The Most Majestic

A peacock and a phoenix, arguing over who is the most majestic, seek help to decide the answer.
Written especially for this podcast by Alice. 

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Speaker 1: Yea, hello. My name's Josephine and this is the Animal

Tales podcast, where you suggest the animals featured in our stories.

There are new tales to enjoy every Monday and Wednesday,

with a third for premium members every Friday. To learn

more about Animal Tales, please visit our new website at

Animaltales dot uk. Sea is from the Philippines and she

would like a story featuring a peacock, a phoenix, and

a mermaid. You can learn more about these creatures in

the animal facts after the story. Okay, are you ready?

That's good, then I'll begin The most majestic. It was

early morning and the sun was just beginning to peek

beyond the ocean waves on the beach. The sand was

cool and the air still as the water lapped gently

against the shore. All was peaceful and calm. It didn't last.

A peacock and a phoenix burst on to the beach,

flapping their wings as they squabbled with each other. It's simple,

said the peacock. I'm by far the most majestic bird

in the whole world. I'm such a beautiful shade of

blue that every one turns to look when I pass

My tail feathers alone are a sight to behold. There

is no bird prettier than I, border dash, answered the phoenix.

My feathers are golden, edged with fire. Whenever I move,

I create sparks. There is no contest. I am a

more majestic bird than you. The argument wasn't what the

other animals on the beach wanted to hear, certainly not

this early in the morning. One, though, a horseshoe crab,

didn't mind. He'd managed to get stuck on his back,

legs in the air, so as hoping one of the

two birds might turn him over again. The birds, though,

were more concerned with themselves. You there, crab, said the peacock,

which of us do you think is the most stunning?

Wriggling his legs in the air, the horseshoe crab replied,

I'm afraid I can't see you. Please, could you just

flip me over? Oh? Come, now, it's not a difficult question,

said the phoenix. Just say you like my feathers more? No, no,

here clear like mine, The peacock cried. They were bickering

so much that they forgot the horseshoe crab and walked on,

leaving the poor crab to fend for himself. We need

someone who understands beauty, decided the peacock. Someone who can

judge our magnificence. Then declare me the winner. Me you mean,

the phoenix corrected, But who could do such a thing.

The sound of a gentle melody drifted on the breeze

at that moment. Curious, the two birds followed the lovely

song to discover an unusual creature sat on rocks at

the water's edge. A mermaid, said the peacock, with surprise.

She had a shiny blue tail that glimmered in the

sunlight and pretty hair entwined with seaweed. She's perfect, declared

the phoenix. Mermaids love pretty things. She'll be able to

see that I'm the most majestic. Me you mean, corrected

the peacock. The mermaid, on seeing the two birds, stopped

her singing and smiled at them both. We have a

favor to ask, you, announced the peacock abruptly. Clearly, we

are both very stunning birds. But I was hoping you

could tell my associate here why I am the most stunning.

He means, why I'm the most stunning, corrected the phoenix,

without Waiting for an answer, The birds began to pose,

showing off their feathers. The phoenix let the sunlight shine

through her wings, dappling the sand with gold, while the

peacock spread his tail feathers and strutted back and forth.

The mermaid watched, amused. Her name was Sea, and she'd

seen many beautiful animals in her time, but this behavior

was something new. I couldn't possibly choose, she said politely.

Good day to you both, But you must, demanded the peacock.

The opinion of a mermaid would settle our argument for

all time. We must insist that you choose, added the phoenix.

Sea didn't like judging others by their looks. After all,

a pretty animal could be rude, while a less colorful

animal could be kind. There was more to life than

just looks. The two birds, however, were unaware of this.

They were being selfish and vain. I cannot judge you,

said Sea, You're both too similar. However, if we could

make it a competition, the maybe a winner will emerge.

A competition, said the phoenix. I like the sound of that.

A splendid idea, boomed the peacock. The mermaid nodded her head,

pleased that they had agreed. I'll set you tasks and

award points, Seas said, whoever gets the most points is

clearly the most magnificent bird. The two birds nodded eagerly,

much to the mermaid's delight. All right, she said, for

the first task, I want to see you walk impressively

on that patch of sand. Show me those struts. The

birds headed to the spot she'd indicated immediately and began parading.

I've already won, the peacock muttered to himself, nobody walks

like a peacock. Surprisingly, the sand beneath their feet was

beginning to move, causing both birds to squawk in alarm,

but neither dared to stop their strutting. Suddenly, dozens of

tiny heads were emerging from beneath the sand. What's happening,

the phoenix, wailed. The sea turtle eggs are hatching. Sea said, Oh,

look how they struggle with a long walk to the ocean.

The turtle's journey across the beach was certainly difficult and

tiring for them. If only some one would be kind

enough to assist them, the peacock scoffed, still strutting. He

wasn't about to start doing that, but the phoenix saw

a way to take advantage of the situation. She scooped

up a turtle and walked fabulously down to the water,

where she released the baby. There you go, oh, the

fiery bird said, watching the turtle swim elegantly away. In

that moment, she forgot all about walking and strutting. She

was content enough to watch the rescued turtle swim. So

captivated by it was she that she went back and

helped another, then another, until every baby turtle was swimming free.

