's sake eat them!' The bear took no heed of his words, but gave the wicked creature a single blow with his paw, and he did not move again.

The girls had run away, but the bear called to them: 'Snow-white and Rose-red, do not be afraid; wait, I will come with you.' Then they recognized his voice and waited, and when he came up to them suddenly his bearskin fell off, and he stood there a handsome man, clothed all in gold. 'I am a king's son,' he said, 'and I was bewitched by that wicked dwarf, who had stolen my treasures; I have had to run about the forest as a savage bear until I was freed by his death. Now he has got his well-deserved punishment.

Snow-white was married to him, and Rose-red to his brother, and they divided between them the great treasure which the dwarf had gathered together in his cave. The old mother lived peacefully and happily with her children for many years. She took the two rose-trees with her, and they stood before her window, and every year bore the most beautiful roses, white and red.

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The embedded audio player requires a modern internet browser. You should visit Browse Happy and update your internet browser today! There was once a poor widow who lived in a lonely cottage. In front of the cottage was a garden wherein stood two rose-trees, one of which bore white and the other red roses.

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Kyungsoo is Rose red and Minseok Snow white, it's like this fairytale is tailored for the one who has the frost power and the one who sang the rose song XDDD

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Kyungsoo is Rose red and Minseok Snow white, it's like this fairytale is tailored for the one who has the frost power and the one who sang the rose song XDDD

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there's so much ungrateful dwarf lmfao but for the sake of kisses i'll say snow white minseok, bear kyungsoo, and make the beagles a team of annoying (but not ungrateful lol) dwarfs LOL. rose red, idk rn ahhhh

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A farmer wishes for someone to share the fruits of his labour with. His wish is answered by a snail shell—when he takes it home, his house is magically cleaned and meals are cooked. When he discovers his new roommate is a woman, he asks her to stay. However, their domestic bliss doesn't last long...

Who in xiusoo is the farmer, and who is the snail-shell bride?

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Long ago, on a farm far away, there lived a poor farmer who worked hard every day, digging, planting, plowing, harvesting and herding. Because he was poor, no woman wanted to marry him, and thus he continued living alone, working from sunrise to sunset. As the days wore on, his muscles grew tired and his soul ached for company.

“What’s the point of harvesting all this food if I never have anyone to eat it with?” he grumbled one day.

“You can eat it with me!” a voice said. It was a radiant and cheerful voice—and it was feminine. Startled, the man stood still and looked around, but there was no sign of anyone.

He said again, louder this time, “Who will eat all this food with me?”

“I’ll eat it with you!” the bright, lovely voice chirped again.

The farmer quickly rushed towards the direction of the voice, which appeared to come from a bushel of grass on the edge of his field. When he brushed the grass aside, the farmer found nothing but a giant snail shell. “Hmmm, that’s strange,” he thought, “but I’ll take you home anyways.”

After bringing the snail shell back to his house, the farmer placed it in his room, wondering if there was any reason to be hopeful.

A Mysterious Lunch

The next day, after a hard morning’s work, the farmer returned home for lunch. He was extremely surprised, however, to discover that lunch had already been made. Upon opening the door his nose was greeted with the smell of warm rice and a plethora of home-cooked dishes. While wondering who was behind such kindness, he happily feasted on the best lunch he’d ever had. The next day, after another hard morning’s work, he came home to another delicious meal. The same thing happened the following day. After several days of a mysterious lunch appearing out of nowhere, the farmer decided to investigate. The next morning, he pretended to go out to the fields and instead hid himself in a place where he could see inside the house.

Not before long, he saw a lovely woman appear from the snail shell. She was so beautiful the farmer suddenly lost all reason. With a few snaps of her slender fingers, the angelic guest summoned a feast fit for a banquet hall, with all the delicious delights he’d been enjoying the past few days. Completely smitten and drooling with affection, the farmer leapt out of his hiding place and proclaimed his love for her.

“Don’t go!” the farmer pleaded. “Stay here with me, just like you said that day on the field.”

The woman, with hypnotizing eyes, looked at the farmer forgivingly and affectionately.

“Oh, dear, I’d love to,” she cooed, “but you need to wait just a few more days. Then we can live happily ever after.”

She explained that she had come from the heavens, but had committed a minor crime and couldn’t be with him until the matter was resolved—a probation period, of sorts. She then gave a word of caution: “If I stay now, our happy union will end in tragedy.”

Patience is a Virtue

The farmer, however, was so enchanted and in love and wouldn’t let her go. Eventually, the woman gave in to his wishes, and the two enjoyed a short period of bliss. One day, however, the farmer needed to go deep into the mountains and did not return until well after dark. While he was gone, the local magistrate’s carriage happened to pass by the farm just as the farmer’s new wife wandered outdoors to see if her beloved husband had returned. The magistrate, upon spotting her beautiful face, became infatuated beyond reason, and proceeded to seize her and bring her back to his quarters.

The woman protested and pleaded, but the magistrate was not a kind man. When the farmer returned home and found out what happened, he immediately went to the magistrate and begged for his wife’s prompt release. Despite being beaten and thrown out several times, the farmer was relentless—he continued to come back. This continued until the farmer died, though whether it was out of loneliness or of too many beatings is too difficult to tell. The farmer’s wife, too, eventually fell ill and also died. The tragic couple then turned into a pair of lovely birds that are said to grace the skies of the area to this day.

Written by Felix Im
Illustrated by Shim Soo-keun

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Kyungsoo is the snail-shell bride :( they'll make happy birds

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Kyungsoo is the snail-shell bride :( they'll make happy birds

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A king demands for a golden bird. The gardener's son who volunteers is advised by a fox companion who—after the gardener's son retrieved the golden bird among other treasures and endured many hardships—asks this of him, as a reward for his counsel: "Pray kill me, and cut off my head and my feet."

