A Magical Friend (2 page)

‘We're off!' cheered Pippa as Mum started the engine.

Dreamily, Pippa stared out of the window, watching the busy city streets gradually change to green fields filled with horses, cows and sheep, until, at last, they arrived at their holiday home.

‘Wow! Is it all ours?' Pippa exclaimed, as Mum pulled up in front of a small, white cottage surrounded by a huge garden. ‘I could have a pony if we lived here.'

‘Yes, the garden's big enough!' Mum agreed, rummaging in her handbag for the key to the front door.

The cottage was right by the sea. Pippa breathed deeply, loving the smell of the fresh, salty air.

‘Can we go to the beach?' she asked.

Mum laughed at her impatience. ‘Let's unpack the car first. If we're going to the beach you'll want to take your buckets and spades.'

‘I'll help,' Pippa said enthusiastically, pulling her bag from the boot.

The cottage was even prettier inside than out. Pippa loved the attic bedroom, even though she had to share it with Miranda. It had sloping walls, a sea view and, to Pippa's delight, there was an old horseshoe nailed to one of the roof beams.

‘Horseshoes are lucky,' she said happily.

Pippa skipped down the stairs into the kitchen, where Mum was searching their luggage for the bag containing the food.

‘We'll have our lunch on the beach,' she said, packing sandwiches, cake, apples and drinks into a picnic hamper.

The gate at the end of the garden opened on to a winding path that led down to the sea. Pippa was too excited to walk along it. Instead she galloped down the path, pretending to be a fiery stallion, until she reached a horseshoe-shaped cove. Pippa stared in wonder at the golden sand and sparkling blue water stretching away from her.

The cove felt so secret and special it made Pippa's insides fizz with excitement.

‘It's magic,' she whispered softly.

Pulling off her sandals, she ran across the powdery sand to the sea, where tiny, white-crested waves were licking the shore. Just as Pippa was about to paddle in the water, her eyes were drawn far out to sea. What was that at the mouth of the cove?

Pippa stared in amazement at two animals splashing in the water. ‘They look just like seahorses!' she gasped.

Pippa raised her arm to shield her eyes from the sun so she could take a better look. They really did look like seahorses, and they were almost as big as real horses, with gracefully curved necks bobbing above the water and long spines sticking up along a spiky mane. One was pale pink and the other was green with dark freckles. Pippa blinked and rubbed her eyes, sure she was imagining things, but when she looked again the two animals were still there, splashing water at each other with their curled tails.

Behind her Pippa could hear Mum, Miranda and Jack laughing together as they made their way on to the beach.

‘Quick!' she called, waving at them. ‘Look at this!'

‘What is it, darling?'

‘Seahorses,' Pippa said.

‘Where? I can't see them!' Jack wailed.

‘Seahorses!' Miranda exclaimed. ‘How can you see a tiny seahorse from here?'

‘They're giant ones,' Pippa said.

‘I can't see anything.' Mum stared out to sea.

Miranda giggled as she ran over. ‘I see them! The red one's wearing a hat!'

Pippa's heart leapt, then sank right down to her bare toes. Miranda was teasing her! Besides, the sea was empty now. The seahorses had disappeared.

‘I did see two seahorses,' Pippa insisted. ‘They were playing together.'

‘Don't be silly, Pip. There's no such thing as a giant seahorse,' Miranda said scornfully.

‘Pippa, you're too big for that sort of make-believe,' Mum said gently. ‘Come and help me set out the picnic.'

Pippa gazed at the sea but there was nothing there except for the herring gulls gliding over the bay. But the seahorses
were
real – Pippa knew she hadn't imagined them. Full of confusion, she hurried after Mum.

‘Do I have to eat now?' she asked. ‘I'd like to have a paddle first.'

‘Go on then,' Mum said. ‘Be careful. Don't go deeper than your knees.'

Pippa ran back to the water's edge. The sea was lovely and warm. She waded out until she was knee deep. The water was so clear she could still see her feet. Pippa wiggled her toes in the sand.

