Once upon a time, in a realm far away, there was a young prince named Valiant. He lived in a splendid castle with his father, the king, and his mother, the queen. The castle was surrounded by enchanting gardens that bloomed all year round, making the air always smell of roses and jasmine.
Prince Valiant was not just brave by name but also by nature. With his shiny armor and a striking red cape, he was admired by all in the kingdom. From the highest tower of the castle, he often gazed out, dreaming of grand adventures beyond the garden walls.
One crisp morning, as the dew still clung to the petals of the garden flowers, King Edmund called Prince Valiant to the throne room. Upon entering, Valiant found his father standing over a map strewn across a large table, his brow furrowed with concern.
«My son,» King Edmund began, his voice grave, «I have heard troubling tales from the villagers. There is a dragon said to dwell in a cave on the highest mountain of our kingdom. The people are terrified and need our help.»
Queen Isabelle looked on with a worried expression, her hands clasped tightly. «We must do something, Valiant. You have always wanted to embark on a grand adventure. Perhaps, this is the moment you have been waiting for.»
Filled with a sense of duty and excitement, Prince Valiant nodded solemnly. «I will go, father. I will find this dragon and learn the truth of these tales.»
The next day, dawn barely breaking, Prince Valiant mounted his faithful white horse, Starlight, and waved goodbye to his parents who stood at the castle gate, their faces a mixture of pride and concern.
The journey to the mountain was long and fraught with challenges. Valiant crossed rivers where the water sparkled like diamonds in the sun, traversed forests where the trees whispered secrets of the old world, and climbed hills that tested the strength of his legs and heart.
After several days, he finally reached the base of the mountain. Its peak was shrouded in clouds as if hiding the secrets of the dragon itself. With a deep breath, Valiant dismounted and approached the mouth of the cave. It was dark and foreboding, stalactites and stalagmites decorating its eerie interior.
With only a torch to guide him, Prince Valiant stepped inside. His heart pounded in his chest as echoes of his footsteps filled the air. Deeper into the cave he went until he heard a deep, rumbling sound. Fear gripped him, but he pressed on.
There, in the heart of the mountain, lay a massive dragon, its scales shimmering in hues of emerald and gold. The beast’s eyes opened slowly, fixing on Valiant with a gaze that was both curious and wise.
«Who dares enter my lair?» the dragon’s voice boomed, resonating off the cave walls.
«I am Prince Valiant,» he replied, his voice steady despite his trembling heart. «I have come to find out why you frighten my people.»
The dragon chuckled, a sound like rolling thunder. «I have not meant to frighten anyone. I am old and have long chosen to live in solitude. Perhaps, the villagers have misunderstood my occasional journeys down the mountain to drink from the river.»
Realizing the dragon was not the monster he had been painted to be, Valiant lowered his torch. «Then, will you come with me to the village? Show them you mean no harm?»
The dragon nodded. «I shall.»
Together, they emerged from the mountain, and with each step, Prince Valiant saw the dragon’s true nature: wise, kind, and misunderstood. The villagers were initially frightened, but soon saw the dragon as Valiant did.
From that day on, the dragon visited the village often, helping with tasks that required great strength and sharing tales of ancient times. Prince Valiant, having found a friend in the dragon, often joined him, and together they had many more adventures.
Thus, the tale of Prince Valiant and the Mountain Dragon became a story of understanding, courage, and friendship, told for generations in the kingdom where fear turned into fellowship.
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Autor del Cuento
Soy Francisco J., apasionado de las historias y, lo más importante, padre de un pequeño. Durante el emocionante viaje de enseñar a mi hijo a leer, descubrí un pequeño secreto: cuando las historias incluyen a amigos, familiares o lugares conocidos, la magia realmente sucede. La conexión emocional con el cuento motiva a los niños a sumergirse más profundamente en las palabras y a descubrir el maravilloso mundo de la lectura. Saber más de mí.