Shining and Sparkling
I pushed away some branches, and watched a gnome setting a centaur trap. After he had finished tying the ropes I leaped into the clearing. The gnome was so surprised he fell back into the ropes, caught and left dangling from a tree branch.
"Good morning George," I greeted.
"Darn you Horse-brat!" He growled.
I snickered, tugging on his beard. "You'll never outsmart a Centaur, especially the mighty Prince C."
"Cedric!" My mother called out.
I stomped my hoof in protest. "Don't call me Cedric! It's C, Mother, C!"
My fourth oldest brother walked me to school. It seemed like a nice enough day, maybe good for a hunt after school. Miss Petaldust told us the day before we'd get to do some craft. I liked the idea of craft, just not with my classmates.
At the gate I was welcomed by Teeny, an over-hypo Genie. She's a nice girl, just a tad spacey. Leering behind her I spied Willem, a Warlock with a thing about spying and world domination.
As I arrived in class Theobald, or rather Theo, a scruffy Troll, was chewing the ends of the teacher's desk. I sighed, grabbing him by the back of his furry vest, and dropping him into his chair.
Clover, our resident overachieving Leprechaun, and Angela, a Mergirl Angel, were trying on each other's lip gloss. It was nice to see them getting along.
"Oh no, my nail polish!" Cried Clover in horror. A bottle of gold polish seeping along her desk.
Angela gasped, her halo dimming. "I'm ever so sorry! I cannot control my wings yet."
"Oh! I am going to glue them one of these days! Clover huffed.
As for me, I sat back cool and silent. I always do. It's a Centaur thing, especially for royals. We are born leaders after all, proud and strong. We're always dependable. It earns respect you know.
"Wow, your tail is so pretty!" Giggled Teeny, knelt behind my hind legs. She was brushing my tail with a.a.purple doll's brush!
"What in the twelve moons are you doing?" I demanded.
Teeny went on brushing it, rubbing her cheek against it. "It's so soft and silky, just like my pony doll's at home. But it's pink and has a sparkly tail, hey, can I put sparkles in your tail too?!"
"No you may not!" I yelled, horrified.
But it was too late, Teeny brushed in as many pink sparkles as had. I was lost for words; I couldn't do anything about it. Miss Petaldust fluttered in. She's a fairy and a very nice teacher.
"A magical morning to you class," she cheerfully welcomed.
"A magical morning to you, Miss Petaldust," we responded.
Teeny was immediately back in her seat on the other side of the room. I glared her way. I was still shocked by what she did, if any of my brothers found out they'd pick on me forever and a moon.
"What are we going to make for craft today?" Inquired Clover, her hand raised.
Miss Petaldust struggled to hold up a sock, cut and painted to look like a tiger. "We're going to make cute sock puppets!"
Theo punched his desk in excitement. "Can Theo eat the sock when Miss Teacher is done?!"
"Sure you can!" Giggled Teeny.
Miss Petaldust laughed nervously. "Settle down class. Behind my desk is a cardboard box with everything you'll need. It's a bit heavy for a tiny woman like me, so Cedric, could you help me?"
I gasped. "M.m.me?"
"Yes Dear, please come here," she smiled again.
My face lowered. Slowly I edged toward her desk, trying to keep my body to the side to hide my tail. I was relieved when I reached the desk. I lifted the box onto the desk and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Now could you hand out everything to the class?" Miss Petaldust asked.
"Me.?"
"Of course you, Cedric. Now please give each person a sock, glue, buttons, wool and a paint set." She turned to the class. "Did everyone remember to bring sparkles?"
"Miss, I lost mine," fakely sniffled Teeny.
"Yeah, in my tail." - is what I would have liked to shout to the heavens at that moment.
I gathered my courage to hand out the equipment. I was a Centaur after all, I did have to give a good example.
First I gave Clover her things. She didn't notice anything till I walked by her to go to Willem. Willem cracked a large smirk, holding in a laugh. Angela blushed when she saw my tail; I guess she thought it was cute. Theo tried to take a bite of my tail, I slapped his claw away. As for Teeny, she was watching something through the window. I gave her a start by slamming her things on her desk. Good.