Who in xiusoo is the gardener's son, and who is the fox?

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A certain king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples. These apples were always counted, and about the time when they began to grow ripe it was found that every night one of them was gone. The king became very angry at this, and ordered the gardener to keep watch all night under the tree. The gardener set his eldest son to watch; but about twelve o'clock he fell asleep, and in the morning another of the apples was missing. Then the second son was ordered to watch; and at midnight he too fell asleep, and in the morning another apple was gone. Then the third son offered to keep watch; but the gardener at first would not let him, for fear some harm should come to him: however, at last he consented, and the young man laid himself under the tree to watch. As the clock struck twelve he heard a rustling noise in the air, and a bird came flying that was of pure gold; and as it was snapping at one of the apples with its beak, the gardener's son jumped up and shot an arrow at it. But the arrow did the bird no harm; only it dropped a golden feather from its tail, and then flew away. The golden feather was brought to the king in the morning, and all the council was called together. Everyone agreed that it was worth more than all the wealth of the kingdom: but the king said, 'One feather is of no use to me, I must have the whole bird.'

Then the gardener's eldest son set out and thought to find the golden bird very easily; and when he had gone but a little way, he came to a wood, and by the side of the wood he saw a fox sitting; so he took his bow and made ready to shoot at it. Then the fox said, 'Do not shoot me, for I will give you good counsel; I know what your business is, and that you want to find the golden bird. You will reach a village in the evening; and when you get there, you will see two inns opposite to each other, one of which is very pleasant and beautiful to look at: go not in there, but rest for the night in the other, though it may appear to you to be very poor and mean.' But the son thought to himself, 'What can such a beast as this know about the matter?' So he shot his arrow at the fox; but he missed it, and it set up its tail above its back and ran into the wood. Then he went his way, and in the evening came to the village where the two inns were; and in one of these were people singing, and dancing, and feasting; but the other looked very dirty, and poor. 'I should be very silly,' said he, 'if I went to that shabby house, and left this charming place'; so he went into the smart house, and ate and drank at his ease, and forgot the bird, and his country too.

Time passed on; and as the eldest son did not come back, and no tidings were heard of him, the second son set out, and the same thing happened to him. He met the fox, who gave him the good advice: but when he came to the two inns, his eldest brother was standing at the window where the merrymaking was, and called to him to come in; and he could not withstand the temptation, but went in, and forgot the golden bird and his country in the same manner.
Time passed on again, and the youngest son too wished to set out into the wide world to seek for the golden bird; but his father would not listen to it for a long while, for he was very fond of his son, and was afraid that some ill luck might happen to him also, and prevent his coming back. However, at last it was agreed he should go, for he would not rest at home; and as he came to the wood, he met the fox, and heard the same good counsel. But he was thankful to the fox, and did not attempt his life as his brothers had done; so the fox said,'Sit upon my tail, and you will travel faster.' So he sat down, and the fox began to run, and away they went over stock and stone so quick that their hair whistled in the wind.

When they came to the village, the son followed the fox's counsel, and without looking about him went to the shabby inn and rested there all night at his ease. In the morning came the fox again and met him as he was beginning his journey, and said, 'Go straight forward, till you come to a castle, before which lie a whole troop of soldiers fast asleep and snoring: take no notice of them, but go into the castle and pass on and on till you come to a room, where the golden bird sits in a wooden cage; close by it stands a beautiful golden cage; but do not try to take the bird out of the shabby cage and put it into the handsome one, otherwise you will repent it.' Then the fox stretched out his tail again, and the young man sat himself down, and away they went over stock and stone till their hair whistled in the wind.

Before the castle gate all was as the fox had said: so the son went in and found the chamber where the golden bird hung in a wooden cage, and below stood the golden cage, and the three golden apples that had been lost were lying close by it. Then thought he to himself, 'It will be a very droll thing to bring away such a fine bird in this shabby cage'; so he opened the door and took hold of it and put it into the golden cage. But the bird set up such a loud scream that all the soldiers awoke, and they took him prisoner and carried him before the king. The next morning the court sat to judge him; and when all was heard, it sentenced him to die, unless he should bring the king the golden horse which could run as swiftly as the wind; and if he did this, he was to have the golden bird given him for his own.

So he set out once more on his journey, sighing, and in great despair, when on a sudden his friend the fox met him, and said, 'You see now what has happened on account of your not listening to my counsel. I will still, however, tell you how to find the golden horse, if you will do as I bid you. You must go straight on till you come to the castle where the horse stands in his stall: by his side will lie the groom fast asleep and snoring: take away the horse quietly, but be sure to put the old leathern saddle upon him, and not the golden one that is close by it.' Then the son sat down on the fox's tail, and away they went over stock and stone till their hair whistled in the wind.
All went right, and the groom lay snoring with his hand upon the golden saddle. But when the son looked at the horse, he thought it a great pity to put the leathern saddle upon it. 'I will give him the good one,' said he; 'I am sure he deserves it.' As he took up the golden saddle the groom awoke and cried out so loud, that all the guards ran in and took him prisoner, and in the morning he was again brought before the court to be judged, and was sentenced to die. But it was agreed, that, if he could bring thither the beautiful princess, he should live, and have the bird and the horse given him for his own.

Then he went his way very sorrowful; but the old fox came and said,'Why did not you listen to me? If you had, you would have carried away both the bird and the horse; yet will I once more give you counsel. Go straight on, and in the evening you will arrive at a castle. At twelve o'clock at night the princess goes to the bathing-house: go up to her and give her a kiss, and she will let you lead her away; but take care you do not suffer her to go and take leave of her father and mother.'Then the fox stretched out his tail, and so away they went over stock and stone till their hair whistled again.

