[ShortStory] The Dragon's Bargain

[WP] A dragon decides to claim a human settlement for himself. When the dragon arrives in the small town and announces his demands, he is perplexed by the people's impatience to accept.

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This prompt was taken from the Reddit WritePrompt community and today I'm going to share with the community my #ShortStory based on it. You are free to use this prompt if you wish. Tag me @mowgl1ph to read your story ☺️.

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"Sometimes, what we fear the most can lead to unexpected opportunities." - Octavia Butler

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Title: The Dragon's Bargain

The small town of Calden had always been peaceful and quiet, with its inhabitants living off the land and trading with neighboring settlements. That was until a mighty dragon landed on the outskirts of the village one day, announcing his intention to claim the town and its inhabitants as his own. The villagers were terrified, but surprisingly, the dragon found himself faced with more resistance than he expected.

"What do you mean, you'll take over our town? What do you want from us?" asked the town's leader, a woman named Anna.

"I want you to recognize me as your rightful ruler and pay me tribute in the form of gold and precious gems," replied the dragon.

"We have no gold or precious gems," Anna said. "We're just simple farmers and traders. We have nothing to give you."

The dragon snorted. "I find that hard to believe. You must have something of value that you can offer me."

Anna looked around at the villagers, who had gathered around her. "What can we do?" she whispered to them. "We can't fight a dragon."

Suddenly, a young man stepped forward. His name was Michael, and he was known in the village for his cleverness and quick thinking.

"Excuse me, Mr. Dragon," Michael said. "What if we made you a deal?"

"A deal?" the dragon scoffed. "What could you possibly offer me that I would be interested in?"

"Well," Michael said, "what if we agreed to work for you? We could use our skills to help you gather treasure from other towns and villages. We could be your loyal servants and help you build your wealth and power. In exchange, you would leave our town alone and allow us to continue living our lives."

The dragon considered this for a moment. "Interesting," he said. "But how do I know you won't betray me or try to escape?"

"You can trust us," Michael said. "We give you our word as honest people. And if we break that word, you can punish us as you see fit."

The dragon thought for a moment longer, then nodded his head. "Very well," he said. "I accept your bargain. You will be my servants, and I will protect your town from harm. But if you ever betray me, I will burn your village to the ground and feast on your flesh."

The villagers gasped in horror, but Michael stood his ground. "We understand," he said. "We'll do whatever it takes to serve you faithfully."

And so, the dragon and the people of Calden struck their bargain. The dragon took up residence in a nearby cave, and the villagers began to work for him, using their knowledge of the land and their trading skills to help the dragon gather treasure and wealth.

At first, it was difficult for the villagers to adjust to their new way of life. They were used to living freely and independently, but now they had to work under the dragon's strict supervision. But as time passed, they grew accustomed to their new roles, and some even began to enjoy the thrill of adventure and the opportunity to see new places.

Michael proved to be a particularly valuable asset to the dragon, using his intelligence and cunning to outwit other villages and steal their treasures. He also became the dragon's personal advisor, helping him make important decisions and giving him counsel when needed.

As for the dragon, he was pleased with his new arrangement. He had never before encountered humans who were willing to work for him rather than fight him, and he found that he enjoyed the company having servants who were both loyal and useful. Over time, he even began to develop a fondness for some of the villagers, especially Michael, whom he respected for his intelligence and resourcefulness.

However, not all of the villagers were content with their new way of life. Some resented being forced to work for the dragon and longed for their old lives of freedom and independence. They whispered among themselves, plotting ways to escape and overthrow the dragon.

Michael knew of their discontent and warned the dragon, but the dragon dismissed it as mere grumbling. "Let them try to escape," he said. "They won't get far without my help, and if they betray me, I'll simply find new servants to replace them."

But Michael knew that it wouldn't be so simple. The villagers were clever and resourceful, and if they banded together, they might have a chance of escaping and reclaiming their town. He began to devise a plan, one that would require all of his cunning and bravery.

One night, as the dragon slept in his cave, Michael gathered a group of villagers who were sympathetic to his cause. He told them of his plan: they would steal the dragon's hoard of treasure and use it to buy weapons and supplies. Then they would sneak out of the village and make their way to the neighboring town, where they would recruit allies and launch a surprise attack on the dragon's cave.

The villagers were skeptical at first, but Michael's passion and conviction won them over. They set to work, stealing the dragon's treasure bit by bit and carefully hiding it in a secret location. It took several weeks, but finally, they had enough to buy weapons and supplies.

Under the cover of darkness, the villagers made their escape, sneaking out of the village and into the forest beyond. They traveled for days, moving quickly and quietly to avoid detection. Finally, they arrived at the neighboring town, where they met with resistance fighters who were eager to join their cause.

Together, they launched a surprise attack on the dragon's cave, catching the dragon and his remaining servants off guard. It was a fierce battle, with the dragon breathing fire and the villagers using their weapons and wits to try and bring him down.

In the end, it was Michael who delivered the final blow, plunging his sword into the dragon's heart. As the dragon fell to the ground, the villagers cheered, their long nightmare finally over.

But Michael knew that their victory came at a great cost. They had lost their homes and their way of life, and many had died in the fight. As he looked out over the ruins of their town, he wondered if it had all been worth it.

As the villagers began to rebuild, Michael made a vow to himself. He would never again allow himself or his people to be enslaved by anyone or anything, no matter the cost. And he knew that he would always remember the lessons he had learned from the dragon's bargain: that sometimes, what we fear the most can lead to unexpected opportunities, and that the greatest treasures are not gold or gems, but the bonds we forge with those we love and trust.

The end.