Dragon Dreams

by Laura Joy Rennert

  Suddenly, I have an idea. I leapfrog over Moriah’s frog. Jordan and Laura see what I’m doing and join in. Moriah’s frog gets the idea and hops over us, and hops and hops and hops… away! He didn’t turn into a prince, but at least he disappeared.

  With all the hopping, no one sees me bend down to let Harold off his leash. I point to Princess Alex and give Harold a command. He makes a beeline for the spinning wheel as soon as he’s off the leash. He leaps up and starts licking Alex’s face.

  Alex yawns and stretches, rubbing her eyes. Harold’s definitely not a prince, but I guess a kiss is a kiss!

  Even though she’s still trapped in the tower, Rapunzel is so excited, she’s jumping up and down. How can I rescue her? What can I do?!

  Just then, my cousin Ben walks by. “Ben, can I borrow your ball?” I shout.

  “Sure,” he says, and tosses it to me.

  I put the ball on the ground and take a deep breath. I concentrate on the tower. I imagine a giant bull’s-eye about two-thirds of the way up. Then I kick the ball with all my might, aiming right at that target.

  CLUNK.

  The tower starts to teeter. Then it totters. Teeter. Totter. Teeter.

  It sways all the way to the ground, and Rapunzel steps out.

  I guess all those soccer practice shots paid off! I’m so happy, I do a victory dance. When I realize what I’m doing, I’m a little surprised. I’m dancing, and… I didn’t knock anything over, not by accident anyway, or bump into anybody. I think the headmistress is a little surprised too. My dance instructor beams and nods. Rapunzel runs over and gives me a huge hug.

  I hear cheering and look around to see who is winning. My classmates are actually cheering for me! We won the contest!

  Princess Laura asks if I’d share my recipe for volcano cake.

  “Can we walk our dogs together one day after school?” Princess Alex asks.

  The judges congratulate me. Even Prince Ben shakes my hand. “Wanna race again on the way home?” he asks. Who knows, this time I might even give him a head start. Well, maybe…

  As we get in line to go back to our classes, the Academy librarian smiles at me. She says, “Maybe times have changed, and it’s time princesses change with them.”

  “Hmm,” I say, thinking.

  “And don’t give up on that dragon class.” She winks. “You never know…”

  I grin back.

  When I get home, I find out Mom and Dad have invited all of our royal relatives to dinner to celebrate my class’s victory. Hamburgers and s’mores!!!! Yum—my favorites! I show off our trophy, Rapunzel’s Leaning Tower, and my father places it in the family gallery, on its own stand.

  Chapter 7

  Dragon Dreams

  Well, it’s been six weeks, and I still haven’t had any luck with the dragon class, but now I have a different plan. My birthday is in only four days. (I can’t wait!) And I’ve finally decided what I want for a birthday present: a pet dragon.

  Here are some of the reasons I want a dragon:

  I love reading dragon stories and adventures.

  Sometimes in class at the Academy, I feel so cooped up. Imagine soaring on the back of a dragon.

  Don’t tell—but I want to be a member of the Royal Dragon Guard. When we were little, my cousin Ben and I would pretend to be elite dragon fliers. He’d laugh if he knew I still wanted to.

  If I have my own dragon, then I can secretly practice flying until I get good.

  Unfortunately, I made the mistake of mentioning my wish for a pet dragon at school. I normally would have known better than to say anything, but I got so excited when I found out that we have a field trip to the Dragon Caverns coming up.

  “Whoever heard of a princess with a pet dragon?!” said Moriah.

  “Aren’t you afraid of dragons?” said Laura.

  “Wouldn’t you like something soft and furry instead?” asked Alex.

  I haven’t really said anything to my parents about wanting a dragon yet because I think it might be kind of hard to convince them, too. I love my Chihuahua Lola and my pug Harold and I help take care of them, but I’m not sure my parents will believe I can take good care of a dragon.

  But it’s more than this. Like my friends said, princesses just don’t have pet dragons. Princesses have pets that are feathery, furry, and fluffy—not pets that have hard scales, big wings, and breathe fire.

