by Sue Bentley
Comet swished his dark grey tail. ‘I am sorry, but you can tell no one about me and what I have told you!’
Marcie was disappointed. She would have loved to share this amazing secret with Lara. It would have been very special, more than ever with Lara living so far away now.
‘You must promise,’ Comet said, looking at her with his big eyes.
Marcie nodded slowly. If it would help protect his twin sister from the dark horses until Comet could find her, she was prepared to agree. ‘I promise. No one’s going to hear anything about you and Destiny from me.’
‘Thank you, Marcie.’
Reaching forward, Comet gently bumped his nose against Marcie’s arm. She reached up to pat his satiny cheek.
‘Marcie? Are you still down there?’ called a voice.
Marcie stiffened as she looked back at the big flowering bushes that screened the field from the house. She caught a glimpse of her mum’s bright blue top through a small gap in the leaves.
‘Mum’s coming!’ she gasped in panic.
Oh no! There wasn’t time for her to hide Comet. Her mum was going to see her new magical pony friend at any second!
What was she going to do?
Chapter
THREE
‘There you are, love,’ Mrs Locket said, slipping her arm round Marcie’s shoulder as she came and stood beside her at the fence. ‘I thought I’d find you here, staring at that rickety old shed we were going to turn into a stable. I hope you’re not too upset about having to wait for your pony.’
‘Um… well, I am a b-bit disappointed,’ Marcie stammered. Why didn’t her mum say anything about the gorgeous dapple-grey pony that was standing in the field as large as life?! Instead, Mum was just looking back at her in concern – it was almost as if she couldn’t see Comet.
Marcie carried on carefully. ‘I don’t feel all that bad. It’s not as if I’m never going to be able to have one, is it?’ She was surprised to find that now Comet had arrived, she really was OK about having to wait for a pony of her own.
‘Thanks for being so understanding, Marcie. Your dad’s taken it quite hard,’ Mrs Locket said. She sighed. ‘I just hope it won’t be too long before he finds work again.’
‘It won’t be. I’ve got a good feeling about it,’ Marcie said.
‘I hope you’re right.’ Her mum smiled and reached out to ruffle Marcie’s shoulder-length brown hair. ‘Well – supper’s almost ready. I’m just about to dish it out. Are you coming in?’
Marcie looked at Comet, who was listening to the conversation, his intelligent eyes twinkling. It was really odd. But Mrs Locket still didn’t seem to have noticed him.
‘Marcie?’
Marcie’s head snapped back. ‘I’ll just be a minute.’
‘Right you are.’ Her mum turned and went back up the garden.
Marcie waited until she was out of sight behind the bushes before talking to Comet. ‘I don’t get it. What just happened?’
‘I used my magic so that only you can hear and see me,’ Comet told her.
‘Really?’ Marcie was delighted. ‘So you’re invisible now? That’s really cool.’ She had a sudden idea. ‘Why don’t you live in this paddock? No one will know except me. There’s lots of juicy grass to eat, rainwater in the trough and the shed for shelter if it rains. And I’ll come and see you whenever I can!’
Comet nodded. ‘This is a good place to stay while I am searching for Destiny.’
‘That’s settled then,’ Marcie said happily. ‘I’d better go now, or Mum and Dad will wonder what’s keeping me. I’ll sneak out to see you later.’
‘Thank you, Marcie.’ Comet turned and walked a few steps, then bent his head and began cropping the grass with his strong young teeth.
After a final glance over her shoulder, Marcie hurried back up the garden. There was a brand-new pony in her paddock after all! But never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined that it would be one as amazing and magical as Comet!
*
Marcie was almost too excited to eat, but she made herself take her time. She didn’t want her mum and dad thinking she had tummy ache and making her lie down for a rest.
After they finished supper, Marcie helped load the dishwasher and her mum insisted she did an hour’s homework. Sighing, she went upstairs to do it all in double-quick time – she wanted to spend every minute possible with Comet!
When Marcie was sure her mum and dad were engrossed in watching the news on TV, she decided to risk nipping out to see Comet. She grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the kitchen table and quickly chopped it into bits before disappearing into the garden.
