Dear children, you surely remember the prince and his faithful friend the donkey? How much they had to go through, how many princesses they didn't meet before they found Milochka! They would play a wedding and live happily ever after, but… And what's this BUT, we'll find out right now!
Read the full part 1: A Mischievous Tale
Chapter 1. Wedding Preparations, or What Came of It
Our timid prince proposed to Milochka heart and hand. His parents were delighted when he returned home, and with such a charming princess at that! The wedding was to take place in three days, and preparations were already in full swing.
Move it to the left, no, to the right! I'm telling you, to the left! — commanded the donkey.
Donkey, maybe you'll help yourself? You just stand there criticising! — the prince was already losing patience: he was hanging paper lanterns, but his friend simply couldn't decide which way to move them, raise them higher or lower them.
Me? What do you think I'm doing right now? Managing is hard work. You'll understand when you're king! Left, right, my tongue's already tired! And I can't hang them, sorry, hooves get in the way!
The prince didn't have time to answer, when the dragoness Vanessa, Mila's friend, called out to him:
Prince, Milochka is waiting for you in the garden in the gazebo alone, and it's very urgent!
Chapter 2. Pumpkin
Vanessa was so agitated that the prince, forgetting about palace etiquette, ran to the garden like a street boy playing tag. Literally flying into the gazebo, he was surprised to find no princess. Only a small pumpkin lay on the bench.
The prince turned around, about to call for the princess, when suddenly someone called him:
Prince!
Then again:
Prince, wait!
The voice was clearly Mila's, but where was she?
My dear, are you playing hide and seek? Where are you?
I'm not playing hide and seek! I'm a pumpkin!
What? — only now did the prince notice that the pumpkin barely moved when the princess's voice sounded. — But how could this happen?
The witch did her best, she left a note with demands.
The prince saw a scrap of paper in which the witch promised to return Mila's human form only for a dragon stone. And the deadline was three days!
What will happen now? — the princess sobbed. — I can't get married like this!
But, my little pumpkin…
Don't call me that! I don't want my children to tell that their mother was a pumpkin. Although, what children: they'll be pumpkins too! — the princess wept bitterly. — Where can I get this dragon stone now, even Vanessa hasn't heard anything about it, and she's a dragon!
Milochka, we haven't asked the donkey yet, he's read so many books, maybe he can suggest something! — the prince tried to comfort the girl.
Do you really think so? Call him here, I'll tell him everything myself: I don't want the whole kingdom to know that I'm a pumpkin now!
Chapter 3. Where to Look?
The prince found the donkey in the kitchen. Judging by his soiled muzzle, his friend was already sampling the royal dishes.
Donkey, I need you!
I know! Everyone needs me! — the donkey answered proudly.
I'm serious, come on, I need help.
You're always distracting me, and I'm managing the culinary process, I've already tasted three chocolate mousses! — grumbled the donkey on the way. — Where are we going anyway? Where's Mila?
Entering the gazebo, the little donkey immediately noticed the pumpkin:
Are we going to steam the pumpkin? I love pumpkin! Where's Mila?
I'm here, — came a voice from nearby.
Where? — the donkey didn't understand.
I'm here. I'm a pumpkin.
WHAT? WHO? — sometimes the donkey was so slow!
A witch turned Mila into a pumpkin, she left this note with demands, — the prince couldn't stay silent anymore, he was afraid the princess would cry again. — Have you heard anything about a dragon stone?
The donkey read the note carefully:
I've heard of it, it has the shape of a small dragon, the size of an adult's palm, half red, half green…
Donkey, enough description, where can we get it?
From the sorcerer Quing, of course! And he's so evil!
Do you know the way?
No, of course not, he's not my friend to visit, — the donkey noted with offence.
The princess began to sob:
It's all for nothing! No one knows how to find this stone! I'll be a pumpkin forever!
The wolf might know the way, — the donkey suddenly said.
