Dancing and a Story

Long ago there was a dragon named Koto who devoured the land in an orgy of flame and gore. All who fought against this terror died as soon as they made their stand. To defeat the horror the lord of this land put out a calling to all the great warriors of the world. Despite grave forebodings many came to give aid and for the chance of glory. Beauty was to be had as well for it was well known this lord had the most beautiful daughter in all the known countries. Her heart had grown tired and sad though with the destruction of the land she cared for so much.

Every night new warriors arrived to give battle to the beast and every night the lord threw a great feast and afterwards there was always dancing. One night, after a particularly grand feast Tara, the lord's daughter, danced a slow waltz to the sounds of the harp. A kitchen boy, seeing this, forgot his tray of dishes and stood transfixed by the image before him. How sad she is, he thought, if only someone could make her smile again.

The boy had known Tara all her life for they had grown up at the same time, but Tara knew nothing of the fond kitchen boy. Philip! Philip! the cook yelled, now where has that darn boy gone off to this time? Philip awoke from his hypnosis and returned to his task at hand, not forgetting the image of Tara in his mind...

And afterwards Tara is taken by the dragon and a great journey takes place to rescue her. The kitchen boy Philip follows and is challenged by one of the pride filled men sent to save her. There is a fight and Philip wins, but not without forgiveness for his assailant. Before the party reaches the dragon they encounter a strange and mysterious witch who ensnares them with her dark arts. Some of the companions fall astray, but Philip breaks free and rescues those remaining for his heart stays true to Tara.

Philip eventually finds Tara and they run for their lives. However, the dragon gives chase and relentlessly hounds them, finding them out at every turn. Over their time together Tara and Philip grow close to one another and discover they share feelings for each other. Deciding they cannot run forever, and vowing to at least attempt to save their land, Tara and Philip agree to make a stand against the dragon despite knowing it is their doom.

They climb to the top of a great hill and hold hands and wait for Koto to appear. He comes soon and almost immediately he sends out his fire to consume the two friends. However, something strange happens. this time there is no ash, no fiery immolation, a white light surround the two and even as Koto blows harder and harder the white light grows larger and larger surrounding everything in sight.

It is the light of love and the dragon does not understand it, for he is a thing of evil and darkness, born to bring suffering and pain to the world, all feeling is anathema to him. The dragon goes numb and in a flash of brilliance the white light explodes outward wiping away Koto and breathing new life into the destroyed land. Grass grows, flowers bloom and where the two once stood now sprout two trees, their branches intertwined as two people holding hands. The End.