The Rainbow Foal, page 3
“What an excellent idea!” said Rosa.
CHAPTER 7 Rainbow Wishes
Before they went to the field on the edge of Kaleidoscope Wood, the girls made little crowns and garlands using the pretty blossoms that were left over in the baskets.
Evie and Violet took off Indigo’s harness. They wove cherry blossoms into her mane and draped a garland of peach blossoms around her neck. Rosa even made Sparkles a crown of tiny hawthorn blossoms. Everyone looked beautiful, and soon they were ready to see Corolla and Petal.
When they got to the yard, Violet went to the feed shed and got Corolla a scoop of oats to keep her strength up. Ginny took them to see the mare and her new foal. The rainbow foal’s coat shimmered and Corolla looked content.
“They are doing really well,” the vet smiled.
“We’ve come to perform a naming ceremony, Ginny,” said Violet. “Would you help us?”
“Of course,” said Ginny. “What have you decided to call her?”
“Petal,” said Violet.
“Sparkles chose it,” said Rosa.
“What a pretty name,” said Ginny. “It’s perfect for such a pretty foal.”
The little foal was very inquisitive when she saw the Rainbow Girls and was especially interested in Sparkles. They touched noses and Sparkles purred while Petal whickered. Corolla was pleased to see everyone and neighed happily when Violet gave her the bucket of oats. Evie gently draped a garland of blossoms around Corolla’s neck and tucked a little spray of flowers into Petal’s mane. Now they were all ready for the ceremony.
Everyone stood around Corolla and Petal and, as if by magic, a rainbow appeared above them.
“We are here today to celebrate the safe arrival of Corolla’s foal,” said Ginny. “A foal is full of promise and each one of us here will help to take care of her and love her. We give her the name Petal and will each give her a wish for her future.”
“Petal, I wish you happiness in the Rainbow Kingdom,” said Violet.
“Petal, I wish you fields full of fresh grass,” said Rosa.
“Petal, I wish you many safe journeys through the sky,” said Magenta.
Princess Evie hadn’t been sure what was going to happen, but after listening to Violet, Rosa, and Magenta, she realized what she had to do.
She looked at the little foal and thought about all the amazing things that had happened that day. She thought about returning to the Rainbow Garden to see her old friends, about finding the foal, and about Indigo pulling the jeweled chariot through the sky.
“Petal, I wish you many, many wonderful adventures shared with friends.”
Each of the Rainbow Girls and Ginny gave Petal a wish, while Corolla looked on proudly.
“We’d better take Corolla and Petal back to the shelter by the yard,” said Violet when they had all finished. “It looks as if it’s going to rain soon.”
A dark cloud moved slowly toward them.
“I think it’s time to make our way back to Starlight Stables,” said Evie. “Indigo could do with some rest after today’s excitement—we all could!”
Sparkles rubbed up against Evie’s ankle and meowed.
“Thank you, Indigo, for coming back to see us,” said Rosa, stroking Indigo’s rainbow mane. “And for pulling our chariot through the sky. You saved the day!”
“Well done, Sparkles, for choosing the perfect name for Corolla’s foal,” said Ginny, as she cuddled the kitten.
“And thank you for helping me with Corolla,” said Violet, giving Evie a big hug.
“That’s what friends are for,” smiled Evie. “We promise we’ll come back to visit you as soon as we can.”
“We’d love to see you all soon,” said Violet. “You must come back for next year’s Rainbow Blossom Festival. Corolla and Indigo could pull the chariot together.”
Everyone waved as Indigo trotted off to the tunnel of trees. They didn’t have far to go because the tunnel was just in Kaleidoscope Wood. Princess Evie knew that Indigo’s beautiful wings would disappear when they came out of the tunnel and were back at Starlight Stables. She stroked them one last time.
“You are a very beautiful rainbow pony, Indigo,” said Evie.
Indigo shook her mane and happily went into the tunnel. When they came out, her coat had returned to its beautiful gold and, of course, her wings had disappeared.
All of Princess Evie’s ponies called out to them, welcoming them back to the stables. Evie took off Indigo’s tack and groomed her, checking her for any strains or injuries.
“Well done,” said Evie. “You worked hard today. You are such a strong pony—and a magic one too!”
Indigo nuzzled up to Evie. She loved going through the tunnel of trees and having adventures with Evie and Sparkles.
When Evie turned her Haflinger pony out into the paddock, Indigo rolled on the ground and then trotted around the field with her friends Silver and Willow. Evie and Sparkles went into the tack room to hang up Indigo’s bridle and saddle.
“We’ll have to carry on with our spring-cleaning tomorrow, Sparkles,” said Evie. “There’s lots more tack to oil, but I’m just too tired to do it today.”
Sparkles was sitting by the hook for Indigo’s bridle, looking up at something that was hanging from it. Princess Evie carefully put Indigo’s tack down and went over to see what it could be.
“Well, I never!” she said, smiling. “It looks as if Indigo is going to have lots of fun this spring. It’s a driving harness, Sparkles!”
Evie took the harness down carefully. It was beautiful, with silver buckles and tiny gemstones sparkling along the reins.
“Thank you, Rainbow Girls,” said Evie. “What an unforgettable day.”
Evie and Sparkles made their way back to Starlight Castle. They decided to walk through the fruit orchard, and as they did, they noticed something amazing.
“Look, Sparkles!” said Evie, pointing to the branches.
All the trees were covered with fluffy blossoms.
