TITLE: Draco Meets Orion
AUTHOR: Echo the Nymph
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Dragon Ball Z.
NOTES: I'd like to thank my sister, Anika, for kicking me in the butt to finish this. I'd also like to thank ESPN for showing all of those Grand Prix of show jumping. And now, for your reading pleasure, chapter six.
Chapter 6: At the Show.
"And the winner of the dressage competition is...Miss Lana Luz de Leon and Odin's Raven!" the announcer cried over the PA system. A large group of her friends cheered loudly as the large gelding trotted back into the ring so Lana could collect her ribbon. She was grinning happily; as it was the first time at this show that they had gotten the blue.
Gohan wandered away from the ring so he could find Echo. There she stood, next to the horse trailer, putting the finishing touches on Esperanza's grooming job. "Hey, Echo, they're setting up the course now." He placed his hand on her shoulder so she would know he was behind her.
"Arigato, Gohan." She shook her head. "When you said teach me Japanese, did you mean it would come out every time I said a familiar phrase?" Confusion and irritation were plain in her tone.
The young warrior chuckled softly. "No, Echo. That's not what I meant." he replied. The girl finished tacking up her filly and led her to the ring. "Echo, I'll hold Esperanza while you walk the course with the other riders."
"I'd appreciate it, Gohan." the Spanish girl replied as she went into the ring. But, the young saiya-jin caught a glimpse of her eyes. The tears glistening in them startled him.
Is she always tearful before a show? Or is something else bothering her? What do you think, Esperanza? I know that you know Echo better than her parents, and almost as well as her sister does. Gohan thought in concern. As the riders left the course, the warrior noticed three ki's coming towards the area he was in. Ugh. Kuso. I'd better leave, but if I leave now, Echo will be mad at me. He shuddered. I've only seen her angry once before, and that reminded me of my mother times ten.
Echo mounted her Appaloosa filly. "You can let go of the reins now." Gohan complied instantly.
"I can tell that something's bothering you. What is it?"
"I'm really not very sure. It's just that I have a sense of terrible foreboding."
"Shake it off. Don't let that bother you when you're in your element."
Echo smiled softly. What would he know about my element? Oh, well. He's right. It's like this is my element. She rode the filly about at a walk to keep her loose and focused on what she was telling her to do.
"And now, the last rider of the class, Miss Cecilia Luz de Leon aboard Esperazna de la Estrella." the announcer declared. Echo rode into the ring and saluted the judges before beginning. The young saiya-jin warrior looked on as she began.
Yosh! I've never seen her so focused before. Yatta! She's clearing every fence like it were nothing. This is so her element. Just as they cleared a jump that everyone else had knocked down, a tingling awareness caused him to tense. Oh, shimatta. I really wish that guy would stop following me around. It's my guess that he doesn't want to attack me when there's other people around. He'd rather keep this battle a secret. Soon afterwards, the competitors cleared the last fence like it was only a small vertical. It was a clear round!
As the teen left the ring, the judges made their final decisions. They informed the announcer, who then went over to the mike. "Coming in sixth place is Gryfalcon, ridden by Miss Christina Deloncre." He paused to allow the girl to pick up her ribbon and exit the ring. "Coming in fifth place is Golden Promise, ridden by Mr. Jorge Ponce." A similar pause followed. "In third place is Ladybird, ridden by Ms. Margie Luz de Leon." Another pause. "In second place is... Fuega de la Tierra, ridden by Mr. Manuel Pollo de Castille." He paused much longer than he had to, just for dramatic effect. "And now, coming in first...Esperanza de la Estrella and her rider, Cecilia Luz de Leon!"
After she had exited the ring, Gohan caught her up in a hug that would've crushed a normal human. "That was beautiful, Echo!" he cried.
"Thanks. Um, could you loosen up a little? It's getting hard to breathe."
"Gomen."
"It's all right. Come on, let's go back to the farm. My dad already knows, so he won't worry." Gohan put her back on her filly and leapt on behind her. They set off at a steady trot.
Echo, someone is closing in on us. Better step on it. Gohan commanded.
