Penny had never left her castle grounds. Her parents warned her to never wander past the gates, and certainly never into the haunted forest that surrounded the land.

Penny was tired of being treated like a child, she was 8 for crying out loud! So, one day when her parents were gone for business she sneaked past her guards through her balcony window and sprinted to the forest on her trusty steed Buck in the wee hours of the morning.

The moon was high in the sky that night, and the air was crisp. Penny was thrilled to be away from her protective parents and staff members. She felt like she could do anything! However, as she ventured deeper into the forest she began to hear steps behind her...

WHO GOES THERE?

Penny gulped loudly while the dragon simply began to stagger towards her, Penny noted the limp it had on its hind leg. She winced as the dragon became so close she could feel it's mighty breath on her flushed face. Buck whined in protest before storming away and leaving the forest.

Before her eyes, Penny laid eyes on a large dragon, one that made Buck look like a small colt. It simply stared at Penny as she froze in terror.

The dragon looked at her calmly, then began to talk! "I am on a quest and I need your help," he said. Penny's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you want me to do?" she asked.

"I need help from your royal family. Us dragons are a true calm, sweet breed. However, we have been villainized and made to look like monsters. We need your help to set the record straight."

"How can I help?" Penny exclaimed. "I am but just a young girl, I escaped my castle grounds today for the first time ever tonight. The guards keep the castle on lock down constantly."

The dragon smiled slightly, "You are but just a young girl, sweet Penny. Us dragons have watched you since your birth, and you are destined for great things. If you help me, we will help you succeed in whatever you need to do," the dragon exclaimed. Penny nodded her head, "Alright, I'll help."

"Wonderful!" the dragon exclaimed. "By the way, my name is Rocco," he explained. Penny smiled, she liked that name. "First things, first," Rocco said. "We must get to the Troll Clearing."

Penny and Rocco began their quest in still the wee hours of the night, the stars being their only guidance for light. The Troll Clearing wasn't far from the forest, but Penny had heard all the scary legends of how vicious the Trolls could be, and what they did to trespassers.

"Are the stories true?" Penny asked as the troll territory came into sight. Rocco kept a stern look on his face, "They're gentle giants.... mostly." That didn't make Penny feel any better. The land was nestled deep in a valley between mountains and what she saw took her breath away.

Hundreds of Trolls covered the valley. As soon as they entered the clearing, Rocco protectively stood in front of her as all the monsters gazed upon them. What looked to be their leader came up to them.

"What do you think you are doing on my land?" he growled. Rocco smiled sweetly, "King Javier, we need your support for us to come to the king to help him understand that we are not horrible monsters, but friendly and not a threat to the humans. Will you help?" King Javier thought for a moment. Finally, he nodded. "Fine, I shall. Where do I sign?"

Rocco handed over the scroll and quickly King Javier signed. "Tell the king we need more seeds to plant our lands. Now begone!" he boomed at them. They didn't have to be told twice. Quickly, they hurried away.

Next, they traveled a bit farther North to places Penny had never even heard of in her books at the castle. As they drew closer to their next spot the grass faded into dry dirt, and the ocean began to make its appearance along the sky line.