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STORY
She hadn’t been home in a year and a half, and when Astraea walked through the front door of her childhood home she felt a weight lift of her shoulders. She’d done it. Her family stood inside the foyer, smiling broadly at her, her mother stepping forward to pull her into a tight hug. Trapped, her brother’s took the chance to ruffle her hair and tease her for taking too long to come home. Astraea wiggled from her mother’s grasp to round on her brothers, intending on revenge.

As her brothers shot out of reach, she felt her mother place a hand on her shoulder. A warning. Just like when they would squabble as children.

  “Did either of you double major? No? Leave your sister alone.”  Her father’s voice caused everyone to freeze, and Astraea looked over at him for the first time since walking inside.

Elias was much unchanged. Still the same straight-backed proud man Astraea remembered from her childhood, his suit tailored and spotless. There were more grey hairs around his temples, but at fifty-two, he still retained his good looks. He spread his arms, and Astraea all but ran to embrace him.

  “Welcome home.” He said quietly. Astraea just nodded, a little beyond words, as she tried to quell the lump in her throat.

Pulling away, Elias turned to the twins.

  “Zeke. Orion. Start unpacking your sisters stuff. I’ll be out to help in a minute.” He barked.

  “I’m going to finish making lunch.” Astraea’s mother said, disappearing without further prompting. Astraea watched them leave before turning to her father and raising an eyebrow at him in question. Elias just shook his head, walking past her towards his office. Astraea followed, curiosity building. As her father settled behind his desk, he opened a drawer and began sorting through the folders inside, looking for something. Astraea shut the door, and took the seat opposite him.

  “I’m sorry we couldn’t make your graduation.” Elias apologized softly, pausing his search to look at his daughter across the desk.

          “Is everything alright, dad?” Astraea asked, concern mounting.

Elias dropped a folder on the desk between them, before sitting back, his eyes dancing in amusement. It gave Astraea pause. Her dad had a… warped sense of humor.

  “What is that?” Astraea questioned, eyeing the folder warily, as if it had teeth.

  “Your graduation present.” Elias replied, a small smile curling his lips. Knowing him that folder probably contained absolutely nothing. Or something disgusting. She’d never forget the one time he’d pack her lunch in third grade, and she opened it to find a snake he’d backed over with the tractor. Her scream had brought the lunch lady running over.

Cautiously Astraea reached for the folder and opened it. Inside was a stack of papers. She glanced up at Elias, who was watching her closely, before glancing back at the document. Astraea read the front page and just about choked. It was the legal papers for Morning Star Thoroughbreds… and her name was typed in harsh black ink under the word “Co-Owner”.

  “I… Are you sure?” Astraea breathed, terrified this was a dream.

  “You graduated valedictorian on your class, with majors in both animal science and agricultural business. You’ve spent your summers in Kentucky working with various different trainers and breeders. For that past four years you’ve been working with the industry, and you’ve neither given up nor grown bored. Yes. All you need to do is read that, and sign it.” Elias told her.

Astraea nodded, feeling a strange combination of panic and ecstatic, unbridled, joy. "Of course. I'll start right away."

          "No. Right now you're going to have lunch with the family, and then you're going to go down to the track and start working. I am using this as an excuse to take a holiday while you figure things out, so your brothers and I are going up onto the range for a couple months." Elias's smile turned into a full smirk. "You will be completely in charge, and the barn better be standing when I get back."

Ah, there was the catch.

        "By myself?" Astraea demanded.

        "Yep. Victor needs to get used to taking orders from you with checking with me first. Now, lunch, before you mother eats the both of us alive." Elias ordered.
After lunch Astraea drove down to Sadalbari racecourse. In truth she probably could have walked, it was a couple miles down the road, but the drive gave her something to think about instead of how much had just happened. She expected to come home, and spend a few months working at Morning Star while trying to find some other stud farm that would take her on as a bloodstock agent or something... after her father had let the twins inherit Morgenstern Ranch, but kept Morning Star Thoroughbreds completely to himself, she'd assumed he would never share the business. Now she wondered if this had been Elias' plan all along. If, when every time she asked him if she could have a job higher than "glorified stable hand", he'd said "I only pay professionals", it had been a cue to her.

It had worked. She gone to college. She'd graduated, and-

Her train of thought was cut off by a sharp tap on the glass of her window. She pulled into the track and parked without thinking about it.

