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"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 Four-All for One (o) Howard POV Nothing made me sleep better at night than knowing my horses were thriving, even buying a brand new, excessively loud shirt gave me less pleasure. And the horses were blossoming-like my roses were not. Heh, wonder why that is? The striking Appaloosa finally came out of his shell and perked up with attention from the new Arabian. Of course, he heaped copious attention on Quatre as well. The affection was not something I've noticed in horse behavior before-not between mature stallions. Heero and Duo spent time together, as they had before, but Heero seemed calmer as the Thoroughbred has learned to tolerate the black Morgan's teasing manner. And Duo has simply flourished with ample exercise and a steady diet. He was quite playful and coltish yet, a good year or so younger than the other horses. If I didn't know better, I'd say he amused Heero. All was well, and that was a good thing because fall was in the air and after that would come the winter with its harsh weather-too harsh for these purebreds. Even the wild horses go under the shelters the workmen erect and accept the extra hay and feed left for them. No, my fine little horses could be in closer quarters day and night for days at a time. If they didn't get along, I wanted to know now. And on that subject, the indoor arena building project was on target to be completed on time, thankfully. Particularly with hot blooded horses, I'd need the workout space. There are only two recognized hot-blood breeds; the Arabian and the Thoroughbred, and we had one of each. "Hot blooded" referred to their temperament, which has been described as difficult by some and passionate by others, and categorically demands regular exercise. But then there was Duo, who appeared compelled to keep up with Heero, and Trowa, who seemed to enjoy displaying his intricate dance training. Actually, they all provided the doctors and me with an array of interesting and often delightful entertainment. I made a call to the place of my previous employment, the Peacecraft stables, to chat with a few old contacts. There was a club, of sorts, made up of us old geezers who ran or worked with the elite's horses. We called ourselves the Sweepers and one of them had taken my place at Peacecraft's. "Yeah, things are fine here. Horse Haven Sanc-tuary it's called. Yeah, well, I'm looking for a horse of my own. Something special. Just be on the lookout for a stallion. Stallion only." They were paring down their stock, as it turned out, and concentrating on a few mares exclusively. A stallion might be available in spring. Not a bad time at all. (o) Quatre's POV It was hot as I was used to during the day, but at night the temperature dropped. I wasn't really cold. I was lonely in my cell. Isolated from the others. I could hear Trowa the best, since he was in the stall next door. Shuffling his feet. Sneezing. Eating first his mash and then munching on his hay. He did that for the longest time. Then he was quiet. Very quiet. Too quiet. My imagination filled in all the dark corners with horrible images of "things" coming at me out of the walls... and up from the floor to get my hooves. "Hey, Beautiful, settle down over there." "I-I'm sorry, Trowa. I'm not used to being alone this way." Snort. "I thought you'd had a hard time with war horses and would have liked being apart from the rest of us." "Yes, but that part happened so recently and was over so fast." "So tell me about the good memories." What a good idea! "As I'd told you before, I'd been brought up in a harem of mares; the lead mare, Iria, was my sister, giving me some preferential treatment. I led a delightful life. So happy and coddled. My training began right after breakfast each and every day. I learned my proper gaits and polite manners. We all slept on cushions and ate out of gold cups and we were dressed in the finest, softest blankets to protect our backs from the sun. And I had a matching face mask to protect me from the flies. The lace was imported!" "Was it? Lucky you. I had to wear some pretty awful crap in the circus, too." I didn't think he understood quite how much I had liked my old life, but he was a lovely listener just the same. "We'd ride out into the sand and let the wind blow through our hair. Oh, Trowa. It was wonderful. And then it all ended!" "What happened?" Dark thoughts