Ammeline rubbed her temples.

"Right," she said out loud, in ordinary human language. "A dragon. Well isn't that something I, as a modern American princess, should be dealing with? Ahahaha! I've got nature magic and a sword, I'm sure I can handle it!"

"Nature magic you have no idea what you're doing with," Sylvanandra pointed out. "And you're good with that weird, no question, but how many fencing swords have beaten dragons, historically? Oh, and if you think about it, in most of those stories the princess isn't exactly the one who deals with the dragon, exactly. Unless it's some kind of porno, which brings me back to making out..."

"Why are you so obsessed with that?" Ammeline glared at her.

"You and your friends are hot, you're the only one I think I have a chance with, and I'm REALLY bored."

"Thank you for your honesty, but I'm not interested. Besides..."

"Not interested in girls, or not interested in me? It affects my choices going forward."

"BESIDES, I did specify I was a modern American princess." Obviously feeling herself now, ammeline stood and held up her blade. The shrub sprites "deeged" appreciatively. "I'm not a noble who's spent her whole life waiting to get married off to a viscount, I'm going to be president someday and I have a sword! Ahahahahahaha!"

"That could be your campaign slogan."

"I can at least go and investigate."

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Vote for Ammeline Trent, I Have A Sword!"

"And once I've investigated, I won't be stupid about it about it. If it looks like something I can't deal with, I'll get the others. I don't have an awful lot to compare it to, but you're always going on about how powerful you are right? And we beat you. We must be fairly powerful then."

"Yeah but that might not mean anything when we're talking about a dragon. Dragons aren't just powerful, they're crazy. But I wouldn't worry too much about it, because it's probably not really a dragon."

"What do you mean?"

"Nobody's seen an active dragon in like two thousand years. The Uzbedis spend a LOT of time keeping up spells that make sure they stay dormant. And this is one place where everybody helps them. A dragon is like a hurricane that can hate you, specifically. That's not trouble anybody wants."

"So they're just wild monsters?"

"No, they're intelligent but they're mostly assholes. The few who can get along with anyone else stay quiet and out of everybody's way. So chances are, there isn't a dragon."

"You think there's something else. That looks like a dragon to my little subjects here."

"Right. A big lizard, or even some kind of hostile bird. Shrub sprites aren't known for being very smart. But be careful. There's a lot of magic around here lately, and you're right next to a portal to the fairy realms. It COULD still be something dangerous."

"Well then my plan still stands. Lead on, my subjects, and I'll see what's to be done about this dragon!"

This last was, of course, said in the plant communication. Calling it "speech" didn't seem right. The shrub sprites "Deeged!" Happily and left them into the forest. They followed them through long, winding paths, eventually to a cave.

"It doesn't feel like there's enough space for all this forest between my property and the next," Ammeline pointed out.

"That's because it's an extra dimensional space. There's more surface of the earth than there is surface area. A lot of magical locations exist sort of...stacked on top of reality like that. High levels of magic naturally warp space."

"And I just happened to wind up living next to a magic forest?" Ammeline shook her head. "That's a big coincidence."

"What are you talking about? Every forest is like that. Humans used to know that. Haven't you ever taken a long walk in the woods? You can feel it."

The two of them followed the scrub sprites into the cave, down and down, until they reached an enormous cavern.

"Oh," Sylvanandra said.

"Ahahahahahaha...this.. presents a problem."

"Dragon!" The scrub sprites called. "Dragon! Dragon! Dragon! Dragon! Dragon!"

The thing was big enough to fill the college campus by itself. Covered from the tip of its about to the tip of its tail in dark purple scales, so dark they were almost black. It was curled up, and deep asleep, but it's snores were eruptions of heated air that made the cave uncomfortably warm.

"Yes," Sylvanandra said. "Yes it is."

She clapped Ammeline on the shoulder.

"Well, your majesty, good luck with that."