In a certain land there lived a tsar. He had three sons. The youngest was Ivan. Around the tsar's palace there was a beautiful garden with all kinds of flowers and trees growing in it. The tsar's favourite was an apple tree with golden apples. One day he noticed that the apples were being pecked during the night. His watchman could not catch the thief. So he called his sons and they promised to do their best. The first night the eldest son went to the garden to keep watch. After walking about for some time he felt tired, sat down on the grass near the apple tree and fell asleep. In the morning he told his father that he did not close his eyes all the night through but had seen no one. The next night the middle son went to keep watch. He also fell asleep but told his father the same. The third night it was Tsarevich (means Tsar's son, prince) Ivan's turn to go to the garden. For some hours he walked around the apple tree afraid if he sat down he would fall asleep. Whenever he felt sleepy he washed his eyes with dew. Half the night had passed when the Tsarevich saw a light glowing far off in the distance. It came closer and closer until suddenly the whole garden was lit up as if by sunshine. The Firebird with wings like flame flew in, perched on the tree and began pecking at the apples. Ivan crept up softly and caught the bird by the tail. Though he held her fast she tore herself from his grasp and flew away leaving a feather in his hand.
In the morning Ivan told his father who had been pecking the golden apples and gave him the feather which illuminated the Tsar's chamber with the light of thousands of candles.
The Firebird did not visit the garden any more, but the Tsar could not forget it. A desire to have it in his palace took hold of him. He summoned his sons and bade them find the bird and brings it to him. Half the tsardom was set as a reward.
After receiving the father's blessing all three sons rode away from the palace, each in his own direction.
Tsarevich Ivan rode on and on until he found himself in an open field before a large stone, which the following words, were written:
"If you go straight ahead, you will be hungry and cold. If you go to the right, you will lose your horse. If you go to the left, you will die." After carefully thinking over his dilemma, he made up his mind to go to the right. The night caught him in a dense forest where he dismounted to get some sleep.
In the morning he could not see his horse, went to search for it and soon found its bones. He wept for his horse and as there was no choice but to continue the journey on foot this he did. After a good walk the Tsarevich felt exhausted and sat down on a tree-stump to have a rest. All off a sudden Grey Wolf appeared in front of him. Having heard Ivan's story the wolf said that he felt sorry for having eaten the horse and was ready to make up for his deed. He pledged to serve the Tsarevich truly and faithfully and take him wherever he wished to go. Ivan climbed onto his back. The Wolf ran faster than any horse and when night fell they came to a stone wall. Grey Wolf told Ivan to climb over the wall into the garden where he would find a golden cage with the Firebird in it.
"Take the bird but do not touch the cage," said Grey Wolf. All was still in the garden. Ivan took the Firebird out of the cage and started towards the wall but than turned back. The golden cage studded with gems was very precious, anyway he needed it to put the bird in. The moment he touched the cage a great din rose up all around him. The guards caught him and led him straight to the Tsar.
"Who are you and where do you hail from?" the Tsar bellowed in his fury. Ivan told him the whole story.
"Well, you should have come to me and asked for the bird; Perhaps I would have given it to you. But now there is only one way for you to save yourself from disgrace. There is a horse with a golden mane over the hills and far away. Bring me that horse and I'll forgive you and let you have the Firebird."
Full of sadness, Ivan returned to Grey Wolf. Wolf scolded him but finally softened. Ivan sat on the back of Grey Wolf and they rushed off in search of the horse with the golden mane. Nobody knows how long Wolf ran before he reached the stables of white stone. He sent Ivan to fetch the horse with the golden mane and told him not to touch the golden bridle hanging on the wall. The stablemen were sleeping so Ivan took the horse and was about to leave the stable but could not content himself with leaving the bridle behind.
"I might as well take the bridle," he thought, forgetting for a moment his friend's advice. No sooner had he touched the bridle than there ringing and clanging broke out throughout the stables. The stablemen woke, seized the thief and led him to their Tsar.
"Who are you and where do you hail from?" was the question again. TheTsarevich told his story, and the Tsar, as before, said that he would have given the horse with the golden mane if Ivan had come in daylight and openly asked for it, but as he had failed to do that he would be in disgrace in all the tsardoms unless he performed a service for him. Ivan was asked to go to the Thrice-Tenth Tsardom which is beyond the thrice-nine lands and bring from there Princess Elena the Fair. Then he would be pardoned and given the horse.
With a heavy heart the Tsarevich returned to Grey Wolf. Again Wolf scolded him but finally softened and pledged his help.
As this is a fairy tale they soon came to the palace where Elena the Fair lived. Grey Wolf did not let Ivan go in for Ivan always encountered some sort of trouble. Wolf leapt into the garden that surrounded the palace and when Elena came out for a walk he seized her, threw her across his back and ran to the place where theTsarevich was waiting for him. Ivan and Elena mounted Grey Wolf's back and he ran so fast that their pursuers could not catch them. Quite naturally the young people fell in love and the nearer they were to the place of parting the sadder Ivan became. Only Grey Wolf could help them. He rolled over on the ground and took Elena's form. Ivan exchanged the pretended Elena for the horse with the golden mane. The old Tsar was very delighted to have gained a young and beautiful bride and did not lose any time in preparing wedding feast. Grey Wolf gave Ivan and his princess time to ride a long way off, and at the end of the feast he turned back into his original form and left the Tsar in a state of great fear and astonishment. Then the travelers repeated the trick and exchanged the pretended horse-with-the-golden-mane for the Firebird. After all, it would have been beneath the dignity of a tsar-to-be to come home with so beautiful a bride on foot.
Wolf fulfilled his promise to serve truly and faithfully. Ivan bowed low to Grey Wolf in gratitude and set off on his way home with his betrothed. Very weary they reached the Tsarevich's land, lay down for a night's rest and soon fell asleep. At that moment, the elder brothers were riding by empty-handed. Seeing the Firebird in the golden cage, the horse with the golden mane and a beauty sleeping beside their brother, they decided to kill him. This they did and commanded Elena to say to their father that it was they who had captured the Firebird and horse. She was so shaken with fear that vowed to obey.
Tsarevich Ivan lay dead and ravens were flying over him. That did not escape Grey Wolf's notice. He went to try and revive his old friend, but in vain. He then hid behind the bush, and when a young raven was quite close grabbed it and threatened to tear it into pieces unless its mother brought him some dead water and live water. First of all Grey Wolf sprinkled the dead water on Ivan's body, and all his wounds closed. Then he sprinkled him with live water. Ivan stood up and exclaimed: "Oh, what a long sleep I have had!" Grey Wolf told him what had happened and took him to his hometown. Ivan saw people dressed in their holiday best hurrying to the palace. He learned that his eldest brother was going to marry Elena the Fair. He quickened his step. As soon as he entered the feasting chamber Elena the Fair sprang up from the table, took Ivan by hand and said: "Here is my true and beloved bridegroom!" and told the Tsar and the guests all that had happened to her and her beloved. The Tsar drove his elder sons out of the tsardom. Then he gave half of his tsardom to Ivan, who married Elena. Ivan and his fair wife lived in peace for many years and had never cause to shed a tear.

(Based on Russian folk tale. English language retelling was done by Vadim Shchanitsyn)