‘Ooooh,' she said. ‘That tickles!'

Looking down, Pippa saw two tiny seahorses swimming around her feet.

‘Wow! This place is full of seahorses!'

Pippa bent down for a closer look.

The moment her fingers touched the water they began to tingle. The feeling was so incredible that Pippa felt sure some kind of magic was at work. Gently, she moved her fingers to get the seahorse to swim to her hand. The tiny animal was almost there when, suddenly, with a loud
whoosh
, the sea rose up in a peak in the shape of the head and forelegs of a galloping horse.

‘Eek!' Pippa squealed.

But the wave didn't crash.

Two giant seahorses popped through the motionless wave and examined Pippa with their big eyes.

‘You
are
real!' she exclaimed. ‘I knew I hadn't imagined it.'

 

 

Pippa waded closer to the giant creatures and, knowing they meant her no harm, stood on her tiptoes to gently stroke their noses.

‘Your name, Pippa, is short for Philippa, which means
lover of ponies
,' said the pink seahorse.

‘That's right,' stuttered Pippa, who couldn't believe she was talking to a giant seahorse.

‘Then you are the one,' said the green seahorse.

‘My name is Rosella,' the pink seahorse continued. ‘And this is Triton. We've come to take you to a place that needs your help.'

With a flick of her pink tail, Rosella scooped Pippa up, placing her gently on her back. The wave melted away and both seahorses surged forward through the foam.

‘Where are we going?' Pippa asked.

‘To Chevalia!'

 

Chapter 2

 

Pippa could hardly believe that she was riding a giant seahorse far out to sea. Rosella swam on, diving in and out of the waves, as Pippa clung to her gracefully arched neck. In a strange way, it was like riding a pony. Pippa stared at the delicate ears and long spines sticking out from the animal's neck.

Triton, the great, green seahorse, was swimming alongside her.

‘Are you comfortable?' he asked kindly.

His voice was soft and deep, and it stopped Pippa from feeling scared. For a moment she was too speechless to answer.

‘Yes, thank you,' she murmured at last. ‘Are you taking me back to my mum? She'll be worrying like mad.'

Both seahorses chuckled.

‘We're taking you somewhere very special, where time exists in a bubble,' explained Rosella in a gentle, feminine voice. ‘You can stay there as long as you like and you won't be missed, for time will not pass in your own world.'

‘Where is it?' asked Pippa, her voice quivering with excitement.

‘The island of Chevalia,' said the seahorses.

 

 

Pippa looked out to the horizon and saw a large island fringed with a long, sandy beach.

‘Wow!'

Pippa stared at the island in amazement. It was the most beautiful place she'd ever seen. So many questions were bubbling inside her but, before she could ask anything more, Rosella tipped her into the water and nudged her gently ashore.

‘Chevalia is in danger but you can help save it,' said Rosella.

‘Me? But how?'

‘That is your quest,' said Triton.

‘Good luck, Pippa, lover of ponies,' called Rosella.

She dived under the water with Triton and they swam away.

Pippa scrambled to her feet. She was standing on a sandy beach edged with leafy, green trees. At first it was very quiet. The only sound was the soft hiss of the sea gently lapping the shore.

Suddenly she heard a low drumming. Squinting into the sun, she saw a pony galloping towards her along the beach. Its long tail streamed out like a banner and golden sand sprayed up from its hooves. Pippa's heart was racing. Who was this coming to meet her?

With a snort of surprise, the pony pulled up, sliding to a stop a short way from Pippa. It was pure white and wore a tiara studded with sparkling, pink diamonds. The pony's dark brown eyes shone with excitement.

‘A girl!' Reaching out, the pony touched Pippa with a velvety nose. ‘A real, live girl!'

Pippa stared back.

‘Y-you . . . you can talk?' she stuttered. Pippa couldn't take her eyes off her. She was the most beautiful pony she'd ever seen.