Bedtime story

Here's a bedtime story I made up a few weeks ago. Like most bedtime stories, I imagine it loses some of its charm once it is written down. So, do me a favor: just imagine it has more charm, if that's possible.

Once upon a time there was a far away kingdom ruled by a kindly King. His castle overlooked a beautiful lake. On the other side of the lake was a mountain range that reached all the way to the clouds. Above the clouds, on top of the tallest mountain, there lived a Dragon who spent his days hoarding treasure.

Legend had it that if a hero was brave enough to confront the dragon, the hero would have the choice between either taking the riches or having one wish granted by the Dragon's magic. But no hero had dared to try to cross the lake, which was as treacherous as it was beautiful, or climb the mountains, which were as steep as they were majestic, or ascend through the clouds, which were as stormy as they were heavenly.

The King had one daughter. She was a beautiful Princess and ever since she was a newborn, the King had loved her so much that he would kiss each of her delicate and dainty little fingers before she went to sleep. The Princess grew over the course of a few years from a baby to a little girl, and every night the King would give each of her fingers a kiss before she went to bed.

The Dragon on the top of the mountain heard tales of the King and his beautiful daughter and the nightly finger kisses and grew angry. After his days of hoarding, the Dragon return to his den, where he lived alone, and struggled to sleep every night. It wasn't fair, he thought, that the Princess should have someone to kiss her fingers until she fell asleep, while he should sit in his den on top of the mountains and toss and turn all night. The angrier the Dragon got, the more violent his daily treasure hunts became, until he was feared throughout the kingdom.

The Cloud people, who lived in the clouds, feared his mighty wings that caused great wind storms. The Rock people, who lived on the sides of the mountains, feared his claws, for they tore through stone like it was paper. The Water people, who lived in the lake, feared the Dragon's fiery breath, for it was hot enough to evaporate even the bravest Water Warrior. The Cloud people, Rock people and Water people could not agree to form an alliance to fight the dragon, however, because of centuries of fighting and petty differences. The King's army of men had similar differences with the various tribes of the kingdom and couldn't face the Dragon alone, either.

One day the Princess asked her father, "Daddy, why does the Dragon attack the people of our kingdom?"

"You are a lucky little girl who gets a royal kiss on each of her royal fingers every night to help you go to sleep," the King explained to his daughter. "The Dragon is on top of the mountain by himself and has no one to kiss his fingers until he falls asleep. He is lonely and spiteful and takes it out on everyone in the kingdom."

"Why doesn't someone go kiss his fingers, then?" the Princess asked.

"If anyone approached the Dragon, they'd be burnt by his fire breath and slashed by his claws, and if they weren't dead by then, he'd fly them high into the sky with his mighty wings and drop them from a great height," the King said. "No one dares."

"If I went to visit the Dragon, I would be so nice that he wouldn't be able to attack me," the Princess said. "Then, I'd give him kisses on his fingers so he could get a good night's sleep, and once he gets a good night's sleep, he will stop attacking the people of our kingdom. Anyway, he's right -- it isn't fair that I should get kisses on my fingers while he should live a life alone in his cave."

"You are a good hearted girl," the King said. "But you mustn't ever try to visit the Dragon. It's too dangerous. No matter how nice you are, he would attack you. That is why he doesn't have any friends."

"Has anyone been nice to him before?" the Princess asked.

"I don't know," the King said. "I suppose not."

"Well, then, how do we know what would happen?" the Princess asked.

"I refuse to risk it," the King said. "And if I must, then I hereby forbid you from leaving the castle grounds."

That night, though the King kissed each of the Princess' dainty fingers, she still tossed and turned. She couldn't stop thinking about the lonely Dragon. She also couldn't stop thinking about the innocent people of the kingdom who suffered daily attacks from the angry Dragon. She woke up early the next morning, packed a basket with bread, cheese and milk, and snuck out of the castle grounds to start her journey.

She had chosen a nice summer day for her travels. The birds chirped and the trees rustled in the light breeze. She stuck to the main trail and eventually came upon the beautiful lake. The blue sky reflected off of the calm water and she could see the mountains rising on the other side. The Princess untied one of the royal row boats from the dock and started rowing across.

About halfway across the lake the water suddenly became rough and the boat was tossed about. The Princess gave up rowing and concentrated on just trying to stay inside the boat. It wasn't long before she was washed over board and felt herself being dragged down into the murky depths. Just when the Princess thought all was lost, she felt something pushing her up, up and up, and before she knew it she broke through the surface and landed on the sandy shore at the foot of the mountains. She spit out some water and looked around. She could see the castle all the way on the other side of the lake. At first she thought she had lost her basket but suddenly she spotted it floating safely across the surface of the water. Before it was deposited on the shore in front of her, a watery form rose up around it, slowly taking the shape of a man, who stepped out of the lake, and handed the basket to her.

