Rumplestiltskin leaned forward, grinning wickedly as he cracked his knuckles.
Tales Parents Should Not Tell Their Kids
"Alright, let's dive into some real horror stories, shall we? First up, Bluebeard. A man with a serious obsession for secrecy—he marries woman after woman, giving them one rule: never, ever enter a specific room. But, of course, curiosity gets the better of them, and, well, let’s just say the room holds... a collection that no one should ever discover. The gruesome truth? Not the kind of bedtime story you'd want to share with your kids."
Loki scoffed, rolling his eyes with mock disbelief.
"Oh, I love Bluebeard," he chuckled darkly. "He’s got that whole ‘let's teach kids to follow rules by showing them terrifying consequences’ vibe. But, let’s get more twisted, shall we? How about The Robber Bridegroom? A girl is promised to this man, only to find out he’s more monster than man. Her life turns into one twisted nightmare after another, and just when it seems things can’t get any worse... they do. It’s a story about trust, but honestly? No kid needs that kind of trauma. There’s a better way to teach them to trust their instincts without exposing them to pure horror."
Alice, who had been sitting cross-legged on the floor, interjected, shaking her head.
"Don’t even get me started on The Red Shoes," she sighed dramatically. "A girl finds the perfect pair of shoes, but when she puts them on, she can’t stop dancing. They take control and drag her into an endless, exhausting whirl. It’s all about vanity, sure, but the imagery is so intense, I’d say it’s much better suited for adults who need a lesson on moderation. Kids? They'd be haunted by those shoes for weeks."
Rumplestiltskin grinned, clearly enjoying the discomfort on Alice's face.
"And who could forget The Pied Piper of Hamelin?" he continued. "A town cheats a musician out of his payment, and what does he do? He takes their children. Every single one. A lesson on the consequences of dishonesty, sure—but when the price is that steep, maybe it’s not something for little ears. Imagine reading that to your child before bed... ‘Sweet dreams, darling. Hope you don’t cheat anyone tomorrow.’"
Loki leaned back, his smile wicked as he casually plucked at his cloak.
"The Girl Without Hands, though. Now that one’s a real gem. A father makes a deal with a sinister force, and, well... sacrifices his daughter's happiness for his own gain. She’s left to suffer hardship after hardship, and the poor girl has to go through an emotional gauntlet just to find a little bit of redemption in the end. That’s a rough ride for any kid to go through. You can teach perseverance without subjecting them to that kind of misery."
Alice was visibly disturbed by the next tale, but she pushed on.
"The Juniper Tree—Oh, the stepmother in this one. Let’s just say her jealousy leads her down a path of violence and manipulation. The poor girl and her brother? They endure more trauma than anyone should have to, and when the story ends, it’s creepy, unsettling justice. But kids? They shouldn’t have to picture that kind of horror, not when their biggest problem is deciding what to have for lunch."
Rumplestiltskin chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"And to finish things off, let’s talk Struwwelpeter. A collection of tales designed to teach kids not to misbehave. Sounds innocent enough, right? But it’s anything but. We’ve got a boy who doesn’t cut his nails, and they grow out of control... until they’re just... grotesque. There’s another child who doesn’t behave, and, well, let’s just say the punishment is far from gentle. It’s supposed to be a cautionary tale, but it’s more like a nightmare, and we all know that’s a little much for young ears."
Loki snorted, shaking his head in amusement.
"Honestly, these tales are too much for anyone who wants to sleep well. Maybe that’s the real lesson here—don’t use fear as a teaching tool. A little fear is fine, but this stuff? It's the kind of thing that gives you nightmares for weeks."
Alice nodded in agreement, her tone serious for once.
"Exactly! The thing about these stories is they don’t just teach morals—they leave you with a heavy, unsettling feeling. More like nightmare fuel than moral lessons. The only lesson kids are going to take away is that the world is a terrifying place. Maybe save these for the adults who want something a little more... unnerving."
The Verdict:
These stories? Definitely not for kids. They're full of horror, trauma, and consequences so extreme you’ll wonder why they were ever considered ‘fairy tales’ in the first place. Better to keep these twisted little gems tucked away for adults who can handle them. The real world’s scary enough without introducing these nightmares into the mix.
The Takeaway:
Let’s keep these cautionary tales for the grown-ups. There’s no reason to fill young minds with horror they don’t need. Some lessons are better left in the dark, far away from bedtime.
