“Elbert and the Jockey Stone”

Genre: Romance 

Protagonist: Blank slate

Antagonist: Monster

Subgenre 1: Equestrian

Subgenre 2: Roll for Genre Again - Fantasy

Must Contain: Ghosts

Trope: Funny Animal

A chilly breeze roared through the Oaken Plaza. Today, the weekly farmer’s market will conclude for the season. Winter approached more quickly than the residents had anticipated, and many animals from the surrounding areas flooded into town, setting up their stalls and begging the townsfolk to buy anything at severely discounted prices. This desperation created an uneasy ambience that drove some away from the barking of vendors. 

But this did not deter Elbert, a teen-aged rabbit hauling a cart of carrots into the Plaza. His mother had sent him to the market in her place, as she had caught a cold a couple days prior. Reluctant, but supportive, Elbert made the five mile trek. He found his assigned spot in the plaza and tilted the cart, showcasing his crops to the roving crowds. While he waited for people to approach his station, his mother’s nonsensical words rang in his ear.

“While you’re out there,” his inner voice mimicked his mom’s nagging nasal, “you should find a nice girl to bring home.” 

“Whatever,” he muttered.

His concentration was broken by a couple of beavers inspecting some of his carrots. They offered to pay half of his initial asking price, pointing to another booth that was selling carrots for 20 cents each instead of Elbert’s 30 cents. He shrugged and accepted the offer. His mother would have done the same thing, seeing as how she insisted that Elbert fill the cart not only with the most recent crop, but some blemished crops from their storehouse. She knew they needed the money to buy new blankets for the winter, and she was hoping someone at the market would be selling hand-sewn quilts filled with goose down. 

While he tried to locate a blanket vendor from his assigned booth, a young squirrel ran up to his cart, laughed, and grabbed two of his carrots. Elbert tried to scold him, but the kid started swinging the carrots by the stems like nunchucks. But the kid suddenly stopped at the shriek of a soft female voice. 

“Rocky!” a horse grabbed the crops out of his hands. “We don’t do that to the kind people here.” The kid started to tear up as the horse knelt down and hugged him. She looked up at Elbert, who couldn’t stop looking at the horse’s eyes. They were brown, but in the morning sunlight, they transformed into a glowing amber. “I’m so sorry, sir,” a gentle smile instantly calmed him down. “I wasn’t watching Rocky close enough.”

“It’s okay,” Elbert assured. “Is this your son?” 

“No, I work at the stables,” the horse leaned in to whisper. “Rocky lost his parents a few months ago, so that’s why we took him in.”

“I see. So you take care of these kids until they can find new parents?”

“Yes, we do. But I should let you get back to business. I’ll take little mister here back to the stables.”

“It’s no trouble, really,” Elbert pulled two of his best looking carrots from the cart. “Would you care for a snack?”

“That’s so sweet of you,” the horse giggled. “I’m allergic, but thank you for the offer.”

“Can I at least have your name?” Elbert asked shyly.

“Marisa,” she played with her pale blonde mane.

“Elbert,” the rabbit leaned on his cart. “If you have some free time, I’d love for you to come back so we can talk some more.”

Marisa’s brown spotted fur hid her blushing. “I’ll see what I can do.”

She grabbed Rocky by the wrist and led him away, allowing more customers to peek at his selection. An hour had passed, and while his pockets were lined with money, and only a few blemished carrots remained in the cart, Elbert couldn’t stop thinking about the horse. Although she was nearly twice his height, she had a calming aura to her. All she had to do was smile at him to both rid him of his worries and freak out about what to say to her.

“You should find a nice girl to bring home,” his mom’s words resonated in his head. 

“I can’t leave this market without trying to talk to her again,” Elbert said to himself. “But what do I do? I’ve never courted a girl before.” He paused in thought. “A gift, maybe? She’s allergic to my carrots, so I don’t want to risk her being allergic to any other kind of food…”

His concentration was broken by the smell of incense coming from an ornate purple cart. Smoke snaked out of a pipe on its roof, which held several crystals suspended by string. “Jewelry!” he thought. “That’s foolproof. Maybe a little forward, but I need to see her again, preferably without her trying to control a crazy kid.” He abandoned his cart and parted the curtains in the cart’s doorway. Inside, the green eyes of a black cat watched him shuffle toward the wall of crystals. 