Outside, a tall man dressed in jeans and an "Astral Racing" jacket stood looking mildly put out. Astraea sighed. Her dad must have called ahead, because the man was clearly waiting for her. Shutting of the car she opened the door and climbed out, offering the man her hand.

        "Sorry about that, Astraea Morgenstern. I'm here to see Victor?" She smiled charmingly, hoping to smooth the man's visibly ruffled feathers.

        "Thomas Riddle. Trent's assistant trainer." The man introduced himself. Canadian, Astraea noted, his accent thick.

        "What happened to Mark?" She asked.

        "Westwood? Oh, he's around. Working with the classier stakes horses, so he doesn't get saddled with welcoming duty." The man, Thomas, grumbled.

        "Oh... I know my way around... you can go if you like." Astraea replied, taken aback.

Thomas hurmphed, and turned towards the block of stalls that housed Astral's horses. Astraea made her way to the track, and as she walked up to the rail she caught sight of Victor. Tall and broad shouldered, Victor was a handsome man, if not a little young for a trainer. His dark hair was still without any grey, and his green eyes dancing mockingly.

        "Astraea. Your father said you were coming. You're late." He accused, the moment she was in earshot.

She pulled up beside the rail, and looked out onto the track. It was busy, horses running too and fro, exercise companions at their sides, and lead ponies jogging back and forth. In the chaos, she could see the horses marked with Astral Racing's standard pad, and watched a set of horses charge along the inside of the rail together.

        "Didn't realize I was being expected at a certain time. How are our horses?" Astraea replied evenly.

        "Don't sass me, Morgenstern." Victor snapped.

They we cut off from their argument by the sound of someone clearing their throat.

"What are we trying today, boss." A male voice asked.

Astraea she turned around, looking up. And kept looking up, past what felt like miles of dark silky coat, covering sinewy muscle. Finally, she found the riders face. She didn't recognize the man, or the horse, but the latter was impressive enough. A seal brown colt, he wore a mask, and his ears seemed perpetually glued to his head in an expression of raging fury.

        "Derek's got Ribbit out on the back stretch waiting for you. Same as Tuesday." Victor ordered.

The rider nodded, tipping his cap to Astraea before letting the colt walk onto the track.

          "That's one of our newer purchases... son of the New Hampshire stud Lachlan. I think we've finally got him under control enough to take him out." Victor said, voice tired.

Astraea watched as Alarik trotted the colt over towards where his workout partner, a gelding named Ribbit, was, and halted the horse. Spinning Larkhall, so the colts back was to the gelding, Alarik nodded at the horses rider, and Ribbit took off at a hard gallop. Larkhall was still standing stock still, watching the chaos on the other side of the track, and Ribbit was opening up length after length of a lead.

      "What on-?" Astraea started, but suddenly Alarik spun the colt around, and Larkhall erupted. The horse was like a volcano, or a shooting star. He rocketed around the turn, closing on Ribbit like the gelding wasn't moving. And Alarik had the reins in a death grip, trying to hold the colt back...

        "He's stakes material, if we can get him into the starting gate." Victor muttered. "I'll leave you be. I need to go check on the grooms."

Victor left, leaving Astraea at the rail, eyes still glued to Larkhall, watching as the pair pounded past, Larkhall seizing the lead.

        "They sure are somethin' aren't they." A friendly, feminine voice with a thick southern drawl admired.

Astraea looked to her left to see a pretty little palomino, ridden by a slight blonde. She recognized the lead pony; Lie was unmistakable, the appaloosa stallion stood over seventeen hands, and towered over his charge. Astraea waved at Lie's rider, Jack, before turning back to the girl on the palomino.

        "Something is one word for it." Astraea replied. The woman grinned.

        "Terrifying, being the other." Jack supplied, adjusting his grip on Lie's reins. Astraea just nodded.

          "Who's this?" Astraea asked, gesturing at the little palomino.

        "Peanut." The woman smiled. "... Playwithmypineapple if you want to get official. But I call her Peanut."

        "She's eye catching." Astraea volunteered. Jack snorted.

        "Yes... from last place." He smirked.

        "Hey now, that's not fair! She got three thirds last year!" The woman protested.

      "Almost last place." Jack amended. "You gonna be alright with her? I need to go and grab a couple more horses."

