Another fun project to stretch my horror muscles. My first inspiration was mascot horror, as I've always had a keen interest on the operations of practical effects, and those effects being used in things like movies, theme park rides, or even dingy low lit children's restaurant entertainment. My biggest critique for the fiction of that genre is that I feel like they don't dip into the actual horror enough and they focus a little too much on the marketability of product. So using my love of classic sci-fi horror films I tried to devise a character that fits my want for techno and body horror to meet with this newfound mascot trend!

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In a Welsh village, there was a cute little family medieval fantasy themed restaurant that featured a live performed show, the food was mediocre, and the arcade machines were quite well worn, but it was a nice spot for family night out in the village. Grab a pint and a burger while your kids run around playing Crisis Time and Super Heroes Vs. Cyber Ninjas.

For years things kept a steady pace, the actors come out twice an evening to do their show. The heroic knight and his comic relief sidekick are called to aid the king after his daughter is kidnapped by an evil dragon. The knight with his mighty magical sword trudges through many trials to come to the big reveal, a rather unkempt animatronic dragon head and claws sneakily hidden behind a curtain. It's mouth opened and a wave of red lights to mimic fire would shine over the knight, who would bravely stop the "heat" with his shield. The viewers would shout in encouragement for the knight as he finally fought through the onslaught and slayed the dragon with ease. From off stage the princess would run in and embrace the heroic knight, where they'd share true love's kiss. The show would finally end with the cast all together tapping giant plastic mugs and scream "Huzzah!" Followed by the audience cheer, and the curtains closing.

At least a decade would pass by, and the restaurant would keep business mainly due to the village not having much else going for it. At least, not much else that could be seen.

As the years would pass, the dragon would break down more often, needing repairs and reprogramming. It would spout out strange lines that weren't originally programmed into it.

"I would make a much better bride than your harlot princess!" shout the dragon when it was to breathe it's fire.

"Have at-! Uh.. N- Nay! For you are a beast, a hideous beast most f-foul! Have at thee!" The actor playing the knight attempted at improv before the show had to be suddenly closed.

No one really knows what caused all this trouble. Rumors around the village would say a trouble making teenager sneaked in and hacked the things programming, others that a virus was uploaded into it's software from a foreign government. There are some that even say Merlin's magic crept into the puppet and gave it sentience. Either way, it's said the dragon grew tired of being the beast slain and not the princess won. One night she tore herself free from the wall she was attached to, and fell to the floor. Being only a head, hands, and a bundle of wires, the puppet clawed toward the actress playing princess' changing room. Suddenly, a blood curdling scream could be heard, when some staff had burst in, they found the changing room ravaged. Claw marks were all over the walls and furniture, and spatters of hot wet crimson pooled below.

They heard sounds of squelching and tearing as eyes witnessed the wires and operations of the dragon sliding into the exposed neck of the actress, leading them to look down to gaze on the severed head of the woman. The staff members screamed and turned to run away, but suddenly felt cold steel pierce through their chests as the exposed claws of the animatronic had torn them asunder. The puppet, now a mixture of machine and flesh, had taken command of the body. It lumbered awkwardly through the carnage it had caused, a robotic faux scaled covered head, and long sharp claws attached to the freshly made corpse of the princess made way to the actor playing the knight. It clawed and tore at anything it could before finally making it to it's prize. A static and gargled voice emerged from the speaker of the dragon's mouth.

"I have slain those foul hideous beasts, my darling knight.. With thee as my prize, I, the princess Oryndelle declare us wed. You may kiss your bride." It says as it embraces the actor for true love's kiss... No one in that restaurant was seen or heard from again.