The Special Secret (8 page)

As Pippa got up, she remembered something important–Chevalia existed in a magical bubble. No time would pass in her world while she was on the island, meaning that none of her family would miss her. Pippa's homesickness vanished immediately.

She skipped to the window to see where the singing was coming from.

Princess Stardust's bedroom was in the smallest tower of the castle, topped with a pink flag, and it had a marvelous view. Pippa glanced at the sea sparkling in the distance before looking at the courtyard below.

“It's the Royal Court,” she breathed.

All the ponies of the Royal Court were gathered together, with the princesses and princes in the front. Their colorful sashes and jeweled tiaras shimmered in the morning sun. Crystal, Stardust's bossy oldest sister, was conducting the singing with a riding crop, and the music made Pippa want to dance. When she had first arrived on Chevalia, Pippa had been so shy, but now she was starting to feel as if she belonged here and she couldn't wait to join them.

Pippa quickly put on the new outfit that had magically appeared overnight especially for her–a denim skirt, a striped T-shirt, leggings, and a sweatshirt– then she hurried down the tower's spiral ramp.

“Excuse me,” she whispered as she made her way to the front of the courtyard. The royal ponies smiled as they parted to let her through. “Thanks,” she said.

Princess Honey was singing next to Stardust, tapping the ground in time to the music with a sparkly pink hoof. She was very pretty, with a shiny, strawberry chestnut coat, but she couldn't quite reach the higher notes, and her voice kept squeaking.

“You sound like a rusty stable door,” Stardust said, laughing at her.

Honey hung her head.

“Hi, Stardust. Hi, Honey,” Pippa whispered, squeezing between them. “What's going on?”

“We're rehearsing for the Royal Concert,” Stardust replied. “We always hold it on Midsummer Day, to give thanks for Chevalia and the magical horseshoes. But Honey won't be allowed to sing if she keeps on making that racket.” She playfully nudged her older sister.

Honey's brown eyes filled with tears. “You're so mean!” she said. Pushing past Stardust, she trotted out of the courtyard.

“There isn't going to be a concert if we don't find the horseshoes,” said Pippa. “But before we start searching for them, you'd better find Honey and say sorry for hurting her feelings.” Stardust was surprised. “I was only teasing. I didn't mean to upset her–I forgot how much she wanted to sing the solo.”

Stardust was anxious to make it up to her sister, so together they sneaked out of the Royal Courtyard.

Once outside, she whinnied to Pippa, “Get on my back.” Pippa jumped onto Stardust's snowy white back, and they cantered off to look for Honey.

 

Copyright

Text copyright © 2013 by Awesome Media and Entertainment Ltd Illustrations copyright © 2013 by Jennifer Miles All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any formor by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by anyinformation storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

First published in Great Britain in June 2013 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Published in the United States of America in August 2014 by Bloomsbury Children's Books
www.bloomsbury.com

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For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, Bloomsbury Children's Books, 1385 Broadway, New York, New York 10018 Bloomsbury books may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Ryder, Chloe.

The special secret / Chloe Ryder.pages cm. —(Princess ponies ; 3)

Summary: On Harvest Day, Pippa and her princess pony friend Stardusthead to the Grasslands to help—and to search for the remaining missinghorseshoes needed to save the enchanted island of Chevalia.

ISBN 978-1-61963-237-0 (paperback) •ISBN 978-1-61963-238-7 (e-book)

[1. Ponies—Fiction. 2. Magic—Fiction. 3. Princesses—Fiction.4. Harvest festivals—Fiction.] I.Title.

PZ7.R95898Sp 2014    [Fic]— dc23    2013048653

eISBN: 978-1-61963-238-7

2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

All papers used by Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc., are natural, recyclable productsmade from wood grown in well-managed forests.The manufacturing processesconform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.