As they came to the castle, all was as the fox had said, and at twelve o'clock the young man met the princes going to the bath and gave her the kiss, and she agreed to run away with him, but begged with many tears that he would let her take leave of her father. At first he refused, but she wept still more and more, and fell at his feet, till at last he consented; but the moment she came to her father's house the guards awoke and he was taken prisoner again.
Then he was brought before the king, and the king said, 'You shall never have my daughter unless in eight days you dig away the hill that stops the view from my window.' Now this hill was so big that the whole world could not take it away: and when he had worked for seven days, and had done very little, the fox came and said. 'Lie down and go to sleep; I will work for you.' And in the morning he awoke and the hill was gone; so he went merrily to the king, and told him that now that it was removed he must give him the princess.

Then the king was obliged to keep his word, and away went the young man and the princess; and the fox came and said to him, 'We will have all three, the princess, the horse, and the bird.' 'Ah!' said the young man, 'that would be a great thing, but how can you contrive it?'

'If you will only listen,' said the fox, 'it can be done. When you come to the king, and he asks for the beautiful princess, you must say, "Here she is!" Then he will be very joyful; and you will mount the golden horse that they are to give you, and put out your hand to take leave of them; but shake hands with the princess last. Then lift her quickly on to the horse behind you; clap your spurs to his side, and gallop away as fast as you can.'
All went right: then the fox said, 'When you come to the castle where the bird is, I will stay with the princess at the door, and you will ride in and speak to the king; and when he sees that it is the right horse, he will bring out the bird; but you must sit still, and say that you want to look at it, to see whether it is the true golden bird; and when you get it into your hand, ride away.'

This, too, happened as the fox said; they carried off the bird, the princess mounted again, and they rode on to a great wood. Then the fox came, and said, 'Pray kill me, and cut off my head and my feet.' But the young man refused to do it: so the fox said, 'I will at any rate give you good counsel: beware of two things; ransom no one from the gallows, and sit down by the side of no river.' Then away he went. 'Well,' thought the young man, 'it is no hard matter to keep that advice.'

He rode on with the princess, till at last he came to the village where he had left his two brothers. And there he heard a great noise and uproar; and when he asked what was the matter, the people said,'Two men are going to be hanged.' As he came nearer, he saw that the two men were his brothers, who had turned robbers; so he said, 'Cannot they in any way be saved?' But the people said 'No,' unless he would bestow all his money upon the rascals and buy their liberty. Then he did not stay to think about the matter, but paid what was asked, and his brothers were given up, and went on with him towards their home.

And as they came to the wood where the fox first met them, it was so cool and pleasant that the two brothers said, 'Let us sit down by the side of the river, and rest a while, to eat and drink.' So he said,'Yes,' and forgot the fox's counsel, and sat down on the side of the river; and while he suspected nothing, they came behind, and threw him down the bank, and took the princess, the horse, and the bird, and went home to the king their master, and said. 'All this have we won by our labour.' Then there was great rejoicing made; but the horse would not eat, the bird would not sing, and the princess wept.

The youngest son fell to the bottom of the river's bed: luckily it was nearly dry, but his bones were almost broken, and the bank was so steep that he could find no way to get out. Then the old fox came once more, and scolded him for not following his advice; otherwise no evil would have befallen him: 'Yet,' said he, 'I cannot leave you here, so lay hold of my tail and hold fast.' Then he pulled him out of the river, and said to him, as he got upon the bank, 'Your brothers have set watch to kill you, if they find you in the kingdom.' So he dressed himself as a poor man, and came secretly to the king's court, and was scarcely within the doors when the horse began to eat, and the bird to sing, and princess left off weeping. Then he went to the king, and told him all his brothers' roguery; and they were seized and punished, and he had the princess given to him again; and after the king's death he was heir to his kingdom.

A long while after, he went to walk one day in the wood, and the old fox met him, and besought him with tears in his eyes to kill him, and cut off his head and feet. And at last he did so, and in a moment the fox was changed into a man, and turned out to be the brother of the princess, who had been lost a great many, many years.

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The embedded audio player requires a modern internet browser. You should visit Browse Happy and update your internet browser today! A certain king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples.

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Kyungsoo is the gardener's son because he seems more like someone who may not do what he's told to do

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I'm all for fox!minseok agenda tbh

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Korea. 600 words, audio version available!

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A woman gets caught in a landslide and barely survives—thanks to a mouse who rescues her and nurses her back to health. She eventually decides to marry him, and introduce him to her family. When her older sisters ridicule her and her mouse husband, something unexpected happens...

Who in xiusoo is the youngest sister, and who is the mouse?

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Hello, everyone. Welcome to "Korean Folktales." In this weekly corner, we introduce you to interesting traditional Korean folk stories. I'm Jinny Na.

A long time ago, there lived three sisters who were old enough to get married. They left home together in search of their future husbands. The first and second sisters were so vain and materialistic that they dreamed of a prince on a white horse as their would-be spouse. The first sister said, "After all, money is everything. I'll marry a rich man." The second sister nodded her head in agreement. "Indeed. But I believe the best thing is power. Even money comes from power. I'll marry a man of great influence and authority."

Hearing that, the third and youngest sister said, "Sisters, I have a different opinion. I don't think money or power is really important in a spouse, with whom you will live for the rest of your life. Rather, I guess I should choose a man who will truly love and support me, no matter what happens."

The two elder sisters laughed at the youngest one. The first sister gave her a contemptuous look. "You silly girl, you are being so childish. You don't know how the world works." The second woman also sneered at her younger sister. "Love and support? What a stupid thing to say! It's easy to imagine how miserable your life will be. I don't think it's a good idea to stay together because we disagree with you on this matter. We'd better go our separate ways from now on."

So, the first and second sisters left, while the youngest one went her own way. She was walking on a mountain slope, wondering where she could find a husband. Suddenly there was a landslide, causing rocks and soil to fall on top of her. The incident happened so quickly that the girl couldn't do anything. She fell from the cliff and passed out.

