Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, it belongs to Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. I just borrow the guys from time to time and return them a whole lot happier. I do own the plot and any other characters, especially the equines, that you will find in this fic. Please do not take them without permission. Written for pleasure not profit.
Pairing: 2x1x2, 3x4, 13x6, H+C
Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, sap, angst, vet themes, AU
Rating: NC 17
Archive: gundam-wing-diaries. foreverfandom. .net gundam-wing-diaries. 150m. com Anyone else please ask.
Betaed by Karina *snugs*
Summary: Set 2 years after Equus and Heero is doing so well in his own business that he's taken June on as a working pupil. The qualifying shows for the International teams are well underway and it looks like it will be a good year for Heero, his pupils and horses... until Mother Nature steps in.
AN: This fic, although a complete work of fiction is based partially on fact. I will add notes at the end of chapters where necessary to clarify events and provide links where needed.
Dedication: To Leslie and Karina. Leslie for giving me the original idea for Equinity and encouraging and supporting me through the writing of all the fics thus far in the arc. And Karina for not just taking over as my much needed beta, (poor woman needs a medal!), but for also poking and prodding Fred until he went on strike, refusing to work on anything at all until I let him start this. Needless to say, we managed to come to a compromise... Fred gets to write a chapter of this one week... the next week he has to write a chapter of 'Bound'... Did I ever tell you all I hate my muse? :-)
Fic 5 in the Equine Intervention Arc.
Commenced December 2013 – ShenLong
"Rival Riders"
Chapter 4
"There you go, girl," Duo said and stood up from his crouch to pat the bay neck. He ran his eye over the jumping boots he'd just finished putting on the mare to check all was okay with them. All that remained was to put the bridle on and for Heero to mount up.
"Orion, stand still!" came the voice from the next stable.
Giving Nataku one last pat, Duo thought he'd better investigate and see if June needed a hand. "You okay in there?" he asked, hanging over Orion's door.
"I would be if this big lump would stop picking his leg up each time I try to put the boot on," June muttered. "Orion!" she growled again as the black lifted his foreleg.
"I'll hold him for you if it will help any," Duo offered.
"Would you mind?"
"Not at all." Duo stepped inside the stable and took a firm hold on Orion's halter. "Stand up and behave," he told the gelding.
Orion gave the vet a look of 'Who me? I wouldn't do anything wrong.'
June tried again, this time meeting with success. "Thanks, Duo. I don't know what's up with him, he's usually as good as gold to saddle up and get ready. I think he's got a bee in his bonnet today."
"All of them are a touch on the flighty side, not just Orion. I think it's probably because it's a new place and no show atmosphere. It must be confusing for them," Duo stated.
"You could be right," June agreed. "Right, that's him done, all I need now is to get my helmet and mount up."
"I'd better go put Nataku's bridle on, Heero should be back in just a minute." Duo stepped back out and went to finish off Nataku.
# # #
"What do you think their chances are this time, Doctor Maxwell?" Joe asked.
"Hard to say, Joe," Duo replied and sat down on the grass under a large gum tree to watch the riders warming up.
Joe plonked down beside him. "I guess so."
"It will all depend on how good the other hopefuls are. I can't recall seeing any of them around the shows that Heero's been to so I really don't know anything about any of them. They must be good though otherwise they wouldn't have made the short list."
"Could be an interesting week," Joe mused, chewing on a blade of grass.
"It certainly will, Joe. I'd say Treize is in with a good chance though, Romeo has really matured these past couple of years and he's got a lot more experience under that girth now."
"He has," Joe agreed. "Even in his day to day work and handling, he's a much more settled horse. How is that bay that Heero's riding settling? Treize did tell me about her background and what Heero has done with her."
"She's really excelled. For a while there none of us thought she would make the grade, that the abuse she'd suffered had damaged her too much. But Heero had faith he could get her to want to jump and something seemed to happen with her when we had the fire. After that it was like she decided to give in and trust us." Duo's eyes took on a far away look as his mind slipped back to Nataku, the fire and how the mare had saved his life.
"It's such a shame she had to suffer like that. She's one of the sweetest mares I know," Joe said, his tone soft, eyes watching the bay as Heero warmed her up.
"I have to agree with you, she's an exceptional horse and I would really love to see her make the team. Not just for the 'glory' of it, but to prove that Heero's faith in her was well founded."
"I think Mr. Chang would be very pleased to see her make the team too."
