Dreams That Sparkle

by Lisa Ann Scott

  Don’t be so sure, she thought.

  Belissima was up before the sun, collecting dewdrops from a forest fern and dropping them in a glass bottle. There were quite a few odd ingredients she needed to find. The sour mushroom was the hardest to locate. It looked very much like the swamp mushroom, which was quite poisonous, so she had to be sure she’d found the right one. Finally, she found the tiny green mushroom growing under a log. It did not have orange spots on its underside like the swamp mushroom, so she knew it was safe.

  She added two mushrooms to a bag looped around her neck. The recipe seemed much more advanced than the posy pie and cloud candy the other ponies had made. She hoped it would work.

  While everyone else gathered to watch the demonstrations by the ponies in the guardianship group, Belissima snuck into the kitchen. She felt bad missing her friends’ performances, but at least she wouldn’t run into Princess Zenia.

  The recipe took hours to make. But that wasn’t surprising considering the magic it would cast. She levitated the cake back to her stall right before the ponies’ nine o’clock curfew. Since she didn’t know how long the spell would last, she decided she would sneak a piece to the selection ceremony the next day and take a bite right before the ceremony.

  The next morning, Belissima was the last pony to arrive at the arena. A piece of the cake was tucked in a small bag she had brought with her. She still couldn’t believe what she was about to do. It pretty much guaranteed she wouldn’t be chosen today.

  “Where have you been? It’s almost time to start,” Alia said.

  “I overslept,” Belissima said.

  But that wasn’t true. She had been working up her courage to come to the selection ceremony and carry through her plan. She had no idea if it was going to work, but it was time to try. She nudged open the bag and quickly ate a bite of the cake. The pleasant cinnamony taste surprised her. She’d been expecting a prank cake to taste horrible. I hope I made it right! Maybe she’d spent all that time baking for nothing!

  “I’m so nervous,” Rasha said. “I hope Princess Palina picks me, I really liked her.”

  “I’m sure she will, Rasha.” Belissima forced a smile, wishing she felt as hopeful for her own future right now.

  The headmaster addressed the crowd. “Royal families of the hundred kingdoms, welcome to the Spring Selection Day Ceremony. Today, the royal children who have completed their leadership classes are invited to choose their perfect pony match to help rule their land.”

  Belissima lifted her hoof to see if the magic recipe had taken effect yet, but she saw nothing different about her leg. She gulped nervously. Maybe she hadn’t made the recipe correctly.

  “The names of the children in today’s ceremony were drawn in a lottery to determine who should go first,” the headmaster said. “And you will see those names revealed now on the tally board behind me.”

  Everyone turned to look at the board as the names appeared. Chatter filled the arena. Princess Zenia was first!

  “Please let the magic cake work, please let it work,” Belissima whispered to herself.

  Just then, a rainbow arched over the arena, and the colorful light enveloped her. She was standing in the very end of it! Everyone pointed at the rainbow in the sky, shouting and cheering. Belissima scanned the crowd and sure enough, Stone stood off to the side alone, shooting the rainbow from his horn.

  He did it! I can’t believe it!

  “What good luck!” said Ranger. “Our magic will be even stronger as we perform our last routine!”

  “Wow!” Rasha said. “Yours is going to be extra powerful, Belissima, since you were standing right in it!”

  Belissima gulped. “I hope so.”

  The ponies whinnied and cheered.

  “Look, it’s Stone!” someone hollered.

  “Stone’s making the rainbow!” Rasha said.

  “Thanks, Stone,” Alia cried.

  The rainbow quickly faded, but Belissima still couldn’t believe he had found a way to cast the spell. She was so impressed.

  The excited whispering in the arena quickly turned to gasps then shrieks and even some laughter. People were pointing at her. Belissima turned her head to inspect her coat. Sure enough, her soft purple coat was covered in moldy green spots. The cake had worked. Better than she had imagined, even. The moldy spots were bigger and fuzzier than she’d expected. They were a darker green, too. The rainbow must have really enhanced the power of the recipe.