When she woke up, she found herself lying on a bed in a clean room. Her whole body was in pain. Although she was hurt, she was still alive. Looking around, she saw a big mouse standing beside her. Wearing human clothes, the mouse was looking at her, with a worried expression on his face. "Don't be surprised, lady. You were hurt, and I brought you to my house. Don't worry about anything and just relax. You need some rest." The mouse gave her nutritious food and took great care of her. Thanks to his dedicated care, the woman was able to gradually recover. She was moved by the gentle and tender-hearted mouse and decided to marry him.

A year passed, and she began to miss her parents. So the woman and her mouse husband traveled to her parents' house together. On the way, they happened to meet her two sisters. As expected, the women hated the animal husband of their sister. "So, are you saying you married an ugly mouse? How ridiculous you are! We just can't let you live as the wife of a mouse." The two sisters pushed the mouse into the river. The third sister was shocked and cried bitterly.

Then, something amazing happened. A golden light shone on the water and a handsome young man appeared. He introduced himself as a prince who had become a mouse after being placed under a curse. He said he was able to turn into a human again because of his wife's kindness and true love. Embarrassed, the two sisters ran away. The youngest sister and the prince lived happily ever after, loving and supporting each other.

That's it for today's "Korean Folktales." Thank you for listening. I'm Jinny Na. Goodbye, everyone.

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Hello, everyone. Welcome to "Korean Folktales." In this weekly corner, we introduce you to interesting traditional Korean folk stories. I'm Jinny Na. A long time ago, there lived three sisters who were old enough to get married. They left home together in search of their future husbands.

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Kyungsoo is the farmer who's wife left because he looked at her weirdly XD and Xiu is the Snail bride who loves to clean everything !

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Kyungsoo is the farmer who's wife left because he looked at her weirdly XD and Xiu is the Snail bride who loves to clean everything !

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Oh, i know a similar story, it's called "To the East of the moon and the West of the sun" :o But anyway, I don't know how the would fit in this one, i think Minseok would be the king, but neither are the prideful type to just wish away uncarefully... maybe they just missed the other so much !

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Oh, i know a similar story, it's called "To the East of the moon and the West of the sun" :o But anyway, I don't know how the would fit in this one, i think Minseok would be the king, but neither are the prideful type to just wish away uncarefully... maybe they just missed the other so much !

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Controversial but i think benevolent and naive Minseok would fit the Gardener son better 'o' And Kyungsoo is the helpful fox who is so done after this man doesn't follow his directions but can't help liking his nice temperament uwu

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Controversial but i think benevolent and naive Minseok would fit the Gardener son better 'o' And Kyungsoo is the helpful fox who is so done after this man doesn't follow his directions but can't help liking his nice temperament uwu

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A cowherd takes his ox's love advice and ends up with a fairy wife. When the Goddess of Heaven however finds out that the weaver girl is neglecting her duties to enjoy life on earth, she separates the two lovers—and only the magpies taking pity on them can bridge the distance between them, on one day per year.

Who in xiusoo is the cowherd, and who is the weaver girl?

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In late summer, the stars Altair and Vega are high in the night sky, and the Chinese tell the following love story, of which there are many variations:

A young cowherd named Niulang (Chinese: 牛郎; pinyin: niú láng; literally "[the] cowherd"), came across seven fairy sisters bathing in a lake. Encouraged by his mischievous companion the ox, he stole their clothes and waited to see what would happen. The fairy sisters elected the youngest and most beautiful sister Zhinü (simplified Chinese: 织女; traditional Chinese: 織女; pinyin: zhī nǚ; literally "[the] weaver girl", the star Vega) to retrieve their clothing. She agreed to do so, but since Niulang had seen her naked, she agreed to his request for marriage. She proved to be a wonderful wife, and Niulang to be a good husband. They lived happily and had two children. But the Goddess of Heaven (or in some versions, Zhinü's mother) found out that Zhinü, a fairy girl, had married a mere mortal. The Goddess was furious and ordered Zhinü to return to heaven. (Alternatively, the Goddess forced the fairy back to her former duty of weaving colorful clouds, a task she neglected while living on earth with a mortal.) On Earth, Niulang was very upset that his wife had disappeared. Suddenly, his ox began to talk, telling him that if he killed it and put on its hide, he would be able to go up to Heaven to find his wife. Crying bitterly, he killed the ox, put on the skin, and carried his two beloved children off to Heaven to find Zhinü. The Goddess discovered this and was very angry. Taking out her hairpin, the Goddess scratched a wide river in the sky to separate the two lovers forever, thus forming the Milky Way between Altair and Vega.

Zhinü must sit forever on one side of the river, sadly weaving on her loom, while Niulang watches her from afar and takes care of their two children (his flanking stars β and γ Aquilae or by their Chinese names Hè Gu 1 and Hè Gu 3).

But once a year all the magpies in the world would take pity on them and fly up into heaven to form a bridge (鵲橋, "the bridge of magpies", Que Qiao) over the star Deneb in the Cygnus constellation so the lovers may be together for a single night, which is the seventh night of the seventh moon.

Editor: Shi Liwei

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The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is a traditional festival full of romance. It often goes into August in the Gregorian calendar。

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Minseok is the youngest sister because he's more 'naive', and Kyungsoo does seem more likely to be cursed when he's a prince

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i LOVE this tale 😢 and for me kyungsoo is the cowherd and minseok is the divine weaver 

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i LOVE this tale 😢 and for me kyungsoo is the cowherd and minseok is the divine weaver 

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A young woman is picked as a human sacrifice to the sea serpent terrorising the village. Her fiancé decides to put a stop to it altogether, and together with others ventures out to kill the serpent. The young woman waits and prays for his return for 100 days, until...

