Still, the dragon nagged at the back of his mind like a mosquito. Without them, he would have still been rotting in the evil fairy’s dungeon, waiting impatiently for a hundred years to pass so he could break his true love’s spell-as a doddering old man. Without them, he wouldn’t have had the enchanted sword in the first place. Without them, he would never have been able to hurl the sword magically into the one spot that would easily kill the beast. Without them, he would have done no good whatsoever. The handsome prince had killed the dragon with the help of the three strange little fairies he now followed. Many strange and dire things were happening to an ancient keep that had already endured enough unusual treatment for the past sixteen years. Thorns were falling from the battlements like rain, making curiously pleasant wooden sounds on the grounds of the bailey. Wives die and eldest sons grow up and chase after princesses and peasant girls, riding away from you forever….Ī giant black and purple fire-breathing dragon from the very pits of hell itself was dead somewhere outside the castle. Once upon a time, we were all together, in a castle, you know, but things change.

My little girls and lads were safe at home, I think. No-actually endless, I tell you! In another world! I wandered for ages all by myself in the woods. Once upon a time I was in an endless dark forest. Wake up, grab your sword, defeat the twin dragons of doubt and uncertainty, conquer the world. The Really Long Journey Back to the Castleįor my daughter, Ivy. Once Upon a Time as It Really Was (as Told by the Prince) For information address Disney Press, 1101 Flower Street, Glendale, California 91201. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Published by Disney Press, an imprint of Disney Book Group. Copyright © 2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc.Ĭover design by Scott Piehl and SJI Associates, Inc.Īll rights reserved.

Once Upon a Dream by Liz Braswell