Magic Tree House #49: Stallion by Starlight (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

nose.
    “Please help Alexander, Buddy,” Jack said. “He needs a loyal friend. And you need one, too.”
    “We love you,” Annie said. “Don’t forget that.”
    A groom appeared at the stable doorway. “Bucephalus!” he shouted.
    Jack and Annie reluctantly pulled away from the stallion. “Be great, Bucephalus!” said Jack, his voice cracking.
    Bucephalus looked at them with soft eyes. Then he walked with the groom out of the barn, into the riding ring.
    “Come on!” said Annie. “Let’s go watch!”
    Jack and Annie hurried to the back door of the stable. They shot outside into the sunlight and ran around the building to the riding ring.
    The king, his companions, and Aristotle werelined up at the fence. Prince Alexander stood with his father. All eyes were on the black stallion as he trotted around the ring, tossing his head and snorting.
    “Good morning!” Aristotle called to Jack and Annie. They ran to join him.
    “The king asked about you last night and this morning,” he said in a soft voice. “What have you been doing?”
    “Training them,” Annie said breathlessly.
    “Training who?” the philosopher asked.
    “The stallion,” said Annie.
    “The prince,” said Jack.
    Aristotle raised his eyebrows, but before he could speak, the king’s voice rang out. “Come back, you fool!”
    Jack, Annie, and Aristotle all looked at the ring.
    Prince Alexander had hopped over the fence. He was heading toward the black stallion.

“A lexander! Do not try to ride him!” King Philip yelled at the prince. “Do not be a fool!”
    Alexander ran around the ring. Soon he was running alongside Bucephalus. When the stallion was facing the sun, Alexander vaulted onto his back.
    Bucephalus broke into a canter. Horse and boy moved together perfectly around and around the riding ring.
    The King’s Companions clapped and cheered.Jack, Annie, and Aristotle joined them. King Philip stared in amazement.
    The prince raised his right arm in the air. He looked over at Jack and Annie and shouted with victory.
    Laughing, they both gave him a thumbs-up.
    “You’re great, too, Buddy!” Annie shouted.
    The horse neighed.
    The king himself then broke into applause. He was smiling with pride at Alexander.
    “How amazing!” said Aristotle. “That horse will have the highest place of honor as the prince’s horse now.”
    “Cool,” said Jack. He sighed, and then looked at Annie. “Are you ready to go home?”
    “Ready,” she said with a grin.
    “Must you leave now?” said Aristotle. “I know King Philip plans to invite you to stay in the Royal House. Will you not stay and help me educate Alexander?”
    “No. We have to go back to our parents,” saidAnnie. “Pretty soon we’ll start missing them.”
    “Don’t worry,” Jack said. “You’ll do a good job with Alexander. All the world will say that someday.”
    “Just get him to work on the idea of humility,” said Annie.
    “Humility?” asked the philosopher.
    “Yes,” said Jack. “Tell him that one of the secrets of greatness is humility. He’s great enough that he can afford to have humility.”
    “Even if only you and he and Bucephalus know it,” added Annie.
    “I will remember,” said the philosopher.
    “Thanks for all your help,” said Jack.
    “Tell Alexander good-bye for us, please,” said Annie.
    Jack and Annie stepped away from the fence and headed toward the hill path. They crunched over the pebbles, down to the square. Then they started down the main road, away from town.
    They passed the field where the warriors were still marching. They passed the shepherd, the sheep, the goat herder, the goats, and the farmerplowing with the ox. They passed the rocky meadows dotted with cows, until they came to the olive grove. They were about to head between the trees when they heard galloping behind them.
    They turned and saw Prince Alexander thundering toward them on the back of Bucephalus. Clouds of dust billowed behind the horse.
    “Jack and Annie!” Alexander cried. He brought Bucephalus to a halt.
    The stallion shook out his mane, then dipped his head and whinnied. Jack and Annie rubbedhis muzzle. “Hey, you,” said Jack. “It’s good to see you again!”

    The prince was out of breath. “You … you did not say good-bye!” he said.
    “Sorry!” said Jack.
    “We have to get home now,” said Annie.
    “You did a great job!” said Jack.
    “You really did!” said Annie. “You and Bucephalus were made for each