Kiwi’s Kingdom by Amber Smith
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Mango the dragon did not quite fit in. While his brothers and sisters burned down villages and kidnapped princesses, Mango only wanted to build. He dreamed big dreams for years upon years, wishing very hard to become an architect. Oh, how he wanted to make castles and bridges so fair that everyone around would come to stare. He would even settle for a table or a fence. But no one wanted a dragon for an architect.
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“You would only burn down the town,” said the people. “No, I would not,” Mango would protest. It was so hard to be a dragon that wanted to build. No one believed you, and they chased you away. Then one day as he was flying, dreaming of all the things he wished to make, Mango heard crying. It was a girl.
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“Why are you crying?” asked Mango as he landed by her side. The girl looked up and he wondered if she would scream. But she did not yell. She wiped her face and told the dragon her woes. “There was a terrible storm,” said the girl. “Now the kingdom of ShapeA-Lot is in ruins. At the end of the week, I am to host a royal ball, which I can do no longer.” “A royal ball?” wondered Mango. “Does that mean you are Princess Kiwi, the ruler of this land?” asked the dragon in awe. “Yes,” said Princess Kiwi, “but what kind of ruler am I when my castle is in pieces?”
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“I can help. I’m good at building things,” said Mango as he motioned to the tool belt at his waist. “Please let me help.” “A dragon would help rebuild?” “Yes. All the other dragons think I’m silly, but I love making things.” Princess Kiwi smiled. “Well, I can use all the help I can get, dragon.” “My name is Mango,” said the dragon, puffing his chest in pride. “And I promise that the kingdom of Shape-A-Lot will be ready for the royal ball.”
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The pair soon began to work on rebuilding the kingdom. They started with the big bridge. Every fallen brick needed to be put in its place, and each was as heavy as a hound. Princess Kiwi could hardly lift a single brick, but Mango was very strong. He picked up each brick and stacked them quite neat. “Now where do these go?� pondered Mango as he began to build. Mango needs your help to rebuild the bridge!
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“Ah-ha! I think I got it,” declared Mango as he stood back from the finished bridge. Princess Kiwi clapped her hands in delight. Maybe, just maybe, they could fix the kingdom in time. “Oh, wonderful dragon,” said the princess. “The bridge is beautiful.” Pleased with her praise, he grinned a toothy grin at Princess Kiwi. They had a long way to go before the kingdom was ready for the ball, but this bridge was a big step.
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“What is next?” asked Mango. “The houses,” she said. “There are many people who live nearby that were hurt by the storm. Will you help rebuild their little homes?” With a nod of his head and a wink, Mango scooped up the princess into his arms and took wing. The view from the sky was greater than standing. He could see the little huts much better from above.
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There were many little houses with missing a roof or a broken door. It saddened the dragon to see such disarray. “I’ll fix them,” promised Mango. And fix them he did. Mango landed by each hut and began to put together the pieces. But many were broken and just would not fit! He would not quit, however, and he kept trying. Mango could build anything, no matter what. He would fix these huts. “Now where do these go?” pondered Mango as he picked up some wooden boards. Mango needs your help to rebuild a house!
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With hammer and nail, Mango worked fast. It took him nearly three days from sunup to sundown, but soon a dozen little houses stood proud, restored to their former glory. Tired but happy, Mango wondered what was next.
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Together they flew to the castle, where the storm hit the hardest. There was hardly a castle left beneath the rubble. Stone sat in piles and wooden supports laid askew. It was as if the castle was sleeping and simply needed to be woken up. As Princess Kiwi stood by the ruin, tears gathered in her eyes. This was her home. So little of it remained. “I’ll fix it,” said Mango. “I can and I will. Not even a castle is too much for me to build.” Mango needs your help to rebuild the castle!
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Together they began, picking up all they could, and they worked long into the night and until the dawn peeked above the hills. It was a strange sight, a dragon and a princess working side-by-side in labor. It would become a tale that would be told for generations by the people of Shape-A-Lot. For tireless days and sleepless nights, no matter the heat or chill, the pair kept building and building and building‌. Until‌
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On the night before the royal ball, a castle stood where there was once ruin. They did it. They saved the kingdom in time for the royal ball! Happy enough to weep in joy, Princess Kiwi leapt into Mango’s arms and gave him a big hug. “You fixed everything,” said the princess in a small voice full of wonder. “Now the cooks have a kitchen to cook a feast. Now the serving girls have rooms to decorate. Now the knights have a gate to guard. Now the farmers have homes to live in. Now the people from all around have a bridge to cross. Oh Mango, you have truly saved the day.”
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“I did what anyone would do,” said Mango. “I helped as best as I could.” “Not just anyone could rebuild a whole kingdom in less than seven days. No, only a very special architect could do that. An architect named Mango the Dragon!” More joyous than ever before, Mango hugged the princess back. “You were the one who have this dragon a chance.” “I guess the saying is true then.” What saying?” asked Mango.
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“What saying?” asked Mango. “You cannot judge a book by its cover,” said Princess Kiwi with a smile. “Or a dragon by his scales. You have a beautiful heart, Mango. One that shall be celebrated. You will be my honored guest at the royal ball.” “A dragon at a ball?” The princess nodded and looked up at the castle they had built together. “Yes. I think it’s time for a change. Don’t you?” Fearful in the most wonderful of ways, in hopeful anticipation, Mango nodded in agreement. This dawn marked the brightest of new days.
THE END
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