The sun was setting and streaks of peach and salmon pink coloured the darkening sky. It was a glorious evening, and as Marcie jogged down the garden to the paddock, her heart began beating fast. She couldn’t wait to see the magic pony again. But he wasn’t standing in the paddock where she’d left him.
‘Comet!’ she called.
There was no answer. No handsome dapple-grey pony came galloping up the field. The door of the big old shed hung open. Maybe Comet was inside. Marcie went into the paddock to look.
But he wasn’t in the shed, or behind it, or anywhere else.
Marcie’s high spirits took a dent as she wondered whether Comet had changed his mind about staying in the paddock. Maybe he had grown tired of waiting for her and gone to find someone else to help him search for Destiny.
‘Comet! Where are you?’ she called again, starting to get worried.
There was a faint rustling sound from behind her.
‘I am here, Marcie,’ Comet nickered, blowing warm breath into her hair.
Marcie spun round, a huge grin spreading across her face. He smelt wonderful – of grass and fresh air and something sweet that was his own magical scent. She threw her arms round his neck and pressed her cheek to its silky warmth.
‘Oh, I’m so glad you came back!’ she burst out. ‘I thought that maybe you’d left because you didn’t like it here.’
‘I like it very much.’ Comet’s violet eyes glowed with amusement. ‘I simply went to have a look around while I was waiting for you. There might have been traces of where Destiny has passed by.’
Lowering her arms, Marcie stepped back. ‘What sort of traces?’ she asked curiously.
‘Wherever Destiny goes, she leaves a trail of softly glowing hoof-prints that are invisible to most people in your world,’ Comet told her, twitching his ears.
‘Really?’ Marcie said, amazed. ‘Will I be able to see them?’
Comet nodded. ‘But only if you are riding me or I am very close to you.’
Marcie knew he must be longing to find his twin sister, who was all alone and missing her family. ‘I should be able to come and help you look for Destiny tomorrow. We usually go shopping together early on Saturdays. Mum and Dad always take hours and it can be dead boring. I’ll make an excuse to stay here,’ she decided.
Comet looked pleased. ‘Thank you, Marcie.’
Marcie remembered the apple in her jeans pocket. ‘I brought something for you.’
She took the slices out and offered them to Comet on her flattened palm. The magic pony stretched forward and she felt his soft lips nuzzling her cautiously as he picked up a piece of apple.
He started crunching and in a few moments he had eaten all the apple. ‘That was delicious. I like your human food.’
‘Wait until you try carrots and peppermints!’ Marcie smiled, feeling a rush of affection for her amazing new friend. ‘See you in the morning then. Sweet dreams,’ she called to him as she went towards the gate.
Chapter
FOUR
‘Are you sure that you don’t want to change your mind and come with us?’ Marcie’s dad asked the following morning as he picked up his car keys.
‘Positive!’ Marcie said firmly. ‘You know I hate food shopping. I thought I’d… um… send Lara a really long email. I want to know how she’s getting on at her new school, what her new
house is like and if there are loads of good places to go out riding on Tramp.’
‘Good idea, love. You and Lara can catch up on all the pony news, like you used to,’ her dad said. His face clouded. ‘I expect she’ll be disappointed to hear that you won’t be having a new pony after all.’
‘Maybe at first, but she’ll understand, like I do,’ Marcie said brightly. ‘Some things are better when you have to wait for them.’ Especially when you’ve already got a secret magic pony friend to keep you company! she thought.
‘I’m glad you’re able to see things that way,’ her dad said, looking happier.
‘See you later!’ Marcie waved as their car drove away and she closed the front door.
As she pulled on her riding boots and grabbed her hat, she made herself a promise to email Lara as soon as she got back from helping Comet look for Destiny.
Comet saw her coming towards the paddock and gave a whinny of welcome. The morning sun made his dapple-grey coat look like polished metal.
‘Hi, Comet! We’ve got the whole morning to search for Destiny. Let’s go, shall we?’ she sang out.