Who in xiusoo is the young man, and who the young woman waiting for him?

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Crape myrtles are known as colorful and long-lasting flowers. They are called baek-il-hong in Korean, meaning red flower for one hundred days. Today, I'll tell you how the flower got this name in Korean folklore.

A long time ago, there lived a young man and a young woman in a small fishing village. Both were hardworking people, and the two were in love with each other. They were happily waiting for an auspicious day when they promised to marry.

Unfortunately, the seaside village held a dreadful ritual every year. A young maiden was offered to a three-headed sea serpent as a human sacrifice. Otherwise, disaster would hit the entire village. It was brutal to sacrifice a living person, but there was no other choice. There had to be a victim every year. So, parents of young girls were always worried about their daughters.

One year, the young woman who was supposed to get married soon was picked as the victim. Stunned and frustrated, the girl and her fiancé cried and even thought about escaping the village together. But they couldn't do so for fear that the whole village would suffer a massive disaster. The man was then determined to fight the sea monster to rescue his woman and his village as well. Other brave people in the village who shared his opinion decided to join him in the battle. On the day of their departure, all the villagers came to see them off, praying that the young warriors would kill the monster and return home safe and sound. The girl was also there, of course, shedding tears. The man solemnly said to her, "If I defeat the beast, I'll have a white flag on board my ship. If a red flag is flying, that would mean I failed." With these words, he boarded a ship with his companions. The ship soon sailed out into the rough sea.

From that day on, the girl went to the shore every day and prayed for his safe return. Since the group of men went out to fight the monster, fishermen in the village could fish peacefully in the safe water. Days and weeks passed. The girl never left the beach, rain or shine. Finally, the ship came into sight, exactly 100 days after it set out. The maiden was filled with emotion. From a distance, she tried very hard to figure out the color of the ship's flag. As the ship was nearing land, she saw it had... a red flag. Remembering what her fiancé said before he left, she collapsed. After enduring that long, exhausting wait, it was too much for her to bear. Stricken by fatigue, sorrow, and despair, the poor girl died before the ship reached the shore.

But what happened? When the ship arrived, her fiancé ran to the shore. He was frantically looking for his beloved girl, only to find her body, still warm. When he was told that the girl died after seeing the red flag, he looked at the ship. He had not realized that the white flag was smeared with the crimson blood of the sea monster that he had killed. All he could think about was sailing fast towards land to deliver the good news to the villagers and the girl. He beat his chest in grief, but it was too late.

He and village people buried her in a sunny spot on the top of the hill overlooking the sea. Later, strange flowers bloomed at her grave. The beautiful red flowers blossomed for 100 days before withering away. People believed that the flower was the spirit of the poor girl who waited for her fiancé for 100 days, and then died. Ever since then, they've called it "red flower for one hundred days."

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Crape myrtles are known as colorful and long-lasting flowers. They are called baek-il-hong in Korean, meaning red flower for one hundred days. Today, I'll tell you how the flower got this name in Korean folklore. A long time ago, there lived a young man and a young woman in a small fishing village.

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A young woman is surprised by news of her fiancé marrying a princess, per his father's, the dying king's wish. To at least be in her fiancé's vicinity, she lets herself and her 11 lookalikes be hired—as the new king's huntsmen. At the king's side: an all-knowing lion who sees through their disguise...

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The embedded audio player requires a modern internet browser. You should visit Browse Happy and update your internet browser today!

There was once a king's son who had a bride whom he loved very much. And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came that his father lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again before his end. Then he said to his beloved: 'I must now go and leave you, I give you a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am king, I will return and fetch you.' So he rode away, and when he reached his father, the latter was dangerously ill, and near his death. He said to him: 'Dear son, I wished to see you once again before my end, promise me to marry as I wish,' and he named a certain king's daughter who was to be his wife. The son was in such trouble that he did not think what he was doing, and said: 'Yes, dear father, your will shall be done,' and thereupon the king shut his eyes, and died.

When therefore the son had been proclaimed king, and the time of mourning was over, he was forced to keep the promise which he had given his father, and caused the king's daughter to be asked in marriage, and she was promised to him. His first betrothed heard of this, and fretted so much about his faithfulness that she nearly died. Then her father said to her: 'Dearest child, why are you so sad? You shall have whatsoever you will.' She thought for a moment and said: 'Dear father, I wish for eleven girls exactly like myself in face, figure, and size.' The father said: 'If it be possible, your desire shall be fulfilled,' and he caused a search to be made in his whole kingdom, until eleven young maidens were found who exactly resembled his daughter in face, figure, and size.

When they came to the king's daughter, she had twelve suits of huntsmen's clothes made, all alike, and the eleven maidens had to put on the huntsmen's clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth suit. Thereupon she took her leave of her father, and rode away with them, and rode to the court of her former betrothed, whom she loved so dearly. Then she asked if he required any huntsmen, and if he would take all of them into his service. The king looked at her and did not know her, but as they were such handsome fellows, he said: 'Yes,' and that he would willingly take them, and now they were the king's twelve huntsmen.

The king, however, had a lion which was a wondrous animal, for he knew all concealed and secret things. It came to pass that one evening he said to the king: 'You think you have twelve huntsmen?' 'Yes,' said the king, 'they are twelve huntsmen.' The lion continued: 'You are mistaken, they are twelve girls.' The king said: 'That cannot be true! How will you prove that to me?' 'Oh, just let some peas be strewn in the ante-chamber,' answered the lion, 'and then you will soon see. Men have a firm step, and when they walk over peas none of them stir, but girls trip and skip, and drag their feet, and the peas roll about.' The king was well pleased with the counsel, and caused the peas to be strewn.

