Magic Ponies: A Special Wish

by Sue Bentley

  ‘Just a couple of weeks,’ Ian told her. ‘I really like it here. I reckon there’ll be lots of good places to ride.’

  ‘There are,’ Marcie agreed. ‘I could show you and Sally some, if you like. Have you got any other horses or ponies besides Drift?’

  ‘Yeah, we’ve got Rufus and Fiddler too. Would you like to come and meet them?’

  ‘I’d love to –’ Marcie began, but then remembered that she was supposed to be hurrying home before her parents returned from shopping. ‘I can’t now, though. I have to get back home.’

  ‘OK, then,’ Ian said easily. ‘Why don’t you come over tomorrow? Sally and I plan to go riding – if she’s in a better mood, that is. You and Comet could come too and you can show us around.’

  ‘Sounds great,’ Marcie said, beaming. It would give her and Comet another chance to search for Destiny.

  They arranged what time to meet up and then Marcie remounted Comet. ‘Bye!’ She waved to Ian before they rode up the lane.

  ‘Ian was really nice, wasn’t he?’ Marcie said, once they were out of earshot.

  Comet nodded. ‘I like him too.’

  ‘I’m not so sure about Sally, though,’ Marcie commented. ‘She seemed a bit grumpy. I hope Ian’s right when he says she’s usually OK. I’m looking forward to going riding with them tomorrow.’

  Comet’s deep violet eyes glowed under his long eyelashes. Marcie knew he was hoping he’d find Destiny.

  Back home, she turned Comet out into the paddock. There was a small fountain of violet sparkles as the tack disappeared. Comet shook himself and then walked over to the trough for a long drink.

  Marcie smiled at him. ‘I’ll come out and see you later and bring you some carrots,’ she promised.

  Inside the house, she quickly checked that her mum and dad weren’t home and then dumped her riding boots and hat in the utility room. After fetching a cold drink, she went and sat at the family computer to write to Lara. She wished she could tell her all about the magical time she had been having with Comet!

  Marcie was halfway through her email when she heard a car door slam. She looked out of the window to see her dad coming up the drive carrying bags of shopping.

  The front door opened and then he stuck his head round the sitting-room door. ‘Are you still on that PC, young lady? You must have an awful lot to tell Lara!’ he teased.

  Marcie beamed at him. ‘I have!’ If only you knew, she thought. ‘Guess what? I’ve just met the two kids who’ve moved into Blackberry Farm: Sally and Ian Bale,’ she told him, her enthusiasm running away with her. ‘And they’ve got a horse and two ponies! I’ve got some new horsey friends and they live just down the road!’

  Mr Locket looked puzzled. ‘Really? Well, that is a bit of good luck, especially now that Lara isn’t here. But how come you met Ian and Sally? I thought you said you’d be staying in the house. You know the rules about always letting us know where you are when you go out,’ he said sternly.

  Marcie realized her mistake. She thought fast. She could hardly tell her dad that she’d been perfectly safe because she was with Comet.

  ‘Um… no, I didn’t exactly go anywhere,’ she fibbed. ‘They… er… came past on their ponies and I just went outside on to the drive to talk to them. In fact, they’ve asked me to go riding with them tomorrow!’

  Chapter

  SIX

  Marcie woke early the following morning to find sunshine streaming through a gap in the curtains.

  ‘Yay! I’m going riding again on Comet!’ she said to herself as she leapt out of bed and quickly dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

  Her dad was already downstairs when Marcie appeared. The delicious smell of frying bacon met her as she opened the kitchen door.

  ‘Dad! You’re up early,’ Marcie said, surprised. He usually liked a lie-in on Sundays.

  He smiled, looking a bit weary. ‘I didn’t sleep very well with so much on my mind. So I thought I’d make breakfast. Bacon and egg sandwiches are on the menu, if you’re interested.’

  ‘You bet! Shall I cut the bread?’ Marcie asked helpfully.

  ‘Thanks, love. I expect you’re looking forward to meeting up with your new friends. It’s nice of them to invite you riding with them,’ he commented.

  ‘Yes, it is.’ Marcie flipped her hair over her shoulder as she wielded the bread knife. The slices were a bit uneven, but her dad didn’t seem to notice.

