Third Person POV
Hooves pounded at Champion's head. He dodged a fatal blow with only an inch to spare. Champion tried to see who his attacker was, but it was so dark and the other horse kept moving to quickly blow after blow. It hadn't been a fair fight from the beginning. Champion had been sleeping when a hoof slammed into his side, waking him painfully. Now he could see how the horses had gotten into his pasture; the fence was badly broken.
"Champion, it's time for you to go!" Champion couldn't shake off the familiarity of the voice. Then it dawned on him that this was his father's killer. Now he wanted to kill Champion too! Wind. He was so jealous that he had to kill his father and his brother; what next, his mother?
Champion jumped back, avoiding the crisp hooves that kept trying to hit him hard. Just as those hooves landed Champion launched into a series of kicks with both his front hooves and back. He only managed to hit Wind a few times; and even so he did little damage. Champion was starting to tire out; but he couldn't give up! He wouldn't let Warrior down now. He had to complete his family's legacy, and prove himself. He was the one who was supposed to be the next world champion. Margie would be crushed if he died. Not to mention Star and Coco, and Janee.
"Go away!" Champion neighed fiercely. Wind didn't listen; instead he slammed his front hoof into Champion's cheekbone. It didn't hurt, but the impact made Champion's face jerk sideways, throwing him off balance. He stumbled a step and shook his mane, just in time to feel hooves slamming into his backbone painfully. Anger and rage was boiling up inside him; Wind was being totally unfair. "Traitor!" He neighed. Wind stopped for a split second, about to reply. But Champion was playing at Wind's game now; he screamed and head butted into Wind's chest. He could almost feel the breath being knocked out of the other stallion's lungs, and it was oh so satisfying.
Wind stumbled back a step, and lost his advantage. Champion struck out in anger once again. He hit home hard; Wind crumbled beneath his force and fell to the ground. Champion's eyes flashed triumphantly and he reared up to deliver the last blow. But before he could slam down, the clouds parted and moonlight flooded onto the bloodied figure below him. Champion squinted his eyes in shock and confusion. He landed beside the figure and starred at him.
"Bloodmoon?" His voice wavered disbelievingly. The other stallion looked up, hatred in his eyes. Champion simply couldn't believe it. "Bloodmoon…h…wh…" he simply couldn't get any words out. Bloodmoon slowly rose to his hooves, sides heaving in defeat. "That's right Champion…it's Bloodmoon, good ole Bloodmoon." Champion backed up a step, all his systems in shock. "How could you?" Bloodmoon rolled his eyes coldly. "How could I? No no no…How could you?"
Realization dawned on Champion, but Bloodmoon continued, "You knew I liked her…but no, you had to have it your way. Your best friend can never get anything better than what you have. Your best friend can't have anything he wants if you have a say in it!" The hatred in Bloodmoon's voice chilled Champion. "You'd do all this over a mare…over Star?" Bloodmoon shook his mane, ice blazing in his eyes, "It's not just Star you idiot! You have the best parents in the world, the nest lineage. You're supposed to win every race you ever enter. You're supposed to make Margie proud. YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU!"
Champion had no idea Bloodmoon had contained so much jealousy during their friendship. But something else was making him very angry. "You didn't have to kill Warrior over this! He had nothing to do with it!" Bloodmoon grinned wickedly. "That's very true. But I did it simply to hurt you. To prove you're not the invincible stallion everyone thinks you are!" Champion's anger reached his limit. Without warning he charged into Bloodmoon with so much force that the other stallion was slammed backwards and he fell over. Blind with rage Champion trampled over him and kicked and lashed, he did everything he could until finally he had to stop. But Bloodmoon was dead.
-/-/-/-/-A FEW WEEKS LATER-/-/-/-/-
The news spread around the entire facilities that Bloodmoon had been Warrior's vicious killer. The story of how Champion differed from teller to teller, but his closest friends knew the actual story the way it was. Star and Wind were among those horses. After Champion had told Wind about how he had thought he had been the killer and that he was sorry, the half brothers' bond had strengthened for the best.
Some of the hands found Bloodmoon's body the morning after his death and had simply thought that a wild cat or something else had killed him. None of the humans knew the actual story behind the two deaths. How could they though? How could they possibly understand the mystery behind the whole murder scenes?
-/-/-/-/-
"Hurry up Margie…" Janee said as Margie tacked Champion up. "You're going to be late!" They were at the Saratoga racecourse where Champion was about to run his debut race. During the weeks before the race he had practiced and practiced, his speed increasing every single workout. He couldn't wait to run. The shock and pain from Bloodmoon's betrayal and passed. Champion had in the end forgiven him though. In a way he actually felt sorry for his once friend.
"Ready Champion?" Margie asked after slipping the bit into Champion's mouth. He nickered as Margie led him out of his stall. Beside him Star's reserved stall was empty. She was running a mare's race on a different track in a few moments. Champion had already wished her luck. None of the other stallions his age were racing today though. They hadn't made the cut, though Wind had easily made it into the race; but he had been injured the day before.
