Wheeeee! Thanks for the reviews (two, that's a record. . .oh well, a review is a review!)!!!!! I know I'm being sort of slow about this fic. It's just that I like to be ahead a couple of chapters before posting one, so that's why these are coming out that fast.

Enjoy!

~Chapter Two~

The next day at school, I told all of my friends about the new boy who was supposed to come in tomorrow.

"Is he cute?" my friend Julie giggled.

I wrinkled my nose. "No. . .he's just. . ."

"Spill!" Allison urged.

"Okay, okay," I sighed. "He's nice-looking and he has great Ponytas, but his personality is about as sweet as a rotten egg."

Julie and Allison's eyebrows raised and they looked at each other.

"Seriously?" Julie asked.

"Yeah. He didn't even thank me for the cookies I brought over," I complained.

"Maybe it was new-in-town jitters," Allison suggested.

I shrugged. "Somehow I doubt it."

~*~*~

When I was walking home from the bus stop that day, I pass the Maven's field. I saw Shane riding Red Spot along the fence.

"Trot on, Spot!" Shane called, and kicked the Ponyta gently in the stomach with his heels. Red Spot snorted and broke into a trot.

I shook my head and stopped staring. I jogged to my house and went inside to the kitchen, where Grandma had some crackers and cheese waiting for me.

I sat down to eat. "Going to see the Ponyta again?" Grandma winked.

I smiled. Last night at dinner, I told everyone about Princess, and how Danielle said I had a gift with her. Grandma had looked happy right away, but Mom and Dad stared at each other for a minute before slowly breaking into a smile. They were funny about the whole Ponyta thing-like they wanted to be happy about it, but they couldn't.

"Maybe," I said. "Shane's sort of a pain in the butt." Grandma laughed. "And," I continued, "I don't want to go anywhere I'm not invited."

"Well, the only thing you can do is go over there and hope Shane doesn't complain," Grandma said.

I chewed on a cracker and nodded. "Yeah. I guess. Anyway, I really want to see Princess."

I quickly finished my snack and ran over next door. I ran to the fence and waved to Shane.

"Hello!" I called.

Shane just nodded. I decided to take that as an invitation and walked inside the door in the fence. I jogged to Princess's stall.

"Hello Princess," I cooed.

The Ponyta happily walked to me and let me pet her muzzle for a second before snorting and stomping back. I turned around, and Shane and Red Spot were behind me.

"Sorry," I said. "Um, I just wanted to see Princess again. I really like her."

Shane nodded again. He dismounted off of Red Spot and held the reins. "Do you want to brush her?" he asked. "And take her for a ride?"

I grinned so hard, my cheeks hurt. "Yes!" I cried. "I'd love to!"

"Good. Here, hold Spot's reins while I get her stuff," Shane said, shoving Red Spot's reins into my hands and jogging off.

I stared at Princess. When she saw that Shane was gone, she put her head over the door of her stall and let me pet her some more. I saw that her coat was filthy. 'I'm going to be here awhile just brushing her,' I thought.

"Back!" Shane called. He was carrying a plastic basket with some brushes inside, a saddle, a blanket, and a bridle. He put them all on a table near the stall.

"You'll have to go in the stall yourself and brush her," he said, handing me the basket and taking Red Spot's reins. "Since she only likes you. Though I can't imagine why. . ." he said, rolling his eyes.

I frowned, but didn't say anything. I went into the stall and set down the brushes.

"First use the currycomb," Shane said from outside the stall. "That's the round, plastic one with a strap on the back."

I found it.

"Now put it on your hand and brush her in a circular motion. And you can press hard. It's like a massage to them."

I did that, and saw loose, dead hairs starting to fly off of Princess. I sneezed.

When I was done with the currycomb, I used the body brush to brush off all of that dead hair.

"That's good enough," said Shane, and I handed him the basket of brushes over the stall. He handed me the blanket and told me to put it on her back. I did, and then Shane handed me the saddle. He told me how to put on the girth, which had been attached to the saddle.

'This is easy,' I thought, tightening the girth.

"Now the bridle," Shane said, handing it to me. I stared at the jumble of rubbery-leather, metal, and buckles.

"Put the reins over her neck," Shane instructed. I did so.

"Now hold the top of the bridle with your right hand, and the bit straight out with your left hand."

I found a thick piece of metal, which I assumed was the bit, and held it out like Shane said.

"Clink the bit against Princess's teeth until she opens her mouth, then pull the bridle over her head."

I clinked, but Princess's mouth didn't budge. Finally, I whispered, "Please," and she opened her mouth right away. I stood there for a second before pulling the bridle over her head.

Only a few more straps and buckles on the bridle, and she was all tacked up.

"Hey! I did it!" I smiled.

Shane didn't say anything. He just opened the stall door and told me to hold on to Princess's reins.

We walked the Ponytas out to a ring, with various letters marking certain spots.

Shane told me how to mount Princess, and a second later, I was on top of a Ponyta!

"Wow, this is amazing!" I cried.

This time, Shane smiled a little. "Kick her stomach a little to make her walk," he said.

I kicked her stomach, and she started walking. I tried to remember how Shane had looked riding Red Spot. Heels down, toes up, thumbs up. . .