"I just hope he doesn't have a heart attack if she does make the team," Duo muttered. Seeing Joe's raised eyebrow, Duo filled him in on Wufei's reaction when he was told the mare had made the short list. "He was all ready to set her up on a pedestal I think," Duo snickered.
"Well if she does make the team I really want to be there to see his reaction when they announce it," Joe replied with an evil grin.
"You and me both, Joe."
#
"Good girl, that's perfect," Heero praised as he brought Nataku back to a walk and let her stretch out. She'd worked well for him in their warm up, listening intently to his aids and doing her best to please him. All around them the others were similarly working their horses and warming up. With Nataku walking on a long rein, Heero took the opportunity to have a look at his fellow competitors.
Treize and Romeo were off to one side and Heero already knew enough about the man and his horse. Likewise June was riding Orion around, the big black finally settling and working nicely for his mistress. Turning his attention across the paddock he focused on the other hopefuls.
The gray mare - Morning Mist – if Heero remembered correctly was working calmly for her rider. She was a light framed horse, probably a thoroughbred, Heero thought, but despite the light frame she looked to have lots of heart and lung room, plus long legs that saw her eat up the ground very quickly. Heero wondered how she would go in a jump off against the clock. Victoria was aboard her chestnut stallion, Rocket Man, the horse looking to be around 16.3 hands in Heero's estimation. He was a large, solid animal, with big powerful hindquarters on him and to Heero's experienced eye it looked like Victoria was having her work cut out for her in keeping the stallion listening to her.
To the other side, the other chestnut stallion, Rainstorm, was the complete opposite. Although he was also a solid horse, Cheryl was working hard to get the horse to use himself. The bay stallion, Court Martial was showing no signs of his earlier lethargy. It seemed that Tim was right when he'd said the horse didn't believe in wasting any energy, saving himself for when the work counted. The stallion was covering the ground with long strides, his hind legs tracking deep under his body, back soft and rounded with his nose on the vertical. Tim sat easily upon his back, seemingly doing nothing whilst in reality he was doing quite a bit.
Turning Nataku to circle the other way, Heero watched Peter on his bay gelding, Espresso. The horse was a lighter build than the three warmbloods, but carried more bone and body than the gray that Heero picked as a thoroughbred, prompting Heero to assume the bay was a cross between the two. Before Heero could gain any further insight into Espresso, he spotted Noin and Captain Dermail walking across the paddock. Shortening his reins, Heero rode over to where everyone was starting to gather.
Noin greeted the riders and told them they would all be working together for this first part where Noin and the Captain would study each rider and horse carefully. The object was for them to assess each horse and rider, their strengths and weaknesses and which groups to put them in.
"Treize, if you could lead off on the left rein at the walk, please?" Noin asked.
Treize collected his reins and dropped his weight. Closing his legs against Romeo's sides he asked the bay to walk out.
"Victoria, you next then Tim, Cheryl, June, Peter, Heero and Sam."
The remaining riders all moved off to form up behind Treize in the order Noin had requested.
Duo and Joe moved a little closer to the area the riders were working in so they could hear what was gong on. They found a spot under another tree by the fence where they wouldn't be in the way of the riders but close enough to still see and hear all that went on. Christine, Peter's wife and Greg, Sam's groom joined the pair. Bianca, Lori and Barry all sat together under another tree a little way down from Duo and Joe.
"Mind if we join you?" Greg asked.
"No problem, make yourself comfortable," Duo replied with a smile.
"I understand that both of you have been through all this before," Greg said as he flopped down on the grass.
"Pretty much. I was last here with Heero about six years ago when he was short listed with his own horse, Shinigami," Duo replied. "Joe here has been with Treize for the last couple of times he was short listed."
"How did they go?"
"Heero made the team reserve but wasn't needed so we didn't go," Duo replied. "Treize made the team with Romeo though."
"Didn't they both make the team before that too?" asked Christine, "and the Olympics if I remember correctly?"
"Ah, yes. Both of them were Nations Cup team members on different horses several years ago. Heero was riding his gray stallion, Zero and Treize rode Tall Geese."
"Treize also made the Olympic team with Tall Geese, but Zero was injured and couldn't go," Joe added. "The London Olympics saw Heero with Shinigami and Treize with Romefeller as a part of the gold medal winning team and Heero also took out the individual gold medal," Joe stated proudly.
"Shit! I feel like I'm amongst equine royalty," Christine muttered with a smile.
"Trust me, they aren't royalty," Duo said with a grin. "They're exactly the same as you and me."
"I still feel overawed though."