Donkey, — the prince remarked reproachfully, — couldn't you have said so right away? Milochka IS UPSET!
Sorry, Mila, it's just that I'm terrified of wolves. I thought maybe there was another option.
There's no other option! — the prince said sternly. — Let's go to the forest, to visit the wolf!
Well, then off we go again!
Chapter 4. That Very Wolf!
Our heroes set off again. Milochka didn't want the whole kingdom to know what had happened to her. So everyone was told that the princess had fallen ill and would be in her room for now. And when the king and queen offered to call a doctor, the prince said that her friend Vanessa was a wonderful doctor and would take care of everything. So there were no more questions. As for the journey, the prince said he was going to get an unusual gift for Milochka. So the secret remained a secret.
Finding themselves in the forest, the prince was confused:
Donkey, where are we supposed to look for the wolf?
Mother Moon, lunch has come to me and is even looking for me! — suddenly came a voice from nearby.
M-m-m, — poor little donkey's teeth chattered with fear when he saw a huge grey wolf heading straight towards them.
Good day! — the prince greeted the wolf without fear, — We really need your help!
Well, that's interesting, and since when does food come asking for help? Although, why not: I don't eat people after one incident, but a donkey as a thank you and as lunch would suit me just fine!
Oh, it's a shame I don't know where my friend the wolf is, the one who suffered from a thorn, — the prince said, either aloud or to himself.
But the wolf, hearing these words, transformed: his fur no longer bristled, he even wagged his tail, just like a pet dog!
So I'm that very wolf! — he said joyfully. — Didn't recognise me, friend, sorry!
So you'll help us?
Of course, what are you talking about! But maybe you'll leave the donkey after all? He looks so appetising…
I'm not appetising, I'm scrawny, — the donkey objected.
You're just underestimating yourself! Look how plump you are! — the wolf said, swallowing saliva.
I'm plump? — the donkey was indignant. — I just have a wide frame! Yes, I, yes I…
Well, that's enough, — the prince interrupted, — we have absolutely no time for your culinary conversation!
Culinary conversation!? A conversation about me! — the donkey was indignant. — Am I FOOD TO YOU?
Donkey, come on, no one's going to eat you!
Not at all? — the wolf was sad. — Because I'm so hungry.
You don't eat friends! — the prince said sternly. — Here, have some sandwiches with sausage.
Thank you, friend, thank you!
Chapter 5. The Ravine of Fears
The wolf volunteered to guide them, and the friends continued their journey all together. They had to pass through the Ravine of Fears. The wolf warned that the main thing was not to be afraid, because the ghosts living there take on the form of your fear. But in essence they are not so scary and dangerous.
The main thing is to remember that it's all an illusion, — the wolf reminded them as they entered the ravine.
Literally a couple of minutes later, a huge mutant pumpkin appeared before them!
Prince, — the wolf noted, — I understand you're upset, but…
No, it's not me at all! Donkey, are you afraid of pumpkins?
Not regular ones, only mutant pumpkins! — the donkey said, his teeth chattering with fear.
And instead of one pumpkin, there were several huge pumpkins!
Donkey, stop! You're making the situation worse, — the prince noted.
I didn't mean to, honestly. What do we do now?
Run! — the wolf roared. — Run before we get crushed! Ugh, I shouldn't have listened to you, prince: «Don't eat friends, don't eat friends». I would've eaten this donkey and had no problems!
Well, I didn't mean to, — the donkey sighed nearby.
The friends barely managed to fly out of the cave when a huge pumpkin blocked the passage.
Well, now it'll only disappear in a couple of days, — the wolf noted.
A couple of days? — the prince asked in horror. — You said it was an illusion, not dangerous. And they only disappear in a couple of days?
Well yes, didn't I say that? Oh, I probably forgot.
Chapter 6. In the Sorcerer's Cave
Well, we're almost there, — the wolf said, stopping near the cave. — From here you go on yourselves, I don't really want to visit sorcerers.
