"Far beyond the seas and vales, beneath the great blue skies, in a humble spot of earth, lived a peasant from his birth." He had three sons. The first was clever, the second was so-so, and the third was considered a fool. The brothers grew wheat and sold it in the nearest town. Once they noticed that someone had tramped across their field and decided to see what happened during the night. The first to keep watch was the eldest. The dark and stormy night frightened him so much that he spent the whole time in a hayloft. Upon his return home he said that he had walked the whole night through but seen nothing strange or new. The middle brother was also afraid to go to the field and "spent his time on guard pacing up and down the neighbour's yard. In the morning he reported the same results as his brother. The third night it was the youngest's turn to stand guard. Reluctantly, he went to the field, only after his father had promised to buy him new trousers and other gifts. He wasn't smart enough to dodge his duty and, therefore, sat down behind a bush and idly counted stars in the sky as he waited for the dawn to come. A horse's neigh brought him to his feet; before him stood a snow-white mare with a mane in ringlets that hung down to the ground.
Ivan - that was the youngest son's name - grabbed her by the tail and managed quickly to mount her, only back-to-front. She galloped over the fields, but the rider sat firm, holding on tight to her tail. Finally she gave in and promised Ivan that if he let her free she would bear him in three day's time two steeds of a beauty that had never been dreamed, heard or spoken of and a pony with two little humps on his back and yard-long ears. She added that he could sell the steeds but should never trade the little horse, who would be his most loyal friend.
Ivan put the mare in an old shed, then went home and knocked on the door, loud enough to wake the dead. The brothers woke in fright and quickly let him in. Ivan told them that he had caught the devil who had been trampling down their wheat and let in free in exchange for the trespasser's promise not to disturb them any more. The brothers laughed at the fool's story and immediately forgot it.
Some time had passed when the eldest brother came across the shed where he found the two golden-maned steeds and the little horse with two humps and long ears. He understood to whom the horses belonged as he had heard that "as a rule fortune smiles upon a fool."
The elder brother decided that the steeds were fit only for nobles or even only the Tsar to ride and took them off to the fair to sell them there.
The Humpbacked Pony told Ivan about the theft and they hurried in pursuit of the brothers and the stolen steeds. While the brothers drove along the road, Ivan flew through the air between the earth and sky and soon caught up with them. Both of the thieving brothers shook from fright and then explained to Ivan that they all needed money to make life easier for the whole family and that they were going to buy some presents for him. Ivan believed them and went with them to the town.
It was getting dark, so they stopped for a night's rest. A light appeared in the distance. The elder brother glanced at the middle one, winked with his left eye and said that they had neither matches nor flint to make fire and asked Ivan to fetch a torch in the hope that on the way he would meet with robbers who would do away with him.
Ivan mounted his pony and as soon at a field lit as bright as day light. The little horse explained to him that a feather from a firebird was the source of the light and advised him not to touch it as it might bring him many troubles. But like many fools Ivan was delighted to act in his own way. He wrapped the feather in a cloth and hid it in his hat. He told his brothers that it had been a smouldering stump but the fire had gone out before he reached it.
The next day they arrived at the fair. It was customary for nothing to be sold there without the Mayor's approval. When he saw the wondrous steeds he hurried to report them to the Tsar. The latter arrived in person, was charmed by the pair of horses and asked who the owner was. Ivan advanced from behind his brothers, claimed the steeds as his own and announced how much he would sell them for. Ten grooms led the steeds to the Tsar's stables but the horses tore out of their harnesses and ran to their master. Therefore, the Tsar was completed to ask Ivan to work in the palace stables. Ivan agreed on the condition that he would not be beaten and allowed to sleep as much as he wanted, "Otherwise I'll up and leave the place." He gave all the money to the brothers and went to the stables with the horses trotting beside him.
Ivan ate his fill and slept to his heart's content, and desired nothing more. The former head stableman was very jealous and did his best to try and find fault with Ivan. However, the horses were well-groomed and well-fed. One day, though, he caught sight of the firebird's feather, and in his report to the Tsar he told him how Ivan had not only hidden the feather from the Tsar's eyes but bragged that he could catch the firebird itself if he wished.
"I said nothing of the kind," Ivan tried to defend himself. Unfortunately, to no avail; the angry Tsar commanded him to fetch the firebird under threat of death.
"Why are you so sad? Why is your head hanging so low?" the Humpbacked Pony asked his master. The boy threw himself round the pony's neck, kissed him. Hugged him and poured all his troubles into the horse's ear.
"Though your misfortune is great, I'll find a way to help you," the pony comforted him. "Ask the Tsar for some of his best grain and wine, two troughs and be ready to set off at dawn."
They rode for a week and on the eighth day arrived at a hill where the firebirds flicked at day-break to drink water from a brook. Ivan mixed the grain and wine in one trough and hid himself beneath the other.
The birds ate the grain and became drunk, at which point Ivan jumped up and grabbed one of them.
The Tsar was so delighted to receive such a rare gift that he made Ivan his own valet. The jealous stableman became more determined to get rid of his rival. He heard the servants in the kitchen reading a fairy tale about a maiden, the Moon's own daughter and the Sun's sister. He retold the Tsar the tale adding that Ivan had boasted that he knew the maiden and could bring her to the court. The Tsar summoned the poor boy and ordered him to do what he had boasted or "off with your head".
"Woe is me, my little horse!" said Ivan mournfully.
"All the troubles comes, you see, from not listening to me," sighed Humpback, "but in friendship, let me state, this favour's small, not great; the real service lies ahead." To fulfil the task of acquiring the maiden he requested two pieces of fine cloth, a gold-embroidered tent, a dinner service and all kinds of sweets.
The two friends set off with all their provisions in search of the maiden from the fairy tale desired by the Tsar. They galloped along the ocean shore where "that maid used to appear twice a year." Ivan pitched the tent, laid the cloth with all the delicacies they had brought and hid behind the tent.
At midday the maid sailed up in a boat, came ashore with her gusli (psaltery) over her shoulder and entered the tent. Ivan made a peep-hole in the tent. Her face seemed too pale and her waist too thin to him. In short, he saw no beauty on her. When she had eaten her fill she started to play the gusli and sing. Her voice was so tender and her music so sweet that the lad could not stop listening; instead of capturing her, he fell asleep.
The little horse woke Ivan and reminded him that if he lost the second chance nothing would save him.
Ivan placed sharp stones beneath himself to keep himself awake while he lay behind the tent. The next day when the maid had moored her boat and entered the tent Ivan let her finish her meal, then as soon as she started to play rushed into the tent and seized her.
The Tsar was overwhelmed by the girl's beauty. He knelt her and begged her to marry him. Her refusal only strengthened his desire. To free herself of the tediously imploring Tsar she promised to marry him if he fetched her ring from the bottom of the ocean.
"Within three days this task should be done," was the Tsar's command to Ivan. Swift as the wind flew the little pony with his friend on his back. The maiden asked the young man to call on her mother and brother, to convey to them her greetings and inquire why they had hidden themselves behind clouds and were not sending their bright rays to her. Flying over the ocean they saw:

