I entered this in a competition that I didn't win and I plan to do some editing because it's short here and it's originally supposed to be really long but the limit was 500 words. But today is not that day. ;)

It's not always the Prince who slays the dragon. Don't get me wrong, the prince is my best friend, but he's more book smart than sword smart.

"I'm going to die, Siv!" Kendrick leaned against the wall and buried his face in his hands.

I started to pack. He was the crown prince and my brother but he was still whiney.

"Can I have these?" I held up a pair of his old boots.

"Why?"

"Don't you see!" I laughed. "I can fight the dragon!"

"But it's Cakroff."

Cakroff was a dangerous dragon that took joy in eating crops and peasants.

I pulled out a throwing knife and tossed it. With a thunk, it impaled the wall an inch away from his face.

I smiled. "I can handle it."

**

"I can't believe you were actually able to convince them to let you come."

I smiled as I climbed up a large boulder in my new outfit.

I reached out, grabbed his hand, and hoisted him up. Unlike me, he wasn't at all athletic.

"Can we rest?" he gasped.

I rolled my eyes and leaned against a rock. We probably didn't even have to go much longer to reach Cakroff's lair. Kendrick plopped down in the dirt and pulled out a book.

"You're reading? At a time like this?"

He smiled. "Did you know the best place to stab a dragon-."

"Their belly, I know."

"Nope, it's actually-."

I impatiently ripped the book from his hands and chucked it away.

"Hey!" he shrieked.

An echo caught the word and sent it right up to the ears of the Cakroff. He roared and flew out to find us.

"Get down!" I screamed.

Kendrick stood and unceremoniously slipped and fell into a small space between a boulder and the cliff.

I unsheathed my sword and faced the dragon.

"Cakroff! I challenge thee to a battle."

He chuckled. "You're kidding."

I lunged forward and slashed him across the nose, which didn't do anything because of his tough skin.

He growled and opened his mouth to blow fire at me but I ducked under his chin.

I slid down the boulder and stabbed his underbelly. To my horror, it bounced off. His underside was covered in dragon's treasure.

He reared back and blew fire. I rolled out of the way.

"There is dirt in my eye!" Kendrick called. "My eyes feel like they're being impaled!"

I got the message. Using the boulder, I pushed myself up into the air and onto his nose and I managed to stab my sword through his eye and deep into his brain. He shrieked and I was thrown through the air.

But the dragon Cakroff was no more.

Next thing I knew I was being gently shaken awake. Kendrick crouched by me.

"Y'know," I rubbed my head. "I think that when people try to be tough and strong they often forget to be smart."

So, as you read, it's not always the prince who slays the dragon. Sometimes it's the princess's brawn and the prince's brain.

Hope ya'lls are surviving the quarantine!