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Here, finally, is. . .
~Chapter Four~
Two and a half years later. . .
~*~*~
". . .And a new saddle, and a pair of those REALLY nice waterproof riding boots, and that watch I saw in the window at Burdoff's, and-"
"Woah, Diana!" Mom laughed. "Are you sure that's ALL you want for your birthday?"
I shrugged. "Okay, okay. Maybe I am being a little too greedy. But I want- and need-a new saddle. I'm outgrowing the one I use on Princess now. And if I'm going that Young Jumpers Championship, Princess and I have to be in top condition."
Mom's smile faded a little. "Yes, I suppose so," she sighed, before going out of the room.
"Hmm. . ." I muttered. Mom, Dad, even Grandma had been acting really weird lately. They were so glad I was still such a good show jumper on Princess, but it was like they had something else hidden up their sleeve.
I sat on my bed and thought. It had been two and a half years since Mom bought Princess Flamemight, and now we were jumping fences over three feet high. Princess still didn't trust anyone but me, though.
I could wait until I was officially twelve, which would happen in exactly one week. After that, I could go to the Young Jumpers Championship and try to become-well, a champion!
I decided to go see Princess, and maybe take her out for a quick ride before dinner. I hopped off my bed and ran out of the house, quickly telling Grandma as I passed her I was going to see Princess.
"Be back in time for dinner!" she called.
~*~*~
"Hello Princess," I cooed when I got to her stall. She whickered rubbed her nose against my cheek.
"Oh ew," I smiled. I got out her brushes and tack, and began working on her. After she was all tacked up, I quickly brought her to the center of a ring and mounted her.
"We need to practice," I told her. "In a week I turn twelve, and that means I can sign up for the championship. And THAT means we have to win it!"
Princess snorted, and I told her to go.
We trotted around the ring for a few minutes before I let her canter, and then jump a fence that was two and a half feet high. We cleared it easy.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shane brushing Mars Flamethrower. About a year ago, Red Spot had evolved into a Rapidash-who knows how-so Shane had to wait a few more years until he got taller so he could ride Red Spot. Right now, he was too short to control a Rapidash. Mars was still a Ponyta, so he was riding him for the time being.
I pushed my now short hair behind my ears-Mom had finally given in and let me have it cut to my chin-and prepared to jump the fence again.
"You rock, Princess," I smiled when we cleared the jump. I trotted her around the ring a couple of times, thinking of the long two and a half years that had finally passed. I had been looking forward to the Young Jumpers Championship ever since Shane had told me about it, and practiced with Princess nearly every day.
"Diana!" Danielle called from the house. "That was your dad on the phone! He's coming home from work and bringing back dinner, so he wants you back in time."
"Okay!" I called. I slowed Princess to a walk and let her cool off for a few minutes, then dismounted and walked her to her stall. On the way, we passed Shane, who was still brushing Mars. Or, at least, a body brush was in his hand and held up to Mars's coat, but Shane wasn't moving. He seemed to be staring at something else.
"Shane?" I asked. He didn't move.
I shrugged and continued to walk to the stall, when I heard something, a hissing noise, almost.
"Let. . .me. . .out. . ."
"What?" I cried, turning around, seeing who could be talking.
"Out. . .she's still. . .alive. . .must. . .destroy. . ."
"Who's there?" I asked, now more worried.
"Mine. . .they will. . .not. . .continue. . ."
I walked a little faster and reached the stall. I quickly put Princess inside and took off her tack in record time, and quickly rubbed her down.
"Later," I said to her. I ran home, hoping to get rid of that weird voice. But I heard it again.
"Mine. . .destroy. . .get out. . ."
I went inside my house and slammed the door, standing behind it, panting.
"Diana?" Mom called. She walked into the room and saw me in my panicked state. "Honey, what's wrong?" she cried.
I paused before answering. Should I tell her about the voice? I wondered. I decided not to and said I was fine.
"I just wanted to make sure I got home in time for dad," I lied.