"…Upon the beach impaled
The Wonder-Monster Whale,
Ten long years in grief in vain…
On his tail a woodland's grown,
On his back there stands a town,
On his lip a peasant ploughs,
Striplings dance upon his brow."

The whale begged Ivan to ask the Sun what his guilt was and how long yet he would be tormented by its rays and promised to repay Ivan's kindness some day.
High above the earth the travellers found the Moon's crystal palace richly decorated with stars. The Moon was pleased to know that her daughter was alive and explained that thinking her lost forever she and the Sun draped themselves in mourning clouds. She asked Ivan to comfort her and tell her that a handsome young man would marry her rather than the toothless old Tsar. As for the Wonder-Monster Whale, he was guilty of having swallowed thirty ships that had been sailing on the ocean, and "if he releases them, he will win Heaven's pardon for his sin."
No sooner had Ivan informed the whale about his chances of salvation than the Humpbacked Pony made all those living on top of the whale together with all their goods and chattels leave the great sea animal. Thirty ships were cast out from the whale's jaws and sailed on with fanfares under multicoloured flags. The Wonder-Monster thrashed the water with his tail and asked Ivan what service he could do him, whether he wanted colourful shells or golden fish or large pearls. Ivan requested that the maiden's ring be found. The whale put sturgeon in charge of this mission. They sent all the other fish on the search, but not one of them could find the ring. Rumour had it that only the ruff kneew where the ring was, but the ruff was nowhere to be found himself. At last he was discovered in a casket lying at the bottom of the ocean. It was brought to the whale, who gave it to Ivan.
The Tsar ran out to met valet and then straight to the maiden to hand over the ring. She took it calmly, as she did not share the Tsar's joy and would not give her consent to the wedding. "Why not, my little dove, for my heart is filled with love?" To this she answered: "Flowers never in the winter grew! I am beautiful. But you?"
"I am old yet brave," was the Tsar's answer, but it failed to win the maiden over. "What can I do? My deepest desire is to marry you," said the Tsar. At this the maiden advised him how to recapture his lost youth: first he was to bathe in the hot milk, then in boiling water and at last in chilled water. He agreed to go through these ordeals in despair. Three cauldrons were placed in the courtyard. Under two of them fires were lit. As the Tsar had grown accustomed to relying on Ivan's aid he summoned him once again and commanded him to test the baths first. Ivan said that. Of cause, he could bathe in the cold water. As for the others tubs, he did not consider himself to be a pig, a turkey or a chicken. The ruler threatened his faithful valet with execution. Again the Humpbacked Pony came to the young fellow's aid: "I myself would rather perish than desert you, whom I cherish!"
Many people had gathered in the courtyard. Servants were laughing at Ivan and throwing firewood under the cauldrons. Ivan undressed, the little horse gave a switch of his tale, dipped his muzzle in each cauldron, sprayed his friend twice with a shake of his head, whistled thrice and gave him the sign to dive into the milk. So Ivan dived into three cauldrons in turn and came out the handsomest of men, beyond the powers of description of any pen. And the Tsar, encouraged by his valet's example, leaped into the hot milk and boiled to death.
At the sight of the miraculous transformation of Ivan the people forgot the old Tsar, cheered the young couple and accepted them as their rulers. Soon the wedding feast began.

"All the cellars were open wide,
Liquor kegs were rolled outside.
…The wine in rivers flowed. Indeed
…I was there. Drank beer, wine, mead,
Most of which, though sad to note,
Trickled down my beard, not throat."

(Based on Ershov's tale "Konyok-Gorbunok". English language retelling was done by Vadim Shchanitsyn)