In Russian folklore, Prince Dmitri is captured and transformed into a hedgehog by the witchBaba Yaga, and later works together with a pure-hearted heroine to escape.
Variations of the "hedgehog prince" story are told in countries such as Germany and Hungary.
Dmitri Romanov was a Russian prince who was captured and transformed into a hedgehog by the witchBaba Yaga. One day, the American adventuress Slue-foot Sue arrived by accident in Baba Yaga's neighborhood. Although Sue seemed to be winning Baba Yaga's contest of magical strength, Dmitri knew that the witch would never keep her promise to help the lost American return to Texas. He approached Sue and warned her that Baba Yaga was planning her death. When Sue was confused by the presence of a talking hedgehog, Dmitri explained his status as an enchanted prince. Sue said that his being a kindly soul was good enough, which caused Dmitri to wonder why she had mistaken him for a Gudenov rather than a Romanov. Dmitri instructed Sue how to win the obedience of the sentient izbushka where Baba Yaga lived, and they fled to Ukraine, where Sue deposited Dmitri at the Great Gate of Kiev as he had requested.[1]
