by Sue Bentley
Inside the cabin, Penny gathered up her toy ponies, and she and Lindsey had a game of making them gallop over humps in the covers.
“I wish I knew where Petal the Palomino is,” Penny said, looking downcast. “She was so pretty. My grandma bought her for my last birthday. I hate to think she might have been thrown away and I’ll never see her again.”
“Petal will turn up, you’ll see,” Lindsey said, hoping it was true.
She still felt sure that Tash knew something about Penny’s missing toy, but she had denied all knowledge when Penny had asked her. Even if she had something to do with Petal’s disappearance, Lindsey knew Tash would never admit it.
“Phew!” Lindsey breathed, as she dismounted in the yard the following afternoon. She was hot and sticky and couldn’t wait to take off her body-protector and riding hat.
Penny rode up on Chance. “That was great. I love cross-country. Allsorts did really well.” She slid down and tethered the blue-roan pony.
“Yes, he did, didn’t he?” Lindsey agreed proudly, sliding up the stirrups and undoing the girth straps. “He even gave Jewel a run for his money. Did you see Tash scowling at us?”
“It was hard to tell. She’s always scowling,” Penny said.
They both laughed.
“I can’t believe that tomorrow’s our last day,” Lindsey said.
She was surprised by how sad she felt at the thought of leaving and she knew it wasn’t just about losing Allsorts soon. She and Penny had become really good friends. And what was going to happen to Comet? Lindsey couldn’t bear to leave him behind, sad and lonely and still looking for his lost twin sister.
“I know. The week’s flown by, hasn’t it?” Penny said. She waved a hand in front of Lindsey’s face. “Hello? Are you listening?”
“Oh, sorry,” Lindsey said, smiling, as she lifted off the heavy saddle. “I was miles away.”
They carried their saddles and bridles into the tack room and then returned to hose down the sweaty ponies.
“Actually, Lins, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” Penny grinned, swooshing water off Chance’s rump with a cupped hand. “You know how I’m going to be moving to Blakestone? Well, I have a favor to ask . . .”
Chapter
EIGHT
Lindsey didn’t have a single moment to herself for the rest of the day. After lunch there were team games. A pony-relay, a sack race, and then a catch-the-train race. The sight of Penny struggling into a floppy old-fashioned hat and baggy red dress, before running up to Chance and leaping onto her back was just too much! Lindsey laughed until her ribs ached.
In the evening there was a team treasure hunt, followed by karaoke. Once again it was impossible for Lindsey to get away. She decided that she would have to wait until everyone was asleep before going to meet Comet.
She lay in bed staring into the semidarkness as Tash and Shawna chatted and giggled annoyingly. But soon, despite their noise, her eyes started to droop.
Lindsey woke hours later to twittering birdsong. “Oh no! It’s almost light out!” she murmured. Throwing back the covers, she quickly checked to see if the other girls were asleep, and then tiptoed outside.
“Comet!” she whispered, as she entered the woods. “Are you there?”
He appeared immediately at the edge of the woods. Morning mist swirled around his legs, and the white star on his forehead stood out against his dark-brown coat. Snorting affectionately, he trotted to meet her.
Lindsey felt a deep thrill of wonder and excitement when she saw him. She knew she’d never take being Comet’s friend for granted. He was her special secret, never to be told to anyone else.
The magic pony whickered softly and leaned forward, so that she could put her arms around his neck. “I don’t have long. The others will be waking up soon, but I just had to see you. I’ve got some news!” she told him.
As she stood back, Comet blinked. “Has something happened?”
“Yes!” Lindsey exclaimed, bursting with excitement. “It’s Penny. She asked me if I wanted to share her pony, Chance. I said I’d love to. She’s moving close to me, so I’ll be able to see her every day. We’ll both look after Chance and take turns riding her. Isn’t that amazing?”
Comet nuzzled her affectionately. “Yes. It is wonderful news.”
But there was also something else Lindsey needed to tell Comet. She wasn’t looking forward to it, but she couldn’t put it off any longer. “After the prize-giving for most-improved rider, everyone will be leaving pony camp to go back home. I would love it so much if you would come back and live with me. But . . . but I don’t think you can, can you?” she asked sadly.
Comet’s violet eyes glistened, but he lifted his head proudly. “No. I must continue my search for Destiny. But do not worry about me, Lins—she is close.”
But she knew she would worry. She couldn’t help it. Sadness at the thought of leaving without him washed over her.
Part of her felt as if she had let Comet down in some way, although she knew she had done her best to keep her promise to him. She sighed; if only she could be certain that the lonely pony would be reunited with his lost sister. It would be awful never to know.
After giving Comet a final hug, Lindsey was about to slip quietly back into the cabin, when she had a sudden thought. “Penny’s still really upset because her toy pony hasn’t turned up. Petal the Palomino was her favorite. I’d love to find it for her. Do you think you could help me?”
“It would be my pleasure.”
Almost at once, Lindsey felt a familiar prickling sensation flowing to her fingertips as violet sparkles twinkled in Comet’s mane and tail and he blew out a big breath that turned into a glittering rainbow mist. As she stared at the mist, a picture formed of Tash’s shoulder bag, sitting in the closet. Tucked away in the toe of a sock, right in the bottom, was a tiny toy pony.
