Circus Surprise Read online

  To Ginger, plucky brave little friend—SB

  GROSSET & DUNLAP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

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  Text copyright © 2009 by Sue Bentley. Illustrations copyright © 2009 by Angela Swan. Cover illustration © 2009 by Andrew Farley. First printed in Great Britain in 2009 by Penguin Books Ltd. First published in the United States in 2013 by Grosset & Dunlap, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. GROSSET & DUNLAP is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

  ISBN 978-0-698-16434-5

  Version_1

  Contents

  Dedication

  Copyright

  Title Page

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  About the Author

  Circus Surprise

  SUE BENTLEY

  illustrated by Angela Swan

  Grosset & Dunlap

  An Imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC

  Prologue

  The young magic pony folded his gold-feathered wings as he soared down toward Rainbow Mist Island. Moments later, Comet’s hooves landed on a stretch of shining pebble beach. It felt good to be home.

  His tummy felt full of butterflies as he wondered if Destiny had found her way home at last. Comet’s twin sister had been lost for so long. He was looking forward to finding her safe among their family of Lightning Horses.

  Tossing his head so that his golden mane fell forward onto his cream neck, the magic pony trotted away from the sea and headed up the steep hillside.

  He reached the top and stood looking down toward the familiar rolling plains and forests. In the distance were the mountains, wreathed in the shimmering multicolored mist that gave the island its name.

  A warm breeze rippled through the silvery grass, bringing the scent of fresh water toward the magic pony. Comet’s deep violet eyes gleamed, and he snorted as he galloped down a slope.

  Sunlight flashed on his smooth palecream coat and golden silky mane and tail. He reached the spring that trickled over some stones into a small pool and bent his head for a drink.

  A movement flickered over the nearby rocks, and Comet saw the shadow of a large horse in the rippling water.

  The magic pony threw up his head, his eyes wide in alarm. Was this another Lightning Horse or one of the dark horses who wanted to steal his magic? His pulse quickened as he slowly turned around.

  An older horse with a wise expression and kind dark eyes stepped into view. “Blaze!” Comet bent his head before the leader of the Lightning Herd.

  “I am glad to see you again, Comet,” Blaze said warmly, in a deep velvety neigh. “Is Destiny with you?”

  Comet felt a pang of disappointment. “No. I thought she must have found her way back safely by now.”

  “I am afraid not. I do not think Destiny will return while she believes herself to be in terrible trouble for losing the Stone of Power,” Blaze told him.

  The Stone of Power protected the Lightning Herd from the dark horses. Destiny had accidentally lost it when she and Comet were playing their favorite game, cloud-racing. Comet had found the stone, but Destiny had already fled.

  “I wish I knew where Destiny was hiding.” Comet’s proud, arching neck drooped sadly.

  “The stone will help us to find her.” Blaze pawed at the ground with one shining hoof. A fire opal, glinting with many colors, appeared. As Comet and Blaze looked deeply into it, the stone grew larger and an image appeared in its shimmering depths.

  Comet saw his twin sister galloping along the sandy shore of a place in a far-off world. “Destiny!”

  “She is alone and in danger,” Blaze said. “You must go and find her before the dark horses discover where she is!”

  There was a flash of bright violet light and a rainbow mist appeared around Comet. The light-cream pony with golden wings disappeared, and in his place stood a handsome pony with a white coat covered with black spots, a white mane and tail, and large deep violet eyes.

  Comet snorted. “I will use this disguise to search for Destiny!”

  “Go now,” urged Blaze, nodding. “There is no time to lose. Bring her back safely!”

  “I will!” Comet vowed.

  He neighed softly as violet sparkles ignited in his spotted coat and he felt the power building inside him. The rainbow mist swirled more thickly, twinkling as it drew Comet in.

  Chapter

  ONE

  “Bye, thanks for visiting! Hope we’ll see you again soon,” Jessie Starkling called politely as the last few kids and grown-ups climbed down from the carousel horses and wandered away across the fairground.

  “That’s the way, Jess. Number one rule: Always leave the customers happy. That way, they’re sure to come back,” her dad said, smiling.

  Jess smiled back at him. It had been a long day helping out on the merry-goround, and she was hot and tired. Tossing back her braid of glossy dark hair, she began flipping the controls that shut off the merry-go-round’s hundreds of lights.

  Her dad was already counting the day’s earnings. He was the youngest of the three brothers who owned and ran the Starkling Brothers’ Circus.

  “One day you’ll be running the fair, looking after all the rides, just like me,” Mr. Starkling said to his daughter.

  “Yeah! In about a million years!” Jess’s fourteen-year-old cousin, Mai, teased. She was tall with the same chocolate-brown eyes and glossy dark hair as Jess, but Mai’s was shoulder length with bangs. Her dad was the oldest of the Starkling brothers. She often lent an extra hand with the merry-go-round at the busiest times on the fairground.