  “She looks like a mushroom!” someone hollered.

  The pointing and laughing continued. Belissima was surprised by how much it hurt her heart. She wasn’t used to being made fun of. She’d only ever had people and ponies fuss over her. But this was what she wanted.

  “What happened?” Rasha asked her. “Let me cover you with my cape.”

  Belissima held her head high. “No, I’m fine. I’m glad this happened. Now someone will have to choose me for the right reasons.”

  She wasn’t sure if that would really happen, though. And she didn’t know how long the spots would last.

  But even if they quickly faded away, Princess Zenia might worry they’d come back. No way would she choose Belissima now. Belissima felt bad playing such a rotten trick, but it was the only way she could be sure she didn’t end up with the totally wrong child.

  “I ask that you all please settle down so we may begin the ceremony,” Headmistress Valincia announced. “Princess Zenia, you were picked first in our lottery. Please approach the ponies and make your selection.”

  Slowly, the perfect princess rose from her throne and walked toward the ponies. Her gaze swept across the group, and Belissima was relieved her coat was still covered in spots. A princess that refined could never choose her as a pet. The truth was, probably no one would choose Belissima today. Her mother would be so disappointed.

  If she weren’t chosen, Belissima would spend another six months at the school until the next selection week in the fall. Maybe she could take extra healing classes. It wouldn’t be horrible.

  But Princess Zenia walked right over to Belissima. She tilted her head and stared at her.

  Belissima was panicked. “Look at me. Look at these horrible spots!” she said. “You don’t want to pick me.”

  One corner of Zenia’s mouth curled up. “I most certainly do.” She turned to the headmaster. “I choose Belissima as my royal pet. I am certain we will be a perfect match.”

  Belissima froze. Was this just a bad dream?

  The crowd cheered and the headmaster said, “Congratulations to you both, and to you especially, Belissima, for being the First Pony chosen this ceremony.”

  That meant her picture would be added to the display in the great hall. She wondered if it would show her ugly spots.

  “We’ll see you tomorrow for the good-bye ceremony,” the headmistress said. “Best wishes for a happy future together.”

  Belissima fought to hold back her tears as she left the stage and followed the princess out of the arena.

  Princess Zenia spun in place and clasped her hands together. “I can’t wait to show you your new home. My father, the king, had a stall made especially for my Glitter Pony on the ship we’ll take to sail to our land. And wait until you see your stable! It’s gorgeous. I just know we’re a perfect match for each other.”

  Belissima forced a smile and nodded. She thought about telling the princess they were anything but a perfect match. That they’d never be happy together, that she should go choose a different pony. But it was too late for that. She was going to have to make the best of this situation. “Don’t worry about my spots. They should fade away soon.”

  “Does this happen to you often?” the princess asked.

  “No, I made a recipe from a magic cookbook. But since a rainbow appeared right as I ate it, it intensified the spell. Rainbows strengthen Glitter Pony magic.”

  Princess Zenia’s eyes widened. “A magic cookbook? Can I see it?”

  “Sure, maybe there’s a reversal spe
ll in it.” Belissima led her to the kitchen where she’d left the book the night before.

  “Most of them are pleasant tricks but a few are pranks. Like the one I made. They’re supposed to be temporary.” She didn’t want to explain why she’d given herself spots and she was glad the princess didn’t ask.

  “What is the name of the one that gave you the spots?”

  “Spotty Mushroom Surprise.”

  Princess Zenia flipped through the book until she found it. She scrunched her eyebrows together as she read the ingredients. “What is a sour mushroom?”

  “That’s a rare mushroom found in the forest. The same color as my spots. Very hard to find.”

  Princess Zenia turned a few more pages. “I don’t see a reversal recipe. Are there any recipes that could turn my hair a different color, the way your coat turns?”

  Right, so we can just change hair and coat colors all day long. Belissima frowned. “I haven’t looked through the whole book. But I’m not sure how these recipes work on a human. They’re meant for Glitter Ponies.”

