Hi! Mysticbreeze327 here. This is an idea I tossed around for a while so I decided to give it a go. Tell me if you like it!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sprited Away because if I did I would be rich! :D Haha just kidding. Miyazaki owns it. I only own Ace, (who is awesome by the way) Brooke (who is almost as awesome) and any other random characters I make up on the way.

Chihiro urged Ace forward with her knees, pushing him into a fast canter. The seventeen year olds brown hair was tucked under a black helmet and her eyes looked straightforward. The trees loomed all around them but she didn't pay them any attention. Looking behind her, she whistled sharply at a German shepherd following them, its tongue sticking out at an awkward angle. "Come on Brooke," she called. "We're almost there."

Brooke sped up until she was head to head with Ace. Ace snorted in reply to the challenge. A couple minutes later they reached an old building, its dark red paint chipping away. A creepy statue was at the entrance I wide smile spanning its froggy face.

Chihiro slipped off Ace, her booted feet thumping unnaturally loud. "We're here," she whispered. Turning to Ace, she pulled the reins over his head and took her helmet off, slipping it under her arm. Stroking his ebony mane she looked down at Brooke. "You know I love you guys right? But I can't take you with me."

Brooke exchanged glanced at Ace as if saying are you kidding me? After all I've heard of this place you NEED Ace and I there or you're DOOMED.

Chihiro laughed and gently patted her head. "You can't come—hey! Come back here!"

Ignoring her completely Brooke padded forward into the tunnel, immediately swamped into the darkness.

Ace started to trot forward, pulling Chihiro with him.

"Ok! OK!" Chihiro cried. "You can come." Giving a resigned sigh, she pulled Ace gently to a stop and whistled.

Brooke came padding back, rolling her eyes as if saying come ON!

Chihiro's body shuddered as she walked into the abandoned train station, the gate to the spirit world. I thought I would never come here again. I can't wait to see Kamaji, Lin, and Zeniba. Oh yea, and Haku. Ace's metal shoes clanged loudly against the brick floor and Chihiro winced at the disturbed silence. I'm really glad I'm not alone though. Thank goodness I went against my better judgment and brought Ace and Brooke with me. Ace nickered softly, bringing Chihiro out of her thoughts. "Look," she said. "It's the end of the tunnel!"

The three companionsn stepped into a grassy field. Beautiful clouds flew across the sky and more creepy statues dotted the landscape. This time, no wind blew Chihiro forward, no building moaned. Only their moving feet pushed them forward. Climbing up the old stairs (Ace had some trouble, Chihiro had to help him) they stepped into the "abandoned theme park," onto a street lined with restaurants. One had foot cooking merrily on a stove, but to Chihiro's surprise, Brooke didn't go for the succulent meat. Ace, well, was a vegetarian so he wouldn't want to eat it anyways. "You must have been listening when I told you all those stories."

Brooke just woofed in reply. Well of COURSE we were listening. What sort of pets would we be if we didn't?

As they reached the end of the street, Chihiro took a deep breath and walked to the entrance to a large building, a bathhouse. The sun shone bright in the sky, but something about the way the air moved was foreboding. Dusting of her tan riding pants and straightening her pretty blue riding blouse she started to forward.

Ace suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the bridge. Whenever she moved he sidestepped, still blocking her from moving forward.

"What's gotten into you!" Chihiro exclaimed. "Let—me—through!" Pushing him aside as hard as she could, she strained to get past him.

Ace resisted, but years of training won out, and he stepped aside.

"Finally!" Chihiro stepped forward and gasped, her eyes wide open with shock. For there on the bridge, Haku stood with a girl with beautiful long blonde hair holding hands and laughing. Suddenly he pulled her into a long kiss. Chihiro's eyes narrowed in anger. Ok SERIOUSLY! Yea I know its been 7 years and all, but I didn't expect THIS. Wow Haku… you've sunk LOW. I mean I didn't expect him to welcome me with open arms and a kiss, maybe a "welcome back" or an "it's so good to see you!" Not this or HER. UGH! Well, it's not good to show weakness, so… Chihiro stepped onto the wooden bridge. Haku and his girlfriend hadn't even noticed her yet. Walking as calmly as she could she held tightly on Ace's reins and was reassured by the brushing on her leg as Brooke walked beside her. Passing by Haku she said without looking, "Hey Haku. It's been good seeing you. It's been a long time. A VERY long time."

Haku almost dropped the girl. "Chihiro—"

Ace took the liberty of spitting in Haku's surprised face as he passed by and Brooke growled threateningly.

Chihiro stepped through the wide entrance to the bathhouse. She turned around and looked apolitically at Ace. "Sorry buddy, you'll have to stay here until I find Lin. C'mon Brooke."

Brooke gave a triumphant look at Ace. Ha I get to go with her and you don't. POWN.