  I need to find a way to prove to my parents it would be good to have a dragon for a pet and also show them I’m responsible enough to take care of a dragon.

  Yikes, I’m almost late for school—too much dragon-dreaming. Ahead of me, I see Princess Laura and Princess Alex crossing the Royal Academy courtyard. “Laura, Alex! Wait for me.”

  “Princess Emma!” says Headmistress Melinda. “A princess shouldn’t really…”

  CRASH!

  “…run.”

  Oops!

  Naturally, right then, Princess Moriah and Princess Jordan walk by. Moriah giggles and says, “Hi, Emma. I think you need a fairy godmother more than a pet dragon.”

  “Or maybe a team of fairy godmothers,” says Jordan.

  Sigh.

  Chapter 8

  I Definitely Need a Plan

  On my way to class, I pause to look out of one of the Academy towers. I’d like to do a dragon loop de loop in the sky! I bet it would feel amazing to see the hills and forests rushing by and to hear the whoosh of dragon wings.

  Since I’m almost late for class, Rapunzel and I don’t have time to talk. So, while we’re working on our journals, I write her a note.

  Dear Rapunzel,

  Can you come over after school today and help me come up with reasons that will convince my Royal Parents we should get a pet dragon? Here’s my list so far:

  1. Even if I miss the carriage to school, I’ll never be late again. Dragon express!

  2. A dragon can help light the castle’s 20 fireplaces in the winter. In almost no time!

  3. With a dragon around, we’ll always be able to reach the top shelves in the royal library.

  4. ?

  When I try to pass Rapunzel the note, she turns around and her hair knocks it onto the floor. (Poor Rapunzel! Her short haircut didn’t last. Long hair runs in the family—and her hair grows fast.)

  Poor me! Moriah sees the note before Rapunzel can get to it. She snickers. My face gets hot. Worse yet, our teacher Lady Mary picks it up. Oh no!

  She smiles at me and says, “Dragons are fascinating creatures, Emma, but this isn’t the time to discuss their merits as pets.”

  Now everyone, not just Moriah, knows I am the most un-princess-y princess in the world!

  Rapunzel mouths “I’m sorry.”

  Luckily, Lady Mary starts talking about our upcoming field trip to the Dragon Caverns, and when we get out of class, everyone is talking about the field trip and not my note.

  “I’m kind of scared of the dragons,” says Alex.

  “I know,” says Laura. “And my father says the gnomes who live in the caverns are really unfriendly.”

  “I bet they don’t want us to visit,” says Moriah.

  “I’ve never met a gnome,” I say. “I wonder what they’re like.”

  “Well, I’m excited to go to the caverns,” says Rapunzel. I’m glad she says so, because after the note incident, I don’t really want to admit that I’m super-excited about the field trip.

  During Library, we have choice time. Alex reads stories about famous fairies who granted princesses’ wishes. Jordan looks at magazines with the newest ball-gown fashions.

  The Academy librarian helps me find the section on dragons. Then Rapunzel helps me cart some big books about dragons over to a corner.

  Thump. Dust flies up. I guess no one has looked at these books in a while.

  I use my library card to check some out.

  Back at my house, Rapunzel and I decide to walk around the castle to see if we can come up with ways to make my parents think that getting a pet dragon is their idea.
We redo my room with a dragon theme. But when my mother comes in, she says, “I love the new decorations, girls! Maybe you can help me decorate for the upcoming ball.” Ugh. That definitely didn’t go as planned.

  Next, we brush our hair in front of my bedroom mirror because Rapunzel thinks this might help us come up with better ideas. (It always works for her.) We decide to bake dragon cookies and serve them for tea with my grandmother. That way, dragons will be on her mind when she talks with my parents about my birthday.

  “Oh, lovely!” my grandmother says.

  Rapunzel crosses her fingers at me.

  “These fairy cookies are so pretty and so delicious,” Grandmother continues. I sigh.

  “I think my grandmother misplaced her glasses again,” I whisper.

  Oh well.

  My father is my last resort. After Rapunzel leaves, I go into the study, where he is watching the royal news.

