It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single dragon in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a princess.

Magnus the Mercantile is a dragon, and in possession of an acceptably large hoard for a dragon only a few hundred years old. A hoard gained through good business selling enchanted goods to ponies, and the occasional ransoming of a princess either back to her family or to a prince looking for a wife. When a particularly wealthy unicorn prince approaches him and begs him to kidnap his earth pony daughter and help him find her a suitable prince to take her Magnus is far too amused by the concept to say no. The promise of a very generous reward helps.

However, Princess Pheobe is like no other princess that Magnus has encountered before, and he gradually begins to wonder if he even wants to see her go.

AU tags for taking place in pre-Equestria era and a few other things.