Ch.15 Pride

Ananon's Story Part 2

Ananon stared at her mother who was looking out of the window to the racing track below. She had sighed just a moment ago as a decision was needed by her. Ananon had more patience than was needed for this. She would give her mother all the time she needed to think this over. It was a big decision on her mother's part and it impacted her father's work quite a bit.

"You're so much like me, Ananon." Her mother muttered as she sat back in her chair. Her shoulders slightly drooped. "I couldn't have any other daughter like you. Every day I hear reports about you in the village or in the city doing little things that the people love. It seems you are their voice when we don't listen. You listen to their issues and do what you can for them. I ask myself everyday when I'm in my study where did I get such a daughter from?"

Ananon sat quietly listening to her.

"Do you have any idea just how many reports come in for you only to handle?"

She looked to her mother surprised by this. "I get reports?"

Her mother nodded as she stroked the cat's back and watched it arch up in approvement. "Just this morning I received reports that you saved hinn, the farmer of your fathers horses. He got trapped in his burning barn and you were there to save him."

"I went to say hey." Ananon spoke up clearing her throat. "I saw the storm coming in and went there to wait it out. I'm glad I had in the end. I don't think he would be alive today."

"Brave like your father and dutiful like your mother. Talented and smart." Her mother looked at her finally with a soft gaze. "Now you're going past your duty just to correct your father."

The cat mewed looking at them before leaping out of her mothers lap to go to its cat bed and curl up. Her mother stood going to the window, crossing her arms in front of her. "What kind of fool are you to go up against your father? He's the King, Ananon."

"I'm Princess. I have just as much right as he does on the order that goes on in the city or in the village!" she countered leaning on the arm rest of the couch. "Haven't you ever gone up against his authority?"

"Never."

Ananon stared at her mom's back and sighed exasperatedly. "Mom, I've told you what would happen if dad was left unchecked. Just look back at your father's mistakes. What happened there?"

"Stop it, Ananon. What my father did back then has nothing to do with this right now." Her mother looked back at her over her shoulder with a glare. "Your father is better than mine ever was!"

"He's doing the exact same thing!" Ananon exclaimed jumping to her feet. "Mom! Stop denying it! It's right in front of you! I don't want the past to repeat itself!"

"Shut up!" her mother snapped back.

They stared at one another in a long silence. Her mother stood firm as did Ananon. Neither backing down. The black cat stared at them with its big slitted eyes, its tail swishing back and fourth awaiting the breaking point for one of them. Her mother sighed once more resting against the glass.

"Damn it." She rubbed her temples with her eyes closed. "Fine. You have every point. It is right in front of me, I just don't want to acknowledge it all. Just tell me something before I say anything else."

"Shoot."

"What are you going to do with the village?" her mother asked wondering.

"Make a water tank soley for them. From there I'll have other things built up and added. I'll have the buildings repaired and manage the trades that come in and out. See how much they make off them." Ananon replied. "Their business is made from sales. If they aren't selling anything it decreases the profit margin by a portion. That portion affects the percentage in the short run but in the longrun it can also have its affects but just by a little."

Her mother sat down in her chair listening to her as if she had been studying business her whole life. She knew how to run the village without their help. Her idea was to expand the village to make room for more livestock and more produce. Their main selling items were the cows, chickens, and horses. The flowers and produce were just small helpings to the profit margin.

Green houses and watering systems, sod farms and water tanks. It was the main works for the farming industry that the village had going.

"That's the difference between you and your father. You can see potential in places that your father cannot."

Ananon smiled at her mom. "Is that a yes then?"

"The village is yours. I'll rewrite the contracts and take your fathers name off. The city will be your brothers. I'm giving your father one last fling before I divorce him."

Ananon stared at her mother in shock. "Divorce?"

"I've been fooling myself all these years, Ana. He was a good King and a real good father. Now it's gone to his head, all this power. You and your brother know better than to abuse such power. How it affects people in every way." She stared at the floor with sad distant eyes. "It's time to let him go. He wasn't meant for this place."

