Let’s not lose sight of what’s important: he’s standing on my nose! He’s going to eat me.

Bees don’t eat dragons!

Maybe this one does.

This bee doesn’t eat dragons either.

How do you know? You didn’t write this bee...

The Dragon has a point -- the bee stared at the Dragon, who was staring back wide-eyed. There were big drops of sweat rolling down his forehead. -- Boo -- whispered the bee.

Help! -- The Dragon was running around in circles in the courtyard. Then he ran into the tower and locked himself in.

The bee was chuckling. The Dragon poked his head out of the door.

That wasn’t funny.

So you’re The Bee of Desire and Curiosity?

Yes, I am -- answered the cute, round, little insect. -- I have been watching everything from high up in the tower and I thought it was time to butt in.

The Princess looked doubtful.

Do not be afraid of me, Princess, I am almost harmless -- said the little insect, smiling.

Almost? What do you mean “almost”?

I’m not afraid of you, Bee. It’s something else I feel in your presence.

May I stand on your nose? -- asked the bee tenderly.

Watch out, Princess! Curiosity killed the cat!

The bee flew over to Princess Odai and landed on her tiny nose. I know that you are about to make a very important decision -- he said -- May I help you?

How could you help me?

You are afraid to live in a world that you can not control, right?

Yeah, I’m afraid of the unknown.

Princess, -- said the bee, sweetly -- you can’t have control over everything, not now anyway, when you’re facing reality for the first time. Nothing is one hundred percent certain. Life should be lived by constantly defying the unknown, because life, Princess Odai, is not static. It is forever changing.

But I don’t have the courage to face that.

Imagine what your life could be like if you dared to change -- said the bee enthusiastically. -- Imagine everything you could accomplish if you only dared to move. Imagine everything that is behind these gates, outside this castle. You need to understand that although this tower protects you from the unknown, it also locks you in and keeps you from being free.

The Princess was lost in her own thoughts. She imagined herself running in the fields, experiencing and trying new things; she wanted a taste of that freedom. She desired, more than anything she had ever wanted in her whole life, to be free.