"You should be careful," the man made of water said. "The water people don't like trespassers and will do anything to keep their lake safe. That's why you were tossed overboard. I noticed you were just a little girl, though, and called off the troops."

"You must be a Water Warrior," the Princess said.

"That's right," the man made of water said. "What are you doing so far away from the castle where the other men made of meat and bone live?"

The Princess explained her mission -- to meet the Dragon, give his fingers kisses, and save the kingdom. The Water Warrior shook his head.

"The Dragon will burn you with his fiery breath," the Water Warrior said. "You must return home."

"I made it this far," the Princess said. "All I have to do now is climb the mountain, go up through the clouds, and kiss the Dragon's fingers."

"Ha," the Water Warrior said. "You make it sound easy. You're foolish, but brave. I will accompany you on your quest as your bodyguard and if the Dragon should try to burn you with his fiery breath, I will use my water powers to put out the flame."

"Oh, thank you!" the Princess said.

Before departing on her journey, the Princess sat down and had a nice little picnic of bread, cheese and milk. She offered some of her provisions to the Water Warrior, but he laughed and shook his head.

"Those things are only for men of meat and bone!" the Water Warrior said.

After lunch, the Princess and the Water Warrior started the climb up the mountains. They were making quick time and decided they'd stop to rest once they reached the place where the clouds touched the trail. They were about halfway to their resting point when the mountains began to rumble and large rocks rolled down from above and rained down upon them.

"I will shield you!" the Water Warrior said, trying to block the Princess from danger. But, it was useless, and the rocks crashed right through his watery body.

Just when it looked like all was lost, a group of rocks nearby rolled together and rose up to form the outline of a man, who used his massive rock arms to bat the falling boulders away. The mountain stopped rumbling and the man made of rock turned to face the Water Warrior and the Princess.

"Run, little girl!" the Water Warrior said. "It's a Rock Warrior! You can't trust them!"

"But he saved my life," the Princess said.

"My rock troops attacked you because you have unlawfully entered our kingdom," the Rock Warrior said. "But I called off the attack because I saw you were just a little girl. What are

you doing so far from home?"

The Princess explained her mission to kiss the Dragon's fingers, and explained how the Water Warrior had helped her across the lake and vowed to protect her from the Dragon's fire.

"That is a more noble vow than I would have thought a Water Warrior would make," the Rock Warrior said. "All I've ever known Water Warriors to do is to erode my people and turn us into sand."

"Well, all you Rock Warriors ever do is keep us Water Warriors contained and tell us where to go and what to do," the Water Warrior said.

"I never thought of that," the Rock Warrior replied. "Princess, I must protest your plan to kiss the Dragon's fingers. Even if the Water Warrior douses his flame, he will cut you up into little ribbons with his claws -- razor sharp claws on the very fingers you intend to kiss."

"Never the less," the Princess said, "I must try. I can't stand to think of the Dragon all alone up there with no one to kiss his fingers. It's no wonder he throws tantrums."

"So be it," the Rock Warrior said. "I will join you on your quest, and if he tries to cut you with his claws I will break his claws with my rock hard skin."

Then the Rock Warrior knelt down and said, "Climb on my back, Princess, and I will carry you the rest of the way up the mountain."

So, the three travelers continued up the mountain until they reached the place where the clouds touched the trail. There they stopped, and the Princess got some more bread and cheese and milk out of her basket and made a nice little dinner.

"The Water Warrior does not eat," the Princess told the Rock Warrior. "But you must be famished after carrying me all this way."

"Oh, no," the Rock Warrior said. "This the Water Warrior and I have in common. We do not eat like men of meat and bone."

After the Princess was done eating, she had a little nap. The Rock Warrior and the Water Warrior got to talking, since neither of them had to sleep and there was nothing to do but sit there and watch the Princess.

"You know, Rock Warrior, I've been thinking," the Water Warrior said. "I think I like rocks the best when I flow by little smooth stones in a shallow brook. It makes me feel so nice I can't help but babble. I suppose rocks aren't all bad."

"I was thinking also," said the Rock Warrior. "And I suppose water isn't so bad either. Why, I once had a nasty bump on my elbow and after just a few thousand years of erosion, it smoothed right out."