Of all things she wasn't expecting her parents to divorce. Sure, she and her brother could rule the city and the village together by exchanging ideas and helping one another out. What would their father do about this? He wasn't in the blood to go against mother's final judgements unlike her and Nain. I walked over to the elevator silently in thought. "I'll check in with you later tonight, mom."

"Ananon, before you go. You need to go to the stables below. Hinn is awaiting you there."

The elevator door opened to allow her brother and Dric off who both had ice cream. She pulled them out and got in. "Stay here, both of you."

The doors shut and she was taken down to the stables. This being the only elevator that went all the way down. Lights passed by illuminating the shaft all the way down. She sighed unable to believe the news that she had just been given. I can't believe this. What have I done? Dad will be furious! He'll blame all of this on me and will try to do whatever it takes to get his title back!

The elevator came to a stop as the doors opened for her to exit. Stepping out into the torchlight of the stables Hinn spotted her and strode over to her quickly. "You won't believe this! Look here."

Ananon was thrusted a newspaper into her hands by Hinn. She stared at the page until her eyes focused in the dim light. In bold letters it read: Farmers Uplifted; New Charge!

She looked up at Hinn who was beaming. "A few birdies went to the newspaper plant and had them print this out."

Ananon handed the paper back to him and sat down in a chair. "Is this all you wanted me for?"

"No. You are to race with Pride."

"What?" Ananon exclaimed jumping to her feet. "I'm to ride Pride?"

Hinn nodded. "He's ready to go. You just need to get suited up."

Ananon sank onto the chair. "I don't have a suit nor do I know how to race!"

"Your father must have a reason for this then."

Ananon looked up to see Dric stepping out of the elevator with her suit drapped over his shoulder. He stopped in front of her and held out a black and milk blue suit. She took it seeing what her number was. One.

"You were right. He is up to something." Dric said leaning on the wall next to her. "I guess showing up when I did this morning was a good idea."

"Has Pride been warmed up?" Ananon asked getting to her feet and taking the suit.

"No. You need to go walk him. You have twenty minutes to warm up." Hinn replied walking towards the stable. "Dric, come help me."

"Right." Dric winked at Ananon as he walked away. "Good luck, my Lady."

Ananon changed as they talked in Pride's stable. She walked in with the suit on and her goggles on her forehead. "Lets go, Pride. We got a race to run."

The black Pegasus snorted at her whipping its tail behind him. She took his halter and pulled him out of the stable towards the walking area. She walked him around and around to get some exercise herself before hooking him up to the horse lead and had him walking himself around the pin. As much as she had learned from Hinn it was how to get a horse warmed up before riding.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" a voice boomed out over the stadium. "The race will begin in five minutes! Get your food and drinks, place your last bets, and take your seats. You will not want to miss this race! King Hatos and Princess Ananon will be racing today! Pride versus Spirit! Who will win?"

Ananon looked at Pride who was listening to the announcement like she was. "You're going up against your brother then? The other black Pegasus with the white diamond shape on its chest?"

Pride snorted walking the ring once more. Hinn walked over and undid the halter from the lead. "Come on. We need to line up now."

As Hinn led Pride away Ananon saw a rivalry between the two brothers. Horses weren't stupid like her father thought. They had their own battles just like Minecraftians did. As Hinn led Pride Ananon clambered up in the saddle as he was walking, checking the stirrups and the bridal. Everything seemed to be at the right length and height.

She had never been in a race nor raced a horse in anything. She only knew how to ride. Pride seemed to be fired up but Ananon was nervous. Dric nudged her leg as he kept pace with the horse.

"Why do you look like that? You forget why you came here?"

She shook her head at him. "I'm uneasy. I've never done something like this before!"

"you remember when you raced off to get to your parents to check on them after the storm?" Hinn asked looking over his shoulder at her.

Ananon nodded.

"Do you remember how you raced to me with Pride here to save my life in the burning barn?"

She nodded again.

"You shouldn't be nervous." He said with a smile. "You have the drive to finish what you start and to carry on if you aren't sure. Don't ever look back. Always run forward. Pride does, don't you boy?"

Pride nickered nipping Hinn. The announcer boomed over head to the crowd.

"Attention ladies and gentlemen! The jockies are making their way down the channel now to get in the starting gate!"

