Dreams That Sparkle Read online

  To my editors,

  Abby and Amanda, for making

  the Glitter Ponies extra sparkly

  and fabulous!

  CONTENTS

  TITLE PAGE

  DEDICATION

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ALSO AVAILABLE

  COPYRIGHT

  Belissima took a deep breath and looked around her stall in the Earth barn. She couldn’t believe that selection week was actually here! In just a few days, she’d be leaving Enchanted Pony Academy. She hoped she’d be leaving—this week the royal children were coming to the Academy to pick a graduating pony as their royal pet. If Belissima was chosen, she’d move to a new kingdom and use her magic to help rule!

  For now, she was more nervous than excited. So many emotions were swirling inside of her: excitement, fear, sadness, and glee. She’d never felt this way before, not even the day she first climbed the rainbow stairs to join the academy two years ago.

  “How are you going to style your mane? It’s such a beautiful color,” Skydancer asked, rustling her wings just outside Belissima’s stall door.

  Belissima flicked her tail. “I’m not doing anything special.”

  Rose poked her nose in. “Why not?”

  “Because she doesn’t have to do anything to look amazing. She’s already so pretty,” Razzle said, joining the group. “Belissima, you’re going to be First Pony, I’m sure of it.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that,” Belissima said.

  “Of course you’re going to be chosen first. You’re so gorgeous that everyone will want you for a pet,” Razzle said.

  Belissima stomped her hoof. “That’s not the only reason for children to select their royal pony.”

  Skydancer nodded. “Right, our Glitter Gifts are important, too.” Skydancer was a first-year pegapony who could talk to any other winged creature. It was an amazing and useful gift. She’d been able to communicate with the two young dragons that had landed near their school. Without Skydancer’s Glitter Gift, no one would have known they were looking for help, not trouble.

  Belissima frowned. Her Glitter Gift wasn’t very exciting. Her coat could change color and sparkle. Big deal. That had placed her in the pageantry study group. She really loved her healing classes and would’ve preferred that group instead, but a color-changing coat had nothing to do with healing. So she’d spent the last two years perfecting different gaits and fancy moves, like riding a figure-eight and walking on her hind legs. She’d worked her hardest in her classes, but pageantry skills weren’t her true passion.

  Daisy galloped into the stables with a tray levitated by her side. “Happy selection week! We made you a treat! It just came out of the oven. It’s posy pie!”

  “Oh, thank you,” said Belissima. It was tradition for the first-year students to present gifts to the graduating ponies during selection week. Some ponies put together performances or wrote songs and poems. Belissima thought it was a lovely gesture.

  “I found the Magic Treats and Eats Cookbook in the library,” Daisy said proudly. “It’s filled with surprise recipes. All the first-year ponies from Earth barn worked on the pie together. Take a taste and see what happens.” Daisy giggled and tried to hide her smile.

  “Is this a trick?” Belissima asked.

  “A good one,” Rose said. “You’re going to love it!”

  Belissima took a small bite of the fruity pie. As soon as her lips touched the treat, a cloud of flower petals fluttered in the air all around her. “Oh, how wonderful!”

  “And your breath will smell like flowers for a while!” Daisy said.

  Belissima laughed, and indeed, she smelled a lovely floral scent.

  “There are so many interesting recipes,” Daisy said. “The ponies in Water barn made cloud candy. It’s cotton candy that floats!”

  Razzle frowned. “Stone wanted to make the atchoo cookies. The recipe said it would make a pony sneeze for hours!”

  “He’s nothing but a jokester,” said Skydancer, frowning. “Good thing we found the cookbook first.”

  “There were other horrible recipes that seemed like pranks, instead of wonderful surprises,” Daisy said. “I even saw one that gives you moldy green spots all over your coat!”

  “Oh my!” Belissima said.

  “Don’t worry, we hid the cookbook in the library where Stone will never find it,” Razzle said.

  Skydancer giggled. “Behind The Complete History of the Hundred Kingdoms. Have you seen the size of that book? He’ll never look there.”

  All the ponies laughed with her.

  Electra bounded into the barn with several flower garlands draped over her neck. “Happy selection week! The ponies in Sky barn made one for each of the ponies in the selection ceremony. I saved the prettiest one for you, Belissima, since you’re the prettiest pony.”

  Belissima forced a smile. No one ever mentioned she had the top grades in her class, or that she was a leader who always tried to be patient and pleasant with all the ponies at school. The only thing anyone ever said about Belissima was that she was pretty. Or beautiful. Or gorgeous. She really hoped whichever child chose her could see that she was so much more than her looks.

  The prince or princess who would be her perfect match would love to explore fields of flowers and chase butterflies until they fluttered off into the sky. They’d splash through creeks and frolic under waterfalls. Together, they’d creep through spooky forests and collect wild herbs to make healing potions. They’d both get so muddy, no one would be able to tell what shade of purple Belissima was.