There was, however, a servant of the king's who favoured the huntsmen, and when he heard that they were going to be put to this test he went to them and repeated everything, and said: 'The lion wants to make the king believe that you are girls.' Then the king's daughter thanked him, and said to her maidens: 'Show some strength, and step firmly on the peas.' So next morning when the king had the twelve huntsmen called before him, and they came into the ante-chamber where the peas were lying, they stepped so firmly on them, and had such a strong, sure walk, that not one of the peas either rolled or stirred. Then they went away again, and the king said to the lion: 'You have lied to me, they walk just like men.' The lion said: 'They have been informed that they were going to be put to the test, and have assumed some strength. Just let twelve spinning-wheels be brought into the ante- chamber, and they will go to them and be pleased with them, and that is what no man would do.' The king liked the advice, and had the spinning-wheels placed in the ante-chamber.

But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen, went to them, and disclosed the project. So when they were alone the king's daughter said to her eleven girls: 'Show some constraint, and do not look round at the spinning-wheels.' And next morning when the king had his twelve huntsmen summoned, they went through the ante-chamber, and never once looked at the spinning-wheels. Then the king again said to the lion: 'You have deceived me, they are men, for they have not looked at the spinning-wheels.' The lion replied: 'They have restrained themselves.' The king, however, would no longer believe the lion.

The twelve huntsmen always followed the king to the chase, and his liking for them continually increased. Now it came to pass that once when they were out hunting, news came that the king's bride was approaching. When the true bride heard that, it hurt her so much that her heart was almost broken, and she fell fainting to the ground. The king thought something had happened to his dear huntsman, ran up to him, wanted to help him, and drew his glove off. Then he saw the ring which he had given to his first bride, and when he looked in her face he recognized her. Then his heart was so touched that he kissed her, and when she opened her eyes he said: 'You are mine, and I am yours, and no one in the world can alter that.' He sent a messenger to the other bride, and entreated her to return to her own kingdom, for he had a wife already, and someone who had just found an old key did not require a new one. Thereupon the wedding was celebrated, and the lion was again taken into favour, because, after all, he had told the truth.

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The embedded audio player requires a modern internet browser. You should visit Browse Happy and update your internet browser today! There was once a king's son who had a bride whom he loved very much. And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came that his father lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again before his end.

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i feel like xiusoo could fit either role. if i'm forced to choose then kyungsoo goes off to fight and minseok stays and waits. ok but i'm so bereft at one of them dying at the end dksjfajfksd 😭

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i feel like xiusoo could fit either role. if i'm forced to choose then kyungsoo goes off to fight and minseok stays and waits. ok but i'm so bereft at one of them dying at the end dksjfajfksd 😭

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An old man rescues a bird. It leads him to a fountain in the woods whose water turns him young again. He rushes home to tell his wife and bring her, too. When their neighbours hear about it, they won't stop bothering the couple until the secret is out—but they're greedy, and drink too much of the water...

Who in xiusoo is the husband, and who is the wife?

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A long time ago, there lived an old couple in a mountain village. The husband and wife were poor but they worked hard and lived a happy life. Unfortunately, they had no children. They felt lonely from time to time but it wasn't a big problem since they loved each other deeply.

One day, the wife was waiting for her husband who had left the house early in the morning to cut firewood in the mountains. It was getting dark but the old man still hadn't returned. She began to worry about her husband when a young man suddenly entered her house. Strangely enough, he put down the A-frame carrier that her husband had carried on his back. Overcome by an ominous feeling, the wife asked the young man if he knew anything about the owner of the carrier. The young man said, smiling, "Honey, it's me. You don't recognize me, do you?" The wife stared at the young man for a minute in wide-eyed amazement. Much to her surprise, the man was unquestionably her husband. The only difference was that he looked a lot younger.

The husband began to explain what had happened. When he went to the mountains to collect firewood, he found a blue bird caught in the net. The poor bird was beating its wings frantically, only to trap itself tighter. Feeling sorry for the creature, the old man cut the net and freed it. The bird then soared high into the air and flew away. After a moment, the blue bird came back and began to circle over his head, as if telling him to follow. So the old man followed the bird, which led him to a small fountain. He was thirsty just at the moment, and he took a drink of water from the fountain. Upon drinking the water, he quenched his thirst and felt strong as well. He happened to look down at the water. To his amazement, he saw a reflection of a young, healthy-looking man. He couldn't believe his eyes but there was no doubt that he turned into a young man. Suddenly, he thought of the blue bird. He was looking for the bird, but it had already disappeared.

After telling the whole story, the husband suggested to his wife that they go to the fountain together. The wife had no reason to refuse, so she went to the "fountain of youth" with her husband and took a sip of water from it. Miraculously, her gray hair turned black and the wrinkles that lined her face were flattened. In a moment, the old woman became a young, beautiful lady. Now, the life of the young couple was even happier.

Now, there lived another old couple in the neighborhood. Unlike the first couple, this man and his wife were greedy and selfish. When they noticed the young couple, the avaricious couple nagged their neighbors to tell them what had happened. Upon hearing the incredible story, they rushed to the fountain and began to drink water there. The greedy folks gulped down the water until they felt bloated.

Meanwhile, the first couple who became young waited for their old neighbors to return, hoping to see the dramatic change again. But even late into the night, the old couple did not come back. The next morning, the young couple went to the fountain. But they didn't find the old couple. Instead, two new-born babies were crying along the fountain. Alas, the old couple drank so much water from the fountain of youth that they became infants. The young couple was stunned to see the babies, but the tender-hearted people believed that the children were a gift from heaven. So, they brought the babies home and raised them as their own children. Therefore, the once old, childless couple became young parents with two kids, creating a happy family.

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A long time ago, there lived an old couple in a mountain village. The husband and wife were poor but they worked hard and lived a happy life. Unfortunately, they had no children. They felt lonely from time to time but it wasn't a big problem since they loved each other deeply.

