Everything they said about dragons was untrue. They are not blood thirsty beasts. Of course, I didn't know that when one of the dark, scale-covered creatures swooped down on me while I strolled through the courtyard with my parents.

As the great creature held me in their claws, I was initially gripped with fear. I thought the strong digits might crush me or the claws pierce my flesh. While my heart pounded in my chest and I struggled to get my breathing under control, a million thoughts flashed through my head. I regretted contemplating killing myself, only because it meant the certain end to the hope I had that I might somehow escape the tyranny of my parents over my life.

But as I was carried, I realized the care that the dragon carried me with. They occasionally gave a glance down at me.... not as if I were some morsel, but as if they cared for some precious cargo they carried. Slowly, I calmed and became more curious about my situation than fearful.

The Dragon landed near the top of great mountain, landing on an outcropping from the mountain more than big enough for the Dragon's massive footprint. They carefully set me on my feet, released me, and then gestured with one of their front claws for me to follow them.

Upon crossing the threshold into the darkness, the Dragon leading me started to shimmer and thier shape to change. They became more humanoid, though taller and still retaining their scales and many of their dragon traits.

"So sorry to whisk you away on a sudden." The Dragon spoke in a low, fried voice. "It seemed like something of an emergency for you, princess."

As I was trained, I reacted with anger at being called 'princess.' "Excuse you! I'm a prince!" I replied.

The Dragon lifted their brows as they turned to look at me. "Is that so?"

"Y..yes?" I said, not sure if I had to keep up the act if the Dragon knew.

"Perhaps I should take you back then..." The Dragon suggested, starting to move back toward the opening and gesturing with their hand.

"N-n... why did you kidnap me?" I tried to change the subject.

"It seemed you were in trouble. Contemplations of suicide due to suppressing yourself, being denied every aspect of your identity by your parents, and not to mention the ways they mentally and emotionally abused you...."

"They did no--" I cut myself short and looked down. For a few moments, I let memories of being shouted down for my opinions, being physically hurt by my parents, and how they denied and shamed me when they found out that one of the handmaids had been letting me wear her old dresses in private and put makeup and jewelry on me. "They... they did."

"I and my partner wanted to give you a better life, but we can take you back if you don't like it here."

I took a deep breath and looked up. For the first time, I actually looked at the Dragon and the room I was in.

The Dragon was as tall as the tallest man I ever saw. Their eyes were a cool and gentle blue, partly clouded and peered through gold rimmed glasses sitting on the end of their nose. A purple tinged white beard went down to their belt with a waxed and upturned mustache, and they had matching cropped hair. They wore a purple, black, gold, and silver plaid kilt and doublet, stockings and heeled black boots.

The room appeared to be a royal chamber with rich carpets, bookshelf-covered walls, a fireplace, and lavish decorations everywhere.

"Are you a king?" I asked.

They gave a non-committal wiggle of a hand. "Kind of, you don't have an accurate word for it in human language." They raised their brows. "You may call me Polari, and you may use any of your human pronouns for me, I'm not picky." They scrunched up their nose and smiled. "I don't know exactly what you would like to be called..."

My heart seemed to freeze for a moment, then it sped up as if trying to catch up to where it should have been. My breath caught as I tried to speak. I swallowed, cleared my throat, and as I spoke I felt a warmth rise up through me. "Princeps Morfa... she and they." I looked up, feeling a familiar fear threaten to grab and shred my blooming joy apart as I sought Polari's face for approval.

Polari only smiled that warm smile at me. "A pleasure to meet you, Princeps Morfa."

And then the fear released. I gasped in relief and in surprise. Before I could recover, I felt overwhelmed with a need to sob with joy. I started to feel my knees give as I sought to crumble into a disgusting crying mess.

"Would you like me to hold you while you work out your feelings?" Polari asked.

I nodded weakly and Polari moved quickly to catch me and hold me against themself.

"It's okay, Princeps. You're safe. You can stay here as long as you like or go when you like. You will be loved, educated, cared for, listened to... but it's all up to you, okay?"

I sniffled and sobbed and nodded against their shoulder. It was so unexpected that I might escape that torture for something better. But I got lucky enough to be rescued. I started to look forward to tomorrow instead of dreading it.