After the Princess awoke, the three travelers continued on the trail into the clouds. They climbed and climbed and couldn't tell how close they were to the top of the mountain because of the white fog all around them. Soon the fog began to turn gray, and eventually thunder and lightning clapped and the wind began to howl fiercely. The three companions tried to brave it, leaning against the wind with their arms covering their faces, but each gust was more blustery than the last and threatened to blow them right off the side of the mountain.

"We better wait for the storm to die down," the Rock Warrior said.

But, no sooner had he said that, than a giant gust came along and blew the Princess right off the trail and into the air. The Rock Warrior and the Water Warrior gasped and watched helplessly as the wind tossed the Princess about, certain they'd see her crash to the ground below. Before that could happen, a cloud that was whiter than the other gray ones, appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and acted as a cushion, gently catching the Princess and lifting her up out of the storm. As the wind and thunder and lightning died down, the Rock Warrior and the Water Warrior raced up the trail to find where the white cloud had taken the Princess.

They came upon the Princess at the top of the mountain, where a man made of clouds stood talking to her.

"Get back!" the Rock Warrior warned. "It's a Cloud Warrior!"

"They're the worst!" the Water Warrior said. "Much worse than Rock Warriors!"

"Yes," the Rock Warrior agreed. "And, much worse than Water Warriors!"

"I would have commanded my troops to cast all of you down to the ground below," the Cloud Warrior said. "But, I saw that it was just a little girl, very far from home, and I called my Cloud Warriors off. Now, girl, what were you telling me before? You want to kiss the Dragon's fingers?"

"That's right," the Princess said. "Then, he will get a good night's sleep, and he will be less lonely, and he will stop attacking the kingdom."

"Admirable goal," the Cloud Warrior said. "But dreadfully naive. Do you know how many would be heroes I've seen the Dragon grab in his claws, fly up into the sky with his mighty wings, and then drop from a great height? Even if this Water Warrior can douse his flame and this Rock Warrior can break his claws, you won't stand a chance."

"Still," the Princess said. "I must try. I feel so guilty, getting kisses on each of my fingers every night before I go to bed. Why should I get all the finger kisses? Dragons need finger kisses, too."

"Well, if you're so convinced, then there's nothing I can do to stop you," the Cloud Warrior said. "I don't have to stand by and watch you get killed, though. I will go with you, and if the Dragon tries to drop you from a great height, then I will catch you like a cushion and float you safely to the ground. Just one thing."

"Yes?" the Princess asked.

"Do those two guys have to come along?" the Cloud Warrior asked, pointing at the Rock Warrior and the Water Warrior.

"Why not?" the Princess said. "They're my friends."

"Well, for one thing, the Rock Warriors make caves deep in the Earth where air can't even go. That's not fair," the Cloud Warrior said. "For another, Water Warriors evaporate up into the clouds and make us so full we eventually burst. It hurts."

"Yeah, well, you're no prize," the Rock Warrior said, "Cloud Warriors blow Water Warriors all about, don't they?"

"Yes," the Water Warrior said. "And Cloud Warriors do their fair share of eroding away at the Rock Warriors, too, don't they?"

"They most certainly do," the Rock Warrior said.

"Rock Warrior," the Princess scolded. "I'm surprised at you. Why, didn't you just say that a couple thousand years of erosion got rid of a nasty bump on your elbow?"

"I guess so," the Rock Warrior said. "I thought you were sleeping."

"I had a fitful nap due to a lack of finger kisses," the Princess said. "Which reminds me -- I think it's time to go meet the dragon if you three please."

So, the four travelers continued down the trail at the top of the mountain until they reached the mouth of the dragon's cave.

"Let's rest here before going in," the Princess said. "It might be my last chance and I want to be as alert as possible when I meet the Dragon. Cloud Warrior, do you want any bread or cheese or milk? I know the Rock Warrior and the Water Warrior do not eat, but I thought I'd offer just in case."

"Oh, no," the Cloud Warrior said. "I don't eat either."

While the Princess tried to nap despite her lack of royal finger kisses, the three warriors got to talking.

"I have to confess," the Cloud Warrior said, "I wasn't totally fair back there. We actually enjoy soaking up the evaporating water and then letting it go again as rain. It's refreshing."

"I wasn't fair either," the Water Warrior said. "It is fun to fly up through the sky and then back down again."

When the Princess woke up, the four travelers walked into the cave, followed winding trails through the darkness and finally came to a door overlooking the Dragon's den. It was a massive room piled high with all kinds of treasure including gold, trinkets and jewels. On top of the pile of treasure, the Dragon sat, tossing and turning fitfully.