  “Says you! I might only be nine, but everyone knows kids grow up quickly in the circus!” Jess countered, her eyes sparkling.

  Her dad nodded agreement. “You certainly know all there is to know about this beauty,” he said, making a sweeping gesture with both arms at the beautiful merry-go-round.

  Jess felt a surge of pride. She loved the carousel, which was well over a hundred years old. It had a double row of twenty-four galloping horses, and each part of it was covered with gilded carvings and tiny sparkling mirrors.

  Jess adored every single one of the beautiful painted and gilded horses. She didn’t mind all the work it took to keep them shiny and bright. But she also had a secret that not even Mai knew about.

  Her dearest wish in the whole world was to have a real pony of her own.

  Jess swallowed a sigh as she unlocked a compartment in the central pillar and reached for the night covers to put on the rides. What was the point of wanting what you couldn’t have? The only horses allowed on-site were those in the bareback act, which was performed in the big top.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” Mai said. “You’ve got that glassy-eyed look again. What are you thinking about?”

  “Oh, nothing much,” Jess said evasively.


  Her dad was locking the cash box. “I’m going to run now,” he told the girls. “There’s a meeting in the big top, after the evening performance. See you both later.”

  “Okay,” Jess said. She was used to shutting the ride down for the night and could do it with her eyes closed. “Do you know what the meeting’s about?” she asked her cousin as her dad walked away.

  Mai shrugged. “Probably about the new site for next summer. It’s all anyone’s talking about.”

  Jess nodded. The news was all anyone was talking about around the circus. The site at Treen-on-Sea, which had been the summer home of the Starkling Brothers’ Circus for the last thirty-five years, was being sold so a new housing devlopment could be built on it. It had been a major shock to everyone, including Jess.

  “Why don’t you go and find out what’s going on?” she suggested to her cousin.

  “I’ll finish up here and then follow you.”

  Mai looked tempted, but she hesitated. “Sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”

  Jess widened her brown eyes and gave her cousin an “are you kidding?” look. She was related to virtually every person around here. There was nowhere on earth where she was safer!

  Mai laughed and gave in. “All right then. Thanks, Jess. You’re a star!”

  As soon as she was alone, Jess picked up a soft cloth and began happily wiping down the carousel horses. She did this every night, even when the horses didn’t need it. They were all so handsome, with their different-colored manes and tails and brightly painted saddles.

  But one of them was Jess’s special favorite. It was a prancing white horse with black spots all over it like a Dalmatian. It had pricked ears, a particularly sweet face with realistic glass eyes, and blue-and-green trimmings with gold highlights.

  Jess ran her hand over the high-arched wooden neck and flowing mane and tail. A stir of longing swept through her as she wished she could have a pony just like this one. On impulse she mounted it and then put her feet in the stirrups. Reaching forward, she patted the glossy wooden neck.

  “Well, horsey. How would you like to go for a midnight ride? Just you and me,” she said softly, laughing at the very idea.

  Suddenly there was a bright violet flash, and a thick glittering rainbow mist sparkling in the lights of the fairground.

  “Oh!” She blinked, trying to see through the strange mist.

  As it slowly cleared, Jess felt a tremor beneath her palm and the carousel horse shook its head. Swishing its tail, it straightened its legs and placed its four shining hooves firmly on the wooden platform.

  “Hold tight, please!” it said in a velvety neigh.

  Chapter

  TWO

  Jess almost fell off sideways in shock. What was happening? She must be so tired out after the busy evening that she was imagining things! Carousel horses didn’t move, and they certainly couldn’t speak.

  Before she had time to gather her thoughts, the pony sprang forward in a mighty leap. He cleared the carousel horse in front and landed a few feet away on the grass.

  “Oh!” Jess gasped, clinging on with trembling fingers.

  Somehow she kept her balance by sitting down firmly in the saddle and gripping the horse’s sides tightly with her legs. She wrapped her hands in the spotted pony’s thick, flowing white mane as it galloped across the fairground, weaving between the other rides and stalls in a dizzying burst of speed.

  There was a strange tingling feeling flowing to the ends of Jess’s fingers, and bright violet sparks glinted in the pony’s spotted coat. It was weird, but she felt safe, however fast they were going. In no time at all, they reached the edge of the fairground and came to a halt behind the big Tilt-A-Whirl, which was dark and closed up for the night.

  “Please get down now,” the pony whinnied gently.

  Jess did so, still having trouble taking it all in. The moment her feet touched the ground, her legs started shaking and she almost sank to her knees.

  The spotted pony quickly positioned itself so that she could lean against its strong shoulder. As Jess touched the warm silky skin, she felt herself starting to calm down.

  “I am sorry if I frightened you,” the spotted pony whinnied apologetically. “My name is Comet of the Lightning Herd. What is your name?”

  Jess blinked at him. The amazing pony was breathing warm air through his nostrils in a friendly manner. To her surprise, she saw that he had glowing deep violet eyes.

