3. IT TAKES TWO TO VICTORY - PART 1
"How are you doing, Minimus? Sofia asked her horse at the same time patting his head gently, checking on his condition after the big mishap a few hours earlier.
"Couldn't be better." Replied Minimus solemnly.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, I am. Don't worry, Sof! We are going to win that trophy again! No one can defeat us, I assure you. Not even that crazy Squire," Said Minimus referring to Squire Vaughn.
"Welcome to the Flying Derby Greatest Rider Championship. Today, all amazing riders from around the world will compete for The Greatest Rider Trophy, the most prestigious trophy in flying derby championship". The announcer explained to the audience from his voice amplifier.
"The race for this championship contains five trials. In the First Trial, all riders have to fly through moving hoops. In the Second Trial, avoid the arrows; Third Trial, ride into a maze; Fourth Trial, finds the Rainbow Entrance and Fifth Trial, Enter the Door of Reality. The rider who fails to finish any one of the trials will be disqualified and lose". He stated further.
All of the racers were mounted on their horses and made their way to the starting line. The race was about to start in any minute now. The contestants later were introduced one after another by the announcer. Princess Sofia and Squire Vaughn's track were just next to each other and from her side, she could see Squire Vaughn raised both of his hands up to the crowds in his cocky style and his trademark smirking face when he was introduced by the announcer.
"And last but not least.. The four times defending champion, Princess Sofia!" Her turn to be introduced by the announcer. There was an exclamation from the crowds as her name was being mentioned, explicitly showed how popular she was. The crowd was clapping and cheering her name as she waved to her supporters.
From her horse, she could see her mom and dad, Queen Miranda and King Roland II were waving at her as if wishing her good luck. She could also see her friends, especially Prince Desmond, Princess Vivian, Princess Zoe and her sister, Princess Amber were among the crowds cheering, whistling and screaming her name.
Sofia turned to Minimus, kept her back straight and held the reins tightly, waiting for the signal and whistle-blowing.
Squire Vaughn turned to look at her. They looked at each other, the air was tense.
"Huh, get ready to lose, Princess…!" Squire Vaughn teased her and flashed an annoying grin. Sofia glared at him, still couldn't forget what he had done to Minimus earlier.
"This is going to be my last Derby Championship. I want this win, Minimus." She whispered to her horse. There was hope in her voice. Minimus didn't reply. It seemed like something was distracting his attention.
"Hey, Sofia. Who is that angel?." Minimus voice suddenly grew intense.
"Angel? What angel?" Asked Sofia confused.
"There… Look at her. Oh, sh.. she is absolutely, astoundingly g…gorgeous." Minimus mumbled and stammered like a dumb horse struck by Cupid's arrow.
"I have never seen anyone so beautiful like that!" Added Minimus in astonishment.
Sofia couldn't digest it on her mind who was Minimus talking about. She was puzzled for a few seconds. That couldn't be Miss Merryweather he was referring to, could he? She looked at Miss Merryweather, who was ready to blow the whistle to start the race. Then, she realized that Minimus was referring to a striking blonde female horse, just next track ridden by Squire Vaughn. Sofia admitted that she was a fine horse with fluffy golden hair that looked stand out and eye catching. Her tail was long and smooth while her bright reddish mane was full and straight like it had just been rebonded. Yes, she was a lovely horse. But, she belonged to Squire Vaughn, she thought.
Then, she heard Minimus said, " Sof, I would love to get to know her, this instant." Minimus whined. There were excitement and impatience in his voice.
"Seriously Minimus? We are right at the beginning of a race! Can't you just wait for that?" Sofia hissed at him.
"Besides, I thought that you liked Electra, Prince Hugo's horse?" She added.
"Are you kidding me, Sof? She is much older than me! I have a better taste, you know?" Minimus snorted and widened his eyes towards Sofia.
Before Sofia could think further, she heard Minimus flirting to that horse, "Hello baby, do you have a name, or can I call you Mine?" Said Minimus to the Squire Vaughn's horse.
"What is the problem with you?" The lovely horse replied coldly at Minimus.
Minimus didn't give up.
"Hey cutie pie, are you from the Kingdom of Korea? Because you could be my Seoul mate," He blinked his eyes a few times and gave her his most charming smile. She didn't reply, just snorted and gave him a cold, menacing stare.
Sofia took a deep breath. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Oh no, this has to stop. Or else, Minimus is going to blow my chance of winning this race, she thought.
