Once upon a time, there lived a king who had three sons and a golden apple tree outside the castle. Every night, the apples would blossom, ripen and disappear and no one knew who took them.

King's sons decided to stay up all night and look after the apples. They put a bed under the tree. The oldest son was first, but he fell asleep and in the morning the apples were gone again. The same happened to the middle son on the second night.

On the third night, the youngest prince stayed awake. Suddenly, nine peahens flew on the apple tree, eight fell on the tree and the ninth on his bed and then she turned into the most beautiful girl. They fell in love at first sight. In the morning, she left him with two apples, one for him and one for the king. They met every night until his brothers grew too jealous.

They went to an old woman who promised to find out was going on.

She hid under the bed and when she saw them she cut the girl's long hair and the girl immediately turned back into a peahen and flew away never to return.

Awake my darling!

Awake my heart!

Awake my soul!

The prince went into the world to look for her, taking just one servant with him. But the servant was a bad man. Some old woman, who had a daughter and wanted prince to marry her, bribed the servant to use the magic bellows and put the prince to sleep before he sees the peahens bathing at the nearby lake.

So, the peahens came for three middays in a row, and the prince fell asleep each day. The peahen tried to wake him up but it was impossible. After the third night they flew away for ever.

He finally  realized what the servant was doing so he killed him and continued his search for the peahens.

You may go to all the cellars but if you love me and your life you won't go to the twelfth cellar.

After long, long time, he finally found her castle where she was the queen.

They were so happy to see each other.

Soon, they got married and decided to stay and live in her castle.

One day, the queen went for a walk with her peahens and gave the prince twelve keys to the twelve cellars in her castle.

He looked around all the cellars and decided to take a peek at the twelfth as well. He was too curious not to open it.

...said a voice in a barrel. And each time the prince poured a cup of water one hoop burst. 

For God's sake, my brother, I'm dying of thirst, give me a cup 

of water! 

 The prince was devastated and angry and once again he set off to find and save his wife.

When the third hoop burst, 

a huge dragon flew out of the barrel. 

He grabbed the queen and took her away with him.

For God's sake, my brother, I can't breathe! Help me and throw me into the water! 

Take one scale from me and just rub it gently when you need me. I will be there!

One day, he ran into a little fish, who was

 far from the lake and couldn't jump

 into the water.

Then, he came upon a fox  caught in an iron trap.

For God's sake, 

my brother,

 help me!

When you need me, just rub this hair gently and I will be                   there for you.

Then, he ran into a wolf                         caught in a                                    trap.

For God's sake, my 

   brother, help me! 

      Set me free!

Take this hair with you. When you need me, just rub it gently and I will be there                    for you!

After a long time, he found the dragon's castle and his wife was in it. She was so happy to see him. They jumped on a horse and tried to run away before the dragon  returned home.

When the dragon returned and saw that the queen was gone, he said to his horse:

What shall we do now?

Shall we eat and drink or go after them at once?

Let us eat and drink first!

         We will catch them

                  in no time!

After they ate, indeed they caught them. The dragon grabbed the queen back and forgave the prince once because he gave him water in the cellar. But he ordered                      the prince not to return

                              ever again!

On the second day, the prince  told his wife to ask the dragon where he got his  incredible horse. 

So, she did. She tricked the dragon into telling her the story about his horse...

 ...There is an old woman who has a mare and a cub. Whoever keeps them safe for three nights, gets a horse as a reward. There are the finest horses there. But there is one particular shabby, ugly-looking horse and this horse is the brother of the dragon's horse and he is the fastest and the best horse in the whole world...

So, the prince decided to get this horse, found the old woman and they made the deal: 

If he keeps the mare and the cub safe, he will get the 

horse he chooses. If not, she will kill him.

On the first night, the prince fell asleep and when he woke up, the mare and the cub                             weren't there. He remembered the fish and rubbed the scale. 

                                             The fish appeared in the lake and said:            

Here is the mare with us. She has

 turned into a fish. But strike upon the water with your bridle and say:

Hay, the old woman's mare!

So he did, and the mare and the foul appeared.

The same happened on the second day. So, he remembered the fox and rubbed the hair gently. The fox appeared and said:

Here is the mare with us. She has

 turned into a fox. But strike upon the ground with your bridle and say:

Hay, the old woman's mare!

So he did, and the mare 

and the foul appeared.

    And the same happened on the third day. He fell asleep and lost them. 

           But then he remembered the wolf, so he rubbed the hair gently

             when the wolf appeared and said:

      Here is the mare with us. She has

 turned into a wolf. But strike upon the 

       ground with your bridle and say:

          Hay, the old woman's mare!

        So he did, and the mare and the foul appeared.

After he kept the mare and the foul safe for three nights, the old woman gave him the horse he wanted. He then bathed and brushed the horse and went to the dragon's castle again to save his wife.

This time, the dragon asked his horse the same question:

Shall we eat and drink or go after them at once?

Eat or don't eat, drink or

 don't drink, it's the same.

We can't get them.

The dragon grew furious and jumped on his horse at once.

When they got close enough, the dragon's horse told his brother:

For God's sake, my brother, slow down, I'm dying here!

Why are you so stupid to carry that 

monster around? Throw him off 

        and come with us in peace.

So, he did. He flung his feet up, the dragon fell off the horse on                             the ground and died.

The queen jumped on the dragon's horse and the four of them returned to her castle.

And they lived happily ever after...

Greetings from Serbia!