As Hinn rounded the corner from their stable she saw many of the riders had come from over seas. So that's what that ship was carrying. The horses and their jockies!

They all looked up to see her sitting upon the black Pegasus Pride. A few of them snickered to one another while others just turned around to line up. A black Pegasus stepped out from a side stable further down making its way to the front. Her father sitting up on its back. "Good luck, dear! You'll need it!"

Her hands gripped the reigns tightly as she led Pride to the front. As she passed she nodded her head to her father. "Thank you. Same goes for you."

Pride took the lead as the lead horse trotted up to them and had them follow him to the starting gate. As they trotted out of the stables and down the channel people applauded and cheered to them.

"Go, Ananon!"

"The King beats all!"

"This isn't damn chess!"

"Go, Princess!"

"Pride! Pride! Pride!"

"The ghost will phase through them all!"

Pride began cantering behind the lead horse. Handlers grabbed his bridal and steered him into the first stock and shut the gate behind him, cornering Ananon in the box. Ananon took deep breaths trying to calm herself while gates shut and horses moved about looking around wildly, biting their bits. She looked over to her father who was in the next stock to hers, sparks flying as their eyes made contact.

"You won't win this race, Ana. Stay behind."

"I'm not going to give up just yet," she replied sticking her nose up slightly. "It isn't like me to give up without fighting."

Her father narrowed his eyes. "If you win you get the village. If I win I get the village and you shut your trap about everything I've been doing!"

Ananon smiled back at him. "Sure. I'll agree on that. Plus, let me add Spirit on the list. I want him if I win. Just so you know, telling me to agree with you on this just made me want to win that much more. Pride and I are going to do just that."

"Bullshit," he sneered. "You'll both be eating our dirt! Pride will remain being mine."

Pride snorted pawing the dirt below him. His eyes staring straight ahead through the iron bars. His brother Spirit looking over to him and back at the track ahead of him. He whinned deeply throwing his head up in anticipation.

Everything got silent in the stands. All that could be heard was the shuffling of the horses, their snorting and whinnies. Ananon tightened her grip on the reigns as she saw her father lean over almost putting his face in the horses mane. She followed suit shortening her grip on the reigns. "Be ready, Pride. We're going to be in for one hell of a ride."

Pride flicked his tail as his ears swiveled forward, ready to go.

The gun went off and the gates opened. The horses cried out leaping out in large strides, dirt flying up as they took off down the track. The crowd went up in an uproar of cheering and yells as the horses battled it out for placement.

"They're out of the gate at the start and it's Pride and Spirit neck and neck in the front, Red Dipper on the inside behind Pride with Lightening Gale on the side. Followed by SwiftCliff, EagleBay, and ChimpingChamp! TartBart is lagging behind with Champaining taking the rear!"

The horses charged down the lane with heavy galloping and snorting approaching their first turn. The crowd jeered more loudly now as the race was getting interesting.

"Pride is being over taken by Spirit on the outside. Both being pushed by Lightening Gale and Red Dipper, Pride doesn't seem phased by the pressure! SwiftCliff over taking Lightening Gale as ChimpingChamp is moving on the outside to pass EagleBay! Champaining is slowly gaining on TartBart as TartBart is gaining on ChimpingChamp!"

The ground rumbled as the steeds pounded around the turn driving headlong to the next straight. Spirit took the advantage and made the move to pass Pride around the turn.

"Spirit passed Pride in the turn and is half a horse ahead of him and the pack! Pride still unphased by the move and the pressure from behind! Lightening Gale eager to take Spirit's place is blocking Red Dipper's bold move! SwiftCliff still head to head with LighteningGale! It's an absolute gridlock in the back as EagleBay is pushed to the inside by Chimpingchamp, TartBart is starting to slow a bit down and is head to head with Champaining!"

The horses nicked and bit at one another in the back as the riders jostled and bumped one another. The crowd jeered stomping in the stands and screaming to the horses they wanted to win. Dric had gone back to the skybox to sit with Ananon's mother and was sitting in the chair with binoculars to his face watching the horses. "Go, Ananon! Spirit isn't good with long distances! Over take him!"

Ananon's mother sat there with her own binoculars watching while her other hand stroked the black cat. "Pride isn't much different than his brother. Just watch."

