A/N: Heya folks, here's my first Horseland fic, introducing my characters: Emily, her horse Avatar and her parrot C.J. I took my pal, Roger's advice in separating these into 3 acts, took a while to figure out how long each act would be but I found out eventually. Anyways, critique would be nice, so long as it's polite sounding, okey-dokeys? And if you wish to bug me about a stupid rule, please do so through PM or email, not in the reviews. Got it? Well, anyways, on with the show!
Then Came Emily
Today is a normal, typical day at Horseland, just then, Shep the rough collie comes over to the stable where Angora the cat & Teeny the pig are hanging around.
Teeny: Hiya Shep. Anything interestin' goin' on?
Shep: Well Teeny, I just heard the boss talking on the phone that Horseland is getting a new resident.
Angora: And just who might this new resident be? Another cat?
Shep: I don't think so, but all I know is it's someone named Emily and her horse. She also has another pet.
Angora: If it's another cat, count me out.
Teeny: Ooh, I can't wait to see Emily and find out what her other pet might be. I hope it's another pig.
Scarlet: I kinda would like to meet her horse, wonder what they're like.
Aztec: I guess we'll find out tomorrow.
The next day, a car with a horse trailer pulls into the driveway; the Horseland gang sees this.
Sarah: Hey, looks like we have a new horse here.
Alma: Yeah, my dad told me about a new horse getting boarded here.
Bailey: I also heard my dad talking about the new kid coming here.
Molly: That must be her.
An Asian girl comes out of the passenger seat. She has black hair & violet eyes, wears an aqua t-shirt with a Care Bear (Share Bear) on the front, blue jeans and black Chuck Taylors.
Zoey: That's the new girl? She seems kinda… plain.
Sarah: I love her shirt, though.
The new girl, Emily goes to the back seat and takes out what looks like a birdcage.
Bailey: I'm guessing that's her other pet aside from her horse.
Emily's older brother, Taro (whom drove her down) unhitches the trailer door and leads the horse out; the horse is a bay quarter horse gelding with a white stripe on his face also a white sock on his right hind leg, he also has teal highlights in his mane & tail. Scarlet peeks out her stall and sees him.
Scarlet: That's the new horse, he looks neat.
Pepper: (Scoffs) We'll soon see.
Will comes by and takes the horse.
Will: Oh here, I can take your horse.
Taro: Thanks man.
He takes the horse's halter & lead rope; he smiles & nods to Emily, whom just waves shyly. The two visitors go in the house. At that time, Will puts the new horse in a spare stall just across Scarlet and in-between Button & Aztec.
New horse: Hi there.
Other horses: (Various greets)
New Horse: I'm Avatar.
Scarlet: Avatar, I'm Scarlet. Nice to meet you.
Avatar: Nice to meet you too. So, what's it like here at Horseland?
Aztec: We have it pretty well here.
Button: What's your rider like?
Avatar: Well, I haven't known Emily for long, but she's not a bad person.
Teeny: Say Avatar, who's this other new pet of Emily's?
Avatar: I haven't met him yet. He should be inside.
Teeny: Thanks Avatar.
So, Teeny goes to the house as soon as the new people leave. She goes in through the pet door and sees the covered birdcage that Emily brought in.
Teeny: That must be it.
Mr. Handler removes the cover to reveal a scarlet macaw. To the animals he sounds like Bugs Bunny, New York accent and everything. Yet to the humans he sounds like a typical parrot.
Parrot: (Chirps) Eh, what's up, Doc?
Teeny: Hi, I'm Teeny.
Parrot: I'm called C.J. My original name was Rainbow but Emily renamed me C.J.
Teeny: Hey C.J., you should meet my friends, I think they'll really like you. But you're in your cage.
C.J.: Not to worry, I figured out how to open this thing. I don't like being cooped up for long.
He undoes the deadbolt latch on the door with his foot and he slides out.
C.J.: All right, now let's hang out.
Teeny: You bet, C.J.
Teeny takes C.J. to meet Shep & Angora outside.
Teeny: Hey Shep, Angora, meet C.J.
C.J. as Elmer Fudd: Hewwo. Heheheheheh.
Shep: Good to meet ya, C.J.
Though, Angora just turns her nose away. C.J. goes to her.