  But her perfect match would not spend time brushing her mane or decorating her hooves. They would not try countless headdresses and accessories on her. They would not waste their time primping and preening. A mirror would not be needed in her stable.

  Electra levitated the garland around Belissima’s neck.

  “Thank you, Electra,” she said. “This must have taken a lot of work to create.”

  “It did. I conjured up a spell to help me weave the flowers.”

  “Excellent! Keep working hard and your magic will continue to grow,” Belissima said.

  Electra’s horn and hooves suddenly glowed. It was a wonderful Glitter Gift.

  “We better go get our seats before the ceremony starts,” Skydancer said. “We’ll be cheering for you. Just think, in a few days, you’ll be leaving the academy with your royal child! I can’t wait to meet your perfect match.”

  Belissima felt panicked realizing how much she’d miss these friends she’d come to love so much. The child who chose her just had to be her perfect match. Otherwise, they’d both be so very unhappy.

  She raised her chin, determined to put her best hoof forward during selection week. She had to be sure the children could see beyond her pretty coat and fancy mane.

  The stadium was filled with royal families waiting for the first event of the week to begin: the formal introduction. Many of the Glitter Ponies’ families had made the trip, too. Belissima scanned the crowd for her mother. The two of them had always been so close, and it had been difficult to leave her behind to attend the academy. Her father had died when Belissima was just a young filly, and her mother had no other children.

  Belissima grinned when she spotted her in the stands, and her mother bobbed her head in greeting. Belissima had worked very hard these past two years to make her mother proud. To make up for leaving her. It was too bad she didn’t have so
mething more impressive than a few pageantry tricks to show off, Belissima thought. She wished again that she were a healer, the type of pony who could’ve saved her father when he got sick.

  Trumpets sounded, and the ponies lined up in alphabetical order. That meant Belissima would be one of the first ones introduced by Headmaster Elegius and Headmistress Valincia. She had to do her very best. Her mother would be so disappointed if she wasn’t chosen this week.

  Belissima gazed at the thrones at the end of the arena, recognizing many of the children who would be selecting ponies this week. She’d met most of them during their riding lessons over the past two years, but as she watched their excited faces now, she realized she hadn’t felt a special spark with any of them. The girls had always gushed over her looks, but she’d never made a real connection with them.

  This is going to be harder than I thought! She took another deep breath, trying not to panic. But my perfect match will see me for who I really am. They have to.

  The royal children looked very grown-up in their regal attire. Crowns glittered in the sun, and capes rustled in the light breeze. Nervous chatter filled the air. They had journeyed from faraway lands and traveled up and over the rainbow to the hidden school just for this occasion.

  Headmaster Elegius and Headmistress Valincia approached the podium and the crowd hushed.

  “Glitter Pony families, ladies and gentlemen from the hundred kingdoms, welcome to our annual spring selection ceremony,” the headmaster said. “Our ponies have been training hard, working on their magical skills in order to be worthy assistants to help these royal children rule their lands. We are so very pleased to introduce the eighteen ponies in this graduation class!”

  That was the ponies’ cue to gallop around the stadium together. Andover and Alia were ahead of Belissima and she charged behind them.

  A burst of applause filled the stadium as the ponies entered the arena. The air shimmered as their sparkly hooves left clouds of glitter behind them.

  Belissima felt a surge of excitement while trotting in front of the hundreds of spectators. After dreaming about it for so long, selection week was finally here. Maybe she’d been worried about nothing.

  She galloped back to their starting position and waited for the headmistress to call her to the small stage in front of the children. It reminded her of when she’d first entered the academy and all the new ponies had to show off their Glitter Gifts. She’d been so embarrassed that she could only turn her coat a different color, but the children had been thrilled. Thankfully, she’d learned much more magic than that during her time at school.

  Today was just a quick introduction, showing off each pony’s Glitter Gift again and a short presentation in their study concentration. Then over the next three days, the ponies from each study group would perform more advanced demonstrations of their work. On the fourth day, the children would make their selection. The fifth and final day would end with the good-bye ceremony. Belissima wondered if all the other ponies were as nervous as she was.

  Alia tossed her mane as she ran back from the stage, and whispered, “Good luck!” to Belissima.

  Now the headmistress was calling her name. “Please give a warm welcome to Belissima!”

  Belissima trotted toward the stage showing off her cantering that she’d worked so hard to perfect.

  “Belissima has focused her studies on pageantry,” the headmistress said. “But she is also the top pony in her class for grades, and she was lead pony of Earth barn, providing guidance to her fellow ponies.”

  Belissima proudly stepped up onto the platform in front of the children. A few of the boys looked bored, but the girls were smiling and waving at her.

  “Hi, Belissima!” called one girl who had ridden her several times. “I hope I can choose you. No one in the hundred kingdoms will have a prettier pet!”

  “Better hope your name is drawn first in the selection lottery. She’s definitely going to be the first pony picked,” said the boy next to her.

  “I want to pick her!” said another girl.