"They can't be neck and neck at the finish line though!" exclaimed Dric. "That'd be crazy!"

"Difference is between them is their drive." Grinned Ananon's mother.

Dric looked over his binoculars at her wondering what she was thinking. Looking back through the lens at Ananon he saw what she was talking about. "Pride fits along with Ananon perfectly."

"Which is why this will be an interesting race."

"And Spirit keeping the lead as they're about to reach their last turn! Pride is still two horses behind his brother with LighteningGale pushing Pride on the right side! SwiftCliff overtook LighteningGale now and is heading for Spirit! Red Dipper giving Pride pressure from behind, ChimpingChamp pushing on Red Dipper from the outside forcing him to run against the guardrail! EagleBay giving Red dipper hell from behind as EagleBay is really flanking Red dipper, TartBart finally catching up to EagleBay and Champaining is taking the rear!"

Ananon pulled herself up from the saddle slightly. "Come on, Pride! These guys are really depressing!"

Pride whinnied and began to pull away from them as his gallops quickened.

"Pride pulling away from the group now! Pride passing SwiftCliff and gaining on Spirit! The back unchanging as Pride makes his move! The last turn coming up fast, Pride steadily gaining on Spirit, completely passed SwiftCliff now, SwiftCliff holding his own ahead of the pack! Red Dipper and Chimpingchamp battling it out as ChimpingChamp is slowly pulling away from Red Dipper, trying to get SwiftCliff. EagleBay and TartBart locked, blocking Champaining from gaining!"

The cheers increased further as the horses pounded with heavy snorting as they went around the final turn. Spirit running with Pride getting neck and neck with him as they made the turn. Both brothers galloping next to one another, their chests heaving, eyes locked on the finish line that was not far away.

"Pride and Spirit neck and neck now around the turn! The two pulling away farther from the pack with every passing second! The finish line is in their view now! Total dead lock in the back! Oh my Notch! Pride pulling away from Spirit! Pride moving past Spirit now, a horse length away! What speed!"

Dric and Ananon's mother leapt ot their feet screaming at the top of their lungs. The black cat yowled shooting away from the screaming.

"Ananon! Go! Go! Go, Ananon! Run!"

That's right. Let's show them all what we can do that they've failed to see. Failed to grasp. Eat dirt, father. "Go, Pride, go!"

The horses charged across the finish line.

"A big gap between Pride and Spirit. An even bigger gap between Spirit and the pack! The judges will now decide the winner!"

The crowd went into uproars at the race talking animatedly to one another. Dric and Ananon's mother had their faces pressed against the glass in anticipation. "It was so Ananon's!"

"I know! She dominated Spirit!"

"Pride was glorious!"

"You see his move at that turn? I didn't believe it!"

"The winner is…!" the announcer boomed over the speakers.

The whole crowd was silent waiting for the winner. It was a very close race between Spirit and Pride no doubt about that. Had one of them made a wrong move during the race somewhere?

"Pride!" boomed the announcer.

The crowd cheered as the whole stadium was shaken by the crowd. Ananon couldn't believe it as she stared up at the stands. Pride prancing in place for the crowd. Ananon sighed deeply, the air she had been holding around the last turn.

Ananon's mother and Dric jumped up and down screaming into one another's face. "She won! She won! Ananon won!"

Hinn strode out on the track to grab Pride's bridal. He grinned up at Ananon and shook her leg. "Good job! That was quite the race!"

She laughed smiled back and looked up at the crowd, waving to them. "Pride's mine, by the way. Our bet was Pride and the village was to be mine if I won."

Hinn gaped at her. "What? You..!"

"Smile for the pictures, Hinn!" called out a reporter who had camera's behind him.

Hinn spun around beaming like Ananon. Pride posing for the picture. A million flashing lights flashed for them. Everywhere they turned a sea of lights met them.

Dad, was this how you felt when you won every race? Was this how you felt when the horse ran its hardest under its riders command? When you won the treasures? Ananon stared out over the bobbing sea of reporters. Past the crowd that jeered for them. She watched her father sit atop of Spirit watching her before turning the horse around and walking into the channel.