Chapter Six: The Final Challenge

"Indeed, it would be like Caraboose to do something like this. But you must meet her in battle and show her who is the real amster of the four horses," Lily said.

"I know. I shall return home at once, for it will be my land on which we battle," hersuticus replied.

"That would be best," Lily said. "Ride Ertha and ride fast, for Caraboose will be here shortly. She gathers, even now, all her dark powers to battle with you."

Wasting no time, Hersuticus mounted Ertha, who carried him fast across the lands to his home castle, and within the hour, Hersuticus arrived home, calling to the King and Queen.

Overcome with joy, they fall upon him weeping with happiness to see their son alive and well.

"We have no time," hersuticus said. "Caraboose is coming to battle me for the horses. We were all tricked by her. Have servants retrieve my armour and defend the castle with as many men as we can." The King and Queen quickly went about getting things ready. Hersuticus was dressed in silver armour and chainmail, and the Queen cast a spell upon it to make it shine as bright as the moon.

A large noise out the front announced Caraboose's arrival. Hersuticus went out the front to meet her.

"Hersuticus, give me the ring of the wilderness, lest I set my pets upon you," Caraboose called, her dark robes billowing in the wind.

"Never. This power was not ment for you," Hersuticus answered. Raising her wand, Caraboose summoned to her two large serpants. Hersuticus rubbed his ring and Ambu appeared before him. Mounting, he looked at the two large snakes before him.

"Kill him!" Caraboose ordered.

"Come and get me!" Hersuticas challenged, and headed off towards the nearby sea, Ambu galloping as fast as she could. The serpants were indeed fast and soon caught up with Ambu, but they had also reached the sea. Ambu rode across the water effortlessly while the serpants slithered into the water to give chase. Racing across the seas, the serpants dove in and out of the water, trying to catch them, but Ambu was in her element now, and she simply turned to water whenever the serpants tried.

Lightening struck the water in front of them, and Hersuticus saw Caraboose flying in hot pursuit, her wand pointed directly at him.

"Dive deep," Hersuticus called, and Ambu went below the surface. Hersuticus could breathe normally, and the serpants chased them deeper and deeper into the water. Finally, they reached the bottom of the sea, and the serpants suddenly discovered their need for air. Too late, they were trapped by the water as Ambu rode around them in fast circles, creating a barrier. The serpants, trapped in this sphere, drowned. Hersuticus rode to the surface and dismounted on the shore. Sending Ambu away, he awaited Caraboose to return.

"Fool!" She snarled. She raised her wand and summoned two giants. Hersuticus summoned Ertha, mounted and off they rode as fast as you like towards the mountains, the giants chasing and Caraboose close behind.

Hersuticus charged Ertha towards the mountains which grew closer in a moment, and he called for her to ride into them. As she was bid, Ertha drove into the side of the mountain and disappeared. Hersuticus was protected from the effects of the crushing mountains, but he could hear the giants trying to pursue, bashing their way through the rock. Hersuticus turned Ertha towards the top of the mountain, The giants tried to go after them, and when one swung his club, he missed and clobbered his twin. This enraged the twin and the two soon broke into a fight deep inside the mountain. With great rage they battled while Hersuticus rode back to his castle, leaving the giants to kill each other.

"Damn you!" Caraboose cursed. She raised her wand again and a giant Griffin appeared. Hersuticus sent Ertha away and summoned Aedus. A flash of fire and he was there. "Ride for the sun," Hersuticus called, and they were off. Aedus rode swiftly into the air, the heat growing rapidly, and the Griffin was right on their tail. Caraboose, watching, saw them head into the brightness of the sun. Hersuticus continued into the blinding light of the sun, the Griffin first falling back a little, but then letting out a sudden shriek, as the heat of the sun, too much for its body, set it a-flame and the beast went hurtling to the earth, fire blazing from its body. Before hersuticus could think of what to do next, another griffin was sent after them.

"Call the heat of the sun to your hooves," Hersuticus called, and Aedis was suddenly a-blaze with bright red warhooves and it charged at the griffin. The two forces got close to each other very quickly, but Hersuticus knew what to do, as did Aedus. When the moment was right, Aedus pulled up and kicked out at the griffin, its blazing hooves hitting the wild beast in the chest. The griffin was stunned and did not see Aedus adjust to take a kick right to the head, sending it to the ground, scolded and dead. Hersuticus landed upon the earth and sent Aedus away.

"Enough of this!" Caraboose ragged. She rounded her two dragons that drew her chariot on Hersuticus and charged. Hersuticus summoned Aires and rode into the air at lightening speed, straight towards Caraboose. The dragons, seeing them coming, took in a breath to breathe their deadly fumes upon Hersuticus and his horse, but the majestic Aires sprouted wings like a pegasus and beat the air, sending the cloud of poison right back at the dragons. Caraboose, coughing and spluttering, fell form her chariot and the two dragons flew in the air, suffocating on their own gases. Aires came close to them and quickly kicked both of them like he were a wild mule. Both dragons, beaten to death, fell from the sky. Hersuticus landed near Caraboose and raised his ring into the air. All four horses appeared, drawing a chariot of the finest silver and gold. Hersuticus charged at Caraboose, battle rage clear upon his face. She pointed her wand at him and cast a spell, but it bounced off his perfectly shined armour, striking her instead. As she fell to the ground, the four horses and chariot ran over her, stomping her deep into the earth. The chariot turned and they looked back. Caraboose was gone, as well was the bodies of her dragons and othr beasts. Hersuticus rode the chariot home, the midday sun bouncing off his armour and he held a branch high in the air to show his victory. Everyone in the castle cheered their Prince for his victory.

And so it was that Hersuticus was the amster of the Four Wild Horses. No one knows what happened to him in later years when he ruled the kingdom, but the four horses can still be seen roaming the world when he is not riding them. So if you ever see one of the wild horses, feel the courage of the only man to tame all four.

A/N: No inspiration, just a way to wrap up this story. I hope that this longer story has been one you enjoyed, as it has been a long time in the works. Thank you for reading this long effort of writing, and please review, I think I deserve it.