Comet tossed his head with eagerness, his deep violet eyes flashing. ‘Yes, Marcie, but I need to do one thing first.’
Marcie felt a warm prickling sensation flowing down to her fingertips as bright violet sparks bloomed in Comet’s dapple-grey coat. There was a crackling sound and a flash of rainbow light, which quickly faded to reveal Comet standing there fully tacked-up.
‘Wow! That’s brilliant,’ Marcie exclaimed at Comet’s cleverness. He was full of surprises.
Comet pawed the ground. ‘Climb on to my back, Marcie.’
Marcie checked that all the straps were tightened and then mounted. As the magic pony broke into a trot down to the far end of the paddock, Marcie moved in time to his strides. They reached the barred gate that opened straight into Willow Lane, and Marcie opened it and closed it behind them.
A few metres down the quiet winding lane, she turned Comet on to a track that led along the edge of a field and then to open farmland. Marcie and Lara had often ridden Tramp here. She knew all the best bridleways through the woods and which farmers allowed riders to cross their land.
‘Let’s go, Comet!’ Marcie cried, nudging him on.
Comet snorted eagerly, pulling at his bit, and sprang forward into a gallop. Marcie crouched low on his back, her hair blowing in the warm breeze. Excitement raced through her. Comet was thrilling to ride, so smooth and exciting, and his warm magic seemed to spread around her, so that however fast they went, she felt perfectly safe.
Comet almost flew along, his hooves barely brushing the grass. His head turned left and right as his sharp eyes searched for any sign that Destiny had come this way.
‘Hold tight!’ he told Marcie as he surged up a slope that led to the crest of a hill. At the top he paused, his mane and tail stirring in the breeze, and then plunged down the other side towards some woods.
Marcie caught her breath, almost laughing aloud with joy. Happiness filled her. She loved nothing better in the whole world than riding on a bright sunny day.
Comet checked his stride and slowed as they entered the shade of the trees.
Bright green ferns bordered the bridle path on both sides and grew thickly among the trees. They were so tall that a dog or a very small pony could have hidden beneath them. Marcie peered into the undergrowth as they pressed on, keeping a lookout, but there was no sign of Destiny
After a thorough search, they emerged from the woods.
‘I do not think she came this way,’ Comet said, scanning the shallow ridge ahead of them, which was dotted with grazing sheep.
Marcie spotted two small ponies tethered in a field to one side. ‘Look! Maybe Destiny is disguised as one of those!’ she cried.
Comet nickered with renewed interest as he cantered over to investigate. But neither of the shaggy little ponies was Destiny. He trotted away sadly.
‘I only hope that Destiny has found a safe hiding place,’ Comet whinnied. ‘The dark horses are always watching and waiting to steal our magic.’
‘We’ll find her. I know we will. There are lots more places to search around here. I’ll show you.’ Marcie patted his neck and then clicked her tongue encouragingly.
They rode on, taking a circular route that eventually brought them back through the woods.
‘I think we’d better make for home now,’ Marcie decided reluctantly. ‘Mum and Dad will be back soon.’
Comet nodded.
They retraced their steps, but skirted the bottom of the hill. The track came out further down Willow Lane. Facing them, Marcie could see the stone pillars that marked the large gateway of Blackberry Farm, which had been empty for ages.
She noticed that there were cars on the farmhouse drive and a woman was putting curtains up at an upstairs window. The stable block had been freshly painted.
On impulse, she reined in Comet and they stopped beside one of the stone pillars, out of sight of the main house.
‘It looks like new people have moved in,’ she commented. ‘I wonder what they’re like.’
Just then, a large muscular brown horse burst out of an open stable door. Tossing its head, it laid back its ears and raced towards them.
Chapter
FIVE
‘Quick, Comet! We have to stop that horse getting out!’ Marcie cried. ‘The busy main road runs along the bottom of Willow Lane!’
Comet stepped forward and stood side-on to block the gateway.
The brown horse snorted as it slewed to a halt half a metre away. Rolling its eyes, it reared up on to its back legs.
