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[COVER]

🎨 __N1__, a small girl in a knight's tunic, holding up a plate of biscuits toward an enormous copper-red dragon who leans down curiously, smoke-rings rising politely from its nostrils; a fairytale castle and village on a green hill at dusk behind them. Open sky at top.

1

In Puddlewick-upon-the-Hill, The mornings used to start out still — Till something landed on the peak With wings that made the windows squeak. A dragon! Copper-red and tall! And Puddlewick... did not like that at all.

🎨 A quaint fairytale village on a green hill at dawn; on the peak above, a huge copper-red dragon landing with spread wings, window shutters rattling; villagers peeking out of doors in alarm.

2

It didn't roar. It didn't bite. But EVERYTHING it touched caught light: It sneezed — a haystack went up — WHOOF. It yawned — and toasted half a roof. It only tried to smell a rose... The rose became a smoky ghost.

🎨 Comic mishaps: the dragon sneezing and a haystack bursting into flame, a scorched patch on a thatched roof, the dragon looking sadly at a wisp of smoke where a rose used to be; villagers with buckets running about.

3

The knights rode up with shields and clanks, With spears and stern important ranks. They shouted "BEGONE!" and "FIEND!" and "FIGHT!" The dragon sniffled — and took flight Just up the hill, where it sat alone, And cried big sizzling tears on stone.

🎨 A troop of pompous knights in shiny armour pointing spears and shouting up the hill; the huge dragon retreating to a rocky peak, sitting hunched and alone, big glowing tears sizzling as they hit the stone.

4

Now __N1__ watched it all and frowned: "You can't shout SORRY out of town. That dragon isn't fierce or wild... It's just ENORMOUS — like a child Who never learned, I'd bet my crown, The way to put a fire down."

🎨 __N1__ standing apart from the arguing knights, arms crossed, watching the distant crying dragon thoughtfully; a small wooden sword in her belt stays untouched; villagers argue in the background.

5

So up the hill went __N1__ — alone — With biscuits, milk, and marshmallows (own), And called out, brave and clear and bright: "Excuse me! Dragon! Er — GOOD KNIGHT! I've brought some snacks. I've brought some tea. Would you like company? (That's me.)"

🎨 __N1__ climbing the hill path carrying a little tray with biscuits, a jug of milk and a bag of marshmallows; the huge dragon peering down over a boulder, tear-streaked but curious; warm dusk light.

6

The dragon blinked. The dragon stared. (No one had ever climbed up there.) "I don't mean harm," it rumbled low, "But everything I touch goes WHOOSH, you know. Nobody taught me — that's the truth — How dragons manage in a town with roofs."

🎨 __N1__ and the enormous dragon face to face on the hilltop; the dragon speaking shyly, one paw awkwardly folded over the other; __N1__ listening, sitting cross-legged on a rock with the tray.

7

"Then let's have lessons!" __N1__ said. "Lesson ONE: before you breathe — think AHEAD. Count one banana, two banana, three... Then puff away from things. Like me!" They practised puffing at the sky Till smoke-rings floated, round and shy.

🎨 A charming lesson scene: __N1__ conducting like a tiny teacher while the dragon carefully turns its head and puffs neat smoke-rings at the open sky; three bananas laid on a rock as counting props.

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"Lesson TWO: the GENTLE test — Pretend the world's a robin's nest." The dragon touched a daisy — slow... It bent. It sprang. It didn't glow! "I DID IT!" boomed the happy beast — And flattened __N1__'s hair. (At least.)

🎨 The dragon touching a tiny daisy with one enormous careful claw-tip, the daisy springing back up unburnt; the dragon rearing up in booming joy, its happy gust blowing __N1__'s hair straight back comically.

9

"And lesson THREE, the best by far: A fire's WONDERFUL — where fires are. A fire can warm. A fire can light. A fire can make a cake JUST right." The dragon's eyes went wide and bright: "You mean... my fire could be POLITE?"

🎨 __N1__ gesturing at a small safe campfire ring of stones with marshmallows on sticks; the dragon leaning in with huge amazed glowing eyes, carefully toasting one marshmallow golden-brown with a tiny controlled breath.

10

Next market day, the town square filled... Then every single villager stilled: The dragon landed, bowed its head, And very carefully... warmed the bread. It lit the lanterns, one by one, And toasted buns for everyone.

🎨 The village square at market: the dragon bowing politely, then gently warming a baker's bread stall with a whisper of flame, lighting hanging lanterns one by one with pinpoint puffs; villagers' faces changing from fear to wonder; __N1__ proudly directing.

11

Now winter nights in Puddlewick Are toasty-warm and chimney-thick. The dragon heats the swimming pool, And walks the children home from school, And every cake the bakers bake Is dragon-toasted. (Piece of cake.)

🎨 Cosy winter village montage: children skating near a steaming warm pool, the dragon walking a line of school children home under falling snow with its wing as a canopy, a baker holding up a perfectly toasted cake.

12

The knights still polish shields and swords, And win their shiny clanking awards... But Puddlewick knows who's REALLY brave: The girl who climbed, the snacks she gave. For swords can't do what kindness can — Ask any dragon. Or ask __N1__.

🎨 Final warm scene at dusk: __N1__ sitting on the dragon's lowered head as it lights the village lamps along the winding street below; the castle and cottages glowing amber; snow beginning to fall softly.