Ace just glared back. Oh shut up… I'm still her favorite.

Brooke gave an amused huff. In your dreams buddy. I gotta go now. Where YOU can't go. MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! She then followed Chihiro through the door, leaving an annoyed Ace behind.

Chihiro walked through the empty bathhouse. She hadn't taken off her boots, (AN: Oooo bad girl :D) but they were relatively clean and didn't leave trails on the floor. She climbed up the massive flights of stairs, but unlike last time, she was well exercised and it took little effort. Other than riding, she also swam regularly. Finally she and Brooke reached her old room where she had slept with Lin and the other girls. Grinning, she snuck over to Lin's sleeping form and leaned in close over her face. "Lin, wake UP!" she cried in a singsong voice.

Lin opened her eyes in a flash. "AHHHHHHH!" she screamed and scrambled to get up.

The other girls in the room opened their eyes and looked toward the commotion. "Lin what's up?" One woman asked sleepily. "Ugh what is that STENCH? HUMAN!"

"Oh by Kami's sake what are you doing here!" Lin cried. "Who are you and how did you get here!"

Chihiro was laughing to hard to speak. "Oh Lin," she finally "You can't even recognize an old friend?"

"You're not an old friend!" Lin cried indignantly. "I'd never be friends with a HUMAN. Except for one, but she was here 7 years ago. She had the most beautiful chestnut hair, like yours, and pretty brown eyes, like yours. Wait… no way…"

"Yes way!" the teen cried and hugged her older friend. "I'm back and ready to partayyyy!"

"Slow down there hotshot," Lin said shoving Chihiro gently. "I still haven't forgiven you for waking me up so early."

Brooke barked loudly, begging for some attention.

Lin screamed even louder than before. "What is THAT!" She and the other girls scotched away from Brooke as far as she could.

Brooke looked annoyed. Really? I'm not that scary!

Chihiro looked at Lin in amazement. "Are you serious? You've never seen a DOG before?"

"A a a a dog? What's that?" Lin looked at her fearfully.

Chihiro pulled Lin closer to Brooke. "This here is Brooke. She's a German Shepherd and the nicest dog you'll ever meet. Which is very probable according to the fact you've never seen a dog before… C'mon she won't bite."

Lin hesitantly patted Brooke's nose. Brooke licked her hand and smiled a doggy smile. Lin started to grin and she stroked Brooke's soft ears.

Chihiro gasped, lifting up her hand. "I'm see-through! O not again."

Lin sighed resignedly as she stood up from her newfound friend. "We better get you and Brooke some food then."

The two raced through the empty hallways to the kitchen, where Lin found some rice balls and a piece of chicken. She handed Chihiro a rice ball, who immediately bite into it, and tossed Brooke the piece of chicken. Immediately the two became nice and solid.

Chihiro started for the door. "There's one more friend I have to make sure is ok," she said.

Lin followed her, curious to see who this "friend" was.

Chihiro ran to the entrance and was relieved to see Ace standing there, nice and solid, eating some grass. Haku was gone.

Lin gasped, again. "What is THAT?"

Chihiro grinned. "That my friend is a horse and his name is Ace. He's also one of my best friends, next to Brooke. And you. Kinda."

Lin stroked Ace's muzzle. "Wow, it's even softer than Brooke's ears!"

Ace nickered triumphantly to Brooke. Haha. I win. Score!

Shut up!

Chihiro unlatched Ace's girth and slipped her dark leather saddle off. 2 large saddlebags hung from the sides of the English saddle, a strange combination. The bridle went off next and Ace gave a satisfied grunt as the bit came out.

Brooke snickered a dog snicker. And that's why I'm lucky big guy. I don't have to put a cold metal bit in my mouth.

Shut up.

"Hey Lin, do you mind putting these in the room?" Chihiro asked, giving Lin the saddle, saddle pad, and bridle. "It's time I saw my good old friend Yubaba."

There's chapter one! I hope you liked it! PLEASE read and review! I hate doing this, but I want at least a couple reviews before updating. I like knowing what the public thinks.

Character Description Thingy:

Ace: a jet-black Arabian thoroughbred mix stallion with a thin white stripe on his face and two white socks. Very good temperament but can be very playful. Loves to run and jump.

Brooke: A German shepherd with the normal colors (I don't have a dog so I don't know much…) brown and black. Female with a very good temper. Likes to argue with Ace a lot.

Chihiro: a beautiful 17 year old with long brown hair going a couple inches past her shoulders and pretty hazel eyes with a greenish tint. About 5 ft 5 inches. Hobbies are riding horses and swimming. Very athletic. NOTE: in this story she isn't infatuated with Haku, she just like him. I mean seriously they were like 10 when they "fell in love."

THANKS FOR READING!
-Mysticbreeze327

Thanks for reading!