My Secret Unicorn

by Linda Chapman

  ‘Bye, Lauren,’ he said as he mounted. ‘I’ll see you tonight.’

  ‘Yeah. Meet me here in Twilight’s field.’ Lauren leaned against the gate and waved as he rode down the path.

  Twilight nuzzled her shoulder.

  ‘Something’s up with Michael,’ Lauren said. ‘I’m sure it is. He said he felt ill and that’s why he was going but he doesn’t look ill to me. She turned to Twilight. ‘I don’t know why he left so suddenly like that. It’s really odd.’

  Twilight looked at her with puzzled eyes.

  ‘I hope he’s OK tonight,’ Lauren said.

  Twilight snorted softly and together they watched Michael ride away.

  CHAPTER

  Five

  At midnight, Lauren was waiting in the shadows of the field with Twilight. Michael and Moonshine flew down to meet them. Moonshine’s long mane and tail swirled around her and her coat sparkled in the starlight.

  Twilight cantered into the air to meet her. ‘Let’s go to the secret glade,’ Lauren said.

  Michael nodded. ‘OK.’

  The two unicorns flew towards the trees, Twilight leading the way. It was a very cold night and Lauren wrapped her hands in Twilight’s mane.

  ‘Do you think it might snow?’ Michael asked, looking at the sky.

  ‘I hope so,’ Lauren said. ‘It would be great if it was snowy for Christmas. You’ll have gone home by then, though, won’t you?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Michael replied. ‘We’re going back Christmas Eve.’

  ‘Do you want to come round tomorrow and we can go for another ride in the woods?’ Lauren asked.

  ‘Yeah, it’ll have to be the morning, though. We’re going out in the afternoon to pick up a sleigh from Jodie’s friends’ house. We’re taking it back with us to the city in the horse trailer.’

  ‘Why?’ Lauren asked curiously.

  ‘To put in our local hospital,’ explained Michael. ‘On Christmas Eve, everyone from our church brings presents for the local hospital and in the morning the children there get to share them out. Jodie thought the children would really like it if we put the presents in a sleigh this year. She wants to decorate it with lots of mistletoe.’ He frowned. ‘She’s a bit worried. She thought she’d be able to buy loads of mistletoe really cheaply out here in the country. But she went out looking this afternoon and most of the shops have already sold out.’

  ‘That’s no problem,’ Lauren said. ‘There’s lots of mistletoe in the woods. It’s right at the tops of the trees, much too high to climb up from the ground – but we’ve got unicorns to take us there. We can fly up, get some mistletoe and take it back for her. Easy!’ She grinned at Michael but to her surprise he didn’t grin back.

  ‘I guess,’ he said, but he didn’t sound keen.

  Lauren wondered why he sounded so hesitant. ‘It would make Jodie really happy and we’d be doing a good deed with Moonshine and Twilight, just like we’re supposed to. Why don’t we go now?’

  Michael shook his head. ‘No, let’s not. I bet she finds some in a shop tomorrow.’

  ‘But this way she wouldn’t have to pay for it and –’

  ‘So where’s this secret glade then?’ Michael interrupted. ‘Look, let’s forget about the mistletoe for now, Lauren. It’s my first night flying in the woods!’

  Lauren looked at him in surprise. But then he was right – it was their first night in the woods. They could always get some mistletoe the next night. Deciding not to push it any further she patted Twilight’s neck. ‘The secret glade’s this way!’ she said and Twilight swooped down through the trees.

  *

  Michael loved the secret glade. After looking around it, they flew up through the trees and played tag. It was brilliant fun. Lauren had never been out flying with someone else on a unicorn before. She and Michael dived through the frosty air, laughing and calling out. At last, Twilight and Moonshine landed back in the secret glade.

  ‘That was cool!’ Michael said, his eyes glowing. ‘I thought racing up and down the banks this morning was fun but playing tag in the sky was even better! It’s so much fun flying with someone else!’

  Lauren nodded. Michael was right – it was loads of fun! ‘I’m so glad you’re here tomorrow night too,’ she said happily. ‘We could meet up at midnight then as well.’

  ‘Can’t we fly some more now?’ Michael said, disappointed.

  Lauren sighed. ‘I’d better not. I met this Unicorn Friend called Rosie last night. She’s having some problems and I’m trying to help her. Twilight and I should really go and see how she’s getting on.’

