Chapter 4: The Challenge:
Iolanta's POV:
Okay, so I'm the Queen, my husband's in the Council of Crowns, someone's capturing merpeople, and I have to get these man-eating mares I got from Hercules to be good. Did I leave out anything?
Pipa Jing's POV:
I learned what Tsarina Iolanta is doing from my son, Tchang Zu. How dare she? I then decided to send her a letter. I'm going to challenge her to a pet show!
Iolanta's POV:
I got that letter, so I sent one in response.
"Dear Pipa Jing, I accept your challenge! Tsarina Iolanta! P.S. What is a pet show?"
. . .
I then talked to my friend, Tsarina Fédora.
"What am I going to do," I asked.
"Well... for starters, maybe you could get the horses trained," says Fédora.
"How did Hercules even tame them," I asked, "oh right, he's Half-God. Perhaps I'm going to need some help!"
. . .
I then arrived at the university and met Professor Laventry.
"Excuse me," I said.
"Aren't you a little old to be in my class," asks Laventry.
"I am Tsarina Iolanta," I said.
"The Queen!" Laventry then falls. "What can I do for you?"
"I need you to train horses," I said.
"Seriously," asks Laventry.
"They're... unique," I said.
"I have far more important things to do than train horses," says Laventry.
"I will pay you," I said.
"I'm sorry, but my dignity-"
"Well, if you don't think you can do it," I said, in a sly way.
"I'll have you know that I can train anything," says Laventry.
"Good, then you'll train my horses," I asked.
"I shall," says Laventry.
. . .
Now comes the complication. Laventry learns that the mares are man-eaters. "Man-Eating Mares," asks Laventry, "where could you possibly get such monsters?"
"Greece," I said.
"Oh, that makes sense," says Laventry, "well, I'll see what I can do!"
"If one does eat you," I said, "try to give it indigestion." He then glares at me. "What?"
. . .
Laventry then attempted to train the mares. He had this idea of dressing like a mare. He faced with the leader and then had a staring contest with her.
Singer/Chorus: On the first part of the journey
I was looking at all the life
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
There was sand and hills and rings
The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
And the sky with no clouds
The heat was hot, and the ground was dry
But the air was full of sound
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can't remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La la la la la la...
After two days in the desert sun
My skin began to turn red
And after three days in the desert fun
I was looking at a river bed
And the story it told of a river that flowed
Made me sad to think it was dead
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can't remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La la la la la la...
After nine days I let the horse run free
'Cause the desert had turned to sea
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
There was sand and hills and rings
The ocean is a desert with its life underground
And a perfect disguise above
Under the cities lies a heart made of ground
But the humans will give no love
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can't remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La la la la la la...
Thank you all very much
Take care of yourselves, take care!
Laventry was then made the new leader of the herd. I don't know how he did it, but he did it. Maybe I have a chance.
To Be Continued
In the next chapter, Kazimir looks for the mernappers.