“Can I help you?” she hissed while shuffling a deck of cards. 

Elbert jumped. “Yeah, are these crystals for sale?”

The cat dusted off her purple and gold dress and rose from an oaken chair. “My, my,” she sized up the rabbit. “Such a young fellow daring to step foot in my wagon. Tell me, how do you know I’m selling these fine crystals? Maybe it’s part of my collection.”

“Pft,” Elbert’s eyes rolled. “You wouldn’t be in a market if you weren’t selling something. Besides, I tried to reserve this spot. It’s a prime location. So why would you take it if you weren’t selling something?”

“But I could be a traveling show! Look! Look at all my crystals!” Suddenly, her exuberance disappeared into a demanding stare. “Twenty bills, please. And don’t think of running; this old hag is as agile as ever.”

“Twenty bills?” Elbert yelled.

“Surely, you can afford that after all those carrots you sold.”

“How did you…?”

The cat shushed him before returning to her creepy pacing. “I know many things, child. Want to see?”

Elbert considered his response, his unease not waning. “If you…”

A paw covered his mouth. “That wasn’t a question, my dear. You want to buy some blankets for your folks so they can survive the winter.”

“What?” Elbert was stunned. “How did you know?”

“I just do,” the cat held out her paw. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Elbert!”

His eyes widened. “But I didn’t tell you…”

“You are in the presence of Figaro the Magnificent, the finest purveyor of crystals, spells, and tonics!” 

Her theatrics confused the poor rabbit, who continued to watch her as he crept toward the door. “That’s wonderful,” he said nervously. “But you’re also right. I need blankets. So, I’m going to go find a vendor who has some. Thank you for your…”

Figaro backed into a shadowy corner of her cart as Elbert talked. Before he could finish his sentence, she appeared from outside the door, throwing open the curtains and pushing him back in. “Nonsense!” she chuckled. “You don’t need to find someone selling blankets. Why go so far when I have these beauties right here?” She held up four folded blankets, all different colors and adorned embellishments of gilded thread. They were beautiful, but Elbert remained hesitant. 

“Those look expensive. I’m good, really.” 

“You have about 60 bills in your pocket!” 

Elbert’s jaw dropped. “Seriously, how did you know that?”

“I’ll give you these blankets for 45 bills,” Figaro pushed the bundle toward the scared boy. 

“I appreciate the offer, but I thought I saw someone else selling blankets for 5 bills each. So, I’m going to go do that.”

“Here!” The cat dropped the blankets in his arms and bolted toward a lockbox. “And as a free gift, I’m going to give you this!”

Figaro held up a rounded green crystal wrapped in silver wire and suspended from a thin chain. The rabbit’s eyes gleamed. Such a beautiful piece of jewelry would be perfect to give to Marisa. 

“This is the Jockey Stone,” Figaro explained. “It’s a mystical stone said to tighten the spiritual connection between the gifter and the recipient.” 

“The Jockey Stone?” Elbert stuttered. “But why are you giving this to me?”

“Because there’s a special woman who you’re looking to impress.”

Elbert paused, drawn in by the reflections in the crystal. “45 bills?”

Figaro eagerly took the bills and passed the necklace onto Elbert, who struggled to grip it while holding onto the blankets. He stumbled out of the cart and down its stairs before returning to his humble cart. After setting the blankets besides the leftover blemished carrots, he pushed his cart out of the bounds of the market and asked one of the townsfolk for directions to the stables. Thankfully, he only had to walk a block away. A group of kids ran around a fenced playground, pretending to swordfight with large sticks. Elbert’s heart fluttered as he noticed their chaperone.

“Hey, Elbert,” Marisa ran over, staying behind the fence. “How did the market go?”

“I sold everything for the most part, and now, I have enough blankets to keep my family warm for the winter. Feel them!” 

Marisa ran her hoof over the top blanket, trying not to disturb the perfectly folded cloth. “That feels amazing! You could wear that in the middle of a blizzard and still be toasty.”

