"Horse Tales"

Written By: Kaeru Shisho

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Gundam Wing or its characters, nor do I make any monetary profit off this story.

Rating: NC 17

Warnings: Yaoi, Very AU, so very AU it's AD, another dimension. The GW boys are horses. My apologies. Please heed the warning.

Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 6x5

Summary: A few lucky stallion purebreds are given a second chance at the Horse Haven Sanc-tuary.

A/N: In defense of my writing this extreme version of a GW story… Waterlily and Snowdragon made me do it, heh, heh…

" Horse Tales"

Chapter Twenty-One- Wild Horses Retreating

(0) Howard's POV

My own rifle was impossible to reach so I sat back and watched. As if he knew exactly how to behave when facing down a mortal enemy, the Appaloosa took charge of the situation, bracing for attack, screening the Arabian with the hysterical girl astride him, and seeming to hold the cat's eyes in a staring contest, all the while nickering in soothing tones to his fellow horses.

If my horses hadn't impressed everyone before, watching that self-restrained Appaloosa in a standoff with a boiling she-cat of a mountain lion would have done it single-handedly.

And he had calm to share with his band mates. None of them bolted when the rifles shot down the big cat. Most interesting was the conversation the Trowa kept up with the frightened Arabian, offering comfort and keeping him from bolting. Most unusual.

"The circus selects out the timid horses," I pointed out to my colleagues after the excitement had died down. "He jumped through burning hoops and had lions on his back, so he must be very brave by nature."

"Most impressive," Dr. S purred into his pet's ears.

Instructor S had a horse to be proud of, and even as he lavished the Appaloosa with praise, I think Trowa cared more about the comforting nickers coming from his Arabian friend.

I'd completely forgotten about the young girl sitting astride the Arabian until she spoke up. "It's terrible that we had to kill a beautiful animal like that."

"Yes, it is. I wonder if this one was ill like the male?" I left my horse to graze while I checked out the dead cougar. Just as I thought.

"Was she sick, too?" Relena asked.

"Yes, all the signs point to the same feline fever the other adult was dying from."

Instructor S settled his rife across his lap and let out his breath. "Makes me feel better not to have gunned down a handsome creature in perfect health."

My feelings exactly. "They wouldn't have lasted much longer, sick as they were."

"We can't have animals like this preying upon our wild horses, sick or well," he said. "Doctor J recommended more frequent and more diligent perimeter checks of the property in the future."

"He's welcome to ride out as often as he wants." Even though it was now probably safe to let the girl ride back alone, I wanted to get my horses back to their stable. I'd learned the whereabouts of their leader and didn't want them around the wild horses, especially any injured ones.

"Miss Relena, do you feel up to riding back now?"

"Yes, thank you for asking. I want to keep looking, though. You've lost my horse, somehow, and I won't forgive you for that. I just hope he's not lying dead in some gully someplace."

Oh, no. I didn't want her hanging around any longer. She was apt to get into more trouble or even manage to spy Heero!

"We'll keep looking. You can be sure of that. But there's no sense putting the other horses in danger. I won't allow it. Instructor H, would you accompany Miss Relena back to the stables?"

"If I can get this pony to move-" he grumbled as he gave Duo another kick to the ribs.

"I'd best go, too," said Instructor S, leaning forward a little and giving the spotted horse neck another affectionate pat. "I think Trowa's had enough. He wants to go."

Follow the Arabian was what he wanted to do, regardless of what his owner wanted, I thought, which got me to chuckling. Of course, the girl took it personally and frowned at me. Too bad. I had too many things to worry about to be bothered about her thin-skin and misconceptions.

"Probably true. Good idea. Master O's probably already at the dirt road, so he'll guide the vet and horse carrier up here."

"Then I can stay here and wait, too!" the girl cut in.

"Absolutely not. There's no reason to upset the Mustangs with more of us than necessary," I told her, "And you are unnecessary."

