A long time ago, near a village called Popsicla, there lived a dragon. She was the color of the ocean. She was huge and covered in sharp, pointy scales. The fire she breathed could light up the night sky.

She lived in a nest high above the village in an old, dead tree. 

Everyone in Popsicla was scared of the dragon...everyone but one daring girl.

Maddie wanted to be a knight. She was strong and brave and not scared.

Sure, the dragon breathed fire. But there were people with worse breath. And sure, the Dragon looked scary. But there were dogs in the village with scarier faces.

One day, the dragon had come down from her nest and was hiding in the cornfields.

Everyone ran to escape the dragon. Everyone except for Maddie.

Armed with her homemade sword, helmet and shield, Maddie ran through the deserted village toward the cornfield. 

When she spotted the dragon, Maddie snuck up behind her.

“Excuse me!” Maddie yelled. The dragon roared. She lowered her head to her level. Maddie felt the dragon’s hot breath on her face.

“I’m Maddie,” she said. “I’ve come to tell you to go away. You’re scaring everybody.