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ksoo is the husband just bcs he seems more likely to have misadventures relating to animals, and minseok is the wife bcs he seems more likely to not be antagonistic towards a possible stranger in the house (plus: bh and cy as the greedy couple but instead of greedy they just have no sense of self-preservation)

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England. 3.5k, link to audio version below!

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[audio]

In search for shelter from the rain, a swallow meets the statue of a prince. The prince asks the swallow to remove his jewels and gold to help the poor. At first reluctantly, and later on most willingly, despite the approaching winter, the swallow agrees...

Who in xiusoo is the swallow, and who is the prince?

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Note: Oscar Wilde intended this story to be read to children

High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.

He was very much admired indeed.'He is as beautiful as a weathercock,' remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic taste; 'only not quite so useful,' he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.

'Why can't you be like the Happy Prince?' asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon. 'The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything.'

'I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy', muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.

'He looks just like an angel,' said the Charity Children as they came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks, and their clean white pinafores.

'How do you know?' said the Mathematical Master, 'you have never seen one.'

'Ah! but we have, in our dreams,' answered the children; and the Mathematical Master frowned and looked very severe, for he did not approve of children dreaming.

One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind, for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed. He had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.

'Shall I love you said the Swallow', who liked to come to the point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round and round her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver ripples. This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.

'It is a ridiculous attachment,' twittered the other Swallows, 'she has no money, and far too many relations;' and indeed the river was quite full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came, they all flew away.

After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady-love. 'She has no conversation,' he said, 'and I am afraid that she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind.' And certainly, whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the most graceful curtsies. I admit that she is domestic,' he continued, 'but I love travelling, and my wife, consequently, should love travelling also.'

'Will you come away with me?' he said finally to her; but the Reed shook her head, she was so attached to her home.

'You have been trifling with me,' he cried, 'I am off to the Pyramids. Good-bye!' and he flew away.

All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city. 'Where shall I put up?' he said 'I hope the town has made preparations.'

Then he saw the statue on the tall column. 'I will put up there,' he cried; 'it is a fine position with plenty of fresh air.' So he alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.

'I have a golden bedroom,' he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wing, a large drop of water fell on him.'What a curious thing!' he cried, 'there is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining. The climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful. The Reed used to like the rain, but that was merely her selfishness.'

Then another drop fell.

'What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?' he said; 'I must look for a good chimney-pot,' and he determined to fly away.

Then the Swallow flew back to the Happy Prince, and told him what he had done. 'It is curious,' he remarked, 'but I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold.'

'That is because you have done a good action,' said the Prince. And the little Swallow began to think, and then he fell asleep. Thinking always made him sleepy.

When day broke he flew down to the river and had a bath.

'What a remarkable phenomenon,' said the Professor of Omithology as he was passing over the bridge. 'A swallow in winter!' And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. Every one quoted it, it was full of so many words that they could not understand.

'To-night I go to Egypt,' said the Swallow, and he was in high spirits at the prospect. He visited all the public monuments, and sat a long time on top of the church steeple. Wherever he went the Sparrows chirruped, and said to each other, 'What a distinguished stranger!' so he enjoyed himself very much.

When the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince. 'Have you any commissions for Egypt?' he cried; 'I am just starting.'

'Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,' said the Prince, 'will you not stay with me one night longer?'

'I am waited for in Egypt,' answered the Swallow. To-morrow my friends will fly up to the Second Cataract. The river-horse couches there among the bulrushes, and on a great granite throne sits the God Memnon. All night long he watches the stars, and when the morning star shines he utters one cry of joy, and then he is silent. At noon the yellow lions come down to the water's edge to drink. They have eyes like green beryls, and their roar is louder than the roar of the cataract.'

'Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,' said the Prince,'far away across the city I see a young man in a garret. He is leaning over a desk covered with papers, and in a tumbler by his side there is a bunch of withered violets. His hair is brown and crisp, and his lips are red as a pomegranate, and he has large and dreamy eyes. He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but he is too cold to write any more. There is no fire in the grate, and hunger has made him faint.'

'I will wait with you one night longer,' said the Swallow, who really had a good heart. 'Shall I take him another ruby?'

'Alas! I have no ruby now,' said the Prince; 'my eyes are all that I have left. They are made of rare sapphires, which were brought out of India a thousand years ago. Pluck out one of them and take it to him. He will sell it to the jeweller, and buy food and firewood, and finish his play.'

'Dear Prince,' said the Swallow,'I cannot do that;' and he began to weep.

'Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,' said the Prince, 'do as I command you.'

So the Swallow plucked out the Prince's eye, and flew away to the student's garret. It was easy enough to get in, as there was a hole in the roof. Through this he darted, and came into the room. The young man had his head buried in his hands, so he did not hear the flutter of the bird's wings, and when he looked up he found the beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.

'I am beginning to be appreciated,' he cried; 'this is from some great admirer. Now I can finish my play,' and he looked quite happy.

The next day the Swallow flew down to the harbour. He sat on the mast of a large vessel and watched the sailors hauling big chests out of the hold with ropes. 'Heave a-hoy!' they shouted as each chest came up. 'I am going to Egypt!' cried the Swallow, but nobody minded, and when the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince.

'I am come to bid you good-bye,' he cried.

'Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,' said the Prince,'will you not stay with me one night longer?'

'It is winter,' answered the Swallow, and the chill snow will soon be here. In Egypt the sun is warm on the green palm-trees, and the crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily about them. My companions are building a nest in the Temple of Baalbec, and the pink and white doves are watching them, and cooing to each other. Dear Prince, I must leave you, but I will never forget you, and next spring I will bring you back two beautiful jewels in place of those you have given away. The ruby shall be redder than a red rose, and the sapphire shall be as blue as the great sea.

