Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR The stable block was amazing! Everything was so clean and shiny. Sophia loved the silver water troughs that filled up magically with the brightly coloured lake water and she was impressed with the remote-controlled trolleys that moved bales of straw and piles of sky berries around. There were six rows of stables, each with a storeroom that doubled as a feed room. Outside were two sand schools and one that was covered with a dome of hexagonal glass panes with jumps laid out inside. Sophia looked at them in excitement. She couldn't wait to jump with Rainbow.

Rainbow sensed her excitement. "We'll jump really high together, won't we?" "We will," Sophia promised him. Rainbow whinnied happily. After looking around the stable yard, Sophia and Ava rode Rainbow and Star back into the grounds. Rainbow suggested they galloped again but Sophia made an excuse. Galloping had been amazing but she didn't like that it had made her forget about Clover so easily. The school was surrounded by gardens, where an army of gardeners was hard at work. Where the gardens ended, there was a maze and a play area with jumps for the unicorns and a roundabout and swing boats for the students. Beyond that was a wood, and in the other direction a cross-country course with notices saying that both were out of bounds unless students were accompanied by a teacher. Someone was riding a unicorn with an electric- blue mane and tail over the jumps. Sophia

recognised the unicorn and his blond-haired rider. "Billy and Lightning!" she called. Billy didn't look embarrassed at being caught breaking a rule and waved cheerfully. "Race you back to the stables, girls!" Billy yelled, wheeling Lightning round. "We're not racing!" shouted Ava. "I am!" shouted Rainbow. "Wait!" cried Sophia. But Rainbow wasn't listening. Head stretched forwards, he galloped after Lightning. Wind rushed at Sophia's face and her hair streamed behind her as Rainbow flew along. He was galloping so fast that his hooves barely touched the ground. It felt amazing and she gave in to the rush of excitement that was surging through her, leaning forwards and urging him on. Rainbow caught Lightning up and they raced along side by side. "We're gonna beat you!" whooped Billy.

"Come on, Rainbow!" Sophia cried, as the stable yard came into sight. Rainbow leapt forwards and reached the gate first. "We won!" Sophia's brown eyes shone as Billy and Lightning pulled up alongside. "This time," said Billy amicably. "But you wait, we'll get you back." "Never!" declared Rainbow, stamping his

hoof, his dark eyes shining. Dinner was eaten in the refectory, a long room with glass windows overlooking the lake. At night, it was lit by hundreds of tiny white lights and it sparkled prettily in the dark. Sophia was hungry after such a busy afternoon and she piled food on to her plate from the dishes set out on a long counter. The drinks fountain was a miniature copy of the one in the lake and dispensed water and twenty different types of fruit juice. It was the perfect accompaniment to the cheese-topped lasagne, freshly baked garlic bread and salad. "It's been a wonderful day," said Ava as she and Sophia walked to their dormitory after dinner. "Wonderful," agreed Sophia. Sapphire dorm had a sparkly blue door with matching curtains. There were six beds, three on

each side, all covered with blue and silver duvets. Each girl had a small wardrobe and chest of drawers to put her things in. Lamps lit by shiny sapphire stones softly illuminated the room. Sophia set out her things: a lucky horseshoe– Clover's of course– and a photo of Mum, Harry and Clover. Despite her amazing day, her stomach twisted suddenly with homesickness as she picked the photo up. She missed her mum and brother but most of all she missed Clover. She looked at Clover's cute face, his sweet eyes and diamond-shaped blaze. Was he missing her