  ‘Can I come with you?’ Michael asked.

  Lauren hesitated. Part of her wanted to say yes – after all it would be fun flying there with Michael but somehow it felt wrong. She remembered Sidra’s words: Follow your heart.

  ‘You’d better not,’ she said reluctantly. ‘I think I’m supposed to do Keeper of Secrets stuff on my own. Why don’t you go and get some mistletoe for Jodie?’

  Michael bit his lip. ‘Maybe tomorrow.’

  ‘But…’

  ‘No!’ Michael interrupted her, his tone sharper. ‘I don’t feel like it tonight. OK?’

  His words seem to cut through the icy air.

  Lauren stared at him. He’d never snapped at her before. ‘OK,’ she said slowly.

  Michael swung himself on to Moonshine’s back. ‘See you tomorrow!’ he said abruptly. ‘Come on, Moonshine!’ He clapped his heels to Moonshine’s sides and they flew away into the sky.

  Lauren looked at Twilight. ‘What was all that about? Why did he snap at me?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Twilight said in surprise. ‘You were only suggesting he help Jodie.’

  ‘It would be such an easy thing for him to do,’ Lauren said.

  Twilight nuzzled her. ‘Never mind. He can always get some mistletoe tomorrow. Let’s not worry about it, Lauren. We should go and see how Rosie’s getting on now.’

  ‘Yes.’ Lauren scrambled on to Twilight’s back. ‘Come on! Let’s go!’

  CHAPTER

  Six

  Rosie was talking to Sparkle when Lauren and Twilight got to the copse of trees.

  ‘We’ve tried touching everything!’ Lauren heard the other girl saying to her unicorn. ‘What did Lauren mean, Sparkle? It’s really annoying. I wish she’d just told me what to do or at least given me more of a clue…’

  Lauren felt a bit uncomfortable hearing herself being talked about like that. ‘Hi!’ she called.

  Rosie broke off with a gasp. ‘Oh, hi,’ she said, looking a bit embarrassed at having been overheard.

  Twilight landed beside Sparkle. ‘So, haven’t you found out what you have to do yet?’

  Sparkle shook his head. ‘No. The only thing we’ve found out is how to untangle brambles.’

  Rosie looked at Lauren in frustration. ‘Can’t you just tell us? I want to help Ellie so much. She’s been really upset today. I went round to her house and she was crying. Please, Lauren, can’t you give me more of a clue?’

  Lauren felt awful. I must be like Mrs Fontana, she told herself. ‘If you look, you will find what you need,’ she told Rosie.

  ‘But I’ve been looking!’ Rosie exclaimed. ‘Sparkle’s touched everything here!’

  As if to prove her point, Sparkle walked round the clearing touching trees and branches, the grass, flowers…

  ‘But you have to say the person’s name!’ Lauren burst out as she watched him. ‘You can’t just touch things. It doesn’t work like that!’

  Her hand flew to her mouth. I probably shouldn’t have said all that, she realized.

  Rosie was looking at her. ‘So we’ve got to say someone’s name? Try again, Sparkle!’ As Sparkle began to touch things again, Rosie said her friend’s name. ‘Ellie.’ But because Sparkle didn’t touch any of the rose quartz nothing happened.

  Try the rock. Try the rock, Lauren thought.

  ‘It isn’t working!’ Rosie cried in frustration.

  Feeling equa
lly frustrated, Lauren dug her hands into the pockets of her jeans. Her fingers closed on a packet of mints. An idea sprang into her mind. There was a rock of rose quartz only about a metre away from her. She stepped towards it, pulled a mint out of her pocket and dropped it just in front of the rock. As Sparkle came over he smelt the mint and bent his head to the ground to eat it. His horn touched the rock and at the same moment Rosie said, ‘Ellie!’

  There was a bright purple flash.

  Sparkle snorted in surprise and jumped backwards as the surface of the rock began to glow.

  ‘What’s happening?’ Rosie said, running over and putting her hand on Sparkle’s neck. They both stared as a picture of a red-headed girl sitting up in bed, arms wrapped around her knees, swam slowly into view in the rock.

  ‘Oh…oh…wow!’ Rosie breathed. ‘It’s Ellie!’

  Lauren backed away towards Twilight. He nuzzled her shoulder and she knew what he meant.

  Without saying a word to Rosie she swung herself on to his back.