Mom cocked her head and looked at me. "Okay," she sighed before walking upstairs.
~*~*~
"Happy birthday dear Diana. . .happy birthday to you!" Dad, Mom, and Grandma sang. I pushed my hair from my face and blew out the twelve candles, not bothering to make a wish.
They clapped when the last flame died, and Dad immediately got a knife and started cutting the chocolate-with-vanilla-frosting cake. He put a piece on a plate and handed it to me.
"Mmmm," I smiled, taking a bite. "Good cake, Grandma."
Grandma smiled. "Thank you, birthday girl."
We sat there at the table, eating cake in silence. I was waiting for Julie and Allison. They were going to sleep over for my birthday.
Just as I finished the last bite, the doorbell rang. I jumped up and answered the door.
"Hey you guys!" I cried when I saw my friends standing on the porch each with a backpack, sleeping bag, and a neatly-wrapped present.
"Hey Diana!" Julie said. She handed the present to me. "Happy birthday!"
"Happy birthday," Allison echoed as she handed me her gift. "Uh, my sleeping bag is about to fall out of my hands. Can we go inside?"
I laughed and let them in. We dashed up to my room and dropped everything on the floor.
"We are so neat," I commented, looking at the jumble of blankets, pillows, hairbrushes, and other things that cluttered the floor.
"Oh, I know. Looks just like my room," Julie said, and Allison and I burst out laughing. Julie's room had been a pigsty possibly since before time.
"Oh, who cares about messes! Open your presents!" Allison cried.
"Okay, okay!" I exclaimed, and tore the wrapping paper off of Allison's gift. Inside was a photo album, and half of it was full of pictures of the three of us through the years.
"Awesome!" I cried. I turned to one particular picture, where we were in the second grade. Allison was sticking her tongue out, Julie was crossing her eyes, and I was cocking my head with my eyes wide open. Our arms were around each other.
"I've been looking for this picture forever!" I said happily. "I thought I had it in my drawer, but I looked and it wasn't there. . ."
"Well, now you have it. Open my gift!" Julie whined.
I quickly unwrapped Julie's present, the waterproof riding boot I had been wanting!
"Thank you!" I cried, immediately pulling them out of the box and trying them on. "I'll rock the championship in these boots. Now lets just hope Mom gets me a new saddle."
Julie and Allison laughed, and I cleaned up the wrapping paper. We spent the next couple of hours playing Truth or Dare, dancing, watching movies, playing video games, and just talking. It was four in the morning before we fell asleep.
~*~*~
I woke up at noon the next day, which was Saturday. I looked at the floor and saw Allison mumbling something in her sleep, and Julie snoring away.
I giggled and quietly hopped out of bed. I quickly got dressed and ran downstairs.
"Hey Mom!" I said, seeing her cooking something at the stove. "What's for breakfast?"
"Waffles, bacon, and eggs," she answered quietly, and turned around.
"So, you're officially twelve, huh?" she smiled. "Going to the Young Jumpers Championship?"
"Yeah, of course!" I smiled.
Dad and Grandma appeared from the living room, carrying a huge gift-wrapped object.
I knew-I just KNEW-what it was. I quickly tore through the paper to reveal a brand-new fake leather saddle.
"Oh my gosh!" I cried, flinging my arms around Mom's waist, then Dad's, then Grandma's. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"
"That's your birthday present for the next five years," Dad joked.
I stared at my new saddle and smiled. "Oh, Daddy."
"Finally got the saddle, huh?" I heard a voice say. I spun around and saw Allison and Julie standing there, looking all bleary-eyed.
"Yeah!" I exclaimed.
"We heard you screaming from upstairs," Julie complained, but smiled.
"I'm going to try it on Princess later," I said. "After you guys leave."
Julie and Allison pretended to look shocked, but then hugged me.
"We're all twelve! Yay!" we cheered.
"Ok you guys," Mom said. "Breakfast is getting cold."
