The Singing Scoutmaster: Big Fish and the King's Request, The

There was once a powerful king who ruled over a vast and prosperous land. His kingdom stretched from the snow-capped mountains in the north to the fertile valleys in the south. He had everything a ruler could wish for—gold, jewels, and the unwavering respect of his people. His castle, perched high on a cliff overlooking the sea, glittered with wealth and grandeur. Yet, despite his riches and power, the king felt an emptiness that no amount of treasure could fill.

He had heard countless stories of a magnificent creature that roamed the deep waters off the coast of his kingdom: the Big Fish. It was said to be as large as a ship, with scales that shimmered like silver in the sunlight and eyes that held the wisdom of ages. The king became obsessed with the thought of seeing the creature himself, believing that if he could capture it, he would finally possess something that no other king could claim.

"Find the Big Fish and bring it to me," the king commanded his most skilled sailors and fishermen one day. "I want to behold its greatness with my own eyes. Spare no effort, and do not return until you have succeeded." The sailors, though uneasy, could not refuse their king's order. They prepared the grandest ship in the fleet, stocked with provisions for a long journey, and set sail into the vast, open sea.

For days and nights, they searched tirelessly. The ship's bow cut through the waves as they ventured further and further from the coast, navigating treacherous waters and facing fierce storms. But no matter how far they traveled or how deep they cast their nets, the sea remained empty. The Big Fish was nowhere to be found. The sailors began to grow weary and disheartened, murmuring among themselves that perhaps the creature was nothing more than a legend after all.

Just as they were about to turn back, a strange stillness fell over the sea. The waves calmed, and the wind died down to a whisper. Then, from the depths below, a massive shadow appeared, growing larger and larger until it seemed to engulf the entire ship. The sailors gripped the rails, their eyes wide with fear and awe, as the water swirled and churned.

With a mighty surge, the Big Fish surfaced. Its massive head towered over the ship, its scales shimmering faintly even in the dim light of dusk. The sailors felt a wave of power and presence wash over them as the creature's deep, booming voice echoed across the water. "Why do you seek me, little ship? What does your king desire?"

The captain, his voice trembling, stepped forward. "O Great Fish of the Deep," he called out, bowing low. "Our king wishes to see you. He has heard of your wisdom and power and wants to know if you are truly as magnificent as the stories say."

The Big Fish's eyes, dark and fathomless, seemed to pierce through the captain's very soul. It watched him silently for a moment, then spoke again, its tone laced with both sadness and understanding. "Power and wisdom are not meant to be displayed like treasures, nor can they be owned or contained. They are like the currents of the ocean—ever-moving, ever-changing. Tell your king that I am as real as the sea and as fleeting as the wind. To seek me is to seek something that cannot be possessed."

With that, the Big Fish dipped its head slightly, as if in farewell, and then, with a powerful flick of its tail, it dove back into the depths. The sailors watched in stunned silence as the great creature disappeared into the dark waters, leaving only a few ripples behind to mark its passage. The sea returned to its calm state, and the ship bobbed gently on the waves, as if nothing extraordinary had happened at all.

The sailors, their hearts still pounding from the encounter, knew that they could not bring the Big Fish back to the king. They turned the ship around and sailed home, unsure of how their ruler would react to their failure. When they finally returned to the harbor, the king himself came down to the docks to greet them. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the empty nets and the solemn expressions on the sailors' faces.

"Where is the Big Fish?" the king demanded, his voice edged with frustration.

The captain stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, we found the Big Fish, but it refused to be brought back. It spoke to us and said that its power and wisdom are not to be displayed like treasures. It cannot be owned or possessed, for it is as fleeting as the wind and as untamable as the sea itself."

The king fell silent, his gaze drifting out over the horizon. For a long time, he said nothing, his mind turning over the words of the Big Fish. Then, with a heavy sigh, he nodded slowly. "Perhaps the Big Fish is right," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. "To see such a creature is a gift, but to try to capture it would be a loss for all. Some wonders are meant to be admired from afar, not owned."

From that day forward, the king no longer sought to possess the Big Fish. Instead, he left it free to roam the seas, respecting the creature's wisdom and power. He spoke often of the encounter, and though he never saw the Big Fish with his own eyes, he felt as though he had gained a deeper understanding of himself and the world. The people of his kingdom whispered that the king had grown wiser and more thoughtful, for he had learned that true strength lies not in what one owns, but in what one appreciates and protects.

The legend of the king and the Big Fish spread far and wide, becoming a tale told by sailors and villagers alike. It served as a reminder that some things in life—like the beauty of the ocean or the wisdom of a great creature—are best left untouched and admired from a distance. And whenever a ship sailed out into the deep waters and a shadow moved beneath the waves, the sailors would nod respectfully and say a quiet prayer, thanking the Big Fish for its guidance and protection, knowing that they were in the presence of something truly extraordinary.