500 word count.

It's not always the Prince who slays the dragon, sometimes it's an almost ordinary Princess. In the kingdom of Trinity, King Charles and his wife Queen Katherine, had a daughter eighteen years ago today.

Princess Octavia had long red curly hair with porcelain skin and light freckles covering her nose and cheeks. Her beauty was talked about amongst the other kingdoms as was her attitude.

None the less with no male heir to the throne, Princess Octavia was by law to marry a Prince. Against her protests, her parents decided to have all Princes come to the kingdom to decide who she should marry.

All Princes gathered from the neighboring kingdoms in hopes to marry Octavia. Octavia wasn't friendly with the Princes when she talked to them.

One day the King, Queen, Princes, and Octavia all sat at the dining table.

"Prince Gable, I hear you are an excellent swordsman." The Queen smiled.

"Yes, Queen. So I've been told."

"Well..."

The Queen was cut off by a loud rumble that shook the castle. The King, Octavia and Princes all stood ready to defend.

"Ahhh!" One of the servants screamed running into the dining hall. "It's a dragon!" She screamed, "It's burning down the kingdom!"

"The one to slay the dragon wins my daughter's hand in marriage, " the king spoke.

They watched the Princes leave Octavia was furious. It was time she took her own hand and ruled her kingdom without a King. "I'm going to my room," she lied.

Octavia traveled to the weapons room taking her grandfather's sword. She changed into armor before heading out. Once on the horse, she met up with the Princes riding towards the burning village.

People screamed running in all directions, smoke fogging Octavia's vision. The dragon stood in the rumble of burned down buildings. Princes charged the dragon swinging. Octavia was more hesitant she knew the dragon scales were almost impenetrable, almost. Octavia sprinted from behind the dragon careful of it's swinging tail to its underbelly. She took the sword striking up in its chest. The dragon roared flying into the air. The creature's wings stopped fluttering the beast falling to the ground. Octavia stood upright the armor covering her face.

When the King arrived he asked who had slain the dragon. Octavia came out of the crowd of Princes, standing before her father. "Take off your helmet Prince, " the king said.

Octavia took off her helmet, gasps escaped the crowd. "I ask for my own hand. I will marry the right man for the kingdom and for me when I find him. No one will protect this kingdom more than I. It's rightful Queen and ruler. I love my home and those who live in it."

The King stood silent no expression on his face. After a minute he spoke, "no one will take my daughter's hand in marriage. She will rule this kingdom herself. Queen Octavia!" He shouted rising his sword.

Octavia bowed to her people promising always to protect them.