dragons

Eldoria’s Shattered Crown: A Tale of Courage and Redemption

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2–3 minutes

The Knight and the Shattered Crown

The kingdom of Eldoria lay beneath a shadow. Once filled with music, trade, and the bright laughter of children, its streets had grown silent. A great dragon, black as midnight and wreathed in fire, had descended from the northern mountains. With its arrival, the crown of the king—the source of Eldoria’s unity and prosperity—was shattered into three pieces. These pieces were scattered across the land. Without the crown, the kingdom faltered, its people divided, its armies weakened.

But hope was not lost.

The Oath

Sir Alaric of Bindenvale was no stranger to hardship. He was a knight forged in battles and tempered by loyalty. He was summoned to the king’s side as illness gnawed at the ruler’s strength. The king’s voice was weak, but his eyes burned with command as he entrusted Alaric with a quest: 

“Find the three shards of the crown. Restore it, and our kingdom will live again.”

Alaric bowed deeply, vowing to see the quest through or perish in its pursuit. Armed with his blade, Lion’s Fang, and guided by his unyielding faith, he rode forth.

The Trials

The first shard was said to lie in the Forest of Whispers, guarded by spirits of the old world. There, Alaric endured visions meant to unseat his courage—faces of fallen comrades, echoes of failures long past. But he pressed on, offering words of honor instead of fear, and the spirits relented, gifting him the shard.

The second shard rested in the Abyss of Cindral, a labyrinth of fire and stone. Alaric fought creatures born of molten rock and endured heat that melts steel. At the abyss’s heart, he found the shard embedded in stone, pried free by his resolve rather than brute strength.

The third shard was the most perilous: it lay in the dragon’s lair itself. Alaric faced the beast, its scales impenetrable and its fire endless. Yet he recalled the oath he had made—not to defeat the dragon, but to save the kingdom. Using wit, he lured the beast into a trap of crumbling stone. This gave him just enough time to seize the final shard.

The Return

Weary but unbroken, Sir Alaric returned to Eldoria. The shards were reforged by the kingdom’s smiths into the Crown of Unity. As it was placed once more upon the king’s brow, light returned to the realm, driving back the dragon’s shadow. The people of Eldoria cheered. They celebrated not merely for their crown. They honored the knight whose courage and humility had bound them together once more.

Sir Alaric never sought glory, only service. Yet in taverns and halls for generations to come, his story was told. It was the story of a knight who saved a kingdom not through conquest. Instead, he saved it through honor, sacrifice, and faith.

By Benjamin GroffMedia© | benandsteve.com | 2025 

The Great Dog Escape: A Story of Resourcefulness

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GROFF MEDIA 2024© TRUTH ENDURES IMDBPRO

Presented by benandsteve.com By: Benjamin Groff II©s

2–3 minutes

Huey sat in the corner of the kennel, ears perked, eyes darting toward the metal gate between them and freedom. Max, his trusted partner, paced back and forth, tail flicking with nervous energy. Around them, the others—Spike, Bella, and Rufus—pretended to be sleeping, but they were all listening, waiting for the signal.


“Tonight’s the night,”

Huey whispered.

“The screws turn in at nine. We give ’em an hour, then we move.”

Max nodded.

“Bella, you’re on distraction. Get that yapper down the row to start barking. When the guard checks on him, we make our move.”


Bella wagged her tail.

“Piece of kibble.”


Spike chimed in,

“I got the latch covered. I’ve been watching the humans do it for weeks. I think I can pop it.”


“Good,”

Huey said.

“Once we’re out, we head for the back gate. Rufus, you still got that big brute act down?”


Rufus grinned, his jowls flopping.

“One good growl and the yard mutt will scatter.”


The plan was perfect. They had worked out every detail. The humans thought they were dumb dogs, but they’d prove them wrong tonight.


The lights went out, and the night settled over the pound. A low growl rumbled from the cage at the far end. Right on cue, the little yapper started up. Bella joined in, then Spike, then the whole row. Sure enough, heavy boots clomped down the hall. The guard muttered something about “dumb mutts” and stomped off to quiet them down.


“Go time,”

Huey whispered.


Spike reached through the bars, jiggling the latch—a click. The gate swung open. One by one, they slipped out, moving fast and low, paws silent on the concrete. They were almost to the back gate when Max skidded to a stop.


“What is it?”

Huey hissed.


Max’s eyes gleamed in the dark. His tail quivered.

“Bone.”


Huey sighed.

“Forget it, we gotta—”


“Bone,”

Max repeated, but the others saw it, too. A big, juicy, perfectly gnawed bone, lying right there, almost like fate had placed it in their path.


Rufus whined.

“It’s beautiful.”


“No time!”

Huey barked.

“We gotta go!”


Max, still, had already lunged for it. Spike growled, trying to shove him aside. Bella snapped at them both. Chaos erupted. Snarls and yips filled the air.


Lights flicked on. A door slammed. The humans were coming.


“Run!”

Huey yelled, but it was too late.


A net came down over Rufus. Bella yelped as a leash snapped around her neck. Huey dodged left, but a firm hand grabbed his collar.


Max? He was still chewing.


The next day, they sat in their cages, tucked tails, watching the humans talk about “bad dogs” and “extra security.”


Max sighed, staring at the bone still sitting outside the fence.

“Worth it.”


Huey groaned.

“Next time, we leave you behind.”


But they all knew there would be a next time. Because a good dog never quits, and a great dog always has another plan.