When I returned to my desk I felt their eyes on me, it was so embarrassing! During the lesson I was more silent than usual. There was no point in chatter; they'd only use it to pick on my tail.
During Recess I sat alone hiding among the giant toadstools. Well, to be honest I wasn't alone. Theo was there too, gnawing on one of the tougher toadstool stems. It felt good to know he didn't care about my tail.
Class for the rest of the day was very much the same. I avoided eye contact the best I could. I also repeated what I did at Recess for Lunch.
As soon as school ended I fled as fast as I could. I galloped alone; I couldn't wait for one of my brothers. Once I had run out of steam I stopped to catch my breath. As I huffed and puffed I checked out my surroundings. It was really dark, I could barely see anything. And between you and me it looked CREEPY.
I could hear every rustling of the leaves, and the hooting of owls. I gulping, edging back, and remaining alert. Just then I felt something wrap around my back and front hoofs. I was tangled; I tried to kick them off. Suddenly my body was raised off the ground. I dangled upside-down.
"Caught in a trap, perfect," I sarcastically spat.
"Bwuhaha! Bwuhaha!" Came a familiar laugh.
"Why you puny fink!" I growled. "George, I demand you release me!"
The gnome jumped out from behind a tree. He held a torch, grinning with pride. "After all these years I finally caught me a Centaur! Too bad it's the worthless brat of the King, but these things happen. Maybe I can use him for bait for his juicy brothers."
Tears swelled in my eyes. "I'd like to see you try!"
George groomed his beard. "Hmm.what shall I cut off first? His horns for grinding into healing dust? The hoofs to sell to Witches for potion ingredients.or the.tail.?" He found himself staring blankly at my tail.
"It's sparkles you moron," I groaned.
"My, how pretty," he mused.
George produced a knife from under his beard. I gulped, sweating like mad.
"No, please no!" I pleaded.
George sighed. "Sorry kid, business is business." He licked his lips, ready to strike.
"Shiny, shiny!" George was knocked on his back. The knife was taken from him. I heard gnawing and peered to the side. I wanted to laugh, there was Theo gnawing on the handle of the knife, sitting on George.
"Theo.?"
Theo looked up, holding up the blade. "This is shiny, like Cedric's tail!"
I scowled. "I am C.and enough about the tail.Hey, what are you doing out here?"
Theo threw away the blade. "This is Theo's home! Theo lives in deep swamp!" He shouted out.
"Oh?" My eyes bugged. "S.s.swamp?"
"Yes, yes."
I moaned. "As in.bugs and slime and bugs and frogs and fleas and BUGS?!"
"Yeeeees!"
"Oh great."
Theo snuffed up some snot. "Would Cedric like to get his shiny tail cleaned?"
I smiled. "Hey, about you cut me down first?"
Theo nodded, springing off George, sinking his jaws into the rope. I plunged to the ground. My back was sore, but I was glad to be free.
"Thanks Theo, so.how would you get my tail cleaned?" I asked, picking up George's torch. I shone the flame around; I couldn't see a clean pond anywhere.
Theo looked a moment to chew on a stray branch. "Theo will show C a nice big shower!"
"Shower.?"
He led me through the woods. We left George tied up in his own trap. Theo stopped infront of a dark green curtain of twisted weeds.
"Where are we? I don't see any water around here, not even sludge."
Theo latched onto the weeds with his jaws and sucked them in till they were all gone. I looked away, grossed out. When I looked again I was amazed to see before me a huge waterfall. It truly was one big shower!
I raced toward the lake, and dove in. I swam around, splashing occasionally. After mucking around I combed my tail with a rock till all but a few sparkles were left.
"Good as new!" I declared.
Meanwhile Theo sat on the dry land nearby, kicking fleas from his back. "No more shiny, shiny tail?"
"No way!"
"Too bad.C's tail was so pretty," he sighed. "Was so shiny Theo could see C's tail in dark from home."
I gasped. "Wait.that's how you saw me?"
"Yes, yes."
The next day I handed Teeny a wrapped gift. She was cautious when opening it. After removing the lid of the box she giggled with delight.
"A pony.a pony sock puppet!" She slipped it on and pretended to gallop around the room naying.
I watched her, smiling. "Yes.and it has a shiny, shiny tail."
