Ancient and Modern

Then, after some ten minutes of walking, they came around another corner, and Stacy's mouth fell open in astonishment. Chained to the wall of the tunnel by her wrists was a beautiful young woman. She was tall, athletic, full-breasted, and she had a mane of flame-red hair, but the most notable thing about her was that she was totally naked.

"Er, hello. My name is Stacy," Stacy said, feeling the this was a rather inadequate greeting given the circumstances. "And I call the dog 'Lassie'."

"Hello, Stacy. I am Princess Astra of Aqualaria. Would you unchain me, please?"

"Er, how?"

"Look down, Stacy. The key is just lying on the floor of the tunnel, a short distance from my left foot. It amused him to tantalise me by leaving it there, so close yet always out of reach."

"Who's 'him'?" Stacy asked, as she unlocked Astra's shackles.

"Why, the dragon of these Northern Caves, of course. How could you have ventured into his domain without knowing? I came here to slay him, but with his magic powers he has toyed with me." Now free, she began massaging her arms and legs, and stretching her muscles.

In different circumstances, Stacy would have assumed that Astra was crazy, but finding her chained up in the tunnel had lent considerable credence to her tale. "Did you say a dragon, Princess?" she asked nervously. "With magic powers?"

"Please just call me Astra. We aren't at court now. Yes, a dragon. Or rather: the dragon. His magic I didn't know about, or I would have come better prepared."

"Er, yes, you do seem to be rather under-equipped," Stacy observed drily.

"Well, I am now, yes. When I started I had a sword, a suit of chain mail and a backpack. It was when all my possessions suddenly disappeared into thin air, that I first knew that I was in trouble. But judging by your own outlandish attire, it would seem that the dragon has been playing tricks on you too."

Stacy looked down at her dark blue jeans, white blouse and sneakers. She supposed that they must appear odd in this fantasy land that the portal seemed to have brought her to. "Perhaps he has," she said, deciding that was easier than trying to explain the truth.

1. "So what happened to you after your sword and clothes disappeared?" she asked in order to change the subject.
2. "We had better not stay here any longer," Astra said. "The worst of the kinks are out of my muscles now, and the dragon could come to check up on me at any time."

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