The lonely fish
Deep in the bamboo forest, there lived a tiny fish alone in a pond. Every day he swam around the pond in solitude. His little heart longed for a companion. He gradually became incredibly sad, he stopped eating and he started losing the color in his scales. A fairy, passing by, was taken with the plight of this sad tiny fish, and granted him a wish. The tiny fish asked for someone he could talk, play, and share his life with. The fairy granted the fish's wish. In a poof there appeared a beautiful golden fish. She was gorgeous head to tail and gleamed in the moon light. She was a sight to be seen. The fairy disappeared satisfied that there will be more happiness in the world.
A few days passed and the fairy was flying by the pond. She noticed the tiny fish once again was sad, glum, and devoid of happiness. The fairy asked the tiny fish if he had talked to the other fish. The tiny fish said no and replied that it felt so inferior to her and would never be able to talk to her. The fairy waved her wand and poof! The tiny fish transformed into a tapestry of colors. And when he tried to speak, it flowed out like a smooth tune from a bamboo flute. And he too now gleamed in the moonlight. The fairy once again disappeared, satisfied that there will be more happiness in the world.
A few more days passed, and the fairy returned to check on her tiny fish friend. She was astonished to see that the tiny fish was still sad and glum. She asked the tiny fish if he had at least managed to speak a few words with the golden fish. The tiny fish shook his head and said no. The fairy was angry and disappointed. She could not believe that despite all her efforts she could not give happiness to this tiny fish. She kept asking herself, why the tiny fish could not even approach the other fish even though he had all these amazing gifts. Then she looked at him closer. Her eyes grew wide. Her mouth opened wide open and let out a gasp. She was amazed that she didn't notice this before. She knew exactly why the tiny fish could not talk to the golden fish. The tiny fish was a little koi!
