Let It Glow Read online

  Electra could hardly believe her ears. “Really? Are you sure?”

  “Maybe you were right. How will I ever know if I can ride or not if I don’t try? And I wasn’t telling the truth. I really want a pony for my royal pet. I really do.”

  “I thought you were too frustrated to try riding?” Electra asked.

  “I’m not going to let that stop me. It would be a dream to ride a pony. I’m just scared that I can’t do it.”

  “You can do it!” Electra said. “I know you can.”

  Alana bit her lower lip. “I thought maybe we could try in private, over here in the rose garden?”

  “Of course! I can’t wait.”

  “Me too. But I’m nervous. What if it doesn’t work?” Alana asked.

  “It will.”

  Alana smiled. “Okay. Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow!”

  “Great! And don’t worry—everything will be fine.” Electra whinnied in delight and trotted off for a run along the apple orchards. A child actually wanted to ride her. And not just any child, but the sweetest child she’d ever met. She couldn’t disappoint her.

  But Electra stopped running and headed to her stall. Every single child had hated riding her so far. What if Alana did, too? What if she lost her as a friend?

  The next day after classes, Mulligan geared up Electra and she trotted nervously over to the garden with Alana.

  “Thank you for letting us try this over here,” Alana said to Mulligan.

  “You be careful,” said Alana’s father, who was standing on one side of Electra while one of his guards stood on the other. “I’ll be walking alongside you the whole way.”

  Alana rolled her eyes.

  The huge guard lifted Alana out of her chair and placed her on the saddle.

  Electra thought Alana felt as light as a feather.

  Alana giggled. “This is amazing! I can see everything up here. It’s very comfortable, too. Oh, I love this!” She patted Electra’s mane. “Can you please take a few steps, Electra?”

  “Of course.” Slowly, Electra moved forward as carefully as she could. She did not want to spook Alana.

  Her father and the guard moved along with Electra as she cautiously rode into the gardens. Alana squealed in delight. It was one of the best sounds Electra had ever heard.

  Electra closed her eyes, and breathed in the scent of roses. It was a bright day, and the sun warmed her coat. She didn’t know she could feel so happy with a child on top of her.

  And then something sharp stuck her leg. “Ow!” Surprised, she flinched trying to shake it away.

  Alana shrieked, sliding off the saddle into her father’s arms. Alana started crying. “I knew I couldn’t do it!”

  “I’m so sorry! I got stung by a bee. I was surprised!” Electra was afraid she might cry in frustration. “Please try again. I won’t shake you off, I promise.”

  “No,” Alana said through her tears. “No, I can’t. I won’t!”

  “Please, Alana, don’t be mad! I didn’t mean to knock you off.” Why do all the children fall off of me? Why can’t I do this right?

  Alana wiped away her tears. “I’m not mad. I’m just sad. I knew I couldn’t ride. I wish I hadn’t even tried. It was a dumb idea. I want to go home, Father. I don’t want to come back here. Ever.”

  “Alana, no!” shouted Electra. “It’s my fault. Maybe I’m not meant to be a royal pony. Not if I’m so bad at it.”

  “You don’t mean that!” Alana said.

  “I do. I’d be a horrible royal pony. But I’m sure you can ride. Try a different pony. A better pony.”

  “No,” Alana said softly. “I can’t.” She started sobbing.

  “I’m sorry this didn’t work. You should return to your stable, Electra,” Alana’s father said.

  With a heavy heart, Electra trudged back to her stall. She stayed there for the rest of the day, not even coming out for dinner.

  She was dozing when a knock on her stall door awakened her. It was her friends, all looking at her with big, sad eyes.

  “Electra, we’re worried about you,” said Daisy.

  “You’re so sad all the time, and you’ve been keeping to yourself,” Razzle said. “We miss you.”

  “I miss seeing your horn glow. I haven’t seen it glow in a long time,” Skydancer said.

