The Magic Spell

gasped.
    Mrs Fontana smiled at Lauren. ’I see

    you’ve found yourself a friend.’
    Lauren nodded. ‘Thank you for giving me the book!’ she said.
    ‘It was time it had a new owner,’ Mrs Fontana replied. ‘But you must promise to guard the secret carefully. A unicorn’s powers can attract bad people who want to use the magic selfishly. You must not tell a soul. Do you understand?’
    At first Lauren felt disappointed. She had been thinking how amazed her mum and dad would be when she told them. But she could see the sense in what Mrs Fontana was saying. ‘I understand,’ she said. ‘And I promise I won’t tell anyone.’
    ‘Good,’ Mrs Fontana said. ‘Now,’ she went on, seeming to produce a piece of paper out of thin air. ‘I will give you the Undoing Spell that will turn Twilight back into a pony. Say it when you return home.’
    With that, Mrs Fontana handed the paper to Lauren and Lauren read the words:
    Twilight Star, Twilight Star ,
    Twinkling high above so far,
    Protect this secret from prying eyes
    And return my unicorn to his disguise.
    His magical shape is for my eyes only,
    Let him be once more a pony.
    ‘Keep Twilight’s secret, Lauren,’ Mrs Fontana reminded her.
    ‘I will,’ Lauren promised.
    Twilight bent his knees again and Lauren climbed on to his back. With two bounds he cantered across the grass and rose up into the sky.
    ‘Bye, Mrs Fontana!’ Lauren called, catching hold of his mane.
    The old lady raised her hand. ‘Use the magic well, my dear,’ she called and, with that, she and Walter disappeared into the dark wood.
    Twilight and Lauren flew through the sky. Lauren thought she had never felt happier or more excited. There was so much to see. They flew over the woods and rivers, and Mrs Fontana’s bookshop, and finally they flew out over the mountains that rose behind Granger’s Farm.
    At last they returned to the paddock. As they flew down, Lauren suddenly remembered about her parents.
    ‘Twilight!’ she gasped. ‘I hope Mum and Dad aren’t worried about me.’
    ‘Don’t worry,’ Twilight told her. ‘We haven’t been gone very long.’
    ‘Oh, Twilight,’ Lauren said, ‘this is all so exciting!’
    Twilight nodded eagerly. ‘And the excitement’s only just beginning. Soon we’ll be having all sorts of adventures together.’ He nuzzled her leg. ‘Oh, Lauren. I’m so happy you’re my Unicorn Friend.’
    Lauren hugged him. ‘And I’m so happy you’re my unicorn.’
    As Lauren dismounted, she took the piece of paper that Mrs Fontana had given her out of her pocket. Slowly she read out the Undoing Spell. As she spoke the last word, there was a flash of

    blinding purple light and suddenly Lauren felt cold air on her face. She opened her eyes. She was still standing beside Twilight, but he was no longer a unicorn; he was just a small grey pony. For a moment Lauren wondered if she’d
    imagined everything, but then she looked down at the piece of paper in her hand. No, it had been real.
    Twilight snuffled at her hair and she felt a surge of excitement fizz inside her.
    ‘Goodnight,’ Lauren whispered, kissing him in delight. Then, picking up the book from the grass, she turned and ran to the house.
    As she hurried in, Buddy bounded over to greet her, almost knocking her down in his excitement.
    Her dad was washing up the supper dishes at the sink and her mum was pouring Max a drink.
    ‘How was Twilight?’ her mum asked.
    ‘He was fine,’ Lauren said. ‘I… I think I might just go up to my room and read for a while.’
    She went upstairs and sat down by her bedroom window. Twilight was grazing in his paddock. Seeming to sense that Lauren was looking at him, he raised his head and whinnied.
    A broad grin crept across Lauren’s face.
    Her new pony had turned out to be her secret unicorn.
    What adventures they were going to have!