Imagine a time when two brothers, who looked as similar as two peas in a pod, lived with their very poor parents. Their names were Leo and Max. Their father, a kind but worried man, said one day, "My dear boys, we have so little food. Perhaps it's time you went into the world to find your own way."

So, Leo and Max packed a small bag each and set off. After a while, they met a friendly old hunter in the forest. He saw how eager they were and decided to teach them everything he knew about the woods, about animals, and about being resourceful. When it was time for them to leave, he gave each brother a special, shiny knife. "Look after these," he said. "If one knife ever becomes dull and rusty, it means your brother is in terrible trouble. You must go and help him!"

The brothers thanked the hunter, hugged each other tightly, and then chose different paths, promising to meet again someday.

Leo walked for many days and nights until he came to a grand city. But everyone in the city looked very gloomy. "What's the matter?" Leo asked a baker.
"Oh, it's dreadful!" said the baker. "A fierce dragon with seven heads lives nearby. Every year, it demands a beautiful maiden, and this year, it has chosen our King's own daughter, the Princess Lily!"
Leo, who was very brave, declared, "I will fight this dragon!"

He went to the dragon's lair. The dragon roared, spitting fire from all seven mouths! But Leo was quick and clever. SWISH, SWASH, CHOP! He fought bravely and cut off all seven of the dragon's heads. As proof, he carefully cut out each of the seven tongues and put them in his pocket. Then, feeling very tired, he lay down under a tree and fell fast asleep.

While Leo was sleeping, a boastful knight from the King's court came by. He saw the dead dragon and the sleeping Leo. "Aha!" thought the knight. "I can say I did this!" He rode quickly to the King and announced, "Your Majesty, I have slain the dragon! Now, I claim the Princess Lily's hand in marriage, as you promised!"

The King was about to agree when Leo woke up and hurried to the palace. "Wait!" he called out. "It was I who killed the dragon!"
The boastful knight scoffed. "You? A simple traveler?"
"Yes," said Leo. "And I have proof. If you killed the dragon, Sir Knight, show us its seven tongues!"
The knight turned pale. He had no tongues to show. Leo then pulled the seven dragon tongues from his pocket.
The King was overjoyed! He banished the boastful knight and declared that Leo should marry Princess Lily. They had a wonderful wedding, and everyone in the city celebrated.

One sunny afternoon, Leo decided to go hunting in the royal forest. He saw a beautiful, snow-white deer and chased it deeper and deeper into the woods. But this was no ordinary deer. It was a tricky old witch in disguise! As Leo got close, ZAP! The witch cast a spell, and Leo turned into a cold, hard stone statue.

Far, far away, Max was polishing his special knife when he noticed something strange. It was becoming dull and rusty! "Oh no!" he cried. "Leo is in great danger! I must find him!"
Max immediately set off, following the path his brother had taken.

When Max arrived at the grand city, everyone started cheering. "Our Prince has returned from his hunt!" they shouted. Because Max looked exactly like Leo, everyone, including Princess Lily, thought he was Leo. Max was very confused but didn't want to cause a fuss.
That night, when it was time to sleep, Princess Lily led him to the royal bedroom. Max, knowing this wasn't his wife, quietly placed his shiny sword down the middle of the big bed. He slept on one side, and the Princess, puzzled but respectful, slept on the other.

The next day, Princess Lily told Max (thinking he was Leo) how worried she had been when he didn't return from the hunt. Max then understood that his brother must have met with trouble in the forest. He asked where Leo had gone hunting, and then he bravely went into the same woods.
He soon found the witch's cottage. Max was clever and tricked the witch into telling him how to reverse her spells. Then, he made her lead him to the stone statue. Max said the magic words the witch had taught him, and POP! Leo was himself again, no longer a statue!

Leo was so happy to be alive and to see his brother. They hurried back to the palace. But when Leo saw Max standing beside Princess Lily, for a moment, he felt a flash of anger and confusion. "What is my brother doing with my wife?" he thought.
But then Princess Lily smiled and said, "Oh, Leo, your brother arrived while you were gone! And he was such a gentleman. He always placed his sword between us in bed."
Leo looked at Max, who grinned. Leo understood everything then. He hugged his brother tightly. "You saved my life, Max!"

And so, the two brothers were happily reunited. Leo and Princess Lily lived joyfully in their kingdom, and Max, after a happy visit, went on to have many more adventures of his own. And those special knives? They stayed shiny and bright for the rest of their days.

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