Did you enjoy that, asked the mermaid. That felt nice,

admitted the phoenix. They looked so cute once they started swimming. Well,

I think that was very kind of you, said sea,

and may I say kindness looks good on you. The

phoenix beamed, but the peacock smiled even wider. He was

still strutting back and forth, certain that he'd won that round.

He'd not been sidetracked by helping baby turtles. Let us

move on to task, too, said the mermaid. Climb up

on that tree at the back of the beach, then

show me how you fly. The birds were soon perched

on one of the tree's limbs ready to take off.

The phoenix went first and was soon swooping, diving, and

twisting in a desperate attempt to show off. But the

peacock was not a good flier, not with all those

heavy tail feathers. I'm going to win this one, the

phoenix bragged to herself as she circled above the peacock.

Nobody flies quite like a phoenix. A cry sounded from

the ocean's shallows as a small lizard clutching to a

branch found himself being pulled out to sea by the tide.

Help hel he cried, quick shouted the mermaid, If only

some one was brave enough to save him. Well, I'm

not doing it, said the phoenix. I'm going to win

this task. The peacock, though, could see it all. He

might not be able to fly far, but he could

probably reach the lizard, turn around and get to the beach.

It wouldn't be as impressive as the phoenix's stunts, but

it would be something. Before he could change his mind,

the peacock launched. He spread his wings, swooping low over

the sand, trailing his feathers behind him. By the time

he reached the lizard, his tail was just the right

height for the lizard to grab a hold of. Then,

with a sharp turn, he had just enough momentum to

land the pair of them on the wet sand. The

mermaid clapped with approval. I did it, the peacock said,

almost surprised at himself. I saved another creature. That was

very brave of you. Sea said, that can't have been

easy for you, and yet you did it. The peacock smiled,

but the phoenix grinned even wider. She was still looping

and gliding, certain that she'd won that round. She'd not

been sidetracked by helping a lizard. Let us move on

to task three, said the mermaid. Now hold on, said

the phoenix. We've already done two tasks, and you haven't

named a winner for either of them. Yeah, the peacock agreed.

One task got spoiled by helping baby turtles, and then

I had to rescue a lizard. Can't we just redo

those tasks so we know who won them. I haven't

been entirely honest with you, admitted Sea. Helping the turtles

and saving the lizard were the real tasks. What the

birds cried in confusion. You wanted to know who is

the most majestic? Sea said, well, I think people show

how stunning they are by what they do, not by

what they look like. It's about how you treat others.

That's how I will decide who wins. I don't think so,

said the peacock, huffily. Asking a mermaid was clearly a

waste of time. I couldn't agree more. The phoenix nodded.

I don't like being tricked with this, said. The two

birds turned around and marched back down the beach. It

seemed that the mermaid's efforts had failed. Can you believe her?

The phoenix wind to the peacock that mermaid doesn't know

a thing about looking amazing. Unbelievable, the peacock said, with

a shake of his beak. And to think she tricked

you into helping all those turtles, You got all that

sand in your feathers for nothing. The phoenix, though, wasn't

so sure it wasn't all for nothing. She said, I

mean they might not have made it if I hadn't helped.

What are you going on about, demanded the peacock. I'm

just trying to say that it felt good to get

the turtles into the water, continued the phoenix. So maybe

the mermaid wasn't wrong about that part, Not like getting

you to risk yourself rescuing a lizard. What if you'd

fallen into the ocean. I didn't, though, did I? The

peacock sniffed. In fact, I'm almost glad I helped him.

It was a little scary, but he could have been

swept away if I'd done nothing. They were boast so

lost in thought about what they'd done that they hadn't

realized they were approaching the horseshoe crab, still lying on

his back. Is someone there? He called? Can someone help me?

Just a short time before, they would have ignored the plea,

But now both birds hesitated. I suppose I could help,

said the peacock, with a shrug of his shoulders. I

was about to say the same thing, said the phoenix.

Then how about together, proposed the peacock. The horseshoe crab

felt himself being carefully lifted up and set back on

to his feet. Oh thank you, sobbed the crab with happiness.

You're both so kind. I'd have been stuck there forever

if you hadn't helped me. I'm happy to help, said

the phoenix, look just out of curiosity. Which of us

do you think is the most majestic? Who has the

prettier feathers? Oh? I couldn't possibly say, said the crab.

I can't see your feathers? Why not, asked the phoenix.

Although I have lots of eyes like all horseshoe crabs,

unfortunately I am blind, said the horseshoe crab. You can't

see us at all, the peacock asked. I cannot, said

the crab. But you're the first animals to day who

stopped and helped me. So even though I can't see you,

I know that you're both truly wonderful. Ah, said the peacock.

I think I understand what the mermaid was trying to say. Now,

me too, smiled the phoenix. With the horseshoe crabs grateful

words still ringing in their ears, the two birds walked

away in happy silence, with both of them feeling truly

majestic animal fat. A peacock's tail can get to almost

two meters in length, that's over six feet. Without that tale,

they'd be able to fly well, but with it, they

can only manage short distances. Being a creature from myths

and legends, nobody has actually seen a real phoenix feather,

but in stories and games one can assist with capturing

or directing magic. Mermaids are also from stories, and although

we wouldn't class them as an animal, half of them

is clearly fish like. When early sailors came across dogongs

and manatees, they would often think they were seeing a mermaid.

Thank you for your great suggestions, Sea. We hope you

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animal tale. Bye.