One Word Prompts

Dragon - The Princess

"My lady." A silk robed advisor in a puffy hat bowed deeply before the princess. "Your father has sent a gift from the war front."

"More jewelry?" she asked. She sat slouched in her throne, her head propped up on one elbow. "I suppose its another tactlessly large diamond? A jewel-encrusted tiara that weighs more than my body? Just put it in on the shelf with the rest and send him my usual thanks."

"No, my lady," the advisor said. "Your father has sent something far rarer than common jewels."

She raised an eyebrow but otherwise made no other move.

"As you know, your father has been campaigning in lands far south, where fire erupts from stone, and ice covers sand. They have encountered all manner of strange beasts, from hybrids of eagles and lions to wolves larger than horses. They have fought giants and golems, of flesh and stone. They have bested elementals and fae, banished demons and otherworldly spirits. And each has possessed far greater magic and majesty than the one before. --"

She cut him off with a yawn. "Get on with it."

The advisor coughed. "Ahem, yes. That is all to say, your father has fought many fantastic, impossible creatures. Yet, his present to you outshines them all." He took a step back, sweeping his hand toward the opening hall doors. "Behold. The dragon!"

A green-scaled creature, the size of a pony, with a serpentine neck and tail, was pulled into the room. It was bound in brass chains, cuffs tightly holding each leg. A muzzle, of the same bronze, sealed the creature's mouth but did nothing to contain the slow rise of smoke from the beast's nostrils. Additional chains pinned the leathery wings to the beast's sides. A fully armed handler held the end of each chain, pulling the dragon forward into the room.

The princess sat up a little straighter at the sight of the creature.

"This," the advisor continued, "Is a fledgling dragon from the crags of Mortemaz. Your father's knights captured this beast for you and you alone."

"For my menagerie?" A finger went to her lips as she imagined the beast in a cage in her garden. Between the pegasus and the unicorn, of course. Yes, she could already see it. Perhaps she'd have some of her jewelry reworked to make ornaments for it. A ruby set on its forehead would be ideal. Perhaps a line of emeralds down each wing?

"Oh, my lady, a dragon can be so much more than a beast for your zoo," her advisor said. "It's quite smart, you see."

"Your point?" she asked, already scowling. How dare a mere advisor tell her what she could and couldn't do with her gifts.

"Have you heard of the royalty in the kingdoms to the west? How they keep big cats as their companions? Leopards and lions and tigers?"

"I've heard stories," she said.

"Now, imagine, highness, this gorgeous creature at your side in the same way."

She let the image form. She in a gown of green, lying over the neck of the dragon, its wing draped over her protectively. She couldn't help the smile creeping over the corner of her mouth. "Go on."

"Those cats other kingdoms train are no less wild when they are first brought in, yet with proper training become a proper pet. And this dragon, it is far smarter than those cats. I am certain it could be trained with ease."

"Oh?"

The advisor nodded. "To begin with, it understands human speech. Observe." He turned to the dragon. "Nod for yes, shake your head for no. Understand?"

The dragon snorted in the advisor's face.

"Understand?" The advisor yanked down on the chain attached to the dragon's muzzle.

It growled but nodded.

He smiled, a cruel glint in his eye. "Good. Now, tell me, is the sky blue?"

Again, the dragon nodded.

"And is water dry?"

It shook its head.

"And fire? Is it hot?"

A nod.

He grinned up to the princess. "See, highness?"

"I would like to try," she said, her eyes narrowing. In truth, it didn't matter to her. Either the dragon understood the human language, or it had already been trained to respond to her advisor's questions in this way. Either way, it proved the beast could be trained, as he suggested. Still, if he were faking, she would have him replaced quietly after this. She despised liars most of all.

"Naturally, highness," her advisor said with a nod.

She regarded the dragon below her. The beast met her gaze. A fire burned in those emerald eyes. These were not the eyes of a house pet. These were not the eyes of a dumb beast.

"Am I the most beautiful in all the world?" she asked finally.

A roar split the sky.

The world trembled. Glass shattered everywhere, bouncing off of the stone floors, blown from the windows.

The princess clutched her chair, her knuckles going white. Her advisor and the dragon's handlers scurried in six different directions, not a single one keeping hold of the heavy brass chains.

Above them, the marble ceiling was ripped from its place. Heat scorched every corner of the room.

Glaring through the new sunroof in the princess's chamber was a scaled head of crimson scales. Black horns curled up from the back of its head. Spines of deep maroon ran up the center of its face and crested the ridges above its eyes.

It was a dragon.

It was large, easily taller than the castle's highest tower. Its head alone was larger than the fledgling dragon in chains.

It was ferocious, smoke oozing from between its soot-stained teeth. The unmistakable smell of sulfur hung in the air promising a fiery end to any who crossed it.

It was completely unrestricted. Unchained. No force on earth could stop it.

"RETURN HER!" The crimson dragon's voice boomed through all present. It was both a physical sound, roaring and deafening, and a mental one, projected directly through the bodies of each potential culprit. "THE ONE YOU KIDNAPPED. RETURN OUR PRINCESS."