“Yeah,” Elbert was overtaken with nervousness. “But that’s not all I got at the market.”

“Oh?” the horse raised an eyebrow. 

Elbert pulled the necklace out of his vest’s pocket and unraveled the chain. “This is for you.”

Marisa gasped. She slowly reached out and picked up the necklace, examining the glistening jewel. “It’s so gorgeous,” she whispered. “Are you sure?”

“Of course,” Elbert smiled. “I enjoyed our conversation back at the market, so this is my way of saying thanks. I also wanted to see you again.” Marisa was stunned into silence. “Thank you,” she shoved the necklace in her pocket. 

“Oh,” Elbert said. “Are you not going to put it on?”

“No, not while I’m watching the children. The chain is so thin that I think even a dull dagger could split it.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

Marisa motioned for him to come to a side gate. “I’m not complaining. This was such a sweet surprise.” She swung the gate open and threw her arms around the rabbit’s shoulders. “Thank you so much.”

Elbert couldn’t stop blushing. Her gesture paralyzed him. He managed to wrap his arms around her and squeeze firmly. “It’s no problem. I’d ask to walk you home from the stables, but I need to take these blankets back home.” 

“I’m not upset,” Marisa contemplated. “If you’re able to, you should come back into town tomorrow. They’re going to be doing the Autumn’s End Fireworks Show, and I’m allowed to bring a plus one to the reserved seating. I’d love it if you joined me.”

“I’ll be there!” Elbert almost jumped. “I’ve never seen the fireworks before, but I can hear them faintly from my house.” 

“Well, then you can see them up close and personal.”

“It’d be nice to see the fireworks, but I’m more interested in seeing you.”

Marisa blushed. “Well, I…” she struggled to respond until one of the kids started to cry. “I better get going, Elbert. Thank you! I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

She rushed over to the crying child, who had a branch sized mark on the back of its leg. Still reeling from Marisa’s invitation, Elbert ran back to his cart and as the sun set, he started his long walk home. That night, he wrapped himself underneath one of the mysterious cat’s blankets. Despite the comfortable warmth of the blanket, Elbert couldn’t sleep. Sweat dampened his fur as he tossed and turned. After about an hour, exhaustion started to set in, but a heavy knocking on the door jolted him out of his bed. He threw his vest on and shuffled to the door, greeting a bear in steel plate armor and a halberd latched to a holder on his back. 

“Good evening, sir,” the bear grumbled. 

“What do you need?” Elbert slurred. 

“Are you familiar with a young horse? She works at the stables in town?”

“Marisa!”

“Did you happen to give her a necklace with a green gem on it?”

“Yeah, why?”

The bear’s eyes widened before turning into a judgmental glare. “You need to come to town with me right now.” 

“Is everything…?” Elbert was interrupted by the bear grabbing his wrist and dragging him to the main road. “Is everything okay?” 

“No!” the bear said while out of breath. “Now hurry.” 

Elbert managed to outpace the guard, even though he repeatedly stumbled from his tiredness. When he could catch a glimpse of the town, he noticed a teal-colored aura bouncing off the full moon and onto the stars. He summoned all his energy and pushed himself to run even faster, ignoring the guard yelling after him. A cold gust lifted his vest and ran through his brown fur. The guard finally caught up to Elbert, who stood still at the town’s entrance, afraid of what he might encounter. 

“Hey, kid, wait up next time,” the bear panted. 

“Sorry,” Elbert’s breathing turned erratic. “What’s that light?” 

The guard sighed. “Kid, have you ever heard of a Jockey Stone?”

“Yeah! That weird cat lady who was at the market gave it to me.”

“Weird cat lady? You mean to tell me they allowed Figaro ‘the Magnificent’ to set up her cart again?”

“What do you mean?”

“We banned her from the market years ago. Some of her stuff is harmless, but most of it is dangerous, and that stone she gave you is nothing but chaotic.”

Elbert reeled. “Why? She said it would bring good luck without any side effects.”

“No side effects, except on horses.”