I pushed away some branches, and watched a gnome setting a centaur trap. After he had finished tying the ropes I leaped into the clearing. The gnome was so surprised he fell back into the ropes, caught and left dangling from a tree branch.
"Good morning George," I greeted.
"Darn you Horse-brat!" He growled.
I snickered, tugging on his beard. "You'll never outsmart a Centaur, especially the mighty Prince C."
"Cedric!" My mother called out.
I stomped my hoof in protest. "Don't call me Cedric! It's C, Mother, C!"
My fourth oldest brother walked me to school. It seemed like a nice enough day, maybe good for a hunt after school. Miss Petaldust told us the day before we'd get to do some craft. I liked the idea of craft, just not with my classmates.
At the gate I was welcomed by Teeny, an over-hypo Genie. She's a nice girl, just a tad spacey. Leering behind her I spied Willem, a Warlock with a thing about spying and world domination.
As I arrived in class Theobald, or rather Theo, a scruffy Troll, was chewing the ends of the teacher's desk. I sighed, grabbing him by the back of his furry vest, and dropping him into his chair.
Clover, our resident overachieving Leprechaun, and Angela, a Mergirl Angel, were trying on each other's lip gloss. It was nice to see them getting along.
"Oh no, my nail polish!" Cried Clover in horror. A bottle of gold polish seeping along her desk.
Angela gasped, her halo dimming. "I'm ever so sorry! I cannot control my wings yet."
"Oh! I am going to glue them one of these days! Clover huffed.
As for me, I sat back cool and silent. I always do. It's a Centaur thing, especially for royals. We are born leaders after all, proud and strong. We're always dependable. It earns respect you know.
"Wow, your tail is so pretty!" Giggled Teeny, knelt behind my hind legs. She was brushing my tail with a.a.purple doll's brush!
"What in the twelve moons are you doing?" I demanded.
Teeny went on brushing it, rubbing her cheek against it. "It's so soft and silky, just like my pony doll's at home. But it's pink and has a sparkly tail, hey, can I put sparkles in your tail too?!"
"No you may not!" I yelled, horrified.
But it was too late, Teeny brushed in as many pink sparkles as had. I was lost for words; I couldn't do anything about it. Miss Petaldust fluttered in. She's a fairy and a very nice teacher.
"A magical morning to you class," she cheerfully welcomed.
"A magical morning to you, Miss Petaldust," we responded.
Teeny was immediately back in her seat on the other side of the room. I glared her way. I was still shocked by what she did, if any of my brothers found out they'd pick on me forever and a moon.
"What are we going to make for craft today?" Inquired Clover, her hand raised.
Miss Petaldust struggled to hold up a sock, cut and painted to look like a tiger. "We're going to make cute sock puppets!"
Theo punched his desk in excitement. "Can Theo eat the sock when Miss Teacher is done?!"
"Sure you can!" Giggled Teeny.
Miss Petaldust laughed nervously. "Settle down class. Behind my desk is a cardboard box with everything you'll need. It's a bit heavy for a tiny woman like me, so Cedric, could you help me?"
I gasped. "M.m.me?"
"Yes Dear, please come here," she smiled again.
My face lowered. Slowly I edged toward her desk, trying to keep my body to the side to hide my tail. I was relieved when I reached the desk. I lifted the box onto the desk and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Now could you hand out everything to the class?" Miss Petaldust asked.
"Me.?"
"Of course you, Cedric. Now please give each person a sock, glue, buttons, wool and a paint set." She turned to the class. "Did everyone remember to bring sparkles?"
"Miss, I lost mine," fakely sniffled Teeny.
"Yeah, in my tail." - is what I would have liked to shout to the heavens at that moment.
I gathered my courage to hand out the equipment. I was a Centaur after all, I did have to give a good example.
First I gave Clover her things. She didn't notice anything till I walked by her to go to Willem. Willem cracked a large smirk, holding in a laugh. Angela blushed when she saw my tail; I guess she thought it was cute. Theo tried to take a bite of my tail, I slapped his claw away. As for Teeny, she was watching something through the window. I gave her a start by slamming her things on her desk. Good.
