An Amazing Rescue
Authors: Chloe Ryder
For Ellsa, intrepid and adventurous
With special thanks to Julie Sykes
Contents
Early one morning
, just before dawn, two ponies stood in an ancient courtyard, looking sadly at a bare stone wall.
‘In all my life this wall has never been empty. I can’t believe that the horseshoes have been taken – and just before Midsummer Day too,’ said the stallion.
He was a handsome animal – a copper-coloured pony, with strong legs and bright eyes, dressed in a royal red sash.
The mare was a dainty yet majestic palomino with a golden coat and a pure white tail that fell to the ground like a waterfall.
She whinnied softly. ‘We have so little time to find them all.’
With growing sadness the two ponies watched the night fade away and the sun rise. When the first ray of sunlight spread into the courtyard it lit up the wall, showing the imprints where the golden horseshoes should have been hanging.
‘Midsummer Day is the longest day of the year,’ said the stallion quietly. ‘It’s the time when our ancient horseshoes must renew their magical energy. If the horseshoes are still missing in eight days, then by nightfall on the eighth day, their magic will fade and our beautiful island will be no more.’
Sighing heavily, he touched his nose to his Queen’s.
‘Only a miracle can save us now,’ he said.
The Queen dipped her head regally, the diamonds on her crown sparkling in the early morning light.
‘Have faith,’ she said gently. ‘I sense that a miracle is coming.’
Pippa and Stardust were racing along a track in the Wild Forest. The trees grew close together, their thick branches keeping out all but a few thin rays of sunlight. The only sounds were the snorts of Stardust’s breath and the muffled thudding of her hooves on the leaf-strewn path. Pippa hung on to Stardust’s mane, concentrating on the trees, ducking to avoid low-hanging branches.
Suddenly a slanting ray of sunlight lit the path ahead, revealing a fallen tree. Pippa gasped. The trunk was massive, wider than the Castle moat and taller than the Whispering Wall. But Stardust was going too fast to stop and there was nowhere to turn.
‘Hold tight,’ she snorted.
She lengthened her stride and Pippa’s heart thumped in her chest. They were going to jump it! With trembling hands, Pippa gripped Stardust’s snowy white mane even tighter. Seconds later the Princess Pony jumped. Air rushed at Pippa’s face and, as they flew upward, her stomach plummeted. Images of a gnarled wooden trunk and a jumble of leafy branches jutting out in all directions flashed before her eyes. Surely the tree was too huge for Stardust to clear?
As Pippa’s stomach turned to ice, a low, rhythmic noise sounded in the air. What was that? It sounded like an enormous pair of beating wings.
‘Stardust!’ Pippa’s breath caught in her throat. ‘Are we flying?’
‘Yes!’ Stardust’s voice was shrill with excitement.
Pippa glanced down – and immediately wished she hadn’t. The tall trees below looked like little broccoli florets from up here.
‘Isn’t this wonderful?’ Stardust called.
Pippa’s legs tightened around her friend’s flanks. Stardust felt reassuringly warm and solid. But how could she be flying? Pippa stared about her, but suddenly Stardust dived, pitching Pippa forward and over her head. She tumbled through the air, the breath rushing out of her as the ground sped closer in a kaleidoscope of greens and browns.
Thud!
Pippa landed on something soft. Her head jerked back and her eyes snapped open. Blinking in the gloomy light, she was surprised to see that she was in her own bed in Stardust’s turret room at Stableside Castle.
‘Oh, I was dreaming.’
Pippa lay still while her racing heart slowed. It was ages before it began to beat normally. Across the room Princess Stardust snuffled and snored as she slept on. Pippa watched the first light of dawn nudge at the turret window. It was followed by a familiar, rhythmic beat. Sitting up, Pippa turned her head towards the window to listen.
‘Wings!’ she said, leaping out of bed and running to the window.
Standing on her tiptoes, Pippa peeped outside. The sky was still dark, with a few stars twinkling in the distance. The beating sound grew louder and more urgent. It reminded Pippa that there was something she ought to be doing. Her head swam as she struggled to remember what. It came to her in a rush. It was the day before Midsummer and three of the golden horseshoes were still missing.