Nightmare - Part 1

by ExWow

Nightmare

“Back you filthy beast, back!” Lexus watched in horror as a man whipped a large stallion repeatedly. The horse kept rearing on his hind legs, trashing out at the man with the weapon. Whinnying loudly, the stud came down, pawing the ground. Once more, the man whipped the horse, hitting him on the side of the neck. Lexus couldn’t watch any longer. “STOP!” she shouted, and slipped through the fence posts. The man didn’t hear her, and he raised his crop once more to beat the defenseless horse.

Just before he brought the weapon down on the horse’s chest, Lexus grabbed the whip in mid-air. The man turned around to face Lexus. “What do you want little girl? Can’t you see that this is none of your business?” Lexus hated it when people called her little. Sure she was only 5`3, but she was stronger than most boys in her grade. Filled with rage, Lexus swung her arm out and hit the man in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Lexus also had the whip. “Don’t call me little.” She said.

The man was on the ground, stunned that a girl had knocked the wind out of him. Lexus walked up to the stallion slowly; holding out her hand to let the horse sniff her. The horse was big, about 16 hands, and had a coal black coat, Lexus saw no white hairs. The horse bobbed his head up and down. “Back away, that beast is dangerous.” The man said; who was still on the ground. Lexus ignored his warnings, and took another small step towards the horse.

Suddenly, the stud put his nose up to her hand, and sniffed loudly. “He’s only dangerous to you.” Lexus said to the man. “How much do you want for him?” she asked the man without hesitation. “You can just take the thing. I just want him gone. I’ll go get the papers.” He got off the ground and rushed into his house. “You’re safe now, I promise.” Lexus told the horse in a gentle voice.

In a few minutes, the man came back out with a few papers. “Does he have any tack or extras?” Lexus asked the man, trying to avoid eye contact. “Yes, but he never let me put any on him, except the halter.” He pointed to the small shed and gave Lexus permission to get the stuff later. Suddenly, Lexus remember that she had school.

Quickly, she led the stallion back to her grandparent’s ranch. She knew they wouldn’t mind because they rescue horses all the time. She put him in a small paddock all to himself. “I’ll be back soon, and when I do come back, I’ll pick out a name for you.” Then, Lexus sprinted off to school. Then it hit her, like a slap in the face. Lexus noticed how even though the man had a weapon, she still saw the scared in his eyes. She knew he was having a living nightmare. She decided to name the stallion that struck fear into the heart of a grown man, Nightmare.

Sorry part one is so short, I promise, part two will be longer, but only if you want it. Please comment.

Nightmare - Part 2

by ExWow

Nightmare

When Lexus got home from school, her Grandpa was leaning up against a pole; with a small grin on his face. Lexus knew that he had seen Nightmare, and wanted to learn more about him. She couldn't avoid him, so she dropped her backpack at the front door and walked straight up to him.

"So I see that you got a new horse, were you planning on telling me?" Her Grandpa asked still leaning on the pole.

"I was going to, but you were at work, his past owner was abusing him and when I stopped him, I asked how much he wanted for the stud and he said I could just take him. He even gave me the papers." Lexus said reaching for the papers in her pocket.

Her Grandpa shook his head and chuckled. "So what did you name him?" Lexus's eyes were scanning the papers to look for his name, but saw that it had been whitened out. And in its place, was a phone number.

"Umm, well I was gonna look at his papers to see what name would fit him, but there's no name, just a phone number."

Her Grandfather's eyes widened, "Well call it!" He said excitedly.

Lexus rushed inside the house, with her Grandpa at her heels. She called the number and a woman with a high pitched voice answered.

"Hello, you have called the American Mustang Association or AMA, how may I help you?" She said sweetly.

"Umm, hi, well I just got a horse from a man, but he didn't give me a bill of sale, so basically the horse is still his, but he was abusing the horse and I asked him how much he wanted for him, and he told me to take him. The man gave me the horse's papers, but there's no name, it looks like it's been whitened out. I was wondering, do I rename the stallion, or does he still have a name, or it's just private or what?"