‘Watch out! It’s going to kick!’ Marcie warned, steeling herself for a painful blow as the horse’s flailing hooves came within centimetres of hitting her leg. Though she was more scared that Comet would be hurt.
Pushing down on the stirrups she stood up and waved her arms at the frightened horse, hoping it would turn aside and not try to bite or kick as it pushed past them.
Comet stood his ground. He turned his head to look at the brown horse and Marcie felt another tingling sensation flow down her fingers as violet sparks glowed in Comet’s dapple-grey coat. A shimmering mist briefly surrounded the horse and then gradually faded along with every last violet spark.
The brown horse stood there, calm now. Its dark eyes were soft and kindly. Comet gave a friendly blow and reached out to touch noses gently with it.
‘Well done, Comet!’ Marcie dismounted and moved slowly towards the loose horse. Luckily it wore a head collar, so she reached up and grasped hold. ‘Don’t be scared now. It’s OK, I won’t hurt you,’ she said reassuringly. To her relief, it didn’t throw up its head or try to back away.
‘You were very brave to try to stop that horse,’ Comet said to Marcie.
‘I didn’t really think about it. I couldn’t bear the idea of you being hurt. Anyway, you were brave too,’ she said, looking at Comet adoringly. ‘I reckon we saved each other!’
‘Oh, thank goodness. You’ve caught her!’
A boy, who looked about twelve years old, was running up to Marcie and Comet. He had fair hair that flopped forward on to his forehead and an open friendly face.
A younger girl came pounding after him. The girl drew level with the boy and stood there, breathing hard.
‘What’s happening? Is Drift all right?’ she demanded, frowning.
The boy looked round at her. ‘She’s fine. Don’t panic, Sally. Luckily, this girl caught her before she did herself any damage.’ He took a lead rope out of his jeans pocket and clipped it on to the brown horse’s head collar.
‘And we’re fine too, thanks,’ Marcie said drily. It had been pretty scary to have Drift run straight at her and Comet.
‘Oh yeah. Sorry about that. Drift’s a total sweetie, except when she’s having one of her off days!’ he said to Marcie with a narrow grin.
‘Like today?’ Marcie guessed, smiling. ‘I’m Marcie Locket. I live just up the lane
.’
‘Hi, Marcie. I’m Ian Bale and this girl, who looks like she’s just sucked a lemon, is my sister, Sally.’
‘Very funny. Not!’ Sally shot back at him.
She also had fair hair, held back from her face by a brown velvet hair band and there was a sprinkle of freckles on her cheeks. She looked about nine years old and would have been very pretty if she hadn’t been scowling fiercely.
‘You total idiot, Ian. You should have kept your eye on Drift,’ Sally scolded her brother. ‘You know what she can be like. Here, I’ll take her.’
‘Me? You left the stable door open!’ Ian said.
‘I did not!’ Sally’s cheeks flamed.
‘Yes, you di– Oh, forget it,’ Ian said, shrugging. He obviously couldn’t be bothered to get into an argument in front of Marcie and Comet. Sighing, he handed her the leading rope. ‘Suit yourself.’
His sister flashed him a triumphant grin and then clicked her tongue at Drift. Turning on her heel, she led the horse back towards the stables.
‘Oh, by the way, thanks,’ Sally murmured, not bothering to look back round at Marcie.
‘No problem,’ Marcie called after her.
Ian gave Marcie a wry grin. ‘Don’t mind Sally. She’s a drama queen, but she never stays grumpy for long.’ He ran an appreciative eye over Comet. ‘He’s a Connemara, isn’t he? They’re good allrounders, aren’t they? We used to have one. What’s he called?’
‘Comet,’ Marcie told him.
‘Hello, boy.’ Ian put up his hand so Comet could nuzzle it. ‘How long have you had him?’ he asked Marcie.
‘Not very long. Actually he’s… um… on loan,’ Marcie said vaguely, hoping to avoid awkward questions. ‘I didn’t know that anyone had moved into Blackberry Farm. How long have you been here?’ she asked, quickly changing the subject.