S2 E13 - Ash and the Seven Horses
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Once there was a poor couple who lived in the forest. The couple had three sons. The name of the youngest brother was Ash. He always liked to play with the ashes in the fireplace. One day, the oldest brother went to the King's castle. He asked the King for work to do. The King said, "Can you watch my horses? I have seven horses. Watch my horses for one day. If you can do this, then you have a chance to marry my daughter. The oldest brother said, "Yes, of course! I can do that."
The next morning, the gate opened. All of the seven horses ran out of the gate. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven horses. Then the oldest brother ran after the horses. He chased the horses all over the countryside. So he was very tired. He stopped to rest at a woman's small house. She gave him something to drink, and he fell asleep. Then he woke up. He said, "Oh, I need to watch the horses!" But he couldn't find them. So he ran back to the castle. The King said, "Did you watch my horses today?" The oldest brother replied, "Sorry, I fell asleep!"
The oldest brother went back home to the forest. He told his family what happened. The middle brother said, "I know I can watch the horses better than you!" So the middle brother went to the castle. The King asked him, "Can you watch my horses?" The middle brother said, "Of course I can!" Then the gate opened. All of the seven horses ran out of the gate. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven horses. The middle brother chased the horses. But the horses ran too fast. The middle brother soon became tired. He stopped to rest. He fell asleep. When he woke up, he was so surprised. He said, "It's already nighttime!" So the middle brother failed too.
The middle brother went home to his family. He said, "The horses ran too fast. I was too tired." Then Ash said, "Well, I can run faster than you. Maybe I should try." So Ash went to the castle. He asked the King, "Do you need someone to watch your horses?" The King said, "Well, your two brothers already tried. They couldn't do it. Can you?" Ash said, "Yes, I can!" The next morning, the gate opened. All of the horses ran out of the gate. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven horses. Ash ran after the horses. The horses ran so fast. But Ash grabbed the tail of one of the horses. The horse slowed down. And the horse spoke to Ash! The horse said, "Jump on my back. We have a long way to go today." Ash was really tired already. So he jumped on the horse's back.
hor
Ash rode the horse all day. The horses ran all over the countryside. They ran to the river, and they ran to the town, and they ran to the forest. Finally, the horses ran back to the castle. Ash went inside the gate with the horses. Ash's horse said, "Thanks for joining us today!" Then something amazing happened. All of the horses turned into princes. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven princes. Ash was amazed. He said, "Wow! You are princes!" One of the princes said, "Yes, we are. But during the day, we turn into horses so we can see what's happening in the kingdom." Then Ash saw the King. The King said, "Well done. You watched my horses all day. Now you have a chance to marry my daughter. And you will become a prince too." The end.