Hooray for chapter 3! Hopefully this one will be more eventful then the last. I'd like to thank all of my loyal reviewers and the people who read the story but didn't review (hint hint).

Special shout out to Linkin-Park-Raven-Beast.Boy who gave me the idea for this chapter. Hope your fic starts picking up!

Discalimer: I own nothing

Chapter 3: Bareback for dummies

Late at night in the boy's bunkhouse Beastboy sat up reading a highly interesting book (hey for all we know BB could be a secret bookworm). After making sure Robin and Cyborg were fast asleep he had begun his read. The book that had caught Beastboy's attention was titled Bareback Riding for Dummies.

"This is going to make me the hottest cowboy in camp!" he said aloud before imagining himself cantering Chippy around the ring bareback. The changeling had it all planned out, on the big camping trip he would ride bareback and all the girls would swoon over him.

"I best get reading."

Beast boy hadn't even read the first page before losing his focus. After reading the same sentence over 10 times he decided that trial and error was the best way to learn. With this in mind he transformed into a fly and buzzed out an open window. Once he was clear of the bunkhouse he made his way over to Chippy's stall.

"Chippy? You up?" He called.

The pony jumped at the sound of his voice but calmed down considerably after recognizing his latest victim….I mean rider.

"We're going for a little ride."

Beast boy led the pony out of the stall and began brushing and currying the painted coat. Chippy apparently became annoyed at having to stand still for what seemed like a year and bit the green boy's hand. Beastboy swallowed a yelp before turning to glare at the pony. Chippy stared back at him with his ears pricked happily as if he was innocent. After finishing grooming, he found his way to the arena where they had practiced earlier that day. He stopped suddenly realizing that somebody else was already riding. Beastboy had stopped, but Chippy hadn't and stepped on Beastboy's tennis shoe cover foot. Now that hurt.

"Ouch! Chippy you stubborn jackass!" he raved.

"Beastboy?" the rider asked hearing him cuss.

"Raven?"

There was a long awkward silence between the two before Beastboy spoke.

"What are you doing riding this late at night and….bareback besides." He stammered just now realizing that Raven was riding without a saddle.

"I was about to ask you the same question." She replied flatly.

"I was you know up and…..Chippy…yea Chippy was whinnying and I thought something was wrong so I…."

"You couldn't sleep either." She interrupted ending his tale in which he saved the pony's life from a rabid alien that he crash landed on the farm.

"Yea." He answered, keeping the true reason quiet for now.

"Same here. So I figured I'd see how Diablo was." Raven replied as she stroked the black horse's neck.

Beastboy was suddenly mesmerized by Raven. She looked so beautiful, the moonlight shown on her face. It gave a shine to her short purple hair and a sparkle to her violet eyes. He had always secretly had admired her, Terra was a crush and he cared about her but when it came to who was there for him Raven overshadowed her. She may not be the most loving girl but when it came to the stuff that truly matter, the tough stuff, she was always there and willing to help. He must have been staring because Raven gave him a weird look.

"Earth to Beastboy?"

"Oh, sorry Rae just slightly sleepy. Hey how didn't know you could ride bareback?" he said changing the subject.

"Neither did me until tonight. I've heard of it before, they say it's a good way to discover a sense of balance and get closer to your horse." She explained.

"Wow, and all this time I thought that the Indians rode like this to save money on tack."

"Where did you learn that?"

"The back of a cereal box." He replied proudly. Raven merely gave a sarcastic sigh.

"Say Rae can you teach me how to ride like that?" he asked.

'I should say no, I should snap at him for interrupting me' she thought but then replied.

"Sure"

Beastboy happily led Chippy into the arena, hardly believing his luck. Raven meanwhile asked herself why she had done just the opposite of what she thought.

