In a certain kingdom there lived a princess. An ordinary girl, just a bit disobedient — like all children her age.
And he has enormous teeth, and breathes fire! Anyone who encounters him faces certain death!
Mum the Queen always told Angelina.
And the princesses who end up with the dragon are the ones who don't brush their teeth in the morning and don't finish their soup.
Dad the King would add.
At first Angelina was truly frightened of the dragon who lived "in that tower up north". But years passed, the girl grew older, and her curiosity slowly began to eclipse her fear. And she'd secretly made a bet with the other kids — the guards' children: could she actually go to the dragon? Or was she too scared?
But she was a princess! A real one! Her name was already written on the family tree. So being scared and backing down wasn't in her interests.
Waiting until Mum and Dad left for one of their incredibly boring meetings, Angelina pinched a couple of apples from the kitchen and set off. She walked for ages, and although the distance wasn't actually that great, making her way through the forest scrub in pretty shoes proved no easy task.
But she was a princess! And so just a couple of hours later she stood before the tower of dark brick. She looked around — but there was no dragon anywhere. She was about to snort that it was all tall tales, when a light flickered in a high window.
WHO HAS COME TO ME?
A thunderous voice rang out. In an instant Angelina forgot all about her status. She shrank back, trembling.
M-m-m-me.
She answered in a shaky voice.
AND WHAT DO YOU W... Ahem-ahem... AND WHAT... Ahem-ahem... AND WHAT DO YOU WANT... Achoo!
And suddenly a little dragon with green wings tumbled out from somewhere in the tower.
At first Angelina froze in bewilderment, and then she burst out laughing.
What are you laughing at?
The dragon rumbled indignantly.
You're still just a little one!
The girl explained through tears of laughter.
And everyone scared me, saying if I didn't brush my teeth, you'd gobble me up.
Well, I might be able to gobble you up, hmm. Especially if you don't listen to your mum. She's talking sense, she wants what's best for you.
Yeah, I know, I know. But that soup is so yuck... Oh well. Tell me about yourself instead.
And the princess didn't notice how a whole day passed — they were so engrossed. And only when the sunset painted everything crimson did she realise — she had to go, or they'd notice she was missing.
Well, I'd better be off, I reckon.
The girl waved her hand.
Oh... Well, you know... Come again. It's so boring sitting here all alone.
The dragon admitted.
Angelina nodded and as she left, she smiled. Now she knew she'd made a new mate.
