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Authors: Chloe Ryder

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BOOK: A Singing Star
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The bulrushes growing in the water rustled and began to sway and suddenly a pink, horse-like head with large, round eyes popped up.

 

 

‘Rosella?’ Pippa blinked. She couldn’t believe that one moment she had been daydreaming about Chevalia, and the next moment one of the giant seahorses was right here in front of her. When she looked again the seahorse was still staring back at her.

‘Pippa MacDonald,’ Rosella bowed her head. She was carrying a rolled-up scroll, tied with a pink ribbon, around her neck. ‘This is for you.’

An icy feeling spread through Pippa. Was there trouble in Chevalia? Her hand trembled as she reached forward to take the scroll.

‘Don’t worry.’ Rosella’s dark eyes were kindly. ‘It’s a royal invitation.’

As Pippa unrolled the scroll, silver musical notes flew into the air and a sweet voice sang out, ‘Pippa MacDonald, the King and Queen of Chevalia invite you to a royal performance by the Royal Pony Orchestra, accompan­ied by Diva, the Duchess of Savannah.’

As the voice faded the invitation appeared in writing on the scroll. Underneath Stardust had added a note in pink writing. ‘Please say you’ll come. My cousin Diva has an amazing voice. It’s going to be a magical night!’

Pippa smiled. How could the concert not be magical when it was taking place in her beloved Chevalia?

‘Yes, please,’ she said immediately. ‘I’d love to come.’

‘Good.’ Rosella trod water next to the bank. ‘Climb aboard, Pippa. Chevalia awaits you!’

Pippa grasped Rosella’s long, pink spines as she climbed on to the seahorse’s back.

‘Hold on tight,’ said Rosella. ‘To Chevalia.’

As Rosella swam to the middle of the river Pippa glanced back at her family. They were frozen like statues. Mum was in mid-run, chasing after the football, and Jack was in the air, halfway through a jump. Miranda was lying on her tummy on the picnic blanket, her nose buried in her book. Pippa waved, even though she knew they couldn’t see her. The moment she’d climbed on to Rosella’s back she’d entered a magic time bubble. Pippa could stay in Chevalia for as long as she liked but she wouldn’t be missed, as no time would pass in her own world.

As Rosella sped down the River Thames, Pippa sat back and enjoyed the sights of London whizzing past and above her: the majestic Houses of Parliament, the massive London Eye, Tower Bridge, and the stern stone walls of the Tower of London. Further on they sailed past the shiny silver Thames flood barrier and into the open countryside until at last they were out on the choppy open sea. Pippa loved riding the waves with Rosella. Her curly hair streamed behind her and she tasted salt on her lips.

Soon they arrived on the shores of a large island. The long, sandy beach was edged with trees.

‘Thank you, Rosella.’ Pippa patted Rosella’s neck as she jumped into the clear, blue water.

‘Enjoy the concert,’ called Rosella.

As Pippa waded to the shore she wondered how much time it would take her to walk to Stableside Castle.

 

 

She’d only
ever made the journey on horseback. She stepped through the surf and on to the beach. Something was moving in the trees. Pippa’s heart leapt.

‘Stardust,’ she exclaimed as a pure white pony galloped across the sand.

Chapter 2

 

‘You came!’ Princess Stardust’s hooves threw up clouds of sand as she stopped a horsehair away from Pippa. She whickered softly and nuzzled Pippa’s curly, brown hair.

‘Of course,’ Pippa threw her arms around Stardust’s neck and hugged her friend back. ‘I wouldn’t have missed the big concert and seeing you again for anything.’

‘I can’t wait for you to meet my cousin Diva,’ said Stardust. ‘She’s got an amazing voice and she’s so much fun to be with. You’re going to love her. Jump on my back and I’ll take you to her now.’

Pippa put her hands on Stardust’s snowy white neck and vaulted aboard. Stardust took off, galloping across the beach and into the Wild Forest. She hurtled through the trees, leaping over the puddles of quick-stick mud. They passed a group of wild ponies playing in a clearing. Pippa waved and the wild ponies stamped their hooves and whinnied back. A short while later Pippa glimpsed the eight turrets of Stableside Castle stretching above the treetops.

