Super Kia Man was a superhero. He was kind. He was brave. He was small, but very strong.
One sunny day, he stood by a lake. The water went plip plip. The reeds went swish swish. Super Kia Man waved. “Hello, lake.”
By the shore, a Stone Golem sat very still. He looked big and heavy. But his eyes were gentle.
“Hi,” said Super Kia Man.
The Stone Golem blinked. “Hi,” he rumbled. “I am Stone Golem. I am slow. But I am loyal.”
Super Kia Man smiled. “Slow is okay.”
Then the wind went whooo. The lake got dark. The ripples stopped.
A Sorceress appeared on the rocks. Her cape fluttered.
“No more shiny water!” she hissed. “I will take the lake’s sparkle.”
She lifted her hands. A swirl of gray mist spun. The lake turned dull, like old metal.
Super Kia Man felt a little wobble in his tummy. But he stood tall. “Please stop,” he said.
The Sorceress frowned. “Catch me if you can!”
She zipped away, leaving a trail of mist. In the mist, something tiny fell: a bright blue shell, like a little treasure.
Stone Golem pointed with a rocky finger. “Look. A shell.”
Super Kia Man picked it up. It felt warm. It glowed softly.
“Maybe this is the lake’s sparkle,” said Super Kia Man.
Stone Golem nodded. “We must bring it back.”
They walked along the lake. Step. Step. Stone Golem went THUD… THUD… THUD. Super Kia Man went tap tap tap.
At a narrow spot, the shore was muddy.
Stone Golem said, “I am heavy. I may sink.”
Super Kia Man thought hard. Then he said, “Hold my hand. We go together.”
Stone Golem held Super Kia Man’s hand very carefully. They moved slow. They moved safe.
From behind a bush, the Sorceress peeked. “Hmph,” she muttered. “They work as a team.”
She threw a puff of mist. It made a fog wall.
Super Kia Man hugged the shell close. “Stone Golem, can you stomp?”
Stone Golem smiled, just a little. “Yes.”
THUD!
He stomped once. The fog wall wobbled.
THUD!
He stomped again. The fog wall popped like a bubble. POOF!
The Sorceress gasped. “Stop that!”
Super Kia Man spoke in a calm voice. “We are not scared. We are together.”
The Sorceress looked tired. Her shoulders drooped.
“I wanted the sparkle,” she said softly. “I felt lonely.”
Super Kia Man nodded. “Lonely feels yucky.”
Stone Golem rumbled, “You can sit by the lake with us. But no stealing.”
The Sorceress blinked. Then she sighed. “Okay.”
Super Kia Man walked to the water’s edge. He held the blue shell over the lake.
“Sparkle, go home,” he whispered.
The shell chimed, ting! A ribbon of light slipped into the water.
The lake became bright again. The ripples danced. Plip plip! The sun made shiny dots.
A small chest rose up from the shallow water, as if the lake said thank you. It was made of smooth wood and had a silver latch.
Super Kia Man opened it. Inside were three star stickers that glittered and one tiny hero badge.
“For you,” said the lake, in a soft splashy sound.
Super Kia Man gave one star sticker to Stone Golem. “For my loyal friend.”
Stone Golem placed it on his chest. It sparkled on stone.
Super Kia Man gave one star sticker to the Sorceress. “For a new start.”
The Sorceress held it gently. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Super Kia Man kept the hero badge. He pinned it on. It shone.
He looked at the lake, then at his friends. “We did it,” he said.
Stone Golem rumbled, “Teamwork.”
The Sorceress nodded. “Friends.”
And the lake went plip plip, happy and bright.