"The Adventure of Jonathan" by Kayla Awesome Dragon Pahl

The time has come. Finally I, Prince Jonathan the Magnificent (greatest hero in all the land) would go to the lair of my nemesis, Brandon the Terrible, and defeat him. The sorcerer kidnapped Princess Lucy, my sister. Again. This time I am going to defeat him permanently, that Good may triumph over Evil once more. It is up to me to stop Brandon from taking over the kingdom of my father, King Tyler the Great.

But it is taking a long time. Only yesterday I was nearly killed by Brandon's army of ravenous gryphons. But there is no doubt in my mind that I will triumph, for I am on the side of Good.

Now, I finally stand outside Brandon's fortress. His end is finally coming. I know he is inside, for I can smell that awful stench of rotting meat that follows him wherever he goes.

I draw my trusty sword, Darkbane. It has been my friend through many tough and grueling battles—most recently with Brandon's prized pet basilisk. The white blade glitters in the sunlight. With Darkbane in my hand, there's no way I can lose. I will rescue Lucy and be home in time for dinner, because I have brought with me my magical traveling boots.

I take a deep breath and enter the castle. In the main hall Brandon, in his dragon shape, lounges upon his hoard of treasure. His own sister, Olivia the witch, has just finished tying Lucy to a chair. Lucy is glaring from me to Brandon to Olivia and back again, though she says nothing.

Brandon stretches, his large black body as big as at least four elephants, and twice as long. And that's before you even think about his huge wings.

He laughs, flames shooting from his mouth and missing me by mere inches. “Ah, Jonathan. At last. I was beginning to get tired of waiting for you.”

“What do you mean?” I demand.

“We knew you were coming, dummy.” Olivia says. “Who else would King Tyler send to rescue Princess Lucy?”

“But you shall not succeed.” Brandon says. “For I shall kill you both. Then your father will be defenseless and his kingdom will fall to me!” He laughs evilly.

Unafraid, I keep a tight grip on Darkbane. “Let Lucy go and I won't have to kill you, Brandon. If you choose not to, then your time has come.”

Brandon and Olivia both laughed. “Do you really expect that sword to work on me now, Jonathan? Nothing can pierce my dragon hide. It is your time that has come.”

“Fight me like the man you are.” I say bravely. “I am no coward, but I know you are not either. Let us have a fair battle, the outcome to be determined by the strength of our arms and blades.”

He nods, morphing back into his human form and drawing his own sword, Lightbane. “So be it, hero.”

We start to fight, but Olivia is unable to keep herself from joining in. I guess she doesn't like the idea of a fair fight. She draws her own sword, Magica, and joins in, the two of them fighting me relentlessly.

I barely manage to deflect both of their swords. . . but then I don't have to. Lucy is suddenly at my side, with her own sword, Fantasia, meeting Olivia's in midair.

“How did you get free?” I ask, parrying the quick rain of blows Brandon delivered.

“I got tired of being tied up,” She says.

We battle long and hard. The fun thing about fighting Brandon and Olivia, they liked to change the scenery after a while, so we battle from the top of the Statue of Liberty to the top of the Eiffel Tower to China to Egypt to Antarctica to California. In the clouds and in the sea. In forests and volcanoes. Among unicorns and fairies, dragons and minotaurs.

But in the end, Brandon and Lucy are no match for the superb skill of Lucy and me. Olivia falls first, and then I drive Darkbane into Brandon's chest.

Instead of dying like he's supposed to, he laughs, pulling Darkbane out of him and throwing it aside. “You have not killed me yet, Jonathan.”

I tense, preparing to dive for my sword and begin the fight anew, but then enters my mother, Queen Linda. But it can't be my mother, because she is at home overseeing dinner. It must be one of Brandon's fell accomplices in disguise! Perhaps an enchantress.

“Brandon, Olivia, will you be staying for dinner?” She asks. “It's ready.”

“Mo-om!” I whine, unable to believe her. “I was just about to finish Brandon off!”

“That can wait until tomorrow.” She says before heading back into the house.

Brandon takes the four sticks and puts them back where we always keep them, underneath the tree house. “Next time I want to be the hero.”