We all sat down to eat and gobbled up the waffles and bacon, leaving most of the eggs behind. A few minutes later, Allison and Julie's mothers came by in their cars to pick up my friends.
"Bye!" I called as they walked out the door. "See you Monday!"
~*~*~
About an hour later, I was able to totally wake up and get over to Princess's stall. It was a little awkward lugging the saddle, but I didn't mind, especially since I was wearing my new boots.
"Hello Princess!" I called when I approached my Ponyta's stall. "I have a new saddle for you!"
Princess stuck her head out of the stall and whinnied. I put the saddle down and rushed over to rub her nose.
"Where did you get that saddle?" I heard someone asked. I spun around and saw Shane standing there with Mars's reins in his hands.
"I got it for my birthday," I answered. "And stop sneaking up on me like that. You do it enough at school."
It was true. Shane had this weird way of popping up out of nowhere and sometimes scaring me half to death. After two and a half years at school, he still had no friends-at least, none that I knew of. He was really quiet most of the time and stared into space a lot.
"Oh," Shane answered, and stared at me, the saddle, and then walked away with Mars without another word.
"Hmph," I muttered. How rude. He hadn't even said happy birthday or anything. What is WITH this guy?
The new saddle fit perfectly on Princess. It was like whoever made it created it just for me and Princess. Once her tack was on, I led her out to the middle of a ring and mounted her and walked her around a few times.
I was just started to trot when Danielle came running out with something in her hand. "Diana," she shouted, startling Princess a little. I stopped her, and she stood nervously.
"Diana," Mrs. Mavens said again, huffing and puffing. She was holding some sheets of paper in her hand. "I have some stuff you need to fill out if you want to go to the Young Jumpers Championship. Just have April-er, your mom- read it over and then when it's all filled out give it back to me."
"Okay," I said. "Can you hold onto the papers until I'm done riding?"
Danielle smiled. "Sure," she said, and started walking back to the house. "Nice saddle," she called over her shoulder.
I grinned.
~*~*~
Remember, please be nice and review! Now I must watch ZIM!
Here, finally, is. . .
~Chapter Four~
Two and a half years later. . .
~*~*~
". . .And a new saddle, and a pair of those REALLY nice waterproof riding boots, and that watch I saw in the window at Burdoff's, and-"
"Woah, Diana!" Mom laughed. "Are you sure that's ALL you want for your birthday?"
I shrugged. "Okay, okay. Maybe I am being a little too greedy. But I want- and need-a new saddle. I'm outgrowing the one I use on Princess now. And if I'm going that Young Jumpers Championship, Princess and I have to be in top condition."
Mom's smile faded a little. "Yes, I suppose so," she sighed, before going out of the room.
"Hmm. . ." I muttered. Mom, Dad, even Grandma had been acting really weird lately. They were so glad I was still such a good show jumper on Princess, but it was like they had something else hidden up their sleeve.
I sat on my bed and thought. It had been two and a half years since Mom bought Princess Flamemight, and now we were jumping fences over three feet high. Princess still didn't trust anyone but me, though.
I could wait until I was officially twelve, which would happen in exactly one week. After that, I could go to the Young Jumpers Championship and try to become-well, a champion!
I decided to go see Princess, and maybe take her out for a quick ride before dinner. I hopped off my bed and ran out of the house, quickly telling Grandma as I passed her I was going to see Princess.
"Be back in time for dinner!" she called.
~*~*~
"Hello Princess," I cooed when I got to her stall. She whickered rubbed her nose against my cheek.
"Oh ew," I smiled. I got out her brushes and tack, and began working on her. After she was all tacked up, I quickly brought her to the center of a ring and mounted her.
"We need to practice," I told her. "In a week I turn twelve, and that means I can sign up for the championship. And THAT means we have to win it!"
Princess snorted, and I told her to go.
We trotted around the ring for a few minutes before I let her canter, and then jump a fence that was two and a half feet high. We cleared it easy.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shane brushing Mars Flamethrower. About a year ago, Red Spot had evolved into a Rapidash-who knows how-so Shane had to wait a few more years until he got taller so he could ride Red Spot. Right now, he was too short to control a Rapidash. Mars was still a Ponyta, so he was riding him for the time being.