"I wonder if they could give Sam any tips," Greg mused. "That mare of his can be annoying sometimes."
"Annoying, in what way?" Duo questioned.
"Oh, you know mares. They can be temperamental things at times,especially if they're in season. Typical females if you ask me."
"Hey! I resent that remark," Christine growled, but her face was crinkled into a grin.
"Errr... Present company excepted?" Greg said sheepishly.
"If that's your idea of an apology I hate to tell you this, but it sucks," said Christine.
Duo snickered. "Word of advice, Greg. It doesn't pay to piss of the female of the species."
"Oh? Voice of experience speaking?"
"Sort of. I still remember Zoe a few years ago. Damn good rider but you didn't want to piss her off."
Greg laughed. "I'll remember that advice then."
With the riders all still occupied in doing the various exercises Noin and Dermail were putting them through, Duo decided to ask a question of his own.
"Christine?"
The woman turned to look at him. "Call me Chrissy," she said.
"Okay. Your husband said his horse was called Espresso. How the hell did you come up with a name like that for him? Do you guys have a thing for coffee or something?"
Joe sniggered at Duo's question, even Greg looked amused.
"It is quite an unusual name for a horse, I agree, but although we both do like our coffee, no it wasn't that. Actually, Peter bred him out of his retired mare and when he was born he was brown with what looked like swirls of a lighter brown to cream color around his flanks, shoulders and muzzle. It reminded Pete of the crema you get on the top of a black coffee and as Pete usually drinks espressos, that's how he got the name," Christine explained.
"I hate to think what his stable name is then," Greg muttered. "Wouldn't be Bean, by any chance?"
Duo and Joe dissolved into a snickering fit.
Christine thwapped the other groom across the back of the head. "No, it's not."
Seeing how the woman appeared to clam up after that, Duo had a niggling feeling the horse's stable name was something worse. He couldn't help himself, he had to ask.
"So what is his stable name then?"
Christine lowered her eyes and muttered; "Cocoa."
#
Having worked everyone on the flat for a while, Noin and Dermail were pleased with what they were seeing and decided to move on to a few jumps. That would be the true test. The riders all followed the coaches across the paddock to where an impressive course stood waiting. All the grooms scrambled to catch up.
"As we have done in the past, this is a replica course of one used at a previous Nations Cup event. It's not as high though as we don't want or need any accidents or injuries. The purpose though is to see how well you and your mounts cope with a course of this caliber," Noin explained. "All the jumps are numbered and you all have ten minutes to walk the course before being able to put your horses over a couple of practice jumps. I suggest you use the time wisely." Having finished informing the group of what was to happen, Noin turned to converse with Dermail, leaving the riders to hand their horses over to their respective grooms so they could walk the course.
Duo and Joe moved forward to take their respective charge's reins from the riders, Duo also offering to hold onto Orion for June. With the horses handed over, Treize, Heero and June all went to walk the course.
"Well?" Duo demanded when the three returned. "What's it like?"
"Not bad at all," Heero replied and took Nataku's reins from his husband. "It shouldn't pose any problems being as we're only doing a round of it. There's not anything overly hard about it."
"I'd say the most difficult part will be coming from jump three to the double." Seeing Duo's mouth about to open, Treize explained. "Jump three is on a slight angle so when you land there's only around seven strides before the double for you to get your horse across to the left if you want to take the double in the center."
"I like it, it's quite flowing despite that tricky bit," June commented. "Thanks for holding him, Duo."
"You're welcome. Do you think Orion will manage okay?" Duo asked as he handed over the black's reins.
"He should be fine. Put it this way, I'm not about to go out there and break any speed records or anything like that. I plan to take it easy and give Orion as much room as possible between the fences to re-balance," June replied and checked the black's girth.
"There's no point in trying to do anything clever," Heero said. "Noin and Dermail only want to see how our horses jump and cope with a course like this. Might as well take it easy and jump it well."
"My sentiments exactly," Treize said and mounted Romefeller. "I think we should put these three over those practice jumps before everyone wants a go."
"Good idea." Heero mounted up and with a warm smile to his partner, rode the mare off in the direction of the two practice jumps.
#
Once all the group had warmed up again and taken their horses over a couple of practice jumps, it was time to tackle the course. "Okay everyone. You've all had enough time to warm up and study the course, now it's time to jump it. As I said before, we're not interested in speed, this is not a competition, all we want to do is watch you and your horses as you attempt the course. Treize, you're one of our more experienced riders and horses so would you go first for me please?" Noin said.
