The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Author's Note:
I would like to take the time to thank everyone for supporting this story. I have decided to make updates more regular. Every Monday and Friday I will publish a new chapter for this story so be sure to look out for new chapters. I was thinking about doing it just weekly but I didn't want this story to take over a year to complete.
This is the last chapter before Cinderella. Hallelujah. I have every intent of posting the Cinderella chapter today or tomorrow, but for now we enter the world of Sleepy Hollow.
Sleepy Hollow.
Raoul was a traveling school master. He had recently been hired in the town of Sleepy Hollow. The town was quiet: nothing ever happened. So with the town being as boring as it was, everyone was excited to see the new school master.
On the first day in town, Raoul saw Christine, the daughter of a wealthy landowner. She was exceedingly beautiful and had men throwing themselves at her trying to win her favor. Raoul soon became one of the suitors after her hand, mostly for her wealth.
With Raoul attempting at winning the young girl's heart, a member of the town grew angry. Erik, a tall, muscular man whom the town hated because of his aggression, overpowering nature and his deformed face, wanted to wed Christine. He had always loved her, even before her father obtained wealth. But Raoul was getting in the way of his plans.
That night, Christine held a grand party to honor the new school master. All of the town was invited. After failing to get a dance with Christine because Raoul snatched her away, Erik came up with a plan to get rid of the foolish fop.
Erik told the story of the Headless Horseman to the newcomer Raoul knowing that the new school master was extremely superstitious. Raoul left late that night, trembling at the story Erik had told the town.
As he rode his old, worn horse through the dark forest, Raoul began hearing noises. It sounded like a horse was following behind him but every time he looked behind, he saw nothing. It wasn't until Raoul looked behind for the third time when he saw him: a headless man riding a jet black horse and wielding a flaming pumpkin.
Raoul took off, his horse running as fast as it could through the gnarled forest. But the horseman was gaining on them.
Then, Raoul saw hope. The bridge was said that the horseman couldn't pass. It looked like he could make it. He made it into the covered bridge, the Headless Horseman on his tails. He was about to exit the bridge when the Headless Horseman threw the flaming pumpkin at him.
The next morning, Raoul's hat was found near the edge of the bridge, beside it, a smashed pumpkin.
The town never knew what happened to Raoul nor did they care to investigate fore Christine had finally picked a suiter: Erik. The happy couple lived happily ever after. The town went back to being quiet although they would often tell the tale of the Headless Horseman to travelers. Many didn't believe the story of the Headless Horseman's existence.
But only Erik knew for certain that the Headless Horseman was a fake.