"Wish me luck," the Princess said.

"Wait," the Water Warrior said. "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

"We wouldn't blame you if you backed out," the Rock Warrior said.

"No one in the kingdom would be any worse off than they are now," the Cloud Warrior said.

"I have to do it," the Princess said. "The Dragon deserves love, just like me."

As soon as the Dragon spotted the Princess coming towards him, he got up off of his pile of treasure and lumbered down to meet her. He was a massive lizard like creature with a long snaky neck, two massive feet with sharp claws, and two tiny arms with even sharper claws. He had big leathery wings folded behind him, lethal looking spines running down his back, and red eyes.

"Who dares come for my treasure?" the Dragon said. "More fools who wish to be destroyed? The only thing I have in the entire world, the only thing I can call my own, and you want to take it from me?"

"No, you misunderstand," the Princess said. "I have heard of your troubles. You are lonely and angry and you can't sleep at night. You have heard I get kisses on my fingers and night to put me to sleep and you wonder why you don't get to have kisses. That is why I'm here -- to give you the finger kisses you deserve."

"I don't need your charity," the Dragon said. "I don't need your pity. And I won't fall for your tricks. Sure as I allow you to come close to kiss my fingers, your companions will steal my treasure and I will have nothing."

With that, the Dragon opened his massive jaws, displaying his shining sharp teeth and forked tongue, and unleashed a hot blast of fire. The flames bellowed right towards the Princess, but before she could even scream, the Water Warrior threw himself in the way, dousing the flames. The Water Warrior landed in a puddle on the floor, losing his human shape.

"Thank you, Water Warrior," the Princess said.

"Anything to protect you, little girl," the Water Warrior said. "Only now I fear I'm evaporating away."

And with that, the Water Warrior was no more.

"No matter," the Dragon said, swiping towards the Princess with his massive claws. The Rock Warrior jumped into action, blocking the mighty blow and protecting the princess.

"Thank you, Rock Warrior," the Princess said as the Dragon reeled from the surprise interference.

"You're welcome, little girl," the Rock Warrior said. "But I can feel myself crumbling from the attack."

And with that, the Rock Warrior broke into several pieces, falling to the floor dead.

"Now," the Dragon said, "I will grab you up in my clutches and fly you into the sky where I will drop you from a great height."

He grabbed the Princess and flew high into the air, flapping his mighty wings and laughing maniacally.

"I like to watch you puny people fall," the Dragon said, dropping the Princess.

Before she hit the ground, the Princess landed on the Cloud Warrior, who had formed himself into a nice cushion so he could lower her to the ground gently and safely.

"Thank you, Cloud Warrior," the Princess said.

"Don't thank me yet," the Cloud Warrior said. "All might be lost. The Water Warrior and the Rock Warrior are both gone. You are still vulnerable. The Dragon won't listen to reason. Look, he's about to go on another rampage. I must summon all of my power to knock him out of the sky."

"Don't hurt him!" the Princess screamed as the Cloud Warrior transformed himself into a tornado and blasted across the sky. He rammed into the Dragon, knocking him out of the air. The Dragon crashed on his pile of treasure and rolled to the cave floor, stunned. The Princess looked up in the sky but could find no sign of the Cloud Warrior.

The Princess looked around her. The Dragon was laying on the ground, writhing in agony. There was a wet stain on the cave floor where the Water Warrior had perished. A pile of rocks was all that was left of the Rock Warrior. The air was still as the Cloud Warrior seemed to have been vanquished as well.

The Princess sat on a rock at the mouth of the cave and looked out over the kingdom as the sun set. She could see the castle, far, far away. She thought about her father, the King, and how he was probably pacing around the Castle grounds, worried about her. And, he had been right. Although it had been a great adventure, the Dragon was still not happy, and her new friends were gone forever. The Princess started to cry.

The Dragon heard her crying and sat up to look at her.

"Don't cry, little girl," he said. "Look, you've vanquished me. That means you get to have my treasure. It's all I have, but those are the rules. Anyone who vanquishes me gets to have my treasure."

"I don't want your treasure," the Princess said through her sobs.

"Surely you want my gold and jewels and trinkets. Who wouldn't?" the Dragon said.

"I don't want any of it," the Princess said, tears dropping from her eyes.

"Then why would you come all the way up here?" the Dragon asked.