'I am glad that you are going to Egypt at last, little Swallow,' said the Prince, 'you have stayed too long here; but you must kiss me on the lips, for I love you.'

'It is not to Egypt that I am going,' said the Swallow. I am going to the House of Death. Death is the brother of Sleep, is he not?'

And he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell down dead at his feet.

At that moment a curious crack sounded inside the statue, as if something had broken. The fact is that the leaden heart had snapped right in two. It certainly was a dreadfully hard frost.

Early the next morning the Mayor was walking in the square below in company with the Town Councillors. As they passed the column he looked up at the statue: 'Dear me! how shabby the Happy Prince looks!' he said.

'How shabby indeed!' cried the Town Councillors, who always agreed with the Mayor, and they went up to look at it.

'The ruby has fallen out of his sword, his eyes are gone, and he is golden no longer,' said the Mayor; 'in fact, he is little better than a beggar!'

'Little better than a beggar,' said the Town Councillors.

'And there is actually a dead bird at his feet,' continued the Mayor. 'We must really issue a proclamation that birds are not to be allowed to die here.' And the Town Clerk made a note of the suggestion.

So they pulled down the statue of the Happy Prince. 'As he is no longer beautiful he is no longer useful,' said the Art Professor at the University.

Then they melted the statue in a furnace, and the Mayor held a meeting of the Corporation to decide what was to be done with the metal. 'We must have another statue, of course,' he said, 'and it shall be a statue of myself.'

'Of myself,' said each of the Town Councillors, and they quarrelled. When I last heard of them they were quarrelling still.

'What a strange thing!' said the overseer of the workmen at the foundry.'This broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace. We must throw it away.' So they threw it on a dust-heap where the dead Swallow was also lying.

'Bring me the two most precious things in the city,' said God to one of His Angels; and the Angel brought Him the leaden heart and the dead bird.

'You have rightly chosen,' said God,'for in my garden of Paradise this little bird shall sing for evermore, and in my city of gold the Happy Prince shall praise me.'

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Short Stories: The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde

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Note: Oscar Wilde intended this story to be read to children High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.

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I remember reading this as a child, but why is it so sad now

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I remember reading this as a child, but why is it so sad now

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Anyway. Prince Minseok and swallow Kyungsoo

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Korea. 400 words (note: text is abridged), audio available!

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A boy dishes up a bold lie to a tiger so he won't be eaten—and the tiger eats up the lie about them being brothers instead. Unexpectedly, the tiger starts caring for the boy and his mother, and before long, fear blossoms into familial bonds...

Who in xiusoo is the daring boy, and who is the caring tiger?

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Long, long ago, there lived a boy named San in a mountain village.

San's father died even before he was born and his mother was the only family he had. So, he helped her with house chores since he was very little.
"Mother, I'm going out to chop some firewood." "Okay, but don't go too far into the woods. You might run into a tiger."
But San happened to go farther into the mountain and ended up deep in the woods. Just when he was about to return home with firewood, a huge, ferocious tiger appeared right in front of him.

Barely keeping himself from trembling in fear, San started making up a story.
"Oh, big brother. I finally found you. Mother told me all about you. She said that I had a twin brother."
The tiger believed San's story.
"So, that's what happened. I always wondered because I was the only tiger without a mother. I hope she's doing well."
San returned home safely, getting a ride on the tiger's back.

The next morning, San's mother, who went to the kitchen to make breakfast, called San urgently.

Upon closer inspection, San found a large bite mark around the boar's neck.
"I think the tiger believed that we were his family and wanted to do something for us." "Oh, how nice of him."
From then on, the tiger brought animals to San's house every once in a while. Their financial situation improved as they sold the meat and hide of animals that the tiger brought. Even San and his mother came to think of the tiger as their family.

A long time passed and San's mother passed away. But then, San also heard the sound of a tiger wailing in the mountain for several days.
"He must have found out that Mother passed away."
But the tiger didn't show up at the house, not even once, after Mother died.

On the first anniversary of his mother's death, San visited her grave to find three baby tigers, each wearing a white ribbon, crying in front of the grave.
"Father couldn't eat or sleep after Grandmother passed away and eventually fell ill. He died a while ago."
San brought his tiger brother's body from underneath a big boulder and buried it next to his mother's grave. From then on, San took good care of his tiger nephews and they lived happily ever after as a real family.

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Long, long ago, there lived a boy named San in a mountain village. San's father died even before he was born and his mother was the only family he had. So, he helped her with house chores since he was very little. "Mother, I'm going out to chop some firewood."

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That looks like the fairy tale in fruit basket, and it's so sad :(

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That looks like the fairy tale in fruit basket, and it's so sad :(

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Anyway, Minseok is the sparrow because i think kyungsoo is more likely to be "immobilized" while Minseok would fly away. Also Kyungsoo would never even thing "ah, that prince isn't solid gold huh ?" non way XD

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OH this one is so interresting !! I think Minseok can't lie for saving his life, so the young boy should be Kyungsoo. Then Tigerboi Minseok helps him with his life because nobody can bully him uwu

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OH this one is so interresting !! I think Minseok can't lie for saving his life, so the young boy should be Kyungsoo. Then Tigerboi Minseok helps him with his life because nobody can bully him uwu

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This tale is weird because the plot is built up for nothing, like, why 12 lookalike ??? Why camouflage as men? It has big "would you love me even if i was the opposite gender and if 11 others had my face and body ?" but in the end the king only recognize the princess thanks to the ring >:(

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This tale is weird because the plot is built up for nothing, like, why 12 lookalike ??? Why camouflage as men? It has big "would you love me even if i was the opposite gender and if 11 others had my face and body ?" but in the end the king only recognize the princess thanks to the ring >:(

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if i occult the unsatisfying ending and the kings falls for the huntsman, then i think the king would be Kyungsoo because he would definitly fall twice for the same person