"Of course," Treize replied and began to gather up his reins.
"Heero, you follow Treize then we will have Cheryl, Tim, Peter, Sam, Victoria and June. Good luck everyone." Noin and Dermail stepped away from the group and to the side where they could clearly see the entire course and be able to confer with each other without the rest of the riders or grooms hearing what they had to say.
Treize nudged Romeo forward and into a trot. Once clear of the group, he pushed the bay into a canter, circled and then began his course. The big bay lengthened his stride and took the first jump with ease.
"You can't half see the experience there," June commented to Heero whom she was standing next to.
"That you can," Heero replied, keeping his attention firmly on Treize and the bay. Although Heero had enough experience himself with International courses, Nataku didn't and it always paid to watch the other competitors carefully. Walking the course gave the rider a good idea of what to expect, but one could learn so much more just by observing how another horse and rider fared over a course, where the hard parts were, what to watch out for in regards to striding and other, similar things.
Romeo was enjoying himself, the course wasn't all that difficult, he'd jumped harder ones in his time, but it was still a challenge in many ways. The big bay listened carefully to his master, knowing from the weight shift, pressure on his sides from Treize's legs and the subtle pressure of the bit in his mouth where he was expected to go.
The pair cleared jump after jump, Romeo not fazed at all and finished their course with a clear round. The other team hopefuls had also been watching carefully, learning from Treize's round what they could expect when jumping the course themselves. As Romeo cleared the last jump, Heero began to pick his own reins up.
Duo stepped up closer to where Heero was waiting for his turn on the bay mare. Reaching out he gave a pat to the muscled neck of the horse before turning his attention to Heero. "Be careful, won't you?" he said softly.
Smiling back at his partner, Heero reassured the vet. "Don't worry, I'm going to be taking it easy. No point in going for broke when you don't have to," he replied.
"Good luck." Duo stepped back so Heero could ride the mare forward.
With another smile to his partner, Heero rode the mare away from the group. Treize came back to a walk and rode past Heero who had pushed the mare into a trot and was circling her around. "Any tips?" Heero said as the other man rode by him.
"Just take your time and enjoy it. It's not difficult so Nataku should handle it quite easily," Treize replied.
"Thanks."
"Heero? Whenever you're ready," Noin called out.
With a nod of his head, Heero pushed Nataku into a canter, circled once more and then turned to start the course.
Treize brought Romeo back to a halt beside June and dismounted. Joe took charge of the bay, loosening the girth a little and taking the reins over the stallion's head to walk him around.
"What's the course ride like?" June asked. Several of the other team hopefuls moved a little closer to hear what Treize had to say, at the same time they were also watching Heero as he tackled the course.
"It's quite flowing," Treize replied. "Not really difficult, although if it were at the full height for a cup competition then it would be a bit harder. Just keep your concentration on the job, your horse balanced and you should be fine," Treize told the woman.
"Thanks, I appreciate the help," June replied.
"No problem at all," Treize smiled.
Duo listened with half his attention, the rest focused on his husband. Nataku appeared to be traveling well, approaching the jumps with caution and listening intently to Heero. A far cry from what she used to be, Duo thought. His mind wandered back to when Heero first spotted the mare and the terrified animal she had been. It had taken several long months of patient, dedicated reeducating of the mare, Heero going right back to the very basics with her and letting the trust build up between them. Once it had though, the mare had pretty much changed before their eyes. No longer was she the scared, cowering animal that had arrived at Heero's stables. Now she was a proud, trusting and willing horse.
Wufei had played a large role in her rehabilitation too. The Chinese man with his soft spoken manner had instantly clicked with the mare and the pair shared a special bond. Nataku was never happier than when Wufei was with her.
"Steady, girl," Heero soothed as they landed over the second jump. "These next two are a little on the harder side."
Nataku flicked back an ear and steadied her canter. She pushed her hocks deep under her body, building her energy as she made a left turn.
Sitting deep, Heero used his seat and leg to ride his horse together. Hands steady on the reins and retaining the impulsion in the mare's frame, he turned them to line up with jump three. Giving a touch with his hands, Heero allowed the mare to stretch out a little as he rode her at the jump. They sailed over it easily, the mare returning to earth to find her rider's weight sitting firmly onto her back whilst the legs asked her to move across to the left.
The double lay ahead and Heero wanted to have Nataku balanced and full of impulsion for it. The body beneath listened to his aids, slowing her pace a bit and shortening her frame. With the energy contained, Heero rode carefully at the first element of the double.