I pushed my now short hair behind my ears-Mom had finally given in and let me have it cut to my chin-and prepared to jump the fence again.
"You rock, Princess," I smiled when we cleared the jump. I trotted her around the ring a couple of times, thinking of the long two and a half years that had finally passed. I had been looking forward to the Young Jumpers Championship ever since Shane had told me about it, and practiced with Princess nearly every day.
"Diana!" Danielle called from the house. "That was your dad on the phone! He's coming home from work and bringing back dinner, so he wants you back in time."
"Okay!" I called. I slowed Princess to a walk and let her cool off for a few minutes, then dismounted and walked her to her stall. On the way, we passed Shane, who was still brushing Mars. Or, at least, a body brush was in his hand and held up to Mars's coat, but Shane wasn't moving. He seemed to be staring at something else.
"Shane?" I asked. He didn't move.
I shrugged and continued to walk to the stall, when I heard something, a hissing noise, almost.
"Let. . .me. . .out. . ."
"What?" I cried, turning around, seeing who could be talking.
"Out. . .she's still. . .alive. . .must. . .destroy. . ."
"Who's there?" I asked, now more worried.
"Mine. . .they will. . .not. . .continue. . ."
I walked a little faster and reached the stall. I quickly put Princess inside and took off her tack in record time, and quickly rubbed her down.
"Later," I said to her. I ran home, hoping to get rid of that weird voice. But I heard it again.
"Mine. . .destroy. . .get out. . ."
I went inside my house and slammed the door, standing behind it, panting.
"Diana?" Mom called. She walked into the room and saw me in my panicked state. "Honey, what's wrong?" she cried.
I paused before answering. Should I tell her about the voice? I wondered. I decided not to and said I was fine.
"I just wanted to make sure I got home in time for dad," I lied.
Mom cocked her head and looked at me. "Okay," she sighed before walking upstairs.
~*~*~
"Happy birthday dear Diana. . .happy birthday to you!" Dad, Mom, and Grandma sang. I pushed my hair from my face and blew out the twelve candles, not bothering to make a wish.
They clapped when the last flame died, and Dad immediately got a knife and started cutting the chocolate-with-vanilla-frosting cake. He put a piece on a plate and handed it to me.
"Mmmm," I smiled, taking a bite. "Good cake, Grandma."
Grandma smiled. "Thank you, birthday girl."
We sat there at the table, eating cake in silence. I was waiting for Julie and Allison. They were going to sleep over for my birthday.
Just as I finished the last bite, the doorbell rang. I jumped up and answered the door.
"Hey you guys!" I cried when I saw my friends standing on the porch each with a backpack, sleeping bag, and a neatly-wrapped present.
"Hey Diana!" Julie said. She handed the present to me. "Happy birthday!"
"Happy birthday," Allison echoed as she handed me her gift. "Uh, my sleeping bag is about to fall out of my hands. Can we go inside?"
I laughed and let them in. We dashed up to my room and dropped everything on the floor.
"We are so neat," I commented, looking at the jumble of blankets, pillows, hairbrushes, and other things that cluttered the floor.
"Oh, I know. Looks just like my room," Julie said, and Allison and I burst out laughing. Julie's room had been a pigsty possibly since before time.
"Oh, who cares about messes! Open your presents!" Allison cried.
"Okay, okay!" I exclaimed, and tore the wrapping paper off of Allison's gift. Inside was a photo album, and half of it was full of pictures of the three of us through the years.
"Awesome!" I cried. I turned to one particular picture, where we were in the second grade. Allison was sticking her tongue out, Julie was crossing her eyes, and I was cocking my head with my eyes wide open. Our arms were around each other.
"I've been looking for this picture forever!" I said happily. "I thought I had it in my drawer, but I looked and it wasn't there. . ."