The woman nodded, and Jack unclipped Peanut before trotting off back towards the stable block.

        "Good riddance." The woman muttered, watching him go. "Mackenzie Sarro. I'm one of Victor's riders."

        "Slaves more like, do you see what I have to put up with?" A voice cut in, as Alejandro rode up. Astraea didn't know the horse, but Alejandro had been in Victor's employ since she was a little girl, and she knew the man well.

        "Victor still have you riding old nags?" She teased, looking at the chestnut he was riding.

The horse was lanky, built more like a marathon runner than a sprinter. He had a soft, intelligent eye though, and Astraea liked his temperament instantly. He had an odd little star shaped snip on the left side of his muzzle. Alejandro shook his head.

        "Worse." He grinned. "Potential Derby material."

        "Oh, the horror." Mackenzie replied flatly, but Astraea could see humor sparkling in the woman's blue eyes.

        "Indeed, sounds like quite the burden. Why don't you trade with Mackenzie, Ale?" Astraea agreed.

Alejandro looked like they'd suggested he cut off his right hand. Astraea caught Mackenzie's eye, and the two women burst into laughter.

      "Get out of here, Valdez, before Victor comes hunting you down." Astraea chuckled. Alejandro huffed before turning the chestnut colt towards the barns, sulking.

        "I should probably get going too." Mackenzie admitted.

Astraea watched as the Palomino filly trotted off, her riders blonde ponytail swishing in the wind. She smiled softly as she watched them go. Morning Star had hope. They'd had a rough past couple years, but it felt like they might be coming out the other side of it stronger.

COMMENTS
Well, I'm sorry that was so long.  But I present the begining of the Astral Racing/Morning Star Thoroughbreds storyline: Starstruck. Relatively happy with this... especially that background. And training for all my Morning Star three year olds! Next chapters shouldn't be so scary. Needed to introduce all the characters.  Ribbit may get a better introduction later, right now he's kinda just Larkhall's punching bag, poor guy.

Larkhall (USA) || 3YO || Flat Racing

Ribbit (REF TO COME)

PlayWithMyPineapple (USA) || 3YO || Flat Racing

Astral's Little White Lies TEMP

Description
STORY
She hadn’t been home in a year and a half, and when Astraea walked through the front door of her childhood home she felt a weight lift of her shoulders. She’d done it. Her family stood inside the foyer, smiling broadly at her, her mother stepping forward to pull her into a tight hug. Trapped, her brother’s took the chance to ruffle her hair and tease her for taking too long to come home. Astraea wiggled from her mother’s grasp to round on her brothers, intending on revenge.

As her brothers shot out of reach, she felt her mother place a hand on her shoulder. A warning. Just like when they would squabble as children.

  “Did either of you double major? No? Leave your sister alone.”  Her father’s voice caused everyone to freeze, and Astraea looked over at him for the first time since walking inside.

Elias was much unchanged. Still the same straight-backed proud man Astraea remembered from her childhood, his suit tailored and spotless. There were more grey hairs around his temples, but at fifty-two, he still retained his good looks. He spread his arms, and Astraea all but ran to embrace him.

  “Welcome home.” He said quietly. Astraea just nodded, a little beyond words, as she tried to quell the lump in her throat.

Pulling away, Elias turned to the twins.

  “Zeke. Orion. Start unpacking your sisters stuff. I’ll be out to help in a minute.” He barked.

  “I’m going to finish making lunch.” Astraea’s mother said, disappearing without further prompting. Astraea watched them leave before turning to her father and raising an eyebrow at him in question. Elias just shook his head, walking past her towards his office. Astraea followed, curiosity building. As her father settled behind his desk, he opened a drawer and began sorting through the folders inside, looking for something. Astraea shut the door, and took the seat opposite him.

  “I’m sorry we couldn’t make your graduation.” Elias apologized softly, pausing his search to look at his daughter across the desk.

          “Is everything alright, dad?” Astraea asked, concern mounting.

Elias dropped a folder on the desk between them, before sitting back, his eyes dancing in amusement. It gave Astraea pause. Her dad had a… warped sense of humor.

  “What is that?” Astraea questioned, eyeing the folder warily, as if it had teeth.

