by Lisa Yee
As she spoke, Katana’s voice rose, gaining strength. “A wise woman recently told me,” she said, “that when warriors thought they were in possession of the Invincible Sword, they fought harder, better, stronger—trying to live up to its potential.” She smiled at her friends. “That is what I saw when I observed you all in battle against Dragon King and his army. You, my fellow Supers, each tried to live up to the potential of the Muteki, when really that potential has been in you all along.” Everyone sat up straighter. “The swords didn’t make you stronger—you made the swords stronger.”
There was a silence as everyone let this sink in. Katana’s fingers lightly touched the handle of her sword. Then she began clapping for her friends. Katana was joined by the teachers, who gave their students a standing ovation, and soon everyone was cheering.
Katana waved for them to stop. She pushed the microphone aside, not needing it anymore. “There are two people I would like to share this honor with…Miss Martian, please join me on the stage.” Though she could not see her, Katana could feel her presence. “All of you stretched your limits and went beyond your given strengths and powers during this adventure, especially Miss Martian. It is because of her that we were able to communicate with the Ghost Crabs and bring down Dragon King!”
Cheers erupted again as Miss Martian became visible. She was beaming…and blushing.
“And Parasite,” Katana continued, “who risked his life to save Beast Boy and me, and without whom this battle might have been lost! Please come forward.”
Parasite looked taken aback. He shook his head. “Parasite, please,” Katana said with a friendly roll of her eyes.
As Beast Boy led a “Par-a-site!” chant, the janitor, still bandaged, made his way to the stage, making an effort not to make eye contact with Police Commissioner Gordon, who was striding toward him looking serious.
“Parasite,” Commissioner Gordon said, stopping him. The janitor looked defeated as he held out his hands for the handcuffs. Commissioner Gordon reached for his hand…and shook it—but quickly, so as not to have his energy drained. “Metropolis and the world thank you for the role you played in defeating Dragon King!”
Parasite looked up, stunned. “I’m not going back to prison?”
“Not only are you not going back,” he said, “but you are getting an honorary commendation from the City of Metropolis!”
Parasite looked at Principal Waller, who added, “You’ve earned an extra week of vacation, but I’ll expect you back here when that’s up.”
“Everyone,” Katana yelled above the cheers, “I encourage you all to honor and respect those who have paved the way for you to become super heroes, super friends, and super citizens of the world!”
“This is great!” Harley yelled as she caught it all on video. “It’s gonna make one heck of a special!”
Though Katana was smiling, her heart was at once full and empty. “Onna,” she whispered. “Thank you. For everything.”
At that moment, Katana’s sword glowed once more.
s the assembly concluded and the Supers headed back to class, Miss Martian ran up to Katana and said, “You know that wooden puzzle box you made in Ms. Moone’s class? The one you gave to me?”
Katana wasn’t sure what she was talking about at first. That had been so long ago. Then she remembered.
“Well,” Miss Martian said, looking pleased, “I finally figured it out and opened it! And guess what was inside?”
Katana gave her a Well, tell me shrug.
“This!” Miss Martian replied, holding something small in her hand.
Katana looked at it. It was a tiny carving of a conch shell. Had she made that? She must have, but it was so weird that she hadn’t been aware of what she was doing.
“I know,” Miss Martian said, almost seeming like she was reading her mind. Katana trusted Miss Martian wouldn’t casually do anything like that—and she had to admit it really was a pretty obvious observation, at this point. Her friend continued. “But perhaps you did know in your heart that the conch shell would mean something very important to you one day. And it did.”
She pressed the wooden shell into the palm of Katana’s hand.
“I’m giving this back to you.” Miss Martian grinned. “But I’m keeping the box!”
Just then a group of girls joined them. Everyone was in a great mood. It was usually like that after Hero of the Month assemblies, especially when one of their own was honored. There was much chatter and laughter, and congratulating Katana, when all heard Harley joking around.
“Help!” Harley was saying. “Someone help me!”
“She’s such a crack-up,” Supergirl said.
“Help!” they could hear Harley still saying. But as they turned the corner, Harley was nowhere to be seen. Instead, her ever-present video camera was on the ground.
Batgirl ran to pick it up. She looked at the video screen. On it was Harley yelling, “Help! Someone help me!” as the scene played over and over again.
“She’s seriously in trouble!” Batgirl cried out.
“Wait!” said Supergirl. “Look.”
Everyone crammed around the small video screen on the camera. Harley was smiling again. “Gotcha!” she said, laughing. “I’m okay, it was all just a—”
Then a menacing shadow came up behind her—
Suddenly the screen went dark.
Lisa Yee’s debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. With nearly two million books in print, her other novels for young readers include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time; Absolutely Maybe; Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally); Bobby the Brave (Sometimes); Warp Speed; The Kidney Hypothetical: Or How to Ruin Your Life in Seven Days; and American Girl’s Kanani books, Good Luck, Ivy, and the 2016 Girl of the Year books. Lisa has been a Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, and her books have been named an NPR Best Summer Read, a Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and a USA Today Critics’ Pick, among other accolades. Visit Lisa at LisaYee.com.
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