  As soon as she’d finished breakfast, Marcie put on her riding kit and then said goodbye to her parents. ‘See you later. I’ll take the short cut across the paddock.’

  She felt a thrill of excitement as she saw Comet standing with his head over the fence waiting for her. As she approached him, Comet curled his dark grey lips and greeted her with a neigh of welcome. He was already tacked-up and eager to go.

  Marcie swung herself into the saddle and leaned over to pat his silky neck as they set off.

  Ian and Sally were waiting for them in the stable yard. Ian was on a handsome chestnut pony with two white socks. Marcie guessed that this was Rufus. He waved as she and Comet rode through the front gates.

  ‘Hi, Marcie!’ Sally waved too. She was just mounting a pretty palomino.

  ‘What a lovely pony!’ Marcie said, pleased to see that Sally seemed in a better mood today.

  Sally smiled, her blue eyes sparkling. ‘Thanks. Fiddler’s really sweet.’

  ‘We usually take it in turns to exercise the ponies,’ Ian told her, controlling Rufus as the chestnut pony sidestepped. ‘Poor old Drift doesn’t look too happy at being left behind.’

  Marcie glanced to where the big brown horse was standing with her head over the paddock fence, watching them with mournful dark eyes. As Ian and Sally rode out on to Willow Lane in single file, Marcie gave Drift a last sympathetic look before following behind the others.

  ‘I thought we could ride up to the old water tower on the hill. The view is great from up there,’ Marcie said. It was also in the opposite direction to where she and Comet had already searched, which meant they would be able to check out a different area.

  ‘I hope we’ll find Destiny this time or some sign that she came this way,’ she whispered to him as they reached the main road and waited at the crossing.

  ‘I hope so too!’ Comet replied.

  Marcie froze, surprised that he had spoken aloud to her with Ian and Sally so close. But neither of them seemed to have noticed anything odd.

  ‘Do not worry, Marcie,’ Comet told her, as if he knew what she was thinking. ‘Only you can hear me speaking. Everyone else will just think I am neighing or snorting.’

  ‘Cool!’ Marcie whispered in reply, relaxing.

  Once safely across the main road, Marcie took a side turn and led the way down a wide grassy track lined with hedgerow. The hawthorn was still covered with clusters of creamy flowers. Their sweet musty scent filled the air.

  After a few kilometres the track opened out on to a sweep of hillside covered with sparse-looking grass. Marcie squeezed Comet into a gallop and Ian and Sally did the same. Rabbits dived for cover as the ponies sped past.

  Ahead of them the ground rose steeply to where an old stone building topped the hill.

  ‘Race you to the top!’ Sally cried, crouching low on Fiddler.

  ‘You’re on! Whoo-hoo!’ Ian yelled, urging Rufus forward.

  Comet couldn’t resist. He shot after the ponies in a lightning burst of speed. In a thunder of hooves, he streaked past them, his dark grey tail flying out behind him like a silken banner.

  ‘Yay! Eat our dust!’ Marcie yelled over her shoulder.

  Rufus and Fiddler stretched out and gave chase, but they couldn’t match Comet’s powerful stride. Marcie thought she noticed the shadow of a large horse spreading across the hillside as Comet raced past, but then it was gone, so she must have imagined it. They reached the brow of the hill, twenty lengths ahead of the others. She reined Comet in beside the water tower and they stood waiting for Ian and Sally.

  ‘W
hat kept you?’ Marcie joked, as they rode up.

  Ian laughed. ‘I thought Rufus was fast, but Comet can really move!’ he said admiringly.

  ‘That was fun!’ Sally said, her face glowing.

  They sat in a line looking out at the view over the green rolling hills. In the distance they could see a grey smudge, where the hills met the sky.

  Marcie wondered where Destiny could be hiding in this wide-open space, broken only by isolated farms and the occasional sheep pen or shepherd’s hut.

  They continued on, riding more slowly and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. In the fold of two hills, there was a fast-running stream and they stopped to let the ponies drink.

  Marcie bent close to whisper to Comet. ‘I haven’t seen any signs that Destiny’s been this way? Have you?’

