Chad Charming wasn’t particularly happy to have been woken up at dawn on a Sunday, and was still complaining about it as Ben drove them down the Auradon Coast Highway that morning in the royal convertible. The handsome prince groused that he had been up late from Castlecoming festivities the night before, and what was so important that they had to leave this early?

“Really, old man, why on earth are we going to Charmington? Mom’s going to freak when we get there; you know she likes to have everything sparkling clean for a royal visit,” said Chad.

“I told you, I have an early meeting with the grand duke about the upcoming ball,” said Ben, who wasn’t about to tell Chad about the dragon menace just yet. “And you know the fastest way to get there.”

“Fine,” said Chad, leaning back in the passenger seat. “Keep on this lane and then exit at Belle’s Harbor, then we can take the back roads until you get to the Stately Chateau.”

Ben did as directed, glad that Charmington Cove wasn’t stuck in the past like Camelot, and he could actually drive his own car without the burden of the full royal entourage. If he could have taken his motorbike, he would have, but the sporty coupe was fun to drive too. Plus, he’d been meaning to talk to Chad about something.

“Hey, Chad,” he said. “What’s up between you and Jay lately? Have you been giving him a hard time?”

Chad snorted. “Those villain kids are getting big heads, don’t you think? Strutting around Auradon like they own it. Someone’s got to put them in their place.”

“Their place is in Auradon now,” said Ben angrily. “Look, man, they’re just trying to fit in. Give it a rest, will you?”

Chad squirmed in his seat but he nodded and said he would.

Ben relaxed his hold on the steering wheel, satisfied. As pompous a prince as Chad was, he wasn’t a complete jester.

They arrived at Charming Castle by noon. Chad hollered for his parents, but was told they were out running errands for the upcoming ball and wouldn’t be back till late.

While Chad went up to his room to get some more sleep, Ben met with the grand duke, who was in charge while the royals were away. The duke was polishing his monocle in his receiving room when Ben was announced. He bowed to Ben and offered him a seat on one of the tufted red velvet chairs across the large inlaid table.

“You got my message last night?” Ben asked. “I’m sorry for the rush.”

“Oh yes, Sire,” said the grand duke, his mustache quivering. “As you requested, I sent messengers throughout our kingdom to see if anyone else had encountered such a creature. My men are very thorough, and they understand this is just as high a priority as Operation Glass Slipper. According to your note, we are looking for any sign of a purple dragon, am I correct?” He cupped his mouth and whispered, “Like Maleficent?”

“Unconfirmed for now,” said Ben. “As far as we know, she remains safely locked away in the library.”

The grand duke looked relieved. “When she was turned into a lizard, she did seem quite harmless—cute even, if I can say so, Sire. I hear lizards make good pets.”

Ben was noncommittal and the grand duke remembered the pressing business he had to communicate to Ben. He pulled up a few scrolls. “I received this just before you arrived. Other than the report that Merlin received of a creature spotted off Charmington Cove, it appears there hasn’t been any fire damage or livestock stolen, nothing of that sort. However, there was another incident this morning down by Cinderellasburg.”

“What kind of incident?”

“A creature was spotted in a chicken coop early this morning,” said the grand duke. “However, the farmer reports that the animal did not resemble a dragon. More like a purple snake.”

Snake. Dragon. Lizard. It was all part of the reptilian family, Ben thought. “It could still be related to what I’m looking for; let’s check it out.”

Ben left Chad back at the castle, snoring away, and the grand duke and a team of his footmen accompanied him to the pretty little village that Cinderella had once called home. The farmer and his wife were expecting them, standing nervously in front of their homestead. They bowed and curtsied when they saw Ben.

“I understand you saw a strange-looking snake on your farm this morning?” he asked.

“Yes, Sire, it came out of nowhere and took three eggs from the coop!” the farmer’s wife told them. “Largest snake I’ve ever seen, for sure, and very purple. I screamed my head off.”

“Great fangs too,” said the farmer, shivering. “We’re lucky it didn’t take a sheep…or a cow.”

“Would it be possible to see the coop?” Ben asked.

“Of course, Sire,” the farmer said. “This way.” The couple led them around the house to where a tidy-looking chicken coop stood in the middle of their backyard. Several fat fluffy chickens were pecking seeds on the ground.

The farmer opened the door to the coop and Ben knelt down to look inside. It smelled like straw and feathers, and something not entirely pleasant.

“What are you looking for?” the grand duke asked, lifting his monocle. “I can send the footmen to search.”

“No need,” said Ben as he had spotted something glittering in the nearest nest. He picked it up with his fingertips, careful not to crush it since it was very delicate. “I think I’ve found what I was looking for.”

“What is it?” asked the grand duke.

Ben stood up and held it up to the light. It was a glittering scale. Purple. The exact shade of the dragon he had seen in Camelot. He put it carefully in his handkerchief and slid it into his pocket.

“Thank you, you’ve been very helpful,” he told the couple. “My staff will send you a dozen eggs for your trouble.”

“Thank you kindly, Sire,” said the farmer, tipping his hat.

“Yes, very good, very good indeed, thank you for your quick response,” said the grand duke. “And do let us know if you see it again.”

Ben turned to leave, but the farmer’s wife stopped him. “Please, Sire, there’s a rumor going around that Maleficent isn’t as securely imprisoned as we think. That she’s been attacking Auradon again. Might she have something to do with the snake I saw today?”