“On horses? Then that light…” Elbert gathered up his strength. “Marisa!”

“Hey, wait up!” The bear chased him into the town square. Elbert banked to the left, heading directly toward the light. He saw a house with that bright teal hue spilling out of the windows and rammed the door open. In its living room, a terrifying sight sent chills down his spine. Marisa levitated in the middle of a room with a spectral aura enveloping her still body. Her gentle, sincere eyes hid behind glowing oval pupils, and her high-pitched laugh sank into a menacing alto. 

“What in the world?” Elbert panicked. 

“That’s not her!” the bear yelled. “She’s possessed by the spirit inhabiting the stone.”

“Possessed?” 

“You have to calm the spirit, let it near you, and sever the connection.”

“But how?” 

A growling voice greeted them. “You, boy!”

Elbert jerked to attention. “Me?”

“You’re the one who freed me from the stone,” the horse hissed. 

“Marisa?” Elbert pleaded. “Please, speak to me!”

“Who’s Marisa?” the spirit cackled. “My name is Mabel, and my spirit finally lives on again!”  

Elbert tensed, his anxiety turning into determination to save the helpless horse. “Let her go. Return to the stone, and I won’t hurt you.” 

The bear shoved his way between the two. “You’re taking forever, kid. I’m going to save this girl right now!” He pulled the halberd off his back and pointed it ahead of him, charging forward while aiming at the chain around the horse’s neck. The spirit laughed and summoned a vortex of wind that slowed down the guard. Mist leaked from the body’s hooves, gripping the guard around the collar of his tunic and disarming him. Elbert dodged out of the way of the bear, who was thrown toward the window, shattering the glass and leaving him bleeding on the lawn. Mabel let out another shrieking laugh interrupted by the clanking of a dagger that fell from the bear’s belt. 

Before he could compose himself, the spirit summoned another stream of mist. It wrapped around the rabbit and tightened around his torso, trapping his arms by his side. 

“I will never go back in that stone again,” Mabel yelled. “Do you know how miserable it is to not have any purpose? To live in a void where the only voice is yourself? No. If I can’t move on to the next world, then I’ll continue living in this world through my vessel.”

“Marisa is not a vessel!” Elbert struggled to free himself from the restraints. “Her soul is locked behind yours. How can she live her life if you’re the one in control?” 

“I don’t care,” Mabel maliciously giggled. “She’ll have her time in this world. But mine was taken away when I didn’t have a chance to live my full life.”

Elbert realized that force would not work against the spirit. Despite being recently resurrected from the dead, she showed a power that he had never seen before. He tugged on the mist, hoping its strength waned, but it remained tight around his body. After a brief pause, he shifted tactics. 

“What do you mean?” he asked remorsefully. “How did you die?”

“The boy wants to show some sympathy right after he tried to send me back into the stone?” Mabel grinned. “Why do you care about my death?”

“Well,” Elbert stumbled. “I want to know why you wanted to come back to this world. It sounds like you died young.” 

“That’s because I did,” her constant laughter faded. “My sister and I…we were playing in the forest and got hungry. But neither of us packed any food. We didn’t think we would need it. But we found a bush of what we thought were beautifully ripe cherries. They were so red and still coated with the morning dew, so we picked some and shoved it in our mouths. After our first bite, we almost spit them out. They were so bitter. And that’s when we realized that they weren’t cherries, but Nightshade berries.”

“Really?” Elbert listened. 

“We realized we messed up and ran home. Father called the doctor immediately, but as the doctor came to us, I remember my vision blurring and filling with white like I had been staring at the sun. It was too late.”

“Then how did you end up in the stone?” 

“My sister wore a Jockey Stone ring for luck. She was still alive, and the doctor started to treat her. I thought she would survive, so I threw my spirit in the stone, hoping to be with her for the rest of her life.”

“Is she…?”

“She didn’t make it,” Mabel said through tears. “It’s not fair! I told her the berries were okay; I poisoned her!” 

“It was a mistake,” Elbert tried to comfort her. The response made the spirit rage, causing the mist to travel up his arms and around his neck. He breathed in heavily, knowing the spirit would choke him. 