  On TV, a reporter named Esther Rubinoff is talking about some problems with the environment. She mentions that the royal forests aren’t as thick and green as they once were and the farmlands aren’t growing as many fruits and vegetables anymore. Worst of all, some of the dragons seem to be losing their sparkle and ability to breathe fire—a sign that they are probably sick. This makes me so sad. Someone needs to help them.

  That’s it! I know how to show my parents I’m responsible enough to have a dragon. I’m going to investigate and figure out what the problem is! I run up to my room and start looking through the dragon books I checked out. Tomorrow I can go back to the library at school to do some more research, and I’ll definitely need to put together a dragon kit to bring on the field trip. Luckily, my aunt Rachel promised to take Rapunzel and me to the Elves, Minstrels, and Fairies Bazaar in the afternoon. It will be the perfect place to find what I need.

  Chapter 9

  My Very Own Dragon Kit

  As soon as I get to school, I tell Rapunzel about my plan. I’m so excited that the day flies by. When we get to the bazaar, I head straight for Magical Creatures Pet and Supply. Rapunzel ducks into a salon that promises, even if it can’t make you fairest of them all, it can tame your unmanageable hair. I figure it will take them a little while to tame Rapunzel’s hair, so I’ll have plenty of time to collect everything I need for my dragon kit.

  I’ve done my homework, and know exactly what to get:

  Dragon Field Guide

  Binoculars

  Flashlight

  Rope

  …and a backpack to carry it all!

  When I come out of the shop, I hear something.

  “Psst. Emma!” A girl in a cape is trying to get my attention. “Emma!”

  She knows my name!?

  “Rapunzel, is that you?” I say, finally realizing. “Why are you being so mysterious and what are you doing under a cape?”

  “Well,” she says… and pushes back the cape. I just about drop all my packages.

  “Oh, my, Rapunzel, you have very short and very pink hair!”

  “I know,” she says, and sighs.

  Aunt Rachel and I take Rapunzel to Sweets, Treats, and Fairy Eats, our favorite dessert shop, to cheer her up. Rapunzel and I share the fizzing ice-cream soda with rainbow POP ice-cream and two giant swirly straws. (Nobody can be sad eating a fizzing ice-cream soda!)

  That night, at a family dinner, I tell my parents about my plan to figure out what’s hurting the dragons and show them my dragon kit. My cousin Ben and his family are there too.

  Ben teases, “So you haven’t given up on the Royal Dragon Guard, huh, Emma?”

  He doesn’t mean to hurt my feelings, but he kind of does. I can tell he still thinks it’s funny that I would want to fly dragons, even though I’m not five years old anymore. He thinks it’s impossible that I’d ever truly be a dragon rider.

  My father thinks that figuring out what’s wrong with the dragons may be too much for a princess. My uncle Alan tells me that even the Royal Council hasn’t been able to figure out what’s causing the problem. When I tuck Lola and Harold in for the night, I’m still determined to try.

  Chapter 10

  The Dragon Caverns

  Yay! It’s time to board the carriages. I’ve got my notebook and my dragon kit, and I’m all ready. Rapunzel and I sit together. Everyone has noticed her hair, but Rapunzel is trying to make the best of it. I’m glad the field trip will help take her mind off it.

  The carriages are pulling up at the entrance to the caverns. The gnomes who are waiting for us sure look grumpy. I think they make even Lady Mary a little nervous. She clears her throat twice before reminding us of the rules for the field trip.

  “Now girls, remember to stay with your partners. Pay close attention to our guides, and don’t wander off in any of the cavern tunnels.”

  We set off. The tunnels twist and turn. Lanterns on the wall light the way, but it’s pretty dark in some of the passageways.

  Alex is right ahead of me. She whispers, “I would hate to be lost in here!”

  “I know,” I answer. But inside, I can’t wait to see the dragons.

  Our first stop is the hatchery. Even though dragon fire has singed some spots, I’m surprised to see how leafy the trees are and how lush the moss and ferns are here. The hatchery feels like a giant green pillow for dragon eggs. It turns out heat helps the eggs hatch. I make some notes and draw a picture of the hatchery in my dragon field guide.

