Kotyhoroshko - Ukrainian

Hello. My name is Kotyhoroshko, and I’d like to tell you my story. Long ago, in a cozy little house in the beautiful land of Ukraine, my parents were very sad because a terrible dragon had stolen my sister away. One day, my mother found a single, magical pea and ate it, and soon I was born. I grew bigger and stronger not by the year, but by the hour, and I knew I was meant for something special. I saw the sorrow in my family's eyes and decided I would bring my sister back. This is the tale that people in Ukraine call the myth of Kotyhoroshko.

When I was strong enough, I went to the village blacksmiths and asked them to forge a giant iron mace, a bulava, that was so heavy no one else could even lift it. With my mace resting on my shoulder, I hugged my parents goodbye and set off on my quest to find the dragon. I walked for days and nights, across wide, rolling fields and through deep, quiet forests. The journey was long, but thinking of my sister gave me strength. At last, I reached a dark mountain with a scary cave. The ground shook, and a giant, multi-headed dragon called Zmiy slithered out, roaring and breathing smoke. He was frightening, but I held my mace tight and was not afraid.

The dragon lunged, but I was ready. I swung my mighty mace with all my power. With a brave heart and one final, powerful blow, I defeated the beast for good. I rushed into the cave and there she was—my sister. She was safe, and so were many other people the dragon had taken. We all cheered. Our journey home was filled with happy songs. When my parents saw us walking over the hill, their sad tears turned into tears of joy. The whole village celebrated our return, and our family was finally whole and happy again.

For hundreds of years, parents and grandparents in Ukraine have told my story to their children. It’s a story that reminds everyone that you don’t have to be big to be brave, and that love for your family is the greatest strength of all. My tale shows that even someone who starts as small as a pea can grow up to do amazing things. Today, kids still draw pictures of me with my iron mace and tell my story in plays and cartoons. My myth continues to inspire them to be courageous and to stand up for what is right, proving that a little bit of hope can defeat even the biggest dragons.