Princess Hanna Trains for the Fire Carnival
It is going to be a long road to the Fire Carnival...
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Hanna stared at the Fire Carnival poster which she had torn off a side alley wall and hung up in her room. She did this every day, once in the morning and once before bed.
She remembered going to the Fire Carnival once when she was just a little girl. That was what had sparked her passion for fire. She was in awe of the incredible flames. It was like nothing she had ever seen.
From then on, every night she had tried to make a spark. She had no clue what she was doing. She had no one to ask for help. Eventually, alone in her room in the middle of the night, she was able to burp up her first flame.
As she stood in her room staring at that poster, she was reminded of that first spark. She felt a proud smile come across her face. How things had changed...
For the past few weeks, Hanna had been in full preparation mode. She had been training in every spare moment she had. The competition was going to be a series of different fire power events. This was her chance to do something great — to become something great.
Hanna headed downstairs for breakfast. As she walked down the hallway one of her brothers came charging past her.
“Watch it!” said Hanna.
Then came another brother chasing after him.
Hanna shook it off and carried on through to the kitchen. There was a steaming pot of porridge waiting on the table. She wondered where her mum and dad were. That was when she heard a nearby squeal.
Hanna rushed out of the castle to the courtyard. There she found her mum trying desperately to stomp out a small patch of grass that had caught on fire.
Hanna's mum spotted her and called out, "Water! Get some water!"
Hanna quickly took off into the air and flew up and above the castle. Just outside of the castle there was a well. Hanna flew straight to it and immediately started lowering down a bucket attached to some rope. She filled the bucket and heaved it back up.
Hanna took the bucket and then returned to the castle courtyard. She landed next to her mum and poured out the water over the fire, putting it out with a hiss.
"Thanks, sweetie," said her mum. "I guess I still need a bit of practice."
"You'll get there," said Hanna. "Also. Do you know where dad is?"
"I think he's in the tower," said her mum. "Please don't pester him. It's a very busy time."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," said Hanna. "Busy, busy, busy..."
Her dad hadn't been able to spend any time training her in almost a week. He was busy making preparations for an upcoming visit to Scale City around the time of the Fire Carnival.
Hanna took a few steps and flew up towards the tower that was like a tall spike sticking up out of the castle.
She got to the main window of the top room of the tower and tapped on the stained glass. Her dad then came over and opened the window.
He already had an apologetic look on his face.
"Come on," he said, and stepped aside for Hanna to get inside.
Hanna climbed in through the window.
Her dad was returning to his desk.
"You said you were going to train me today," said Hanna.
Her dad took his seat behind his desk.
"I know," he said. "And I'm sorry. I really am. But there's just nothing I can do. I need to get this proposal done."
"But you said you would help me," said Hanna.
"I know, Hanna. I know. But I have a responsibility to do everything I can for Courage Town. One day, that responsibility may pass on to you and you will understand."
"But I'm your daughter," said Hanna.
"And I have faith that you will still have far stronger fire powers than me in no time."
Hanna could feel her face getting hot. Without another word, she turned away and flew out the window.
She headed straight for Carrie's house, flying as fast as she could. Once there, she banged on the front door.
One of Carrie's mums, Judie, answered. "Oh, hi, Hanna," she said. "Is something wrong?"
"Is Carrie home?" said Hanna, huffing and puffing, out of breath.
"I think she's playing with Lily out the back," said Judie.
"Thanks," said Hanna, and immediately ran around the side of the house.
She got around the house to the paddock behind it and saw Carrie flying around in the air, carrying Lily along with her, Lily's laugh booming.
"Carrie!" said Hanna, running into the paddock. "Carrie!"
Carrie spotted her and came down to land.
The second Carrie landed, Lily jumped out of her arms and ran towards Hanna.
"Hanna!" said Lily.
She ran up to Hanna and gave her a massive hug.
"Hi, Lily," said Hanna.
"I haven't seen you in ages," said Lily.
"I know," said Hanna. "I'm sorry."
"Are you alright, Hanna?" asked Carrie, knowing something was wrong.
"I need to train," said Hanna.
Carrie thought about how they could train.
"I've got an idea," she said.
Carrie grabbed a branch from a nearby tree and took off into the air above the paddock. She flew around ten or so feet in the air and broke off twigs from the branch and dropped them. As the twigs fell, Hanna waited down below and incinerated the falling bits of wood. Lily, meanwhile, ran circles around Hanna, laughing nonstop.
This went on and on for hours and hours, Hanna zapping every last twig from the sky.
Eventually, Lily couldn't keep up her laughing anymore and curled up on the ground for a nap.
Carrie finally had to come down to land, her wings aching.
"Come on, just a few more," said Hanna.
"You've already said that a hundred times," said Carrie.
Hanna could see in Carrie's eyes that there was no use arguing.
"Fine," said Hanna, and then she went home.
When she got back to the castle, she was surprised to find her dad and another dragon standing together and talking in the courtyard.
"Hanna," her dad said when he saw her, "you remember your Uncle James, don't you?"
Hanna shook her head. She was still too upset with her dad to talk to him.
"I guess it's been a while," said Uncle James.
"It certainly has," said her dad.
Hanna suddenly started walking off.
"Well," she said, "I'm going to my room."
"Wait," said Hanna's dad. "Uncle James is going to train you."
Stubbornly, Hanna kept walking.
Her dad and Uncle James looked at each other.
Uncle James then let out a mighty, fountainous roar of fire up into the air.
Hanna stopped in her tracks and turned around, feeling the heat of the flames.
A moment later the fire disappeared.
"Are you sure I can't help you?" said Uncle James.
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