‘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 trial.’

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 mum 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 of?

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

Trying to gather her wits, Alex carried on. 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 bananas looking for him,’ she said, hoping that she sounded convincing.

‘How awful to lose your pony!’ Zoe exclaimed. ‘I’d be going mad 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 lovely name. It really suits him,’ Zoe said. ‘I’ll come with you and help to find his owner. Hang on, I’ll dash back and get a halter and lead rope.’

As Zoe hared off to the transporter, Alex looked at Comet. ‘I nearly had kittens when you spoke up 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. To anyone else I will seem like an ordinary pony.’

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

Chapter
THREE

As the transporter trundled up the steep road that led to the moors, 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 mum 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 done – and practically insisted they look after Comet until his owner turned 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 drew to a halt in front of Zoe’s house, a rambling stone cottage called Grey 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 tack 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 is there, with poor Pasha being lame?’