Now dear boys and girls. In this story, our damsel in distress is not a beautiful princess but a prince who was anything but your typical charming hero.

 

Our noble prince lived in the enchanting kingdom of Eldoria - no scratch, noble. Dear children, forgive me. One shouldn’t tell lies.  Archie, the prince, was somewhat lazy, clueless, and sometimes even a tad bit oblivious, but it can be said that he was good-humoured and had a heart of gold. He always brought smiles to the faces of his subjects. However, his carefree nature led him into fateful encounters one too many times,  which his older sister had grown weary of rescuing him from.

 

On a sunny afternoon, Prince Archie ventured into the depths of the mystical woods surrounding the kingdom. He stumbled upon a cottage hidden amongst the trees. It was odd looking, with mouldy, not-so-upright walls. It looked like it had been built by a blind troll with a crooked ruler. But Archie couldn't resist the urge to explore.

 

With each step he took towards the cottage, the trees groaned, and the wind blew violently as if trying to push and steer him away. But the prince, being reckless, paid no heed and pushed open the creaking door.

Inside, the cottage was filled with oddities and curiosities—a ghastly collection of eyeballs in jars. There were many different sizes, colours and shapes (the eyes, not the jars, mind you). Archie's eyes then fell (excuse the pun) upon a massive portrait with a gold elaborately carved frame. The portrait seemed to stare back at him eerily. 

Prince Archie examined the portrait and, with a chuckle, exclaimed, "Oh, poor lady, she wasn't blessed with good looks." Little did he know that his thoughtless remark would be his last thoughtless act.

 

Unbeknownst to him, the portrait was no portrait but a mirror which held the wicked witch, trapped by a spell gone wrong of her own doing earlier that day.

 

In an instant, the mirror shattered into a thousand pieces, and a blinding flash of light enveloped the prince. When the glow subsided, Archie transformed into a mighty dragon with shimmering scales and fiery breath. The curse had taken hold, and he was no longer a prince,

 

News of the prince’s disappearance and a  fearsome dragon thought to have killed him spread throughout the kingdom, reaching the ears of an ambitious knight named Frederick. Determined to make a name for himself, Frederick set off on a quest to slay the infamous dragon and win the admiration of the kingdom.

 

Armed with a gleaming sword and unwavering confidence, Frederick marched towards the dragon's lair. As he approached, the ground began to tremble beneath his feet, making him tremble and shake like a leaf. Okay, I'll tell you a secret—he may have also wet his pants a little. 

To Frederick’s relief, he found himself before a snoring dragon fast asleep.

 Now was his chance to slay the unsuspecting dragon as he napped. Frederick swung his sword with all his might. Much to his embarrassment, Frederick's sword became hopelessly stuck in the dragon’s tail, leaving him immobilised and at the dragon's mercy. Archie woke up to the sight of the hapless knight struggling to free himself from his tail, sending him into fits of laughter.

 

As the laughter echoed through the forest, a young girl named Tully happened to be passing by. Tully was no ordinary maiden. Her parents had named her Tulip due to her button nose and soft skin as a child, but she was no flower! With her unruly hair and mischievous grin, she possessed a spirit as fiery as the dragon’s breath,

 

Unable to resist, she followed the booming laugh. Tully arrived at the cave entrance to witness the spectacle of a knight pulling and tugging at his sword, which appeared wedged in the Dragon’s tail. His face was redder than a tomato. With a twinkle in her eye, she couldn't resist. "Having trouble, Sir Stick-a-lot?" Her words caught both of their attention.
 

Unfazed by the dragon's imposing presence, Tully strutted confidently, leaving Frederick in awe. With a mighty tug, she released Frederick's sword from Archie’s tail, freeing him from his embarrassing predicament.

Frederick looked into Tully's eyes and, without a word, ran!

 

Drowsy and Tully looked at each other as the realisation dawned upon them. “Ungrateful troll!” Tully blurt. Archie and Tully burst into fits of laughter.

 

Although Archie could no longer speak, with grunts, animated gestures, and stick drawings in the sand, their friendship grew as the days passed. Archie had made peace that he would stay a dragon, so he decided there was no need to burden his friend with his troubles.

 

With Tully by his side, Archie hoped perhaps one day to find a way to break his curse and restore his true form. He kept his ears to the ground and believed the answer would reveal itself. Archie, after all, was nothing but positive.

 

But through it all, they laughed in the face of danger. Soon Archie was no longer feared. Many villagers would ask for help to protect them from thieving trolls and greedy goblins. 

 

The dragon and Tully became the talk of the kingdom. Ironically, Tully was known for her fiery temper and the dragon, which got him the name Drowsy for his uncanny ability to fall asleep in the most inconvenient times and places.

 

There was never a dull moment when the two were around—from Drowsy accidentally setting a tailor's market stall on fire to Tully outwitting a gang of bumbling trolls and stealing all their gold. Their escapades were the stuff of legends, reminding them that humour could be found even in the darkest of times.

 

Along their quests, Drowsy and Tully encountered a colourful cast of characters. Sir Percival, a brave knight with not-so-healthy digestion, became their loyal companion. It’s fair to say his presence could be detected from feet away.

And then there was Granny Agnes, a wise old woman with a knack for spinning outrageous tales and an endless supply of magical potions. Whenever a village needed their assistance, Granny Agnes was ready to help.

 

But you're probably wondering, did the dragon stay a dragon forever? No, he did not. But I will leave out the gooey gross details. I'll keep it short.

One night, as they rested by a crackling fire after narrowly escaping a family of giants, Tully kissed the dragon's scratched snout and expressed her love for him. In that magical moment, the curse was broken, and Drowsy transformed back into Prince Archie, much to the surprise of both.

 

But Prince Archie was no longer the carefree prince he had once been. He had grown wiser and less of a layabout thanks to the friendship he had found in Tully.

They, of course, kissed and fell in love. Yuck! Moving on….

 

In a grand celebration, the kingdom rejoiced as Archie returned home and later married Tully. Together, they ruled Eldoria side by side. 

 

The story of Drowsy and Tully became a legend, passed down through generations, reminding everyone who heard it that true love knows no boundaries and that laughter can awaken even the sleepiest of hearts... and beasts alike.

 

And so, the tale of Drowsy and Tully lived on as a beacon of hope, teaching the world that any curse can be broken with a good dose of humour, that beauty is literally skin deep, and happily, ever afters can come true even for dimwitted princes.