I don't own Princess Mononoke or any of the characters. I only own this story and the characters not in the movie.

Ashitaka was excited about today. His fourth birthday had come and gone. To the Emishi that meant Ashitaka was now old enough to learn to ride and get his own red elk.

The king took his son and heir to the stables. A group of six yearlings would be Ashitaka's choice in what elk he would have for the rest of his life.

"Now make your choice carefully son. A red elk is a partner for life. He must choose you as much as you choose him." explained the king.

Ashitaka looked about the yearlings until he caught the eye of a rather small and runty red elk. The red elk was smaller than the other yearlings and Ashitaka could see its antlers were just growing in.

"That is the one I chose father." said Ashitaka.

The king grabbed a rain and put it on the young elk. Then the king, his son and the elk exited the stabled. Ashitaka climbed onto the elk's back (with help from his father).

All Ashitaka had to hold onto was the rains. The Emishi didn't use saddles until they and their elk were older. The king gave Ashitaka some advice about how to ride.

"Use your legs to hold on. Tug the rain right to go right and tug it left to go left. Tug back to stop and release to keep moving. Did you get all that son?" instructed the king.

"I got it dad." assured Ashitaka.

Ashitaka gently kicked the elk with his heels to get him moving. The red elk went into a slow walk. After thirty minutes of riding the king called his son back.

"That is enough practice for today Ashitaka. Now come back here before I make you." called the king.

Ashitaka brought the elk back to his father and got off. A thought crossed the young prince's mind.

"What is the elk's name dad?" asked Ashitaka.

"That elk doesn't have a name son. It is tradition for the rider of an elk to name it. So you may choose this elk's name." answered the king.

Ashitaka thought and came up with a name for his red elk.

"Yakul. Yakul was the name of the king's elk when our people got banished. So my elk will be named Yakul after his elk. Like I am named Ashitaka after that king." proclaimed Ashitaka.

The king smiled and nodded. His son was becoming a stronger leader every day. That also meant his time of destiny also grew closer with each passing day.

I used some horse riding movements for how the Emishi ride their red elk. Comment if you like the story.