"Hey, you're good at this," Shane said, interrupting my thoughts. The Ponytas were side by side now, and Shane was observing my riding.

I think I blushed. "Thanks," I said.

There was silence except for the soft stomping of hooves for a minute, until a Pidgey flew down from a tree and close to Princess's head.

Princess took off on a gallop.

"Pull back on the reins!" Shane cried.

But no matter how much I pulled, Princess just kept going faster. I guess that Pidgey really spooked her. She galloped towards a fence and-

"Stop her!" Shane cried. "She's going to jump the fence!"

I pulled back on the reins, leaned back in the saddle, and shouted, "Woah, Princess!" but no avail. I suddenly found myself flying through the air riding a Ponyta.

I tried to remember what the professional jumpers on TV looked like. They were off of the saddle, looking up, with their hands in front of them-

When Princess landed, she stop galloping. Her sides were heaving and so were mine. Shane rode up to the fence with his mouth open.

"Where did you learn to jump like that?!" he exclaimed. "That was incredible!"

I turned Princess around. "I just. . .did it," I said. "I don't know. . .it was like I already knew what to do, even though I've never ridden a Ponyta in my life."

Shane stared at me, then Princess. "Princess Flamemight," he scolded. "You know better than that."

Princess snorted in response.

~*~*~

The ride back to the stalls was uneventful. As soon as I untacked and brushed Princess, I had no time to tell Danielle what happened, so I said goodbye to Shane and jogged home. I was already five minutes later than I said I would be.

I ran into my house and up the stairs to the bathroom. I saw that my face was all sweaty and tired-looking, but that my blue eyes were so full of happiness. And I knew why.

My bangs were sticking to my forehead. I brushed them out of the way and sighed. My hair is dark, like my mother's, but nowhere near as long. It's only waist-length. I've been thinking of cutting it, because it's a pain to take care of long hair, but Mom really doesn't want me to; I can tell. I think it's a family tradition for Tamer girls to have long hair or something.

Whatever.

I ran downstairs and saw Mom setting down dinner at the center of the table.

"Oh, Diana. I was just about to call you down," she smiled.

"What's for dinner?" I asked.

"Lasagna, salad, and breadsticks."

"Yum!"

Mom smiled and sat down. A second later, Dad and Grandma came in, and helped themselves to some food.

We were about five minutes into the meal when the phone rang.

"Darn it!" Mom exclaimed. She stood up to answer the phone. "Why do people always call when we're eating?"

I giggled as she picked it up. "Hello?" she asked.

I guessed it was a telemarketer or something, and ate another breadstick.

"Really? I didn't hear about that yet," Mom said, and looked at me. "Yes. . .yes, I know," she smiled. The person on the other line talked some more, and Mom yelled, "WHAT?!" This caused everyone to drop their food and stare at Mom.

"I'm not sure," Mom said. "Wouldn't that be expensive? Oh. . .really? Really? Well. . .I sure don't want to, but Diana will love it. . ." I frowned. What was she talking about?

"Okay, I'll ask her." Mom covered the mouthpiece and looked at me. "Mrs. Mavens told me about the little Ponyta incident today," she said, and raised an eyebrow.

Grandma and Dad looked confused, but I just nodded.

"She says you have a real gift with Princess, and wants to know if we would like to buy her."

I jumped out of my chair and my mouth dropped open. "Are you serious?!" I cried.

"Yes," Mom said. "Of course, this Ponyta would be a very big birthday present..."

"Please buy her Mom!" I cried, jumping up and down.

Mom uncovered the mouthpiece and said, "Yes, we'll take her," she said, and out a sad little sigh.

"Alright. . .okay. . .okay," she said. "Yes, thank you. Goodbye," she finished, and hung up.

I ran to Mom and flung my arms around her waist. "I can't believe it!" I cried. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"

"You're welcome," Mom laughed. "But Diana, if you don't take care of her well, we'll have to sell her back and you can't see her."

I smiled. "I PROMISE to take extra-special, good care of her!"

Mom sighed again and smiled the saddest smile. "Let's eat," she said.

~*~*~

After telling Dad and Grandma all about the 'Ponyta incident,' I ran to the Maven's and said hello to my new Ponyta.

"Hey," I heard someone say.

I spun around and saw Shane standing there.

"Hi," I said.

"It was my idea."

"Huh?"

"I told mom about you and Princess jumping, and she was wondering what to do. Then I suggested that you buy her."

I grinned. "Thanks."

Shane gave me an almost-smile back, and went into the house saying, "The tack and brushes are in that little shed."

I looked around and saw a dilapidated old shed, but the inside was as good as new. All of the Ponyta's brushes and tack were in here. I made a mental note of that.

I ran back to Princess. She whickered at me, and I went inside of her stall.

"Hello," I whispered, wrapping my arms around her neck. "I'm so glad you're mine now. Maybe we'll be famous show jumpers together!"

Princess snorted. Her eyes got big and she neighed in what sounded like fear.

I spun around. Too late, I saw a dark shadow disappear. I ran out of the stall and didn't see anything.

"Hmmm. . ." I said out loud. It was probably Shane, spying on me. What a dork.

I rubbed Princess's neck and closed her stall door. "Behave, Princess Flamemight!" I smiled. "I'll be back after school!"

~*~*~

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