The Lightning Kid and the Stench Beast

The Royal Family had always lived with a magical beast known formerly for his vile stench, and more currently for his attraction to other vile stenches.  They kept him around for... actually, it's not very well understood why they kept him around.

He had been part of the Queen's life from the time the King had first started courting her, and simply remained something to be put up with.  A Castle wasn't a home without a magical beast of one kind or another, some might say.  As the beast's bad behaviours like shedding its fur, sharpening its claws, stealing food, sitting where he wasn't wanted and even leaving smelly 'gifts' around the castle whittled away their patience, the King and Queen (though especially the King) became increasingly vexed with him.

They did, however, discover one particular notable gift the beast had - he was wonderful with small children.  While he had been terrorized and chased by visiting children in the past, he always tolerated whatever the two princes could dish out, and at worst, he would simply run and hide when he'd had enough.  Dragons and Ogres could pose quite a threat to children that misbehaved, but the Stench Beast always put up with various transgressions; transgressions that will not be described here, but are on a par with what you'd imagine a Shark Boy and a Lightning Kid could do at their worst.

With the Lightning Kid's increasing mobility, the Stench Beast seemed almost inured to the fear of the boys.  He was almost coy in his retreats, seeming to say: "Oh, I've escaped from you to the safety of... a spot merely three feet away from where you last threatened me."

It was the King's suspicion that the love the Stench Beast bore for the Queen had come to extend to her offspring, and his tolerance of their semi-violent ministrations was his way of expressing it.

It was the Stench Beast's opinion, that the King was mostly alright, as humans tended to go...

The Lightning Kid’s Frenzy

The King was beginning to suspect that there was a good deal of Lightning in Shark Boy and a good deal of Shark in the Lightning Kid.  The former often had hair that stood up and spoke fondly of a certain kind of lightning while the latter had taken up the unfortunate habit of biting his parents... with sharp, shark-like teeth.

There was another shark-like behaviour, though: constant movement.  Especially in attempting to stand independently.  The King had watched in amazement as the Lightning Kid tried to push himself into a stand without touching walls or furniture.  From a hands-and-knees crawl, he would put his feet on the floor, and from the bent over position, he would straighten up, hands held aloft in a sign of victory... till he flopped over onto his bottom anywhere from one to six or seven seconds later.  He could do this over and over again, with a ferocity and intensity that could only be described as frenzied.   The little prince was a boy who wanted to stand.  He wanted to walk.  He wanted to move.

The Queen had been diligent in directing this energy into important development.  By standing the Lightning Kid up against one piece of furniture and placing an object he wanted on another, he could be enticed into walking briefly between the two, without holding onto anything else.  Various toys, books, and even socks could be used, but none was so enticing as another Shark Boy favourite: the goldfish.

The Lightning Kid and the Winter Wonderland

And so the year wound down to its end, more or less like it always did.  Yuletime was still in effect, but the biggest hustle and bustle was long gone, much to the King’s relief.  He was better able to  spend time with his sons in simple fun activities.  The Lightning Kid’s family had managed to get themselves invited to a northern Kingdom to visit another King and Queen and their new baby - yet another prince!

At the Host’s castle, the young princes were excited to meet not only the baby, but a Hound, who was known for her speed... some said, it was like Lightning... which only interested the Lightning Kid a little too much! His parents were vigilant to make sure the Hound didn't end up getting bitten, which was probably a bigger risk than the other way around - lately the Lightning Kid was acting more like a shark than Shark Boy himself!  As for Shark Boy, he was also interested in the Hound but had to learn how to approach one - this would be the most time he had ever spent with a dog.  Fascination turned to fear after being barked at for disturbing the hound, which turned into interest with healthy respect...

But the best part of the Northern Kingdom was found outside the castle.  Shark Boy learned to Ski, as the Queen was well versed in this art, and both parents were astounded by his prowess and talent... while the Lightning Kid slept through all that.  The King took both his princes in his Chariot while his hosts took their prince in their Chariot, and the Hound walked alongside as they all took a walk on the snow covered trails.  Shark Boy even joined the hound in an enclosed area where she was able to demonstrate her running speed - she practically flew like an arrow!

After ringing in the New Year, the visitors took their leave of their hosts, with the hopes of seeing them again soon.  On their way home, the King and Queen skied in the mountains, with the King towing both princes in the Chariot equipped with skis (you’d think he would have had servants for this sort of thing).  It had been a wonderful holiday, with lots of fun, games, great food, hugs and love.

To celebrate what a good time he had.. the LIGHTNING KID TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS!