Show-Jumping Dreams (3 page)

“I-I’m . . . um, Alexandra Judd, but everyone calls me Alex,” she found herself stammering. “I’m . . . here at the horse show with my parents and my best friend, Zoe . . .”

Comet dipped his head in a formal bow, and his pale sandy mane swung forward. “I am honored to meet you, Alex.”

“Um . . . me too,” Alex said, feeling as if she should curtsy or something. “Did you say that you came from far away? Like a different country?”

“Much farther. I live in another world on Rainbow Mist Island with my twin sister, Destiny.”

“Really? Wow! Is she here, too? Where is she?” Alex asked, fascinated, looking around for another talking palomino.

Comet shook his head. “Destiny is here in your world, but she is in hiding. She fled here after the Stone of Power was lost during our game of cloud-racing. The stone protects our herd from the dark horses who want to steal our magic. It has been found, but Destiny does not know this. I have come to find her and take her home.”

Alex blinked at the handsome pony. What he had told her was so magical and strange. She wasn’t sure that she could take it all in. But one thing in particular was puzzling her.

“Cloud-racing? What’s—” she began.

Comet’s violet eyes widened. “Stay back, please,” he snorted.

Alex felt a strange tingling sensation flowing down to her fingertips as violet
sparks ignited in Comet’s caramel-colored coat and shimmering rainbow mist swirled around him. The palomino had disappeared, and in its place was a pale-cream pony with a flowing gold mane and tail that sparkled like spun silk. But it was the wide gold-feathered wings springing from his shoulders that stole Alex’s breath.

“Oh!” She gasped in utter amazement at the incredible sight. Nothing could have prepared her for anything so beautiful. “Comet?”

“Yes. It is still me, Alex. Do not be alarmed,” Comet said in a deep velvety whinny.

Before Alex had time to get used to seeing Comet in his true form, there was another spurt of violet sparkles and the multicolored mist broke into shining dust and disappeared, revealing the palomino pony once more.

“That’s an amazing disguise! Can Destiny make herself look like a normal pony, too?”

Comet nodded, his ears swiveling. “But her disguise will not protect her if the dark horses find her. I must search for
my sister. Will you help me?”

“Of course I will,” Alex said, even though she had no idea where to look. “Do you think Destiny might be here at the horse show?”

Comet twitched his sandy tail. “I cannot sense that she is near. We will need to look for her on the slopes and hills nearby.”

“It’s pretty wild up in the high fields. There are tons of places among the rocks and caves where Destiny could hide,” Alex said thoughtfully. “I’ll be going home to Scarp Hill Farm in a few hours. I could ask Mom and Dad if you could come with me. We’re used to taking care of animals. There’s lots of room in our horse truck, even with two ponies in it already. That’s Pasha, my pony. She just
hurt herself,” she said, feeling a ripple of anxiety. She dragged her attention back to the magic pony. “And . . . and Maxi, who belongs to Zoe, my best friend. I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces when I tell them about you!”

“No! You cannot tell anyone my secret,” Comet neighed, his violet eyes serious. “You must promise me, Alex.”

Alex pressed her lips together. She felt disappointed that she couldn’t tell her parents about the amazing pony. But it seemed even worse to keep secrets from Zoe. They usually told each other everything.

She nodded slowly. “Well—okay . . . ,” she said, prepared to agree if it would keep Comet and Destiny safe from their enemies.

Comet reached out to bump his nose gently against her arm. “Thank you.”

“No problem!” Alex smiled and reached up to stroke him. She rubbed between his eyes, feeling proud that he had chosen her for his friend.

“I will come to your home. It will be a safe place to stay,” Comet neighed.

“Cool! I’d
really
love that. But how am I going to explain about you and where you suddenly came from . . .”

“There you are!” called a voice.

Alex spun around to see Zoe running up to her. “Your mom sent me to find you. Lunch is ready . . . wow! Who does that gorgeous pony belong to?”

“What pony?” Alex asked, too flustered to think straight.

