The Challenge

Max: 1,000 words

Must include:

Horses

Three friends

Fear of horses

Fantasy elements

Cheesiness

More Than Just An Adventure

It was a rather blustery day when two energetic girls, one with long dark hair, and the other with shorter blonde hair, happened upon their friend. Their friend had hair that had been dyed blonde and wore glasses. The two energetic girls had a passion for all things horse related while their friend preferred to look upon horses from a distance, preferably from the confines of a house, looking out onto the great world. An adventure was to be had, an adventure spanning unknown paths of travel. Of course the two energetic girls had to all but force their horse-hating friend to accompany them, but it didn’t matter.

Of course it wasn’t just a random outing that made their horse-hating friend hate horses. It had been a series of events when she was younger which had traumatized her forever more.  She didn’t like to talk about it but the mere mention of the word ‘horse’ caused a shiver to run down her back. They had lured her into accompanying her with the promise of a relaxing spar and the opportunity to get in some much needed writing. Besides, she figured she could get out of the horse part of the holiday as she could be quite sneaky when she needed to be.

The resort, or farm as it was more commonly called, was large. Farms, she wrinkled her nose in disgust, farmyard animals didn’t appear to like her much. She’d lost count of the amount of times animals had attacked her. Pigs, cows, llamas, chickens, goats….the odd donkey. You name it, she’d been attacked by one and don’t even get her started on cats… 

I’m getting off topic, the point is, horses were not her friend, but she did have real friends and they were amazingly good for her, always pushing her boundaries and daring her to do things she wouldn’t normally do. It made her life far more exciting.  

As with all fantasy stories, it wouldn’t be complete without some fantasy element. So let’s shake things up a bit, instead of plain horses, let’s make them pterippi (horses with wings), with golden manes, kind eyes and friendly personalities. Let’s add a wicked manager (who doubles as a witch), a flock of giant eagles that float high in the sky and are controlled by no force, and a handsome prince to save the day.  

Things had started quite swimmingly, though the two energetic friends had dragged their horse-hating friend along, they weren’t mean and left her to her own devices during the day. She even came out to watch as her friend’s took turns on the horses present. However, it would not be a good fantasy story if that was the end of things.

The wicked manager, a rather stout woman with beady eyes, a sweaty brow and muscular arms, took offense to the horse-hating girl for not committing to half of the farms purpose. If the wicked managed had not possessed the talent of magic then none of this would have happened, as such, this is what took place.

Having confronted her fear/hatred of horses enough to reach out and stroke the nose of one, she suddenly found herself floated through the air without any control. She was most surprised when the floating stopped and she found herself atop the horse. If you wonder how this had happened without her realising it, when she began floating from the ground, she closed her eyes for she had a fear of heights as well.

Though she tried in vain to get of said horse, it appeared luck was not on her side and as she hopelessly contemplated her situation, great wings unfolded from the horses side and she was taken up into the air, clinging hopelessly to the back of the horse and wishing that her life wasn’t close to ending.

While the wicked manager was left cackling on the ground, laughing wickedly at what she had accomplished, the two energetic friends had noticed what had happened. With power they didn’t know they possess, they charged at the wicked manager, intending to stop what she had done.

Seeing as they were no match for the magic she welded, it didn’t start as a fair fight but the wicked manager couldn’t fight against two of them and their energetic behaviour soon seemed to tire the wicked manager out.

Meanwhile the man who worked in the stables, who most ignored, had run out upon hearing the screams of the poor horse-hater up in the sky. He could never stand a damsel in distress and he quickly ripped of his servant stable uniform, revealing a fighting outfit underneath, complete with a royal crest of arms. That’s right, it a fantasy story, so cliché and short, it wouldn’t be complete without a royal prince.

With strength beyond a mere mortal, the prince used the branches of nearby trees to help boost him up until he stood just above the damsel and her Pegasus. Taking a leap of faith (and maybe foolishness), he jumped and landed upon the horse and behind the horse-hater. With impeccable skill, he managed to land the Pegasus on the ground, dismount and take the shivering, fearful horse-hater into his arms.

He was loathed to put her down as the comfort he felt had created unknown feelings in his chest. Without proper time for getting to know said horse-hater, the prince already knew that she was the girl for him. The ‘love at first sight’ chapter he’d read in his ‘How to become a better prince’ book, had really paid off when he set eyes on the fair maiden he was carrying.

While the prince contemplated his new life now that he’d found his love in the horse-hater, the two energetic girls had finally beaten the wicked manager and as they were unsure of what to do with the dead body, help arrived. The help, giant eagles of course, carried away the body of the wicked manager and disposed of it.

The two energetic girls swore to never again attempt to combine a horse riding holiday with a spa holiday but as they looked at their horse-hating friend wrapped in the arms of the hidden prince, they couldn’t help but think that the holiday hadn’t been a complete disaster.

1,052 words