It turns out his name is Justin, and he’s in his second year at Gnome Prep. I get the feeling he’s not your typical gnome. He actually seems excited to meet some live princesses.
When I explain that we have to get back to our class, Justin suggests we walk into the main village to see if we can find a dragon that can fly us back to our class. He has his own pet dragon—lucky him! But she’s not full-grown yet, so she isn’t big enough to carry all of us.
I think this is a great plan! Moriah, Alex, and Rapunzel are not so happy about the “flying on a dragon” part.
Chapter 12
Dragon to the Rescue
Justin takes us on a narrow path up a rocky hill. When we get to the top, we can see the whole village! Moriah gasps. Rapunzel beams. Alex’s eyes get huge.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Because there, in front of us, is a large lake surrounded by hundreds of homes—in all sorts of odd shapes and sizes, with statues and gardens all carved out of stone. The lake sparkles, and it almost looks like it’s snowing because the gnomes are busy cutting, carving, or polishing stone, with glittery dust flying. It’s like being in a giant snow globe.
There’s only one thing missing from this perfect fairy tale picture.
“But where are the dragons?” I say.
Justin looks down. “The Royal Council is worried about them being near the cavern lakes, so now they’re not allowed to fly free in this area.”
“Why doesn’t the Royal Council want them near the lakes?” Alex asks.
“Because the dragons used to swim in the lakes,” Justin says. “The council was worried that their fires would scorch the bank or make the waters too warm.”
“So that’s why we haven’t seen any dragons in a while,” I say.
“And why the gnome we saw earlier didn’t want to talk to us—he was angry with the Royal Council,” Moriah adds.
“Um, I hate to interrupt,” Alex says, “but are we going to have to cross that bridge?”
“Yes,” says Justin. “There’s no other way to get from this hillside into the village.”
Alex, Moriah, and I look at Rapunzel.
“What is it?” Justin asks.
“Rapunzel doesn’t really like heights,” I say.
“Too much time in towers,” Moriah adds.
“Don’t worry,” says Rapunzel. “I just won’t look down.”
We start across. The glittery dust swirls in the breeze, and the bridge sways a little. Justin goes first, I follow, and Rapunzel comes next. Then Alex and Moriah. Rapunzel isn’t looking down, which is good. Right up until the point when she trips. I try to catch her but wind up with an armful of cape.
“AHHHHHH!”
SPLASH!
I grab the rope out of my backpack. But it isn’t long enough to reach the water! Justin pulls a whistle out of his pocket and blows three times. A dragon appears in the distance. She is coming toward us fast! I can see that Rapunzel is okay because her dress has billowed up and she’s floating. But she’s stuck because the lake is so big.
The dragon pulls up right next to the bridge, and Justin practically leaps onto her back.
“Come on,” he says, looking at me. “I need both hands to steer close to the water. You’ll have to grab your friend.”
Me? Ride a dragon! My heart does a happy skip, even though I’m worried about Rapunzel. With Justin steadying me, I climb onto the dragon’s back.
We soar up, up into the air. For a moment, time seems to stop. The wind blows my hair back, and my heart does a loop de loop. I rub my hand against the dragon’s smooth scales. The sun glints off her wings as she glides. It’s the best feeling in the world—just like I imagined! If Rapunzel weren’t in trouble, I would want to fly for hours.
When we’re close enough, the dragon dips and swoops low over the water, right above Rapunzel.
She dives even lower, and I stretch to reach Rapunzel. I’m not sure if the dragon will be able to carry our weight. I can hear Moriah and Alex yelling “Oh no!” and “Hold on!” in surprisingly un-princess-y tones. We sink, and skim the lake for a moment. Then we touch down on the ground, and Rapunzel rolls off into the grass. I want to fly back over the lake again, but instead I tumble after her.
I land in grass and a carpet of long, lush, thick, and sparkly pink hair.
“Rapunzel,” I say, trying to unwind myself, “your hair grew back.” (Even Rapunzel’s hair doesn’t grow this fast.)
Justin slides off the back of the dragon, who must be his pet Druscilla, just as Moriah and Alex come running toward us.
“And then some!” Moriah says.
Alex hands Rapunzel back her cape so she can dry off, and we all start helping Rapunzel coil up her hair.
Not only is Rapunzel’s hair long, pink, and sparkly, even Druscilla seems to sparkle more where she got wet. I can feel my mind trying to put the pieces together.
“I think,” I say slowly, “the Royal Council has made a mistake.”
Chapter 13
Putting the Pieces Together
“What do you mean?” says Alex.
I picture the different places we saw in the caverns. “The council thought the dragons would do too much damage to farms and forests in the kingdom. But look at the hatchery!”
“What about it?” says Rapunzel, wringing out her hair.
“Some areas are a bit burned, but the whole place is green and the trees and plants are growing like crazy,” I say. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
“You mean it’s the dragon’s fire that actually makes the hatchery so green?” says Moriah.
“Yes!” I say. “I think the heat must somehow help things grow.”