“Du-uh! The palomino standing right there in front of you!” Zoe pointed at Comet.

“Oh,
that
pony. Well . . . he’s . . . um . . .” Alex fumbled for an explanation before an idea suddenly came to her. “I . . . er, found him running loose. He probably belongs to someone at the horse show.”

Alex knew that if she reported Comet no one would be missing this magic pony! They’d probably assume that his owner had left without him, and her mom and
dad definitely wouldn’t mind looking after Comet while they waited for him to be claimed.

Comet nuzzled Alex’s shoulder in gratitude for not giving away his special secret. “Thank you, Alex.”

Alex gasped. Comet had just spoken—in front of Zoe! What could he be thinking?

But her friend appeared not to have noticed anything odd. It was very strange.

Alex tried to get ahold of herself. She told Zoe that she had found him loose in the woods. “I managed to catch him and calm him down. The owner’s probably going crazy looking for him,” she said, hoping that she sounded convincing.

“How awful to lose your pony!” Zoe exclaimed. “I’d be so upset if Maxi got
loose and ran off. Comet? That’s a cool name. How do you know that’s what he’s called?”

“I don’t,” Alex said. “I . . . just thought I’d call him that. He looks like a comet, with his pale mane and tail.”

“It’s a great name. It really suits him,” Zoe said. “I’ll come with you and help find his owner. Hold on—I’ll go get a
halter and lead rope.”

As Zoe dashed off to the horse truck, Alex looked at Comet. “I almost lost it when you spoke in front of her! How come she didn’t seem to hear you?”

Comet’s eyes gleamed. “I used my magic so that only you will be able to hear me. To anyone else I will seem like a normal pony.”

Alex grinned at her special new friend. Comet was anything but normal!

As the horse truck trundled up the steep road that led to the fields, Alex glanced into the back happily. Three sets of pricked ponies’ ears were visible: Pasha’s, Maxi’s—and Comet’s.

Alex hadn’t even needed to beg her mom and dad to let Comet come home with them. One look at the handsome palomino, and Mrs. Judd had fallen in
love with him—just as Alex had—and practically insisted they take care of Comet until his owner showed up.

Despite her injury, Pasha stood quietly munching hay in the partition next to Comet. It was as if the magic pony’s presence had a calming influence on the chestnut pony.

Mr. Judd stopped the truck in front of Zoe’s house, a rambling stone cottage called Gray Lag House.

Zoe’s dad came out and greeted them cheerily. He helped Alex’s dad let down the ramp and lead Maxi into the yard. Zoe carried her brown-and-white gelding’s equipment to the stable.

“Thanks very much for taking us with you,” she called to Alex’s parents. She turned to Alex. “I’ll ride over tomorrow
morning for some jumping practice. Oh, I forgot—there’s no point now, with poor Pasha being hurt, right?”

“I guess not.” Alex’s spirits sank as she thought how boring school break would be without riding with her best friend. She brightened as a thought came to her. “Wait a minute! I’ll need to exercise Comet, so I may as well ride him while Pasha’s getting better.”

Comet nickered agreement from inside the truck.

“That sounds like the perfect arrangement,” Alex’s mom said. “Finding Comet running loose like that seems to have turned out to be a stroke of luck.”

“Definitely! I’m going to take the best care of him!” Alex said with a wide
grin. “I’ll see you tomorrow then!” She waved to her friend as they drove down the track and headed home to Scarp Hill Farm.

Alex was so eager to ride the magic pony that it made her pulse race. She hoped Pasha wouldn’t be jealous.

Early the following morning, Alex went to check that her chestnut pony was comfortable. “Hello there, brave girl,” she crooned, sliding open the door to Pasha’s stall. When she’d settled her in last night, she’d been careful to pile up clean straw extra high around the walls to make a deep and comfortable bed.

Pasha was lying down. She lifted her head and looked at Alex with mild eyes. Alex sat down and gently rubbed her soft
brown nose. “That’s right. You just relax and let that bad old leg get better. The vet’s coming to check on you again later.”