If you need to get up to speed, the contest started in our last post, which you can read HERE. Below are the various conclusions to the story, beginning with the WINNING ENTRY by Kelsi Harris! Congratulations, Kelsi!!! We loved the humor and twist ending in your story. It was the perfect end-cap to this madcap tale! After Kelsi’s entry you will find the entries by the four Letter Belles, and following that are some excerpts from some of our other entries. Make sure you read it to the end!
Our story left off here… “But quick!” said the dragon, his papery voice gaining a little strength. “All I require is a human guide to break the spell that keeps me here! The second passageway you saw, it leads out. It’s as simple as that! Magic has prevented me from taking the path myself, but now that you’re here, I can leave and be free again! Oh, dear friends, will you not help me?
Asthore had been silent through all of this, and as Jesse turned eagerly to consult him, he was alarmed to see a decided look of suspicion on the wizard’s face. “I’ve never been one to trust a dragon,” he said hesitatingly.
“Oh Asthore, look at him! How could you question him?” asked Jesse reproachfully as another giant tear splashed down the creature’s face…”
Winning entry by Kelsi Harris
But then as Jesse began to think, the old man, the smirk and the evil chuckle all began to play in his head.
What would happen to this dragon if he were to be let out? Would he want to seek revenge against the old man? Would the old man attack him all over again?
And what about the town? They couldn’t just have a dragon roaming around town, not with the town dogs just starting to perform in the town square every day at lunch, that would be like an all you can eat buffet for this scrawny dragon!
Jesse turned to Asthore, “Well what do you think? Should we lead him through the tunnel and show him the way?”
Asthore took a deep breath and let the air go out of his wand, suddenly they were surrounded by darkness, and all they could hear was Jesse’s deep slow breaths, and the dragons, shallow, sad inhales. But after a moment in the darkness, a small light appeared, glowing at first, and then hot on their faces. Jesse leaped backward confused, “Wait what is this? Asthore is that you, turn off that darn fire!”
“That’s not me! OUCH, my beard!” Asthore screamed clinging to the frayed, singed, ends of his once red beard. And just like that the small puff of light was gone, and Jesse could hear the dragons, low, kind, voice again, “I’m sorry I haven’t done that in so long I didn’t know I was still capable!”
Fire, the dragon was breathing fire! There was no way that Jesse could let a FIRE BREATHING dragon loose on the sleepy town above. But wait don’t all dragons breathe fire? Didn’t he know that going into it, surely he could have figured that out, but he was just so excited at the idea of finding a dragon below the coal miners caves that he had ignored all the warning signs and possible consequences from befriending this dragon.
Jesse slowly turned to Asthore, who had relit the dim glow from his wand, his beard was a little shorter now and the faint smell of burning hair remained in the air, but this time he had a strange glow in his eyes, like he was coming more to life than he was 10 minutes ago.
“Jesse, we must release this dragon!”
“But Asthore, think of the town he could eat up the dogs right in the middle of their synchronized dance, he may terrorize the sheep and burn down the village square, not to mention the havoc he may wreck on the old man who trapped him here, to begin with. Yeah, that old man is creepy, and I will never forget that sinister chuckle but has he really ever bothered us? No, so how could I unleash this on him?” Jesse whined back at the Asthore, scared to look the dragon in the eyes again, for fear that he would completely lose his will after looking in those big sad eyes, that could practically see into his soul.
“Just trust me.” Asthore assured him.
And so by the glow of Asthore’s wand, and avoiding the few puffs of fire that would escape the dragon’s mouth the three of them walked back to the first room and into the second tunnel, the tunnel the dragon had said lead out of the cave, simple as that he had said.
After a few minutes Jesse was becoming impatient, “ I thought you said this would lead us right out of here, what is taking so long?”
He heard the response, now understanding that the dragon spoke only to him, “It is just up here, it has been so long since I have been able to walk these tunnels it may be a little longer than I can recall.
But after a few more minutes they entered a large room, with no way out.
Asthore let his wand shine a little brighter searching the walls for an opening. Jesse turned to the dragon, confused and angry,
“We walked all this way, trying to help you, trying to get you out and you just led us into this room with no way out, now we have to walk all the way back!”
But just then he heard the dragon’s voice in his head, not the sad, kind voice he had heard before but the same sinister voice of the old man he had heard on his way into the caves so many days. The dragon turned to him and chuckled, the same old man chuckle that Jesse could never forget and said, “You walked all this way, and you did help me, I have been so hungry for so long and now I get a feast, a wizard, and boy in one!”
And before he could respond Jesse was engulfed in the warm, breath of the dragon.
THE END
The dragon was already dragging itself pathetically slowly towards them.
“I wouldn’t trust it,” Ashtore whispered to Jesse, fear on his face.