  “Your graduation present.” Elias replied, a small smile curling his lips. Knowing him that folder probably contained absolutely nothing. Or something disgusting. She’d never forget the one time he’d pack her lunch in third grade, and she opened it to find a snake he’d backed over with the tractor. Her scream had brought the lunch lady running over.

Cautiously Astraea reached for the folder and opened it. Inside was a stack of papers. She glanced up at Elias, who was watching her closely, before glancing back at the document. Astraea read the front page and just about choked. It was the legal papers for Morning Star Thoroughbreds… and her name was typed in harsh black ink under the word “Co-Owner”.

  “I… Are you sure?” Astraea breathed, terrified this was a dream.

  “You graduated valedictorian on your class, with majors in both animal science and agricultural business. You’ve spent your summers in Kentucky working with various different trainers and breeders. For that past four years you’ve been working with the industry, and you’ve neither given up nor grown bored. Yes. All you need to do is read that, and sign it.” Elias told her.

Astraea nodded, feeling a strange combination of panic and ecstatic, unbridled, joy. "Of course. I'll start right away."

          "No. Right now you're going to have lunch with the family, and then you're going to go down to the track and start working. I am using this as an excuse to take a holiday while you figure things out, so your brothers and I are going up onto the range for a couple months." Elias's smile turned into a full smirk. "You will be completely in charge, and the barn better be standing when I get back."

Ah, there was the catch.

        "By myself?" Astraea demanded.

        "Yep. Victor needs to get used to taking orders from you with checking with me first. Now, lunch, before you mother eats the both of us alive." Elias ordered.
After lunch Astraea drove down to Sadalbari racecourse. In truth she probably could have walked, it was a couple miles down the road, but the drive gave her something to think about instead of how much had just happened. She expected to come home, and spend a few months working at Morning Star while trying to find some other stud farm that would take her on as a bloodstock agent or something... after her father had let the twins inherit Morgenstern Ranch, but kept Morning Star Thoroughbreds completely to himself, she'd assumed he would never share the business. Now she wondered if this had been Elias' plan all along. If, when every time she asked him if she could have a job higher than "glorified stable hand", he'd said "I only pay professionals", it had been a cue to her.

It had worked. She gone to college. She'd graduated, and-

Her train of thought was cut off by a sharp tap on the glass of her window. She pulled into the track and parked without thinking about it.

Outside, a tall man dressed in jeans and an "Astral Racing" jacket stood looking mildly put out. Astraea sighed. Her dad must have called ahead, because the man was clearly waiting for her. Shutting of the car she opened the door and climbed out, offering the man her hand.

        "Sorry about that, Astraea Morgenstern. I'm here to see Victor?" She smiled charmingly, hoping to smooth the man's visibly ruffled feathers.

        "Thomas Riddle. Trent's assistant trainer." The man introduced himself. Canadian, Astraea noted, his accent thick.

        "What happened to Mark?" She asked.

        "Westwood? Oh, he's around. Working with the classier stakes horses, so he doesn't get saddled with welcoming duty." The man, Thomas, grumbled.

        "Oh... I know my way around... you can go if you like." Astraea replied, taken aback.

Thomas hurmphed, and turned towards the block of stalls that housed Astral's horses. Astraea made her way to the track, and as she walked up to the rail she caught sight of Victor. Tall and broad shouldered, Victor was a handsome man, if not a little young for a trainer. His dark hair was still without any grey, and his green eyes dancing mockingly.

        "Astraea. Your father said you were coming. You're late." He accused, the moment she was in earshot.

She pulled up beside the rail, and looked out onto the track. It was busy, horses running too and fro, exercise companions at their sides, and lead ponies jogging back and forth. In the chaos, she could see the horses marked with Astral Racing's standard pad, and watched a set of horses charge along the inside of the rail together.

        "Didn't realize I was being expected at a certain time. How are our horses?" Astraea replied evenly.

        "Don't sass me, Morgenstern." Victor snapped.

They we cut off from their argument by the sound of someone clearing their throat.

"What are we trying today, boss." A male voice asked.

Astraea she turned around, looking up. And kept looking up, past what felt like miles of dark silky coat, covering sinewy muscle. Finally, she found the riders face. She didn't recognize the man, or the horse, but the latter was impressive enough. A seal brown colt, he wore a mask, and his ears seemed perpetually glued to his head in an expression of raging fury.

        "Derek's got Ribbit out on the back stretch waiting for you. Same as Tuesday." Victor ordered.

