Brian had quickly jumped out of his father's car and after a hasty goodbye ran off to the stables looking around briefly for any sight of Earth Dancer. Brian hadn't seen her since that day in the woods. Originally he had planned to visit the next day, but that same day he had ended up with a bad cold due to his time in the rain. The moment he felt better he had his dad drive him to the stables.
Brian had reached the stable doors and eagerly flung them open. Earth Dancer immediately came up to her stall. Brian gave her a loving pat. "I know Earth Dancer. I've missed you too." Earth Dancer snorted. "I'm sorry girl but I don't want you to get hurt."
In response the horse let out an annoyed whinny and turned. Brian got a good look at her side and smiled seeing the whip marks were healing nicely. "Okay girl you win." Brian said as he unlocked the stall, standing out of the way as a blur of brown and white ran out. He walked back outside smiling as Earth Dancer ran around. Then suddenly the horse stopped and ran back towards Brian.
Brian was confused. "Huh? What's wrong Earth Dancer?" In a moment he saw why the horse had retreated. Randall was approaching in an outfit of ice blue and carried a cruel looking whip. However he had stopped seeing Earth Dancer.
Randall eyes were wide, the ice like orbs greedily taking in the sight of a beautiful brown horse with several patches of white on her body and a white mark running down her forehead and nose. He smirked before strolling forward.
"So here's the scoundrel who stole my horse!" Brian was overcome for a moment with shock. "You're... horse?" Randall continued to smirk. "That's right my horse. Crusader was stolen last week from daddy's private racetrack. Now if you don't mind hand her over."
The horse snorted angrily and shook her head and Brian was quick to block his path. "She was not stolen! I found Earth Dancer in the woods and she brought me here."
"Liar!" Randall snarled. In that same motion the whip was flung forward and struck Brian on one of his outstretched arms. Brian automatically grabbed his arm in pain. Randall's smirk had returned. "Now move aside."
Brian's arm still stung badly, but he fought through the pain. "No."
Randall glared at him as well, but he was quick to put on a dismissive tone. "Fine. Be that way." Randall flung his hand backwards intending another strike, but was surprised when he felt a large hand grip it firmly and remove the whip.
Brian looked up and saw the stable manager was there, accompanied by a well dressed man. Randall immediately panicked.
"Daddy!" "This isn't what this looks like." Mr. Maden frowned. You made a promise Randall. But Daddy dearest-
You had promised you would take good care of that horse…and only then would I consider that Arabian Stallion. You broke your promise.
But Daddykins it wasn't my fault! The paperboy he-
Earth Dancer let out an angry whinny. Mr. Maden frowned at the obvious lie and then turned his head to study other boy carefully. The brown haired boy still gripped his arm, but he continued to stand firmly in front of the horse.
"You! Boy!" Brian turned around quickly. "My name is Brian sir." Brian corrected. Mr. Maden nodded dismissively. "Do you race?" He asked suddenly. Brian looked confused. "Uh do you mean horse racing or-"
"Of course I mean horse racing!" Mr. Maden yelled and then calmed down. "Listen boy. I know you saved that horse, the stable manager said so. And I much appreciate it. Crusader there is worth plenty." Earth Dancer suddenly reared up and Brian frowned. "Her name is Earth Dancer sir."
Mr. Maden's own eyes hardened. "Now you listen here boy. That there horse belongs to me and I'll call her what I like." Ignoring Brian, he addressed the horse that had just wandered back towards the stables. "Crusader! Come!" he ordered snapping his fingers sharply. To his shock the horse wouldn't move.
"She won't come to you." Brian said. Mr. Maden looked annoyed. "Quiet Boy! Crusader! Come here now!" When the horse continued to refuse to move, he started to get angry. Randall chose that time to step forward.
"I told you that horse was stupid. If that creature doesn't know its name by now then it's not my fault I tried to make it learn."
Brian had enough. His arm was dull with pain, but once again he ignored it. "Earth Dancer!" Brian called out. Immediately the horse appeared and stopped by Brian's side. "Good girl." Brian smiled while gently rubbing the horse's side.
Mr. Maden was dumbfounded. "She's fond of you no doubt." He admitted reluctantly. "But you're no good to me if you can't race." Brian looked at Earth Dancer. Though she couldn't speak, to Brian her eyes conveyed her thoughts. Making up his mind, Brian looked at Mr. Maden. "I can learn."
Randall laughed. "A paperboy who thinks he's a jockey! Now that would be a sight to see. Or even better! Why don't you have him race that thing on the track? Earth Dancer let out another angry whinny, and Brian was just as mad.
"You know that is not such a bad idea." Everyone immediately turned to face Mr. Maden. "Tell you what boy. If you get Crusad-Earth Dancer ready for the horse races 2 months from now AND she comes in 1st place…. I'll consider giving you her."
Randall immediately protested. "But…Daddy! I was just kidding! Tell me you're not seriously thinking about going through with this!"
Mr. Maden ignored his son and focused on the paperboy. "Well boy?" Brian looked at Earth Dancer and then the older man. "She's not fond of racing, but she's very good at jumping." Brian admitted honestly.
"So she can enter the jumping competition! Alright boy you've got a deal! If Earth Dancer comes in 1st place in BOTH the jumping competition AND the horse races…she's yours. Now go on and get your arm patched up before I change my mind." With that said he walked away.
Brian's eyes went wide. Mr. Maden had almost completely ignored him. Randall noticed his expression and smirked. "See you at the track paperboy!" He commented before leaving as well.
Brian snapped out of his daze and noticed Earth Dancer and sighed. "We're way over our heads on this one…huh girl." Earth Dancer nickered softly and then gently nudged his other hand. "Alright girl I'm going."
Brian winced as gauze was wrapped tightly around his arm. "There! That will hold til you get to a doctor." The stable manger said cheerfully. "Uh thank you."
"Don't mention it! Now you go ahead and call your folks while I take care of that horse of yours." Brian nodded while fingering the chain around his neck.
It was late afternoon in Rainbowland and all the kids were finishing up for the day. Red Butler and Buddy Blue had just driven up in one of the color mine cars, when they noticed a Rainbow in the sky. Buddy Blue looked surprised. "It's Brian! But what's he doing here at this time of day?" Red Butler looked less then pleased. "I don't know. But I hope he has a good reason." As the rainbow landed, both color kids walked over to Brian and gasped. Brian's left arm was wrapped tightly in bandages. "What happened to your arm!" Both the red and the blue color kids seemed to shout at once. Brian smiled weakly. "I found out who owns Earth Dancer. And I am really going to need everyone's help with this one."