“Oh,” says Justin, like he’s starting to see where I’m going with this. “The Royal Council’s rule actually hurts the farmlands, even though they meant to protect them.”
“And I’m pretty sure I know what’s hurting the dragons!” I say. “The council thought they were protecting the cavern lakes, but not letting the dragons swim there had some results they didn’t imagine.”
Justin is nodding now.
“Swimming in the lakes is actually good for the dragons. See how sparkly Druscilla looks now? I think the dragons are losing their sparkle and ability to breathe fire because they aren’t allowed to swim in the lake water!”
“You’re right!” says Justin.
I grin at him.
“Plus now that I think about it, the banks of the lake were actually greener, and there were more reeds and water lilies in the lake before, when the dragons used to swim there.” He’s so excited, he’s practically jumping up and down.
“Yay—you did it, Emma! You figured it out,” exclaims Rapunzel.
At the inn, Justin talks to the stable master and borrows one of their largest dragons—one that makes Druscilla look dainty by comparison. He climbs into the saddle. Rapunzel, Alex, and Moriah get up, with some help. (Rapunzel plans to shut her eyes.) And I can’t believe it—Justin is going to let me fly Druscilla.
“Ready?” Justin asks.
I nod. I’m excited but a little nervous.
“Don’t worry. Druscilla will follow this dragon,” he says. “Here we go.”
His dragon soars up over the hills, higher and higher. Then it swoops down over the lake. I pull on the reins the way Justin showed me, and Druscilla follows. The wind whooshes in our ears, and sun sparks off the glittery stone snow. It’s the best roller coaster ride ever.
“WHEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”
It’s over way too soon! Lady Mary is so relieved to see us that she alternates between smiling and scolding. Then I explain my theory about the dragons and Justin’s part in our adventure, and everyone oohs and ahhs over Rapunzel’s long, sparkly pink hair. The gnomes nod and pat Justin on the back, and Lady Mary thanks him.
Then the gnomes shake my hand.
“Gnomes and dragons actually need each other, just like princesses and dogs!” I announce. Everyone laughs.
/> Behind me, I hear a voice that sounds familiar. It’s the reporter Esther Rubinoff.
It turns out she is visiting the caverns so she can talk to the gnomes. Once she hears what happened, she asks if she can take our picture and use it in her report. Rapunzel, Alex, Moriah, Justin, and I pose next to Druscilla.
When it’s time to say good-bye, everyone walks out to the carriages together, and this time the gnomes look a lot happier than when they greeted us. Justin waves as we ride off.
Later that evening, my father and I take Lola and Harold for a walk before bed.
After a few minutes, he says, “I was wrong about the dragon problem being too hard for you, Emma. I’m very proud of you.”
I feel warm inside, but in a good way.
This is the perfect moment I’ve been waiting for.
“With my birthday coming up in a few days… well, I’ve been wanting to ask if you and Mother might be okay with another pet.”
“Emma, how many dogs does one princess need?” my father says, laughing.
“Well, it’s not exactly a dog I had in mind…”
He hasn’t said no so far. Cross your fingers for me!
Chapter 14
Birthday Surprises
When I get to the Academy on my birthday, I don’t see any of my classmates in the courtyard, even though I’m not late today. Where are they all? I run up the stairs, and this time I don’t pause to look out the tower windows. I open the door and hurry into the classroom.
“Surprise!” everyone yells.
Wow! Am I ever surprised!
“The class wanted to do something special for your birthday, Princess Emma,” says Lady Mary.
Rapunzel, Alex, and Moriah step forward carrying a dragon cake!
Moriah grins. “I don’t think a dragon pet is for me, but now I understand why you want one.”
I smile back.
“And there are some special guests here today,” Lady Mary says.
That’s when I notice Justin standing next to a distinguished-looking gnome at the front of the room. It turns out that the older gnome is the headmaster of Gnome Prep. They’ve come to say thank you and also to talk with the headmistress of the Academy about setting up an exchange program between our two schools.
So I may actually get to see what it’s like to go to Gnome Prep. And—best of all—Justin has promised me more rides on Druscilla!
“There are some other guests here I think you’ll be happy to see, Emma,” says Lady Mary.
My royal father and mother give me a hug.
“Our birthday present to you is in the courtyard,” my father says.
I run to the window. There, sparkling in the sun, is the perfect dragon for me! My friends all crowd over to the window to look. There’s lots of oohing and ahhing—I can’t stop beaming. Then, everyone sings happy birthday, and we have cake. It’s definitely the best birthday ever!
On the way back from the carriage stop that day, Ben asks me a million questions about dragons and gnomes. And, I have to admit, it feels great.
On Monday, Lady Mary asks the whole class to write an inspiring letter to the princesses who will be starting school next year. Here’s mine:
Dear First-Year Princesses,
Don’t sit around waiting for your fairy godmother.
You can still be a princess and…climb the tower, swim the moat, race the prince, and fly the dragon yourself.
After all, it’s up to us to write our OWN stories.
I believe in you.
Love,
Princess Emma
Dragon Rider
The end.
Dragon Dreams Page 3