Rapunzel

An illustrated tales story from Wonder Tales — free to read, with narration.

Rapunzel — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.

Rapunzel — book cover — Wonder Tales
Rapunzel — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.

Page 1

In the clockwork city of Aethel, powered by music and laughter, lived Elias, a gentle clockmaker, his heart filled with longing.
In the clockwork city of Aethel, powered by music and laughter, lived Elias, a gentle clockmaker, his heart filled with longing. Griselda, an imposing enchantress burdened the city with debt. Morella, protective and burdened by a fateful bargain with the Enchantress, knew the price of magic all too well. And high above it all, in a tower of gears and chimes, lived Rapunzel, a young woman with hair of spun gold, awaiting a melody to set her free.

In the clockwork city of Aethel, powered by music and laughter, lived Elias, a gentle clockmaker, his heart filled with longing. Griselda, an imposing enchantress burdened the city with debt. Morella, protective and burdened by a fateful bargain with the Enchantress, knew the price of magic all too well. And high above it all, in a tower of gears and chimes, lived Rapunzel, a young woman with hair of spun gold, awaiting a melody to set her free.

Page 2

Elias, his workshop filled with intricate clocks and gears, struggled to make ends meet. "We need a miracle, Morella," he sighed, wiping grease from his brow.
Elias, his workshop filled with intricate clocks and gears, struggled to make ends meet. "We need a miracle, Morella," he sighed, wiping grease from his brow. Morella, with watchful eyes, helped where she could, polishing tiny cogs. One day, a shadow fell across their doorway. Griselda, draped in dark velvet and jewels, stood before them, a cruel smile on her face.

Elias, his workshop filled with intricate clocks and gears, struggled to make ends meet. "We need a miracle, Morella," he sighed, wiping grease from his brow. Morella, with watchful eyes, helped where she could, polishing tiny cogs. One day, a shadow fell across their doorway. Griselda, draped in dark velvet and jewels, stood before them, a cruel smile on her face.

Page 3

"I can offer you prosperity, Elias," Griselda purred, her voice like velvet over steel. "But magic always demands a price." Elias, desperate to save his shop…
"I can offer you prosperity, Elias," Griselda purred, her voice like velvet over steel. "But magic always demands a price." Elias, desperate to save his shop and provide for Morella, hesitated. Morella, sensing danger, tugged at his sleeve, her eyes wide with fear. "Don't do it, Papa!" she whispered. But Elias, his heart heavy with worry, made the fateful deal.

"I can offer you prosperity, Elias," Griselda purred, her voice like velvet over steel. "But magic always demands a price." Elias, desperate to save his shop and provide for Morella, hesitated. Morella, sensing danger, tugged at his sleeve, her eyes wide with fear. "Don't do it, Papa!" she whispered. But Elias, his heart heavy with worry, made the fateful deal.

Page 4

Years passed, and Elias prospered, but the memory of his bargain haunted him. Morella grew into a beautiful young woman, but Griselda's shadow loomed ever…
Years passed, and Elias prospered, but the memory of his bargain haunted him. Morella grew into a beautiful young woman, but Griselda's shadow loomed ever closer. One day, Griselda returned, her eyes fixed on Morella. "The price is due," she declared, her voice ringing through the clock shop, "a gift of song."

Years passed, and Elias prospered, but the memory of his bargain haunted him. Morella grew into a beautiful young woman, but Griselda's shadow loomed ever closer. One day, Griselda returned, her eyes fixed on Morella. "The price is due," she declared, her voice ringing through the clock shop, "a gift of song."

Page 5

Griselda, bound by the terms of the deal, couldn't directly take Morella, but instead she used magic to transfer her to a remote, tall tower.
Griselda, bound by the terms of the deal, couldn't directly take Morella, but instead she used magic to transfer her to a remote, tall tower. "You will be safe here, my dear." Her hair grew as long and gold as clockwork, her voice the only beauty for miles. "But be warned child, the price of magic is always high". The Enchantress smirked as she watched her fate.

Griselda, bound by the terms of the deal, couldn't directly take Morella, but instead she used magic to transfer her to a remote, tall tower. "You will be safe here, my dear." Her hair grew as long and gold as clockwork, her voice the only beauty for miles. "But be warned child, the price of magic is always high". The Enchantress smirked as she watched her fate.

