On a tall, snowy Mountain lived Amri the King Hero. Amri wore a bright blue cape, soft golden boots, and a tiny crown that never fell off, even when he jumped. He was a superhero king. He was brave. He was kind. And he always listened.
Every morning, Amri waved to the Mountain.
“Hello, big Mountain!” he said.
Usually, the Mountain answered with a happy rumble: “Hello, Amri!”
But one morning, the Mountain was very quiet.
No birds sang. No little streams giggled. Even the snow looked sleepy.
Amri put one hand on the cold rock.
“Mountain, are you sad?”
A small sound came from deep inside.
“Mm-hmm.”
Amri’s cape fluttered. “I will help you!”
From behind a pine tree came Ninja. Ninja wore a black suit, black slippers, and a red scarf. He moved very quietly. Too quietly.
“Hello,” whispered Ninja.
Amri jumped a little. “Oh! Ninja! You surprised me.”
Ninja gave a small bow. “Sorry. I am good at sneaking.”
“Can you help me?” asked Amri. “The Mountain is sad.”
Ninja nodded. “Yes. I am small, quick, and very good at looking.”
Together they climbed up, up, up.
They crossed a little bridge. They passed sleepy goats. They walked through white snow that went crunch, crunch, crunch.
Then they heard a growl.
“Grrrrr!”
Behind a big gray rock stood Wolf.
Wolf had fluffy gray fur, big paws, and worried yellow eyes. He did not look mean. He looked sad too.
“Wolf,” said Amri gently, “did you make the Mountain sad?”
Wolf looked down. “I did not want to. I found the Mountain’s Golden Bell. It rang so nicely. Ding! Ding! Ding! I took it to my cave. But then the Mountain stopped singing.”
Ninja pointed to a dark cave high on the cliff.
“The bell is there?”
Wolf nodded. “Yes. But a pile of snow fell in front of my cave. I cannot get inside. I miss my bell sound. The Mountain misses its bell too.”
Amri smiled. “Then we will help everyone.”
Amri used his super strength. He pushed the snow. Push, push, push!
Ninja used his ninja hands. Scoop, scoop, scoop!
Wolf used his big paws. Dig, dig, dig!
Soon, the cave door was clear.
Inside was the Golden Bell. It was round and shiny. It sparkled like warm sunshine. On it were tiny stars and tiny clouds.
Wolf picked it up carefully. “I am sorry, Mountain,” he said.
Amri held the bell with Wolf. Ninja stood beside them.
“Ready?” asked Amri.
“Ready,” said Ninja.
“Ready,” said Wolf.
They carried the bell to the very top of the Mountain. The wind blew whoooosh. Amri’s crown wobbled, but it stayed on.
At the top was a little stone place for the bell.
Amri set it down.
Ninja tied the silver ribbon.
Wolf gave the bell one gentle tap.
Ding!
The sound flew over the snowy Mountain.
Ding, ding!
The streams woke up and went giggle-giggle.
Ding, ding, ding!
The birds sang. The goats danced. The snow sparkled.
Then the Mountain gave a big, happy rumble.
“Thank you, Amri the King Hero. Thank you, Ninja. Thank you, Wolf.”
A secret door opened in the rock. Inside was a treasure box.
For Amri, there was a new golden cape with a little bell on it.
For Ninja, there were silver ninja slippers that made no sound at all.
For Wolf, there was a shiny bell of his very own, with a blue ribbon.
Wolf smiled wide. “Now I can ring my own bell. I will not take another one.”
Amri put on his golden cape. Ding! It gave one tiny, cheerful sound.
“You can be our friend,” said Amri.
Wolf wagged his fluffy tail. “Really?”
“Really,” said Ninja.
The three friends slid down the Mountain together. Swish! Swish! Swish!
Amri laughed. Ninja laughed. Wolf laughed the loudest.
And every morning after that, the Golden Bell rang from the top of the Mountain.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
It said, “A kind hero helps. A good friend shares. And a happy Mountain sings.”