  “Still, they might be fun to try.” Princess Zenia pulled out a small notebook from the pocket of her dress and jotted down a few notes.

  “What else should I see on campus? Since we’re leaving tomorrow night, are there any places you’d like to visit one last time before we go home?” the princess asked.

  Home. The word stunned Belissima for a moment. She’d be leaving for a new home after spending two years at the academy. She’d be leaving behind her friends, her teachers, her classes. There were so many things she was going to miss here. “Why don’t I show you some of the most special places in the academy?”

  “That sounds wonderful.”

  “Let’s go to the stables to get my saddle and we can ride,” Belissima said. So I can appreciate this beautiful school one last time before heading to my sad new home.

  After saddling up, Belissima took the princess on a tour of the school grounds. She showed her Earth barn and the banquet hall and all the wonderful places on campus.

  “There’s one more special place to visit. But it will take a while to get there.”

  “Let’s go!”

  Belissima ran toward the trail in the woods that led to the river with the seaponies.

  Princess Zenia squealed with delight as they galloped through the forest.

  They got to the river, and Belissima sang a quick song. Seaponies always rose to the surface when they heard nice music.

  Soon, Marina’s head popped up from under water. A few of her friends were with her.

  “Hi, Marina! I wanted to say good-bye before I leave school. This is Princess Zenia.”

  “Your perfect match?” Marina asked.

  Belissima forced a smile. “She picked me during the selection ceremony.”

  “It is very nice to meet you, Princess Zenia,” Marina said softly. Seaponies were very shy with creatures above the water.

  “You too! I never swam with seaponies before. Mind if I join you?” the princess asked.

  “That would be quite nice. I never swam with a human princess!” Marina said.

  Belissima’s mouth hung open. This perfect princess was going to get wet? “You’re going to ruin your dress!”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got hundreds of other dresses.”

  Of course you do, Belissima thought to herself, remembering who she was talking to.

  Princess Zenia climbed off Belissima’s back, lifted the skirt of her dress, and ran toward the river. A big splash soaked Belissima when the princess did a cannonball into the river.

  Belissima’s mouth hung open.

  When Princess Zenia came up, she held two handfuls of seaweed. She plopped one on top of her head and placed bits on her face. “Now I look like you!”

  Belissima laughed. Maybe the princess wouldn’t be totally horrible to live with.

  The princess waved for her to come in the water. “Join me! It’s lots of fun!” The seaponies raced circles around the princess and she giggled.

  Belissima waded into the water near the princess. Would that remove her spots? “Is the green mold gone?”

  “No,” said Princess Zenia.

  Belissima was embarrassed to admit it, but the spots were really starting to bother her.

  “Cheer up,” said the princess. “Maybe we can decorate them with flowers and no one will notice the spots!” She snapped her fingers. “Or my seamstress could make you a lovely cape to cover them up.”

  “Yes, perhaps.” Belissima sighed. The endless hours of playing dress-up would soon begin.

  After swimming for a while, Belissima walked onto the riverbank. “We should get back for dinner.”

  “Oh, that’s right. I need to change and fix my hair!” Princess Zenia said as she sloshed out of the water. “Do you know any spells that could dry and style my hair quickly?”

  Belissima gritted her teeth. “I don’t know. And I’m afraid to try. I might mess it up.”

  “That’s all right. Hopefully, it’ll dry on the way back. Oh, I almost forgot! I had matching capes made for us. I’ll drop yours off after I get ready.”

  “Okay,” Belissima said quietly. Guess I better get used to this.

  The princess climbed onto the saddle and Belissima trotted back to school, holding back her tears. She looked horrible, the princess had big plans for dressing her up, and soon she’d be leaving this lovely school forever.

  Belissima dropped the princess near her carriage, and she headed toward Earth barn. She really wanted to talk to her mother about everything troubling her.

  Belissima saw her mother standing in front of her barn and she charged toward her. “Mom!”

