my story so far

Chapter 1: new opportunities
Criss took a glance at her watch, "7:30 already?!" she put Pyxy's hoof down and grabbed my stuff. "Im sorry August, I have to go or ill be late for school. " the girl explained to the handsome male with dark hair and olive skin. "okay, be safe, and have fun at school" he replied brushing a dark colored filly. Criss didn't have time to go change into some different clothes, so I just grabbed my backpack and ran.

I managed to make it it to the school, just before the first bell rang. I was about to start up the stairs when some thing, well, someone I should say, pulled me back beside the stairs. It was the usual gang of two faces wannabe's. They claim to have royal blood in the horse world, but they wouldn't know horsemanship to save their life, and everyone seemed to believe their act. " you think you can walk around here wearing THAT like your someone?!" one shouted. The only reason August took you in was because he felt sorry for you!" she added. Then another one pushed me to the ground. I looked up at her " that may be so, but you wouldn't know how to even saddle your own horse let alone know what true horsemanship is to save your life!" I retorted. "why you another said. Just then my friend Katie and Kristi found me. " I think we should teach our "newfound 'friends' a lesson about judging people. Kristi said coming to my rescue. " I agree said Katie. " next thing we knew Katie and kristi where "teaching their lesson, aka kicking their butts, I joined in" with in 30 seconds, them where on there knees apologizing. They had always been afraid of us when we where together. . I always had a bad reputation since I started high school. The first day of school the three of us got into a fight, we don't even remember what it was about. We all got in trouble and since that day we had been inseparable. We walked away from them with our heads held high.

Katie's family ran a Foaling center not to far from August's ranch, I had helped out a few times birthing, it was always amazing to see the fruits of labor, a beautiful newborn foal. She was luck she got to experience that almost every week. Kristi's family farmed hay, and had a ferrier service, they where the ones August went to for all the horse hoof needs. In fact they are the reason I met August.

School went in it's usual fashion, I walked back to august's Ranch with Kristi and Katie until we got to her foaling center, then we each went our separate ways but not far from each other. August was a father to me, when we met he saw me working with the horses with Kristi and Katie, and after that he asked me if I wanted to be his assistant. August was know all over the world as a trainer, and rider. He didn't have ver many horses he worked with at a time, that was so he could make sure he gave every horse good quality training and care.  In this town, their are tons of handlers, trainers, and horse people, thats why I got bullied a lot.

When I got back to His ranch, there was an unfamiliar horse tied to a post at the covered arena. " I'm back!" I called to August. "thats cool, how was your day?" he asked me coming out of the tack room. "it was alright, just the usual snobby people being rude, nothing unusual." I replied. "don't let them get you down, oh! I found him when I was out on a trail ride today" he said pointing to the horse tied up. He's not wild but he has a little spirit in him"  he said smiling. The horse was  male, he had black and white patches all over him and had feathers on his legs, and lots of mane. He was Beautiful, but It couldn't be. A Gypsy vanner in the wild? "are you sure he doesn't have an owner?" I asked. I check every every ranch in this area, no one said they had ever seen him. He is in need of some good grooming though. He was right, he was covered in dirt and had some matts in his mane and tail.  "well might as well get started on that." I said.  I changed into some shorts and started in the process of cleaning him up. "we need something to call him in the time being" said August after a few minutes of scrubbing him with shampoo. "mmhhh, how abbouut- Jestic!" I said.

A few minutes later Cleo came in. "is pyxie ready yet? She asked. "no,we found this horse today and we where cleaning him up." I said. "what ever, just hurray up, the youth riders show is coming up soon and I need to practice. She said sounding irritated, I want her in western tack today. She said as she walked off. She was always snotty to me, but I try to be nice to her, her mother died in an accident a few years ago. I put my regular boots on and headed out to the pasture.

We didn't have much to do after that, I got to ride a filly we where working on for the first time. After that, I went back over to Jestic and started plaiting his mane." there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him" august said. The farrier said that he would come tomorrow to check out his hoofs, they don't look too bad. Then he went off into the tack room to do something.

"your lucky you had been picked up by August, we're just alike in that way, we just showed up, and picked up by August." he snorted like he understood me. I rubbed between his ears, and kissed his forehead. His eyes seemed clear, he had one brown and almost a burgundy colored eye, and one blue eye. This was common for paint horses. Suddenly a chill went down my spine and it sounded like someone said something, but no one was around.

