Dreams Come True

greeting. ‘I didn’t think you were going to do it but you were so brave. What made you able to jump?’
    Shadow neighed.
    ‘He says that when the lightning flashed it made me look like a unicorn,’ Twilight translated for Lauren. ‘He realized that if he was going to save Mel, he had to be as brave as he was the other night when my horn touched him – as brave as a unicorn.’
    Lauren nodded, remembering the look that had come into Shadow’s eyes as the lightning had shone on Twilight’s coat. It all made sense. She looked at the dapple-grey pony. ‘Well, you were wonderful, Shadow, and, best of all, now that you’ve jumped that great big log, the jumps at Pony Club will seem tiny. You’ll be able to jump them easily.’
    Shadow snorted doubtfully.
    ‘He doesn’t think so,’ Twilight interpreted. ‘He says that he could only jump the log because he had to.’
    Lauren frowned. ‘But Twilight wasn’t a unicorn when you jumped that log, Shadow. You jumped that log because you were brave.’
    Twilight whickered in agreement.
    Shadow stared at Lauren as if she’d said something totally astonishing.
    ‘You saved Mel’s life, Shadow,’ Lauren said softly. ‘If you can do that, you can do anything.’
    A new look of confidence began to shine in Shadow’s eyes.
    Lauren climbed on to Twilight’s back. ‘We’d better go,’ she said. ‘Goodnight, Shadow.’
    Shadow whinnied proudly and tossed his mane as Lauren rode Twilight off into the night.
    On Saturday afternoon, Lauren stood beside Twilight, watching Mel ride Shadow towards the first jump in the course that Kathy, their Pony Club trainer, had set out.
    It had taken a lot for Lauren to persuade Mel to have a go at the jumping course but, after being reminded of Shadow’s huge leap over the burning log, she had finally agreed.
    ‘I don’t know why Mel’s bothering.’ Jade’s snide voice cut through the air. She was watching with Monica. ‘Shadow’s never going to jump a course of jumps – last month he wouldn’t even jump one.’
    Lauren didn’t say anything. She just crossed her fingers. The course was small but twisty and no one in the group had managed a clear round yet.
    Jade’s pony, Prince, had knocked three fences over and Monica’s pony, Scout, had had three refusals. Twilight had only had one fence down, which Lauren didn’t mind at all because she knew he’d tried his best. She crossed her fingers as Mel cantered Shadow towards the first jump.
    She held her breath. Would Shadow stop?
    But, to her delight, the dapple-grey pony’s ears pricked up, his stride lengthened and he jumped perfectly over the fence. He cantered to the next one and then the next. As he cleared the last fence, everyone burst into applause for a perfect clear round.
    Mel patted Shadow as if she was never going to stop.
    Seeing the happiness on Mel’s and Shadow’s faces, Lauren hugged Twilight in delight. ‘Oh, Twilight, isn’t it brilliant?’ she whispered. ‘I’m so glad you were able to help.’
    Twilight shook his head and pushed his nose against her chest.
    Lauren understood him perfectly. ‘OK then,’ she said, putting her arm round his neck. ‘I’m so glad we were able to help!’