Page 6

Locked away in the clockwork tower, Morella's only companion was her own voice. She sang songs of hope and longing, her melodies echoing through the city.
Locked away in the clockwork tower, Morella's only companion was her own voice. She sang songs of hope and longing, her melodies echoing through the city. Gavril, a kind man working as a musician below, heard her voice one day and was captivated by its beauty. "Such sorrow in such a lovely voice," he murmured, his heart aching for the unseen singer.

Locked away in the clockwork tower, Morella's only companion was her own voice. She sang songs of hope and longing, her melodies echoing through the city. Gavril, a kind man working as a musician below, heard her voice one day and was captivated by its beauty. "Such sorrow in such a lovely voice," he murmured, his heart aching for the unseen singer.

Page 7

Gavril tried for days to reach Morella, but the tower had no door, only a single high window. Desperate, he wandered into the forest, seeking a way to the…
Gavril tried for days to reach Morella, but the tower had no door, only a single high window. Desperate, he wandered into the forest, seeking a way to the enchanted tower. The forest, dense and shadowed, whispered secrets in the wind, leading him deeper into its embrace. "This journey may take a turn." Gavril steeled himself, remembering a quote by Virgil: "'The greatest wealth is health,' he declared. 'I'll need all my strength.'"

Gavril tried for days to reach Morella, but the tower had no door, only a single high window. Desperate, he wandered into the forest, seeking a way to the enchanted tower. The forest, dense and shadowed, whispered secrets in the wind, leading him deeper into its embrace. "This journey may take a turn." Gavril steeled himself, remembering a quote by Virgil: "'The greatest wealth is health,' he declared. 'I'll need all my strength.'"

Page 8

As Gavril looked around the tower to find a solution to climb, Morella, her hair like a river of gold, grew longer, hearing the musician's cries from the bottom…
As Gavril looked around the tower to find a solution to climb, Morella, her hair like a river of gold, grew longer, hearing the musician's cries from the bottom of her prison. Reaching the tower, Gavril grabbed hold and pulled, but the weight was too much. Instead, he made a choice: "Morella, sing!" She then began to sing, the weight lifting with every harmony. The clockwork city trembled.

As Gavril looked around the tower to find a solution to climb, Morella, her hair like a river of gold, grew longer, hearing the musician's cries from the bottom of her prison. Reaching the tower, Gavril grabbed hold and pulled, but the weight was too much. Instead, he made a choice: "Morella, sing!" She then began to sing, the weight lifting with every harmony. The clockwork city trembled.

Page 9

Reaching the top, Gavril found Morella, her eyes shining with joy and freedom. But Griselda appeared, her face contorted with rage.
Reaching the top, Gavril found Morella, her eyes shining with joy and freedom. But Griselda appeared, her face contorted with rage. "You dare defy me?" she shrieked, unleashing her magic. Gavril grabbed Morella's hand, and they leaped from the tower, trusting in each other and the power of their love, a desperate choice into the clockwork abyss.

Reaching the top, Gavril found Morella, her eyes shining with joy and freedom. But Griselda appeared, her face contorted with rage. "You dare defy me?" she shrieked, unleashing her magic. Gavril grabbed Morella's hand, and they leaped from the tower, trusting in each other and the power of their love, a desperate choice into the clockwork abyss.

Page 10

Their music filled the town's streets, a shared song broke the tower's chains. And as laughter and friendship replaced greed, the enchantress was reduced to…
Their music filled the town's streets, a shared song broke the tower's chains. And as laughter and friendship replaced greed, the enchantress was reduced to ash, but a monument of hope was built to honour what happened. In the end, the city flourished, rebuilt, and with friendship as its foundation. It was a testament that some bonds, were worth more than any debt.

Their music filled the town's streets, a shared song broke the tower's chains. And as laughter and friendship replaced greed, the enchantress was reduced to ash, but a monument of hope was built to honour what happened. In the end, the city flourished, rebuilt, and with friendship as its foundation. It was a testament that some bonds, were worth more than any debt.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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