Chapter 1: Whoosh! Swoosh! Whizz! Swish!

1 Whoosh! Swoosh! Whizz! Swish!
Comet flew through the air, feeling the cool wind on her pink cheeks. She dove and flipped over, her short blond hair whipping around her as she giggled with delight.

“Be careful!” Comet’s grandmother shouted from below, where she was flying gracefully in between the tree trunks. Comet always thought Grandmother looked like she was swimming with the wind when she flew. Her soft blue cape never seemed to move out of place as she glided.

It’s a pretty way to fly, Comet thought.… Pretty boring! Comet launched into another dive, skidding across the tops of the trees, making the branches flutter beneath her hooves. It was winter, and all the leaves had fallen to the ground, leaving only spindly branches reaching up to the bright blue skies.

Comet and her grandmother were traveling to the capital for the Sunshine Springs Junior Baking Competition. Four foals from different schools were going to compete at the castle, and Princess Luna was even a judge. Comet had won a competition at Unicorn University against a student from Glitterhorn College, which had gained her entry into the royal competition, and now she was flying to the heart of Sunshine Springs. She could hardly believe it was real. Plus, as if baking for a princess weren’t cool enough, Comet was even going to stay in the castle. She’d spent time in the capital before, but had never stepped foot in the castle.

Comet did a little twirl in the air. She felt like a character from a book. This was the start of a grand adventure.

“Comet, look!” Grandmother called from below.

Comet glanced ahead to see the triangle tops of a castle appear in the distance. She could see flags perched at the tips of the buildings, flapping in the wind and practically touching the clouds.



And then something magical happened. It started to snow. Comet’s heart filled with joy as glittering white snowflakes fell all around. She blinked as they caught in her eyelashes, making the world seem covered in sparkles. Comet couldn’t remember ever being so happy. This was going to be the best baking competition ever!

Before Comet knew it, they had reached the entrance to the city. With a giant spray of snow, she landed on the cobblestone street just before the open gates.

Comet’s grandmother shook her head as she glided to a stop next to Comet. “You know, dear, if you practiced your landing as often as you practiced your flying tricks, you’d have a much smoother landing by now.”

“But tricks are so much fun, and landings are boring. I’d rather just stay in the sky for as long as possible and only land once!” Comet shook the snow out of her mane and grinned.

Grandmother arched her eyebrows in response, but Comet saw her little smile, too.

“Anyway, today is the day for adventure—not practice,” Comet told her. She trotted away toward the castle gates, her hooves making a crunching sound as she pranced over the snowy cobblestone street.

Inside the gates there were unicorns everywhere. Some were milling about and window-shopping in front of the stores lining the streets, while others were selling sweets and newspapers out of stalls. There was a bookshop that, from what Comet could see through the door, was filled with books of every size. The city was just like Comet remembered, but better. And now that the city was covered in sparkling snow, it seemed like it was coated in white frosting. A perfect setting for a baking competition.

Up ahead she could see a crowd of unicorns standing outside her uncle’s bakery. Comet had worked there over the summer and knew there were always dozens of unicorns lined up waiting for her uncle’s famous cookies. Comet went right toward the shop, excited to get a cookie of her own.

“Not now, Comet,” Grandmother called from behind her. “We don’t have time to stop by today. We’re expected at the castle.”

As delicious as a warm cookie would have been right then, Comet’s heart soared at her grandmother’s words. She was right. They were expected at the castle! What a grand adventure.