The rest of what I had to say was frosted over by a whinny from the black horse.

"I'm so not!" she started babbling, but it looked like I had a recalcitrant horse on my hands.

"What's the matter, H? The little Morgan being stubborn?"

"That he is. Never seen him act up with Professor G like this."

"Maybe I can help," I said.

I thought maybe I knew what the matter was, but hell if I knew how to communicate that to him. I began with a carrot, which he snapped up like the greedy little beggar he was, then looked him in the eye. "Go back."

He shook his head as if to tell me "no way."

Poor little guy. He pined for his lost friend and didn't want to leave the wild horses, or maybe he was worried about more cougars-who knew for sure? However, his behavior signaled to me that Heero was hidden back there, even if I hadn't seen the Thoroughbred for myself. Good thing the girl hadn't been paying close attention to the Morgan, or understood his attachment for Heero. She might have decided to turn back and search anew.

I said from the start that these were extraordinary horses, and the more time I spent around them, the more certain I was of that early assessment. I felt that they had some uncanny understanding of what was going on. They seemed aware of Relena, who she was, and of her pursuit of Heero. From the way the horses acted, she was unwelcome.

How did they know?

Even my steed seemed determined to make the journey harder than necessary, climbing the most brutal rock face. Was it in an effort to discourage Relena from the trip? It seemed to be the only reason I could figure for Zechs going out of his way to make the trip arduous.

I had hoped the Morgan couldn't resist seeking out his friend, and yet, while Relena was his rider, he appeared to mostly ignore the wild horses. Then Relena switched to another horse, and without her on his back, he drifted to the tall grass. Had he waited on purpose so he wouldn't inadvertently lead her to Heero's hiding spot? It seemed to be the case.

The horses didn't like her. And I didn't like her either for interfering with my operation. She had no legitimate claims, just silly school girl notions about ownership. But in the end she was just a child who loved a horse, and I couldn't blame her for that or for worrying over his disappearance. One of these days, I'd tell her the truth, and if she was reasonable about it, maybe I'd let her visit Heero. He'd have to agree, too, of course.

Now I was treating a horse like a person!

"This is so unfair!" the girl cried out at me.

And she was irritating me. "No one asked you along," I snapped back. "You have no right to be here either."

Worse than that, she was derailing my train of thought.

I'd been tracing through the events of the last hour, the most memorable were relating to that strange pinto. I watched Duo hone in on one particular pinto. Not a pinto! How Heero got splashed with white paint, I was dying to know. Oh, I recognized the Thoroughbred by his elegant lines and fine legs. I'd been pleased to find him, but more so that Relena hadn't-of course, he'd been lying, hidden in the tall grass at that time, and Relena had switched to the Arabian's back, who usually avoided standing in grass if he could help it. In fact, not only had he avoided the grassy area, it was possible that he took her as far away from where the Morgan was going as he could. Had that been on purpose, too?

It all added up to the conclusion that the horses knew where their leader was and that they wanted that kept secret. Why Heero was with the Mustangs and why the Mustangs were allowing it was another mystery entirely- one I hoped to figure out, but I didn't think I'd do that this day.

"You're so mean!" She was still whining.

My more immediate problem was simpler: the poor little Morgan was having a difficult time parting from where he knew his friend was. I wanted to let him know that I'd seen his leader, but that Relena had not. I wanted to reassure him and I had to choose the right words and the fewest so as not to confuse him.

"Still, Zechs." When my mount quit moving about, I jumped off and strode up to Duo, who watched my every move. I put my mouth right up to his face and rubbed behind his ears until he dropped his head to my level.

"Heero's all right," I whispered. "Heero. Okay? Got that? Heero's okay."

And I swear he blinked and nodded.

I backed away and slapped his rump. "Now, go, you obstinate animal."

To which he gave me a snort and head shake, whatever that meant. In any case, he heard me say "Heero" and saw me smile, so he must have understood something, because he trotted off in the direction of the stable without another grunt.