The rider nodded, tipping his cap to Astraea before letting the colt walk onto the track.

          "That's one of our newer purchases... son of the New Hampshire stud Lachlan. I think we've finally got him under control enough to take him out." Victor said, voice tired.

Astraea watched as Alarik trotted the colt over towards where his workout partner, a gelding named Ribbit, was, and halted the horse. Spinning Larkhall, so the colts back was to the gelding, Alarik nodded at the horses rider, and Ribbit took off at a hard gallop. Larkhall was still standing stock still, watching the chaos on the other side of the track, and Ribbit was opening up length after length of a lead.

      "What on-?" Astraea started, but suddenly Alarik spun the colt around, and Larkhall erupted. The horse was like a volcano, or a shooting star. He rocketed around the turn, closing on Ribbit like the gelding wasn't moving. And Alarik had the reins in a death grip, trying to hold the colt back...

        "He's stakes material, if we can get him into the starting gate." Victor muttered. "I'll leave you be. I need to go check on the grooms."

Victor left, leaving Astraea at the rail, eyes still glued to Larkhall, watching as the pair pounded past, Larkhall seizing the lead.

        "They sure are somethin' aren't they." A friendly, feminine voice with a thick southern drawl admired.

Astraea looked to her left to see a pretty little palomino, ridden by a slight blonde. She recognized the lead pony; Lie was unmistakable, the appaloosa stallion stood over seventeen hands, and towered over his charge. Astraea waved at Lie's rider, Jack, before turning back to the girl on the palomino.

        "Something is one word for it." Astraea replied. The woman grinned.

        "Terrifying, being the other." Jack supplied, adjusting his grip on Lie's reins. Astraea just nodded.

          "Who's this?" Astraea asked, gesturing at the little palomino.

        "Peanut." The woman smiled. "... Playwithmypineapple if you want to get official. But I call her Peanut."

        "She's eye catching." Astraea volunteered. Jack snorted.

        "Yes... from last place." He smirked.

        "Hey now, that's not fair! She got three thirds last year!" The woman protested.

      "Almost last place." Jack amended. "You gonna be alright with her? I need to go and grab a couple more horses."

The woman nodded, and Jack unclipped Peanut before trotting off back towards the stable block.

        "Good riddance." The woman muttered, watching him go. "Mackenzie Sarro. I'm one of Victor's riders."

        "Slaves more like, do you see what I have to put up with?" A voice cut in, as Alejandro rode up. Astraea didn't know the horse, but Alejandro had been in Victor's employ since she was a little girl, and she knew the man well.

        "Victor still have you riding old nags?" She teased, looking at the chestnut he was riding.

The horse was lanky, built more like a marathon runner than a sprinter. He had a soft, intelligent eye though, and Astraea liked his temperament instantly. He had an odd little star shaped snip on the left side of his muzzle. Alejandro shook his head.

        "Worse." He grinned. "Potential Derby material."

        "Oh, the horror." Mackenzie replied flatly, but Astraea could see humor sparkling in the woman's blue eyes.

        "Indeed, sounds like quite the burden. Why don't you trade with Mackenzie, Ale?" Astraea agreed.

Alejandro looked like they'd suggested he cut off his right hand. Astraea caught Mackenzie's eye, and the two women burst into laughter.

      "Get out of here, Valdez, before Victor comes hunting you down." Astraea chuckled. Alejandro huffed before turning the chestnut colt towards the barns, sulking.

        "I should probably get going too." Mackenzie admitted.

Astraea watched as the Palomino filly trotted off, her riders blonde ponytail swishing in the wind. She smiled softly as she watched them go. Morning Star had hope. They'd had a rough past couple years, but it felt like they might be coming out the other side of it stronger.

COMMENTS
Well, I'm sorry that was so long.  But I present the begining of the Astral Racing/Morning Star Thoroughbreds storyline: Starstruck. Relatively happy with this... especially that background. And training for all my Morning Star three year olds! Next chapters shouldn't be so scary. Needed to introduce all the characters.  Ribbit may get a better introduction later, right now he's kinda just Larkhall's punching bag, poor guy.

Larkhall (USA) || 3YO || Flat Racing

Ribbit (REF TO COME)

PlayWithMyPineapple (USA) || 3YO || Flat Racing

Astral's Little White Lies TEMP