Dear Readers,

My first Jane and the Dragon fanfic! An unexpected pairing...please R&R! Thanks!

Best Regards from a Bookworm,

Miss Pookamonga ;-P

TWHACK! The sound resounded through the early afternoon air like the crack of a whip. Another loud thwack followed it as Jane's stave smacked into Gunther's in mid-air. Jane and Gunther had been fighting for what seemed like hours, and neither of them showed any sign of stopping soon. The spectators—Jester, Dragon, Princess Lavinia, and Smithy's pig—had grown weary of watching the fight long ago, and were now lackadaisically looking on, yawning every now and then (except for Smithy's pig, who just snorted). The only reason none of them left altogether was because they didn't want to insult Jane and lower her morale—especially if she was around Gunther.

"Oh, give up, Jane! We've been at it for almost an hour, and you obviously have shown no signs of beating me anytime soon," sneered Gunther mockingly as he danced around Jane, waving his stave threateningly in the air.

"Almost an hour?" moaned Dragon incredulously. "Are you sure you've been keeping track of the time correctly, Gunther? Because I honestly think you two have been fighting since lunchtime. Which was…yes, three hours ago."

Gunther ignored the comment and snickered at Jane. "Come on, Jane. Aren't you tired?" His lips curled into a sly grin.

"I-am-dis-inclined-to listen-to your—ugh—subtly—umph—insulting remarks," heaved Jane as she parried several blows from her competitor. She had to admit to herself, she was extremely exhausted, but her stubborn pride would not allow her to be beaten yet again by her slick-mouthed nemesis. Gunther had been especially sharp today with his remarks about Jane and her fighting skills, and she was not about to let him get away with his ceaseless taunting. Still, she did wish that she could break to have one drink of cool water and feel it slide down her parched throat, which was burning like a raw sore…

"Ahhh-HA!" cried Gunther suddenly. Jane felt a rough shove and then toppled backwards onto the hard ground. "Distracted, were you? I thought you were the one who was lecturing me on the importance of focus earlier, if I recall correctly," teased Gunther, still wearing his mocking grin.

"Owww," groaned Jane as she slowly got to her feet. She looked Gunther in the eye and frowned, her eyes boring into his with no mercy. "You're a despicable snake, you know," she spat angrily. She knew that Gunther was a better fighter than she, but why did he have to make everything worse by constantly insulting her? If he wasn't so cruel with his words, I wouldn't have a reason to keep challenging him like this, thought Jane, her heart flaming with fury. If he just showed respect for me, I would have nothing to prove to him.

"Ah, ah, ah, Jane," chided Gunther in a light voice, wagging his finger at her. "Watch your mouth." His grin widened.

"Why don't you watch your mouth first? You-you—"

"All right, all right. I do think that's enough fighting for one day. Now leave Jane alone, Gunther, and get on with whatever other nonsense you have to do," growled Dragon in annoyance, marching right between the two and shooting a nasty look at Gunther. The boy shrugged and walked briskly away, placing his stave in its proper place and then proceeding toward the garden.

"Ugh! I can't stand him!" cried Jane in frustration, thrusting her stave to the ground in anger. "Why does he have to be so mean to me?" She tried as hard as she could to keep her voice from wavering, but to no avail. Dragon, Jester, Lavinia, and even Smithy's pig could obviously see that she had tears welling up in her eyes.

"Oh, Jane, don't listen to Gunther," said Lavinia comfortingly, giving Jane an affectionate hug. "He's just a big…bully."

"I do believe the little princess is right," agreed Jester with a nod of his head (and a jingle of his hat's bells). "Gunther is nothing but a bully. And bullies—well, you needn't worry about them, Jane. They are either too proud or too insecure for their own good. So they take it out on good people like you."

Jane managed a small smile and sniffed. "Thank you," she said quietly. "It's nice to know I have such loyal friends."

"And why wouldn't you?" said Dragon, smiling broadly. "You're a wonderful, brilliant girl, and just as easily likeable. That old prat over there must be blind or something not to see how great you are."

Jane's smile widened. "I guess you're right," she said with a sigh. She picked up her staff then straightened her posture. "After all, Gunther doesn't know who I really am. Why should I let him bring me down?"

"Atta girl, Jane," cried Jester happily, as he patted her on the shoulder. "Besides, it was an excellent fight. You did ward him off very well. Now, I'm afraid I must be running off with Smithy's pig. He shall be expecting it back by now, you know." And with that, he skipped off jingling, Smithy's fig following in close pursuit.

"Wait for me!" yelled Lavinia excitedly, hopping after them. She was probably expecting to hear some of Jester's better jokes sometime soon.

"Well, that certainly was quite an afternoon," remarked Dragon with a rather large yawn. "I think I ought to have a nap now."

"You've done nothing but sit down for an hour!" cried Jane, laughter in her voice.

"Yes, watching you and that prig battle each other endlessly. I say, I was getting tired looking at you two."

"Well, I imagine so. Still, think of how tired I am!" chuckled Jane. "I'm the one who needs a good nap!"

Dragon yawned again and laid his head down on the ground. "Suit yourself, Jane. Why don't you go ahead to your bedchamber and do just that."

"I think I will," said Jane, letting out a large breath of air. "See you later, Dragon," she called as she headed toward her bedchamber.

"Mmmph," mumbled Dragon, who was already half-asleep.

Climbing the steps to her chamber was more work than usual for Jane because she was so exhausted, and she was more than overjoyed to finally reach the comfort of her bed. She fell backwards onto the covers and sprawled out over the bed, basking in its softness. It was only when she turned her head toward her window that she saw something peculiar sitting on the windowsill.

Curious, although very tired, Jane sat up and slid off the bed. She walked over to her window and gasped in surprise and confusion when she saw what was there.

Sitting in the corner of her windowsill, was a blossomed red rose.