The next weekend…

"More hay!"

"Why haven't you cleaned my stall yet?"

"You want to play with horses? Play with this!"

"These eggs won't collect themselves!"

"Feed me!"

Wendell groaned as he ducked again from the animals who were tormenting him and tossing hay in his face. It was only one week into his punishment, and he was exhausted. He wasn't just tired from working so hard, but he was tired of all the verbal abuse and taunts he was getting from the animals. He was sorely tempted to use a Langlock spell on the animals so he could have a little peace and quiet, but he always had to hand his wand over to his mother as she supervised him around the farmyard. He often thought about using nonverbal spells as well, but his parents were both skilled in Occlumency and Legilimency, and would be able to read his mind and undo the spells.

"'More hay…my stall's still dirty…'" Wendell mimicked them. "I'm working as hard as I can! And I'd like to see you clean the cauldrons and do all these chores with no magic!"

"Wendell, the work will go more quickly if you stop arguing with the animals and just give them what they want!" his mother said as she watched him.

"Yes, Mother," Wendell sighed.

Far away from Wendell's family farm, the Buttercups were getting their new badges following their make-up Friends Weekend. Dorrie and Amber had each received a sunflower pin, along with a badge for puzzle solving and maze navigation. Candice, Sofia, James, and Sandra had also received the same badges following their adventure with Wendell, but Zoe and Sandra only received the puzzle solving badge since they'd gotten lost in the maze, but Sandra did get a badge for protecting Zoe. ("Curse my lousy sense of direction! But I'll get that navigation badge someday!" she'd said.)

A few days later, James was doing some catch up work on some papers. He'd only been at it for a few minutes, and he put on one of his favorite songs

People are strange when you're a stranger
Faces look ugly when you're alone

Hearing the music, Candice smiled as she paused outside the door. She remembered that this was one of Maleficent's favorite songs. (She also laughed to herself as she remembered what James had said about that: "Who'd have guessed that Maleficent has good taste in music?")

Women seem wicked when you're unwanted
Streets are uneven when you're down

Roland, Tilly, and Miranda also came up when they heard the song. Roland recalled that this was one of his and Melinda's favorite songs. And every time James sang it as he worked on one of his poems or stories, they played a game with him. Roland motioned for Candice to follow him. At the same time, Candice motioned for Dorrie, Sofia, Lucinda, and Amber to follow them as they came up. He invited Tilly to follow them, but she just shook her head and watched outside the door with Miranda.

When you're strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you're strange
No one remembers your name
When you're strange
When you're strange
When you're strange

As James was singing the chorus, he felt something lightly tapping on his spine to the beat, just like he was doing by tapping his fingers on the bed.

"Oh, Rollie," Miranda scolded good-naturedly as she heard James start laughing, but Roland blew her a kiss.

People are strange when you're a stranger
Faces look ugly when you're alone
Women seem wicked when you're unwanted
Streets are uneven when you're down

"I just started this!" James laughed as the tapping increased, and the girls started tapping their fingers on him. "And Dad, why is it every time I sing this song, you do this?"

The girls just smirked as Candice took up the tune.

When you're strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you're strange
No one remembers your name
When you're strange
When you're strange
When you're strange

Now all the girls were singing over James' laughter. From where they were watching, Tilly and Miranda couldn't help but laugh themselves.

"I know nothing about this," Tilly smiled, declining Lucinda's invitation to join them.

"I just got here myself," Miranda joked back, shaking her head at Amber.

When you're strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you're strange
No one remembers your name
When you're strange
When you're strange
When you're strange

"Hello!" Roland grinned down at him.

"May I help you?" James joked as he looked up.

"Mister Baileywick said it's just about time to go to Orillia. Sandra said we should be there when Zoe got her first flying horse!" Dorrie said as she and the girls let him up.

"And just so you know, Saffron, Minimus, and Echo are saddled up and waiting for us," Sofia added.

When they arrived at Orillia Castle, Sandra was there to greet them with a tray of Trail Mix Bars and scones (Dorrie had given her the scone recipe during her last visit to Enchancia Castle, and like James, she preferred using golden raisins), and a large pot of what she called hot vanilla.

"This is brilliant!" James commented as he swallowed his mugful of the drink, "But it's hot vanilla…what?"

"I know you're familiar with hot chocolate, so why can't there be hot vanilla?" Sandra asked.

"Good point, and by any chance, do you have…" Candice asked.

"I'll give you the recipe before you leave," Sandra finished her thought.

"That sounds whiz-bang!" Tilly spoke up, "And I'll give you some of my favorite recipes. And this summer, I'll take you and your sister with me when I pick Airabella apples."

"I've heard of those," Sandra nodded. "Our cook has some recipes that call for that type of apple, but she's never been able to find them."

"Sandra, come on!" Zoe, who was wearing her new riding outfit (consisting of a blue shirt, black pants and boots) broke in, "Daddy says the horse is ready!"

"You can't rush culinary greatness," Sandra scolded teasingly, "but let's go see your horse."

When everyone was at the stables, King Robert brought out a gray horse about the size of Minimus, with a white mane, tail, and wings. "Zoe, this horse is for you," he smiled as he and Queen Patricia, who had recovered from her cold, led her over. "I know you'll get along very well with her."

"Mommy, Daddy, thank you!" Zoe squealed. She wanted to run over, but Ezekiel, Michael, and Sandra had all taught her that horses spooked easily, and she needed to be careful in the stables. "I'm going to call her Cloud, since she has white on her."

"And I'm sure you two will get along splendidly," Robert smiled. "Would you like to take her for a little ride right now?"

"Can I?" Zoe gasped.

"As long as Sandra and her friends go with you," Patricia replied.

"Good thing we brought our horses," Amber smiled as she mounted Saffron.

When James had mounted Echo, Sofia was on Minimus, Lucinda was on her horse Thunderbolt, and Dorrie and Candice were on their brooms, Sandra helped Zoe onto Cloud, then she mounted Phoenix, who was standing beside her.

"Ready, everyone?" Sofia asked.

When everyone nodded, Dorrie and Candice kicked off on their brooms while those on horses flicked the reins and chorused "Hyah!"

As everyone flew off, they were excited for Zoe, for they knew she'd have some adventures of her own with her new horse. They were also happy that this adventure with Phoenix had ended well, and they were looking forward to having more together.

The End

Author's Notes

Thanks to Niagara14301 for coming up with the names of Zoe's and Lucinda's horses.

If anyone is interested in the scone or hot vanilla recipes, PM me and I'll send them to you.

In my story Pet Stories, I'll see if I can come up with some backstories for our friends' horses. Ideas for those are welcome too.

People are Strange by The Doors is not mine, and can be found in chapter 49 of Do You Want to Sing Together 6.

Langlock, Occlumency, and Legellimency are all from Harry Potter.

Wow, I can't believe this story's finished already! But I had a lot of fun writing it, and I hope you had fun reading it as well.