The Ebony Horse

An illustrated tales story from Wonder Tales — free to read, with narration.

The Ebony Horse — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.

The Ebony Horse — book cover — Wonder Tales
The Ebony Horse — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.

Page 1

In the candy-colored nebula, where stardust painted dreams across the void, floated the Citadel of Celestial Mechanics. Within its glimmering corridors resided…
In the candy-colored nebula, where stardust painted dreams across the void, floated the Citadel of Celestial Mechanics. Within its glimmering corridors resided Prince Caius, burdened by a prophecy, and the wily artificer, Jafar, whose ambition eclipsed the twin suns. Their tale began with a whisper of an Ebony Horse – a legendary artifact said to grant unimaginable power, but demanding a terrible price. It promised the world and demanded the soul.

In the candy-colored nebula, where stardust painted dreams across the void, floated the Citadel of Celestial Mechanics. Within its glimmering corridors resided Prince Caius, burdened by a prophecy, and the wily artificer, Jafar, whose ambition eclipsed the twin suns. Their tale began with a whisper of an Ebony Horse – a legendary artifact said to grant unimaginable power, but demanding a terrible price. It promised the world and demanded the soul.

Page 2

"Another schematic rejected, Jafar?" Caius asked, noticing the older man's frustrated sigh. Jafar turned, his face a mask of practiced humility.
"Another schematic rejected, Jafar?" Caius asked, noticing the older man's frustrated sigh. Jafar turned, his face a mask of practiced humility. "My Prince, the Council remains unconvinced of my designs for a faster-than-light engine. They cling to tradition, blind to the possibilities. But a rumor has reached me about an ancient artifact, a horse of ebony wood." Caius raised an eyebrow. "Legend says it possesses the power to traverse the cosmos in the blink of an eye."

"Another schematic rejected, Jafar?" Caius asked, noticing the older man's frustrated sigh. Jafar turned, his face a mask of practiced humility. "My Prince, the Council remains unconvinced of my designs for a faster-than-light engine. They cling to tradition, blind to the possibilities. But a rumor has reached me about an ancient artifact, a horse of ebony wood." Caius raised an eyebrow. "Legend says it possesses the power to traverse the cosmos in the blink of an eye."

Page 3

"Power comes with a price, Jafar. You know this," Caius warned, his voice low. "As Plato said, 'The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to…
"Power comes with a price, Jafar. You know this," Caius warned, his voice low. "As Plato said, 'The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.' Are you prepared for that price?" Jafar chuckled, a dry, rasping sound. "I merely seek to unlock the horse's secrets, to advance our civilization. Surely, the Council will reward us both for such a discovery."

"Power comes with a price, Jafar. You know this," Caius warned, his voice low. "As Plato said, 'The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.' Are you prepared for that price?" Jafar chuckled, a dry, rasping sound. "I merely seek to unlock the horse's secrets, to advance our civilization. Surely, the Council will reward us both for such a discovery."

Page 4

Jafar presented Caius with a map woven from starlight, claiming it led to the Ebony Horse. "It lies hidden in the Whispering Caves, a place of illusions and…
Jafar presented Caius with a map woven from starlight, claiming it led to the Ebony Horse. "It lies hidden in the Whispering Caves, a place of illusions and ancient traps. Few who enter ever return," Jafar explained. Caius, tempted by the prospect of such knowledge, agreed to venture forth. He donned a suit of polished silver armor, its surface reflecting the nebula's colors.

Jafar presented Caius with a map woven from starlight, claiming it led to the Ebony Horse. "It lies hidden in the Whispering Caves, a place of illusions and ancient traps. Few who enter ever return," Jafar explained. Caius, tempted by the prospect of such knowledge, agreed to venture forth. He donned a suit of polished silver armor, its surface reflecting the nebula's colors.

Page 5

The Whispering Caves were a labyrinth of mirrored passages, each reflecting a twisted version of reality. Illusions danced in every corner, preying on Caius's…
The Whispering Caves were a labyrinth of mirrored passages, each reflecting a twisted version of reality. Illusions danced in every corner, preying on Caius's deepest fears. "This place tests the mind," Caius muttered, trying to focus. A shimmering figure emerged from a mirror – a perfect copy of Caius, but with eyes filled with malice. "Turn back, Prince," the illusion hissed. "The Horse will consume you."