  “And now for Belissima’s Glitter Gift,” the headmistress announced, interrupting the children’s chatter.

  Belissima closed her eyes and imagined her coat changing color. Some ponies had to work much harder to conjure up their Glitter Gift, but by now, she could just think of it to make it happen. Secretly, she thought there must not be much magic needed to make such a simple gift appear.

  The crowd cheered and she knew her coat must have changed.

  She opened her eyes and spotted a beautiful princess seated at the back of the group. The girl tipped up her chin, surveying Belissima. She’d only ridden with Belissima once before, and she certainly hadn’t felt a spark with that girl, not the way a pony is supposed to when they find their perfect match in a royal child. In fact, they hadn’t even talked very much during their time together.

  But now the girl raised an eyebrow, seeming very interested in Belissima. The princess was breathtakingly beautiful with long, curly black hair and big, dark eyes. She wore the fanciest dress of all the girls. Gems and pearls were tucked in among her curls, and her crown was the biggest and most elaborate of all the children’s. Each one of her nails had an intricate design painted on. It must have taken her hours to get ready for this ceremony.

  Belissima flared her nostrils, imagining the endless days this princess would certainly spend curling her mane and braiding her tail with strands of silk and beads. She’d probably douse her with perfume and brush her coat for hours. Life would be filled with boring parades and parties. They probably would never venture outside for fear of getting dirty. It would be no fun at all being her pet.

  Please don’t pick me, thought Belissima as she trotted backstage. Anyone but her!

  When the official introductions were complete, the graduating ponies returned to the arena so the royal children could spend time with them. A tall prince ran right up to Ranger. They’d spent many hours riding together during lessons, and it appeared they were a perfect match.

  A group of girls circled Belissima, debating which shade of purple her coat was. “It’s violet,” said one girl.

  “No, I’d call it periwinkle!” argued her friend.

  “Amethyst?” suggested another.

  Belissima couldn’t focus on what they were saying. She was too busy watching the perfect princess inspect her from the edge of the crowd.

  Crossing her arms, the girl looked Belissima up and down. She was probably trying to decide what kind of saddle blanket to have custom-made for her. No doubt, she’d have a different one for each day of the week.

  After spending a few more moments staring at Belissima, the girl turned and left the stadium. She didn’t visit any of the other ponies. Had she already decided to choose Belissima?

  “I wonder why Princess Zenia is leaving so soon?” asked one of the girls.

  She even has a beautiful name, Belissima thought.

  “Does she already know which pony she wants?” asked another.

  “If Princess Zenia wants to pick Belissima, we should just forget it. She gets whatever she wants,” said one of the girls. “I mean, she must. Have you seen all her clothes?”

  She gets whatever she wants? Belissima panicked at that news.

  “May I please squeeze in here to see this magnificent pony?” another girl said, pushing through the circle of children to get closer to Belissima. “Even the glitter you make is prettier than anyone else’s.”

  Other children gathered around her, but no one asked about her top grades or her work as lead pony for Earth barn. All their questions were about her looks: Could she turn different colors? Was her mane longer than all the other ponies? Why were her hooves so much sparklier?

  Belissima tried her very best to answer their questions politely, but anger was building inside her. She’d never felt something like this before and she didn’t know what to do.

  When the ceremony was over, Belissima searched the departing crowds and found
her mother.

  “You looked beautiful out there,” her mother said, nudging her with her nose.

  Belissima rolled her eyes. “That’s all anyone sees in me.”

  “We must be grateful for the gifts we are given,” her mother said softly.

  “I know. I’ve just worked very hard to become good at other things, too, and no one seems to notice.”

  “Just be yourself, and those wonderful things about you will shine through. And then you will find the right child,” her mother said.

  Belissima bobbed her head. “I will.” But she knew her mother didn’t understand. Belissima had big dreams that would never come true as a pageantry horse. I must be grateful for my gifts, she reminded herself.

  After nudging her mother good-bye, Belissima clomped back to her stall to prepare for the grand ball, that evening’s party for the royal families and graduating ponies.

  The ball was only going to make things worse, Belissima realized. She’d have to be dressed in her very best accessories. She tried to cheer herself up by remembering all the wonderful foods that would be there, but it didn’t help. She wasn’t in the mood to go to another event where people would just fuss over her looks while she smiled and nodded.

  She had made elaborate plans for the evening. Sunny, a talented first-year pony, was coming over to style her mane and tail. The cape that Belissima had planned to wear hung over the side of her stall. It was a magnificent purple silk that complemented her coat, trimmed in rhinestones. It would attract plenty of attention.

  But now she didn’t want to do any primping. What would happen if she didn’t wear the cape? What if she just showed up with her Earth barn headdress and her mane and tail simply brushed out?

  If she wanted people to see her for more than her looks, it didn’t make sense to wear something so flashy. And why style her mane in a special design? Her mother had said to be herself. And so she was going to do just that.