About The Brave Dragon
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In land-neverland, which lies beyond the realm of dreams and fantasy, every little boy finds a little dragon, raises it, and then, when they both grow up, goes with it to competitions where they compete with others.
Alby, the hero of our fairy tale, also had to do this. So he went and searched for baby dragons in the forests and mountainous rocks, in order to choose one and take it into his upbringing.
One day he wandered to the top of a large rock and there, in an abandoned dragon's nest, he saw a small dragon. He looked at it and saw that one of its front legs was stunted.
"They probably abandoned you because you're a three-legged. It's okay, I'll take you and we'll win races together. And I'll call you that too. You'll be my little dragon - Three-legged," said Alby resolutely and took Three-legged home with him and began to feed him, take care of him and train him. Three-legged was grateful to him for that from the bottom of his heart, because he was still a dragon's baby and would soon die in the cold mountains, alone and abandoned.
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Time passed slowly and Alby took good care of Three-legged. His friends laughed at him. Everyone had already chosen their dragon, but their dragons were all healthy and had all four legs. His friends laughed at Alby not only because of his lame dragon, but also because of the name he called it.
Alby didn't understand: "And why can't my dragon be called Three-legged? It's a nice name," he wondered.
His friends were patting their foreheads. "Three-legged! Is that a name for a winner? For a champion!!! It's not!!! Your little dragon has three legs, one stunted, and you're going to name him Three-legged??? You'll be last in all the races with shame," some of them told Alby, and others added: "That little dragon will bring you shame because he won't win anything, and he'll bring you shame on the starting list too. With such a terrible, uncombatable name!"
βLook, my dragon is called Speedy Legs!β boasted one of his friends.
βAnd mine is called Iron JOE!β taunted the other.
βAnd my dragon is called Fearless ROBIN!β another joined the debate.
"And mine is called Flying Fire! And mine is King of Sky..." the children called one star name after another, but Alby didn't mind. It was true! His little dragon had only three legs. Oh my! What a King of Sky! That wouldn't suit Three Legs. He was always covered in mud and always whined when he was fed. Alby didn't scold him for it. He always stroked him nicely and said: "It doesn't matter, Three-legged. You're still little. When you grow up you won't whine anymore. Just eat well so you'll be a strong little dragon. The name doesn't matter. When we grow up, we'll go to races and beat all the Kings of Sky and the Fearless Robins anyway..."
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Time passed. Years passed and Alby became a young boy and Three-legged a young and strong dragon. The boy and the dragon trained hard together, every day. Tripod had a heart and stamina like iron. He was grateful to his master and would never, ever, leave him alone. The two became very good allies and their hearts and minds merged into one.
And the time came for the first great race.
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People and rivals laughed at Alby and Three-Legged until they clutched their bellies: βHa, ha, haaaaaa. A three-legged dragon! He, he, he β whatβs he doing here? A dragon needs both front legs to support itself and run!β
One mischievous fellow, who was full of evil, even shouted: βCripple, you wonβt even make it halfway!β
Alby and Three-Legged didn't care. They didn't care about the fools shouting. There are always fools everywhere who shout. They express their own stupidity. But a true champion doesn't pay attention to them and focuses only on himself. And that's exactly what Alby and Three-Legged did.
Three, two, one β START!
The first big race was started. All the dragons and their riders who were sitting on their backs rushed out onto the racetrack. And what did not happen? Alby and Three-Legged started to lag behind right from the start.
βHeh, heh, heh β the lame one canβt do it anymore! I said he wouldnβt even run to the half!β shouted the same scoundrel from the stands for the spectators. He was so foolish that he could not see the tip of his nose. However, he was all the more noisy.
βBe quiet!β shouted an older, respectable gentleman at the fool. βItβs not important to win, but to take part!β
And in the meantime, the race had reached halfway point. Many of the dragons began to run out of breath. They slowed down and stuck out their tongues breathlessly. Three-legged and Alby kept running at the same pace and soon caught up with the last dragons. They were surprised that Three-legged had caught up with them, but they no longer had the strength and Three-legged and Alby simply overtook them.
And the little dragon, Three-legged, ran as his heart skipped a beat. Never, but truly never, would he let himself miss a single step, never slow down β he would rather die, because he knew very well that he must not disappoint his master β Alby. He was grateful to him from the bottom of his heart that he had taken him in, raised him and most importantly β trusted him. The whole world did not trust Three-legged, but Alby BELIEVE him! And that is why Three-legged would rather give up his soul than lose.
The race was almost over. Many dragons were falling off, stumbling and barely catching their breath. However, Alby and Three-legged ran at the same, tireless pace and worked their way almost to the front. The final part of the race was up a large mountain, on the top of which was the finish line. Running up such a large and steep hill β that was a real feat only for the strongest dragons.
And here the strength of Three-legged's heart was revealed. Even the strongest dragon had to slow down and lose pace, but Tripod did not slow down. He kept running at the same pace, with his heart pounding, his tongue hanging out, but with a determined expression in his eyes.
"Run, Three-legged! We can do it! We'll show everyone what we're made of!" Alby urged him, and Three-legged ran beyond his strength, but the strength of his will and the good heart of an indomitable warrior that beat in his chest drove him forward.
The last hundred meters remained! In front of Three-legged and Alby, there were only three dragons. Strong and big. They were the King of Sky, Iron Joe, and Fearless Robin. Dragons of friends that Alby knew well from childhood.
"Three-legged, now we must not disappoint! We'll show them what we're made of! And maybe for that mockery. Show them who the champion is!"
Three-legged snorted resolutely and took over! He remembered all the ridicule and, out of gratitude to Alby for taking him on despite fate, he gave all his last strength.
The spectators in the stands were speechless. No one had ever seen this before! Three-legged overtook all the dragons in the last hundred meters, up a steep hill, and won gloriously!
It was fantastic! Everyone shouted enthusiastically: "Hurray, long live Three-legged and Alby! Long live champion Three-legged!"
And from that cheerful commotion, the scoundrel, big mouth who had curse Three-legged at the beginning of the race quietly and inconspicuously disappeared. He went home alone. Because scoundrels and mockers are left alone and no one likes them. And that was his punishment.
However, Alby and Three-legged even did not look at the scoundrel. After all, a champion focuses only on himself. And Alby and Three-legged became true champions! It was a big day for them.
After that, they won many more races and no one, but really no one, laughed at Three-legged for running on only three legs. Quite the opposite! Everyone recognized and admired him for his bravery and great will.
And what does this mean, children? It doesn't matter how big or strong we are. A champion and a winner are not measured by the length of their wings or arms, but by the strength of their determined heart.
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πππ The End πππ