“But you said yourself I was obligated to help it, because of the telepathy,” Jesse was squirming inside as he backed towards the second passageway.
Jesse watched the dragon closely with each step they took down the passage. It was clearly gaining strength. Its color was returning. There was fire in its eyes, and it was an angry fire that smelt of revenge.
“Oh, I almost forgot, my pack!” said Jesse, turning and darting back to the place where Ashtore had conveniently obliterated the boulder. Ashtore was on his heels.
“We can’t do it, Ashtore,” he whispered, disguising his voice in a pant and a cough. “Have to keep him in here!”
But the dragon heard every word and roared in protest, flying at them with increasing speed.
“Diminicus cuddliness!” Ashtore was quick with his wand. There was an explosion of light and when Jesse could finally see again Ashtore’s wand illuminated the cutest stuffed dragon you can imagine.
“Wow!” Jesse breathed.
Ashtore picked up the stuffed dragon with a satisfied smile. He tossed it to Jesse quickly, as it was still rather warm to the touch. “I knew that one was really going to come in handy when they taught it to us back in Wizard School. Always been a favorite!” He laughed.
“I think I know just who we should give this too,” Jesse said, hugging the stuffed dragon as they came out of the cave, shielding their eyes to the daylight.
Both jumped with a start when they saw that they were not alone. There stood the old man, as best as he could. He had hobbled up the mountain after them on makeshift crutches and was panting painfully from the effort.
“You,” he struggled for air, confusion in his eyes. “You’re alive.” He finally managed. “And alone?” he looked around.
“Almost,” Jesse smiled at him warmly. “You may recognize this guy, if you use your imagination.”
THE END
Cedar
“C’mon Asthore!” Jesse begged. “We have to do something!”
Asthore sighed and shifted a sideways glance from Jesse, to the dragon, and back to Jesse again. Jesse read right through the wizard’s expression. It was the same expression Asthore had given Jesse when he’d challenged his wizard friend to a bologna sandwich eating contest. It clearly meant, “This is a poor choice.”
“Well,” Asthore’s sigh continued. “As the wizard’s code states, I can’t heal you, but I can make a way for you to get you out of here. Holding out his wand in one hand and raising the other as if to conduct a symphony, Asthore spoke in a deep, authoritative voice:
“Poisonous dart!
Lizard fart!
Make me a cart
Like Paul Blart
Has!”
With a poof of sparkly purple cloud, a dragon-sized Segway appeared.
The two friends helped the dragon to its feet, slowly, ushering it to the Segway, and with all the strength it could muster, the dragon gripped the handlebars.
“What are we waiting for? Let’s get you out of here!” Jesse said heroically.
Asthore took one more deep breath of hesitation, and exhaled his regrets in the cave, leaving the empty room behind.
The dragon led the way, the two men on either side, keeping it upright. As they neared the second hallway, Jesse stopped, causing the other two to halt. He put a finger up to his lips. The other two caught on and remained completely still, waiting to hear what Jesse was listening for.
There it was – what he had heard: a laugh. The same laugh Jesse had heard on his way to the wizard’s house that very morning. The same sinister cackle that caused chills to run up his spine was now causing all his skin to crawl. He was grateful for the company of his two companions, but feared what might come along with the man who owned that chilling laugh.
Jesse got the attention of the others and motioned to turn back, but it was too late. The man-with-the-laugh turned the corner, and met them face to face.
His laugh died down to a soft chuckle, but he never stopped smiling – his dirty teeth catching glimpses of the dim cavern light.
“Who are you?” Jesse demanded.
“Why don’t you tell them, Eleanor?” Said the man, looking at the dragon.
“His name is Igor Von Schtickle. He’s my husband.”
—–(timer beeped)—-
“You’re married?” Asked Asthore.
“You’re a female?” Asked Jesse.
“A woman,” corrected the dragon. Igor and I were married long ago. During our courtship, he convinced me that he was kind and gentle.” She glared at Igor. “But as soon as we were wed, his true colors were revealed. He’s a wizard – a wicked one. I’ll spare you all the gruesome details of our story, but over time, and various experimental spells, Igor eventually turned me into…this.” Eleanor turned her head and closed her eyes as if looking away from her scales would make them disappear.
“And now,” said Igor. “They’ve come to rescue you! A fine prince come to rescue the princess.” He said emphasizing the “cess” as all villains do. “Isn’t this perfect timing? For I have come to end you for good. Just one drop of this sticky, gooey potion and you’ll be turned to coal!” Igor held up a vile as a laugh began to gurgle from somewhere deep in his bowels. His chest began to shake, then his shoulders and out burst a hideous laugh from his black mouth. Soon, Igor’s convulsing laughter shook him so hard that he didn’t even hear Eleanor say under her breath, “But you forget. I am a dragon.” With what felt like her last bit of strength, the dragon heaved. Flames erupted from her mouth, and with a shriek, Igor disintegrated into a little heap of ash on the cavern floor.
