The Firebird Story - Shorter version
Once upon a time, in a country called Russia, a Tsar realised that one of his
precious golden apples had been stolen. He told Prince Ivan and Princess
Katooshka to find out who was stealing them and capture the thief. Princess
Katooshka was horrible and lazy so she went to sleep. After a while a beautiful bird
appeared. It was the firebird.
Prince Ivan ran to catch the firebird but only managed to get one of its feathers.
Katooshka pretended that it was all Ivan’s fault that the robber had escaped. The
Tsar told Ivan to go and get the Firebird, and that he should NOT return until he
had it!
Ivan set off to find the Firebird. On his way he met a wolf, the wolf helped Ivan in
many ways. He told Ivan that the Firebird was at the castle of Koschei the
Deathless, who was an evil sorcerer. He also told Ivan that the beautiful Princess
Vasilisa was also held captive there. She was very very pretty but no-one should
ever look at her, because her heart was made of wood and she could never love
anyone back.
Ivan and the wolf came to the castle of Koschei the deathless. Ivan went into the
castle to find the Firebird, but what he found was Vasilisa. He looked at her and
immediately fell madly in love with her. Suddenly Koschei the Deathless appeared.
Koschei told Ivan that the terrible witch called Baba Yaga had the Firebird now.
Koschei let Ivan go so that he could go and get the bird back for him.
So the wolf and Ivan set off for Baba Yaga’s house. The Firebird was tied to Baba
Yaga’s crow, called Vanka. Baba Yaga was asleep. Ivan made too much noise when
he tried to get the Firebird and Baba Yaga woke up. Ivan was captured also. The
wolf ran back to the castle of Koschei the Deathless. Vasilisa agreed to go and help
him. She tricked the terrible witch and they all escaped back to the castle of
Koschei the Deathless.
Koschei was an evil man and he would not let Vasilisa go with the Firebird. Ivan
had to choose between them. He could not go back to his father without the
Firebird, but he was also so much in love with Vasilisa, that he could not leave her
either! Koschei was so evil that he started to turn Ivan’s heart into wood. At this,
Vasilisa started to cry even though her heart was made of wood. Suddenly Koschei
died (The secret to turning her heart back was hidden in her tears!)
Prince Ivan and Vasilisa and the Firebird returned to the Tsar’s castle. Katooshka
was so angry that she poisoned Ivan and Vasilisa. Luckily the Firebird knew where
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the Fountain of life was. He went to fetch some of its magic water and this water
brought them both back to life. The Tsar realised that Katooshka was evil and he
banished her to become a pedlar. He was so happy to have his son back. In the
end they all realised that the life of a pedlar was quite good really so they all
decided to become pedlars!
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