by Nancy Krulik
Two guards leaped in front of Princess Pulverizer and her friends.
The princess gulped. What now?
“We’re not your enemies, your majesty,” Princess Pulverizer insisted. “We helped you.”
“I know,” King Harvey replied. “I wish to thank you properly.”
AAACHOOO! Dribble sneezed again. “I really gotta go,” he said.
“This will only take a moment,” the king said. He opened a drawer and pulled out a velvet box. “This pendant belonged to my father. He wore it in the battle against Panthera. The lion charm has a magic power—it brings the wearer great bravery.”
“So why do you keep it in a box instead of wearing it?” Princess Pulverizer asked.
Oops. Maybe that had been a bit rude.
But the king didn’t seem to notice. “I guess I was afraid I’d lose it,” he admitted.
Princess Pulverizer choked back a laugh. What wasn’t this king afraid of?
“Anyway, I’d like you to have it now,” the king continued.
Princess Pulverizer didn’t need a charm to make her brave. She was already pretty fearless. But she did know someone who could use a little bravery.
“Lucas should have that pendant,” Princess Pulverizer told King Harvey. “He has done some brave things. With that charm I am sure he will do many more.”
“Me?” Lucas asked.
“Sure. You gave up your blanket to help our friends,” Princess Pulverizer said, being very careful not to mention that those friends were unicorns. “That took a lot of courage.”
“I will miss my blankie,” Lucas admitted.
King Harvey fastened the chain around Lucas’s neck.
“Thank you, sir,” Lucas said with a bow.
“Thank you,” King Harvey replied.
“We’ll be going now,” Princess Pulverizer told the king. She was anxious to get on to her next adventure.
“I hope to see you again,” the king replied.
With that the princess and her pals headed out of the castle. But just as they walked through the gates, a huge bee flew out from a newly planted garden of white carnations—the flower of strength and power.
Lucas stopped in his tracks. He stared nervously at the bee. Then he rubbed his finger over the lion charm on its chain around his neck.
The bee came right up to Lucas’s nose.
But Lucas didn’t scream. Or shout. Or leap about.
He simply swatted that bee away!
Princess Pulverizer was impressed. Maybe the lion charm really did work.
* * *
A while later, Princess Pulverizer and her friends found themselves strolling along on a dirt road leading away from Leononia. The princess was all smiles, thinking about the new adventures that awaited her.
Suddenly, Lucas took off like a bolt of lightning.
“What’s the hurry?” the princess asked as he zoomed past her.
“There could be someone in trouble,” Lucas called back, rubbing his lion charm. “We need to get to them quickly. This is no time for a stroll.”
Lucas? Looking for trouble? Wow. That charm sure was powerful.
“Wait for us!” Princess Pulverizer called to Lucas. “You can’t stomp out trouble by yourself!”
“You need the power of three.” Dribble added. “Us three.”
“Exactly.” Princess Pulverizer picked up the pace to catch up to Lucas. “Watch out, trouble,” she exclaimed. “Here we come!”
Author & Illustrator
Nancy Krulik is the author of more than two hundred books for children and young adults, including three New York Times Best Sellers. She is the creator of several successful book series for children, including Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo; How I Survived Middle School; George Brown, Class Clown; and Magic Bone. Visit Nancy at realnancykrulik.com.
Ian Mcginty is an animation director, voice actor, and comic book artist/writer based in Los Angeles, California. He has worked for Nickelodeon Studios, Marvel, BOOM! Studios, Oni Press, and many more. Check out Ian’s work at ianmcginty.com.
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