High in the hills there shone a great blue lake, and today every bird in the land was flying in — Crane and Parrot, Myna and Songbird. The Goose King lifted his long neck. "Listen, everyone! Today my daughter chooses her groom."
The princess walked slowly down the line of hopeful birds. Crane stretched himself tall as a reed. Parrot puffed up every feather he had. "Look at me!" sang Myna. "Pick me!" The princess only smiled, and walked on.
Then she stopped short. There stood Peacock — his neck flashing blue and green, his long train sweeping the ground like a river of jewels. "Father, that one! No one is as beautiful as Peacock!" And his chest swelled with pride.
Peacock's head spun with joy. WHOOSH — up went his tail, a hundred shining eyes wide open! "Watch me dance!" he cried. Spinning, swaying, quite unable to stop. One by one the birds fell silent. And the Goose King began to frown.
When at last the dance ended, the Goose King spoke, slow and quiet. "You are beautiful, my friend. But you show off far too much." Then he touched his daughter's wing. "The quiet little goose shall be your groom." And Peacock's splendid train sank down, feather by feather.
Evening came. Peacock stood alone at the water's edge, his train folded, quite still. Down in the glassy lake his reflection trembled. His chest ached, and one sound played over and over in his ears: his own voice, crying "Watch me dance!"
At dawn a soft rain began to fall. A little songbird fluttered down beside him. "Your tail is still the loveliest in the land." Peacock smiled a small smile. "Show off, and you can lose what you've already won." Then he danced in the rain once more — just for the joy of it.