It was about 7:00 pm by the time I got home to my little apartment. I went through the usual routine of eating, studying and finally relaxing before I went to bed.

I woke with a sudden start. I looked at my alarm clock. It was 12:30 AM!Then I herd something again. It was a horse! I jumped out of my futon(it was a japanese style room) and looked out the window. I saw a black and white horse just outside, with a blue halter, "JESTIC?! " I shouted. I grabbed my boots and a rope I had hanging on a chair, and went out side. He came strait to me when I came out. "how the heck did you get out. I knew you where smart, but not THAT smart. He snorted. I put the rope where the lead went. "lets go before the neighbors wakeup I said. I pulled on the rope so that he would come. He didn't move. "come on,you." I said. He looked at me, then looked at his back. I thought for a second, " I must be out of my mind".

Cautiously I hoped up on Jestic, prepared for any bucking. He started at a walk, and picked up pace to a steady trot heading back towards the horse ranch. Then he took an unexpected turn towards the forest near the ranch. I decided to go with it. Soon I rested the make-shift rope reins on his neck and let him lead. We walked for another 10 minutes. He did a good job making sure we didn't get too close to big trees and branches.

Soon we got to a small meadow  and he stopped. I took it as a cue to dismount. After that he shook the rope from his mane. I started towards him but stopped. He was glowing! He stepped into the shadows and the glowing stopped. I herd the breaking of a stick, and emerged what use to be the horse known as Jess. He had completely transformed! Out stepped a boy of about 19 years. He had wavy hair that was shoulder length, with black and white streaks in it, light beige skin, and dark blue eyes. He was wearing nothing but a loin cloth.

"you--" I studdered pointing in at the opposite end of the meadow to him. "I know said a gentle voice. "It's a lot to take in but hear me out." my name is Jess. Im from the Caballos realm I have very good reason to believe that you can help me. I am the prince of caballos, but I do not wish to be the ruler of my realm. This is where you can help me. I have suspicians that you are one of the small group of dwarves in this realm. You and a few others can help convince my father to not send our armies to take over the human world. You are the bridge between us and humans.' he explained. " you don't have to answer back, I know it is a lot to take in, I don't have much time though, the barrier will collapse and they will know that I am here and transformed." I was glad he didn't ask for a reply, I couldn't say anything if I tried.

He was right in front of me by now. he slipped something around my neck. I looked down. It was a pendant. It was beautiful it's chain was made of horse hair, and the charm was a diamond shape. It had blue rhine stones that matched his eye's borderinging it, and a tear drop shaped gem in the middle. "this will allow us to communicate when I'm in my horse form." we can still communicate with out it, but it is isn't very clear. " he added

Suddenly we where surrounded by many glowing eyes. "dam! Im already out of time." he said. Then the boy I had just met started to glow again, and the pendent felt warm and seemed to vibrate. " hop on!" he said. But it was too late. We where now surrounded my what seemed like hundreds of horses, all dark and looked like the dark shadow of a horse and brightly glowing stars where the eyes should be.everything went black.

The next thing I knew I was shaken awake by jess, now in human form again. We we're back at the ranch, but I didn't recognize where. What had happened? I didn't even notice that August was sitting beside me offering me a glass of water. I started to sit up. Jess was leaning really close to me, I blushes furiously, then realized their was a stiff pain in my side and down my leg. I grabbed my side. Jess backed away, and I took the glass of water from August. " what happened?" I asked. "you really don't remember? The figures in the woods attacked us and you helped ward them off, them you got hit and they enveloped you in darkness. I managed to fight them off and got away with you on my back just in time. You took a good hit." August explained. I lifted up my shirt, and sure enough their was a horse-shoe shaped bruise starting to develop. August handed jess a pile of clothes. " it would be best if you didn't walk around with nothing but a loin cloth on. " said August. Jess started to take off the little bit of clothing he had on, I turned my head and blushed. "not, in the presents of a lady" he reminded Jess. He blushed a little and caused me to bush more. He walked to another room.

