GS Gallant Prince's final sign of loyalty

[Melissa]

a time comes when forever isn't forever
doing the right thing and love are challenged,
which bring on the final test of courage

The black gelding spooked and shied, his hooves sinking in the mud as the rain pelted down on his back while lightning streaked across the sky and thunder rumbled in the distance. Ears flicking back and forth the six year old gelding whinnied out in nervousness and fear. He hated thunderstorms but this one brought on a new feeling to the gelding and he was ready to answer the feeling that would ultimately take him home. Circling the paddock at a swift trot, mud flying up and spraying his under belly and legs GS Gallant Prince uttered another sharp cry that sounded out across the yard in the general direction of the barns.

I was drenched to the bone and shivering while I went about doing the chores I had to do when the horses got caught in a thunderstorm, bring in, dry off and then feed them. I was just about done with drying off Determination when the black Stormwing son lurched backwards, pulling the cross-ties tight, at the sound of a cry outside that somehow he had heard over the pouring rain and rumbling thunder. "Easy, whoa Determination." I said softly, hurrying to unsnap the crossties before the majestic stallion hurt himself. Once free the big black charged for the door, tail flicking in annoyance when he found himself locked inside. Meanwhile outside the storm raged on and Prince grew more agiated and fury radiated off his dark coat. Launching a sharp kick in the direction of his least favorite tree the black shifted forward into a canter.

Knowing whatever it was that Determination wanted to get at was on the outside I carefully edged towards the door and peered out just as a flash of lightning illuminated Prince in his paddock right across the yard. My heart caught when he reared, the gelding was soaked, that much was visible from the rapid dripping of rain from his mane. My breath caught in my throat as Determination slammed into my back, throwing me forward, in that split second a lightning bolt zeroed down on the solitary tree nearest the black gelding in the paddock, splitting it in a straight line down the middle. Collapsing due to the heavy electrical charges, one huge limb tumbled down onto the back of the gelding. "No!" I yelled loudly, heart nearing breaking down the middle in agony, forceably throwing open the barn door and rushing out into the storm with Determination right on my heels. Flying past me, the Thoroughbred racer didn't falter a step as he lifted his hooves and sailed over the paddock fence. With shrewd strides the legendary stallion approached one of his most famous grandsons.

Ramming into the paddock gate and fumbling with the latch I finally managed to get it open, it was rather difficult to see with the rain blinding me, and mixing with tears. His breathing labored and eyes flickering open and closed every few seconds Prince lay still on the ground. Slipping down in the mud next to the black, after reaching his side in record time I cradled Prince's head in my arms knowing there was nothing a vet could do for him but put him out of his misery and I didn't see the need of it, it would be hours before the vet could even get out here in this weather. "My one and only Prince." I whispered in his still somewhat alert ear, my hands softly rubbing under his chin and over his muzzle, up to his forelock. My eyes travelled over the large limb that had pinned Prince to the ground, several of the branches had lodged themselves pretty deep in his skin and blood was leaking out of the injuries in tiny rivers. My stomach turned and I felt the sudden urge to throw up but I couldn't, knowing if I did I'd most likely break down beyond any breakdown before.

It killed me to see the champion that way so I rose unsteady, knees wobbly with torn nerves and slowly I managed to clear away most of the heavy limb, afraid to touch the lodged branches in case that made the injuries worse. Determination stayed close by, his muzzle quivering near Prince's, and when the elder black looked up and Prince's ears flicked I shot a quick look backwards to spot the light figure of Folksong approaching through the open gate, the bay filly wasn't alone either behind her trailed Locomotion, WB Gallant Lover, Murder Afire and Impossible Determination. Prince's time was drawing close and somehow each of them had been able to break free to give one last goodbye.

My memory was fuzzy at best, but I remembered somewhat that the latch being loose on Song's paddock and the bay had obviously rubbed up against it hard, releasing herself, rubbing my hands along my arms I studied Loco, Jules and Scene and then my eyes widened. "Crap." I said lightly under my breath, not that anyone could have heard, but Jules had a half-rusty stall latch so that was probably why she was loose. Cain had tended to Loco, the boy was so thoughtless he'd forgotten to latch the stall correctly in the commotion of the storm. Scene, well who would have known, but it was probably my fault Scene was loose, in my hurry to bring everyone in before the storm broke.

a tearful farewell
the passing of the torch
a champion tackles his last victory
and races into eternity once and for all

Folksong stepped up first, the glossy but soaked two year old's nuzzle brushed over my shoulder before breathing lightly into Prince's nostrils before stepping away next to Determination. Locomotion was next, followed closely by Murder Afire, WB Gallant Lover and last was Impossible Determination. Once the bay gelded sire of my dearly beloved Prince had moved off to the side I sank down next to the gelding, and I choked up when the kind hearted gelding lowered his head in my lap, his eyes fluttering close as I dropped closer to the gelding, somewhat begging the ex-racer not to leave but at the same time knowing it was his time to leave. His once warm, brown eyes were clouded by pain but it was like he was waiting for the one person who wouldn't be showing "I'm sorry boy, Matty can't come. But we both love you so much, I will love you to the moon, the stars, the sun and back." I said, the emotion getting to me and a fresh wave of tears spilled down over my rain stained cheeks. At my words GS Gallant Prince's eyes closed and he took a deep breath before letting it out, twitched once and then his body lay still.

His physical body may have vanished but for a fleeting moment I felt the presence of Prince, whole and strong before it galloped into the darkness. Determination and Folksong gave throaty whickers, and I crumpled, not able to stay strong any longer. That was when I knew Prince's heart had stopped and he taken flight into the unending darkness, also in that same moment thunder clapped out across the sky and Folksong reared, the bay filly a blur as I stared down, my chest containing a pain no medicine could heal. Prince was gone, he would never come back. No more shared moments in the early morning before my day began, no more quick gallops of leisure around his paddock, or stealing away to live in a world of what used to bes. Looking up I met Folksong's eyes and in that minute I knew where my future lay and Prince would want his full sister, the only one who shared his spirit and his soul to be given the chance to prove herself just as Prince had done many times.

Thankfully he had gone quickly and he hadn't suffered that much, that much I could hold on to. He had left the way a champion should, a peaceful ending to a brilliant story.

this do in remembrance of me
never think something's impossible
it may be difficult but nothing comes easy