"Alright, Minimus. Enough with it. The race is getting started in any second. Please concentrate. Remember that we are the defending champion. Act like one!" Said Sofia with a stern voice.
"Okay, Sof!" Said Minimus. From Sofia's tone, Minimus could tell that she was irritated with him. He made no further comment about that female horse anymore, and the topic was closed. Both of them later gave their full attention to Miss Merryweather, who was standing at the side of the track ready to officially open the race.
Get, set, go! Prriiittt…. The whistle was blown.
CHECKPOINT 1 : FLY THROUGH MOVING HOOPS
All riders took off as fast as they could. They had to make one full lap inside of the stadium before flying into the air for the First Trial. Minimus sprinted into the air and leading the other horses to arrive first at the moving hoops. They had to pass through ten moving hoops at a particular distance in which were all on fire. The hoops were moving to the left and right as well as to up and down at different speed, much to the confusion of the riders. This trial tested their jumping accuracy, for any mistake could cause them to trip on the hoop and fell, or they may be burnt by the fire. The audience cheered out loud as all riders managed to pass the First Trial with flying colors. This indeed wasn't surprising as only the best riders competed in this championship.
Sofia was in the lead while Squire Vaughn was keeping up with her followed by the other riders. They then flew towards the next checkpoint, Blackest Black Tunnel for the Second Trial. It was a perfect dark tunnel with absolutely no light. Everything in the tunnel is black - black walls, black ceiling and black ground. Sofia felt she couldn't even see herself once they made an entrance into it.
CHECKPOINT 2 : THE ARROWS
"Minimus, I can't see…" She barely finished her sentence when suddenly there was a rain of arrows shot into the air that one of them almost hit the left side of her safety helmet near her ear. She gasped.
She then heard one of the riders behind her screamed in pain after being hit by the arrows and fell to the ground. The situation inside the dark tunnel was in total mess and hectic. For minutes, she and Minimus were busy avoiding the arrows, and they moved in uncertain movement. Heck, this was completely unexpected and different than her training she used to practice with Sir Gallium. In her training, she could still see the arrow coming to her, but here in this tunnel, she saw nothing as it was entirely dark and she had no clue where the arrows were shot from and were aimed at. I need to do something quick, or I too might be struck by these random arrows, Sofia thought. Then she heard more riders cried out in pain and fell. She pitied them but nothing much she could do as she too was struggling for her dear life.
Meanwhile, the audience was watching everything happen in the tunnel from a large crystal screen placed inside of the stadium. They could see everything that was happening but couldn't hear anything as the screen served only as a visual display. The audience watched the race in worry, with pounding heart and some were holding their breath. Their heart sunk to see many riders fell to the ground, and some were severely wounded. Queen Miranda almost fainted when she saw hundreds of arrows were shot towards the riders in the black tunnel. She was shivering and looked as pale as a ghost while watching the Crystal Screen at the Royal Grand Circle seating area. Princess Amber was looking at her mother anxiously. King Roland was trying to calm them down but to no avail.
Back inside the tunnel, after cracking her brain for what felt like forever, Sofia finally got an idea. She remembered there was a saying, if you can't use your certain sense, you need to use another sense. If she couldn't see the arrows, probably she could listen to their sounds. And she thought Minimus could do that better than her.
"Minimus, people said animal sense is more sensitive than human. Maybe you can hear the sound of the arrows and avoid them," She suggested to Minimus.
"Oooh, I can't hear anything, Sof! Not in this condition," He replied in a shaky tone as if given in.
"You can! You need to calm down and focus," Instructed Sofia. At the same time, she leaned her body forward, closer to Minimus to avoid another coming arrow.
Minimus followed Sofia's instruction and started to focus his mind wholeheartedly. For the first time since they were in the tunnel, everything seems to be heard clearly to him. He was listening to the sounds around him and could hear another rain of arrows were striking towards them. He moved forward fast enough to avoid the arrows and then moved up and down to escape another. Their journey in the tunnel afterward went on with ease and finally they saw the light at the far end of the tunnel. In less than a minute, they made their way out of the tunnel safely. They could feel the fresh air caressed their skin gently, and blue shade of the sky was an entire contrast to what they had experienced back in the Blackest Black Tunnel.
"Whoaa…" Minimus exclaimed in relieved. So did Sofia.
Then, they hurriedly flew to the third checkpoint, The Amazing Maze was about 2 miles away.
