Dragon Dreams Read online

  Royal Princess

  Acadamy

  DRAGON DREAMS

  DRAGON DREAMS

  LAURA JOY RENNERT

  illustrated by

  MELANIE FLORIAN

  Dial Books for Young Readers

  an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  DIAL BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

  An imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  Published by The Penguin Group

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  Text copyright © 2012 by Laura Joy Rennert

  Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Melanie Florian

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  Designed by Irene Vandervoort and Mina Chung • Text set in Goudy Oldstyle

  Printed in the U.S.A.

  1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Rennert, Laura.

  Dragon dreams / Laura Joy Rennert ; illustrated by Melanie Florian.

  p. cm. — (Royal Princess Academy)

  Summary: Attending her first year at the Royal Princess Academy, Emma prefers soccer to ballroom dancing and dreams of one day riding a dragon.

  ISBN: 978-1-101-59139-0

  [1. Princesses—Fiction. 2. Individuality—Fiction. 3. Sex role—Fiction. 4. Dragons—Fiction. 5. Schools—Fiction.] I. Florian, Melanie, ill. II. Title.

  PZ7.R2903Dr 2012

  [E]—dc23

  2012002851

  ALWAYS LEARNING

  PEARSON

  To my darling Emma, her Chihuahua sidekick Lola, and

  her terrific group of princess friends. You’re my inspiration!

  And no, Emma, we CAN’T get a dragon!!—L.J.R.

  1. All About Me

  2. Princess Problems

  3. Uh-oh

  4. Let the Contest Begin

  5. Woof!

  6. Saved by the Ball!

  7. Dragon Dreams

  8. I Definitely Need a Plan

  9. My Very Own Dragon Kit

  10. The Dragon Caverns

  11. A School for Gnomes

  12. Dragon to the Rescue

  13. Putting the Pieces Together

  14. Birthday Surprises

  DRAGON DREAMS

  Chapter 1

  All About Me

  I’m Princess Emma and I’m in my first year at the Royal Princess Academy.

  Yes, even princesses need to go to school. My great-grandmother, my grandmother, my mother, and all my aunts and cousins have gone to the Royal Academy. It’s a family tradition.

  My best friend Rapunzel and I are in the same class. But, unlike Rapunzel, I am NOT your typical princess.

  I don’t like pink.

  I’m too clumsy to dance.

  I’m always tearing my gowns.

  Here are the things I like best:

  1. Kicking a soccer ball.

  There is nothing better than feeling my foot connect with the ball for a shot on goal.

  2. Playing with my pug and my Chihuahua.

  I think every princess needs a dog, or two!

  3. Racing my cousin Prince Ben.

  I’m pretty fast, so it’s always a close contest, and we both like to win.

  4. Reading about magical animals.

  I’m especially interested in dragons. I wish I could visit the Dragon Caverns.

  5. Sliding down the castle banisters.

  (Don’t tell my mother, the queen!)

  Our castle has lots of them and, since I’m sometimes late in the morning, this is fun AND a good way to get to breakfast on time.

  We just had school picture day at the Academy. I forgot to tell my mom it was coming up. Let’s just say that my picture did not look like any of the others. I think you’ll be able to tell what I mean.

  Chapter 2

  Princess Problems

  Now the most important day of the whole year—the All-School Princess Contest—is almost here. I’m a little worried about it. You see, the girls in my family have always outdone themselves in the contest. The gallery in our castle is filled with their awards. With the help of her forest friends, my great-great-grandmother Snow White led her class to victory the year the contests started. My grandmother Beauty helped her class win by sleeping the most daintily. My cousins the twelve princesses have all won trophies for dancing.

  I don’t think I’m going to win any trophies, though. Everyone’s always giving me advice on how to be a proper princess.

  My mother, the queen, says, “Shhh! Don’t talk so loudly. A princess is as a princess does.”

  When I ask if I can stay up late to watch Magical Animal Kingdom, my grandmother Beauty says, “A princess needs her sleep.”

  My regal father says, “Walk, don’t run. Even when she is not wearing a crown, a princess feels its weight.”

  It hasn’t been going so well at school either. Let’s just say I’m not exactly the star student in Princess Posture class.

  Can I help it if I’d rather read a book than wear it?

  When we sign up for school activities, most of the other princesses decide on Royal Song and Dance. A few choose harp lessons. Some want to learn how to weave lace so fine it fits in a nutshell, and the class on Princess Party Planning is popular. I am the only princess who wants to learn about dragon care. In all of Academy history.

  At our class on Royal Table Manners, not only do I not remember which fork and spoon to use, I accidentally spill the pepper, and it tickles my nose. When I sneeze, I sort of bump into my water goblet. So Moriah jumps out of the way. And sort of bumps into Alex’s water goblet.

  And, well, Madame is not too happy. Neither is Moriah.

