New Friend (9780698143852)

by Bentley, Sue; Swan, Angela (ILT)

  Comet nodded his tiny head. “I think that she did.”

  Eleanor groaned. “Oh no!”

  So far she had managed to keep Aunt Pippa away from Frankie so that her aunt wouldn’t find out about Comet being a life-size pony! She chewed her lip as she wondered what might happen when Frankie and her aunt talked, as they were bound to do tomorrow.

  What on earth was she going to do?

  “There’s nothing else to do. I’m going to have to walk over to meet Frankie and think of some excuse as to why I’m not riding you,” Eleanor decided as she fastened her boots the following day. “I just hope that Frankie doesn’t start asking Aunt Pippa where her pony Comet is. And why I’m not riding him today!”

  “Thank you for helping me, Eleanor. I know it has not always been easy for you,” Comet said gratefully.

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Eleanor said fondly, stroking the tiny pony’s fluffy coat. “It’s a shame you have to stay behind, though. There’s a good chance that with so many ponies around, you’d find Destiny among them.”

  “I think so, too. That is why I am going to come with you,” Comet said.

  “But how? You can’t do that without giving yourself away.” Eleanor stopped as she realized what Comet meant. “Oh, I get it. You’re going to use your magic to stay as a fluffy toy? Great idea. I’ll get my shoulder bag!”

  She found the bag and laid it on the floor with the top open. Comet jumped inside, lay down, and folded his legs beneath him.

  Downstairs, Aunt Pippa was ready to go. She was holding her camera. “All set?” she said, smiling as Eleanor came in with her bag over her shoulder.

  Eleanor nodded.

  Pippa smiled warmly. “We’ll soon be able to have lots more days out. My exhibit’s almost up and running now. I really appreciate how you’ve been so patient and understanding about having to entertain yourself.”

  “That’s okay. I was never bored,” Eleanor said. There was no chance of that with Comet around!

  The forest smelled fresh and new. Large drops were dripping from the trees after last night’s heavy rain. But the sunshine was already drying the ground as Eleanor, Comet, and Pippa set out to walk toward the roundup area.

  “We’ll go this way. It’s a shortcut,” Aunt Pippa said, turning on to a stony track that wound between tall field maples.

  They had been walking for about ten minutes when Pippa suddenly stopped.

  “Well, look at that,” she whispered, pointing to three ponies that were nibbling the short grass. “There’s Jed, Blue, and Mary. They always turn up when you least expect it.”

  Eleanor watched delightedly as her aunt called to her wild ponies. Recognizing her voice, they lifted their heads, ears twitching. As they walked toward Pippa, Eleanor saw they were all wearing their fluorescent collars for night safety.

  “It’s best if you keep your distance. They know me, but it can be dangerous for a stranger to approach them,” Pippa warned.

  “They’re gorgeous,” Eleanor said, admiring her aunt’s ponies. Mary was a dark bay with a gentle face, Jed was a lively looking gray with a black tail, and Blue was a sweet, little brown pony with black points.

  Pippa took some slices of apple and carrot out of her pocket. “I always have some treats with me,” she told Eleanor. Her ponies munched happily for a few moments, then, as Pippa, Eleanor, and Comet walked on, they went back to grazing.

  “I’m glad I got to see them at last,” Eleanor said.

  She and her aunt continued down the path, which widened and opened into an oval-shaped clearing ringed with flowering bushes. Eleanor opened her shoulder bag so that Comet could look out as they walked.

  Aunt Pippa noticed Comet’s tiny legs, which were looped over the bag’s opening, and smiled. “How sweet. You’ve brought Comet with you!” she observed.

  Eleanor nodded, smiling. “You’re…er, never too old for a cuddly toy.”

  The sounds of voices and ponies came toward them through the trees, and Eleanor knew they must be getting close to the roundup area.

  Suddenly, she did a double take and stopped dead in her tracks.

  Stretching ahead of them and curving out of sight was a faint line of softly glowing violet hoofprints.

  Eleanor heard Comet’s excited voice from inside her bag. “Destiny! She has been here!”

  Eleanor gasped. Did that mean that Comet was leaving to go after her? “Can you tell where she is? Is she somewhere close?” she whispered to him anxiously.

  “No. The trail is cold. But it proves that Destiny came this way. When I am close to where she is, I will be able to hear her hoofbeats. And I may have to leave suddenly…without saying good-bye.”

  “Oh.” Eleanor felt a sharp pang as she realized that she would never be ready to lose her magical friend. “I was hoping that once you found Destiny, you might both stay here with me,” she said in a small voice.

  Comet shook his head. “It is not possible. We have to return to our family on Rainbow Mist Island. I hope you understand, Eleanor?”

  Eleanor nodded sadly, and her eyes pricked with tears. She swallowed hard as she decided not to think about Comet leaving and promised herself instead that she was going to enjoy every single moment spent with him.

  Up ahead, Aunt Pippa had stopped to wait for her. “Is something wrong, honey?” she asked, frowning with concern at Eleanor’s sad face. “No, I’m…er, fine,” Eleanor said, making a big effort to cheer up. “I had a cramp in my side, but it’s gone now.”

  “Good. We’re almost there.” Eleanor hurried to catch up with her aunt. The sounds of voices, ponies snorting, and car doors slamming were even louder. Despite her worries, Eleanor found herself looking forward to seeing Frankie and Jake again.

  They emerged to one side of a group of buildings and wooden pens, some of them already filled with ponies of all ages. Cars and trucks were parked all around and lots of people stood around in groups. Others were watching their ponies being treated by vets.

  “Hi, Eleanor!”

  It was Frankie. She was standing next to a large pen with a man who looked so much like her that he had to be her father.

