The Dream of an Old Dog

Once upon a time, over the river and through the woods, past grandmother’s house in an abandoned cottage, there lived a stray dog. This lost cur didn’t have a name, or possessions. The only things he had were fleas, a single friend (a fellow outcast like himself) and a dream. And his dream was to eat a piece of chocolate cake. Years passed and the dog grew old and his dream slowly faded.

Until one day a travelling minstrel told him that the princess and royal baker had been stolen by a horrible dragon that lived not too far away. Many knights of the realm were searching for the princess (to win her hand in marriage), but only the old dog knew where the dragon lived. Huffing with the effort to stand up the old dog waddled into the dark forest.

He ambled along until he came to the stream of youth. A single drink would ensure the old dog would live forever. But he waded through, careful to keep his mouth closed. For any who drink of the stream cannot leave its waters. While it would be nice to be young again, dogs were not meant to live in streams for eternity.

After shuffling further through the forest the dog came to a bridge across a wide chasm. A young troll forces all who wish to pass to tell him something he doesn’t know. The old dog did not find this difficult, for he is old and knows many things the young troll doesn’t know. The old dog told the young troll of joint pain, and hip pain. The young troll shuttered in revulsion and begged the old dog to shuffle across the bridge as swiftly as possible. Which, given the dogs age, was not very swift at all.

Finally the old dog was outside the horrible dragon's cave. He gathered the old, tattered remnants of a bark and let the dry, brittle thing limp towards the dragon’s cave. His old friend, the “horrible” dragon, joyfully came out to meet him. It hurt the old dog to see how young his friend was. The only worthwhile thing he had done his entire life was raise this young dragon. But dragons live much longer than dogs, so while the dog had grown old and frail, the dragon was still little more than a child.

Over cups of tea, served by the very scared, very unharmed princess, the young dragon explained that she had kidnapped the baker and princess so that her old friend could achieve his dream. Old, worn out tears streaked down the old dog's grey muzzle as he thanked his friend. After tea, the baker, princess and old dog were each gripped in a dragon's talon and flown back to the castle.

The young dragon formally apologized to the king, and promised never to do such a wretched thing again, if only the baker would bake a delectable chocolate cake for her friend. The king was only happy to have his daughter back, and quickly acquiesced to the humble request.

The baker, happy to be home, brought out his finest ingredients. Enchanted cocoa from the court wizard, the finest sugar traded from the Western Kingdoms, and the best flour prepared just that morning. The old dog snoozed in the sun as the baker took all afternoon to prepare his finest creation. As the moon rose, the towering chocolate cake was finally served. Even the king waited to try his slice until the old dog had taken the first bite. Having waited a lifetime, the old dog ate half of his slice of cake in a single gulp. It was the most delicious thing he had ever eaten. He gobbled down the rest of his slice before anyone else had eaten even three bites. He was served a second slice of cake, and then a third! Each one was tastier than the last. Unfortunately, old dogs aren’t meant to eat chocolate cake. That night he died, with the largest smile on his old face. Unlike so many of us, he achieved his dream, and died happy. The End.