The Enchanted Peafowl: the Story of the Golden A

Name: The Enchanted Peafowl: the Story of the Golden Apples, the Wicked Dragon, and the Magic Horse
Author: Parker Fillmore

A Tsar, enamored with his magical golden apple-tree, finds his prized fruit stolen nightly. His three sons attempt to catch the thief, but only the youngest succeeds. He discovers that the thief is a beautiful maiden who transforms from a peafowl. They fall in love, and she gifts him golden apples each night until an envious old woman snips off her hair, causing her to vanish. Heartbroken, the youngest son embarks on a quest to find her, learning from an old woman that the peafowl are enchanted princesses. He faces treachery from his servant, who puts him to sleep while the peafowl bathe. The prince eventually learns that he must strike off the head of the servant to break the spell. After doing so, he discovers that the ninth princess is imprisoned by a dragon. The prince pursues the dragon to rescue the princess, but the dragon's magic horse allows it to catch them repeatedly. The princess reveals that the dragon's horse comes from an old woman who will only give it to someone who can guard her mare and foal for three nights. The prince succeeds with the help of a fish, a fox, and a raven, each of whom he saves and who provide assistance. After successfully guarding the mare and foal, the prince chooses a seemingly worthless horse, which transforms into a magnificent steed. With this horse, he finally escapes the dragon's pursuit. The dragon, in a final attempt to reclaim the princess, is defeated when his horse cannot keep up with the prince's magical horse. The enchantment is broken, and the prince and princess return to the city, where they marry and rule happily. The story concludes with their joyful reign, symbolizing love's triumph over adversity and enchantment.

By Parker Fillmore · First published 1930 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure · 6,790 words

First lines

_Have you ever heard the story of the Peafowl who became a Queen and of the Tsar's Youngest Son who married her? Well, here it is: _

There was once a Tsar who took great delight in his garden. Every morning you could see him bending over his flowers or picking the fruit of his favorite tree. This was an apple-tree that had the magic property of bearing buds, blossoms, and golden fruit every twenty-four hours. It was known as the golden apple-tree. In the morning the first thing when he woke up the Tsar would look out his bedroom window to see that all was well with his beloved tree.

What this Textopian page supports

The Enchanted Peafowl: the Story of the Golden Apples, the Wicked Dragon, and the Magic Horse is listed on Textopian as a novella by Parker Fillmore, dated 1930 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novella
Author: Parker Fillmore
Date: 1930 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure, Romance, Mythology
Length: 6,790 words
Structure: 1 section, 198 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Enchanted Peafowl: the Story of the Golden Apples, the Wicked Dragon, and the Magic Horse by Parker Fillmore
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Enchanted Peafowl: the Story of the Golden Apples, the Wicked Dragon, and the Magic Horse?
How does this novella by Parker Fillmore fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The story features magical elements such as a magic apple-tree, enchanted peafowl, and a dragon, which are central to the plot.
Fairy Tale — The narrative structure, moral lessons, and fantastical characters align with traditional fairy tale conventions.
Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a quest to rescue the princess, facing various challenges and adversaries along the way.
Romance — The central theme revolves around the love story between the prince and the peafowl maiden, highlighting their emotional connection.