"what is this place?" I asked August. " its above the barn. Over their is the hay loft." he said pointing to the wall with a door. " I'm going to go get Cleo, she needs to know everything too. " he added walking off. Great I thought, alone with a boy, I had enough trouble talking to them as it is, not to mention my horrible habbit of uncounciously flirting, giggling, and the dreded blushing. Jess came out of the bathroom. He had on khaki  pants, a big white button down shirt(buttoned wrong might I add) and mismatched socks.

" you have that buttoned all wrong." I said walking over to him and started to unbutton his shirt. I hadn't noticed in all of the chaos, but Jess is a total bishie(a total hottie for those un-otaku). He had had a wound! I hadn't noticed before!" oh that doesn't look so good! Let me get something for that." I said wetting a dish rag and getting things out of a first-aid kit on the table. "you don't have to--". He started then realizing she wasn't listening. " you need to take care of it right away." I told him. I walked back over to him, but suddenly my foot got between the rug and the floor and I stumbled, but then gravity decided to take over. Then the next thing I knew it was like something you saw in almost every hentai anime/manga ever written. I knocked Jess to the ground and I ended on top of him.  "oh my gosh, I'm so sorry jess! I said lifting my head which had been seemingly stratigeticly landed on his chest. We both where beat red."I-It's alright.  I quickly got off him. But them he gimced with pain. I looked down to where my leg was. I face-palmed in my mind. "oh my gosh are you okay?! I'm soo sorry! Ill get some ice. This time I managed to hop up, and run to the freezer and put some ice in a bag. "auh, here" I said handing him the ice. I picked up the disinfectant and kneeled down to clean the wound. "I'm sorry, it seems like I'm just in the way and clumsy today." his bangs where drooped down. " don't be, I feel like the one who's in the way, I had to have August help fight off those things, and you did most of the fighting."  I picked up some gauze and wrapped it around his muscular yet slender shoulder." I don't  remember any of it." said concentrating on remembering. Jess stood up , and offered his hand to me. I took it and sat down at the table."you probably don't want to remember- it was kinda scary." he flashed a devilish smile. I felt a lot better.

Next thing we herd was cleo. "this better be good, its 2 in the morning!!the door opened to reveal August practically dragging his half asleep teen-aged daughter. The instant she saw Jess, she perked up. "well then" she said, "this is important." she added smiling. We all sat down at the table. "Okay Cleo, this is Jess. Jess-Cleo."  August nodded to jess. He stood up in the middle of the living room and once again the necklace grew warm.then transformed back.  Ackk! what tha--" yelled cleo startled. "calm down cleo, let us explain. Jess is a sort of horse human hybrid, with magic powers. "way to make me sound like a power-puff girl, August."said Jess to August trying to be discreet. I giggled. "ahh, okay?" she said. "okay, we cleo are a type of horse wisperer's, dwarves. He is from the Caballos realm, made up of these horse hybrids and other magical creatures.  He is also the prince of caballos, but,  You and a few others can help convince my father to not send our armies to take over the human world. You are the bridge between us and humans.'  she didn't say anything for a few seconds, then she had tears In her eye's and stormed off. "cleo, wait!" August started after her. "let me handle this one." I said. I walked back down to the stable area. I herd a thump that sounded like it came from the roof. I walked out side and around the barn. Sure enough, their was a ladder leaned up against the barn.

"would you go away?!" Cleo shouted at me. She had her face burried on her hands resting on her knees. I ignored her shouting and sat down beside her. It was such a clear night. After a minute or two of scrying cleo lifted her head a little bit. "why?" she said sniffling." why is it after all of this time of not caring at all what I do, a stranger comes and he suddenly cares." "it like all August cares about is you." she added. "oh oh cleo, its not like that at all. Everytime you get home from school, August asks me if their is anything bothering you, and asks about your day. I explained comforting her. " he talks about you all of the time, how proud he is of you and everything. I'll help you though, too. Ill help you be more involved with him again, we just need to take this little baby steps at a time." I added. She thought for a second." why, why are you so nice to me even though I treat you like a servant?" she questioned. "well thats because it is always better to give people the benefit of the doubt. And it is always better to look for the good in people no matter how hard it is to see in them." I told her." I put my arm around her back. "thank you, Criss, does this mean we're friends now?" she asked. Criss nodded her head. The girls embraced, and looked up at the sky, it was starting to change colors that meant morning would be their soon. "oi! How long are you going to stay up thier?! Yelled August below. "comming we said more cheerfully at the same time, and walked back to the house, arms linked.


