Penelope's Way

"Edmund was on his way to see Princess Penelope. From the shadows lurked, Goldwing, the dragon that had killed his father. The beast was watching the knight, waiting for the opportunity to strike when..."

"The princess leaped out of the shadows and ran him through with her sword!"

Gaylord sighed. "Penelope, who is telling this story, you or me?"

"You are."

"Then let ME tell it."

"When daddy reads to me, he lets me change the story."

"I'm not dad."

"I know. Daddy would never put a dragon in the shadows. How can a dragon lurk? He's huge."

"It's a small dragon."

Penelope snorted. "Edmund deserves to be eaten, if he can't see a dragon in the shadows."

"Maybe Edmund is thinking about Princess Penelope."

"I told you, I don't want to be a princess. I want to be a knight and carry a sword with a magical, crystal pommel."

"Well in my story you are the Princess of Unicorns and Rainbows." Gaylord grinned at his sister and attempted his most evil laugh.

Penelope rolled her eyes. "In that case, I want to change the story."

"You don't get to change the story."

But Penelope wasn't listening. She was holding a crystal gem; one of those glass things they sell at novelty stores. Only Gaylord noticed this gem looked different. It glowed when she held it.

"Where did you get that?"

"I found it. It grants wishes."

"How cute," Gaylord smirked.

Penelope whispered into the crystal, "Dragons are real. They live in the shadow realm."

On the wall a shadow of a dragon appeared.

"What the...Penelope, what did you do?"

Penelope smiled. "I like this story much better." Penelope whispered into the crystal again. She and Gaylord disappeared from the room and two new shadows appeared on the wall.