“All hail King Pharaoh!” I say to the other barn cats as I walk toward the big stable door. I jump onto one of the stall windows and look inside. I see the sunlight streaming onto the bedding spread neatly on the floor, and best of all, my absolute best friend in the whole entire world, Moonlight.
She is a tall black mare with white around her hooves. Moonlight is a very kind and gentle horse who often lets me ride on her back. I meow, and she turns around to face me. As soon as she spots me her ears prick forward, so I know she is happy to see me.
“How is my favorite tabby cat, King Pharaoh, doing?” she nickers to me. That’s why I like her—she knows I am the ruler of this stable, Sunset Equestrian. She is always my loyal subject.
“Very well, thank you,” I meow back, my head held high and regal like a proper king.
We continue talking until Paige, an instructor, comes and leads Moonlight out of her stall and I, not wanting to be left out, follow. She grooms my friend while talking to Ellie, a new rider I’ve never seen.
I watch all this in amusement, for why would you get all the dirt out of her hooves and coat if she’s just going to get them dirty again? The question perplexes me as I get up and walk around the stable. That’s when I see Ladybug, a chestnut pony, chewing on her stable door.
“Ladybug! Not again! You’re going to ruin your stall door,” I correct her, trying to keep her out of trouble. She stops and stares at me. “Much better,” I meow at her.
I continue to observe my subjects and spot Comanche, a dapple gray gelding, tugging on his cross ties. His rider is trying to discipline him, but nothing is working.
“Comanche, be patient! You’ll get to run around in a little bit,” I say, and he pauses. I stare at him, signaling him to stop.
I walk back to Moonlight, and I see Paige has tacked her up. Ellie clips on her helmet and follows my equine buddy and Paige out of the barn. We trek to the indoor arena, where Ellie gets on Moonlight. Paige walks beside them as they circle near the wall.
I saunter over to my favorite spot. It’s where the parents sit, and it always has a warm sunny spot. I settle in and watch the lesson.
Suddenly I realize something. “Moonlight! Pick up your feet more! They’re dragging.” Moonlight responds almost instantly with higher steps. “Prick your ears! Thank you,” I remind her. She listens once again.
I hear Ellie’s mother and Paige getting confused. “You say she has never ridden a horse in her life?” Paige questions.
“Positive,” Ellie’s mother replies.
“Well, if this is her first time, then she is doing a really good job! Just look at that bounce in Moonlight’s step and the way she is listening to Ellie,” Paige comments.
“Stop chewing your bit! Focus on your lesson,” I command. She looks at me mournfully but listens anyway.
Where would this stable be without me, King Pharaoh, ruling over it? I do not even wish to think about such things.
That night, I sleep with Moonlight in her stall, but it’s hard to fall asleep. I wander into the tack room, my second favorite sleeping spot. I see a saddle bag for trail rides.
I curl up on my favorite, a western one with hoofprints embellished on it. I yawn and close my eyes, exhausted after a long day of governing my subjects.
When I wake up, I hear Jarek, an advanced rider, saying, “Tr-ot!” and I feel the bounciness of a well-paced jog. I peek my head out of the saddle bag. My eyes scan my surroundings and I observe maple and oak trees in the forest. That’s when I realize I am on a trail ride.
I look down and see a well-trodden path and black hooves with white fetlocks. Hey, wait a second … Moonlight! I quickly jump out and land on the western saddle. I think I surprised my horse friend, because she rears, and Jarek acts quickly, crouching low to try to regain control.
“Moonlight, calm down!” I yowl as I leap to the ground and Moonlight recovers, plopping her two front hooves back on the ground.
“Pharaoh,” Moonlight begins to neigh, but I shoot her a look. “King Pharaoh,” she corrects herself, “You startled me!”
I answer as I flick my tail. “Hello, my loyal subject. Do you think you can take me home safely?” She nods, and I tell her she is a good horse and subject.
Jarek dismounts and lifts me up. He settles his king back into the saddle bag.
“How on earth did you get here?” Jarek asks me. I respond by pawing at the saddle bag in which I am lying. He still shakes his head in confusion as he gets back on Moonlight, and we head home.
When we get back to the stable, Jarek tells Paige about my sudden appearance. He also tells her about how my best friend spooked but then suddenly calmed herself.
Paige was puzzled about what happened on the trail ride. “Whenever that cat is around, all the horses listen. I just don’t know why,” she says.
I respond to that by meowing, “It’s a simple answer, my subjects listen to me!”
After that, Moonlight is led back to her stall. I follow and jump up onto Moonlight’s back.
We fall asleep together that night, knowing we will always be best friends.
Thank you to all who participated in Young Rider magazine’s first-ever Fiction Contest, held in collaboration with Trafalgar Square Books. Congratulations to Paige!
