The Dragon covered his eyes in fear. He didn’t even want to peek through the cracks between his fingers anymore. And suddenly, the whole castle disappeared; the tower, the torches, the floor, the walls...everything!

Everything?

Everything!

Ay ay ay.

The only thing left was the Dragon, sitting in the middle of a green field with a smiling princess in front of him. The Princess was free at last to live the life she had always dreamt of.

...THE END.

What? Are you crazy?!

Why?

How could you think that this would be the end of the story?

It seems like a fine ending to me.

To me, too.

You have everything you wanted, Odai. You’re free.

So?

So what?

So what else?

I don’t know what else, Princess... my story originally ended about...nineteen pages ago!

But there has to be more!

What more does there have to be?

Everything! It can’t just end here... like this.

This story has to end someday, you know?

I know, but not now.

But this is a good ending! You’re happy, you’re out of the castle and you conquered The Dragon of Fear. It’s a pretty good ending, don’t you agree?

I agree... how about you make it... the end of the chapter! --suggested the Princess, smiling, as if this were a great idea.

I can’t make it the end of the chapter. I just started Chapter 3.

Well, you can’t end the story when you just started the chapter. That’s absurd.

Maybe this is still Chapter 2.

No! I already wrote a big number three at the beginning of the last page. Didn’t you notice, Dragon?

No, I had my paws in front of my eyes... Didn’t you notice, Writer? -- answered the Dragon rudely. -- Jeez..

Well, end the chapter then and let’s get on with the story. I’m dying to know what’s going to happen. Oh, why did I start writing this story? Go on, end the chapter already! I can’t take the suspense.

Okay. As I was saying: The only thing left was the Dragon, sitting in the middle of a green field with a smiling Princess in front of him. The Princess was free at last to live the life she had always dreamt of.

And this is NOT The End!

4

(as absurd as it seems)

The castle had completely disappeared. Odai and the Dragon were feeling both scared and happy... actually, the Dragon was terrified and Odai was ecstatic.

What's going to happen now? Where am I going to live? -- asked the tormented Dragon.

Stop making such a fuss, Dragon.

Alright... I’ll stop making a fuss. Congratulations, Princess! You did it! We’re out, and I mean: REALLY OUT with no chance of going back in. Why you ask?... Oh, because there isn’t any “in” anymore!