  Comet shook his head, twitching one ear disappointedly. ‘Not yet.’

  An hour later, Ian announced that he was hungry and suggested they go back to Blackberry Farm for lunch. And with rumbling tummies, everyone agreed.

  Back at the farm, Ian and Sally untacked their ponies. Drift lifted her head and nickered a welcome from the paddock, seemingly very pleased not to be by herself any longer. As the ponies all seemed to be getting on well together, Ian suggested that Marcie turn out Comet with them.

  Mrs Bale made an enormous and hearty lunch, which they ate at a big wooden table in the farmhouse kitchen. Baked potatoes with cheese and salad, followed by home-made scones with strawberries and cream, all washed down with lemonade.

  After lunch, Sally took Marcie up to her bedroom and excitedly showed her all the cups and rosettes she’d won on Fiddler. Marcie found herself having the best time she’d had since Lara had lived in her village. She would have liked to stop longer, but thought she’d better check that Comet was still happy at being left in the Bales’ paddock with the other ponies.

  Sally walked out to the stable yard with her. ‘I had a great time today,’ she said, a smile lighting up her pretty face.

  ‘Me too,’ Marcie said. ‘Thanks for showing me your trophies and stuff.’

  ‘That’s OK. I’ve just got a brilliant new book about braiding manes and tails. You can borrow it sometime, if you like.’

  ‘Sounds great. Thanks,’ Marcie said warmly, pleased that she and Sally were now getting on so well. Maybe she’d ask her to come over soon and they could watch her favourite Black Beauty DVD.

  Ian was in the tack room, hanging up clean bridles and folding horse blankets. ‘I’ll do this all by myself, then, shall I?’ he teased, rolling his eyes at his sister.

  ‘Yeah! Why don’t you?’ Sally gave him a playful shove, but began helping him.

  Marcie grinned. Those two were a double act! Shaking her head slowly, she walked the few metres to the paddock.

  ‘Are you ready to go home now?’ she whispered to Comet.

  ‘Yes. I thought I might go out searching for Destiny again,’ Comet told her. ‘But I do not think you should come with me, as I sensed the dark horses’ presence earlier.’

  Marcie felt a prickle of concern. So she hadn’t been imagining things – that dark shadow was real. Would Comet’s magic be strong enough to protect him from his enemies when he was so far from home?

  Her mind was filled by this worrying thought as she led him out and let the paddock gate shut itself behind her with a soft click.

  Chapter

  SEVEN

  As it was growing dark, Marcie slipped down the garden to check that Comet had returned after his latest search.

  To her relief he was there, his dapple-grey coat gleaming softly in the moonlight. Her heart swelled with happiness and pride as she looked at him. She didn’t think she’d ever get over the incredible feeling of being friends with a magic pony.

  ‘Greetings, Marcie,’ Comet snorted softly.

  ‘I was worried about you,’ she admitted. ‘What would happen if the dark horses found you while you were looking for Destiny?’ she asked him.

  ‘Before I came here I looked into the Stone of Power to see where Destiny was. Its magic still gives me some protection,’ he told her.

  Reassured, Marcie gave him some pieces of carrot from her pocket. Comet crunched them up eagerly. She spent a few more minutes with him, saying goodnight, and then hurried back indoors before she was missed.

  Mr Locket had just finished on the computer. Marcie asked if she could use it and emailed Lara to tell her about her ride with Ian and Sally. She didn’t mention Comet, but said that she’d borrowed Drift to ride. She sent the message and after a couple of minutes, Lara emailed back to say that she’d love to meet Ian, Sally and their ponies when she came to visit.

  Marcie signed out and then logged off. She was feeling happier than she had for some time as she went upstairs to read for a while before going to bed. But she had only just opened her book, when a loud knocking sounded on the front door.

  She sat up, frowning. Who could it be at this late hour?

  Marcie came out of her bedroom as her dad answered the door.

  Ian’s panicky voice floated up to her. ‘Is Marcie there? All the ponies have escaped! Can she come and help us look for them?’

  ‘Oh no!’ Marcie flung herself down the stairs. ‘What happened? How did they get out?’

