The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation Read online

  “No!” said the Princess in Black.

  “You may not eat people!”

  The sea monster could hear her

  now. It frowned.

  “NO?”

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  “No,” she said.

  The sea monster sniffled. Its neck

  drooped. Its tail sagged.

  “Um . . . you could eat fish,” said

  the Princess in Black.

  The sea monster straightened up.

  “YES!” it said. “EAT FISH!”

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  The monster dove back into the

  sea. The Princess in Black had no

  choice but to follow.

  The Goat Avenger swung in a ham-

  mock. He sipped lemonade. He read

  a comic book.

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  The squirrel hopped onto his

  shoulder. The Goat Avenger shared

  his lemonade. It was a good day.

  Clang-clang-clang.

  “Probably another squirrel,” said

  the Goat Avenger.

  He stood and turned around.

  An acorn-shaped monster with

  one huge eye lurked beside the hole.

  “AAAH!” said the Goat Avenger.

  “ROAR!” said the acorn-shaped

  monster.

  “SQUIRREL!” said the Goat

  Avenger. “Terrorize that acorn!”

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  “SQUEAK!” said the squirrel.

  “AAAAHH!” said the acorn-

  shaped monster. It leaped back into

  the hole.

  The Goat Avenger put his fists

  on his hips. He had done it! After

  all, he had saved the squirrel. And

  the squirrel had scared away the

  monster. Thanks to him, the goats

  were safe. And somewhere, thanks

  to him, the Princess in Black was

  having a vacation.

  The sea monster plunged into the

  water. The ocean rose up. A wave

  formed. And the Princess in Black

  was on top of it.

  The water washed away her

  disguise. The wave rolled her to an

  island. It dumped her on the shore.

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  Princess Magnolia looked around.

  The island was tiny. Nothing for

  miles. No screaming people. No ear-

  licking goats. And no monsters.

  It was perfect.

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  Princess Magnolia curled up in

  the shade of the coconut tree.

  “Vacation,” she said.

  She closed her eyes. She said

  “Snore.” And then she did just that.