An Amazing Rescue (3 page)
Authors: Chloe Ryder
‘We’re running out of time. We’ve got to carry on searching for the remaining horseshoes.’
‘I agree,’ said Stardust. ‘But breakfast first. I’m starving. You know I can’t work on an empty tummy.’
Pippa let out a long sigh. She desperately wanted to continue her search but she knew that Stardust was right.
‘Breakfast first then,’ she agreed. ‘Let’s hurry.’
Pippa and Stardust made their way down the turret’s spiral ramp to the dining room. Mrs Steeplechase, the royal nanny, was striding up and down between the feeding troughs, snorting out orders to the Prince and Princess Ponies.
‘Let’s go next to Cloud,’ Pippa said, concerned at how grumpy Stardust’s sister looked.
The silver-grey pony was wearing a new tiara – gold, with pretty blue sapphires – instead of her usual wooden one that was decorated with acorns, but the sparking jewels couldn’t hide her mood.
As Pippa and Stardust approached, Cloud tossed her head and walked away. Pippa’s face fell.
‘Don’t mind her,’ Prince Comet said, closing the book he’d been reading while eating. Comet was a serious-looking pony with a dark brown coat and a thick, black mane and tail.
‘Cloud can’t help being grumpy. It’s just the way she is,’ added Stardust.
Cloud stopped and turned back. ‘I’m not grumpy. I’m fed up. All everyone talks about these days are the missing horseshoes and how Chevalia will fade away if they aren’t found by tomorrow. Pah! Missing horseshoes, my hoof! It’s just a silly story made up to frighten little ponies into behaving.’
‘It’s not a story, it’s a myth,’ said Comet.
‘Same difference,’ argued Cloud. Irritably, she swished her long, grey tail as she hurried out of the dining room.
Comet shook his head. ‘It’s not the same thing at all. Myths are so much more than make-believe – they originate from a popular belief. The ancient scrolls mention the power of the golden horseshoes. They’re the key to Chevalia’s survival.’
Stardust took a mouthful of oats. She chewed them carefully before swallowing. ‘Cloud
is
always grumpy. Fact. That should be written in the ancient scrolls too.’
Comet snorted with laughter.
‘Has anyone tried to find out why she’s grumpy?’ asked Pippa.
Stardust stared at her. ‘There’s no reason. It’s just the way Cloud is,’ she replied.
‘Well, maybe someone should ask her,’ Pippa said thoughtfully.
‘Good luck with that. Don’t be surprised if Cloud snaps your head off when you ask her.’ Stardust took another mouthful of oats.
Pippa reached for a bright red apple and polished it on her top.
‘Is Cloud going to school now?’ she asked.
‘Not today,’ said Stardust. ‘That’s one of the best things about the run-up to Midsummer Day – we keep having holidays.’
‘But that doesn’t mean you can run wild for the day,’ snorted Mrs Steeplechase.
Pippa jumped as the royal nanny appeared beside them. She listened patiently while Mrs Steeplechase lectured them about behaving like proper Princesses. When the nanny finally moved on, Pippa turned to Stardust.
‘Wild!’ she exclaimed. ‘I dreamt about the Wild Forest last night. We haven’t searched there yet. Let’s go there today.’
Stardust’s eyes sparkled with excitement. ‘Oooh! I love the Wild Forest. The ponies who live there have such fun. Maybe they’ll let us play with them. After we’ve finished our search,’ she added quickly.
After breakfast Pippa and Stardust rushed out of the Castle.
‘Hop on my back,’ said Stardust. ‘It’s so much fun when you ride me.’
Pippa vaulted on to Stardust and the pony took off at a smart trot, her long, white tail flowing behind her. They cantered across the wide Plateau and plunged into the Wild Forest. Remembering her dream, Pippa kept a sharp lookout for fallen trees. Occasionally she’d glimpse a group of wild ponies playing together. Once Stardust headed towards them but the ponies ran away amid snorts of laughter.
‘I’m not supposed to play in here,’ said Stardust. ‘Mrs Steeplechase says it’s not Princess-like to mix with the wild ponies. She also worries about the quick-stick mud. It sucks you in then swallows you up. But we’re here to look for the horseshoes so that’s all right.’
Stardust trotted deeper into the forest. It was on the side of a steep hill and they were travelling downward so Pippa had to lean back. The last time she’d been here with Stardust they’d been going the other way. Riding downhill at speed was much trickier. Pippa didn’t want to fall off and risk landing in the dangerous quick-stick mud.
After riding for a while, Pippa noticed a tree with a trunk that was twisted like a question mark.
‘Haven’t we passed that tree once already?’ she asked.
Stardust glanced at it as she trotted past. ‘I don’t think so,’ she replied.
‘Well, we’ve definitely passed that tree there,’ Pippa said, pointing to a bleached-white tree trunk that stuck up in the air like a giant knitting needle.
Stardust stopped to examine the branch-less tree. ‘Hmm,’ she said. ‘That’s been hit by lightning. And you’re right. We did pass it earlier.’ She turned in a slow circle then stopped.
Pippa stared at the trees crowding in on them. The Wild Forest was dark and gloomy. Fear prickled up her neck. Stardust seemed uneasy too. Her muscles twitched and suddenly she shivered. Pippa hung on tight as Stardust trembled.
Very quietly Stardust whinnied, ‘I think we’re lost.’
Goosebumps formed on Pippa’s arms, forcing the hairs to stand up in lines like soldiers. She breathed deeply, trying to squash the panic rising inside her.
‘We’re not totally lost,’ she said. Her voice came out in a squeak and she cleared her throat before continuing. ‘Uphill leads back to the Plateau and downhill towards the beach.’
‘You’re right,’ Stardust said, ‘but the forest is huge. We could walk for days without ever reaching the beach or the Plateau.’
A twig cracked behind her. Stardust wheeled round in time to see a silver-grey pony dashing through the forest. She was laughing so hard she didn’t notice Pippa and Stardust.
‘Catch me if you can!’ she shouted, hopping over a fallen branch.
‘Cloud?’ Stardust said, her mouth wide with shock.
‘Coming to get you!’ shrieked a familiar voice.
Stardust reeled back, snorting with surprise, and Pippa blinked several times as a chestnut pony, wearing a satchel round her neck, chased after the silver-grey pony.
‘That can’t be Cinders.’ Pippa hesitated then added, ‘It is! It’s Cinders and Cloud.’
‘They look like best friends,’ said Stardust.
