Comet pricked his ears. ‘I am ready. Hold tight!’

Alex caught her breath as the magic pony rocked back on to his hind legs and pawed the air with his hooves. As he leapt forward, tiny rainbows glimmered in his caramel coat and sandy mane.

They galloped towards a stony track and in no time at all reached the winding lane that led to Scarp Hill Farm. Comet smoothly changed pace and Alex rose to the trot as the farmhouse came into view.

Her heart gave a lurch as she spotted a lorry in the yard. It was the horse ambulance. ‘Pasha’s back from the specialist centre!’ she cried delightedly.

Dismounting quickly, she led Comet into the stable.

‘Pasha!’ The chestnut pony was in her stall. At the sound of Alex’s voice, she pricked her ears. Turning her head, she nickered and gave a friendly blow. Comet snorted softly to her and the ponies gently touched noses.

‘Oh, that’s so sweet. Pasha looks loads happier, doesn’t she?’ Alex stroked her pony’s nose.

She quickly unsaddled the magic pony and gave him a scoop of food to munch, before rushing into the house to talk to her mum.

Simon Green, the vet, was sitting at the table, drinking a mug of tea. He looked up and smiled. ‘Hi, Alex.’

‘Hi, Simon. Hi, Mum. I’ve just seen Pasha! She looks great! Has the treatment worked? When can I exercise her on a lunge rope in the yard? How soon can I ride her again?’ Eager questions spilled out of her.

‘Slow down, love!’ Mrs Judd cautioned. ‘I think you should listen to what Simon has to say before you get your hopes up. Isn’t that right, Simon?’

The vet nodded. ‘The treatment she had was something very new, involving stem cells. It seemed to go well, but I’m afraid we can’t expect miracles…’

Alex felt her high spirits sinking as she listened to Simon explaining that it could be weeks before they knew whether the treatment had worked. ‘Does… does that mean Pasha’s leg might never get better?’

‘I think there’s a fair chance that it will. But it’s best to be prepared just in case,’ came the vet’s reply. ‘As I say, miracles are rare.’

A fair chance? What did that mean? It didn’t sound all that hopeful. Alex felt her high spirits sinking to rock bottom.

After Simon left, Alex went back out to the stable. She found Comet standing with his head very close to Pasha’s. The little chestnut pony’s eyes were closed and she had a blissful look on her face.

As Comet sensed Alex’s presence, he looked up and stepped back from Pasha. His eyes glowed like amethysts. It was a look that sank deep inside her chest and made her heart flutter.

‘Comet –’ Alex began.

But before she could finish her question, Alex heard the sound that she had been hoping for and dreading at the same time: the hollow sound of galloping hooves overhead.