  Eleanor waved, grinning, and she and her aunt began walking toward them.

  Just then, two men on horseback appeared. They were trying to get a herd of nervous ponies to go into an empty pen. There was a sudden loud bang as a car backfired. A large roan pony rolled its eyes and squealed in fright. It plunged sideways, avoiding the pen. Other ponies followed it, blindly galloping after the big roan in their terror.

  The horsemen tried to get the ponies under control. But it was too late. People scattered in all directions as the ponies stampeded.

  “Look out!” someone shouted.

  Eleanor gasped. The ponies were thundering straight toward her and Aunt Pippa. And Comet couldn’t use his magic to save them without giving himself away!

  “Quick! Eleanor! Get behind a tree!” Aunt Pippa shouted to Eleanor.

  With only seconds to spare, Eleanor leaped sideways, but her foot skidded on a wet leaf and she went sprawling. Her shoulder bag slipped off, and the toy pony fell out and rolled over and over, coming to rest under a bush.

  As Eleanor struggled to her feet, she felt the now-familiar tingling sensation fizz in the tips of her fingers and saw the bush sparkle with pretty violet light.

  Time seemed to stand still.

  Comet exploded out of the trees. He leaped toward Eleanor, shielding her with his body as he faced the oncoming ponies. Rearing up onto his hind legs, he whinnied a warning.

  The ponies swerved in all directions, pounding past Eleanor and narrowly missing her with their flying hooves. The second they were past, Comet glanced at Eleanor to check that she was unhurt and streaked away into the forest.

  Aunt Pippa ran over and helped Eleanor stand up as men on horseback galloped past them in pursuit of the loose ponies.

  “Are you hurt?” her aunt asked, white-faced.

  “No. I’m fine
. Just a bit shaken up,” Eleanor said, catching her breath. Thanks to Comet, she thought.

  “That chestnut pony came out of nowhere, but I’m very glad it did! It saved you from a nasty injury. I wonder who it belongs to,” Aunt Pippa said.

  Eleanor didn’t answer.

  Just then, Frankie ran up, too. “Eleanor! What happened? We couldn’t see back there.”

  “The loose ponies missed me. I’m okay now. The show’s over!” Eleanor joked to show that she really was fine. Hoping that everyone would stop fussing, she walked determinedly toward the pony pens. “Come on. I don’t want to miss anything!” she called.

  They reached the pens just as a man holding a clipboard made an announcement. The pony sale was about to begin. An air of excitement hung over the crowd as the bids started.

  Frankie’s dad came over to introduce himself. “You must be Eleanor. Frankie’s told me about you.”

  Eleanor smiled at him. “Hi. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Boyd.”

  Mr. Boyd turned to Aunt Pippa. “I’m a great admirer of your photographs, Ms. Treacy. I look forward to seeing your exhibit.”

  “Thank you. Nice of you to say so,” Pippa said, smiling. “I’m hoping to take a few photographs today…among other things,” she said mysteriously, looking sideways at Eleanor.

  Eleanor frowned, puzzled. What did her aunt have in mind?

  But before she could find out, Eleanor heard a sound she had been hoping for and dreading at the same time.

  The hollow sound of galloping hooves overhead.

  She froze. Destiny! There was no mistake. And if Eleanor could hear her, then Comet must be very close.

  Eleanor set off into the forest at a run. “There’s something I have to do!” she called over her shoulder.

  She raced through the trees. The magical hoofbeats sounded louder and very close now.

  As she reached a thick clump of bushes, a twinkling rainbow mist floated down around her. She looked up to see Comet in his true form—a sturdy chestnut pony no longer. Sunlight gleamed on his noble head, magnificent golden wings, and cream coat. His flowing mane and tail sparkled like strands of spun silk.

  “Comet!” Eleanor gasped. She had almost forgotten how beautiful he was as a Lightning Horse. “You’re leaving right now, aren’t you?” she asked, her voice breaking.

  Comet’s deep-violet eyes lost a little of their twinkle as he smiled sadly. “I must, if I am to catch Destiny and save her from our enemies.”

  A heavy wave of sadness washed over Eleanor, but she knew she was going to have to be brave. She ran forward and threw her arms around Comet’s shining neck. “I’ll never forget you!”

  He allowed her to hug him one last time and then gently stepped backward. “Farewell, my young friend. Ride well and true,” he said in a deep musical voice.

  There was a final violet flash of light, and a silent fountain of rainbow sparkles fell like soft rain around Eleanor, crackling as they hit the ground. Comet spread his wings and soared upward. He faded and was gone.

  Eleanor wiped her eyes. Something glittered on the ground. It was a single shimmering wing-feather. Reaching down, she picked it up.

  It tingled against her palm as it faded to a cream color. Eleanor tucked the feather into her pocket. She would always keep it to remind herself of the wonderful adventure she and Comet had shared. She was so proud that the magic pony had chosen to be her friend.

  When Eleanor stepped out of the trees, Frankie ran up to her. “There you are. Your aunt’s looking for you!”

  Eleanor looked over Frankie’s shoulder to where her aunt stood holding a gorgeous chestnut pony by its head collar. The pony had a sandy mane and tail and gentle deep brown eyes. “Come and meet my new pony, Eleanor. It’s time I bought one to ride, and you can exercise her whenever you come and stay with me. I think perhaps you deserve a pony in your life aside from Comet.”

  “Wow!” whistled Frankie. “How lucky are you?”

  Eleanor grinned as she realized Frankie didn’t know that her aunt was referring to what she thought was her niece’s toy pony.

  “How would you like to choose her name?”

  Eleanor thought of Comet on his journey to find his twin sister. She hoped they were reunited soon. “Thank you so much, Aunt Pippa. I’d like to call her Destiny.”

  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.