ERIC LE CHEVAL ET D'AUTRES HISTOIRES

Eric the horse

Once upon a time, in a small village that belonged to Buea, there lived two farmers named Mr. and Mrs. Rogne lived happily with her husband, but she did not have any children. She always dreamed of having a beautiful daughter. On the farm, there were many animals: two chickens, two pigs, a cow tied to a tree, and a horse. Among all these animals, there was one that was different from others, it was the horse named Eric. Eric was not a real horse; he used to be a human like Mr. and Mrs. Rogne! He lived in the village with his mother and father and was the most handsome boy in the village. Every day on his way to school, Eric would sing and wake up the evil sorcerer, Fantasia, who lived in a small haunted house hidden in the dark forest. She hated Eric because she could not get her beauty sleep, so she had wrinkles all over her face. One day the evil sorcerer; took Eric's parents away from him.

" Now here I have a woman and a man."

" I will make them so small, that they fit inside this can."

Fantasia waved her wand and made Eric's parents the size of a needle and placed them inside the can, where they would remain for 20 years.

When Eric went into the dark forest to search for them, the evil sorcerer captured him and put a spell on him too.

" You sing so loudly throughout the school year."

" But now upon you have I put a curse."

" You have twenty years to find truelove my dear.

" Or forever you shall remain a horse."

POOF! Eric was magically turned into a horse and sold to the Parkers.

Mrs. Rogne was very exited to find out that she would be having a little girl and waited for the day to give birth to her baby. Then, one bright early morning, she felt the baby coming! Mr. Rogne was filled with joy and quickly called the midwife. That day, Mrs. Rogne gave birth to a beautiful girl with short hair and named her Cora Rogne.

Cora was now ten years old and enjoyed helping her parents on the farm. She took care of all the animals; but most of the time she stayed with Eric because she found him to be different from the other animals. She found him more charming than the animals on the farm. She loved to tickle him and ride him in the fields. Eric was really happy to be friends with Cora. Cora was outside brushing Eric's name; while she brushed him she sang a song to him.

" Black beauty, black beauty,

Oh how I love you so

I sing this song to you,

So that you will know."

Eric loved when Cora sang to him, and he wished he could sing with her Eric could talk, but he never opened his mouth in front o Cora and her parents. He was afraid they would run away from him, or sell him to another family.

During that time, Fantasia the sorcerer was in her haunted house making magic potions to make her dolls talk to her. Fantasia did not have any friends, but she did have many dolls. Her favorite was Rebecca. She grabbed Rebecca and with the magic potion, she made Rebecca talk, but not only could Rebecca talk, she was very wise.

" Rebecca," She asked her "Can I grow old without getting wrinkles on my face.

" Yes Fantasia." She said to her and Fantasia grinned.

" Only if," Rebecca added, " The young boy, who you turned into a horse, doe not find truelove."

Fantasia was not worried about Rebecca's last comment, she knew there was no way anyone would fall in love with a horse.

Years passed, and Cora's 16th birthday was coming soon. She wnated to invite all her friends, especially her best friends Nabette, Makain, Musoh, and Nawgeh. Mrs. Rogne was happy to see her daughter growing up. She decied to make Cora's favorite foods: potato sald, turkey meat, and rice a a delicious chocolate cake with her name on it. The day of Cora's birthday party arrived and all her friends came with their parents and gifts. They ate outside and everybody enjoyed the food. After the meal, Cora introduced Eric to her friends. When Cora introduced her friends to Eric, they were scared to touch him. Cora convinced her friends that Eric was the nicest animal that she liked. She fed him a carrot and he slowly ate it from her hand. " See girls, there's no need to be afraid." Cora smiled.

Nabette, Makain, Musoh, and Nawgeh fed Eric carrots too and they each got a chance to ride him. When the party was over Cora's friends did not want to leave. They were having so much fun with Eric. To make them feel better, she gave them all horse shoes a souvenir. All the fun Cora had made Fantasia sick. She was trying to get her beauty sleep but the laughter and cheer kept her awake. She looked in the mirror and saw a small wrinkle on her face and grew very angry. Fantasia called Rebecca and she came immediately.

" Rebecca, what is happening why do I have wrinkles?"

Rebecca explained.

"The young girl is falling in love with the horse boy Eric and is weakening the spell."