Eleanor landed with a thud onto the damp floor. Jesse and Asthore rushed to her side.
“No! Eleanor, please!” Shouted Jesse. But to his dismay, one little puff of smoke shot out of her nostrils and her eyelids shut.
“Wiggity, wiggity, wack!” Shouted Asthore, and shot his wand towards the lifeless dragon. With a flash, another puff of smoke and glitter, the scales of the dragon shattered. There, on the floor lay a woman with porcelain skin, smooth dark hair, garmented gracefully in a linen gown.
Jesse’s heart skipped a beat. “Dang,” was all he could say.
Asthore knelt beside her and gently placed his hand beneath her neck. Carefully, he poured four drops of a magic potion into her delicate mouth. She gasped, then her eyes shot open, meeting Jesse’s gaze. She smiled at him, “Thank you.”
THE END
Emily M.
Asthore took Jesse aside a few steps and spoke quietly. “Dragons are wily beasts,” he said. “What’s more, when this dragon has regained his strength, he will be more powerful than you can imagine. What’s to stop him from rampaging around, burning villages … whole villages, with a single breath?”
Jesse frowned. “But—you said—a magical contract, that I had to help him.”
Asthore nodded. “Yes, yes. You do. I don’t know much about the bond between a dragon and its telepathic interlocutor, but it’s possible you might have some power over the creature. You must give it some terms.”
“Some terms?”
“Terms … such as, once it leaves the mountain, it’ll be forbidden to kill anyone or burn any villages.”
Jesse and Asthore looked at each other. Asthore shrugged. They both turned back to the dragon.
“Dragon,” Jesse said, trying to sound authoritative. But Asthore stopped him.
“No, do it in your head,” he whispered. “That might make the magical bond stronger.”
Jesse nodded. Dragon, he said in his head. When I release you, you are forbidden to kill anyone or to burn any villages. Do you accept those terms?
Yes, the dragon replied telepathically.
Jesse nodded to Asthore, who shrugged again, and they began their way out. As the dragon heaved itself to its feet, Jesse felt awed by its size, skinny though it was. The dragon dragged itself along wearily, its claws scraping against the stone with every step.
At last they emerged into daylight, and immediately a strange sound greeted them.
It was the sound of a low laugh.
“Bertrand,” hissed the dragon.
Jesse saw the old man standing outside his house for the first time. He was leaning on a cane.
“So you escaped, Valknog, you old fiend?” he cried. “Took advantage of this young fool, did you?”
The dragon tossed its head, seeming to gain strength as his long captivity ended. It took a deep breath, then planted its front feet, and opened its mouth at Bertrand.
“No!” Jesse shouted.
Fire came out, then strangely got sucked back in, making Valknog cough. The dragon turned angry eyes on Jesse.
“You—you—you’ve cursed me!” it shouted.
“You ought to be aware,” Asthore said, “that there exists a magical contract between a dragon and anyone with whom it telepathically communicates.”
“No killing people,” Jesse said proudly.
The old man’s laugh turned into a gleeful cackle.
The dragon gave a long hiss. “Fine. No killing people, no burning villages. You didn’t say anything about burning castles or kidnapping princesses. I’m off to the nearest castle. Bye.”
Valknog flapped its wings, then took off.
Don’t burn any castles or kidnap any princesses! Jesse shouted in his head after the dragon.
Bah, came the dragon’s voice.
“Gentlemen,” the old man said to Jesse and Asthore. “Care to join me for a drink? Coffee for the boy, something stronger for the wizard?”
They spent the rest of that day in Bertrand’s home. Bertrand told them story after story of his younger days, hunting and banishing the last of the dragons. “I never had your power over them, though,” he said to Jesse, who swelled with pride.
“Valknog isn’t the only dragon left,” Bertrand continued. “I had to give up hunting after he maimed my leg. But you have the makings of a great dragon hunter. What do you say, Jesse? I’ll teach you all I know.”
Jesse agreed to this at once, and that was how Jesse became Bertrand’s dragon-hunting apprentice. When he was old enough to begin hunting, Asthore went with him, and together they dealt with nine dragons, not counting Valknog—four more than Bertrand.
THE END
Emily H.
“I can question him,” retorted Asthore, “because he’s a dragon. Not some innocent kitten or dove.” Asthore was watching the dragon closely while he spoke.
“What happened to ‘There’s a magical contract that exists’ blah blah blah-” Jesse asked petulantly.
