A long time ago, near a village called Buttery Glen, there lived a dragon. He was the color of midnight. He was huge and covered in sharp, pointy scales. The fire he breathed could light up the night sky.

He lived in a nest high above the village in an old, dead tree. Where nobody ever went, because they were all scared of the dragon!

Alyssa wanted to be a knight. She was strong and brave and unafraid.

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. This was her only chance to prove that she was a good knight.

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

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

Armed with her homemade sword, helmet and shield, Alyssa ran through the deserted village toward the cornfield. Alyssa just knew she could slay the dragon, she just knew it!

When she spotted the dragon, Alyssa snuck up behind him.

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

“I’m Alyssa,” she said. “I’ve come to tell you to go away. You’re scaring everybody. So please get going."

The dragon’s breaths quickened. Huff! Huff! Huff! It looked like the dragon’s fire was about to blow! Alyssa braced herself. But instead of fire coming out his mouth, tears began pouring down the dragon’s snout.

“I’m so lonely. Nobody likes me,” the dragon said. Alyssa was speechless.

“Why should anyone like you?” Alyssa replied. “You burned down the castle.”

“I didn’t burn down the castle,” the dragon said. “It was struck by lightning. I would never do that.”

“Wow,” Alyssa said. “Sounds like you’re the victim of a smear campaign. We’ve got to fix this. What are you good at?”

“Breathing fire,” replied the dragon.

“Well, let’s see it,” ordered Alyssa. Alyssa wanted to help the dragon now.