  Ian avoided her eyes. ‘Um… never mind that now. Sally’s already out looking for them with Mum and Dad. I’ve come to ask you to help, because you know the area better than we do.’

  ‘I’ll just grab a torch!’ Marcie turned to her mum and dad. ‘It’s OK if I go, isn’t it?’

  They nodded. ‘Of course you must help, but you can’t go out in the middle of the night by yourself,’ her dad said.

  ‘We’ll come too,’ her mum decided.

  After grabbing coats, boots and torches, Marcie, Ian and her mum and dad set out. They walked round the road and turned into the top of Willow Lane. Sally and her mum came hurrying up to them.

  ‘Any sign of the ponies?’ Ian asked his sister.

  In the torchlight Sally’s face looked pale and drawn. She shook her head. ‘Dad thinks they might have cut across the fields opposite. He’s gone to look.’ Her voice broke on a sob. ‘Oh, I hope they have. I can’t bear to think about them getting out on to the main road…’

  Marcie went to put a comforting hand on Sally’s arm.

  The other girl twisted away distractedly. ‘Don’t touch me!’ she snapped.

  Marcie tried not to feel hurt. Sally must be so upset that she hardly knew what she was saying. Marcie didn’t blame her. She knew she’d be half mad with worry if anything happened to Comet.

  Comet! He would find the missing ponies in no time, but how could she get away from the others and go to ask him for his help?

  ‘I’ll… um… check on this side,’ Marcie decided on impulse. ‘Dad? Why don’t you and mum fetch the car and meet me down at the bottom field. The one with the gate that leads out on to the main road.’

  ‘It makes sense to split up,’ her mum agreed. ‘And Marcie knows these fields like the back of her hand.’ She turned to Marcie. ‘Don’t take any risks, love. If you see any sign of the ponies, stand still and keep flashing your torch on and off until someone comes to help you.’

  ‘I will,’ Marcie promised, already pointing the torch to light her way as she walked over the cattle grid into the first field.

  She crossed her fingers, hoping that none of the others would follow. Luckily, Ian went off with Sally and their mum, while Marcie’s parents headed for their garage. Marcie was about to double back and head for Comet’s paddock, when her fingers began to tingle and Comet himself appeared beside her in a cloud of shimmering rainbow mist.

  ‘Comet! What are you doing here? I was just about to come and look for you!’

  ‘I heard all the voices and guessed what had happened. Hurry! Climb on my back, Marcie! Do not worry. I have used my magic to make you invisible too when you are riding me.’

  Marcie mounted. She twisted her hands into his dark grey
mane and held on tight. ‘I’m ready!’

  Comet sped away, moving as fast as the wind. A protective bubble of rainbow sparkles surrounded Marcie, keeping her safe on top of Comet’s back. One. Two. Three. The fields rushed past in a magical blur. There was no sign of the ponies.

  Down in the bottom field, Comet raced alongside the tall hedgerow towards the gate. They had to find the ponies before they reached it and were spooked by the traffic that lay in the road beyond. Comet sped on, his flashing hooves eating up the ground.

  Suddenly, Marcie spotted three shadowy fast-moving shapes in the distance.

  ‘Look there’s Drift, Rufus and Fiddler!’ she gasped. ‘Thank goodness they’re all together.’

  ‘I see them too,’ Comet neighed.

  Leaping forward in another dizzying burst of speed, he easily closed the distance between them. Comet rode up alongside the terrified ponies. Marcie’s fingers tingled again as he sent out an invisible spray of violet sparks that settled on them like soft rain.

  The runaway ponies gradually slowed to a trot and then a walking pace and finally they stopped, their sides heaving.

  Marcie was still worried. Any one of the ponies could get scared by a sudden noise and bolt again. And the gate to the main road was horribly close.

  ‘Do you think you could use your magic to make them follow you?’ she asked urgently.

  Comet nodded. ‘I have an idea. This way they will get to safety more quickly.’

  There was another violet flash of Comet’s sparkly magic, and rainbow shimmers whirled around them all. Marcie felt the air whistle past her ears as they all found themselves flying through the night with the stars twinkling above them. There was a slight jolt as Comet’s hooves touched down further up the field. The other ponies were safely beside him.