There was a pause at the end of the line. "Well, can you please give me a description of the horse?" She asked in a quiet voice.

"Oh, yes of course. Well it's a stallion, he is solid black with no markings, I didn't notice any extremely visible white hairs, and he's about 16 hands, maybe more."

Lexus only heard typing at the other end of the line. "One moment please." The lady said.

In a minute or two, the woman started talking again, "Well, it looks like that horse's name was actually removed from just about everything. But it says you can still see family tree. It looks like he's related to many famous Quarter Horses and Mustangs."

Lexus was a little more interested. "Like who?" Lexus heard more typing.

"Looks like he's related to a Peppy San Badger, a Poco Loco, a Doc Bar, and a Poco Bueno on the Quarter Horse side of his genes. On the Mustang side he's related to a Mustang named Cloud, apparently this horse is still roaming the wild. But it looks like Cloud is his father!" Lexus went into shock for a few seconds.

"Well, I, Uhh.." Lexus had no idea what to say.
"Well, am I allowed to rename the horse?" Lexus asked, still thinking about her horse being related to the most famous Mustang.

"Yes." The woman said gently.

"I'd like to name him, Your Worst Nightmare. Nightmare for short."

Nightmare - Part 3

by ExWow

After Lexus talked to the woman on the phone, she went out to barn. She was also gonna get a letter from the AMA, with the final papers of Nightmare. Lexus went to the pasture she left him in. He was galloping around the 1 ½ acres of the pasture. He was very close the fence, and soaked in sweat. When he saw Lex, he slowed his pace to a trot, and stayed on one side the meadow.

Suddenly, Lex heard a whinny coming from behind. She saw her main horse, Whisper, walking to her at a slow pace. She was a bright chestnut mare with two even white socks on her front legs, an upside down pentagon as a star on her forehead, and had a two inch streak underneath it. Lexus stopped so her horse could catch up; when the mare caught up, Lex pulled out a carrot and held it out for Whisper. She snatched it greedily and chomped loudly.

When she was done, she stuck her head into Lexus' chest, seeking a scratch in between her ears. Then, Lex heard Nightmare neigh. She turned and continued towards him; with Whisper at her heels. When Lexus was about 3 yards away from Nightmare, Whisper pushed pass and studied him. Then, the peaking order started. Nightmare swung his head and nipped Whisper on the cheek. Whisper was just as quick. She turned her head in an odd angle and bit the stallion three times. Nightmare half reared, squealed, and backed up. In a moment, he walked forward and nuzzled Whisper. It was the shortest peaking order Lex had ever seen.

Lexus continued towards the two and pushed Whispers head away from the stallion; she then opened the gate and put Nightmare?s halter on and led him to the hitching post. Then, Lexus remembered that Nightmare's tack was still at that cruel man's house. Lexus led Nightmare back to his paddock and unhooked his rope; Whisper followed. They chased each other around the paddock; Lexus looked back only once, and continued to the man's home.

When she got there, it was starting to get dark, but Lex had excellent eyesight, and could maneuver easily. The lights in the house were on and she defiantly saw movement. Suddenly she saw a woman in the house and the man in front of her; she looked mad and seemed to be yelling at her husband. Lexus ignored them; quickly she ran into the unlocked the shed, and went inside for the tack. When she did, she put all the stuff in a small wagon she had brought. Suddenly, when she was running away, she hit a metal bucket, making a loud banging noise.

She didn't waste any time; she ran as fast as she could, and she turned back once and saw the door open with someone in the doorway, but she couldn't see if it was the man or the woman. When she got home, Whisper and Nightmare were sleeping on the ground. She walked to the barn and put the tack on hooks and racks, labeling them "Nightmare."

Nightmare - Part 4

by ExWow

Lexus woke at 5:30 AM the next morning, normally she wakes up at 6:30, but today she wanted to start a little bit of training with Nightmare. She threw on her clothes, and went to his paddock. She saw him and Whisper both sleeping soundly on their sides in the thin morning fog.