wiped out the golden sunshine of my harem days. "I know which gelding turned me in. He'd been visiting from the 'working' horse stables and spied me enjoying the life he didn't have. I did not mount that mare! He circulated lies about me, and the mares made Iria push me out of the harem." "Rough." "And the stud stables were horrid!" I shivered so hard I bumped against the wall adjoining Trowa's stall. "They made me mount a fake horse for practice and tried taking samples of... oh, it was humiliating." "Steady, there. You all right?" "Yes." I would be. I was tough inside. Trowa stuck his head out of the window; I could hear the difference in his voice. He had a nice voice, husky, whispery, soft. His heart felt so warm and true, and he paid attention to what I said and commiserated so well. I just knew I could trust him not to hurt me. "Depending on your interpretation of 'stud', not all stallions are stud material," he said. "I'm not." "Me neither," I confessed. "There, I said it and I don't felt like any less of a stallion for having admitted it. You should have seen me, Trowa. I destroyed two stalls trying to escape." "A real fighter." "But...oh, dear, after that the humans sent me to the battle tents." "Ah, you showed spirit though." "I guess I did," I said, feeling the painful memories recede into the background. Trowa could make me feel good with the simplest words. "Better now?" Amazingly, I was. I'd safely locked away the nightmares for the night. "Thank you. I think I can rest now." "Good. If I don't get my beauty sleep the spots move. You don't want my spots do you?" Air blasted out through my lips. He was so funny! "If I see any slipping under the door, I'll stomp them to tiny little specks like sand and let the humans sweep them away with the old straw." "Good idea. Don't want to muss up that pretty gold color." He liked my color! How sweet! Wait! Did he think I'd insulted his handsome dots? Oh, no! "I didn't mean I don't like the spots, sneaky or not. I think your spots are very... sexy and striking on you." "Hmm, ahh..." Trowa was mumbling and hiding behind his forelock having become bashful. Had I made him uncomfortable by complementing him? "What was that? I couldn't hear you." "Um... nothing... Anyway, it's better that you wreck my devious spots than the stall door." He was right, of course, but I didn't know any better way to chase away by nightmares, except- "If I had the right box with a tight-fitting lid, I could collect all your stray spots for when I need (you) extra bravery." He snorted that silly idea away. I shivered. A chilly breeze wafted in. To sleep, I'd had to close my stall window to the outside. The air was warm and nice during the day, but cold at night. "You're doing a lot of sniffing." Trowa was talking to me from the back window of the stall, the one facing into the barn. "I-I'm sorry. I'm cold." Snort. "Want me to come over?" "Oh, yes! Yes, please! Would you be so kind? I'd be so terribly grateful-" I had another thought. "I, ah, don't make a habit of inviting everyone I meet into my bedroom, just so you know-" "I'll be a minute getting Duo." Oh, of course, Duo. He was marvelously talented at getting human devices to move. His lips possessed an unbelievable agility, which he put to good use opening gates and latches. And I suspected Heero received a great deal of teasing from them, too. Not that it appeared he minded deeply. I heard Duo's shoes on the wood floor outside my stall, so I pushed open my window. "Hi!" I hadn't worn shoes, not on the soft sand of my homeland. The sand also kept my hooves manicured naturally. "Howdy do? I'll get your door-there you go, our Little Ray of Sunshine. Sweet dreams you two." Duo shuffled around Trowa and left us alone. "Hey, Beautiful." Trowa looked faintly amused by the whole silliness, though, I'm sure he'd seen more ridiculous things in his circus career. Oh, my! The way he called me "beautiful" warmed my heart so fast I shivered. My head was spinning so; I hardly knew what to say. Luckily I could fall back on my good manners at a time like that. "Hello. Won't you come in?" "Be my pleasure." He could chase away all the demons of the dark. I just knew he could. (o) The next morning, Duo let us out into the arena. "Wanna go out to the pasture? Might be some dew." He was looking at my feet so I know he was thinking I was terribly persnickety. I didn't want to appear fragile around these stallions, nice as they all