The Great Prince

Once, in a land far away, across vast oceans and spacious deserts, there was a kingdom. This kingdom was ruled by a good and fair king who loved his people dearly, though the people were not always so loyal to love the king back. They often strayed and disobeyed the king’s laws, which broke his heart. He sent nobles down to the people to tell them the best ways to live and honor the king’s laws, but still many refused to listen.

The reason for all of this disobedience was because of the influence of a dragon named Apollyon. Apollyon had once been a man, friends with the king, but had been forced to leave the castle due to his evil ways. The king cast him out, trapped in the form of a dragon. Ever since, Apollyon had wanted revenge. He went after what the king loved most, which were his people. Apollyon manipulated and persuaded the king’s people to turn from the king’s ways and satisfy themselves. This resulted in many wars and quarrels between the people. Many great scribes and fortune tellers of the kingdom had foretold prophesies of a great warrior coming to defeat the horrible dragon. He was to be a savior and deliver the people from Apollyon’s evil influence. The people patiently waited for this day, but many took matters into their own hands and tried to defeat the dragon themselves. All of them had been defeated and killed.

The king watched over his nation with sadness in his heart. This was not the way he intended for his people to live. He prepared many knights to go and fight the dragon, but he knew that it would be of no use, for Apollyon was too powerful. The king knew he had to do something, or else his people would be in peril forever. He went to Apollyon. “What is it you require of me to leave my people alone?” he asked.

Apollyon grinned. He slid his forked tongue between his teeth. “A sacrificccee,” he hissed.

The king squared his shoulders. “What is it you require?” he asked. “I shall give you anything you desire- gold, silver, jewels- what do you wish?”

The dragon gave a slow chuckle. “Oh no,” he said. “Richessss ssshall not do. I require sssomething much more…..valuable,”

“What is it you want?!” The frustrated king cried.

Apollyon gave him a scaly grin. “An heir to the kingdom. Something to assure me that when you are gone, there will be no one to take your place. Nothing stopping me from being the ruler,” he smirked. “A son,” he said. “Your son.”

The king grew very pale. “My son is a great warrior,” he said. “You surely shall be defeated.”

“Maybe sssssso,” he hissed. “Either way, whether he defeats me or I defeat him, your people shall be free of my influence. Is that what you desire?”

“More than anything,” The noble king replied.

“Excccccellent,” the dragon hissed. “When shall I expect him?”

“Give me a few days,” replied the king. “I’ll have him in a week’s time.

The dragon smiled a scaly grin. “I’ll be waiting,” he replied.

The king’s son, Sir Thomas Daniels, was a pure and noble prince and a well trained knight who loved his father and his father’s people dearly. The people adored him, as he had never in his life done anything to wrong the king or the people. He was too was deeply saddened by the people’s straying ways and wanted desperately to help them. So when his heartbroken father returned to the castle and told him what Apollyon had said, he readily agreed.

“Are you sure, my son?” his father asked. “Apollyon is very powerful. I fear you shall not return.”

“It is the only way to free our people from his evil ways,” he answered, “It must be done.”

“It saddens me, but you are right,” he said. “I believe you are to be the one the prophesies have spoken of, all these years. Honor me, my son. Your story will surely be remembered for generations to come. I have told Apollyon that you will go to him in one week’s time. I will begin making preparations for you.”

One week later, the king sent his brave knight on horseback to meet the great Apollyon, wearing his armor and holding his trusted sword and shield. It was a sad parting, for the king knew his son would be in extreme peril, whether he survived or not.

Sir Thomas Daniels rode deep into the forest and called out for Apollyon to show himself. “Where are you?” he cried. “Appear to me so I may fight you.”

Apollyon slithered out of the darkness. “Ah, so you are the little brat that the prophesies spoke of? The one that is to defeat me? Son of the great king?”

“I am,” the prince answered.

“What is it that is said? I will strike your heel, but you shall crush my head?”

“It is as you say,” Sir Thomas replied.

“Blassssphemy!” The dragon hissed. “I believe it is not so,” he said. “But we shall see if the prophesies ssshall be fulfilled. “And with that, he lunged at the prince.

They battled for many days. Back at the palace, the king could not find rest. He neither ate nor slept for two days. On the third day, as the sun rose, he looked out over his balcony and saw his valiant knight riding back, still brandishing his sword.

The king ran out to greet his prince. “My son!” he cried. “You have defeated the great dragon?”

Sir Thomas Daniels smiled. “I have, father,” he said.

The king studied the wounds that would surely leave scars covering his son’s body. “Let these wounds be a reminder to the people of what you have done for them,” he said.

So the people lived in harmony with the king and his son, free from the influence of Apollyon. Fear, strife, and war no longer haunted the kingdom, but instead the people were joyful and sang praises to the loving king and his son. They told the story of how Sir Thomas had so bravely defeated the horrible dragon, and those stories were passed down throughout the generations as the king had foretold. And though the people still strayed, the prince always welcomed their apologies. So king and his son lived happily ever after with their people in the kingdom. And the best part of this story is, it never ends.