a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
~ A Parable - The Dragon ~
Brother / Dragon (whisper toy) –
Other – Donalisa in hiding
Other2 – Saslisena in hiding
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put ‘/guardedly There was once a great and noble King whose land was terrorized by a crafty dragon. Like a massive bird of prey the scaly beast delighted in ravaging villages with his fiery breath.
put ‘/sadly Hapless victims ran from their burning homes only to be snatched into the dragon's jaws or talons. Those devoured instantly were deemed more fortunate than those carried back to the creature's lair to be devoured at the dragon's leisure.
put ‘/firmly The King led his sons and knights in many valiant battles against the serpent. Each time they wounded the dragon and he retreated to his hidden lair deep in the mountains. While he healed, the kingdom would be at peace for a time.
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put a , the King, says to his people, "Take courage!"
put ‘/loudly One day the dragon will be slain!
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put ‘/softly Riding alone in the forest during a period of calm, one of the King's sons heard his name purred low and soft. In the shadows of the ferns and trees, curled among the boulders, lay the dragon.
put ‘/coldly The creature's heavy lidded eyes fastened on the prince, and the reptilian mouth stretched into a friendly smile as gray wisps of smoke rose lazily from his nostrils.
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put whisper dragon Don't be alarmed. I am not what your father thinks.
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put ‘/cautiously What are you, then?
put a, as the Prince, warily draws his sword as he keeps his fearful horse from bolting by pulling in the reins.
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put whisper dragon I am pleasure. Ride on my back and you will experience more than you ever imagined.
put whisper dragon Come now. I have no harmful intentions. I seek a friend, someone to share flights with me.
put whisper dragon Have you never dreamed of flying? Never longed to soar in the clouds?
put whisper dragon Bring your sword for security if you wish, but I give my word no harm will come to you.
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put a with visions of soaring high above the forested hills drew hesitantly from his horse.
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put ‘The dragon unfurled one great webbed wing to serve as a ramp to his ridged back. Between the spiny projections the prince found a secure seat. Then the creature's powerful wings snapped twice and launched them into the sky. Once aloft the dragon wafted effortlessly on the wind streams.
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Put a ‘s apprehension melted into awe and exhilaration.
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put ‘From then on, the Prince met the dragon often, but secretly, for how could he tell his father, brothers, or the knights that he had befriended the enemy? The prince felt separate from them all. Their concerns were no longer his concerns. Even when he wasn't with the dragon he spent less time with those he loved and more time alone.
put ‘The skin on the prince's legs became calloused from gripping the ridged back of the dragon, and his hands grew rough and hardened. He began wearing gloves to hide the malady. After many nights of riding, he discovered scales growing on the backs of his hands as well. With dread he realized his fate were he to continue, and so he resolved to return no more to the dragon.
put ‘But, after a fortnight, he again sought out the dragon, having been tortured with desire. And so it transpired many times over. No matter what his determination, the prince eventually found himself pulled back, as if by the cords of an invisible web. Silently, patiently, the dragon always waited.
put ‘One cold, moonless night their excursion became a foray against a sleeping village. Torching the thatched roofs with fiery blasts from his nostrils, the dragon roared with delight when terrified victims fled from their burning homes. Swooping in, the serpent belched again and flames engulfed a cluster of screaming villagers.
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put a closed his eyes tightly in an attempt to shut out the carnage, but the agonized cries and smell of burning flesh assailed him. The dragon's long neck snaked and spasmed as he crunched bone and devoured his roasted prey.
Put a retches and clings miserably to his spiny perch.
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put ‘In the predawn hours, when the prince crept back from his dragon trysts, the road outside his father's castle usually remained empty. But, not tonight.
put ‘Terrified refugees streamed into the protective walls of the castle. The prince walked among bedraggled women carrying wailing children with gashes from the dragon's talons. Some victims, too badly wounded or burned to walk, were brought in carts or dragged on makeshift pallets.
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put a 's heart was torn. Their pain brought tears to his eyes and shame to his soul.
>say }[self] What have I become?
put ponder how even more desperately he wanted to be free of the dragon.
put ‘/quietly Perhaps my father, in all his wisdom, can help.
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put ‘But the prince feared that the truth would make him abhorrent in his father's sight. Surely he would be disowned, exiled, or perhaps even condemned to death.
put ‘The castle bustled with frantic activity to care for the refugees thronged in the courtyard. The prince attempted to slip through the crowd to close himself in his chambers, but some of the survivors stared and pointed toward him. A woman cried out.
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put ‘/excitedly He was there!
put ‘I saw him on the back of the dragon!
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put ‘/angrily Others nodded their heads in angry agreement. Horrified, the prince saw that his father, the King, was in the courtyard holding a bleeding child in his arms. The King's face mirrored the agony of his people as his eyes found the prince's.
put ‘/softly The son fled, hoping to escape into the night, but the guards apprehended him as if he were a common thief. They brought him to the great hall where his father sat solemnly on the throne. The people on every side railed against the prince.
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put ‘He heard one of his own brothers angrily cry out.
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put ‘As the King rose from his throne, bloodstains from the wounded shone darkly on his royal robes. The crowd fell silent in expectation of his decree. The prince, who could not bear to look into his father's face, stared at the flagstones of the floor.
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Put say to [PRINCE] Take off your gloves and your tunic.
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put a obeys slowly, dreading to have his metamorphosis uncovered before the kingdom. Was his shame not already great enough? He had hoped for a quick death without further humiliation. Sounds of revulsion rippled through the crowd at the sight of the prince's thick, scaled skin and the ridge growing along his spine.
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put a strides to his son and the prince steels himself, fully expecting a back-handed blow even though he had never been struck so by his father.
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put a embraces the Prince and weeps as he holds him tightly.
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put a in shocked disbelief, buries his face against his father's shoulder.
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put ‘}[PRINCE] Do you wish to be freed of the dragon, my son?
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put ‘/helplessly I have wished it many times, but there is no hope for me.
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put ‘You cannot win against the serpent alone.
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put ‘/sadly Father, I am no longer your son. I am half beast.
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put ‘/firmly My blood runs in your veins. My nobility has always been stamped deep within your soul. Nothing can take that from you.
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put a with his face still hidden tearfully in his father's embrace, hears the King instruct the crowd.
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put ‘The dragon is crafty. Some fall victim to his wiles and some to his violence. There will be mercy for all who wish to be freed. Who else among you has ridden the dragon?
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put a lifts his head to see someone emerge from the crowd. To his amazement, he recognizes an older brother, one who had been lauded throughout the kingdom for his onslaughts against the dragon in battle and for his many good deeds.
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put ‘Others came, some weeping, others hanging their heads in shame. The sister who was known for her beautiful singing came, tearfully removing her slippers to reveal spiked scales on her feet. The King embraced them all.
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put ‘This is our most powerful weapon against the dragon.
put ‘Truth. No more hiddenness. Alone you cannot resist him. Together you will prevail, for you draw strength from one another.
put ‘Those of you who think yourselves immune to the serpent's wiles beware lest you be the next to fall. Those ensnared, you must desire freedom more than the dragon's flight. The struggle will be long and fierce.
put ‘Over time, you will choose more often against the dragon than for him until finally you go to him no more.
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put ‘Will the scales then be gone as well?
put a looks at her bared feet.
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put ‘/quietly No, my child.
put ‘But, in time, they will fade. And one day, when the dragon is finally slain, all traces of the scales will disappear.
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put Someone yelled from the crowd and a great cheer rose up in chorus.
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put yell Death to the dragon!
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put yell Death to the dragon! Long live the King!
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