Hai. "Gallop, girl. Gallop!" she cried. Esperanza let out with an incredible leap and fell into her father's famous stretch drive gallop. The trio covered the ground rapidly, but it still wasn't fast enough to get out of their pursuers sight.
How much farther do we have to go, Echo?
Not much. Just two more furlongs. They galloped into the main pasture then halted. The duo of teens dismounted and cooled the filly out. Once she was back in her stall, they went inside.
"Let's get changed. I have a feeling we're going to need much more flexibility soon."
"Yes, let's." Echo agreed. They went into their respective rooms.
This guy just doesn't know when to quit. Now Echo's in danger too. Gohan thought as he slipped on casual clothing, much like the loose fitting gi that he had been wearing when he first entered this dimension. I just hope that what I've decided to do is the right thing. I can't leave Echo here. I just can't.
He met her on the balcony. "Echo, come with me." he commanderd. She stopped leaning on the railing and followed Gohan into the forest.
"Gohan, why did you want me to come with you?" she inquired.
He fixed a soft look at her. Just then, an alarmed look crossed her face. "Duck!" she cried. The young warrior did just as she had declared. A powerful ki attack soared over him.
A group of warriors laughed as they surrounded the two. "Now, Gohan, it looks like the odds are in our favor." The one who had originally fought him declared. The group was laughing and had their arms crossed over their chests.
Echo shuddered at the sight of them; not understanding why. Something about their attitude, what they wore told her they were a menace. Desperately, she tried to call a spell to mind, one of protection. Yet every word that came to her was not of her magical language. Nor was it Spanish. It was one she didn't understand, yet one that she did.
It was confusing her to no end. Yet, from deep within, she could tell that friendlier forces were coming. Whispering softly, she cast a spell to protect them from detection from those who would not understand what was occuring. By the Goddess, she barely understood it herself!
From behind her, came one of them. His arms took ahold of her firmly, despite her struggles. Angrily, she snapped at him in Spanish. As he didn't understand a word she said, he only tightened his grip. Finally, she had enough of this. Yet at such a close range, spells would be harmful and not helpful. Still, she struggled physically calling to mind all her sister had taught her in the manners of the martial arts. Surely, her skill was surprising at least some of them.
AUTHOR: Echo the Nymph
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Dragon Ball Z.
NOTES: I'd like to thank my sister, Anika, for kicking me in the butt to finish this. I'd also like to thank ESPN for showing all of those Grand Prix of show jumping. And now, for your reading pleasure, chapter six.
Chapter 6: At the Show.
"And the winner of the dressage competition is...Miss Lana Luz de Leon and Odin's Raven!" the announcer cried over the PA system. A large group of her friends cheered loudly as the large gelding trotted back into the ring so Lana could collect her ribbon. She was grinning happily; as it was the first time at this show that they had gotten the blue.
Gohan wandered away from the ring so he could find Echo. There she stood, next to the horse trailer, putting the finishing touches on Esperanza's grooming job. "Hey, Echo, they're setting up the course now." He placed his hand on her shoulder so she would know he was behind her.
"Arigato, Gohan." She shook her head. "When you said teach me Japanese, did you mean it would come out every time I said a familiar phrase?" Confusion and irritation were plain in her tone.
The young warrior chuckled softly. "No, Echo. That's not what I meant." he replied. The girl finished tacking up her filly and led her to the ring. "Echo, I'll hold Esperanza while you walk the course with the other riders."
"I'd appreciate it, Gohan." the Spanish girl replied as she went into the ring. But, the young saiya-jin caught a glimpse of her eyes. The tears glistening in them startled him.
Is she always tearful before a show? Or is something else bothering her? What do you think, Esperanza? I know that you know Echo better than her parents, and almost as well as her sister does. Gohan thought in concern. As the riders left the course, the warrior noticed three ki's coming towards the area he was in. Ugh. Kuso. I'd better leave, but if I leave now, Echo will be mad at me. He shuddered. I've only seen her angry once before, and that reminded me of my mother times ten.
Echo mounted her Appaloosa filly. "You can let go of the reins now." Gohan complied instantly.
"I can tell that something's bothering you. What is it?"
"I'm really not very sure. It's just that I have a sense of terrible foreboding."
"Shake it off. Don't let that bother you when you're in your element."
