A Magical Friend (5 page)

 

 

‘I thought we were looking for the horseshoes,' said Pippa.

Stardust went pink.

‘We are! It's just so brilliant having you here and I want to show you everything. But you're right. Finding the horseshoes is the most important thing. Without them Chevalia will lose its magic.'

Stardust shuddered, her brown eyes suddenly glistening with tears.

‘Don't worry,' Pippa said, stroking her neck. ‘I promise we'll find the horseshoes.'

‘Really?' sniffed Stardust. ‘Thank you, Pippa. You're the best pet ever.'

Pippa opened her mouth to argue that she wasn't a pet, but Stardust was already heading into the fair.

The fair was less crowded than Mane Street. None of the ponies, except for the really young ones, seemed to be enjoying themselves. Pippa and Stardust walked around the rides but found nothing.

‘Let's search the rest of the Plateau,' Stardust said eventually. ‘It's big enough to hide all eight of the horseshoes.'

Pippa and Stardust spent the rest of the day walking the Plateau. It was hard work and there were many false alarms. By teatime Pippa had met many of Stardust's friends and they had both found lots of precious items that other young ponies had lost, like hairclips and combs, but they hadn't found any of the golden horseshoes.

As the sun began to set, they made their way back to the Castle. Pippa was hungry and very frustrated that they hadn't discovered anything about where the missing horseshoes might be.

 

 

‘We both need a hoof massage with dandelion hoof balm,' Stardust said longingly, as they passed by the Mane Street Salon. ‘But Mrs Steeplechase is very strict about mealtimes. She won't let us go out together tomorrow if we're late.'

‘We
must
find those magical horseshoes tomorrow,' said Pippa.

Meals were eaten in a huge dining room with three stone feeding troughs, and a special gold one at the top of the room for the Queen and King. Once again, everyone stared at Pippa as she followed Stardust to a trough.

As the serving ponies carried in buckets of steaming oats and carrot mash, Pippa wondered what she was going to eat, but she needn't have worried. One of the cooks came out of the kitchen to serve her personally.

‘Fish and chips!' Pippa cried delightedly. ‘My favourite food!'

There was even a knife and fork to eat it with. As Pippa tucked in hungrily, Stardust watched in amazement.

 

 

‘So that's what those are for!' she exclaimed. ‘I've only ever seen them in the Museum of Human Artefacts.'

Pippa laughed and listened to the ponies whinnying around her. Most of their chatter was about the missing horseshoes. Pippa caught her own name several times and a few of the ponies shyly nodded at her. But not everyone was as friendly. Several refused to look, turning away if Pippa smiled at them. She finished her meal with a rosy red apple and felt better for having eaten after such an eventful day.

When Stardust and Pippa left the dining room to go to bed, one pony neighed at them as they passed.

‘It's funny how the girl arrived at the same time that the horseshoes disappeared. I don't trust her.'

The words stung, but Pippa held her head up high. The ponies of Chevalia needed her and she wasn't going to let them down.

 

Chapter 5

 

Stardust's room was right at the top of the eighth tower of the Castle, reached by a spiral ramp. It was large and round, with curved stone walls. On her dressing table, in pride of place, was a little doll that had washed up on shore.

‘I've wanted a girl ever since I was a foal but I never dreamt I'd get one,' Stardust explained.

‘I've wanted a pony for ever too,' said Pippa.

Stardust looked confused but then she laughed.

‘I get it
!
You're my pet and I'm yours.'

‘Can't we just be friends?' Pippa asked.

‘Friends,' Stardust said slowly. ‘That sounds nice. Yes, let's be friends.'

‘You're a magical friend,' said Pippa.

‘No, you're a magical friend.' Stardust laughed.

Stardust slept in a huge bed with a straw duvet and a horseshoe-shaped headboard covered with rosettes. Pippa slept on a special put-you-up next to her. The bed was surprisingly comfortable and she fell asleep immediately.

The next morning, Pippa woke early. Stardust was still snoring softly, so she stared out of the window. Pippa was terrified of heights and at first it made her feel queasy being so high up. Taking deep breaths, she looked out over the magical island. It calmed her down to think about all of these
ponies living together in such a special place. She gazed down on the Plateau to see ponies strolling on Mane Street and in the distance she spotted ponies working the fields in the Grasslands. As she looked out to the sea, she could see nothing around for miles, and she reminded herself that Chevalia would be lost if she didn't keep her promise.

Pippa counted the days on her fingers. There were only six left until Midsummer. Time was running out. They had to find the golden horseshoes before it was too late. Yesterday had been fun but Pippa worried that Stardust had been more enthusiastic about touring Chevalia and showing off her new friend than she had been about searching for the missing horseshoes. But today would be different. Pippa decided it was time to take charge.

Anxious to get started, Pippa gently shook her new friend awake.

‘You're still here!' Stardust whinnied with delight as she opened her eyes. ‘I thought I might have dreamt you.'

Quickly, she rolled out of bed and nuzzled Pippa's dark hair.

‘Me too,' said Pippa. ‘But it's not a dream and we're going to find the missing horseshoes.'

Stardust took ages getting ready so Pippa helped, combing her long mane and tail, to hurry her along.

‘I've been wondering where to go today,' Stardust said idly. ‘We could visit the Grasslands or the beaches. Or perhaps we should start with the Savannah where the striped ponies roam wild. Then there's the Horseshoe Hills and the Volcano. Maybe not the Volcano – it's spooky there.' Stardust shivered.

Pippa stopped combing as something clicked into place.