C.J.: What's new, putti-tat?
Angora: (Scoffs)
She goes off, ignoring C.J.
C.J.: Man, what's with her?
Shep: Don't worry, C.J. She'll warm up, eventually.
The next day, Emily (wearing riding boots) arrives at Horseland on the bus with Molly, Sarah meets with her.
Sarah: Hey Molly, you ready to practice for next week's show?
Molly: You bet, I've been looking forward to this for ages.
They go inside the stable with Emily slowly walking behind. Everyone else is preparing their horses such as grooming and tacking up.
Will: All right, gang. Remember that next week is the show, so just do your best today.
Alma: Of course, we usually do.
Will: Oh, I also want to introduce the newest members of Horseland. This is Emily…
He looks at the paper with her name, address & such. Being dyslexic and Emily's last name is Japanese; he has a smidge of a rough time.
Will: "Fu…jy…taw."
Emily: Fujita.
Will: Right, Fujita. She used to ride at Pearl Orchid Stables, but hasn't been in a saddle in 2 and a half years. Also, her horse, Avatar, who's being boarded here.
Avatar: (Neighs)
Sarah: He looks pretty cool.
Will: So, let's get saddled up and meet in the ring.
As Zoe puts her saddle on Pepper, she accidentally drops her helmet which rolls towards Emily. It stops at her foot; she picks it up and brushes it off some then hands it to Zoe, whom just snatches it meanly.
Zoe: Hmph!
She goes back to tacking Pepper as Emily sadly goes back to grooming Avatar. Alma notices Zoe's rude response.
Alma: (Arches brow) Hmm…
As everyone finishes and heads out to the ring, Emily stops before saddling Avatar.
Emily: (Sighs) I'm sorry, Avatar, I suddenly don't feel like riding at the moment.
Avatar: (Neighs questionably)
She puts her saddle on the stall door then puts Avatar back in his stall, then goes off, sadly.
Avatar: Shoot, I was kind of looking forward to riding with her.
In the ring, everyone mounts their horses and Will notices something.
Will: Hey, where's Emily?
Sarah: She's probably not up to riding right now.
Molly: Plus, she is new so next week's show is a bit short noticed.
Will: That's all right, no rush. She doesn't have to practice, and she can ride whenever she feels like it.
Chloe: Yeah, yeah, let's just get to practicing.
Zoey: I'm up for that.
The animals have also seen this.
Teeny: Aw gee, Zoe didn't have to be so mean to Emily.
Shep: You're right, Teeny.
C.J. as Daffy Duck: She's de-(sputters)-spicable. (normal voice) Yeesh, I hate seein' Emily so upset. Someone has to cheer her up.
Shep: That's not a bad idea, C.J. Let's go.
Angora: Well, I suppose if we must, since no one disserves... (sees everyone going off) Hey!
She catches up with them. The quartet made up of Shep the dog, Angora the cat, Teeny the pig and C.J. the parrot go to Emily whom is sitting on a hay bale outside the other end of the stable.
Emily: (Sniffles, sighs)
As she lowers her head, C.J. flies onto Emily's shoulder.
C.J.: (Chatters)
Emily: C.J., how ya doin', buddy? I see you got out of your cage already; you have a knack for that.
Emily notices the other animals.
Emily: Aw, are these your new friends?
Teeny gets onto the bale on the right as Angora curls onto Emily's lap and Shep lies by her feet on the left.
Emily: Aww, aren't you guys friendly? (reads Angora's tag) "Angora". Hey sweetie.
She sits with the critters for twenty minutes or so, until the others come back and put up their horses.
Sarah: Good practice, Scarlet.
Alma: You too, Button.
Molly: Though, I wonder where Emily's at.
Bailey puts Aztec away, and then goes looking for Emily.
Bailey: Hey, Emily! Where are you?
Bailey walks down the barn and in a second sees Emily on the hay bale with the pets.
Bailey: Oh, you're right there.
Just then, the triangle rings for lunch.
(Triangle ringing)
Teeny: Oh boy, food! My favorite!
Teeny, Shep & Angora go towards the house for lunch, as do the rest of the kids and Emily follows way behind with C.J. still on her shoulder.
Emily: I don't know about you, C.J. But I'm startin' to get hungry.
C.J.: (Chatters)
End of act one