As soon as they reached it, Lauren said the Turning Spell.

‘What’s happened?’ Twilight asked as soon as he could talk. ‘I thought you said Hannah loved ponies, Lauren.’

‘She used to,’ Lauren said, rubbing her hand across her forehead. ‘But now she says she’s outgrown them.’

Twilight looked at Lauren with alarmed eyes. ‘You won’t ever outgrow me, will you?’

‘No!’ Lauren hugged him fiercely. ‘Never! I promise!’

Twilight snorted in relief.

‘Oh, Twilight!’ Lauren said, thinking of Hannah with her sleek hair, carefully painted nails, music magazines and boyfriend. ‘Hannah used to be so nice.’ She caught herself. ‘Well, I suppose she still is nice, but I wish she still liked ponies. I thought she might do deep down, so that’s why I was trying to get her to ride and do stuff.’

Twilight looked at her. ‘It didn’t seem to work.’

‘No,’ Lauren sighed. ‘It didn’t. I feel bad for upsetting her, particularly when she’s only just arrived.’

Twilight pushed her gently with his nose. ‘You were only trying to help, Lauren.’

Lauren stroked him. Twilight always knew the right thing to say to make her feel better. ‘I’m so glad I’ve got you,’ she whispered.

‘And I’m glad I’ve got you,’ he snorted.

Lauren rested her head against his neck. They stood there for a long moment.

At last Lauren sighed. ‘I guess we’d better go home. I should find Hannah and go and listen to some music or something with her.’

‘Will you turn me into a unicorn later?’ Twilight said eagerly.

‘Of course!’ Lauren smiled.

She said the Undoing Spell and Twilight turned back into a pony. Lauren mounted and they headed back to Granger’s Farm.

When Lauren got back, she went into the house. Hannah was in the lounge. She’d changed out of her skirt into a pair of trousers and was watching a music programme on TV. ‘Hi,’ she said quietly.

‘Hi,’ Lauren replied, feeling awkward.

‘Look, I’m sorry about snapping earlier,’ Hannah said. ‘I just felt you weren’t listening to me. You were trying to make me do stuff I didn’t want to do.’

‘I’m sorry too,’ Lauren said. ‘I just thought it might be fun to do some pony stuff. I didn’t mean to upset you.’

‘That’s OK. I’m just not into ponies any more.’ Hannah looked at the telly. ‘Shall I turn this off?’

‘No, it’s fine. I don’t mind watching it with you,’ Lauren replied.

Hannah smiled. ‘Cool.’

Lauren sat and watched the programme. It was OK, she supposed, but she would far rather have been outside with Twilight. She didn’t know any of the bands playing, although Hannah seemed to know lots about them. As it finished, she glanced at her watch. Grace would be arriving any moment.

‘I should go back out,’ she said, standing up. ‘My friend’s coming round with that pony I told you about.’ She looked hopefully at Hannah. Surely she couldn’t resist coming out to see Magpie?