Nataku lined up the jump, picked her takeoff point and gathered herself together. Her hind quarters drove deep under her body, propelling her up into the air, front legs tucked in neatly as she soared over the poles. Upon landing her rider was immediately there, a gentle hand on the reins, his seat and leg pushing her together as the second element appeared right before her. There was room for one stride between the jumps, Nataku taking it before digging deep and launching into the air again and over the second element.
"Good girl," Heero praised and gave the mare a quick pat to the neck. Looking ahead, Heero made a wide right hand turn to bring them into jump five.
"He's doing really well," June commented, watching her boss and mentor as he cleared jump after jump. "I'm sure he will make the team."
"Yes, he's doing well," Treize replied, "but don't forget, he's also got a lot of experience under his belt. Having said that though, you and Orion wouldn't be here if the selectors didn't think you were good enough. Everyone here has just as much chance as the next person of making the final team. This little exercise will show Noin what our strengths and weakness' are, what needs to be worked on to improve and then work with us to see that result. The rest is up to us, how determined we are to make those changes and improve our skills. I guess you could say that at the end of the day whether we make the team or not depends on how hungry we are for it." Having finished his little speech, Treize blushed a light red and shut up. June looked suitably impressed with the speech, Duo gave Treize a glance from the corner of his eye and followed it with a grin.
The rest of the course presented no problem to Nataku and with the careful guidance of her rider, she finished with a clear round.
"Excellent job, Heero," Noin praised. "Cheryl, you're next."
"You were a good girl," Duo praised when Nataku came to a halt before him. Patting the mare, Duo produced the obligatory carrots and fed the mare the treats. "How was it?" he asked as Heero dismounted.
"As I thought, it's not difficult so long as you remain focused on the course itself and giving your horse the room to move. She was such a good girl." Heero patted and praised the mare.
"Congratulations, Heero. Any words of advice?" June said from where she sat on Orion.
"Thank you and just take it steady. Orion is more than capable of clearing the course, all you need to do is give him the room he needs to balance and keep your impulsion."
"Thanks." June turned her attention back to Cheryl who was currently half way around the course and going well.
The three watched the remaining riders as they each rode the course, keen to see how each horse responded and what they were up against in regards to being selected for the final team. From what Heero could tell, Peter, Sam and Victoria seemed to be their biggest threat. All three rode perfect rounds, each horse remaining calm and collected throughout the course itself. Tim's horse, Court Martial, was slow and seemed to just scrape over each jump, but Heero wasn't about to disregard the pair. Tim had said his horse was one that didn't expend any more energy than was absolutely necessary and for all Heero knew, it could take the entire atmosphere of a show for the bay to 'wake up'.
Cheryl's horse appeared to be the 'greenest' of the group, although he did have a massive jump on him. Treize agreed with Heero's assessment that the big chestnut seemed to be still growing into himself and once he did gain more experience he would be a very good and reliable jumper.
Despite June's worry over the course, Orion started out well, settling into his stride and clearing each jump as he came to it. June remembered what they'd discussed and said about the turn from jump three to the double and made sure to have Orion listening completely to her. They made a wonderful turn and met the double dead center and full of impulsion. From there June seemed to stop worrying and began to enjoy herself, the big black picking up on his mistress' happy mood and literally flying over the remainder of the course.
"That was great!" June said as she rode back to where Heero, Treize, Duo and Joe waited. Congratulations were passed over and pats, praise and carrots given to Orion who looked very pleased with himself.
Everyone ceased their chatter amongst themselves as Noin and Dermail approached the group, all falling silent and looking to the coaches with expectant faces.
"Well done everyone, you all rode perfectly and your horses were responsive. We have noted a few things that need to be worked on for each one of you and we will endeavor to help you all with those skills this week. Now, here are the groups you will be riding in. Group one will consist of Victoria, Tim, Cheryl and Sam. Group two will be Treize, Heero, Peter and June. We will begin proper training tomorrow morning at nine sharp. Group one will be having a jumping lesson with Captain Dermail, Group two will have a flat lesson with me. We will swap groups in the afternoon. Any questions?'
None were forthcoming.
"Thank you riders, that will be all for today. You may take your horses back to the stables and settle them for the evening. We will see you all bright and early tomorrow morning in the paddock here ready for your instruction." With the words said, Noin and Dermail left, they had a lot to discuss and work out.
The rest of the riders all headed back to the stables along with their mounts and grooms, everyone talking at once over their respective experiences over the course and their expectations for the week to come.
tbc...