  Rapunzel thought it would be a good idea for us to try out for the Royal Talent Show together. It wasn’t. She was sick the day of the show! After my solo, Princess Jordan joked that they must have heard me in the neighboring kingdom.

  Plus, at our first-year sleepover, all the other princesses changed into their frilly nightgowns and beribboned slippers. I changed into my fuzzy pajamas… and my dragon slippers.

  But Royal Ball class was the biggest problem of all. I TRIED to tell my teacher I’m good at soccer, not dancing. She didn’t believe me. Now she does.

  Dear Royal Highnesses,

  After 5 pairs parting and dance instructors darting, 4 pages giggling, 3 trays a-tumbling, 2 gasping guests, and a poodle in a potted tree,
we have come to the conclusion that Princess Emma might benefit from some extra dancing practice at home…

  Sincerely,

  Academy Headmistress Melinda

  This morning, while we wait for our school assembly to start, I pass Rapunzel a note:

  Do you think I’m the worst princess in the world?

  Rapunzel writes back:

  No. And don’t say that about my best friend!

  Sigh. Even her handwriting is more princess-y than mine. As I smile at her, I can’t help wondering how she manages to look so perfect with our poofy school uniform and all that hair piled on top of her head.

  Chapter 3

  Uh–Oh

  “Princesses, we are expecting some visitors,” says our teacher Lady Mary.

  The trumpets sound. This means the Royal Guard has arrived. I wish I could go to the window to see if there are any dragons with them! We used to see dragons more frequently when I was little, but now seeing them is rare. Because dragon fire sometimes accidentally damaged forests and farms, the Royal Council limited where and when dragons could fly. So it’s an extra-special treat to see them!

  A Royal Herald marches into our classroom in great state. He announces: “Hear ye, hear ye. The Royal Academy’s All-School Princess Contest will take place tomorrow, with each class flying its colors and banner from the castle battlements.”

  I have a sinking feeling. As soon as the herald and trumpeters leave, everyone starts to talk at once… everyone except me, that is. I feel sick to my stomach. What if I trip during the royal parade out onto the field? Or accidentally break a glass slipper! What if I do everything wrong?

  As if things aren’t already bad enough, Lady Mary tells us that this year boys from the Royal Prince Academy are also going to come and help out. Great. Now more people will see me mess up!

  Even the thought that the Royal Dragon Guard will be at the contest as a part of our Academy’s tradition can’t cheer me up.

  “I’m no good at this stuff,” I groan to Rapunzel.

  “You’re good at lots of things!” she tells me. “We just have to figure out the princess things you do well.”

  Princess Alex and Princess Moriah walk by right then. Alex says just loud enough for me to hear, “And you’d better do it fast, or our class will take last place!”

  I spend the rest of the day trying to think of princess things I might be good at. By the end of the day, my list isn’t very long. At all!

  Rapunzel has a plan, though. She meets me in the courtyard after the final bell, and I can see she’s excited about something. She’s got Princess Laura in tow.

  “I’ve got it! You can both come home with me this afternoon and we can set up some princess events so you have some practice before the contest, Emma.”

  When we get to her house, she and Laura set things up.

  And… I mismatch all the ballroom gowns and shoes, dismount from the royal carriage right in a huge mud puddle, curtsy on Laura’s gown by mistake, and ride a horse like a boy with my school uniform all hiked up, when I should have been riding sidesaddle like a princess.

  Afterward Rapunzel says, “Well, at least you tried. It wasn’t so bad really.”

  Sigh. I wish I could ride a dragon instead! Dragon riders DON’T have to ride sidesaddle.

  Chapter 4

  Let the Contest Begin

  The next morning, I try to convince my mother I’m too sick to go to school. For some reason, she doesn’t believe me.

  I plan to get to the royal carriage stop late. But my cousin Ben, who goes to the Royal Prince Academy and waits at the same carriage stop, challenges me to a race. I couldn’t just let him win, could I?!

  Before I know it I’m at school, the trumpets are sounding, and the contest is starting. I look around for Rapunzel. She runs up to me smiling. Am I ever surprised! She whispers, “I got a haircut… because I like your short hair.” I grin back. Rapunzel always makes me feel better.

  Overhead, the Royal Dragon Guard swoops, and everyone claps. I can’t take my eyes off them! The dragons sparkle in the sun as they fly, and the riders are so daring.

  I hear some whispering. Moriah, Laura, and some of the other princesses have their heads together. I turn to see what they are looking at, and it’s a small group of gnomes—the dragons’ trainers. Wow! I wonder if I can get close enough to ask some questions about the dragons. We don’t see gnomes much these days. They are the dragon experts, and they’re not out in the kingdom anymore now that the dragons can’t fly freely.

  “Come on, Emma!” says Rapunzel.

  I’ve been so busy looking at the dragons, I forgot about the contests. The music starts, signaling our walk onto the field. Rapunzel gives my hand a squeeze.

