Good Knight

Princess Peppermint

Penelope was overwhelmed with excitement when she opened her eyes and saw the beautiful ivory white castle of the Tooth Fairies standing before her. She approached the front gates and looked up at the guard. His uniform matched the castle.

"My name is Penelope Pimm and I've been sent here by The Fable Keeper to find Princess Peppermint," she explained. She couldn't think of anything better to say and besides it was the truth. The Fable Keeper seemed to find Penelope's presence here important to the entire dream world. Perhaps the guard at the gate would feel the same.

He looked down at her a little suspiciously at first. Then he noticed the dream catcher in her hands. He frowned at it and then looked her in the eyes again.

"Where did you get that?" he asked. Penelope held the dream catcher closely to her, fearing she might lose it.

"The Fable Keeper gave it to me. She said it would protect me from the Nightmares on my journey to rescue my Teddy Bear. He was kidnapped by the Nightmares," she explained. The guard thought the situation over for a moment.

"Follow me," he said. Then he turned to the gate, unlocked it and escorted Penelope to the front doors of the castle. They entered it together. Penelope followed the guard through the halls, up the most magical staircases and soon reached an observatory.

There, a beautiful red-headed woman in a red and white gown stood studying the telescope. Penelope's heart fluttered with excitement when she noticed a pair of glittery wings that sprouted from the woman's back. She looked away from it when the guard entered and focused on him and the little guest he brought with him.

"Your Highness, may I present to you Penelope Pimm. I believe you two have much to discuss," the guard said. He bowed and left the room. Penelope turned to the woman standing across the way.

"Are you Princess Peppermint?" Penelope asked. The princess seemed unsure of how to react. After a brief hesitation, Princess Peppermint forced a laugh.

"I am and may I ask why are you here?" she insisted. Penelope remembered what The Fable Keeper had said about Princess Peppermint having no memory of the curse. She wondered how she could explain herself.

"I fell into the dream world when the Nightmares came to kidnap my Teddy Bear. I tried to save him, but instead I got dragged here too. I landed in The Fable Keeper's castle and she told me that my Teddy Bear was cursed by Prince Grendelmere and that's who has him now. The Fable Keeper told me I need your help to save him," she explained. The princess stood there in shock and tried to process what had just been said. She leaned down to the little girl and touched her shoulder.

"How much have you seen?" she asked. Penelope was confused. She didn't know how to answer. The princess could see her confusion and stood up straight again, thinking her suspicions were confirmed.

"You shouldn't be here, Penelope. Humans are not to know of this world's existence. Don't worry though, you'll soon wake up and this will all have been just a very strange dream to you," Peppermint assured her. Penelope's heart sank at that statement. The princess did not intend to help her in the way she needed.

"But it's all true! What I told you is true! Princess Peppermint, you have to help me rescue my Teddy Bear! You're the only one that I know can help!" Penelope pleaded. Tears trickled from her eyes as she begged frantically.

"I'm going to send you home. The dream world is no place for a child, especially nowadays. That's why Dreams are brought to you. Now, you wait here while I go find a way to do all that," Peppermint explained.

"No!" Penelope cried. The Princess left the room and closed and locked the door behind her. Penelope quickly became distressed for fear that when the princess returned, she would be prevented from rescuing her Teddy Bear and completely forget that she ever knew him and he'd be lost forever. She couldn't stand the thought of abandoning her Teddy Bear to the Nightmares and a life filled with fear and misery. She tugged and pulled at the doorknob, trying to escape. She screamed and sobbed, but it was no use.