“I know,” shot back Asthore. “And there is. I just….I’m not comfortable with unleashing a dragon on our unsuspecting little town. And you wouldn’t be either if you knew a little more about it. Let me think for a moment….” And he continued staring at the dragon, as two more tears dropped to the earth. Plop. Plop.
While Asthore thought, Jesse watched the dragon, who was sighing heavily as tears continued to well in its yellow eyes. Jesse thought it was the most pitiful thing he had ever seen. Finally, Asthore cleared his throat and announced that he had made a decision.
“I have made a decision,” said he, and both the dragon and Jesse looked up hopefully. “I have decided,” he continued, “that Jesse most uphold his end of the contract. He will, indeed, lead you out of this cave.” Jesse whooped and the dragon made a terrifying gurgling sound that must have been a dragonish equivalent for laughter. Without hesitation, Jesse leaped to his feet and began to lead the way out of the cave. The dragon looked at Asthore, who motioned forward benevolently. “After you,” he said in a polite, though somewhat cold, voice. The dragon hesitated for only a moment, then he was on Jesse’s heels.
Asthore watched them exiting the cave, shocked that it was going to work so easily. Jesse had a contract with the dragon. But Asthore did not.
As Jesse rounded the corner out of sight, Asthore pointed his wand at the dragon’s scrawny backside, and whispered quietly but surely “Whammy Blammy.”
With an anticlimactic pop, the dragon burst into oblivion. Jesse glanced over his shoulder at the sound, then stared with shock at the empty spot the dragon had occupied a moment before. His eyes took in the dragon’s absence, then moved slowly to Asthore’s face, which was looking rather smug.
“Gary,” said Jesse is a voice quiet with fury (he used Asthore’s real name whenever he was upset). “What. Have. You. Done.”
“I’ve just saved this town, including yourself most likely, from a death most fiery,” said Asthore, replacing his wand in his robes. “You ought to be glad you invited me to come with you today. Who knows the damage you could have done if you’d come here alone.”
Jesse was on the verge of giving Asthore a serious piece of his mind when they heard a clomping noise coming slowly their way down the tunnel. Jesse and the wizard looked up and were only slightly surprised to see the figure of the old man Bertrand limping their way. It seemed only fitting that a day like this would include an unexpected encounter with a creepy old man in a mysterious tunnel.
What was more surprising than his sudden appearance was the wand he brandished confidently in his hand. He looked ready for a fight.
“Where is he, then?” Bertrand demanded. “That old demon I trapped down here? I knew sooner or later he’d find a way to try to escape. I sensed that was your business this morning when you walked past my window, but it’s taken me until now to get here. Wizard though I am, I’m weak these days. Seven hundred and forty two years of life, coupled with a leg crippled by that beast, has taken its toll.”
Jesse’s jaw dropped, but Asthore didn’t seem surprised. “Hello, Bertrand. Good to see you out and about. And don’t you worry, the dragon is gone.”
Bertrand let out a low growl. Jesse thought it was a contented sound. “That devil would have laid waste to every village in a hundred miles,” he said. “Good thing you weren’t fooled by his trickery.” In the dark, Jesse was beginning to blush with shame, but Asthore said nothing. “Well,” said Bertrand in a louder voice, putting his wand away also. “Who wants some tea?”
And Asthore and Jesse exited the caves with quite a different dragon than the one they’d expected to, but this one turned out to be not so scary after all.
THE END
Elisa
Honorable Mentions
Here’s a brief look at a few other entries we enjoyed:
Sam Lundgren writes a dramatic scene and caps it with light-hearted banter. What a fun ending!
The dragon reared its head and blew fire, burning trees. Jesse took the wand and said the first words in his mind, “Whammy Blammy!” The dragon’s body exploded in a flash, leaving behind a single, shining tooth. Jesse sighed, and said to Asthore, “I bet you’re never going to let me live that down.”
“No, I most certainly will not.” They chuckled and headed for home.
Johnnie Each gave us an action-packed tale full of twists and turns, and some great lines. We love the crotchety portrayal of Bertrand (“Yes, yes. I’m alive. Hurrah and all that,” he says), but we especially like this exchange between Asthore and Jesse, in which the First Law of Thermodynamics gets applied to the world of magic:
“… It’s a quite easy spell to cast. Especially since it follows the rules. Most spells that don’t, you see, are quite more complicated.”
“What rules does it follow?”
Asthore’s eyes glinted with life. Jesse had never seen him so excited. “Energy cannot be created or destroyed! Only converted, of course!”
Jesse decided to take Asthore’s word on it.
Dorothy Doswald used an allegorical approach to the story, exploring the concepts of fear, friendship, good and evil. Her dragon made us introspective:
“I am not what you see. You see something big and hideous, but that is not who I am. I was once like you, a young man like you trying to make my way in this world. I made some bad choices and became what you see.”
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