  The first competition is the Royal Bake-Off. The judges announce that this is a test to see who can make the lightest cake. Princess Sarah’s cake is so lacy it melts on the judges’ tongues. Princess Jordan’s cake has pink swirls, pink polka dots, pink curli- cues, and pink petals. It’s so light it floats right up into the air. Our classmates are cheering.

  Gulp. It’s my turn. My cake isn’t exactly light, but it’s chocolate—a chocolate volcano. Who wouldn’t love that? Only problem is, it erupts at the wrong time—right when the judge starts to cut it! Oops!

  Rapunzel wipes the sauce off her face and licks her finger. “Yum!” she says. “Hot fudge!”

  Oh, well. I may not have won, but everyone went back for second helpings.

  The next event is the “sleeping lightly” test. Princess Laura tosses and turns. The judge checks and finds a pea under her ten mattresses. Points for us! Princess Jordan can’t get comfortable either. There’s a jelly bean under her mattresses.

  When I reach the top of my mattress pile, I’m starting to think this event will be an easy win for us. I’m too keyed up about the contest to sleep.

  I sink into the softness. Mmm… this feels good.…

  “Think of something that will keep you awake!” Princess Alex yells up at me. I think about my friend Bo Peep and her… Oh, no!… sheep… zzzzzZZZZZZ.

  No points for me. Not only did I fall asleep and NOT feel the rocks under my mattresses—I didn’t even wake up when I fell off.

  Chapter 5

  Woof!

  At last it’s time for an event I might have a chance of doing okay in: the Academy’s Royal Dog Show.

  Princess Jordan prances past with her fluffy poodle… which looks just like a furry puffball to me, but the judges give her a seven.

  Princess Moriah poses with her dainty whippet, and Princess Laura sweeps by with her glossy afghan. The judges look im-pressed and give them each a score of eight.

  Then Princess Alex glides past with her sleek greyhound. The crowd oohs and ahhs. She gets a perfect ten!

  It’s almost my turn. Which of my dogs should I enter? I bend down to pet my pug Harold and my Chihuahua Lola. Harold smiles at me with his googly eyes. I look at the other dogs and I look at Harold. Um… maybe not. I’ll take Lola. She’s really tiny. She’s got a smooth coat and short fur. She’s perfect! Whew.

  Except I forget one important thing… Lola thinks big dogs—which is every dog compared to a Chihuahua—are furry monsters. We walk into the ring, and Lola becomes a Mexican jumping bean!

  No points for me again. Plus it takes Princess Laura and me—and two judges—to catch Lola.

  My team is in trouble, and it’s all my fault. There’s only one test left. The judges announce the True Princess Contest. It’s the most important and the hardest! Each of us will be called forward to choose a card with a challenging princess problem on it. Then we have to figure out a way to solve the problem. The princes from our brother academy are going to help out.

  I bite my lip. I’m so nervous, I don’t think I’ll be able to pick a card. “I can do this,” I say to no one in particular, but I don’t sound all that convincing.

  Princess Jordan just picked her card. At her feet, Prince Collin kneels with the glass slipper. I look at
the dainty shoe. Boy, would I rather wear high-tops! The slipper sparkles in the light. The sun glints off it, right into Princess Jordan’s eyes. She’s going to step on the glass slipper. We all gasp.

  I whip my favorite rock star sunglasses out of my pocket and pass them to her. Whew! That was close. As she slips her foot into the shoe, Princess Jordan smiles at me.

  Rapunzel picks “trapped in a tower.” We hold our breath. She’s afraid of heights! Plus, with her new short hair, she’s stuck! I try to climb the tower to help her, but the walls are too smooth. Just when I get a little ways up, I start to slip back down. Princess Sarah gives me a push, but I still can’t get high enough. Time is running out.

  I see Princess Moriah starting her turn. The judge hands her a frog. Moriah squeezes her eyes shut.

  Smooch.

  Nothing happens…

  She closes her eyes again.

  SMOOCH.

  The frog stays green and Moriah starts to turn red.

  Things get even worse. Rapunzel’s still trapped, Moriah’s not having any luck with the frog, and Princess Alex just fell for the oldest trick in the spell book: She pricked her finger on a spinning wheel! I run around looking for a prince to wake her with a kiss, but suddenly they’re all busy doing something else. Boys!

  Chapter 6

  Saved by the Ball!

  Lady Mary says it’s my turn. I feel like I can’t move. I pick a card from the choices the judges hold out to me. Oh, no! My task is to “create a happy ending.” I’m totally the wrong princess for this job. What am I going to do?

  I look up at Rapunzel. From the tower window she gives me a thumbs-up and calls, “You can do it!” Jordan and Laura cross their fingers for me. Moriah kisses her frog again. She mouths the word “HELP!” They’re all depending on me.