My work here is done -- said Pia. -- If the Princess remembers, she will be much happier.

Excuse me, Pia, how long will the Princess be in there for?

As long as it takes.

Okay... And how long does it take, exactly?

I don’t know. These things should not be rushed. And if you are really concerned about the Princess, you will let her have all the time she needs. Understood?

Understood.

I’ll be on my way now.

Can we keep the pot? What if she takes longer than expected? We don’t want the Princess to come back and find us starved to death, do we?

Alright, here’s the pot. Goodbye.

The fairy disappeared and The Dragon of Fear and I were left alone in the middle of the forest. It was getting dark.

Why don’t you tell me a story, Writer?

Okay. It was a cold night, perhaps the coldest of all nights. Odai was sitting by the window of the highest tower in the castle...

Not this story! Another one!

Mmmmm... alright. Once upon a time, many years ago, in the middle of a forest much like this one, there lived two little siblings who were the prisoners of an angry ogre: Nata and Len. Their mother was a worried little angel...

8

...Nata, Len and their mother lived happily ever after...THE END.

The Princess hasn’t come back yet.

I know.

Tell me another story.

Alright, Dragon, let me see...

Okay. This is a story about a beautiful maiden. Her mother, Guilt, used to control her but the maiden couldn’t confront her; she really wanted to take the weight off of her shoulders...

9

...and as she confronted her mother, the maiden was finally able to free herself of the power that tied her down. She understood that she was no longer that scared little girl and lived happily ever after. THE END.

Aw! That’s so beautiful! -- said the Dragon. He sighed deeply -- Ahhh -- and then changing the subject abruptly, he said -- I’m hungry.

What if you have some soup and I go have dinner and I meet you tomorrow in the next chapter?

Ooor... what if you go get your dinner and bring it back and I’ll keep you company so you’re not afraid...

You just don’t want to be alone.

No.

Alright, Dragon. I’ll get my dinner and come right back.

Thank you.

10

Are those two towers on top of this page supposed to be a 10?

I ran out of single digit towers.

Didn’t you have a single tower with a 10 on it?

If I did, I would have used it, Dragon. I only had until 9, this story has been longer than I expected.

I know, and the Princess is taking way too long! What if something happened to her?

I don’t think so. Pia clearly said that she would not be in danger.