Once upon a time… there lived a very powerful Sultan whose kingdom stretched to the edges of desert. One of his subjects was called Ali, a man who enjoyed making fun of his ruler. He invented all sorts of tales about the Sultan and his Court, and folk would roar with laughter at his jokes. Indeed, Ali became so well known, that people pointed him out in the street and chuckled.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a brother and sister walked together down a long road. The sister's name was Alyonushka, and her brother was called Ivanushka. The two had been walking a long time when they came to a cow's hoof filled with water. "May I drink form it sister?" Little Ivanushka asked. "No, or you will turn into a calf." Alyonushka answered. Little Ivanushka was very thirsty, but obeyed his sister. He obeyed her again when they came to a horse's hoof filled with water. Alyonushka told him that if he drank from it, he would turn into a foal.

Once upon a time there lived an old woman in a village. She had no cattle. Only one hen ran in the yard. The hen laid eggs — every day one by one. The woman put the eggs into a basket.
The woman had a son. He was so lazy! He only lay on his mattress and slept. He would not get up even if it started hailing!
One day the woman said to her lazy son, "I am old. It is hard for me to work, to earn my bread. It is time for you to think how you will make a living. All men are doing something: they grow cotton, plant gardens, do handicrafts, or trade. You can't do anything. You have no profession. Start selling eggs. You may earn some coins," said the woman and gave a basket with eggs to her son.

Once upon a time there lived a peasant. His wife died and left him three daughters. The old man wanted to hire a servant-girl to help about the house, but his youngest daughter Maryushka said:
"Don't hire a servant, Father, I shall keep house alone."

Once upon a time there were three bears who lived together in their own little house in the wood. There was a great big father bear, a middle sized mother bear and a little baby bear. They each had a special bowl for porridge, a special chair for sitting in and a special bed to sleep in. One morning the mother bear made the porridge for break-fast and poured it out into the great big bowl, the middle sized bowl and a little baby bowl. But it was so hot. The bears decided to go for a walk while it cold. Now a little girl named Goldilocks was walking in the woods that morning and she came across the bear's house, she knocked on the door and then there was no reply she crept slowly in.

Once upon a time there was a young man named Hasanak. He liked walking from city to city, from village to village. One day Hasanak came to a city. The people were very poor there. Many of them were starving. Many of the houses were empty.
Hasanak went into the mountains and gathered brushwood there. When he came back he sold the wood. Then he went into the mountains again, brought more wood, and sold it. Hasanak went into the mountains for the third time. When he sold the last bundle of sticks and counted the money, he saw that he could buy meat, rice, and carrots. He went to the market and bought everything he needed to make pilaf. After that Hasanak went to an empty house and started cooking supper.

Ilya Murometz is the most famous of the mighty warriors, known as Bogatyrs, of the Russian "Bilyny" legends. This legendary hero was unable to move during his first 33 years of his life. Then one day he was visited in his house by the three Holy Old Men, who asked Ilya for some water. Ilya became furious, as he thought the Old Men were playing a joke on him when they commanded Ilya to get up, much to his own surprise, Ilya rose. From that moment on he became a warrior of extraordinary powers and the defender of the Holy Russia.

Once upon a time... in the middle of a thick forest stood a small cottage, the home of a pretty little girl known to everyone as Little Red Riding Hood. One day, her Mummy waved her goodbye at the garden gate, saying, 'Grandma is ill. Take her this basket of cakes, but be very careful. Keep to the path through the wood and don't ever stop. That way, you will come to no harm.'

Once upon a time there lived Luck and Puck. Luck was Puck's wife. They had a daughter, who was beautiful but silly.
The time came and matchmakers came to their house. Luck saw them and said, "My daughter, the matchmakers have come to arrange a match for you! Take a jug and fetch some water. But be quick! Let the matchmakers see how quick and skilled you are!"

Once upon a time there lived a peasant with his wife in a village. They had no children, and that is why their life was sad and joyless.
One day an old man with a long white beard knocked at their door. The peasant opened the door and let the old man in. The peasant's wife laid the dastarhan — a table¬cloth —with refreshments, brought a decorated tea-pot with aromatic green tea, a piala — a beautiful cup, and fresh, flat cakes of bread. The woman laid soft blankets on the sufu — a raised platform on the ground made from clay — and made the guest sit down there.
After the white-bearded old man had had tea and flat cakes, he thanked the hosts and said to them:
" Let your cherished wishes come true!"