  As the gnomes lead us farther into the caverns, it starts to get cooler. You can barely see the rock ceilings, they’re so far overhead. All of a sudden we come out into an open area surrounded by cliffs. I can see baby dragons peeking out of nests tucked into nooks. Bigger dragons fly overhead.

  I wonder how Lola and Harold would get along with a baby dragon. Or how Mom and Dad would. I pull the binoculars out of my backpack to get a closer look. But when I look through them, I see something I didn’t notice at first. The dragons actually look a little tired and faded—not bright and sparkly like they should.

  I want to watch for longer, but the gnomes start to lead us back into another tunnel. By the time I put my binoculars away, my group—Rapunzel, Moriah, Alex, and I—is the last in line. “Come on!” Rapunzel says. “We need to keep up.”

  My mind is busy. How am I going to figure out what the problem is? I need some clues. I’m so deep in thought, I must have stopped without knowing, because Rapunzel bumps into me. Moriah stumbles into her. Alex crashes into all of us, and my back-pack flies off and bangs against the lantern on the wall.

  CRASH!

  We all freeze. I feel around for my backpack and find the flashlight.

  CLICK.

  Everyone talks at the same time.

  “Ouch!” I say.

  “What happened?” Rapunzel asks.

  Moriah says, “Why on earth were you running, Alex?!”

  “How was I supposed to know you all were going to stop!” Alex says.

  I can’t help it—I start to laugh. We’re a four-princess pile-up.

  Rapunzel and Alex giggle. Pretty soon, we’re all laughing.

  “Uh-oh,” says Moriah. She looks around. “Where is everybody?!”

  The rest of our class is gone. They must have turned in to one of the other tunnels. But which one?!

  “What are we going to do?” Alex says.

  No one answers.

  “Um… I think we’re going to have to find a gnome to ask for help.”

  All eyes turn to me. “Wait a second! I said ‘we,’ not me!”

  “Come on, Emma,” Alex says.

  Even Moriah chimes in. “Please, Emma!”

  I’m pretty nervous about the idea of talking to a strange gnome, but I choose one of the tunnels. Rapunzel, Alex, and Moriah follow close behind me. There’s a not-so-happy-looking gnome coming toward us. I stop and take a deep breath.

  “Excuse me, Mr. Gnome, sir, but we’ve lost our way.”

  He mutters something about “interfering Royal Council and underfoot princesses,” and hurries past
us. This is definitely not going to be easy.

  Chapter 11

  A School for Gnomes

  After a while, we come to a big stone building carved into the side of the rock. It has a sign that says The Gnarly Gnome Preparatory School.

  “Well… I guess we’ll find some gnomes to ask here,” says Alex. But she looks like she’s not too eager to go in.

  “I bet this time it will be better,” Rapunzel says, but I can tell even she might not believe it.

  “Or not,” Moriah says, when she can’t budge the door. We finally manage to pull it open, but it takes all of us. Whew!

  The classes are in session, so we tiptoe. As I look around, I can’t help wondering what it would be like to go to school here. There are lots of carved statues of dragons and other magical creatures, large pieces of rock with amazing gems in them, and cases full of interesting-looking tools. There’s also a big poster about dragon care that I wish I could stop and read. I almost knock over a stone statue because I’m so busy looking around. Moriah catches it just in time!

  “Shhh—be careful!” she says. “We don’t want to attract too much attention. Or we won’t be going on any more field trips. Ever.”

  Good point.

  BRRRINNG, clangs the bell. Class must be over.

  We freeze. “Quick, in here!” I say, and pull open a door.

  The good news is, it’s a closet. The not so good news is, it’s a little bit tight for four.

  Okay, very tight.

  Who knew that gnomes getting out of class sound like a herd of wild unicorns?! Or take so long!

  When it’s finally quiet again, I peek my head out. I see a gnome who looks like he’s about our age, standing in front of a bulletin board—alone. I try to act braver than I feel.