When I returned to my desk I felt their eyes on me, it was so embarrassing! During the lesson I was more silent than usual. There was no point in chatter; they'd only use it to pick on my tail.
During Recess I sat alone hiding among the giant toadstools. Well, to be honest I wasn't alone. Theo was there too, gnawing on one of the tougher toadstool stems. It felt good to know he didn't care about my tail.
Class for the rest of the day was very much the same. I avoided eye contact the best I could. I also repeated what I did at Recess for Lunch.
As soon as school ended I fled as fast as I could. I galloped alone; I couldn't wait for one of my brothers. Once I had run out of steam I stopped to catch my breath. As I huffed and puffed I checked out my surroundings. It was really dark, I could barely see anything. And between you and me it looked CREEPY.
I could hear every rustling of the leaves, and the hooting of owls. I gulping, edging back, and remaining alert. Just then I felt something wrap around my back and front hoofs. I was tangled; I tried to kick them off. Suddenly my body was raised off the ground. I dangled upside-down.
"Caught in a trap, perfect," I sarcastically spat.
"Bwuhaha! Bwuhaha!" Came a familiar laugh.
"Why you puny fink!" I growled. "George, I demand you release me!"
The gnome jumped out from behind a tree. He held a torch, grinning with pride. "After all these years I finally caught me a Centaur! Too bad it's the worthless brat of the King, but these things happen. Maybe I can use him for bait for his juicy brothers."
Tears swelled in my eyes. "I'd like to see you try!"
George groomed his beard. "Hmm.what shall I cut off first? His horns for grinding into healing dust? The hoofs to sell to Witches for potion ingredients.or the.tail.?" He found himself staring blankly at my tail.
"It's sparkles you moron," I groaned.
"My, how pretty," he mused.
George produced a knife from under his beard. I gulped, sweating like mad.
"No, please no!" I pleaded.
George sighed. "Sorry kid, business is business." He licked his lips, ready to strike.
"Shiny, shiny!" George was knocked on his back. The knife was taken from him. I heard gnawing and peered to the side. I wanted to laugh, there was Theo gnawing on the handle of the knife, sitting on George.
"Theo.?"
Theo looked up, holding up the blade. "This is shiny, like Cedric's tail!"
I scowled. "I am C.and enough about the tail.Hey, what are you doing out here?"
Theo threw away the blade. "This is Theo's home! Theo lives in deep swamp!" He shouted out.
"Oh?" My eyes bugged. "S.s.swamp?"
"Yes, yes."
I moaned. "As in.bugs and slime and bugs and frogs and fleas and BUGS?!"
"Yeeeees!"
"Oh great."
Theo snuffed up some snot. "Would Cedric like to get his shiny tail cleaned?"
I smiled. "Hey, about you cut me down first?"
Theo nodded, springing off George, sinking his jaws into the rope. I plunged to the ground. My back was sore, but I was glad to be free.
"Thanks Theo, so.how would you get my tail cleaned?" I asked, picking up George's torch. I shone the flame around; I couldn't see a clean pond anywhere.
Theo looked a moment to chew on a stray branch. "Theo will show C a nice big shower!"
"Shower.?"
He led me through the woods. We left George tied up in his own trap. Theo stopped infront of a dark green curtain of twisted weeds.
"Where are we? I don't see any water around here, not even sludge."
Theo latched onto the weeds with his jaws and sucked them in till they were all gone. I looked away, grossed out. When I looked again I was amazed to see before me a huge waterfall. It truly was one big shower!
I raced toward the lake, and dove in. I swam around, splashing occasionally. After mucking around I combed my tail with a rock till all but a few sparkles were left.
"Good as new!" I declared.
Meanwhile Theo sat on the dry land nearby, kicking fleas from his back. "No more shiny, shiny tail?"
"No way!"
"Too bad.C's tail was so pretty," he sighed. "Was so shiny Theo could see C's tail in dark from home."
I gasped. "Wait.that's how you saw me?"
"Yes, yes."
The next day I handed Teeny a wrapped gift. She was cautious when opening it. After removing the lid of the box she giggled with delight.
"A pony.a pony sock puppet!" She slipped it on and pretended to gallop around the room naying.
I watched her, smiling. "Yes.and it has a shiny, shiny tail."