Trowa and Quatre followed along, taking the doctors and Relena out of earshot.

"All right," I said to my handsome mount, stroking him gently on the neck. "Let's go find Heero and look over his injuries. He didn't get away from that cougar attack unscathed, I'll bet."

And when I said Heero's name, I saw his ears twitch. Yes, they were all in on some scheme to hide him out here.

When we saw him this time, it only took Zechs a few minutes to locate the right place, Heero had moved. He was standing over the older horse, one who had obvious leg damage from his cat encounter, touching noses. As the two horses made contact, I wondered what had just passed between them, because my Zechs lurched ahead, quickening his pace, and heading directly their way without my directions.

Could it be that my horses wanted to help these wild ones? How could that be possible?

(o) Quatre's POV

I was furious at Trowa for putting himself in such danger and immensely proud of him for his heroic actions. I wanted to kick him and love him at the same time, an embarrassing combination when I thought about it. I tried not to picture it!

It helped that waves of Trowa's feelings battered me as we galloped down the hill toward home. He felt justified and contrite and he loved me and wanted me to let him know we were going to come through all this okay. He needed encouragement from me.

"We'll be fine, Trowa," I whinnied. I could kick the dickens out of him later, in private then lick him all better. Oh, dear, had I said that aloud? Naughty me...

His answering joyful whinny made me feel all shivery and happy.

Clouding the scene was the fact that I was carrying the cause of all our troubles, Miss Relena, back to the stable, where I hoped a car would run her down (oops!); that is, where a waiting automobile would whisk her away.

I wasn't sure what the outcome of this visit of hers would be. The feelings from the humans had been so confusing and difficult even to sort out. Mostly the confusion had been theirs, but it still muddied my point of view.

Now that we were away from the center of turmoil, I could feel Duo's feelings clearly. Sharp as a shoe nail. He'd worry himself sick over Heero or die of loneliness. I'd completely forgotten him during the lion attack. All I'd been able to think out was Trowa, and now I couldn't say what Howard had been feeling when we left. No reassuring words came to mind that would make him believe Heero's life wasn't imperiled in some way, that Howard wasn't likely to discover Heero and drag him back in time to turn him over to Miss Relena.

Oh, that would be too terrible for us all to consider.

There was another reason, equally as likely for us being sent away. "Duo?"

His eye rotated my way fractionally then back to watching his footing. "What?"

"I think Howard may have had us all return, you and Trowa escorting her, to ensure she wouldn't stick around the wild horses and eventually see Heero."

To my surprise, he agreed. "Mebbe." A few thundering hoof beats later, Duo confided a wee bit more. "Howie whispered something to me, using Heero's name. It was a feel-good moment, so I had a hunch he knew Heero was out there and he'd be okay, which was why I left voluntarily."

"Wonderful! Let's hold onto that thought. Oh, I see Wufei and more men and the vet with the lift trailer."

Wufei saw us too and I watched Duo trot off join him, his rider having given up trying to direct Duo some time ago, I think. I was dying to know what Wufei had learned, since he had to have overheard all kinds of delicious news, but I couldn't change directions at will, because I was duty-bound and carrying Miss Relena to her car waiting on the other side of the corral. I hoped it was her car-it looked like the long, black car that brought her in the snow, all hard lines and shiny surfaces, except that this one was a shocking hue of pink.

I had a blanket that color once, but dear, sweet, Percy spoiled it. Just ripped it to shreds to make a bed, or he hated it fervently, because I don't recall seeing him sleep on it. Anyway, nothing drove me faster toward my goal than imagining her in that car disappearing into the distance.

She was met by a distinguished gentleman, who spoke harshly to her. I thought that was a very good sign, because possibly it meant she'd broken some human rule and would be punished. All he did was hasten her into the rear seat and close the door. No yelling. Then the car left and I was so relieved, but before a handler could collect me and lead me away, I hurried over to where Duo and Wufei were still talking.