seemed. Heero and Trowa appeared eager to get going. I didn't want to me the one they picked on, and experience warned me I would be. "Let's go!" I shouted and took off. Only Heero could keep up with me running at top speed. Trowa and Duo eventually joined up and looked able to keep going and going after we were totally winded. "I do so enjoy this meadow grass!" It was delicious and I spent most pleasant morning of grazing upon the delicate, fresh blades with the sun on my back. Trowa's head shot up and I looked around. Heero was already moving off toward a copse of low trees. Duo was alternating between whinnying for us and chomping on- "Apples!" Who knew that sweet treat grew on trees? I watched as he stretched his neck at little more and then nibble at the low hanging fruit. "It's falling off, " he explained, mouth full, "which is good... 'cause... look at all the apples just out of reach." Trowa steadied his rear footing then rose up into the air, kicking at branches with his forelegs, and more fruit fell. I just loved how he did that. He could dance so elegantly! Oh, oh. Heero looked angry. I admired him extremely, but he was also the one I was most afraid of. He was the leader and so bossy at times. Duo was his perfect foil, so unpretentious and a little bit of a rebel. I loved to watch them play. "It's not a substitute for grass." "It is for me!" "Food is too often your primary focus." Heero stomped his foot, crushing the apple Duo was lunging for. "Unacceptable. Your primary focus should be me." "Whoa, baby! Don't think too highly of yourself, eh? You ever starve to near death? I'll bet not." "Overeating now won't help a thing." "It makes me happy." Duo was so obstinate at times. "Suit yourself, then. Too much will make you sick." "How would you know?" "Lady Relena told me." "A human, naturally. A human starved me and... the others." Trowa nosed at a fruit and rolled it at my feet. I'd been so inattentive to him! "Thank you," I said and tested it. The skin looked bruised on one side, but it smelled delicious. I ate the little apple in two bites. Scrumptious! I instantly understood why Duo couldn't help himself. I didn't notice that Heero had left until Trowa nickered and I looked up from my own apple hunt and saw Heero and the kind human called Howard marching together. Howard shouted for us to "GO!" and Heero got all pushy. "Time to head back," Trowa told me. Had the morning passed so quickly? Oh, and being "hosed off" was definitely something I would have to get used to. There was the nasty being wet part and being chilled. Was it too much to hope for warm water and bubbly, scented soap? Probably. But there was the lovely being groomed component that came after. The others were so excited over getting their hooves done-I understood that perfectly! Cleaned and trimmed, we all looked so nice, and they weren't to get re-shod! No hard surfaces for them. Duo skipped about nickering for joy, "I feel so light!" I looked for my basket of adornments. I looked especially nice with dozens of ribbons, and a bit of polish on my hooves to make them sparkle. Rashid had left my things behind, though. Not even my blankets, or Percy. I tried not to show my disappointment. I shouldn't mind not getting my hooves polished; I really didn't, much. I wouldn't miss the ribbons, soon, either. I hoped. Fitting in with the others was far more important. I hoped I could. I hoped dear, sweet Percy could get on without me, too. I did get to keep my one lovely silk embroidered blanket, and none of the other horses minded as far as I could tell. Trowa even liked rubbing his nose against it, saying it felt "nice." It was nearly the color of his coat. Pink. The white roan finish all over softened the base strawberry turning him pink. Rose. Dusty Rose. Sprinkled with darling polka-dots! He felt nice, too, when he rubbed up beside me. We spent the afternoon in our stalls, waiting for a veterinarian to check us over one at a time. I guessed it was to make me feel less conspicuous. The vet fussed over me and it was lovely! I used my best manners and she was so kind. Her name was Sally and I loved her gentle hands. I could tell this was going to be a good home for me. I enjoyed the sunset out my window and the warm dry air turning cool on my face. A very nice place, even though I didn't feel very special, even though I wasn't the cherished one. Sally and Howard were talking. I often wondered what humans spoke of. I