  ‘Let’s go,’ she murmured.

  ‘Yes,’ he whispered back. ‘They’ve found the power they need – we should leave them to work out how to use it.’

  He soared into the air.

  Rosie looked round. ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘You do not need us any more,’ said Lauren, speaking in her mysterious Mrs Fontana voice. She thought for a moment. ‘Now you know how to see, you will be able to help your friend.’

  ‘But how? Oh, please stay,’ begged Rosie. Lauren shook her head. She was feeling a bit guilty about the way she had used the mint to help. She couldn’t imagine Mrs Fontana having done such a thing. But it had been so hard to watch Rosie getting more and more frustrated.

  ‘You will work it out,’ she said. ‘Use the rose quartz wisely – and use it well.’

  She felt pleased with herself. That was just the sort of thing that Mrs Fontana used to say to her.

  ‘But how?’ Rosie’s eyes suddenly lit up. ‘Oh, hang on – I think I know…Of course, we can see Ellie’s mum using the magic! I’ll be able to make Ellie feel so much better tomorrow night.’

  Lauren smiled to herself. ‘Goodbye!’ she called and Twilight swooped away.

  She hugged him as soon as they were up over the trees. ‘We did it! We helped her to find out what her power was without telling her – though maybe I shouldn’t have used the mint.’

  ‘I don’t see why not,’ Twilight said. ‘You didn’t tell her what the power was. I thought it was a really good idea.’

  ‘Yeah, and now Rosie will be able to check on Ellie’s mum and think up a way to let Ellie know that everything is all right.’

  ‘Why do you think she said she’ll be able to make Ellie feel so much better tomorrow night?’ Twilight asked. ‘Why isn’t she going to do it in the morning?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Lauren said, frowning. It was a bit of a strange thing for Rosie to have said. She shrugged. ‘Maybe Ellie’s out tomorrow or something and Rosie won’t be able to see her until the evening.’

  Twilight nodded. ‘Shall we watch them tomorrow night? See what happens?’

  ‘Definitely,’ said Lauren. As she spoke, something white floated past her face. She blinked. It was a snowflake! And another. And another…

  She looked around. ‘Twilight! It’s starting to snow!’

  He whinnied in delight and soared upwards. The snow drifted down all around them. Twilight plunged through it and Lauren laughed in delight. ‘Use your magic so we can fly through it, Twilight!’

  He tossed his head and a purple spark flew out of his horn above his head. The air around it shimmered in a pale violet circle. As the snowflakes touched the edge of the light they vanished. Twilight flicked sparks from his horn until there was a line of them arching over him and Lauren like a magic purple rainbow, keeping the falling snow off them. They cantered through the sky, staying warm and dry. Lauren wrapped her hands in Twilight’s mane and laughed out loud in delight. She loved flying through snow! ‘Faster, Twilight! Faster!’ They swooped and soared. By the time they reached the farm, they were both out of breath but their eyes were glowing.

  ‘That was brilliant!’ Lauren said.

  Twilight nodded. ‘I hope it snows tomorrow when we’re out with Michael and Moonshine!’

  Lauren slid off his back. The snow was settling on the ground. She patted his neck. ‘I’d better turn you back now.’

  She said the words of the Undoing Spell and Twilight turned back into a pony. She put him into his stable and put his night rug on him. Through his half door she could see the white flecks of snow swirling down through the black sky. He nuzzled her cheek softly and blew on her hair.

  She gave him a hug. ‘Night, Twilight. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  She hurried back to the house. Excitement was buzzing through her. What a fun night! Playing games with Michael, helping Rosie, flying through the snow…A grin spread across her face. She loved having a unicorn of her own!

  CHAPTER

  Seven

  When Lauren woke up the next morning, the snow was lying thickly on the ground. Twilight’s field was a carpet of white, icicles were hanging from the roof of the house, and every tree branch was weighted down with snow. The snow had stopped falling but the clouds were grey and heavy and it looked as if more snow would fall soon.

  Lauren hurried downstairs. Max was outside with their dad and Buddy, having a snowball fight. Lauren’s mum was in the kitchen, making hot chocolate. ‘Morning, honey. Hot chocolate for you?’

  ‘Yes, please. Can I have some marshmallows on top?’ Lauren asked eagerly.

  ‘Before breakfast?’ Mrs Foster grinned. ‘Oh, go on then. I’ll have some too!’