"Hey, Sunshine, you won't believe what he told me."

"Please hurry and tell, before we get stabled." I could see Wufei's owner, Duo's and mine head to head in conversation while the vet and a couple strong workers loaded the van with supplies. Heero's owner was approaching from the house, so we probably had a very few minutes before something would change.

"The human, O, spoke to Relena and her uncle. Apparently, her court order wasn't real and she has no legal right to Heero. Her uncle owned him after the fire, not her, and he doesn't want Heero back, most importantly."

"Splendid! Oh, Duo that's wonderful, isn't it? No matter what, Relena is no danger to Heero. He can return home!"

"Yeah. Still, I'll believe it when I see him here in his stall again," Duo groused, apparently not letting himself get excited yet. Not that I blamed him. Sometimes it was hard not to protect myself from the sure disappointments in life, too.

Our owners wanted to go where the action was, Wufei told us. This was perfectly acceptable to me, because I particularly wanted to see Heero and find out what had happened to Treize. Duo cooperated, and Trowa naturally didn't make a fuss, but I'd expected Wufei to be a little tired of going back and forth. However, I knew he wanted to prove how "tireless" his breed could be, and, so, if he had any complaints, he suffered them in silence.

My owner, Instructor H, switched saddles and climbed onto my back, while Professor G rode Duo, Doctor S remained on Trowa, and Doctor J climbed into the horse carrier van, which we accompanied into the wild country traveling a different road, one beginning on the far side of the house.

"This was the road we'd seen trucks moving out in winter," Trowa said.

"Oh, yes! The ones delivering food to the mustangs. So thoughtful, don't you think?"

"Un, huh. And better condition than the trail we've been taking," Duo pointed out.

It didn't take us long at all to reach the canyon where the Mustangs lived.

(0) Howard's POV

If only I'd been able to explain how vacuous the Relena girl's threats had been, I might have been able to relieve some of the horse's worries. Hers had been merely a girlish infatuation. Her uncle had been the owner of Thoroughbred, not her, and the papers her uncle had signed over to the Horse Haven Sanctuary were in order and perfectly legal proof of our ownership. What documents she had brought with her would be put to the best use they could have-lining the Persian cat's litter box.

There wasn't much more for me to do but wait until the vet and backup arrived, so I let my horse graze where he wanted, and that took him closer to the great Mustang leader, now resting on his side. Nearby was the lead mare, guarding against the fine white horse's possible attack. I walked over to restrain Zechs, should it be necessary to protect the fallen stallion. Hierarchy and dominance played a huge role in the group structure of horses. If there was trouble, I didn't want my stallion to be a contributor.

And there was Heero, rising out of the grass and limping over. God, how I hoped he wasn't badly injured. I could make put blood splatters up and down his legs and one red streak, but nothing else that I could see.

"Heero," I called, clicking my tongue to get his attention.

His ears rotated and his one eye I could see stared into mine.

"It's all right," I said in a soothing voice. "Come here. Let me look at that leg."

He seemed torn between obeying me and getting closer to Zechs and the fallen horse, so I aimed for the horse clump as well, which seemed to work out well. Such sensitive creatures and so easy to spook.

I'd known from the start when I took the job and established the sanctuary, that many of my wild band were escapees from the wars gone feral. Anyone with an eye for horses could see that the fallen stallion, for one, had once been a fine battle horse.

"Hope we can save you," I told the brave horse. Imagine facing down a pair of mountain lions!

A warm nose slipped into my hand. Zechs was right there with me one second and then he was nuzzling the injured horse, and I swear he was nickering sweet nothings, too.

"Okay, then my silly-looking spotted Thoroughbred, let's see how you're doing. I'd sure like to know who painted you this way and how one of my staff got away with this. Your scratch is reddening fast, but doesn't feel hot yet. When the vet gets here, I'll have her treat you first so this doesn't head to an infection. Hey, don't snort at me, you ungrateful animal! This is all on account of you fellows not being satisfied with your own state-of-the-art arena that you have to be out here imposing on these poor horses."