"Well, now you have it. Open my gift!" Julie whined.
I quickly unwrapped Julie's present, the waterproof riding boot I had been wanting!
"Thank you!" I cried, immediately pulling them out of the box and trying them on. "I'll rock the championship in these boots. Now lets just hope Mom gets me a new saddle."
Julie and Allison laughed, and I cleaned up the wrapping paper. We spent the next couple of hours playing Truth or Dare, dancing, watching movies, playing video games, and just talking. It was four in the morning before we fell asleep.
~*~*~
I woke up at noon the next day, which was Saturday. I looked at the floor and saw Allison mumbling something in her sleep, and Julie snoring away.
I giggled and quietly hopped out of bed. I quickly got dressed and ran downstairs.
"Hey Mom!" I said, seeing her cooking something at the stove. "What's for breakfast?"
"Waffles, bacon, and eggs," she answered quietly, and turned around.
"So, you're officially twelve, huh?" she smiled. "Going to the Young Jumpers Championship?"
"Yeah, of course!" I smiled.
Dad and Grandma appeared from the living room, carrying a huge gift-wrapped object.
I knew-I just KNEW-what it was. I quickly tore through the paper to reveal a brand-new fake leather saddle.
"Oh my gosh!" I cried, flinging my arms around Mom's waist, then Dad's, then Grandma's. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"
"That's your birthday present for the next five years," Dad joked.
I stared at my new saddle and smiled. "Oh, Daddy."
"Finally got the saddle, huh?" I heard a voice say. I spun around and saw Allison and Julie standing there, looking all bleary-eyed.
"Yeah!" I exclaimed.
"We heard you screaming from upstairs," Julie complained, but smiled.
"I'm going to try it on Princess later," I said. "After you guys leave."
Julie and Allison pretended to look shocked, but then hugged me.
"We're all twelve! Yay!" we cheered.
"Ok you guys," Mom said. "Breakfast is getting cold."
We all sat down to eat and gobbled up the waffles and bacon, leaving most of the eggs behind. A few minutes later, Allison and Julie's mothers came by in their cars to pick up my friends.
"Bye!" I called as they walked out the door. "See you Monday!"
~*~*~
About an hour later, I was able to totally wake up and get over to Princess's stall. It was a little awkward lugging the saddle, but I didn't mind, especially since I was wearing my new boots.
"Hello Princess!" I called when I approached my Ponyta's stall. "I have a new saddle for you!"
Princess stuck her head out of the stall and whinnied. I put the saddle down and rushed over to rub her nose.
"Where did you get that saddle?" I heard someone asked. I spun around and saw Shane standing there with Mars's reins in his hands.
"I got it for my birthday," I answered. "And stop sneaking up on me like that. You do it enough at school."
It was true. Shane had this weird way of popping up out of nowhere and sometimes scaring me half to death. After two and a half years at school, he still had no friends-at least, none that I knew of. He was really quiet most of the time and stared into space a lot.
"Oh," Shane answered, and stared at me, the saddle, and then walked away with Mars without another word.
"Hmph," I muttered. How rude. He hadn't even said happy birthday or anything. What is WITH this guy?
The new saddle fit perfectly on Princess. It was like whoever made it created it just for me and Princess. Once her tack was on, I led her out to the middle of a ring and mounted her and walked her around a few times.
I was just started to trot when Danielle came running out with something in her hand. "Diana," she shouted, startling Princess a little. I stopped her, and she stood nervously.
"Diana," Mrs. Mavens said again, huffing and puffing. She was holding some sheets of paper in her hand. "I have some stuff you need to fill out if you want to go to the Young Jumpers Championship. Just have April-er, your mom- read it over and then when it's all filled out give it back to me."
"Okay," I said. "Can you hold onto the papers until I'm done riding?"
Danielle smiled. "Sure," she said, and started walking back to the house. "Nice saddle," she called over her shoulder.
I grinned.
~*~*~
Remember, please be nice and review! Now I must watch ZIM!