The Magic Fish

Note: I have decided to write a short story of at least 500 words every day. 

“Write a short story every week. It's not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.” ― Ray Bradbury

***

One day, a poor fisherman was pulling in his net. He was about to return home when he decided to cast his net just one more time. As he pulled it in, he saw a large, golden fish. It was like nothing he'd ever seen before, and to his further amazement, it spoke to him. 

"Please, good sir. Throw me back! For I am not a fish at all but a cursed prince."

"But I am so poor and hungry. Surely there is something you can do for me. My wife will be very upset with me if I return home empty-handed."

"Throw me back and cast your net once more. You'll have a nice catch when you pull it in."

So the fisherman did as he was told, and he indeed pulled in a big catch after casting his net once more. His wife was overjoyed when he brought it into their house.

"How did you catch all these fish? I've never seen you come home with this many."

The fisherman explained what happened, and his wife began rubbing her chin thoughtfully. 

"When you go out to sea tomorrow, return to the same place and try to catch the magic fish again. Here, take this bucket so you can keep it alive and bring it home."

The fisherman had doubts about this plan but he knew better than to argue with this wife about such things. The next day, he returned to the same spot in the sea, cast his net, and once more, caught the magic fish. The magic fish pleaded just as before, but the fisherman refused to throw it back.

"I'm sorry, but this time you're coming with me. Into the bucket you go. You'll be safe there." 

"Is your home a long way from here?"

"Yes, it will take at least an hour to row home. Why not tell me some more of your story to pass the time?"

"Of course. As I said when we first met, I'm a cursed prince. I was a few days away from inheriting the throne from my father when a jealous sorcerer cast a spell on me. Before banishing me to the sea, he explained that I'd never regain my true form unless I learned the right magic. That was many years ago."

"I see. It seems you have learned some magic though."

"Oh, yes, very much so. I found a genie's lamp on the sea floor, not far from where you caught me. The genie taught me all the magic he knew."

"Interesting, but I'm curious as to why you did not simply wish for your curse to be lifted so you could return to your former life."

"Ah, if it were only so simple. I did indeed ask the genie for that, but the laws of magic are numerous and complex. I regret to say that I cannot use my powers lift my own curse."

"What can lift the curse?"

"I must grant a truly unselfish wish. As you can imagine, there are few opportunities for such things. I have tried and failed many times, so long ago, I gave up and settled into a quiet life under the sea."

"I can tell you have suffered much, and so I promise you that my wife and I will take good care of you and provide you with many opportunities to lift your curse."

At this, the magic fish felt a faint glimmer of hope.

Meanwhile, the fisherman's wife had brought a barrel into their home and filled it with seawater. She wanted to have a nice place ready for the fish when it arrived. Of course, she hoped her hospitality would be suitably rewarded. The fisherman returned and his wife told him to put the magic fish in the barrel. She leaned over the rim and peered in.  

"There you are, magic fish. How do you like your new home?"

"Oh madam, it's very nice indeed. The sea can get quite crowded, but here there are no hungry sharks or noisy whales. How can I repay you?"

The wife began to rub her chin thoughtfully, and the fisherman went to his chair to smoke his pipe. He learned long ago that one way to avoid a conversation is to occupy your mouth with something else. 

"Oh, magic fish, I beseech thee: give us a chest of gold coins so that we need not work again."

The fish swam in a circle until it made a small whirlpool. There was a thunderclap, smoke rose from the whirlpool, and it coalesced into a wooden chest. The fisherman and his wife approached it, and slowly opened it. It was full of gold coins, diamonds, and rubies.

"I'm sure you'll find this satisfactory. Also, no matter how much you take out, the chest will never be empty."

"Oh, thank you, magic fish", said the fisherman's wife. "I will go at once to fetch you orphans, blind beggars, and other such unfortunates. Surely at least one of them has an unselfish wish, and if not, they will be grateful for your help."

The next day, the fisherman's wife did as she promised. After a few hours, there were a few dozen less miserable people in the village, yet there had yet to be a truly unselfish wish. 

"If I may make a suggestion", said the magic fish, "find two unfortunates who will make wishes for each other. For example, tell that blind man to wish for that leper's health and vice versa."

The blind man and the leper did so and were miraculously healed of their afflictions. There was another thunderclap, and a torrent of smoke rose again from the barrel. 

The smoke coalesced into a wizard with a long grey beard.  

"Allow me to explain. The story I told you was mostly true, except that I was the sorcerer and they banished me. I go now to claim the throne that is rightfully mine. 

Come along if you wish."

And so the wizard became king and ruled the land fairly for many years. Sometimes it is wise to not tell all the truth at once.