  Her mother galloped to meet her and nudged her nose.

  “Oh, it all went so wrong, Mom!”

  “You were First Pony. That was a wonderful thing.”

  “But I’m covered in spots. They won’t go away!” Belissima explained how she’d made the magic recipe and how the rainbow intensified the magic. “I thought the princess wouldn’t pick me if I looked like that.”

  “Maybe she could see beyond the spots.”

  “No, I don’t think that’s it. She made up her mind that we were a perfect match because of the way I look. She’s so pretty and she just wants a pretty pony to show off and dress up.” Belissima sighed. “We’re not a perfect match. I wish she hadn’t picked me.”

  Belissima heard a gasp behind her.

  “That’s really what you think?” Princess Zenia sniffed. “I can’t believe this! After everything I saw this week, I thought we were meant to be together.” She dropped the silky pink cape she’d been holding and ran off.

  “Wait!” Belissima called, but the princess kept running.

  “Give her time to cool off,” her mother said. “Then you can talk. You’ll find some things in common. Give her a chance.”

  Belissima’s heart ached. While she wasn’t thrilled about being Princess Zenia’s match, she hadn’t wanted to hurt her.

  Belissima levitated the cape off the ground and shook off the dirt. She swapped her saddle for the silky garment and headed for the great hall. Maybe the princess would forgive her when she saw her dressed up.

  Belissima scanned the great hall for the princess, but she didn’t see her. When she spotted Zenia’s parents she trotted up to them. “Where is the princess?”

  “We thought she was with you,” the queen said.

  The king sighed. “She must be off on another one of her adventures.”

  “Adventures?” Belissima asked, surprised.

  “Yes, that daughter of mine is a wild child. She hates getting dressed up and performing her royal duties. She promised to be on her very best behavior while she was here. I thought by choosing such a well-groomed, beautiful pony like you, she was finally settling down, making a good choice,” the queen said.

  “The princess doesn’t like getting dressed up?” Belissima asked, shocked.

  The king laughed. “The queen has ha
d hundreds of gowns made for her, hoping that she might become interested in something other than tromping through the woods and catching frogs.”

  “I figured she was trying to find herself a prince, but no. She was trying to find the best jumper in the land.” The queen rolled her eyes.

  “Princess Zenia likes to explore?” Belissima asked.

  “That’s probably what she’s doing now. Do you have any idea where she might be?” the king asked.

  Belissima looked down, feeling horrible. She’d been complaining about no one seeing beyond her appearances, and she’d done the very same thing to Princess Zenia! “I’m afraid I upset her.” Belissima explained what had happened. “I don’t know where she went. She was dressed for dinner; I thought she’d come here.”

  “I’ll send my guards to look for her,” the king said.

  “I’ll check the river. We visited there earlier today.” Belissima tossed off her cape, raced out of the great hall, and galloped across the fields to the forest. “Princess Zenia?” she cried. “Princess Zenia!”

  There was no sign of her when she got to the river. “Marina! Please rise!” She was too upset to sing.

  Marina quickly came to the surface. “What’s wrong? Where’s your princess?”

  “I don’t know. She’s missing. Did she come back here?”

  Marina shook her head. “No, I haven’t seen her.”

  “Thanks, Marina.” Belissima raced back to school, uncertain what to do. She searched all the places they’d visited on campus, but there was no sign of her.

  As the sun set, Belissima stood outside Earth barn. Big tears trailed down her cheeks. This was all her fault.

  A silvery orb popped open next to her. “Belissima!” It was Headmaster Elegius, the only teacher on campus who could teleport. “You’re needed in the healing center. Princess Zenia is very sick. Go at once!”

  Belissima arrived in the healing center breathless. “What happened?”

  “One of our guards found her injured in the forest,” the queen said. “She had a bag with her like she was collecting things.”

  “She was collapsed in a small ravine,” the guard said, holding a cloth over a cut on his arm. “But she hasn’t woken since I found her.”