  Electra tried to make her horn and hooves glow, but she couldn’t. “I’m too sad to make it glow. I’m not going to pass Introduction to Riding.”

  Her friends didn’t say anything.

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m not so sure I want to be a royal pet anymore,” Electra said quietly.

  “Of course you do,” Daisy said. “You’ve worked so hard. Don’t give up now. You’ll find a way to make things work.”

  “We’re going to start designing our saddles tomorrow,” Skydancer said. “Maybe if you make the most beautiful one ever, the children will try riding you again.”

  “You think?” Electra asked.

  “Of course!” said Razzle. “Any child would be lucky to have you for a pet.”

  “Get a good night’s sleep and think of some great ideas for your saddle,” Daisy said. “Everything is going to be fine. The final riding exam isn’t for another week. You’ve got time to catch up.”

  “Thanks,” Electra said. “You guys are such good friends.”

  When she was alone again, Electra gazed up at the stars in her stall. Could a wonderful saddle really solve all her problems?

  Since no child had chosen to ride her during class, and since she didn’t see Alana in the rose garden, Electra spent the time during riding lessons drawing saddle designs with her inky quill. She’d gotten good at her levitation skills, and could easily draw, but that didn’t mean she had many good ideas for a saddle.

  She tore up design after design. There was only one child she cared about—Alana. Maybe she could design a saddle for her.

  So Electra sketched out a beautiful saddle covered in butterflies and roses. “Can we make these different colors?” she asked Mulligan when she handed in her design.

  “Of course! This is one of the most unique saddles I’ve ever seen. I wonder what lucky child will get to use it?” he asked.

  None of them, thought Electra sadly.

  Her friends gathered around her and admired the picture. “That is so beautiful!” Daisy said. “Alana will love it!”

  “She’ll never see it. Didn’t you notice, she doesn’t come to class anymore,” Electra said.

  “I can send a message for her with one of my bird friends!” Skydancer suggested.

  “Really?” Electra felt a flutter of hope.

  “The saddle will be ready in a week,” said Mulligan.

  “Excellent!” Electra said. She trotted back to her room and levitated a quill to write her message.

  Skydancer found a lovely bluebird who was willing to deliver the message to the Royal Children’s Academy. It was going to be a long week waiting to see if Alana would return to school.

  *

  Electra showed up to riding class each day for the rest of the week, but none of the children would ride her. She didn’t care. She only wanted one child on her back and that was Alana. Hopefully, her saddle was beautiful enough that Alana would try one more time.

  At the end of the week, Mulligan came to riding class pulling a wagon filled with saddles.

  The ponies whinnied and reared in excitement as the saddles were passed out. Electra kept watching the path that led to the training field to see if Alana was coming.

  Children crowded around the ponies as they were fitted with their special saddles.

  “This turned out beautifully,” said Mulligan as he pulled the wagon over to Electra.

  The saddle was covered with roses in different shades of pink and a few butterflies in hues of yellow and blue. It was the most gorgeous thing Electra had ever seen.

  “It will look lovely with your colorful mane,” Rasha said as she oversaw the ponies from her barn.

  �
�Let’s get you saddled up, lassie.” Mulligan levitated the saddle onto Electra’s back. For once, she didn’t mind it so much.

  “This fits so much better than the other saddles,” Electra said.

  Mulligan smiled. “That’s because it’s made especially for you.”

  The children looked at Electra.

  “Such a pretty saddle,” said one of the girls who had ridden her and fallen off. “Too bad she’s so hard to ride.”

  Electra paid them no attention. She kept watching for Alana.

  As the other ponies trotted around the field with the royal children, Electra stood alone, watching and waiting.

  “Time to dismount, children, class is almost over,” instructed their teacher.

  Electra let out a sad sigh as the children climbed off the other ponies.

  As she plodded back to the barn, her ears perked up. “Electra!” Alana was waving to her from the end of the path.

  Electra charged over. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

  “So did I, but then I changed my mind.” Alana wheeled her chair toward Electra, and reached up to touch the saddle. “That’s beautiful. You designed it?”