An official stopped Margie to check Champion's weight limits and Margie's as well, and to make sure he didn't have any steroids in his system.
The easily passed the check up and proceeded to the walking ring. All the other contenders were being walked around with their riders mounted. Janee met Margie at the ring's gate and held Champion's reins so that she could mount. Champion adjusted to Margie's weight easily and then walked into the ring and checked out the competition. None of the horses looked exceptionally tough or fast, like him, but he could feel pairs of eyes being focused on him interestedly. He knew most of the bets had been placed on the bay stallion in front of him. He was supposed to be very fast, but Champion would give him a run for his money. On his saddle pad he could see that the horse's name was Flash of This, Flash of That. Champion looked at his own imprinted name proudly: Dream Champion.
"Racers report to the starting gates!" The announcer's voice boomed over the crowd's roar. Margie turned Champion towards the exit of the walking ring where the horses were leaving in an orderly fashion. Champion made his way out and Margie helped him trot out onto the racecourse and towards the gates. A leading pony and it's rider met them and provided an escort. Champion pricked his ears excitedly. He had felt calm before, but now the intensity of the first race was getting to him. He danced along in line until finally the lead pony left him to the loaders. He walked right into the gates no problem and blocked out all sounds. All he felt was Margie's comforting hand gently patting the side of his neck, and all he could see was the untouched track ahead of him. All the horses were loaded. "Racers on your marks, get set, gooo!" The gates flung open and out shot nine determined horses from the gates.
-/-/-/-/-
"So how do you think Champion will do?" Speed Demon neighed from his side of the fence. Wind turned his head and walked over to the fence and replied, "Awesome." Speed Demon nickered. "Please tell me why I'm not surprised you said that." Wind smiled. "Because you know it's true." Speed Demon tossed his mane comfortably. "Aren't you sad you couldn't race too?" Wind thought for a second.
"A little…I'm sort of happy Champion will get to experience this on his own; he deserves it after…everything." Speed Demon nodded. "Yeah…I see your point." Wind added quickly though, "I am sad that I'm injured. It'll be a while before I can even carry a rider now." Both of them glanced at Wind's deeply cut left foreleg. Elsa had wrapped it up and sprayed it with disinfectant that morning though.
"Tell me how it happened again?" Speed Demon asked, breaking the silence. Wind frowned. "I tripped…I was racing, practicing, and my hoof just sort of…went numb. I couldn't feel it anymore. It wouldn't move or anything." Speed Demon looked sad. "Will you ever get to rave again?" Wind gazed down. "Most likely not…but Elsa is going to work hard with me, and I'm going to try. I'll be out on the track in no time." Speed Demon smiled at the stallion's courage.
"Yeah…I think Champion will be awesome too."
-/-/-/-/-/-
Dirt flew up from all the horses' hooves as they galloped around the first curve. Champion was in fifth position for the time being; but neither he or Margie were worried. The girl kept a firm grip on Champion's reins, keeping him from letting it out too soon. Margie loosened her grip slightly as the turned into the backstretch. Champion eagerly glided forward and moved past the grey in fourth position. He kept speeding along at the same pace, easily catching the third horse.
His hooves were pounding as hard as they could as he edged up on the horse's flank. Suddenly a hoof flew onto his front hoof and he realized that the horse in front of him was falling over. There was no way he wouldn't trip over him. But as he ran he felt too angry that this would be the end; another trip would cost him the race, and he quickly gathered himself and soared over the horse's body. Margie smiled amazed and filled with pure joy that it wasn't over yet. But the jump had given the horse behind Champion time to catch up, and they were already rounding the second turn into the homestretch.
Margie smiled and moved her hands up towards Champion's ears and leaned over his neck encouragingly. Champion immediately surged forward, his speed denying any other horse the right to lead. He sailed passed the second horse and realized it was between him and Flash now. He felt the need to prove all the betters wrong. His hooves easily sped up to a whole new gear and he was ahead of Flash in two easy strides.
He galloped down the homestretch, gaining lengths every stride as the finish line came nearer and nearer. He felt like one with Margie as they rocketed on and on down the track, eating the dirt every single time a hoof hit the sand. He finally shot through the finish a full nine lengths ahead of the competition. Margie through her hands up in the air triumphantly and Champion just kept galloping down the track, pride in his eyes. "What an amazing performance by Dream Champion ladies and gentlemen!"
-/-/-/-/-/-
"You won!" Star neighed to Champion when he returned to Dream Farm later that day. All his friends gathered around and congratulated him. "Told ya he'd be awesome." Wind neighed quietly to Speed Demon as they walked towards Champion. Snow and Star were already crowding around Champion when he saw Wind and Speed Demon approaching. "Great job!" Demon neighed excitedly. Wind smiled, "I knew you'd win." Star nickered and added quite proudly, "We all did."
A/N: Talk about action packed…sorry to say this but, that was the finale of this story. I hope it didn't seem rushed or too strange. Thanks to all my reviewers, hope this was what you wanted! I'm a little sad that it's over, but I'm happy I was able to reveal the mystery to everyone now.