She tip-toed to the shed and got some oats; she would shake the can to wake the horses softly. When Lexus walked back, the can made its rustling noise, but it wasn't loud enough to wake them. She was at the gate when she stopped at watched the horses sleeping.

After a moment, she shook the can gently; her hands were cold from the morning air. Lexus saw Whisper?s head come up slowly, and when she saw the can, she moved with great speed. Whisper?s noise-making awoke Nightmare, he got up just as fast, but not for the oats; it was to follow Whisper. They both got to Lex at the same time; both horses nudged each other, just to get a handful of the delicious grains.

Finally, the can was empty, and Lex both the lead rope on Nightmare, but not on Whisper (Lexus let?s Whisper wonder around the property, since there?s a gate for the drive-way, she knows Whisper is perfectly safe). The mare followed alongside the stallion at a steady pace. Lexus tied Nightmare to the hitching post and went to go get a training saddle (A saddle blanket with a strap and a large sack of potatoes stuck to it). Whisper stayed beside him tugging at the tangles in his mane.

Lexus returned and gently placed the saddle on his back; he didn't even notice. Lexus was a little frightened to tighten the girth, but with Whisper there, she felt much safer. Lexus tightened the girth slowly until it was completely secure, Nightmare remained focused on Whisper. Suddenly, the dinner bell (really just a triangle instrument) rang and Lexus' Grandma called her in, "Honey, breakfast is ready." Lex looked at her watch, 6:15, time flies. "I'll be right there." Lexus said back.

She decided to leave Whisper in the same paddock as Nightmare for the day, but later in the afternoon, she'd let Whisper out and leave Nightmare in. Lexus checked on the training saddle, to make sure it would stay on Nightmares back; when she was done, she ran inside to have breakfast.

It was a Friday, and Lexus totally forgot that every day after school, every Friday, she goes and spends some time with her BEST friends, Tanner and Nattali. Those two are like her brother and sister. Then they come to her place and they ride horses, Lexus rides Whisper, Tanner rides Lightning, a black TB gelding with a crooked lightning strike as a star, and Nattali rides Dandy, a Quarter Horse mare palomino paint. "I'll just beg them to immediately come over to my place." Lexus thought in history class.

Unfortunately, Lexus looked as if she was day dreaming, "Lexus, are you spending time in your happy place? Well, I guess I'm gonna have to send you in the hall." Mr. Billar joked.

"Again?" Lexus said sarcastically, and she walked to the hall, with her head down in fake disappointment.

Nightmare - Part 5

by ExWow

Lexus, Tanner, and Nattali all met in the abandon library every Friday after school; sometimes, they just hung out there and went to Lexus’s place later. Today was gonna be different, Lexus was asking them if they all could just go to her place. “I just need to train him, earn his trust, and some other stuff. You both would be helping me too; I need to see if he’ll trust anyone, not just me.” Lexus told them with a hopeful face.

Tanner was the first to speak, “Well, can we still go on a trail ride later?” Lexus’s face lit up. “Yes of course.” We all walked back to the ranch, on the way, Lexus showed her friends where she had gotten Nightmare. “You got him from there!?” Nattali asked in shock. “Umm, yeah, why so concerned?” Tanner and Nattali looked at each other, “Well, that man steals horses, when he sees a good lookin' horse, he somehow gets a copy of the papers, and steals the horse, he whitens out the name so if the person investigates, they don’t have 100% proof that it’s their horse, so they can’t get their horse back.” Tanner explained.

Lexus was a little confused, “But if you both know all this, why don’t you report it, and more importantly; why in the world wouldn’t you tell me?” Nattali avoided eye contact with Lexus, “Umm, well we already thought you knew, and we couldn’t tell the cops anyway, it’s just a rumor. We don’t know for sure if that’s what he really does.” The threesome all looked at the ugly two story house in disgust. “Well we need to find out for sure. I wouldn’t want another horse to suffer.” Lexus said turning to her friends. They decided to forget the whole thing, and continue walking to the ranch. When they all walked up, Whisper nickered a hello, and Nightmare copied.

