Best Friends For Ever! (2 page)

‘Breakfast first,’ Stardust said, nosing open the dining-room door.

Pippa was desperate to get going but Stardust was right – they needed a good breakfast before beginning their final search.

Pippa was surprised to find that they weren’t the only early birds – Stardust’s brothers and sisters were already at their feeding troughs. No one seemed to be eating much, though. Princess Crystal rolled an apple around three times without even taking a bite and Prince Comet’s hot bran mash grew cold while he listlessly flicked through a book.

‘It’s the last day today,’ Princess Honey said bravely, as Pippa and Stardust squeezed in beside her.

‘Please don’t start to worry yet,’ Pippa said.

She was shocked by Honey’s untidy appearance. Pretty Honey usually took such care of herself and was a regular customer at the Mane Street Salon, but this morning her mane was tangled and she wasn’t wearing any hoof polish.

Pippa ate a dish of fresh fruit salad without tasting any of it.

‘We should go up the Volcano today,’ she declared. ‘I bet that’s where Divine has hidden the last horseshoe.’

Yesterday Stardust and Pippa discovered that it was Baroness Divine, a courtier, who had stolen the horseshoes. She foolishly believed that she could make a better life for herself without the Royal Ponies.

‘That’s if she hasn’t already destroyed the horseshoe,’ Stardust said glumly.

Comet snapped his book shut. ‘I don’t understand it. I thought every adult pony has read the ancient scrolls but clearly Divine hasn’t,’ he said. ‘If she had read them then she’d know how, a long time ago, Chevalia was little more than a volcano surrounded by the sea. It’s the eight golden horseshoes that allowed it to grow into the wonderful island it is today and they must have their magical energy renewed for all our sakes.’

‘Peggy told me that story yesterday,’ said Pippa. ‘She also mentioned her friend Nightingale, the scientist-magician.’

Comet nodded. ‘Yes, it was Nightingale who discovered the magical gold buried in the volcanic rock. She used it to fashion the horseshoes.’

‘Mum used to tell me that story at bedtime but I thought it was just a story for little foals.’ Stardust stared around the dining room. ‘Where is Mum? Is she still in bed?’

‘Mum and Dad were up long before us,’ Crystal answered. ‘I think they went to the courtyard.’

‘Let’s go and find them,’ Stardust said, leaving most of her oaty breakfast untouched.

Queen Moonshine and King Firestar were indeed in the courtyard, standing close together and staring forlornly at the ancient Whispering Wall. Seven horseshoes sparkled in the early morning sun but, in spite of their brightness, Pippa’s eyes were drawn to the gap where the eighth horseshoe should have been hanging. The bare space made her feel like a failure.

A shadow fell over the courtyard. Glancing up, Pippa saw Princess Cloud hovering above her in the air.

Queen Moonshine called out a greeting to her daughter and Cloud swooped lower, taking care to keep her hooves away from the stone floor, because touching down would mean losing her wings.

‘I’ve got a plan,’ the Queen said urgently. ‘Cloud, if you rub noses with every pony on the island then, come sunset, when the island begins to fade, everyone could fly away to safety.’

‘But that would take Cloud ages,’ squeaked Stardust.

‘And where would the ponies go?’ asked Pippa.

‘They could find homes in the human world,’ the Queen said.

Pippa shook her head. ‘Many of the ponies came here from the human world because they were neglected or treated badly there. We can’t send them back again. And it isn’t over yet – there’s still time to find the last missing horseshoe.’

‘Pippa MacDonald, you’ve already faced so many dangers in your quest and Chevalia is already in your debt. It’s not right for us to ask even more of you.’

‘I’m not giving up now.’ Pippa’s eyes burned with determination. ‘I promised to save Chevalia and I will!’

‘Stardust,’ said the Queen, ‘make your friend see sense. It’s too dangerous.’

Stardust tossed her head. ‘No, Mum. Pippa is right. We can’t give up now, not when we’re so close to saving Chevalia.’

