Fairytale

Once upon a time, there was a realm ruled by Friedrich the Heartless, a king of second choice. And these were troubled times in Friedrich’s land, for an evil dragon also ravaged his kingdom: The dragon burned down forests and dried up rivers. Its breath poisoned the air, and with a sweep of its wings, it unleashed mighty storms. In recent years, its fiery breath had grown so hot that it even melted the glaciers and caused the sea levels to rise. Many—both in Friedrich’s realm and all around the world—suffered from the dragon’s ever more frequent attacks. And the dragon kept growing larger, for—it defied all reason—it was constantly being fed.

Each year, the rulers of the world gathered for the Great Dragon Conference to present their plans to end the production of dragon feed. But the year 25 was special: a decade had passed since the Oath of Paris, when all nations had sworn to do their part so the dragon would never grow to one and a half times its size. Alongside Friedrich the Heartless and the other rulers, countless dragon servants also traveled to the conference. They were the ones to whom the dragon, in a devilish pact, had promised endless riches. All they had to do was persuade the rulers to continue producing dragon feed. Their influence was greatest in the Realm of False Freedom: there, they had placed one of their own on the throne—Donald the Self-Enricher—who simply denied the dragon’s existence. Donald stayed away from the conference so that the dragon servants could spread their deceit without restraint.

Many, especially those from the wealthy northern realms—the ones bearing the blame for the old wounds of the world—arrived with warm words but empty hands. They spoke much of responsibility, yet their words rang hollow, for they had long learned how pleasant and profitable the dragon’s shimmering fire could be. They drove their carriages with dragon oil and lit their palaces with fire coal. Of all the realms, the northern ones had profited the most from the monster’s treasures—and their cold mountains still shielded them from its flames. But now, as the beast grew, even their snow began to melt, and the Oath of Paris stood in peril.

But who, if not the rulers, should stand up to the dragon servants? The answer arose from among the people, who gathered in great numbers during the Dragon Conference. Within them ignited another fire—not one of destruction, but of anger, courage, and hope. Everywhere, they rose, and their voices echoed loudly through Würzburg and across the world, demanding that the rulers finally break free from the dragon servants’ poisoned words and keep the Oath of Paris. For the dragon had to be stopped. And they would not cease their struggle against it—especially because Friedrich and the other rulers would not fight. And if they haven’t perished, they are still protesting today.