“The only mistake is you coming here,” she growled. “This girl you call Marisa is gone, and I will live the life that me and my sister lost.”

“Mabel,” the rabbit said with a raspy breath. “Let me go. I can help you.” 

“No!” the spirit released its grip and pushed him away. He screamed before hitting the wall, causing several bottles and trinkets to fall from the shelves. Pain shot through his back, and his vision turned blurry from the impact. “Leave me alone!” 

As the spirit rampaged through the house, Elbert felt the cold brush of metal against his leg. “The dagger,” he whispered. The levitating horse turned to face away from Elbert, allowing him to hide the dagger behind his back. Slowly rising from the ground, Elbert approached the spirit. 

“Mabel,” he shouted over the clanging of furniture falling. 

“I told you to leave me alone!” she shrieked. “Let me live the life I lost!”

“I will. But I want to ask you a favor,” Elbert paused, choosing his words carefully. “When I looked in your eyes, I swore I saw something, or rather, someone.” The spirit calmed, allowing him to elaborate. “Can I take a look?” 

“Wait, this is a trick,” the spirit started to summon more mist.

“No, I promise it isn’t,” Elbert panicked. He took a deep breath. “The girl whose body you took over, I only met her this morning. However, I’ve never felt so connected to someone outside of my family. You didn’t know her, but she was kind, caring, and gentle. And even though her height is a bit intimidating, I think she’s beautiful. What I’m saying is that I know Marisa’s still in there, and I want to take care of her just like he cares for the town’s children.

“But obviously, you’re not going to let her go, and I’ve come to accept that. If I’m going to live with you though, I want to see what you looked like in your past life. I thought I saw a glimpse of your old self in your eyes. Can I check to see if I’m right?”

“Well, I…”

“Mabel,” Elbert whispered. “Trust me.”

The spirit agreed and let down her guard. Elbert approached gently, pulling up a chair to reach the levitating horse’s level. He concentrated as he stared into the back of Marisa’s eyes and saw a spectral figure that he assumed was Mabel. A silk dress decorated a white goat. By her spindly horns, a flower was tucked into her short hair. Tears occasionally leaked out of her eyes, running down her cheeks. 

“Mabel?” Elbert said somberly.

“Yes, rabbit?” she looked at him longingly. 

He sighed. “I’m sorry.” 

Elbert tugged on the necklace and pulled the dagger from his pants. With one swipe, the necklace’s chain shattered, causing the Jockey Stone to fall to the floor. Mabel threw her arm backward, knocking Elbert in the jaw and causing him to collapse. The spectral aura brightened as Mabel fought to stay within Marisa’s body. However, without a physical connection to the Jockey Stone, she was slowly returned to the ground and pulled out of the body. The Jockey Stone glowed as the spirit was locked inside its prison. 

Marisa’s body remained unconscious for a brief moment before she finally woke. As her vision returned, she frantically crawled to Elbert’s side and jostled his body. “Wake up,” she repeated. Finally, a groan echoed through the quiet room. Elbert’s eyes slowly opened, and he instinctively smiled at the sight of Marisa leaning over him. She helped him up and gave him a firm, long hug.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” Elbert sighed in relief. 

“Same for you,” Marisa gripped tighter. “Did I hurt you?” 

“No, I’m fine. Even if I was, it would have been worth it as long as you were okay.”

Overwhelmed with emotion, Marisa kissed the top of Elbert’s head and led him to a nearby chair. Both of them were still aching from the encounter, but each took turns bandaging each other and preparing herbal teas. The sun peeked through the damaged windows. Elbert let out a yawn while he swept the broken glass into a bucket while Marisa organized the fallen trinkets and adjusted the many crooked paintings. By the time they were finished, the road rumbled with organizers heading into town to set up for the Autumn’s End Fireworks Show. 

“Well,” Elbert said. “I better get home.”

“You’re leaving?” Marisa somberly responded. “Are you still coming to see the fireworks?”

“Of course,” Elbert assured. “But I really need some sleep. I want to make sure I don’t fall asleep while I’m with you.”

