CHAPTER ONE
Midsummer Morning
It was the most beautiful morning in Misty Wood, and the sun was shining high in the sky. Down in the luscious green meadow, a little silver Petal Pony was leaping about excitedly. It was the day of the Midsummer Pony Gala, the most wonderful fairy-pony show of the year!
Paige the Petal Pony kicked her hooves high in the air and neighed happily. “I can’t believe it’s finally here,” she said to herself, feeling the warm sunlight on her back. “The day of the Pony Gala, at last!”
Paige was so excited that she couldn’t sit still. She’d been waiting for this special day all summer. She galloped over the grass, her pretty silvery-gray coat a blur in the sunshine.
She raced right around the meadow three times. She could have kept running all morning! But then she heard someone calling her name. “Paige!” came her mom’s voice. “Where are you?”
Paige skidded to a halt. “I’m here, Mom!”
Paige’s mom trotted over to the middle of the field. “You’re up very early, little one,” she said, nuzzling Paige hello.
“The Prettiest Pony Competition is tonight,” Paige said happily. “It’s always my favorite part of the gala, and I finally get to compete this year. So I’ve got to practice my circles!” Then Paige leaped in the air and set off faster then ever.
Her mom laughed. “You’re making my head spin! You know the Prettiest Pony Competition isn’t a race, don’t you?”
Paige slowed to a trot, huffing and puffing to catch her breath. Well, that was true. She remembered all the beautiful ponies trotting and cantering in circles last year, and leaping over the show jumps. None of them had galloped.
Paige stood still for a moment in the warm breeze, remembering how wonderful last year’s gala had been. She was sure this year’s would be even better.
“Phew,” Paige’s mom said, a twinkle in her eye. “I couldn’t think straight with you rushing around in circles like that.”
Paige trotted over and snuggled up close to her mom. “What’s your favorite part of the gala?” she asked.
Her mom looked thoughtful. “I do love the show jumping. Your dad will be one of the judges this year. Long ago, before you were born, he was the champion show jumper!”
“Really?” said Paige, her eyes wide. “Ooh, I wonder if I could be a champion show jumper, too.”
She bounded over to a big thistle plant and tried to jump over it. But Paige was only a little Petal Pony, and she didn’t quite make it. “Ouch!” she squeaked as the prickles scratched her leg.
Her mom chuckled. “Maybe you can try the show jumps next year, when you’re a bit bigger.”
“Yes, I will,” said Paige, instantly forgetting the scratch on her leg. “But this year, I’m going to try for the Prettiest Petal Pony.”
She pranced happily around the meadow, lifting her knees as high as she could. “Look at me! I hope the judges think I’m pretty.”
Paige’s mom nodded. “The judges will certainly notice a fine trot like that. But…”
“But what, Mom?” Paige said as she whirled around in a perfect pirouette.
“… the judges will also be looking for the pony with the shiniest coat, the softest mane, the silkiest tail, and the brightest hooves,” said her mom with a smile. “Not to mention the kindest heart.”
Paige stopped in her tracks and looked down at her pearly hooves. There were grass stains on them from all the galloping.
She shook out her snowy mane. There were quite a few tangles in it. She turned her head to see her coat. It was dusty with grass seeds from where she had stretched out on the ground to sleep last night.
Last of all, Paige swished her tail. It was full of pollen from all the flowers that grew nearby.
Uh-oh. Paige was a mess!
“What shall I do?” she said, worried. “I’m not very shiny or soft or silky or bright at all.”
Paige’s mom nuzzled the little pony. “You always look pretty to me, Paige. But if you want to look your best for the gala, why don’t you trot over to Heather Hill? You could roll in the heather to make your coat shine.”
“What a good idea!” Paige said. “And I can do my special job while I’m there.”
All the fairy animals in Misty Wood had special jobs. The Petal Ponies’ job was to flick their tails over the flowers, wafting their beautiful scent into the air for the other fairy animals to enjoy.
“Are you coming, too?” Paige asked her mom.
“No, I’ll stay here,” her mom replied. “Your little sister, Pia, will be waking up any minute. But you’ll be fine. Off you go and have some fun.”
The two of them rubbed noses to say good-bye, and then Paige set off for Heather Hill.
As she cantered over the meadow, a head bobbed up from the long grass. It was Petey the Pollen Puppy. “Want to have a race?” he barked.
“Sorry, Petey,” Paige said, slowing down. “I’ve got to get ready for the Pony Gala.”
“Good luck,” Petey said, wagging his tail. “See you there!”
“See you!” Paige flicked her mane and raced on.
As she came to the edge of the wood, Daisy the Dream Deer bounded out of the trees. “Good morning, Paige!” she called in her soft voice. “Did you have sweet dreams last night?”
“Hello, Daisy,” Paige called. “I did! I dreamed about the Pony Gala. I’m entering the Prettiest Pony Competition!”
Some other Dream Deer came leaping to join Daisy. “We hope you win,” they cried.
“We love the gala!” And they bounded off into the wood again.
Suddenly, there was a rustle by Paige’s feet, and she jumped in surprise. A pile of leaves on the ground stirred and two beady eyes peeped up at her.
It was Mia the Moss Mouse. “Hello, Paige,” Mia squeaked. “I thought I heard thunder, but it was just your hooves drumming on the ground.”
“I’m hurrying to get ready for the Pony Gala,” Paige explained. “I’m sorry if I frightened you.”
“Ooh, I love the Pony Gala,” Mia said, twitching her whiskers. “Good luck!”
Paige cantered on through the trees until she came out on the other side of Misty Wood—and there was Heather Hill!
“Mmm,” Paige sighed as she breathed in the lovely scent of the purple heather flowers.
She flicked her tail over the flowers a few times, sending the scent into the air for the other fairy animals to enjoy. Then she lay down and rolled over and over on the bouncy bushes.
She rubbed her coat against them, polishing it so it shone like the brightest silver. Then she stood up and gave herself a shake.
She was just about to search for a puddle to check her reflection when she heard a buzzing noise from somewhere above her head.
“Zzzzzz!”
It was very loud. Paige paused, her ears pricked.
“Pleazzze, pleazzze, can you help uzzz?”
Who could that be? And where was it coming from?
Text copyright © 2015 by Houthouse Fiction Ltd.
Illustrations copyright © 2015 by Kirsteen Harris Jones