Goodbye, wolf!
Goodbye, friends!
The prince turned to the donkey:
Well, friend, are you ready? Our adventure is coming to an end, it could be dangerous. Do you want to wait here?
Don't even think about it, after mutant pumpkins nothing scares me anymore!
The friends carefully entered the cave. Walking down a long corridor, they came into a room lit by torches. In the centre stood a table, and on it lay a stone.
That's the dragon stone, look, donkey! — the prince exclaimed joyfully and, forgetting all caution, hurried to take it in his hands.
Prince, be careful… — the donkey tried to warn about traps, but it was too late. They were both already dangling on ropes from the ceiling: one of the cunning traps had sprung.
So-so, who's here? Thieves and robbers, aren't you? — came a grumpy voice.
Its owner was, of course, the sorcerer Quing.
We're not thieves or robbers, it's just that, you see… — the prince began to explain.
The sorcerer was looking at something in a book, showing by his whole demeanour that he was completely uninterested in what had happened to the princess. However, when the witch who dreamed of his dragon stone was mentioned, he flinched.
Maissy?
Who? — the prince asked, confused.
Is the witch's name Maissy?
I don't know, is that really important? — the prince was surprised. But the donkey interrupted him:
Maissy, I saw her photo in a book about witches, she's quite pretty with a wart on her nose.
Yes, that's her, — the sorcerer said dreamily.
The prince looked from the sorcerer to the donkey and didn't understand what was happening.
And the donkey continued:
Only a hundred years old, still very young!
Yes, just a girl!
You really must meet her, — the donkey suddenly blurted out.
The prince was so shocked that he simply lost the ability to speak.
It's awkward somehow, — the sorcerer stammered embarrassedly. — How do I invite her on a date, and what if she doesn't come? I'll burn your kingdom out of hurt!
No need to burn anything, I have a plan, — the donkey said firmly. — Here's the plan: we arrange a meeting with the witch, supposedly to hand over the stone. But actually, you, honourable sorcerer, will be waiting for her in that place. With flowers.
Better with fly agarics — they're prettier!
Alright, with fly agarics. But how do we send her a message?
Simple as that, — the sorcerer noted, — my raven will deliver the note.
The prince quickly wrote a note about a meeting under a big tree, and the raven-postman flew off to carry out his master's orders.
Chapter 7. Happy Ending
The sorcerer stood by a big tree with a bouquet of fly agarics.
It was clear that he was nervous, and how nervous was poor the prince, who hid with the donkey behind a neighbouring tree! He was watching what was happening, and it was already starting to seem to him that the donkey had started all this in vain. What if the witch got angry when she found out they'd deceived her? What would happen to Milochka?
But then there was a noise from above, the witch flew down. Seeing the sorcerer, she made a displeased face, but when she noticed the fly agarics, she unexpectedly giggled stupidly. The friends couldn't hear what they were talking about, and our heroes were tormented by uncertainty: what next?
Darling, they'll make wonderful stuffed animals, won't they? — Maissy was already standing next to the prince and looking menacingly at him and the donkey.
As you say, my little bat!
Our heroes froze with fear, unable to utter a word, and the sorcerers suddenly laughed merrily:
Ha-ha-ha, we were just joking, come to our wedding!
It turned out that the witch had arranged everything on purpose, and the dragon stone meant nothing to her. But she had to meet its owner somehow! They'd known each other for a long time, but the sorcerer just couldn't bring himself to ask her on a date — he was very shy and timid. It's not like burning down a kingdom!
A couple of hours later the prince and donkey were already home: the sorcerers had sent them back with their magic. They were met by the disenchanted Mila, and the next day the lovers got married! The prince and princess were happy, but they decided not to go to the sorcerers' wedding after all, and sent them wedding gifts by post instead. And they weren't too upset, because not everyone likes a wedding cake made of snails anyway…