Zechs actually licked the wild horse's face. Could it be that he was intentionally trying to cool him off?

"Nice try, old chum, but that one needs antibiotics and surgery on that leg-and soon."

A little while later, Master O galloped up bringing news that the veterinarian was right behind him.

"Good, good, now c'mon Heero, Zechs, move away and give the folks some space."

Instead, Heero stubbornly pushed right in front of me and stomped his hoof, well, pawed at the ground. He kept at it, and seemed so intense on what he was doing that I backed off and let him do what he liked.

"My horse wants you to look at the ground there," Master O said.

Yes, I could see that the Chinese horse was nosing round the scraped ground. Not just scraped. Carved. "What the hell?"

"Is that the letter '5'?" O asked. "Yes, I'm sure of it. "Five" - what does that mean?"

"Mean? What's a horse doing writing numbers in the dirt is the first question you ought to be asking!" This was exciting.

Wufei whinnied and waggled his head and then deliberately pointed at the ground again with his nose.

"What is it-? Oh, yes! Five! You, he means you?"

Wufei whinnied and dipped his chin in affirmation.

"Howard, my horse just answered us."

"I believe he did. Wufei, you understand what I'm saying, don't you?"

And the golden horse bobbed his head. I didn't know what to say to that. It was pretty awesome, so I just stood there smiling. "Well, I'll be-"

Heero nudged my elbow. "Oh, and you are writing to me?" I couldn't grasp how he could do that either, but there he was pawing at the dirt making marks I couldn't read.

"You're looking at it the wrong way. Come over here where he's standing. It says-."

"H-E-L...D." I could make out the letters okay. "Oh!" Heero snorted and kicked the ground around the last letter.

"I think he's frustrated with you," Master O said. "That's a 'P'!"

"Help? Help! You want us to help you -no, wait, you want to help us?" I asked Heero and Wufei shook his head, a clear negation, and then trotted over to where Zechs stood over the injured horse. Well, that made some sense. "You want us to help this horse and ... all the wild horses?"

Wufei nodded and whinnied and Heero nodded and Zechs nodded and we had communication!

Well, almost. "Do any of you talk?"

(o) Heero's POV

I could read human written words, but this was my first attempt at copying them. Aurgh!

So frustrating!

I couldn't shape the letters correctly. I should have practiced. I planned to practice from now on. Every day.

There! I was successful, and with Wufei's assistance we finally opened a line of communication with Howard.

"Howard said," Wufei explained, "He knows what you're saying...but it's not that simple.*'"

"I know! It's just that I want the chance. I think I can convince the wild horses to visit the barn for vet care as long as I can assure them that they'll still be free to leave afterwards."

I scratched out "Me talk horses so go vet."

This was taking forever.

"Howard says go ahead and try."

I leaned over Treize and blew air on his warm face. "I think I can get an agreement."

"Une, call the others over. Now."

I took a massive amount of courage and strength for him to move, but he sat up. I hoped I might be as great a leader some day. Une allowed a few of the more mature horses to listen as Treize convinced them to get treatment, asking them to accept care and help regardless of his possible demise, which was the fault of the cougar not of the humans, he emphasized over and over.

Noin backed off looked frantic.

"What's your problem?" I asked.

She shook her mane, looking both dispirited and agitated. "Without Treize, there's just Une, and she is, well, likely to become totally overwhelmed by his death.*"

I heard Wufei's whinny in the distance and then the sound of a human motorized vehicle coming closer.

"Don't worry. That's the human doctor for horses. The vet. If Treize can be saved, the vet will do it."

It was the vet assistant, Meg, Wufei informed me.

"Treize, this woman is good. She made Duo better and I trust her."

"That's fine. I won't fight it." The war horse let her halter him and check his leg. He had been treated by humans and wasn't unfamiliar with what to expect. He was also weak and getting weaker.