“Petal! I knew it!” Lindsey burst out crossly. “How mean is that girl? Thank you, Comet.”
“You are welcome,” Comet neighed, as every last spark faded and the rainbow mist blew away across the grass like glittering dust.
“I’ll see you later!” Lindsey said. She had something she had to do.
Chapter
NINE
Lindsey crept back into the cabin and carefully opened the closet. It creaked loudly and she paused, wincing as she looked over her shoulder. Luckily her cabinmates were still asleep.
She quickly finished what she was doing and closed the closet door. Grabbing some clean clothes, she darted into the bathroom and had showered and dressed by the time the other girls were up and about.
“It’s no good getting up early to groom that scruffy black-and-white pony. You won’t win the prize for most-improved rider!” Tash jeered, pulling on her riding boots.
“That’s right. You don’t have a chance! Tash always wins that prize,” Shawna said.
“Whatever.” Lindsey shrugged as she bit back a grin.
“Yeow! What’s sticking into me?” Suddenly Tash gave a loud yell as she pulled off her right boot. She tipped it up and a small object fell out.
“Petal! Yay!” Penny cried, snatching up her tiny palomino pony.
“What’s that doing in there? It was in my ba— I mean, someone must have put it there,” Tash burbled guiltily.
Penny squared her shoulders and looked Tash in the eye. “I knew you’d taken her. Don’t ever try that again—or else!”
Tash backed away warily. “But it wasn’t me! I didn’t—”
“Don’t even,” Penny said coldly, walking away. “Come on, Lins. Let’s go and see Chance and Allsorts before breakfast.”
Later in the Hay Net there was fresh orange juice and pancakes with maple syrup for a special treat. Afterward, everyone trooped to the tack room for the prizes.
Lindsey breathed in the smells of leather
and saddle soap, as she and Penny perched on blanket boxes with the other kids. Lindsey heard a soft neigh and looked around to see Comet’s head poking in through an open window.
She smiled at her friend as Gina Morgan began speaking. “The prize isn’t just for the most-improved rider. It’s also for the rider who’s been the best team-player and the most helpful . . .”
Suddenly Lindsey heard a sound she’d been both hoping for and dreading at the same time.
The hollow sound of galloping hooves overhead.
She froze. Destiny! It had to be.
Comet had gone. She heard his eager whinny and knew he was following the magical hoofbeats that were getting louder and closer.
“I’ll be right back!” she whispered to Penny, before jumping up and rushing outside.
As she rounded the building, there was a flash and twinkling rainbow mist floated down around Comet. He stood there in his true form. He was no longer a handsome dark brown pony with a white star, but a magnificent cream pony with a noble head and proudly arched neck. His flowing mane and tail and gold-feathered wings gleamed brightly in the sunshine.
“Comet!” Lindsey gasped. She had almost forgotten how beautiful he was. “Hurry! You have to catch her!” she cried, forcing herself to swallow the lump rising in her throat.
Comet’s deep violet eyes softened with affection. “Farewell. You have been a good friend.”
“I’ll never forget you,” she said, her voice breaking. It was hard to let him go, even though she knew this had to happen.
Comet spread his magnificent gold wings. “I will not forget you either. Ride well and true, Lindsey,” he said in a deep musical neigh.
Lindsey rushed forward, threw her arms around his silky neck and pressed her face to his glowing warmth for one last time. And then she slowly backed away.
There was a final flash of bright violet light, and a silent burst of rainbow crystals showered down around her and tinkled like tiny bells as they hit the ground.
Comet soared upward. He faded and was gone.
Lindsey stood there, fighting tears. She could hardly believe how fast it had happened. Something glittered on the ground. It was a single shimmering gold wing-feather. As she bent and picked it up, it tingled faintly against her palm and turned to a cream color.
She put it in her pocket, knowing she would always treasure it as a reminder of her wonderful magical friend. After a moment, she took a deep breath and tried very hard not to feel so sad. This was what she had hoped would happen. Comet had found his sister. Now she wouldn’t worry about leaving him here all alone.
She walked back to the tack room, just as Penny rushed out to meet her. “There you are! Gina’s looking for you. You won the prize!”
“Really?” Lindsey said in delight, starting to smile in amazement. “I bet Tash’s furious.”
“She is! Gina’s giving her a lecture about being a sore loser!” Penny said triumphantly. “Look, my mom and dad have just arrived. Let’s go and tell them our news!”
Lindsey found herself beaming. Everything had worked out perfectly. “Thank you for everything, Comet. I hope you and Destiny get home safely to Rainbow Mist Island!”
About the AUTHOR
Sue Bentley’s books for children often include animals, fairies, and wildlife. She lives in Northampton, England, and enjoys reading, going to the movies, and watching the birds on the feeders outside her window. She loves horses, which she thinks are all completely magical. One of her favorite books is Black Beauty, which she must have read at least ten times. At school she was always getting scolded for daydreaming, but she now knows that she was storing up ideas for when she became a writer. Sue has met and owned many animals, but the wild creatures in her life hold a special place in her heart.