'Why did I just agree to teach Beastboy? He's got the attention span of a goldfish (that's 1 second for any of you animal people) for cripes sake! Maybe it was the way he looked at me, with his eyes all wide and hopeful. He looked so sweet and sincere and cute. Hold up, back up, rewind! Did I just think of Beastboy the annoying, prankster as cute! Something is seriously wrong with me, I can't like Beastboy. I can't afford to like anyone. Plus Beastboy would never be interested in me….who do I look like Terra? I don't stand a chance.'

Now it was Raven's turn to stare mindlessly and Beastboy's turn to snap her out of it.

"Yo Rae you still here?"

"Yea, sorry." She mumbled as she reached for her hood only to remember that she didn't have her cloak on.

"It's no big deal. I know I look striking in the moonlight." He said posing.

Raven rolled her eyes.

"Ok first get on the horse." She instructed.

Beastboy, now in full impress Raven mode, swung himself over Chippy. And by over I mean straight over the pony and landing in the dust face first. Raven cringed when she saw Beastboy do a face plant in the dirt. She vaulted gracefully off Diablo and helped him up.

"You alright?" she asked concern in her eyes.

"Swell" he answered giving her a thumbs up before coughing.

"Try again."

Beastboy mounted Chippy this time and looked at Raven surprised that she hadn't laughed at him. He sat up straight and was determined to listen to her every word.

"Find a good center of balance."

Raven watched as Beastboy struggled to get a good seat on Chippy. The pony was built like a barrel. It had been easy for her to find her center on Diablo's slim, well muscled back. It didn't help when Chippy got frisky and took off at a fast trot.

"Whoa! Whoa Chippy! Whoa Mule!" Beastboy shouted as he clung to the pony's neck determined not to fall off in front of Raven.

Raven seeing Beastboy's distress urged the black horse up to a canter and rode tried to catch up to the runaway pony. Beastboy looked to see Raven and Diablo cantering up to him and Chippy. Raven didn't look near as relaxed riding bareback at a canter then she had when Diablo was walking. She struggled to keep her seat and was succeeding until Diablo hit a rock in the arena and stumbled. Beastboy saw the horrified look on Raven's face before she flew over Diablo's neck and landed hard in the dirt. That was the last straw for Beastboy he yanked back hard on Chippy's reins. The pony reared up and causing Beastboy to be down in the dirt as well. He leapt up from the ground and made his way over to where Raven lay motionless. Diablo stood over her nosing her trying to wake up his fallen rider. Before Beastboy could lay a hand on Raven the grief stricken horse pinned his ears and lunged at him. He had to admit that he was a bit taken back by the horse's actions, but after all he was only protecting his rider.

"Diablo I know your trying to watch over Raven but I need to be able to help her ok?" Beastboy said to the horse. Diablo nudged Raven once more before backing up so Beastboy could tend to her.

"Come on Raven." He begged as he cradled her in his arms. He brushed her hair out of her eyes lovingly.

"What happened?" Raven asked groggily as she opened her eyes

"You fell off remember?"

"Oh yea, god my head hurts." She said feeling the lump on her head.

"I'm so glad you're alright." Beastboy whispered as he held her closer. Raven blushed; she just now realized a she was sitting in Beastboy's lap.

"Um Beastboy we should get your pony." She said noticing Chippy standing at the far side of the ring.

"Oh, yea right." He said releasing her blushing furiously. After pulling Raven to her feet Diablo nickered softly and nuzzled Raven shoulder.

"Hey, pretty boy you alright?" she asked the horse as she felt down his legs to make sure the wasn't any swelling. Beastboy meanwhile marched over to Chippy and started to lead him out.

"Waite Beastboy thanks." Raven called to him.

"No problem Rae." He said smiling as he left.

Diablo snorted and nudged Raven as though saying, 'you like him and you know it'. Raven rubbed his neck, "I know what you thinking and the answer is no. He's just a friend." She quipped. Diablo sighed and shook his head in a 'you just keep telling yourself that fashion'.

--

And that kids is why you always ride with a helmet!

I know the pain of falling off because I fell off my horse the exact same way (and many other ways). Don't worry I don't think it brain damaged me…..at least not a ton (coughs).