He still had his training saddle on his back, just as secure as when Lexus left that morning. Tanner and Nattali kept their distance when Nightmare came to the fence. Lexus walked right up to him and gave him a sugar lump, and she gave one to Whisper too. “Tanner, Nattali, come here, I wanna see if he’s nice to people he doesn’t know.” They both walked up to Lex and the horses slowly. Lexus grabbed Tanners hand and put it under hers, so his hand would mimic hers. She placed their hands on Nightmares muzzle, and kept them motionless. Nightmare stayed calm, but he never took his eyes off of Tanner. After a minute, Lexus took her hand away and left Tanner’s on the giant stallion.

Still not taking his eyes off of Tanner, Nightmare’s ears flicked back and forth when Lexus removed her hand. Tanner kept his hand very still, and Nightmare remained as still as a statue. Finally, Nightmare sighed loudly and gently closed his eyes, “Stroke him around the face area.” Lexus told Tanner, and Tanner did so. After a few minutes, Tanner moved away to give Nattali a turn with the stallion. Again, Lexus did the same method with Nattali as she did with Tanner; it was successful.

Again if you want more Nightmare, please comment.

Nightmare - Part 6

by ExWow

Lexus ponied Nightmare on the trail ride, with Whisper leading the way, so he could get used to being outside the small pasture. It was about 4:30 in the afternoon, the perfect time, and the perfect temperature, to go on a long trail ride.

Nightmare behaved most of the ride, but every now and then, a little bunny would hop out of the bush and startle him.

“So what do you plan on doing with him?” Tanner asked me from behind.

“Well, I’m not too sure, maybe barrel racing if he’s fast enough. But I really have no clue.” Lex responded, turning her head slightly.

“Maybe he’d be good for 4-H, or gaming.” Nattali suggested.

“Maybe. I know he’d be good for 4-H, but still, gaming still is focused on speed sometimes.” They all remained quiet after that.

When the threesome passed a sign that read, “Fenced Meadows” and below it, “5 acres of nothing but grass” Tanner started getting curious.

“Why are we going to Fenced Meadows? We haven’t been there in so long.” He asked.

“Well since I’m not gonna be able to ride Nightmare on the trail, I thought I’d ride him in Fenced Meadows. It’s far away from noise, it’s really big, plenty of room to gallop, its full long of soft grass, so if I fall I kinda have a cushion, and he can’t get to far if I fall. I even brought the BareBack Tack.” Lexus said.

When they all finally arrived, Lexus, Tanner, and Nattali all tied their horses to one of the hitching post Lexus’s Grandpa had built a while ago. Tanner and Nattali walked over to a fence post, climbed up, and sat down, watching their friend lead the mighty stallion to the large meadow.

Lex untied Nightmare and led him to the enormous field. She tied him to a fence post, and threw on the BareBack Saddle. She left his halter on and put the BareBack Bridle over it. Nightmare shook his head furiously, but the buckle around his nose kept the bit from flying out of his mouth. After the stallion finally gave up, Lexus led him over to a ladder that rested on a fence post. The sun remained in the sky, but it must’ve been around 5:00 or 5:15.

She put her foot in the left stirrup, and held the reins. Then she swung her foot over and adjusted on the small pad. At the exact moment she was firmly in the saddle, Nightmare galloped off and started bucking and kicking. Tanner and Nattali watched their friend stay in the saddle, knowing that if she fell, she would get back on. Lexus held onto the reins with all her strength.

Suddenly, Nightmare bucked forward, forcing the girl down towards his head and neck. Then, the worst thing that could’ve happened, happened. The horse reared high, and hit Lexus in the face with his hard skull; knocking her out cold.

She flew in the air, and landed with a thud in the long, thick grass. Tanner and Nattali sprinted to their friend. She probably needed a doctor, but they all were far from the nearest phone.

