The King of the Golden Mountain

Once upon a time, there was a poor man who bought and sold things. He had lost all his money. He had nothing left but his loyal wife and their young son, Jack. Desperate to provide for his family, the man set out on a journey, hoping to find a way to get his money back.

One day, as he walked through a dark forest, the man met a mysterious little man with a long, pointed beard. “Why are you so sad, my friend?” asked the little man.

The man sighed. “I have lost everything I own, and I have no way to care for my family.”

The little man smiled sneakily. “I can help you. I will make you rich again, but in return, you must promise to give me the first thing that greets you when you return home.”

The man thought of his loyal dog, which always greeted him at the door, and agreed to the deal. The little man handed the man a sack of gold coins and disappeared into the forest.

Overjoyed, the man hurried home. But to his dismay, it was not his dog that greeted him—it was his young son, Jack, running out to meet him. The man’s heart sank as he realized the mistake he had made.

Years passed, and Jack grew into a brave and kind young man. On his eighteenth birthday, the little man returned to get what was promised to him. With a heavy heart, the man told Jack about the deal he had made. Jack, determined to save his family, decided to go with the little man.

The little man led Jack to a mountain made entirely of gold. “You will serve me here as the King of the Golden Mountain,” he said. “But beware, for the mountain holds many secrets and dangers.”

Jack took on his new role bravely. The golden mountain was beautiful but lonely. One day, as he explored its hidden caves and sparkling streams, he discovered a secret passage leading to an amazing underground kingdom.

In this kingdom lived a beautiful princess named Elara. She was kind and wise, and she had been trapped in the golden mountain by a wicked magic trick. Jack and Elara quickly became friends, sharing stories and laughter. They worked together to find a way to break the magic trick and free the kingdom from the little man’s control.

With Elara’s knowledge of magic and Jack’s bravery, they discovered that the spell could be broken by finding three magical items hidden within the mountain: a golden feather, a silver leaf, and a crystal tear. Each item was guarded by a powerful creature.

First, they faced the fiery Phoenix to obtain the golden feather. Jack’s bravery and Elara’s cleverness helped them outsmart the Phoenix and claim the feather. Next, they encountered the ancient magical tree guarding the silver leaf. With gentle words and kind hearts, they convinced the tree to give them the leaf. Finally, they confronted the sad water creature who held the crystal tear. By showing kindness and understanding, they gained the tear.

With all three magical items, Jack and Elara returned to the heart of the golden mountain. They combined the feather, leaf, and tear, and a brilliant light filled the kingdom. The magic trick was broken, and the little man was banished forever. The underground kingdom was freed, and Elara was restored to her rightful place as its queen.

Jack and Elara returned to Jack’s home, bringing with them the treasures of the golden mountain. The man and his wife were overjoyed to see their son safe and sound. Jack told them of his adventures and the friends he had made.

Jack and Elara ruled the golden kingdom with wisdom and kindness, and the kingdom above and below did very well. The man’s family was never poor again, and they lived happily, always remembering the brave young man who became the King of the Golden Mountain.

The end.

Follow-up questions:

• What did the little man ask for in return for the gold coins?
• How did Jack and Elara break the magic trick that trapped the kingdom?
• What happened to Jack’s family after he returned home with Elara?