Hans the Hedgehog

Once upon a time, there was a wealthy farmer who, unfortunately, had no children.

One day, other farmers mocked him, and feeling distressed, he said to his wife, “How wonderful it would be for us to have a child, even if it were just a hedgehog!”

Before long, his wife indeed gave birth to a child. However, the child had the upper body of a hedgehog and the lower body of a boy. They named the child Hans the Hedgehog.

As they looked at the child covered in spikes and heard people calling him a monster, the farmer and his wife became even more distressed. Deep down, they disliked the child.

Hans the Hedgehog seemed to sense his parents’ feelings. When he turned eight, he said to the farmer, “I am leaving and will not return.”

With that, he rode away on a rooster while playing a flute.

Hans the Hedgehog settled in a forest, where he spent his days playing the flute and roaming the woods on his rooster.

Many years passed in this manner, and one day, a king and his entourage found themselves lost in the forest.

They approached Hans the Hedgehog for directions.

Hans said, “I can help you, but on one condition: you must write a promise that, upon your return to the kingdom, you will give me the first thing you encounter in front of the palace.”

The king agreed.

Hans guided them, and sure enough, the king safely returned to his kingdom.

The king had a daughter who eagerly awaited his return in front of the palace. As soon as she saw the king, she rushed to greet him.

Remembering his promise to Hans the Hedgehog, the king realized that the first thing he encountered in front of the palace was his daughter. According to the agreement, he had to give the princess to this strange creature, half-human and half-hedgehog.

At this point, a shiver ran down the king’s spine, and the princess quickly inquired about what was wrong.

The king then recounted the events in the forest to the princess, assuring her, “But rest assured, I’ve been clever about it. I wrote in the promise not to give you to him, as he can’t read anyway.”

The princess said, “Father is truly wise. How could I ever live with a creature that is half-human, half-hedgehog?”

However, Hans the Hedgehog arrived.

As he reached the city gate, the soldiers raised their swords to strike him down.

The king had issued an order to kill any creature with the upper body of a hedgehog and the lower body of a human on sight.

Yet, Hans the Hedgehog soared into the air on his rooster, flying over the city walls and landing in the royal palace.

The king, witnessing him entering the palace, trembled with fear. He pushed the princess forward, saying, “Quick, go with him! I’m about to faint!”

However, the princess vehemently refused to comply with anything.

In the midst of their struggle, they stumbled and fell, coincidentally landing on top of Hans the Hedgehog.

Both of them were pierced, and blood flowed profusely.

Hans the Hedgehog sighed and said, “Promises that cannot be fulfilled should never be made. This is the punishment from heaven upon people like you! You truly are contemptible!”

Having spoken, Hans the Hedgehog left.

He returned to the forest.

After some time, another lost king passed through the forest. He sought directions from Hans the Hedgehog, who made the same request—asking the king to send him the first thing encountered in front of the palace.

The king agreed and wrote a promise.

Hans guided him, and the king safely returned to his kingdom.

He, too, had a beautiful daughter who eagerly awaited his return in front of the palace.

However, this king was somber because, unlike the first king, he did not deceive Hans the Hedgehog.

When the princess learned the reason, she said, “For the sake of my father, I am willing to be with Hans the Hedgehog.”

Before long, Hans the Hedgehog indeed arrived.

As soon as he reached the city gate, people greeted him respectfully.

The king had issued a decree that anyone who saw a creature that was half-human, half-hedgehog should treat him with courtesy.

Hans the Hedgehog smoothly entered the royal palace.

The king fulfilled his promise and married the princess to him.

On their wedding night, Hans emerged from his hedgehog skin, revealing himself to be a handsome young man.

Later on, Hans the Hedgehog inherited the throne, and he and the princess lived happily ever after.