  “Yes, just for you.”

  Alana crossed her arms. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m not going to take part in the selection ceremony. I don’t need a royal pony anymore.”

  Electra’s jaw dropped open. “Why not?”

  “Well, when you said you’re smart enough to know what you can’t do, I decided I am, too. I don’t want to be queen someday. So I told my parents my younger sister will be next to rule.”

  Electra stepped back in surprise. “Alana, no! Of course you can rule.”

  “Then why can’t you be a royal pony?” Alana looked angry.

  “Because no one can ride me.” Electra stomped a hoof. “I thought this saddle might convince you to try one more time.”

  “It is very beautiful, and I can’t believe you had it made for me. But I’m not going to try riding you again. What’s the point?” Alana stared off for a few moments. “We can’t go very far or very fast. My father and guard would have to walk alongside us. I’d rather just sit in the garden with you and paint if that’s all right.”

  Electra nodded. “Sure it is. Let me return my saddle to the barn, and I’ll meet you over there.”

  While Alana went to the gardens, Electra walked to the barn.

  “So, how did your friend like the saddle?” Mulligan asked.

  “Oh, she loved it. But she won’t ride me. She doesn’t even want a royal pet.”

  “I’m sorry to hear it. You’ll find your perfect match.”

  I already did, but she doesn’t want me. “Do you think someday I could work in the barn with you? I really enjoyed designing the saddle.”

  “Electra, I’m certain you’re going to be a wonderful royal pet,” Mulligan said. “But yes, if you decide to stay and work at the academy, you could join me in the barn, of course.”

  Electra nodded and forced a smile. She’d much rather be a royal pet. But working on saddles wouldn’t be so bad. She walked toward Alana in the garden.

  “I’m going to miss these roses,” she said.

  “What do you mean?” Electra asked.

  “Once the children are done with riding lessons and this semester’s training at school, we return to our kingdoms.”

  Electra nodded and sniffed. “I’ll miss you.”

  “Me too.”

  Electra used her nose to nudge Alana’s shoulder. “Please don’t give up your right to be queen.”

  “I have to.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  Alana laughed softly. “There are too many things I can’t do because of this chair.”

  “But there are so many wonderful things you can do. Most important, you’re smart and kind. You’d be a wonderful ruler. You belong on a throne.”

  “I can’t even sit on a pony. How can I claim the right to sit on a throne?”

  Then the answer hit Electra like a bolt of lightning. She even felt her horn glowing softly again. “Alana, come back tomorrow and I promise, I will prove you wrong.”

  Electra raced to the riding barn and found Mulligan working on a saddle. “Mulligan, I need your help with my saddle.”

  He looked confused. “We already made your saddle.”

  “I need to make some improvements.”

  Electra explained what she wanted to do, and he smiled. “That’s a wonderful idea! It’ll take some time.”

  Electra shook her head. “I need it tomorrow.”

  Mulligan pushed aside his project. “Then we better get started!”

  *

  Electra was exhausted by the time she got to her stall that night.

  “What were you doing all day?” Rasha asked.

  “The most important thing I’ll ever do,” she said, before falling fast asleep.

  The next morning, Electra waited in the barn until she spotted Alana in the garden. She galloped over. “Come see your new saddle!”

  “I don’t understand,” Alana said, but she followed Electra to the barn. Her father and guard joined them.

  “Mulligan, can you please saddle me up?” Electra asked.

  The saddle sat propped on a workbench. A high back rose from the seat and two thick straps hung off the side. Alana would be totally supported by the design.

  Alana’s mouth dropped open as the beautiful saddle floated through the air onto Electra’s back, buckling itself onto her. “Think you can sit on that by yourself?”

  Alana clapped and squealed in delight. “Yes!”

  Electra bent one of her front legs and stretched out the other so she was bowing. “I’d be honored to ride with you, Your Majesty.”

