Valiant Vick was scared of everything, even though her family was the Valiants. Her parents were the bravest people in the town. They won trophies and awards for saving the town when Word World attacked. Now, Word World and Vocab Village had an alliance. Valiant Vick was never going to live up to their standards. Valiant Vick’s best friend was named Polite Penelope; she was the sweetest person. She always made Valiant Vick feel better about herself. 

Valiant Vick had just gotten a message from Helpful Hank that said, “Your parents were in a severe car accident. They are okay but they are in the hospital.” She ran to the hospital. Esteemed Emery, the mayor of Vocab Village, was there. 

Valiant Vick asked Esteemed Emery, “What are you doing here?” 

She replied, “I got a message from Word World that there is a huge dragon coming. We 

need someone gallant to save the village, like your parents. But it looks like they need more time to recover from their accident.” 

Valiant Vick asked, concerned, “What are you going to do?” 

“I don’t know, we need someone brave to save us and nobody else is brave enough.” 

Polite Penolope joined in, “Valiant Vick can do it! She’s a Valiant!” 

Valiant Vick pulled Polite Penelope over. “What are you doing?” 

Polite Penelope replied, “This is your chance to prove to your parents that you are Valiant.” 

Valiant Vick looked at her parents, smiling, and thought how she could prove to them that she is a Valiant. “Fine, I’ll do it! Esteemed Emery, I’ll slay the dragon.” 

“Are you sure?” 

“Yes!” 

Valiant Vick and Polite Penolope were walking to the border of Vocab Village and Word World. Esteemed Emery had said that the dragon was last spotted on the edge of both towns. All she had given them was the staff from when Vocab Village was founded. It was worshipped, but now nobody even knew about it, besides Esteemed Emery. She had explained that if you hit the staff at the center of the dragon, it will defeat it. Valiant Vick thought to herself that it was such a miscellaneous item. As they were getting closer to the border, Valiant Vick was getting scared. But she knew that she had to be brave to save Vocab Village. 

They arrived at the border, but they did not see the dragon camouflaged behind a tree.  Valiant Vick was trembling. The dragon swooped out of the trees and roared. Valiant Vick screamed and ran behind the tree, where Polite Penelope was already hiding. Polite Penelope politely said, “You got this. You can’t always be afraid of everything. The whole town is counting on you.” After minutes of Polite Penelope trying to encourage Valiant Vick, she finally got the courage to fight the dragon. She stepped out from behind the tree and went for it. Valiant Vick ran to the dragon and used the staff to hit the dragon. She remembered what Esteem Emery had said: “If you use the staff to hit the center of the dragon, then you will defeat it.” Valiant Vick wasn’t thinking about her fears; all she was thinking of was how she wanted to prove to her parents that she deserved to be called a Valiant. She leaped over the dragon’s tail and swung at it. She jumped over all the obstacles in her way. Valiant Vick got on the dragon’s back and hit it with the staff in the middle of its body. The dragon fell to the ground. Polite Penelope came out from behind the tree and cheered. 

They ran back to Vocab Village because they were so excited to tell everyone. Valiant Vick and Polite Penolope went back to the hospital. Esteemed Emery was waiting for them. 

They screamed, “We did it!” 

She congratulated them. Esteemed Emery said that her parents were awake, but would have to stay in the hospital for a while. Esteemed Emery walked Vick to their room and explained that she had saved Vocab Village. 

Her parents were so happy that she faced her fear. “We are so proud of you Vick.” 

Now Vick can finally officially be called a Valiant. 

The End