She froze. Destiny was here! There was no mistake.

Comet raced past her out of the stable.

Alex ran after him to a corner of the yard where a twinkling rainbow mist was drifting down. In the middle of it Comet stood in his true form, a palomino pony no longer. Rainbow droplets gleamed on his noble arched neck, cream coat and flowing golden mane and tail; magnificent gold-feathered wings sprang from his powerful shoulders.

‘Comet!’ Alex gasped. She had almost forgotten how beautiful he was. ‘You… you’re leaving right now, aren’t you?’

His wonderful violet eyes lost a little of their brightness for a second. ‘I must. If I am to catch Destiny and save her from our enemies.’

Alex’s throat burned with tears; she knew she must find the courage to let her friend go. She hurried towards him. Leaning against Comet’s glowing shoulder, she rested her face against his warm silken cheek.

‘I’ll never forget you,’ she murmured adoringly.

‘I will not forget you either, Alex. You have been a good friend,’ Comet neighed softly. He allowed her to hug him one last time and then gently backed away. ‘Farewell. Ride well and true,’ he said in a deep musical voice.

There was a final flash of violet light and a silent explosion of rainbow sparkles that floated down around Alex and tinkled like miniature bells as they hit the ground.

Comet spread his golden wings and soared upwards. He faded and was gone.

Alex wiped away tears, hardly able to believe that everything had happened so quickly. Something lay in the yard. It was a single glittering gold wing feather. Bending down, she picked it up.

The feather tingled against her fingers as it faded to a cream colour. Alex slipped it into her pocket. She would always keep the feather to remind herself of the magic pony and the wonderful adventure they had shared.

As she turned back towards the stable, she heard a soft neigh. Her little chestnut pony came out and cantered round the yard in a perfect circle, before walking towards her. Look at me, I’m all well again, she seemed to be saying.

‘Pasha! You’re not lame any more!’ Alex gasped delightedly. A smile broke out on her face as she knew that this was Comet’s final gift to her. ‘You were wrong, Simon. Miracles can happen… when you have a magic pony’s help!’

Pasha nudged her arm gently and blew sweet breath on to her neck. Alex threw her arms round her pony’s neck and breathed out a long sigh of perfect happiness.

‘Thank you so much, Comet. Take care. And I hope you and Destiny get back safely to Rainbow Mist Island.’