“Meow,” said Sparkles as he began to chase a pink cherry-blossom petal that was floating on the spring breeze.
“I’m sure they weren’t there this morning,” laughed Evie. “I think that the springtime magic has really started!”
Pony Facts & Activities
Evie
LIVES AT:
Starlight Castle
FAVORITE FOOD:
Apple-blossom ice cream
FAVORITE PASTIME:
Going on adventures with magic ponies
FAVORITE FLOWER:
Violets
FANTASY JOB:
Training unicorns for the Olympics
Indigo
BREED:
Haflinger pony
FEATURES:
Very strong, quick learners, very friendly, driving ponies
HEIGHT:
From thirteen hands to fifteen hands
COLOR:
All shades of chestnut with light-colored manes and tails
Horse Tack
Tack is the name for all the equipment you use to ride a pony. Can you guess what the piece of equipment is from the description?
1. The rider sits on this.
2. This goes in the pony’s mouth and is connected to number 4.
3. The rider holds these in their hands and uses them to steer the pony.
4. This goes over the head of the pony and connects numbers 2 and 3.
5. The rider’s feet go into these.
6. This sits under number 1 to protect the pony’s back.
ANSWERS: 1. SADDLE 2. BIT 3. REINS 4. BRIDLE 5. STIRRUPS 6. SADDLE PAD
Birthstones
The Rainbow Girls each have a special magic stone that they use to help Indigo fly. Every month has a specific stone associated with it. Which one is your special stone?
January—Garnet
This red stone is a symbol of love and compassion.
February—Amethyst
This pretty purple stone is said to help people have pleasant dreams.
March—Aquamarine
This stone is usually a pale blue-green color and can help encourage bravery.
April—Diamond
This very expensive stone is beautifully clear and sparkly. It is often used in wedding or engagement rings.
May—Emerald
A beautiful green color, this stone is quite rare and is said to bring wisdom if you wear it.
June—Moonstone
A very lucky stone that is supposed to bring good fortune! This stone can be different colors: sometimes milky-white and sometimes almost blue.
July—Ruby
This is another beautiful red stone, sometimes used to protect against bad dreams.
August—Peridot
This stone is quite unusual but is a very pretty green color. It is supposed to help bring happiness to the wearer.
September—Sapphire
This stunning blue stone helps you to think through difficult problems.
October—Opal
This can be lots of different colors and sometimes looks transparent. It’s often described as a stone of inspiration and creativity.
November—Topaz
A pretty stone that comes in many colors. Yellow topaz is said to be a symbol of love and affection.
December—Turquoise
This stone is bright blue and a symbol of friendship and peace.
Make a Butterfly Garland
The Rainbow Garden butterflies helped guide Indigo through the trees in the Rainbow Blossom Festival. Follow these steps to craft a butterfly garland to decorate your space and make it as pretty as the butterflies in the festival.
What you’ll need:
A few sheets of paper (It can be plain, colored, or even patterned.)
A piece of thin cardboard
A pencil
A pair of scissors
A glue stick
Some strong thread or thin ribbon
To create your butterflies:
1. Find a small or medium-sized butterfly shape that you like, and copy it onto the cardboard. Cut this out to get your template.
2. Using the template, trace the shape onto your paper, and cut it out. You will need twice as many butterflies as you want on your garland.
3. Feel free to decorate the shapes with colored pencils or markers.
To create the garland:
1. Cut your thread or ribbon to the desired length of the garland. Tie a loop at each end for hanging.
2. Place your first butterfly facedown on a flat surface, and use your glue stick to draw a big X shape across the wings. Then add an extra line of glue down the midline where the wings meet.
3. Find the middle of your thread or ribbon, and lay it across the midline of your glued butterfly shape. Then lay another butterfly shape faceup on top of it, and press firmly.
4. Repeat this process along your ribbon, spacing the butterfly shapes as evenly as possible. Be sure all of your butterfly shapes are pointed in the same direction.
5. Decorate! Drape your garland across a window, in a doorway, on a wall, or wherever you want your butterflies.
Pegasus Facts
Corolla is a very different type of pony from Evie’s, as she has wings! The most famous winged horse was Pegasus, who appeared in Greek myths. He was said to be a beautiful winged horse and the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea. There were many stories told about Pegasus, but one of the most famous was that he became the great friend of the king of the gods, Zeus. They were such good friends that Zeus turned Pegasus into a constellation of stars so that he could live forever. Pegasus was supposed to have many magical powers, including being able to stop a mountain from growing any taller by kicking it. As a friend of Zeus, he also carried Zeus’s thunderbolts through the sky.
More from this Series
The Forest Fairy Pony
Book 1
Unicorn Riding Camp
Book 2
About the Author
SARAH KILBRIDE lives in the mountains of Wales with her husband—a musician and mad inventor—two birds, and a stripy cat who loves marmite.
ALADDIN
Simon & Schuster, New York
Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Sarah-KilBride
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
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First Aladdin paperback edition March 2022
Text copyright © 2015 by Sarah KilBride
Cover illustration copyright © 2022 by Paula Franco
Interior illustrations based on artwork originated by Sophie Tilley copyright © 2015
Originally published in Great Britain in 2015 by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd.
Also available in an Aladdin hardcover edition.
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Cover designed by Tiara Iandiorio
Library of Congress Control Number 2021948396
ISBN 9781534476349 (hc)
ISBN 9781534476332 (pbk)
ISBN 9781534476356 (ebook)
Sarah KilBride, The Rainbow Foal