Chapter 2- new arrivals

It seemed like Criss had just shut her eyes when she woke up the next morning. August insisted that I sleep in and not worry about coming to the ranch, he and Jess would take care of it. With only 2 hours of sleep, she managed to throw on some jeans and english boots, or she though she did, she got about to the gate of the apartment complex, looked down and face palmed. She realized she was wearing one english boot and one western boot. Soon she finally got the right shoes on the right feet, and got on her way. She stopped to get a bagel and some coffee. She didn't usually drink coffee, so it would be pretty effective later on.

She managed to get to school on time, took a look at the board and rellized then she was in for it.

It was almost time for the annual ridding olympics. The events include ferrieing competitions, the usual horsemanship, jumping, and pleasure classes, dressage, hipology( study of horses) and also horse dress up games and fancy dress group performance.  It wasn't at that, she realized she was doomed, but the assignments of who was to set up and get the horses from the pasture. Her and kaity, one of criss' only friends, but unfortunately she had a bad cold and was at home. " well todays going to be GREAATT" she thought sarcastically. Just then, the teacher came in. " okay you all know that we have the riding competition coming up and we are using today, and the next few days to prepare for it. But first, I want to introduce a new student to the class." she explained. The door opened again to revel a beautiful girl with long black strait hair and beige skin. All the guys where staring at her. I had a really bad feeling about her. " hi, I'm Ann, I hope we can be friends.  She took a look at the board.  "everyone be nice to her and be sure to show her around." mrs. Haruka added. okay, Criss, you can go ahead and head dow to the barn, and heres a list of horse assignments. Everyone else can go change if they need too." said mrs. Haruka handing her  clip board. "oh mrs. Haruka, can I help Criss?" she asked eagerly. " why sure, thats very nice of you."the teacher said smiling. " Criss, make sure you show her around the barn and such, kay?" I nodded, " follow me." I told her.


We got down to the barn and showed the stable manager the clip board for her to check out. I was use to all of this, the reason I was always picked to do this job was because most of the schools horses, where all trained be August, so there for I knew the horses pretty well. We also had gotten a bunch of them again for training to prepare them for the show as well. The good thing about this job, is you know which horse you will ride before everyone else. I gave Ann the not so grand tour around the giant barn. Their was someone else their though. He looked like a very hot male version of Ann. "oh Criss, this is my brother Allan. " she explained. "He wanted to help too it seems." I just went with it, more help to us. "Okay, um in the tack room their are charts that show which horse has what tack and grooming bucket, Allan that will be your job. I will go get the horses we need and Ann, you will tie up the horses in stalls and mark on the little chalk boards who is in each stall. criss went to the tack room and grabbed a bunch of halters and headed to the pen where the horses where hanging out. Our system worked out pretty well. We had extra time to groom and tell them about the horses.  Like usual I had been assigned Vipper. He didn't like most riders, but for some reason he seemed to adore me. Ann got done grooming Rapper, and came to help me groom one of the more difficult horses. The horse started acting very nervous. She picked up a body brush and started cleaning the horse. " I won't let you get in the way of our plans" Ann said after a few seconds. "oh don't worry, I won't unless you get in my way." I retorted. People from my class started to some in now. " I hope we can be good friends." she said all bubbly peaking over the horse.

The rest of tacking up included me getting kneed in the crotch twice by luck, Vipper biting my thigh, and paso biting my butt.it had been a long day. Finally the bell rang and found cleo. She smiled "hey" . I smiled back. "hey cleo, why are you walking with HER? " asked the snobby girl from yesterday morning. "ye, if you want to be our friend, you can't hang with HER. "  Cleo raised an eyebrow. "oh we'll, see ya! She responded, and we walked off. The look on the girls face could be described as sour.we went for a trail ride when we got their, Jess looked excited, he had never ridden a horse before. It was a lot of fun teaching Jess how to ride. After, August invited me to dinner. I was getting spoiled by him. "anything weird happen at school today?" asked August after a while. "um.. Well there was a transfer student today, and he seems a little odd. He seemed interested in me, but then he went off somewhere." she explained. " oh yea his name is allan, he came and help me get the horses ready ,and so did his sister, Ann.