The Whispering Caves were a labyrinth of mirrored passages, each reflecting a twisted version of reality. Illusions danced in every corner, preying on Caius's deepest fears. "This place tests the mind," Caius muttered, trying to focus. A shimmering figure emerged from a mirror – a perfect copy of Caius, but with eyes filled with malice. "Turn back, Prince," the illusion hissed. "The Horse will consume you."

Page 6

Caius fought his illusory self, shattering the mirror with a blow from his armored fist. The shards dissolved into stardust, revealing a hidden passage.
Caius fought his illusory self, shattering the mirror with a blow from his armored fist. The shards dissolved into stardust, revealing a hidden passage. "Fear is a liar," Caius declared. As he ventured deeper, he found himself in a chamber filled with golden idols, each radiating an alluring warmth. Jafar's voice echoed through the chamber. "Take what you desire, Prince! The Horse awaits beyond!"

Caius fought his illusory self, shattering the mirror with a blow from his armored fist. The shards dissolved into stardust, revealing a hidden passage. "Fear is a liar," Caius declared. As he ventured deeper, he found himself in a chamber filled with golden idols, each radiating an alluring warmth. Jafar's voice echoed through the chamber. "Take what you desire, Prince! The Horse awaits beyond!"

Page 7

Ignoring the golden idols, Caius pressed onward. He discovered the Ebony Horse – not a magnificent steed, but a small, unassuming wooden carving.
Ignoring the golden idols, Caius pressed onward. He discovered the Ebony Horse – not a magnificent steed, but a small, unassuming wooden carving. Jafar rushed forward, seizing the horse. "Foolish Prince! The power is not in the object, but in the bargain!" he cackled. "I offered the Caves my soul for the Horse's speed!".

Ignoring the golden idols, Caius pressed onward. He discovered the Ebony Horse – not a magnificent steed, but a small, unassuming wooden carving. Jafar rushed forward, seizing the horse. "Foolish Prince! The power is not in the object, but in the bargain!" he cackled. "I offered the Caves my soul for the Horse's speed!".

Page 8

Caius realized the truth. "The price of ambition," he whispered, "is often steeper than one imagines." Jafar activated the Ebony Horse, the chamber filling with…
Caius realized the truth. "The price of ambition," he whispered, "is often steeper than one imagines." Jafar activated the Ebony Horse, the chamber filling with blinding light. In an instant, Jafar vanished, leaving only a wisp of smoke and the wooden horse behind. Caius stumbled, the light receding to reveal the emptiness around him.

Caius realized the truth. "The price of ambition," he whispered, "is often steeper than one imagines." Jafar activated the Ebony Horse, the chamber filling with blinding light. In an instant, Jafar vanished, leaving only a wisp of smoke and the wooden horse behind. Caius stumbled, the light receding to reveal the emptiness around him.

Page 9

He picked up the Ebony Horse, now cold and lifeless. The speed was gone, but a lesson remained etched into the wood. It was a mirror.
He picked up the Ebony Horse, now cold and lifeless. The speed was gone, but a lesson remained etched into the wood. It was a mirror. Holding it up he saw that the wood reflected the nebula and everything around it. As Marcus Aurelius said, "You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." Caius returned to the Citadel, not with power, but with wisdom.

He picked up the Ebony Horse, now cold and lifeless. The speed was gone, but a lesson remained etched into the wood. It was a mirror. Holding it up he saw that the wood reflected the nebula and everything around it. As Marcus Aurelius said, "You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." Caius returned to the Citadel, not with power, but with wisdom.

Page 10

The Council scorned him, but Caius understood that true strength lay not in conquering the cosmos, but in mastering oneself.
The Council scorned him, but Caius understood that true strength lay not in conquering the cosmos, but in mastering oneself. He used the Ebony Horse – now a mirror of reflection – to guide his people towards understanding and moderation. And though Jafar's ambition had vanished, the echo of his greed served as a constant reminder: the pursuit of power, unchecked by wisdom, leads only to emptiness.

The Council scorned him, but Caius understood that true strength lay not in conquering the cosmos, but in mastering oneself. He used the Ebony Horse – now a mirror of reflection – to guide his people towards understanding and moderation. And though Jafar's ambition had vanished, the echo of his greed served as a constant reminder: the pursuit of power, unchecked by wisdom, leads only to emptiness.

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  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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