" What!" Fantasia shouted she had forgotten all about the spell she put on Eric. It had been 11 years. Fantasia was really mad; she did not know what to do. " What should I do about this?" She thought and thought but could not come up with anything. " Rebecca, tell me how to fix this problem." She demanded.

" You must give Cora a poisoned grape that will make her lose her love for Eric. You must do this quickly before she confesses her love for him."

Fantasia was furious. " Why didn't you tell me about this?" I should put a curse on you myself."

She grabbed Rebecca and threw her on the floor and her arm broke off.

" Now tell me where they are." She screamed.

"They are riding in the field by the lake." Rebecca said.

Fantasia quickly whipped up a potion to poison the grape to give to Cora. She hopped on her broom and headed for the lake.

Cora wanted to be alone; she'd be working in the fields with her mother all day and wanted to take a break. She loved riding Eric to the lake and looking at birds in the sky. It was very nice and peaceful and she could sing as loud as she wanted to Fantasia was looking everywhere for Cora. Finally, she saw a young girl who sat next to the lake and grinned. Fantasia dropped down from her broom and startled Cora.

" Hello." She said to her.

" Hello." Cora said frightened.

" My goodness child, you don't remember me?" she spoke. Cora shook her head in confusion.

" I'm sorry, but have we met before?" Cora asked.

" Why sweet darling, I'm your grandmother."

" How did you know I was out here?" Cora did not believe her; she had never met her grandmother before.

" Your mother told me you would be here. I came to give you these delieious grapes, aren't they your favorite?"

" Yes! How did you know?" Cora smiled, greedily took the grapes and ate plenty. Then something strange happened to Cora, she began feeling woozy and her chest began to hurt.

" Grandma, what is happening to me?" She screamed in pain as she grabbed her chest.

Fantasia laughed an evil laugh. " You silly girl, I'm not yoru grandmother, I'm an evil sorcerer.

You see, you have interrupted my spell and caused me to have wrinkles on my face. Now you must pay for the damage you have done."

At that instant Cora took her last breath and died. Fantasia got on her magic broom and flew all around the sky in glee.

In the haunted hosue where living Fantasia. Rbecca still laid helpless on the floor. She cried for help, but no one came. She cried, knowing if her arm wasn't fixed soon she would lose her magic. Suddenly she heard small squeaky voices. " We'll help you; just free us from the can."

The voices shouted. Rebecca instantly remembered Eric's parents were in the can. Rebecca knew if she helped Eric's parents out of the can Fantasia would be furious. But Rebecca did not care, Fantasia was the reason her arm and was broken and she needed their help so she could escape from the evil sorcerer. Rebecca wanted to live in a home where she was taken better care of, someone to brush her hair, read her stories, and fall asleep in a nice big pink bed. She got up and with the touch of her fingers, released Eric's parents. They thanked her and stiched up her arm and Rebecca felt brand new.

Fantasia would so happy of what she did and continued to laugh while flying on her magic broom in the sky. Fantasia laughed harder and harder and before she knew it, an eagle headed toward her.

When he reached Fantasia, he scratched her eyes out. She screamed in pain, and at that moment she fell out of the sky into an unknown place in the dark forest and died.

Eric awakened from his nap and grew worried when he could not find Cora. He ran around all over the fields looking for her. HE ran so much; he began to get thirsty so he decided to take a break a get a drink of water from the lake. When he got to the lake, Eric saw Cora on the ground and rushed over to her. He nudged her body to wake her, but Cora did not move. Tears formed in Eric's eyes and he started crying. Three tears dropped on Cora's body and she slowly woke up.

Cora smiled and said, " Eric I love you." She kissed Eric and he suddenly turned into a handsome young man. Cora was confused, so Eric explained to her how the evil sorcerer captured his parents and turned him into a horse because he liked to sing. Cora insisted that they explain everything to her parents. When they arrived to the farm Mr. Rogne approached Cora and her mysterious friend. " Cora, who is this young man you have brought to our home?" He asked.

Cora and Eric explained everything to her parents. After the explanation Eric confessed his love for Cora and asked for her hand in marriage. The next day Eric and Cora got married. Mr. and Mrs. Mbong, Eric's parents were there, and afterward Mrs. Rogne cooked a huge feast where all of the guest ate and had a wonderful time. Eric was happy to have his parents back and also to find truelove.