 

 

The woods thinned and Stardust slowed to a trot as she came out on to a grassy plateau. Pippa turned her head to get a look at Mane Street. Sparkly, star-shaped bunting hung from the lamp posts and the flower beds were bursting with colourful flowers and extra large carrots for the ponies to snack on.

‘I’ve booked us and Diva into the Mane Street Salon for some pampering
before the concert,’ said Stardust. ‘Honey’s coming too. Miss Hoof­­­
berry has a new glittery hoof polish
that she’s
desperate to try.’ Star­­­dust chattered on, filling Pippa in on everything that had happened since they last met. As they took the windy path up to the Castle Stardust said, ‘But that’s enough about me. What have you been up to?’

Pippa didn’t want to admit to her best pony friend that she was nervous about the school play. ‘Nothing much. It’s been mostly school stuff,’ said Pippa.

‘Did you tell your school friends about Chevalia?’ asked Stardust. ‘I bet they are all so envious of you!’

‘Well, I wrote a story all about Chevalia and read it out to the whole class. My teacher said I had a brilliant imagination.’

Stardust giggled. ‘Didn’t anyone believe it?’

‘I don’t think so,’ Pippa said, sadly. ‘But I suppose that’s a good thing. Chevalia wouldn’t be the same if humans found out about it.’

‘Still, that was very brave of you to read aloud to the whole class. Didn’t you get stage fright?’

Pippa fell silent. She’d been petrified when she’d read her story to the class. Performing in the school play would be even scarier because she’d have to act as well as speak in front of everyone. She was just gathering her courage to tell Stardust all about it when the pearly white walls of Stableside Castle rose before her and the moment was lost. A group of ponies, with cameras hanging around their necks, were waiting by the drawbridge.

‘The ponarazzi have been camped outside the castle there ever since Diva arrived,’ Stardust explained. ‘There are pictures of her in all the magazines and newspapers.’

‘Where are we going?’ asked Pippa, as instead of crossing the drawbridge Stardust had trotted around the side of the Castle.

‘Just wait and see,’ Stardust said, mys­­teriously.

A few minutes later they arrived at the edge of an enormous amphitheatre. ‘Wow!’ Pippa stared at the huge, horseshoe-shaped stage in the centre. ‘I never knew this was here.’

‘It wasn’t – until last week,’ said Stardust. ‘We’ll be over there in the royal box.’ She nodded to a box in the middle of the amphitheatre. It was decorated with coloured rosettes and had an amazing view. A group of ponies were gathered on the stage.

‘That’s Diva, there,’ Stardust said, excitedly.

Pippa looked and saw a tall pony with a shiny coat as black as midnight. Her dark eyes shone like jewels and she had a pretty white blaze on her nose.

 

 

She was every inch the superstar with her sparkly, pink tiara, her head held high and her ears pricked forward. Her voice wasn’t so pretty, though. As they approached Pippa heard her complain, ‘Am I supposed to scrub my own carrots? How can I be expected to give my best performance when the food is unwashed?’ Diva stamped a hoof to drive home her point. ‘And the lighting is all wrong. It’s far too dark – no one will be able to see me! And I am the star of the show.’

‘How awful!’ called Stardust. ‘Have you complained to Dad? He’ll sort it out for you.’

‘Stardust, da . . . ha . . . ling!’ Diva swung round and her voice softened. She trotted over to Stardust and they rubbed noses. ‘And you brought your pet girl!’ she added.

‘Friend,’ said Pippa.

‘Yes. Diva, meet my best
friend
Pippa. Pippa, this is my hugely talented cousin Diva,’ Stardust said, proudly. ‘She’s the star in the family.’

Pippa slipped from Stardust’s back. ‘Pleased to meet you, Diva,’ she said, shyly.

‘Da . . . ha . . . ling. Come here.’ Diva blew softly through her nose at Pippa then nuzzled her hair. ‘This is soooo exciting. I’ve been dy . . . hy . . . ing to meet you. I’ve heard so much about how you saved Chevalia. I’m going to dedicate a special song in the show just to you!’

‘That’s enough chatter.’ A plump pony with a blue rinse in her dark brown mane and tail promptly trotted on to the stage.

BOOK: A Singing Star
9.86Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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