An Amazing Rescue (7 page)

Stardust sighed happily. ‘That was such fun.’

Cloud hovered several centimetres above the ground as everyone made their way to Queen Moonshine, King Firestar and Peggy, who was wearing a new sash of deep green and a jade-studded tiara.

Stardust and Cinders curtsied so low their forelegs almost touched the rough stone floor.

‘Welcome back,’ Queen Moonshine said, her voice as rich as warm honey.

Pippa sneaked a glance at the Queen. She was looking even more beautiful than ever. Her long mane and tail flowed to the ground in a snow-white waterfall. Her golden coat shone from hours of grooming and her hooves were painted with a pearly hoof gloss. In contrast, Peggy’s grey coat was flecked with the white hairs of old age. Her muzzle was wrinkled and her hooves gnarled. She looked so much older than when Pippa had left her in the forest.

‘You’ve been very brave,’ the Queen said, her gaze taking in first Pippa then Stardust, Cinders and Cloud. ‘Peggy has told me everything – how you ventured into the Wild Forest then chased the Night Mares to retrieve two of the missing horseshoes.’

Night Mares? Pippa opened her mouth to protest but she felt Peggy’s gaze boring into her. Peggy shook her head ever so slightly. Pippa snapped her mouth shut. Peggy looked away and Pippa was left wondering if perhaps she’d imagined the head-shake. But Stardust, Cinders and Cloud didn’t correct Peggy either so Pippa decided she hadn’t imagined it and remained silent.

‘You may come down,’ Queen Moonshine told Cloud. ‘The danger is over.’

Cloud stayed in the air.

A
tut
rang out behind her. The watching ponies parted as Mrs Steeplechase muscled her way to the front.

‘Your mother said to come down,’ the royal nanny said forcefully. ‘Hovering in the air isn’t appropriate for a young Princess.’

Cloud smiled politely. ‘Peggy has lost her wings.’ She paused, her silence hanging tantalisingly in the air. ‘Chevalia needs a new flying pony – someone to go to the human world to save the neglected ponies. Someone to lead them to Chevalia, where they can be happy and free.’

Mrs Steeplechase inhaled sharply, but Queen Moonshine nodded, her eyes soft with understanding.

‘Do you wish to take Peggy’s place?’ she asked.

‘Yes.’ Cloud nodded fiercely. ‘More than anything.’

‘Then the role is yours with my blessing,’ said the Queen. A tear formed in her eye and she blinked it away. ‘Just remember to come back and visit us often.’

‘I will.’ Cloud darted forward as if to nuzzle her mother with her nose, then quickly shied away.

Stardust and Cinders giggled and even Pippa managed a smile at the thought of the Queen suddenly sprouting wings. The smile faded quickly, though, as she stared at the two horseshoes weighing heavily in her hand. There was still one horseshoe to find. Without it there would be no refuge for any ponies on Chevalia.

As if hearing her thoughts, Stardust burst out, ‘There’s only one day left to find the last horseshoe if Chevalia is to survive.’

Murmurs of shock rippled through the watching ponies.

‘No!’ exclaimed Pippa. ‘It won’t come to that. I won’t let it. We
will
find the final horseshoe. I promise it’ll be back on the Whispering Wall before sundown on Midsummer Day.’

A cheer rose from the crowd. Pippa felt sick with fear but she forced herself to smile back.

‘And now,’ said King Firestar, ‘let’s hang the horseshoes in their rightful place on the Whispering Wall.’

He nodded to Pippa but, instead of stepping forward herself, she waved Cloud closer.

‘You should do this,’ Pippa said, handing her the horseshoes.

Cloud blushed, but her protests were drowned by the cheering crowd.

‘Cloud, Cloud, Cloud,’ they chanted.

Shyly Cloud took the horseshoes from Pippa and flew to the wall. As the rays from the sun stroked the ancient stonework, Cloud hung the horseshoes back where they belonged. She flew backward as they fizzled and flashed with magic.

The ponies cheered and stamped their hooves. Cloud tossed her head then soared upward. She circled the Royal Courtyard once then flew away.

Pippa realised she was holding her breath. Letting it out, she turned to Stardust and hugged her tightly.

‘We can do this,’ she vowed.

‘We can,’ Stardust neighed. ‘For the love of Chevalia, we can.’

After a lifetime in the air, Peggy has given up her wings and passed them – and the responsibility that comes with them – to none other than Princess Cloud, third in line to the throne of Chevalia. The mysterious former winged horse shared her secrets with me as she curled up on a straw sofa and sipped apple
-
spice tea.

TI (Tulip Inkhoof):
Peggy, please can you tell our readers how you came to be a winged horse?

P (Peggy):
It was a long, long time ago, my dear – back then, Chevalia wasn’t much more than a volcanic rock in the sea. My friend Nightingale was a brilliant scientistmagician. She found a way to increase the island’s size and magic, and she was determined to make it a safe haven for ponies from the human world who were treated poorly. Nightingale developed a magic flying potion that gave me wings, and for hundreds and hundreds of years I flew all over the human world, rescuing neglected ponies and bringing them here.

TI:
Why haven’t we been able to meet you until now?

P:
Well, Tulip, an unfortunate side effect of Nightingale’s potion was that I couldn’t set hoof on land. If I had done, I’d have lost my wings. That was something I had to sacrifice in order to help other ponies.

TI:
Did that make you sad?