Blondie was happy to be going back. But she felt sad, too. She had wanted to show Rapunzel she was helpful.
She had tried her best. She had picked flowers for Rapunzel. She had made paint. She had even tracked down thugs. But nothing had gone quite right.
Soon Rapunzel would have a new pet. Soon she would forget all about Blondie!
Maximus, Flynn, and Blondie crossed the bridge. Someone was running toward them. It was Rapunzel.
All Rapunzel could reach was Flynn’s leg. She shook it. “I was so worried about you!” she said. “I can’t believe you left without telling me!”
She gave Maximus a pat. “Thank you for taking care of him, Maximus,” she said sweetly.
Then Rapunzel knelt beside Blondie. Blondie bowed her head. “And you? You ran off, too! I had no idea where you were. You’re so brave! But please don’t scare me like that again.”
Blondie looked up at her.
“I didn’t forget your surprise,” Rapunzel said.
Blondie sighed. She hadn’t forgotten about the surprise, either. The new pet was all she had thought about lately.
Rapunzel got to her feet. She shaded her eyes and looked across the bridge. “I think it’s coming now.”
Blondie heard hoofbeats. She saw a horse and rider coming toward her. It was a big horse with a huge rider. The rider wore a helmet. The helmet had two long, curving horns.
It was one of the thugs from the barn!
“Hello, Vladimir,” Rapunzel said.
“I have your present,” Vladimir said. “Thanks for letting us keep her a little longer. Gunther wanted to finish his new painting of her.” Vladimir reached under his tunic and pulled out—
“A puppy!” Rapunzel said. “Thank you so much!”
Vladimir leaned down and placed the golden puppy in her arms. Blondie could hardly watch.
Wait a second….
A golden puppy?
Daisy?
Daisy was Rapunzel’s new pet?
That changed everything!
Daisy was great! Blondie imagined all the good times they would have together.
Blondie pranced over to Daisy. “Hello, friend!” she said.
Daisy wagged her tail. “Hi, Blondie!” She gave her pony friend a big wet puppy lick on the nose.
Blondie smiled. Summer was right. Pascal was right. A new pet wasn’t something to worry about. A new pet meant a new friend. It didn’t matter how many friends Blondie already had. She could always welcome one more!
Blondie: Rapunzel's Royal Pony Page 2