could often feel their emotional outbursts, but that was like looking out of a curtained stall door, leaving me to imagine all the rest of what was going on. So peaceful. I heard the most frightening noise coming from one of the other horses. Duo! He was complaining about a stomachache, gas, and, yucky diarrhea. I whinnied in alarm. Sally must know! Trowa and Heero joined in and once we had her attention, Sally was tending to Duo. Howard came. Humans carried devises to call to one another when they were too far to shout. Very handy since they were terribly hard of hearing, and seeing, and they couldn't sense smells at all. Poor things. No wonder they needed horses! Trowa stuck his head out his window and around so that if I did the same our noses could touch. "Duo's sick." "I heard!" "Heero's telling him it was the apples. Too many." "He could be right." I hoped Sally could help him. "Keeps trying to kick his sides." Uh oh. That's so dangerous. He might rupture himself doing that. "He must hurt so bad." I wasn't feeling so good myself, but I was just transferring his feelings to me, I hoped. "You should be fine, by the way." "Hmm?" "You only ate the one apple. You'll be fine." "Oh. Thank you, Trowa." So thoughtful. I really felt a little better now. "Hold on, Beautiful. Heero's calling." Beautiful? Me? I could barely hear Heero's over the noise from Duo's stall. Sally and another young woman she called "Meg" rushed past with blankets, a long coil of tubing, and a bucket of bottles. We'd only know each other a short while, but I felt Heero looked edgier than I'd seen him yet. He always looked intensely aware of his surroundings, but now he combined that with his extreme agitation. "They're making Duo stand. He wants to lie down. Oh-" "Heero! What is it?" Trowa sounded worried. He turned to me. "He's trying to peek into Duo's stall." Our leader vanished, but he wasn't gone long before his head reappeared. "I can't see well, but I think they've injected him with something. He's quiet. He's wrapped in blankets. I-I just don't know. I knew a horse that died with agonizing stomach pains." "He'll be okay." Trowa's low voice seemed to sooth Heero and his ears perked up. "He's a tough little horse. He's been through worse." "The idiot. Eating all those apples- He should have listened!" Now, I hardly knew him, but I could tell Heero adored Duo and didn't mean anything bad. He was so worried Duo might not make it. "Yeah, he should have," Trowa agreed. Yes, he cared, too. They all cared about one another in a way I admired. I wanted to be a part of this bachelor herd. I closed my eyes and reached out with my horse-sense and found Duo's mind. "Be safe. Be well. Rest." I reassured him over and over and he seemed to hear; at least, I felt it worked that way. It seemed that he felt me, too, and understood and calmed. I broke the contact and stuck my head out of my window as far as possible. "He's in less pain." Heero's gaze riveted on me. "He's... ah...passing the apple fine. He's going to be fine." I wanted to reassure him, but I could tell he was confused. "I can feel it." Both he and Trowa stared at me. I didn't flinch. I could stand up to two stallions separated by sturdy partitions. I'd stood up to many, and I'd gotten away. "He's got the horse-sense, Heero." "That's good to know." Heero look relieved even though he said, "Doesn't matter. I want to see how he's doing for myself." I smarted a little from Heero's sharp tone. Being emphatic could be seen as a useful tool, or an invasion of privacy. "He just misses all the attention Duo usually gives him." Trowa stretched his neck and I stretched until our noses touched. "Maybe you have some horse sense, too?" I gazed into Trowa's visible eye. "I sense you," was all he said. It was a long night. None of us slept. "Trowa?" "Yeah?" "Duo's asleep now." "I'll pass that on. Heero says he never sleeps, but Duo told me Heero sleeps during the day, resting his chin on his back. Once Duo asked him a question and he snored, so he knows." Trowa nickered in amusement. "They seem to like each other a lot." "Does that bother you?" "Me? Why should that bother me?" "Just making sure. You lived with mares." "I lived with stallions and geldings, too. They hated me." Trowa seemed unable to speak anymore; at least, he turned his head away to the privacy of his stall. The night wore on. "You'll be fine, Duo." I just knew it.
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