In ancient China, the Emperor learned of a nightingale in his empire whose song was considered the most beautiful sound in the world. However, he had never heard it. So, he ordered his courtiers to bring the nightingale to him.
Once upon a time, there was a king who had eleven sons and one daughter named Elisa. After the queen’s death, the king remarried a wicked queen who was a witch. She turned Elisa into a ragged girl and the eleven princes into wild swans.
Once upon a time, in the heart of France, lived a man named Bluebeard, so named for his striking blue beard. He was wealthy but frighteningly ugly and had been married several times, but no one knew what had become of his previous wives.
Once upon a time, there was a wicked hobgoblin who made a mirror that reflected only the bad and ugly aspects of people and things. While carrying it up to heaven to mock the angels, the hobgoblin dropped the mirror, and it shattered into billions of pieces that fell down to earth. Some shards got into people’s eyes, making them see the world as ugly and bad, and some got into their hearts, turning them into ice.
Once upon a time, there lived a poor shoemaker and his wife. Due to a lack of business, they had just enough leather to make one pair of shoes.
Once upon a time, there lived a lonely old woman who longed for a child. One day, a friendly witch provided her with a magic grain. She planted it, and a tulip sprouted, unfolding to reveal a thumb-sized little girl. The old woman was delighted and named the little girl Thumbelina.
Once upon a time, a beautiful and kind queen had only one daughter, who was as lovely as the day. As the princess was to be married off to a prince in a distant kingdom, the queen equipped her with a loyal maid, a beautiful horse named Falada that could speak, and a handkerchief stained with three drops of blood.
Once upon a time, there was a town called Hamelin, which was overrun by rats. The townsfolk were desperate and didn’t know how to get rid of them.
Once upon a time, there was a little tailor who was smart and full of energy. One day, after successfully swatting and killing seven flies in one swoop that had been disturbing him, he was so impressed with his own bravery that he made a belt inscribed with the words “Seven at One Blow”. He decided to set off into the world to seek his fortune.
Once upon a time, there was a vain Emperor who loved wearing fine clothes and showing them off to his people.