"I already told you," the Princess said. "All I wanted to do was give you some kisses on your fingers. I thought it would put you to sleep, and that would make you happy, and you'd stop attacking everyone in the kingdom."

The Dragon realized his terrible mistake.

"You mean, you were telling the truth?" the Dragon asked. "But why would you want to kiss my fingers? I'm a dragon!"

"Because," the Princess said. "It's not fair that I have a daddy to kiss my fingers at night and you don't have anyone to kiss yours. I wanted to help you."

The Dragon didn't know what to do. It had never occurred to him that someone might want to help him. Then he remembered something.

"You're also entitled to a wish!" the Dragon said. "If you don't want the treasure, I can grant you a wish."

"I don't want the treasure," the Princess said. "And I don't want a wish. I just want my friends back. I was foolish to lead them into danger."

"Ah, but you see, you just made a wish," the Dragon said. "Whether you wanted to or not. And, I hereby grant it."

With that, the Dragon blinked his red eyes, and with a flash of light the Water Warrior, Rock Warrior and Cloud Warrior suddenly stood before the Princess unharmed.

"You're alive!" she said running to them. They all hugged.

"Ah, it must be nice to have friends," the Dragon said, watching them.

"Thank you, Dragon!" the Princess said. She broke free from the hug and ran straight for the Dragon without hesitation. She wrapped her arms around one of his giant fingers and gave it a big kiss.

"You don't think you could kiss my other fingers, could you?" the Dragon asked.

"Of course I will!" the Princess said, and she kissed each one.

"It feels so nice to be loved!" the Dragon said. And with that, he passed out and took a nap.

"I should rest, too, before I journey all the way home," the Princess said.

While the Princess and the Dragon slept, the three warriors got to talking. The Rock Warrior and the Cloud Warrior filled the Water Warrior in on what happened after he evaporated.

"Good job, guys," the Water Warrior said. "We all made good on our vows, no matter the cost."

"And now, I make a new vow," the Rock Warrior said. "That all Rock Warriors, Cloud Warriors and Water Warriors should be friends, just like the three of us are."

"I second that vow," the Cloud Warrior said.

"Here, here," the Water Warrior agreed.

When the Princess and the Dragon awoke, the Dragon said, "Now, little girl. You have to get home, and I will fly you there. Climb on my back and hold onto one of my plates, and I will take you back to the land of men of meat and bones."

"Thank you," the Princess said. "But first, I must eat breakfast. I have a little bread and cheese and milk left. None of these guys eat. I don't suppose you want any, Dragon?"

"Why, yes I do, thank you," the Dragon said. And they both sat down and had a nice little picnic.

When they were full, the Princess climbed on the Dragon.

"I guess this is goodbye," the Water Warrior said.

"Nonsense," the Princess said. "My father will want to meet the three warriors who kept me safe on this adventure and saved my life multiple times. Climb aboard!"

"Yes," the Dragon said. "And I will fly each of you home later."

So, the Warriors climbed on board, and the four travelers rode on the Dragon's back as he flew through the clouds, down the mountain, across the lake and right over the castle wall, where he landed in the courtyard. Several of the King's warriors raised their spears and bows and arrows and approached the Dragon carefully.

"What is the meaning of this?" the King asked, coming out of the castle in his suit of royal armor, brandishing his family's sword.

"Don't attack!" the Princess cried out, climbing down from the Dragon. "He's my friend. For you see, I have kissed his fingers and he is no longer lonely or angry."

"My little girl!" the King cried in delight, dropping his sword and running to hug the Princess. "I thought I had lost you forever."

"No, father," the Princess said. "These three warriors protected me."

She pointed to the Water Warrior, the Rock Warrior and the Cloud Warrior who each dismounted the dragon and bowed humbly before the king.

"She's a princess?" the Cloud Warrior asked the other two.

"Why didn't you tell us?" the Rock Warrior asked the Water Warrior.

"I didn't know she was a princess!" the Water Warrior said.

"Rock, Water and Cloud -- working together to help my daughter, a little girl of the flesh. And together, all of you have spared the kingdom from the evil temper of this Dragon," the King said.

"And I promise to be good from now on," the Dragon said.

"Amazing," the King said. "From henceforth I hereby appoint you three warriors ambassadors between the land of men and your respective tribes.

And so, the three warriors returned to their homes, where they were hailed as heroes and looked upon as leaders in a new era of peace. The Dragon shared all of his riches with the people of the land and left his den to live in the castle courtyard. The King continued to kiss the Princess' fingers each night before she went to sleep, but not until after she had made sure to kiss the Dragon's fingers first.

The End