  “Oh my gosh, this is perfect!”

  Alana’s father placed her on top of Electra and fastened the straps. “Are you secure?”

  “Yes! You don’t need to walk beside us. We’ll be okay. Electra, let’s ride. Let’s go up to the field with the other children.”

  Electra didn’t mind following her command. Slowly, carefully, she walked up to the riding field.

  “You can go faster! I’m totally fine up here. I can’t believe it!” Alana said.

  Electra started trotting and Alana laughed. “I love this!”

  They joined the other ponies and children in the middle of their riding lessons.

  “You better get off that pony; she’s dangerous,” said a little girl.

  “She’s a wild pony!” said another.

  “No. She’s a perfect pony,” Alana said, stroking Electra’s mane.

  “Why do you have such a strange saddle?” asked a boy.

  The other children stared and pointed at it.

  “It’s not a saddle,” said Electra loudly.

  “What is it then?” asked a little girl.

  “It’s a throne fit for a future queen. Alana is too special to ride in a regular saddle.”

  The children were all quiet.

  Prince Dmitri stomped his foot. “I want a saddle throne. I must speak to my father about this immediately.”

  Alana leaned forward and whispered, “Thank you, Electra. You really are the perfect pony. Let’s ride. Fast.”

  “As you wish!” Electra dashed off through the field while Alana whooped and shouted for joy.

  After riding for a long time, they returned to the barn.

  “How’d it go?” Alana’s father asked.

  “It was wonderful! We rode so fast and I didn’t have any problems at all. And all the children were jealous of my beautiful saddle,” Alana said.

  “I think you’ve found the pony you’ll be choosing as your royal pet during the selection ceremony,” her father said with a smile.

  Alana looked at him with wide eyes. “Oh no, Father. I don’t want Electra to be my pet.”

  Stunned, Electra ran from the barn.

  Alana was shouting something after
her, but it didn’t matter. Electra had been certain Alana was her perfect match. She knew she could really make a difference for Alana, helping her rule, helping her see her kingdom from her beautiful riding throne.

  But Alana didn’t want Electra, and there was nothing she could do about that.

  Electra ran faster than she’d ever run, but she couldn’t outrun her broken heart. It was still aching in her chest. She tore across the fields, running until she got to the rainbow that led back to the hundred kingdoms. “Oh no! The stairs aren’t there!”

  Only the headmaster and headmistress could enchant the rainbow to form stairs. Right then, it was just a rainbow. There was no way to leave.

  She stood there breathless, uncertain of what to do. How had everything gone so wrong? She’d been so certain she was going to be the best rider in class. But she was the worst. And she’d been so certain Alana would want to choose her, but she didn’t.

  Soon, she heard a rumble approaching. In the distance, she saw Daisy pulling the chariot. Alana’s red hair was shining in the sun.

  Electra wished she had Daisy’s Glitter Gift. She really wanted to disappear.

  “Electra!” Alana called as the chariot approached. “Wait!”

  Electra did not want to hear why Alana didn’t want her for a pet. No excuse would make her feel better. Her heart was already hurting too much.

  Daisy ran up next to Electra and smiled. “You’ll be so lucky to have Alana as your royal match. She’s so special.”

  Electra kicked at the dirt. “She doesn’t want me. She said so.”

  “That’s right. I don’t want you as a pet,” Alana said. “I want you to be my best friend. You’re more to me than a pet. I want us to rule together.”

  Electra blinked a few times. “You mean you will pick me when we have our selection ceremony?”

  “Of course!” Alana laughed. “You’re the best pony a girl could ever have. The best friend.”

  Electra went over to Alana, nuzzling her cheek. “I still have to pass the introductory riding class. I’m not sure if I can.”

  “Of course you can! Let’s get back so you two can catch up on lessons. The final exam is in two days!” Daisy said.

  They galloped back to school, and Alana’s father helped Alana get out of the chariot and into the saddle again.

  “Let’s run,” Alana told Electra.