The Queen sighed in acceptance. Reaching out, she nuzzled Stardust and Pippa closer and hugged them tight.

‘Stardust, you’re the bravest foal I know. And you, Pippa, are the most courageous girl.’

Pippa flushed red.

‘You haven’t met any other girls,’ she said modestly.

‘I don’t have to,’ the Queen said with a smile. ‘So where will your search take you today?’

‘The Volcano,’ Pippa said immediately. ‘That’s where the hooded pony ran to with the horseshoes we found yesterday, which suggests the eighth one is hidden there as well.’

Pippa knew that if she said it was Divine, the apparently loyal courtier, who had stolen the horseshoes, the Queen wouldn’t believe her. Pippa would have to prove it.

‘Then you know your path,’ said the Queen. ‘Good luck, Pippa. Good luck, Stardust. Keep safe.’

Chapter 2

Pippa rode Stardust out of the Castle and over the drawbridge, towards the base of the Volcano. As they began climbing the rugged Foothills the Volcano towered above them, its fiery top illuminating the sky. Now and then a puff of smoke rose in the air, spilling red cinders that drifted over the Cloud Forest and on to the lower slopes.

‘It’s getting hotter the closer we get to the Volcano,’ Stardust said, stopping to catch her breath.

‘I’ll walk,’ Pippa said, starting to slide from Stardust’s back.

‘No,’ the Princess Pony said quickly. ‘I like it when you ride me. It feels right.’

She shied, narrowly avoiding a cloud of sparks as they shot to the ground.

‘Even the Volcano feels angry. Maybe this really is the end for Chevalia.’

‘Never,’ Pippa said vehemently.

They continued in silence and soon they entered the mysterious Cloud Forest, home to the secretive unicorns. The forest felt cool and fresh. Pippa loved the way the sunlight filtered through the ancient trees, dappling the path with golden puddles of light. Stardust slowed down, weaving a careful path through the forest to avoid the enormous vines that trailed from branches like fantastic snakes. They were over halfway through the forest when the hairs on Pippa’s neck rose and her arms prickled with goosebumps. Convinced she was being watched, she looked around.

‘What’s wrong?’ asked Stardust.

The forest around them was silent and still. As they stared into the cloudy gloom suddenly something jumped from a tree and stood on the path ahead. Stardust shied then burst out laughing.

‘Misty!’ she cried.

Pippa appreciated once more just how similar Misty was to Stardust. The unicorn was almost identical to her friend, from the tilt of her head to the tip of her snow-white tail. The only differences were the pretty golden horn at the top of Misty’s head and their size – Misty was the size of a large dog.

‘Hello!’ Misty’s musical voice bubbled with excitement. ‘Is it time already? Have you come to get us for the Midsummer Concert?’

Stardust shook her head sadly.

‘I’m sorry, Misty, but there might not be a concert now. One of the horseshoes is still missing.’

‘No!’ Misty gasped. ‘But it’s Midsummer Day.’

‘That’s why we’re here. We’re on our way to the Volcano – we think the horseshoe could be hidden there,’ Pippa said.

They quickly told Misty everything that had happened since the unicorns had helped them retrieve a missing horseshoe from the Cloud Forest.

‘That’s awful.’ Misty’s eyes were wide with alarm. ‘I’m coming with you.’

‘It might be dangerous,’ Stardust warned her.

‘It’ll be more dangerous if the horseshoe isn’t found,’ Misty answered.

The trio set off at a brisk trot. It was fun having Misty with them. She knew the Cloud Forest like the back of her hoof and showed them a much quicker route through it. But it was still a long way.

Finally, they emerged from the treeline at the base of the Volcano and continued up its blackened slopes. The ground grew hotter and Stardust and Misty hopped from hoof to hoof, trying to avoid stepping on the lumps of hot volcanic rock. The path twisted and turned and, as they trotted round a corner, Stardust came to an abrupt halt. Misty almost ran into her and only just stopped in time. A giant river of molten lava blocked the path. Pippa turned her face away from the fiery heat rising from the bubbling red liquid.