CHAPTER 4
"A SWORD FOR A CHAMPION"

PREVIOUSLY:
Mt. Lizard was attacked by the evil Cruel, and Lizy the Lizard, now appointed Guardian, was sent on a mission to overcome him and disrupt his plans.

"I certainly don't at all look the part," commented Lizy as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. It was mid-morning and Lizy, Sandy, Chubby, and Slingshot had all gathered at Lizy's new apartment that had been granted to him by the King. It was very luxurious, at least by Lizard Valley standards, and it was located in the downtown area. At the moment, it was filled with boxes of Lizy's things that he had packed and brought over from the old apartment that he had shared with Slingshot above the blacksmith shop.

"How in Zytrolilex are you going to overcome someone like that monster, Cruel?" asked Slingshot hopelessly. "If he's only a fraction as bad as you say he is, there's no one in all of Lizard Valley who could ever stand up against him."

"I don't know how yet," replied Lizy, determined, "But it's my job as Guardian to put a stop to his plans, whatever they might turn out to be!"

"You're so brave, Lizy," giggled Sandy.

"Do you have any idea what Cruel took?" continued Slingshot.

"No, but the royal library was a wreck!" answered Lizy. "They're taking an inventory of everything to see what's missing. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do about it, either, or where to find Cruel."

"Too bad you have to make this up as you go," chuckled Chubby.

"All too right," sighed Lizy, "Deep down inside, I don't think I have what it takes."

"Oh, come on, Lizy!" said Chubby, "Don't get down now! Cheer up! You just need something to make you look like the Guardian."

"Like this!" added Sandy, handing Lizy a large, rectangular sheet of durable, red-colored cloth she had pulled out of a box of Lizy's things.

"Why this?" asked Lizy, taking it, "It's just one of those old sheets of cloth we use down at the blacksmith shop to clean up with. I used them to pad my things during the move."

"Right," Slingshot agreed, "The textile has all sorts of leftovers like this we can pick up dirt cheap!"

"Well, this one hasn't been used before," replied Sandy.

"So... What do I do with it now?" asked Lizy.

"Silly!" laughed Sandy, "You wear it as a cape, of course!" She took the cloth and tied it loosely around Lizy's neck. Lizy looked at himself in the mirror.

"It's not bad, really," Lizy spoke up as he watched his reflection stare back at him.

"Here, you'll need this, too!" Slingshot announced as he handed Lizy a sword. "I finished this just for you and brought it over here with the rest of your things."

"Thank you, Slingshot," said Lizy, taking it reluctantly by the hilt. "But, I don't know how to use it."

"Chubby can teach you," suggested Sandy.

"Yeah," Chubby agreed, "I'm an expert about those sort of things, you know!"

"Thank you," said Lizy, putting on a belt with a hilt for his new sword. "And that's to all three of you! I don't know how I'd ever get along if you weren't here to help me out." The others nodded in appreciation.

"Hey!" interrupted Slingshot looking out the window, "What's all that noise outside?"

NEXT TIME: "The Amazing Rex"
A mercenary shows up in Lizard City.