"Milliardo... I'll be waiting on the other side."*

"Nonsense, General. Now you're being over dramatic. You are not about to die. Oh, and I'll only remind you this one more time, I'm called Zechs now. Next, time I'll call you out."

Treize seemed amused by Zech's comments and to take strength from the intentional humor. "Just watch me, Heero. I am going to live...right till the bitter end! I will live the hard life of a warrior!" *

"And beyond," I added. "Can you stand? The humans need to move you into the carrier, where they can fix you."

"I see that. I'll do my best. They seem kind hearted."

"Yes, that's why it's so encouraging,*" Sally said.

"Heero, will you be staying on, then?" Noin asked.

Wufei blurted out, "No! Relena's gone away. She has no legal claim to him. He can return."

"Is that true?" I couldn't believe it.

"Yes, here come the others. You can ask them if you don't believe me."

Now, coming from him I had to believe it. I knew he'd just as soon let me rot out here in the wilderness while Zechs assumed my leadership job, if together they could defeat Duo. But this sounded as if he actually wanted me back. And I'd hurt his feelings.

"Thank you, Wufei. You are an honorable horse."

"Of course I am! That should not coma as a surprise to anyone. When I meet my ancestors at death, I shall hold my head up high."

From your lofty pedestal as well, I thought to myself?

Howard maneuvered the vet into my space and suddenly I felt her icy fingers pressing into sore spots and globs of goop, some stinging, spread over and bound up with gauze. Then came a shot.

In the meantime, Noin wasn't giving up on her own fantasies. "What will we do?" Her eyes glazed over and rested on Zechs. "-Unless Zechs would agree to stay on and be our champion?"

That starry-eyed look of a mare in lust was, at least, not fixed on me.

"My hooves...they're too stained with blood. But I'm sure Une alone is fit to lead the band in a manner you would approve of,*" he said.

She sighed. "He's so dreamy..."

Duo, Quatre, and Trowa arrived and the place thrummed with the chatter of humans. Although I could see my owner coming to claim me, I slipped around Trowa and Quatre to greet Duo, first. I'd learned that lesson. I wasn't going to neglect him.

"Relena's gone and can't take you," were the first words out of his mouth.

"We can stay together," were the first from mine.

We didn't have a chance to say more right then, but I made certain that we touched noses. That contact meant a great deal.

After a few minutes more of discussion, the wild horses agreed to accompany me and the other riders back to the stable for medical treatment. Most of them had once been owned by humans and, in spite of poor treatment in the past by humans, they understood and saw in us the benefits of proper care. They weren't excited about possible "shots", but each one had something they felt needing fixing. Even Une was eager to have her hooves looked after.

The doctors used us to steer the wild horses to the stables. The few actual wild pintos feared the noisy vehicle, but Une nipped at them, doing her job to keep them moving.

Howard kept the Mustangs all corralled inside the arena, while the vet and her very kind and capable assistant, Meg, treated them one by one. Treize remained in the special "sick" room where Duo had recovered from his apple bloat. We were allowed to visit and at night, Duo released Une and Noin so they could look in on him.

My understanding was that it was touch and go. His leg wounds were serious and he'd developed a fever.

But the humans had good magic that had cured Duo and soon my leg was perfectly fine.

And Treize recovered. He'd limp until the scar tissue healed completely, was what I understood. Wufei explained that he might need to return for a "check up".

The wild horses stayed a few weeks, Trowa told me. It didn't feel all that long but the weather had changed, the color showing in the trees. There was a tentative agreement for the wild herd to return with the first snow and stay the winter indoors. Most of them seemed grateful for the treatment and food, but when Treize was able and called them to action, they left,

disappearing into the mists from which they were born.

And that was The Atmospheric Ending.

But there's more to come in the next chapter!

* Quotes or paraphrasing taken from the original series

Chapter 22

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