Echo smiled softly. What would he know about my element? Oh, well. He's right. It's like this is my element. She rode the filly about at a walk to keep her loose and focused on what she was telling her to do.
"And now, the last rider of the class, Miss Cecilia Luz de Leon aboard Esperazna de la Estrella." the announcer declared. Echo rode into the ring and saluted the judges before beginning. The young saiya-jin warrior looked on as she began.
Yosh! I've never seen her so focused before. Yatta! She's clearing every fence like it were nothing. This is so her element. Just as they cleared a jump that everyone else had knocked down, a tingling awareness caused him to tense. Oh, shimatta. I really wish that guy would stop following me around. It's my guess that he doesn't want to attack me when there's other people around. He'd rather keep this battle a secret. Soon afterwards, the competitors cleared the last fence like it was only a small vertical. It was a clear round!
As the teen left the ring, the judges made their final decisions. They informed the announcer, who then went over to the mike. "Coming in sixth place is Gryfalcon, ridden by Miss Christina Deloncre." He paused to allow the girl to pick up her ribbon and exit the ring. "Coming in fifth place is Golden Promise, ridden by Mr. Jorge Ponce." A similar pause followed. "In third place is Ladybird, ridden by Ms. Margie Luz de Leon." Another pause. "In second place is... Fuega de la Tierra, ridden by Mr. Manuel Pollo de Castille." He paused much longer than he had to, just for dramatic effect. "And now, coming in first...Esperanza de la Estrella and her rider, Cecilia Luz de Leon!"
After she had exited the ring, Gohan caught her up in a hug that would've crushed a normal human. "That was beautiful, Echo!" he cried.
"Thanks. Um, could you loosen up a little? It's getting hard to breathe."
"Gomen."
"It's all right. Come on, let's go back to the farm. My dad already knows, so he won't worry." Gohan put her back on her filly and leapt on behind her. They set off at a steady trot.
Echo, someone is closing in on us. Better step on it. Gohan commanded.
Hai. "Gallop, girl. Gallop!" she cried. Esperanza let out with an incredible leap and fell into her father's famous stretch drive gallop. The trio covered the ground rapidly, but it still wasn't fast enough to get out of their pursuers sight.
How much farther do we have to go, Echo?
Not much. Just two more furlongs. They galloped into the main pasture then halted. The duo of teens dismounted and cooled the filly out. Once she was back in her stall, they went inside.
"Let's get changed. I have a feeling we're going to need much more flexibility soon."
"Yes, let's." Echo agreed. They went into their respective rooms.
This guy just doesn't know when to quit. Now Echo's in danger too. Gohan thought as he slipped on casual clothing, much like the loose fitting gi that he had been wearing when he first entered this dimension. I just hope that what I've decided to do is the right thing. I can't leave Echo here. I just can't.
He met her on the balcony. "Echo, come with me." he commanderd. She stopped leaning on the railing and followed Gohan into the forest.
"Gohan, why did you want me to come with you?" she inquired.
He fixed a soft look at her. Just then, an alarmed look crossed her face. "Duck!" she cried. The young warrior did just as she had declared. A powerful ki attack soared over him.
A group of warriors laughed as they surrounded the two. "Now, Gohan, it looks like the odds are in our favor." The one who had originally fought him declared. The group was laughing and had their arms crossed over their chests.
Echo shuddered at the sight of them; not understanding why. Something about their attitude, what they wore told her they were a menace. Desperately, she tried to call a spell to mind, one of protection. Yet every word that came to her was not of her magical language. Nor was it Spanish. It was one she didn't understand, yet one that she did.
It was confusing her to no end. Yet, from deep within, she could tell that friendlier forces were coming. Whispering softly, she cast a spell to protect them from detection from those who would not understand what was occuring. By the Goddess, she barely understood it herself!
From behind her, came one of them. His arms took ahold of her firmly, despite her struggles. Angrily, she snapped at him in Spanish. As he didn't understand a word she said, he only tightened his grip. Finally, she had enough of this. Yet at such a close range, spells would be harmful and not helpful. Still, she struggled physically calling to mind all her sister had taught her in the manners of the martial arts. Surely, her skill was surprising at least some of them.