Nightmare - Part 7

by ExWow

Lexus woke in the hospital, with Tanner, Nattali, her Grandma, and her Grandpa all sitting on the chairs in the small room. When they all saw her move, they rushed up and looked at her with calm faces, but she could see the worry in her eyes.

“What happened? How did I get here? Why are all of you so worried?” She asked in a hoarse voice. Her Grandpa was first to speak.

“We’re worried because the doctor told us certain rules that you can’t break, but we know Lexus, and she don’t play by the rules that she don’t like.” Tanner nodded with agreement and then spoke.

“What happened was, you were riding Nightmare, and somehow you got knocked out and you were thrown from him. Nattali rode Dandy and ponied Lightning home, I rode Whisper, I didn’t pony Nightmare, he just followed. Nattali put you in front of her and we rode home with no problems.”

Then her Grandma jumped in, “Then me, Grandpa, Tanner and Nattali all hopped in the truck and drove you to the here. The doctor said that all you have is a minor concussion, and a sprained ankle. She’s amazed that you had no broken bones. But with the ankle, you’ll have to wear a boot for three weeks, and then you can’t ride Nightmare for another month.”

Lexus hated it when she wasn’t allowed to ride because of health. “Can I ride Whisper on trail rides?” she asked with a concerned face.

“Yes, but you have to keep it on the smooth ones. No Rocky Canyon, Colorful Cave, Crumbling Caverns, or Dead End Cliff. And no trotting, loping, or galloping.” Her Grandpa answered.

Lexus sighed and nodded her head in agreement. Lexus went back to the ranch that same night, and her Grandparents took Tanner and Nattali home. When she went inside, she was greeted by her Golden Retriever, Gracie, her German Shepherd, Rocky, and her Border Collie, Scarlet. They all followed her to the couch, and when she sat down they covered her with doggie kisses.

When she finally pushed them away, she reached for the remote and turned on AFV. Her Grandma walked in and headed for the kitchen. “Are you hungry L.T.” she asked (L.T. was Lexus’s nickname because her first name is Lexus and her middle name is Taylor).

“Yes I’m starving!” Lexus said desperately; she pretended to die of hunger. Her Grandma giggled.

“Okay tean, I’ll make you some grilled cheese and tomato soup.” She walked to the pantry and got everything that was needed.

Lexus looked out the window and saw Nightmare in the stallion paddock with nothing on but his halter. He was grazing peacefully, next to a 15.2 hand, dapple grey, Tennessee Walker, named Hank (show name Hankie Wankie). She laughed as they had their own peaking order. Eventually, Nightmare came out on top.

Lexus put her head back, and started thinking about what activities she could do with Nightmare. Soon, her Grandma called her for dinner; Lex ate very fast and was done within a few minutes. She then went back to the couch, and soon fell asleep.

Nightmare - Part 8

by ExWow

When Lexus awoke, she was in her bed, and her alarm going off beside her. She looked at the time, 6:30AM, it read; she started to get ready for school.

Throwing on her clothes, she glanced out the window and saw Nightmare and Whisper whinnying to each other from separate paddocks. She ran down stairs, was combing her slightly curly hair and brushing her teeth at the same time. When she got to the kitchen, she saw her Grandma making eggs; Lex threw her hair brush on the counter, and went to the bathroom to spit.

After washing her tannish skin, she put her cowboy boots on and ran outside; with a pocketful of sugar lumps. Both Whisper and Nightmare stopped their racket when they heard the clicking of Lexus’s boots. The horses didn’t see her in the thick morning fog until she was almost right in front of their faces. Giving them both a sugar lump and a quick scratch between the ears, Lexus led Whisper to the closest gate and put her in a small paddock. Then she went back and led Nightmare to the same pasture.

She bolted back to the house; looked back once and saw them both rolling on their backs in the wet morning dew. She sat at the table, and in front of her was a steaming plate of bacon and scrambled eggs.

“How were the horses LT?” Grandma asked.

“They were fine.” Lexus said between bites.

