Disclaimer - I stole some parts from the fic's inspiration - The Horse Whisperer
~~The Equicorn Whisperer~~ How she Opened upWhen James woke that morning, he was stunned by how beautiful the cherry tree by his window was. It had a spectacular display of blossom now that spring had entered the year and his memories were transported to the day he had planted it. Jessebelle's parents bought it for him as an engagement present and before he left for Pokémon Technical he'd buried the small stone with the help of Woodson* the gardener. "Master James," he'd instructed, "I promise to look after your tree while you are on holidays or at school. But when you are here, you should take responsibility for it." James nodded. Looking back, James had always felt a rapport with nature. And he still did. After breakfast he collected the gardening tools from the shed and visited his tree. Woodson passed away several years ago and although other gardeners had cared for the cherry tree…James wanted it all to himself. He delicately pruned the lower branches. His leg felt raw from its rough partnership with the prosthetic so he sang a song to numb the pain. "#Hei! Gaaru? Rimembaa mii? Aimu Sutaamii! Doushite anata wa Fushigisou? Retto itto Biidoru! Rettsu Goosu! Rakkii, rakkii, rakkii…**" Jesse watched him with intrigue. He seemed able enough to sing and prune. So why could he not ride? He finished his song and stroked the bark thoughtfully, tracing each contour like it was a separate, unique being. "We are both rooted to one place. Incapable of moving; even if we want to. You and I, cherry tree." James sat underneath and inhaled the sweet fragrance of the entire garden. Jesse thought that that was the daftest thing she'd ever heard. "It's not a case of 'can't' as it is 'won't'!" she muttered cantankerously (ooooh, big word!). Fortunately he did not hear and she stomped away undetected.
Meowth didn't know what made him go to see the wretched Equicorn. He felt her calling and, against his human nature, ran to help her. He picked his way through the dewy midnight grass; choosing to walk on four legs rather than the two he'd grown accustomed to. The Equicorn would fear him too if he appeared too human and she would hear him long before she saw him. His fur absorbed the moonlight and glistened as the wetness around him slicked it back along the curves of his torso. So many times he'd been told to keep away from Equicorn in case she attacked or panicked and managed to escape. An animal or Pokémon in danger could grow incredibly strong, as could a human. The thrill of being caught pushed Meowth on. He went through the back way and was sure to be loud enough for Equicorn to know he was there. He did not wish to frighten her. She turned her head round and gazed unwaveringly for a while watching him climb down from the window and towards her. She stepped away and her flanks grazed the stone wall. "Don't be afraid," Meowth said quietly in Pokéish***. The Equicorn's ear flicked back and forth in time with each syllable he said. She seemed to calm and her muscles relaxed but still she did not allow Meowth to move closer. Each time he tried she reared up and snorted in disapproval. He soon got the message. "How are you?" he tried. It was a weak silence filler and she did not answer. "Your scars have healed nicely." Immediately Meowth regretted saying this. She gave him a hurt look and she licked one of the scars. "Sorry." He scratched his neck thoughtfully. He had to persuade this horse to let James ride her. Then persuade James to ride her. "I know you probably hate humans by now, but they're not that bad. So I was wondering…"
"No." She carried on tending to her long forgotten wounds. Meowth was taken aback by her emotionless answer. "Please, Equicorn." He got on his knees and held her leg. She jumped away in shock at his contact. No one had touched her for weeks. He scrambled out of the way of her flailing legs. "Leave me alone!" she whinnied. Meowth grew angry. "It would mean a lot to James and Jesse."
"You mean those pathetic, love-struck humans?"
"That's them!" He scratched his neck again. Equicorn leant against the wall. "Only if…" He leaned in closer as if he were about to hear the world's best kept secret. "What?"
"If he gives me a name." Meowth was surprised. It seemed a simple enough request. They made an agreement. If James were willing to race, she would allow him on her back. And he would have to give her a name in time for the race. "What about Meowzie or Cassandra for a name?" Meowth suggested. She politely refused these and instructed him that only James could pick her name. "Why?" asked the puzzled Meowth. But she never answered him. She'd fallen asleep on a bale of hay. He curled up beside her. "Goodnight."
The next morning James went to feed Equicorn and was surprised by her calm reaction to him. Normally she'd stomp and scream and neigh and kick until she ran out of breath. Instead, she greeted him with an eerie serenity. He crept towards her feedbag. He quickly refilled it and threw it over her head. She stood there, munching quietly. James grew more confident. "So you want to challenge me to a staring contest, do you?" She tossed her head in answer to his question. He sat by her salt lick and began staring, and watched her for signs of weakening. She continued eating and never once looked away from him. Their staring match seemed to go on forever and James had to eventually blink. "I was this close!" he warned Equicorn. She smiled a knowing smile that he couldn't see because the bag was in the way. When I say bag, I mean Jesse. "James, leave the Equicorn alone for now. You can train to ride her later."
"But I'm not riding her…"
"Meowth and I think differently!" He raised his hand to shush her. He breathed in deeply. "What a wonderful fragrance. The scent of sleeping flowers in the rain." She looked at him as if he were crazy. And it was then she understood. He didn't mean 'sleeping' flowers. It was a metaphor for the inevitable passing away the flowers endured every autumn. The dying that he felt inside. The wind caused the trees outside to bend as if agreeing, sadly. He flicked his forelock out of his eye and limped back to the mansion. Jesse pointed at the Equicorn; "He WILL ride you in the race. Just you wait."
"I hope so," Equicorn said in Pokéish. "I truly hope so."
* Woodson – middle name of the outlaw Jesse James
** Taken from Kojiro's song 'Lucky, Lucky!'
*** My name for the language of Pokémon, pronounced Po-kay -ish
