And the door opened. Thank you. And Odai walked out.

She ran down the stairs, skipping steps so quickly that she tripped, fell, and rolled all the way to the bottom.

Damn it!

When she looked up, she realized that she had landed at the dragon’s feet. Told you so! The dragon looked at her furiously... actually, he was rather shocked.

“What’s going on here?” asked the dragon furiously. What’s going on here? -- Well... said the dragon, troubled.

Nothing. I’ve just decided to get out of here.

But you can’t do that.

That’s what I’ve been telling her.

Who said that?

I did, the writer/narrator of the story.

What’s going on here? -- asked the dragon, who was now very upset.

Let’s not fail to mention that he’s backed up against the wall and looking frantically around him. The Dragon was scared.

VERY scared! What do you mean you’re getting out of here? What do you mean the narrator? I’m not getting any of this!

Dragon, aren’t you tired of always going up to the tower to say the same intimidating phrases that you know will paralyze me over and over again? Aren’t you tired of keeping me locked up without either of us being able to do something with our lives?

I hadn’t thought about it.

Well, of course you hadn’t thought about it. The only thing you think about is keeping me locked up.

But that’s what I’m supposed to do. Somebody very important asked me to keep an eye on you.

Keeping an eye on me is okay, but you don’t have to keep me locked up for eternity.

But there are terrifying things out there! You can’t go out just like that.

The whole point of the story is that you can’t leave because you’re trapped by fear.

Can you please tell him to shut up? He’s scaring me.

How can a huge, black dragon with red eyes… and with an icy, imposing voice tinged with suspicion and doubt be so easily frightened? You made him The Dragon of Fear, remember? Ugh, I hope that my other stories don’t start acting up.

Tell him to shut up! Shouted the frightened dragon, shutting his eyes and covering his face like a child. Hey! I’M the narrator here, okay? Okay, okay. Tell him to shut up! -- shouted the frightened Dragon, shutting his eyes and covering his face like a child.

Okay -- concluded the Princess. -- From what I can see, fear isn’t as strong or as scary as they make it out to be, or in this case, as they write it to be. Look, Dragon. What do you think about us both leaving and looking for... whatever it is that’s outside this castle?

But there are terrifying things out there -- said the frightened dragon.