“Whisper should be coming into heat soon. You think we should breed her to that Nightmare stallion? He’d make a great stud horse.” Lexus looked at her Grandma with a piece on bacon sticking out of her mouth.

“I don’t know. They get along good.” Lex said after she was done chewing. Lexus looked at the clock, 6:57AM; she had to be outside in three minutes if she was gonna walk with Tanner and Nattali.

Quickly, she shoved the rest of her food in her mouth and grabbed her backpack and coat; soon, she was out the door running down the driveway. She saw Tanner and Nattali already there waiting for her.

“Hey guys, what up?” she said to her friends.

“Just going to school.” They both said together.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lexus saw the mailbox. She opened it and saw several envelopes. Looking though them hurriedly, she saw nothing for her, just bills. She shoved the junk mail back in the mailbox and she and her friends walked to school. She was sitting in 3rd period (art) when the phone started to ring.

“Lexus, the office says that there’s an envelope for you.” Lexus’s art teacher, Mrs. Hallstead said. Lexus was confused, “Why would there be a message for me waiting in the office?” she thought. When she got there, there was a woman in a “US Postal” uniform.

“Are you Lexus Taylor Rick?” the woman asked.

“Yes, is there something wrong?” Lexus questioned. The woman didn’t say anything, she just handed Lex a light weight package, and then just walked out. Lexus looked at the label and saw no address, just a stamp that had the letters AMA on it. She looked closer and saw a faint picture of a Mustang galloping.

“Nightmare's papers!” Lexus said to herself quietly.

Nightmare - Part 9

by ExWow

Lexus and her friends all walked together. They were looking forward to seeing the papers. She didn’t open them at school; it would make too much of a scene.

“What do you think’ll be on the papers?” Tanner asked as they passed the town’s only fast food restraint, Top Burger. “I think it’s just gonna look like any other horse papers.” Lexus said looking at the box.

When they all got to the abandon library, they snuck in and set the box one of the tables. Nattali looked through drawers seeking for scissors. She found what she needed. Lexus cut open the box and saw a large picture of Nightmare on top of everything.

It looked current; must’ve been when he was full grown, but still young. She turned it over and saw lots of information on him. The next paper was a family tree that went all the way to his great, great, great, great grand-horse parents on both sides.

Then, Lexus saw a picture of Peppy San Badger; he was a lovely chestnut, large chest, and long hind legs. He was said to be one of the best cutting horses ever to live. Then came Poco Bueno; a solid bay with no white marking what so ever, soon became another great cutting horse. Doc Bar was next; a stallion born to race, but ended a halter horse in early years, then cutting. He was a bright chestnut with beautiful markings.

Finally, on the Quarter Horse side, Poco Loco, he was a completely white stallion, with an extremely small head, became one of the best Quarter Horse Racers in America (Poco Loco is made up).

The next couple of papers were of the famous mustang, Cloud; small in size, but strong in fighting. He was light palomino, with marking that were hard to see. His coat dirty and tattered, but still beautiful.

Underneath the photo of Cloud, was a picture of a black mare with a small star and socks that Lexus called “anklets,” her name was Dreamer. And underneath her image, was a large portrait of Nightmare. He looked as if he had been born only a few moments ago.

Finally, Lexus and her friends found a tape, which was labeled, “Nightmare.” The three friends knew there was a small TV upstairs. Thankfully, it still worked. Lexus was the first to react, with Nattali and Tanner close to her heels. Lex inserted the tape and sat down on the ripped couch to watch with her friends.

The first thing they saw was a wet, wobbly, black as the night colt, trying to stand on his legs. Then, the scene changed and he was running and jumping all around. He soon went to play with other colts and fillies. It was one of the most beautiful things Lexus had ever seen.

Suddenly, the wonderful dream turned into a living nightmare. A helicopter flew overhead, startling the herd, causing some to trip and be trampled, others to be separated without the safety of their loved stallion Cloud.

Nightmare was separated from his dam by death, when Dreamer was crushed by many oncoming horses. The video soon ended, with Nightmare being pulled out of the large paddock, filled with horses, by his neck.