Marisa smiled and motioned for him to stay. She removed the decorative pillows from her sofa and pulled a blanket out of a closet before retreating to the bedroom. After a few minutes, she returned to the living room. “Your home is so far away. Please, use my bed and get some rest.” 

“But that’s your bed,” Elbert shook his head. “You need to rest too.”

“I’ll sleep on the sofa,” Marisa laid down, trying to get comfortable while her legs from the knees down hung off the cushions.

“Marisa, I appreciate the gesture, but I can fit and be comfortable on the sofa.” 

“But…” she fished for excuses.

“No,” he knelt beside her. “Go to your bed. I’ll be fine. Thank you.”

Marisa giggled. “Okay, but if you change your mind, just shout, and we can switch.” 

“Thanks. You’re so sweet.”

“You are too. Goodnight! Rather, good morning.”

They both fell asleep immediately, ignoring the bustling in the town’s square. Three hours later, Elbert’s sleep ended with the sound of a band tuning their instruments and banging on their drums down the road. Seeing Marisa still deep in slumber, he stole a piece of paper from a corner desk and wrote her a small letter. 

Marisa,

I did not want to wake you. I’ve adequately rested, and I’m going back home to tidy up for the fireworks festival tonight. Thank you for everything, and I’m sorry for giving you the Jockey Stone in the first place. I found it on the floor. Rest assured, it will be buried, never to be discovered by anyone else again. I’ll be back in town before the sun sets. 

Sincerely, 

Elbert

He left the note by the nightstand and stepped quietly toward the door, shutting it slowly. Immediately, the warmth of the sun brought him a serene comfort that he hadn’t felt since he gifted Marisa the necklace. As he started to leave the town, he encountered the guard who brought him to town, his arm in a sling and scrapes covering his face. They waved at each other, and Elbert assured him that Marisa had survived the encounter and was resting. 

“Are you sure you don’t need a ride?” the bear asked. 

“I’ll be okay,” Elbert nodded. “Thank you.”

When he entered the house, his mother hugged him tightly, worried about where he had gone. He explained the situation while his little sister poured him a cup of tea. As he told the story, his mother seemed to only listen when a certain detail was mentioned. She continually asked about Marisa, what she was like, and how fond Elbert was of her. Elbert finished his tea and took a quick bath before changing into an old doublet inherited from his father. The sun shone in from his bedroom window, hinting that sundown was approaching. His family waved him goodbye as he hurried out the door.

Surrounding towns had flooded the gates, hoping to find a prime viewing area for the show. Elbert shielded his eyes from the sun as he tried to navigate the crowd. In the midst of the chaos, he heard a high pitched voice yell his name. Marisa ran out of a side entrance, jumping and waving to attract Elbert’s attention. They met each other and passed through the entrance leading toward the reserved seating area. Elbert put a hand on Marisa’s back and helped escort her toward their seats. While they waited, they watched the stars brighten as the sun finally set. 

“Fifteen more minutes,” Marisa excitedly whispered. 

“Yeah,” Elbert paused. “They’re selling some toasted nuts at a booth over there. Would you like some?”

“No, thank you,” Marisa smiled. “I’m afraid you’re going to get lost in the crowd.” 

“I’m small! I’ll just hop on everyone’s heads until I get back here.”

Marisa laughed and wrapped her arm around Elbert’s. He reciprocated by leaning his head on her. The streetlamps were dimmed as the crier introduced the orchestra. After a brief interlude, the first missile launched above the town hall, dotting the sky with flashes of color. Each explosion ruffled the fur of the attendees, who were cheering at the spectacle. Marisa stared awestruck at the show, but Elbert felt his stomach sinking. A glimmer on the outskirts of town pulled his attention to floating crystals attached to a familiar purple vehicle. He gasped as his eyes met the glowing green gaze of Figaro. Although she could not be heard over the fireworks, he watched her laugh before her and the cart disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

© D. S. Bertolo Books | 2023

This short story is provided for free for entertainment purposes. Please don’t ruin the fun.

Copyright Notice: All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any forms by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from its publisher.

Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The contents of this novel are a work of fiction. Any resemblance or similarities to any actual persons, places, or situations are purely coincidental.