This is my first fanfic! Please dun keel me! D: And no flames. Google is your friend when you come across horse terms you don't know of. I'm sorry. Hehehe. I'll try to slim down on the equine talk a bit, though.
Enjoy! Hopefully...
"Everyone, find a horse and tack them up! The battle is only hours away!"
It had been 2 years since the war had started. They were nearing the end, and this was one of their biggest battles. It involved charging in on warhorses. Though there would be more injuries, ultimately, they would have the upper hand. They had a 1200 pound animal underneath them doing all the running and trampling. It would be more difficult for some of the Hand members to run you over. And in the long run, you had more energy if you weren't using it to run away or run towards them. They realized the horses did get tired eventually.
14 year old Sabrina Grimm was well-respected in the army. Though her addiction often prevented her from using magic as a weapon, she was a very talented swordsman. She also knew how to use other weapons like daggers, clubs, and chairs. Don't ask.
By the time Sabrina was finished getting herself ready, almost everyone had gotten a horse and were nearly finished putting on the tack and armor. The armor was heavy, which was why many of the horses were Baroque or draft horses. (AN: If you're not a horse person, I'm sorry. Google it. xD I'm not good at putting it into non-horsey perspective.) Sabrina sighed. She heard the thud of hoofbeats and looked up to see a giddy Daphne on a small but stocky Gypsy Vanner.
"Isn't she beautiful?" she squealed.
Sabrina looked at the horse for a moment. A piebald with a mane flowing past the shoulders, and a tail that was thick and flowing. She remembered this mare. They had to cut a few inches off of her tail in order to keep it from dragging along the ground during battles. They should have cut the mane, too. Judging from the looks of some of the volunteer stablehands when she came to practice jousting, it was extremely difficult to brush.
"Yes, and I know this is a huge favor to ask of you, but PLEASE don't get her dirty!"
"She'd be beautiful even if she was covered in mud!" And with that, she nudged her horse with her heels and cantered away before Sabrina could say that she hadn't meant it that way. She sighed.
She had rode almost all the horses at the stables. She loved almost all of them. Almost. Sleipnir's gait was way too weird for her.
She loved riding Black Beauty, but she just never clicked with him. Zorro's horse, Toronado, tended to test her patience. Besides,
didn't Zorro need him to be in the battle? Bree Hee Hinny Hoo Hah, or Bree, talked way too much for her taste. Gunpowder was much too spooky after his race with the Headless Horseman but still made a semi-decent warhorse with the right rider. And the list went on.
She really wished her favorite horse, which happened to be a normal horse, a black Andalusian gelding named Luz de la Luna,
(AN: or Moonshine. ILY GOOGLE TRANSLATOR. EVEN IF YOU AREN'T COMPLETELY ACCURATE SOMETIMES...) wasn't injured with a torn ligament. She sighed. Just then, Puck walked by.
"What's wrong, Grimm? Horses too scared of your ugly face to let you ride them?" His eyes twinkled with amusement and mischief.
She sighed and ignored him.
"Grimm, I'm talking to you."
She frowned and said nothing.
"...I can't believe I'm doing this. Do you really need a horse, Grimm?" He sighed when her back was turned, but he was grinning. When she turned back around to look at him, eyes full of suspicion, he had a slightly annoyed look on his face, though.
"...Yes?" It came out sounding more like a question.
Puck sighed. "Then I guess I don't have a choice." He paused. "Any preference? Fancy, plain, whatever's good?"
She still was confused. "...Something like... Luzer?" It was an affectionate nickname the camp had come up with for the horse.
Puck scoffed. "That horse is nothing compared to ME! I am not a copy!" And with that, he turned into a stunning Lipizzan destrier stallion.
Sabrina, however, did not see it coming. It had finally dawned on her after he had shifted. "Y- You expect me to ride.. YOU!" The horse snorted and stomped as if to say, "Isn't it obvious?" And with that, he nudged her towards the tackroom.
. . . . .
Sabrina had finished putting on both hers and Puck's armor and they still had time left over. Much to Puck's dismay, showing this through continuous snorts and attempts to nip Sabrina until she hit him on the nose, she plaited his mane and tail. She had even given him a full grooming before she put the tack on, seeing how slow things were going. She was getting hot in her own armor. She took her helmet off and Puck's head and neck pieces. He bobbed his head in thanks and took a deep horsey breath.
Both horse and girl were getting antsy.
Then, as Sabrina was putting the pieces back on, she heard a shout. She instinctively placed a hand on her sword hilt, making sure it was there, and put her left foot in the left stirrup, agilely lifting herself up into the saddle and grabbing the reins. She was nervous,
and Puck was getting the vibe and started prancing in place. He was actually quite comfortable to sit on, but she didn't let her mind dwindle on the thought. Puck craned his neck around and nuzzled her.
"Huh?" she blinked and looked down. Puck nickered. She looked at her hands, realizing how much she was pulling on his mouth with her tight hand on the reins. "Oh, I'm sorry!" Puck nickered again and nuzzled her, gazing at her with his green eyes. They looked quite odd looking out from an equine's face. She sighed. "Are you nervous, too?" she murmured. His nostrils quivered, and he looked at her for a moment longer before turning back around. She didn't fail to notice he had one ear cued into her at all times, though.
She heard another shout, finally, calling for the army's attention. Charming sat on a muscular young mare who looked as cocky as Charming was, but her eyes were filled with barely suppressed ferocity and an eagerness for battle. She reared up and neighed for good measure. Good thing her rider expected it.
"We will ride out silently and camp come nightfall!"
Snow came up on a gentle young gelding, but he still sported a look that said he was the leader and he knew it.
"Be sure not to light any fires and bring dull flashlights to find your way! Make sure you have someone with you at all times!"
Sabrina frowned. Daphne surely had paired up with Red, or anyone but her. She thought for a moment before Puck stamped a hoof. Oh, that's right. Her mount was someone, right?
When they signaled it was time to leave, they set off at a brisk trot.
. . . . .
Sabrina sat munching on saltine crackers. She couldn't sleep. She wasn't much of an easy sleeper in the first place, and she doubted many people could sleep in this situation. They were left exposed and were sleeping in uncomfortable armor. She settled for watching the stars, hearing light snoring coming from next to her. She looked over to see her companion sleeping while standing up, lower lip and ears drooping, and a hind leg cocked. She grinned. The ride had been fairly comfortable to this point. If it wasn't Puck, she would gladly ride this horse every day. She would have to ask him if he knew anything about Lipizzans when everything was over.
After a while, she decided to close her eyes for a bit. And surprisingly, she fell into a decent slumber.
Whatchu thinkkkk so far? I have quite a bit of the second chapter written out but I'm still plotting. Dunno how far this is gonna go. When I run out of muse, I expect you to halp me. I haven't reached any of the action yet, though. xD It's gonna start out slow. REVIEW. KTHX.