  As Lauren fetched them from the cupboard the phone rang. Her mum went through to the lounge to answer it. She came back a few moments later. ‘That was Jodie, Michael’s mum. It’s too snowy for him to ride over today but she’s going to bring him over in the car about eleven.’

  Lauren nodded. It would have been fun to go riding but the snow looked too deep. Never mind, she thought to herself. We can still go flying tonight!

  Her mum put the mugs on a tray. ‘Come on! Put your boots and gloves on and let’s go outside!’

  They went outside to join Max and Mr Foster. Buddy was racing around, pouncing on the snow and chasing snowballs. Lauren grinned. He was covered with a fine coating of snow. ‘He looks like a yeti!’

  Max lay down in the snow to make a snow angel.

  ‘Watch out, Max!’ Mrs Foster called as Buddy raced over and leapt on top of him, plumy tail wagging and tongue hanging out of his mouth. Max squealed and giggled and rolled over, pushing Buddy off. When he stood up he was covered in snow from the top of his hat to the toes of his boots.

  ‘Now you both look like yetis!’ grinned Lauren.

  ‘I’m a yeti!’ Max roared like a monster and picking a huge armful of snow he raced at Lauren and chucked it over her head.

  She squealed and, grabbing handfuls of snow, she started to chase him around the driveway. Catching up with him she stuffed some snow down his jumper, but then she felt a thump as her dad got her squarely on the back with a snowball. She swung round. ‘Get him, Max!’ she cried.

  She and Max raced towards their father who turned to run but, as he did so, Buddy jumped excitedly in front of him. Mr Foster tripped up and went sprawling in the snow. Giggling and squealing, Lauren and Max threw themselves on top of him.

  By the time they stood up they were all covered in snow.

  Mrs Foster grinned at them all. ‘Hot chocolate, anyone?’ she said.

  Later that morning, Michael arrived with Jodie. ‘I’ve brought my saddle and bridle with me,’ he told Lauren. ‘I thought that we could clean our tack even if we can’t go riding.’

  ‘Sounds good to me!’ Lauren said happily. She liked cleaning tack. ‘I’ll get mine and we can clean it in the kitchen. It’s way too cold in the stable.’

  She fetched her tack a
nd, while Jodie and Lauren’s mum went through to the lounge to chat and catch up, Lauren and Michael settled themselves down in the kitchen with buckets of warm water, sponges, saddle soap and metal polish. They put their saddles on the kitchen bench and hung their bridles from the cupboard door handles.

  As they worked they talked about ponies non-stop. Michael told Lauren all about the livery yard where he kept Moonshine, his friends there and his plans to enter some shows. And Lauren told him about the things she’d been doing with Mel and Jessica.

  ‘Then there’s my friends Jo-Ann and Grace,’ she told him. ‘Grace’s mum owns a yard on the other side of the woods. Grace is the one I told you about who’s got,’ she lowered her voice to a whisper, ‘a baby unicorn. He couldn’t fly very well at first and –’

  ‘Let’s not talk about unicorn stuff,’ Michael broke in suddenly.

  Lauren looked at him in surprise. ‘What?’

  Michael shrugged. ‘Someone might hear us.’

  ‘But Max is out with Dad on the farm and our mums are talking,’ Lauren said. ‘We can whisper. I want to hear some more of the things you and Moonshine have done.’

  But Michael shook his head. ‘No. Let’s talk about something else.’

  He looked uncomfortable. Lauren frowned. Why didn’t he want to talk about unicorn things?

  She fell silent for a moment and concentrated on rubbing saddle soap on to her stirrup leathers. Michael didn’t say anything either. As she put the stirrup leathers on the bench to dry she glanced across at him. His face looked closed up and unhappy.

  There’s something the matter with him, Lauren thought.

  She remembered how he’d snapped at her the evening before when she’d told him he should get the mistletoe for Jodie. Something was definitely up. But what?

  ‘Are you OK?’ she said.

  ‘Yeah, fine.’ But the way Michael muttered his reply made her feel sure that he wasn’t.

  Lauren hesitated. Part of her really wanted to ask him straight out what was wrong but she remembered something Mrs Fontana had said to her once when she’d been worried about Twilight: Just let him know that you’ll listen when he’s ready to talk. Should she say something or should she do what Mrs Fontana had said?