Mountain Dragon Story 1

Once upon a time, up in the mountains, in a town far enough away you’ve never heard of it, lived an ancient Dragon. Its scales were red, its claws were sharp, and its heart was full of meanness. Every month, it would stomp to the town, huffing and baring its teeth at the townfolks, demanding their best livestock and all their gold. In the middle of winter it would get nastier than ever, as the food was less and the gold was few, but it would demand more and more.
“Bring me firewood! So you may go cold!” It roared one year.
“Bring me bread! So you may starve!” It spat the next.
“Bring me-” The next year it paused. It had taken their money, their valuables, their heat, their food. The town was in near ruin, so what else was there to give? It smiled as the thought struck it. “Bring me a Princess, or I burn this place to the ground.”
The few townsfolk that remained panicked. They were a small town, they had no King, no Castle and certainly no Princess to give. The Dragon knew this, and to extend their suffering it gave them 2 months to hand over a Princess.
Word quickly travelled out of the town, many Heroes came to slay the Dragon but lost. The first month passed and no Princess was given. One day, the Alchemist, bundled up against the snow, an Alchemist from Castlewell stepped through the town gates. Then one day-
“I am here to help.” They said, “I am no Princess, and no fighter but I can make many potions, and I’ve been thinking of your problem on my walk out here. At home we have a potion see, it’s made to send cows to sleep so they can travel better. I think I know how to make it strong enough to send the dragon to sleep for a while”
The townsfolk agreed to get whatever was needed, any slim chance was a chance they were willing to take.
Mud from the bottom of the village well, Chamomile, Ivy Leaf, A Child’s yawn, A Whole lavender plant, And the Last pig in town.
The Alchemist mixed up their potion. It was thin and purple and sparkled in the light. It smelled like strange tea and the fumes made those around it drowsy. With this done, the Alchemist bundled up, took the potion and the Pig and began to walk up the mountain to the Dragon.
When they arrived the Dragon snarled, coiling over its vast hoard. The Alchemist bowed low.
“Oh great Dragon! I am a traveller from Castlewell and I hope you’ll let me pass through your mountain safely. I have brought a Pig most rare, and prepared it with a tonic to make its meat sweet and its taste excellent just for you.”
The Dragon moved close, it did like a good gift and this pig smelt divine.
“You are a fool, traveller. I will accept your gift but I shall devour you soon after!” The Dragon said as it moved to block the entrance to its cave. Quickly chomping up the pig in one swift bite.
The traveller watched as it started to slump. It’s legs grew weak and its eyelids grew heavy and it started to coil up.
“You tricked me traveller.” It yawned “A Curse….A Curse upon you, upon your home, upon your family…A Curse for a thousand years….and when I wake up….” The dragons eyes closed as it fell into a deep slumber.
The Alchemist quickly made their way down the mountain to the town to tell them the news.
The people cheered and celebrated! A hero finally emerged to save them from this Dragon and a way to keep the beast asleep! They celebrated for days until the Alchemist had to leave, more places to go and potions to sell.
No worries about that silly curse though, everyone knows only Wizards can cast curses and that was a dragon.