Princess Charming and the Dragon’s Pact

Princess Charming had finally had enough. Enough of all the princes constantly getting themselves into trouble, enough of them falling madly in love with her just because she happened to save them, and enough of her mother’s relentless attempts to marry her off to one of these helpless royals who couldn’t survive a day without managing to fall asleep under a curse or wander off into danger.

It wasn’t that she disliked all men, but was it too much to ask for one who wouldn’t need rescuing from a poisoned apple or from the clutches of an old witch with a candy house? And don’t even get her started on Prince Ari, the mer-prince who thought it would be a grand idea to walk on land, leaving the entire palace smelling like seaweed for weeks. Sure, he had great hair, but the smell was unforgettable.

The final straw was Jack, a sweet boy with a habit of trading important things for “magic” items. When he traded her tiara for a pack of magic playing cards that turned out to be nothing more than painted cardboard, she decided she was done with the lot of them.

All Princess Charming wanted was peace—a quiet place where no one would come knocking on her door expecting her to save them, kiss them, or join them on some doomed adventure. A place where she could read, paint, and live life on her own terms, free from expectations.

So, she devised a plan.

She was going to kidnap a dragon.

Well, technically, she was going to dragonnap it. She would start a rumour that she had been taken by a fearsome dragon, and with no prince foolish enough to attempt a rescue, she would finally be left alone.

The highest tower of Mistwrought Keep was said to house a dragon, and the thick fog that cloaked the entire valley made it the perfect hiding place. Her first attempt to reach it had ended with her lost in the mist for days, but this time, she was prepared.

“Ready?” she asked, turning to Bayley, the wolf she had once rescued from a persistent girl in a red hood.

“You’re mad, Princess,” Bayley grinned, “but a deal’s a deal.”

The wolf huffed, puffed, and blew the fog away, sending it rolling over the hills like a late cloud rushing to its next appointment.

“Thanks, Wolfie,” Princess Charming said, adjusting her armour. “Now, off I go.”

“Absolutely barking mad,” the wolf muttered, trotting off in search of breakfast.

As she reached the tower, the fog returned with a vengeance, creeping into the cracks of the old stones. She climbed the spiralling stairs, her armour clanking, each step echoing in the silence. At the top, the door lay broken, mist pouring out of the room beyond.

Stepping inside, she whispered to herself, “This was a bad idea.”

She nearly screamed when she bumped into something solid—a massive, warm, egg-shaped something. It was enormous, easily taller than her, heavy enough that moving it would be impossible.

Before she could figure out what to do, the deep, thunderous breathing in the mist stopped, replaced by a sudden jet of flame that lit the ceiling, followed by an ear-splitting roar.

“WHO DARES DISTURB MY SLUMBER?”

She straightened her armour and stepped around the egg, swallowing her fear as she faced the dragon. Two glowing eyes, like molten gold, stared down at her.

“I did, oh mighty one,” she said, keeping her voice calm.

“You’re hiding from princes?” the dragon asked, confused.

“Not in my story, they don’t,” Princess Charming replied firmly.

A deep, rumbling laugh shook the room. “Finally, someone who understands. I can’t stand princes either.”

The two shared stories: of princes who tried to wake the dragon with a “true love’s kiss” while it napped, of arrogant royals who attempted to slay it for glory. The dragon introduced herself as Sophia, her scales shifting colours as she shared the pain of losing her mate, Ben, to a reckless prince who wanted a name in songs.

Princess Charming felt a bond forming. “Sophia, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship.”

And it was. The Princess stayed, helping Sophia raise her hatchling, the rumour spreading that she had been taken by the fearsome dragon of Mistwrought Keep. No prince dared attempt a rescue, and even Queen Lovely eventually stopped sending knights, accepting that her daughter had found a place she truly belonged.

The mists around Mistwrought Keep lifted, and peace returned to the valley. The princess spent her days reading and painting, helping Sophia teach the hatchling to fly, and even welcoming Jack when he came to visit, promising he wouldn’t trade anything important again.

And so, Princess Charming, Sophia the dragon, and their small, chosen family lived happily ever after, in a castle that no prince would ever dare disturb again.

Moral of the Story

Sometimes, the life you dream of isn’t found in following what everyone else expects of you. True peace and happiness come when you choose your own path and find those who truly accept you for who you are.