  “I’m J-J-Jessie. Jessie S-S-Starkling,” she stammered. “But everyone calls me Jess. My dad and his two brothers own this circus.”

  The pony bent his neck in a formal bow. “I am honored to meet you, Jess.”

  “Um … me too.” Jess’s curiosity was working overtime. “I don’t get it.What just happened? One minute you were a carousel horse, and now you’re real and you can talk! That’s never happened before.”

  “All of the Lightning Herd can talk. I live with them on Rainbow Mist Island, but I have come here to search for my twin sister, Destiny. I saw the moving machine with all the wooden horses and it seemed like a good place to hide. When you climbed onto my back, you took me by surprise.”

  Jess grinned. “Tell me about it! I think we both had quite a shock!”

  Comet tossed his head in agreement, his bright eyes sparkling with amusement.

  “Is Destiny one of the carousel horses, too?” Jess wanted to know.

  “No. She is lost somewhere nearby in this world.”

  Jess nodded slowly. “But why did Destiny come here in the first place?”

  Concern flickered across Comet’s spotted face. “My twin sister thinks she is responsible for losing the Stone of Power that protects our herd from our enemies,” he explained. “She lost it during one of our games of cloud-racing. I found the stone, but Destiny thought she was in terrible trouble and already had fled. Now she is in danger from the dark horses who would like to steal her magic.”

  Jess listened closely. It all sounded so strange and wonderful. One thing in particular puzzled her. “Cloud-racing? How … ?”

  Comet backed away slowly. “Please stay there,” he ordered.

  Jess felt another warm prickling sensation flow to the tips of her fingers as violet-colored sparkles bloomed in Comet’s white-and-black coat and more of the glittering rainbow mist rippled round him. The handsome spotted pony disappeared and in its place stood a majestic cream-colored pony with a proudly arched neck and a flowing golden mane and tail. Springing from his shoulders were magnificent wings, covered with glowing bright golden feathers.

  Jess was totally speechless. She had never seen anything so beautiful in her whole life.

  “Comet? Is … is that still you?” she gulped when she found her voice again.

  “Yes, Jess. This is my true form. Do not be afraid.” Comet gave a soft, musical whinny. There was a final swirl of the magical sparkling mist and Comet instantly reappeared as a white-and-black spotted pony with a white mane and tail.

  “Wow! That’s a great disguise. Is Destiny hiding as a normal pony, too?” Jess asked.

  “Yes. She will also be in disguise, but that will not save her if the dark horses discover her,” Comet told her seriously. “I must start looking for her. Will you help me?”

  Jess saw that his beautiful, deep violet eyes were shadowed by sadness. He must be missing his twin sister. Her heart went out to the lonely magic pony.

  “Of course I’ll help you. We’ll search for Destiny together!”

  “Thank you, Jess.” Comet stepped forward and pushed his satiny nose into her cupped hands.

  Jess stroked him, totally charmed. “I can’t wait to tell Mai about this. She’s my older cousin and thinks she’s really grown up, but she’s—”

  “No!” Comet lifted his head. “I am sorry, Jess, but you can’t tell anyone about me or what I have told you.”

  Jess was disappointed that she couldn’t even tell Mai. It would have been great to share such a wonderful secret with her cousin. br />
  “You must promise,” Comet neighed seriously, looking into her face with his intelligent eyes.

  Jess nodded slowly. If it would help protect his twin sister from the dark horses until Comet could find her, she was prepared to keep his secret. She knew how she would feel if Mai was the one missing. “Okay. I promise. Cross my heart.”

  “Thank you, Jess.”

  Jess smiled at him and reached up to pat his satiny spotted cheek. She had another thought. “Where are you going to stay? The only ponies allowed on the site are those that perform in the circus.”

  Comet tossed his head. “I will hide as a carousel horse again.”

  “But … how’s that going to work?” Jess asked. “Customers will want to ride on you when the merry-go-round’s working. Won’t it be difficult for you to stay really still all the time?”

  “I do not mind if people ride me on the big machine. It will be fun,” Comet told her, swishing his flowing tail. “And I will use my magic, so that only you will see and hear me. Everyone else will just see a carved wooden horse.”

  “Cool!” Jess exclaimed. “The circus and fairground are closed during the day on weekdays, so we’ll have a lot of time to go out looking for Destiny together.”

  Comet nodded, his eyes lighting up at the thought of finding his twin sister.

  “We’d better go back now, before someone notices that one of the carousel horses is missing,” Jess pointed out. “Besides, Mai will be wondering why I’m taking so long to close up for the night.”

  “Very well. Climb onto my back again,” Comet said.

  Jess felt a wave of excitement as she climbed up onto Comet’s back and wrapped her hands in his mane. There was a final flash of violet light, visible only to Jess, as Comet shot forward. In no time at all, she was sitting on the merry-go-round, riding what appeared to be a normal spotted carousel horse.

  “See you later!” she whispered as she gave Comet a hug before carefully sliding down and putting the canvas cover over him.