The Great Eel

Thousands of minnows had died ever since the sharks had moved into their same reef. There was always some minnow asking, “Who will defeat the sharks?” “Can the sharks be defeated?”
    
Of course, everyone knew there was an answer: Ask the Great Eel. Nobody dared suggest it because if the Eel rejected your request, you’d get stung.
    
Day after day, more minnows died. The sharks were feasting every night, eating and attacking minnows as fast as a young child would eat candy. Finally, Lieutenant Minnow was fed up.
    
“I’m going to see the Eel!” he called out. As he swam out of their small reef-town, every fish waved and cheered, knowing that their problems would finally come to an end.
    
The next day, the Lieutenant had gotten to the Great Eel’s hole. “I wish to speak with the Great Eel.”
    
“Enter,” came a raspy voice.
    
“Great Eel, my school of minnows is being destroyed by sharks! I’m begging you, please help us!”
    
“Fine. I’ll be there soon. Do not fear.”
    
Lieutenant Minnow spread the news, and soon enough the Great Eel was in sight with his small group of followers. As everyone approached the battlesea, the minnows were looking grim. Then whoosh! A gray flash went by, and before anyone knew it, the eels devoured everything, including the minnows.
    
Just before he ate Lieutenant Minnow, he roared, “This really was quite the dinner you’ve invited me to! I’ll wear my best suit next time!”
    
The moral of this story is: Avoid a remedy worse than the disease.