One day the emperor received a large packet on which was written “The Nightingale.” “Here is no doubt a new book about our celebrated bird,” said the emperor. But instead of a book, it was a work of art contained in a casket, an artificial nightingale made to look like a living one, and covered all over with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. As soon as the artificial bird was wound up, it could sing like the real one, and could move its tail up and down, which sparkled with silver and gold. Round its neck hung a piece of ribbon, on which was written “The Emperor of Japan’s nightingale is poor compared with that of the Emperor of China’s.”1
“This is very beautiful,” exclaimed all who saw it, and he who had brought the artificial bird received the title of “Imperial nightingale-bringer-in-chief.”
“Now they must sing together,” said the court, “and what a duet it will be.” But they did not get on well, for the real nightingale sang in its own natural way, but the artificial bird sang only waltzes.
“That is not a fault,” said the music-master, “it is quite perfect to my taste,” so then it had to sing alone, and was as successful as the real bird; besides, it was so much prettier to look at, for it sparkled like bracelets and breast-pins. Three and thirty times did it sing the same tunes without being tired; the people would gladly have heard it again, but the emperor said the living nightingale ought to sing something. But where was she? No one had noticed her when she flew out at the open window, back to her own green woods.
As Henry walked out to the woods, he read another chapter of his beloved book. Only this time, he felt more angry, then delighted by the story.
"They replaced her?" he said to himself, with a stirn tone. "She was replaced with a fake bird?"
As he turned the page, the feather he had got from Gold appeared in front of him. He took the feather in between his hands, and took a good look at it. It's dull, grey colors were nothing speciel. But the power it had, was what Henry needed.
He then streched out his arm, still holding on to the feather. He then let go.
The feather swayed in the air, falling to the ground slowly. The wind made it twirl around in circles, mixing it with the leaves from the fall weather. Then, it hit the ground.
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The Nightingale - Once Upon A Time Fanfiction
FanficIs it possible, to fall in love with a fairytale character? A person, who does not exist, who is made with words? Henry is grown up. One day when he finds his old fairytale book, he discoveres, that a new story is added. As he reads the new telling...
