The Lucky Horseshoe

by Chloe Ryder

  As Connie fell silent, Captain Rascal clapped and everyone joined in. Pippa clapped the loudest. She felt like she was about to burst.

  “That girl was my aunt,” she said breathlessly. “Aunt Maeve told me exactly the same story. As a girl she followed a rainbow until it led to you. She was so upset at how uncared for you were that she swapped you for her necklace. She needed a rope to lead you home and went to get one, but when she returned you were gone. No one believed her story. Her parents thought she’d made it up.”

  “Really!” Connie snorted, her brown eyes widening. “She never sent the flying horse then! Oh my goodness, the poor girl. She must have felt so unlucky.”

  “She didn’t! Whenever Aunt Maeve feels unlucky now, she remembers how hungry and lonely you were and it reminds her that things aren’t so bad after all.”

  “Your aunt’s a special person. I would love to meet her again to say thank you.” Connie sniffed. “You can take our pot of gold if you must, but promise me that you won’t give it to Divine. The gold won’t change your luck. Only you, the ponies of Chevalia, can do that!”

  Captain Rascal picked a gold coin out of the pot and slipped it in his pocket. “Something to remember Captain Scallywag by.” He gave Connie a cheeky grin. “You keep the pot. I doubt the gold will bring Divine happiness. Shiver me timbers, pirates. All aboard The Jolly Horseshoe for a lucky journey to mainland Chevalia.”

  The pirates cheered but Stardust still looked worried. Behind a hoof, she whispered to Pippa, “I’d feel much happier if we could find the unlucky horseshoe. What if the bad magic stops us from finding any luck ever again?”

  “It won’t,” said Pippa bravely. She crossed her fingers and hoped that she was right.

  Chapter 6

  “The Happy Hooves and I have never visited the mainland,” said Connie wistfully. “Will you take us?”

  “For the price of a song,” squawked the parrot, who was riding on Captain Rascal’s shoulder.

  Captain Rascal laughed. “Aye, for the price of a song, we will.”

  “It’s a deal,” cried Connie.

  The pirate ponies lent a hoof to get Rowan’s harp aboard The Jolly Horseshoe.

  “Careful,” said Rowan as she edged her way across the hoof plank.

  Pippa and Stardust came last. Pippa carried Connie’s bodhran and her fingers itched to play it.

  Connie must have noticed. Once on board, she showed Pippa how to tap out a beat.

  “You’re a natural,” she declared as Pippa beat out a rhythm to the tune of “My Pony Lies Over the Ocean.”

  “You play and I’ll sing,” Connie said.

  “Can I?” Pippa was delighted. “It’s truly my lucky day!” she declared.

  “I feel lucky too,” said Stardust in surprise as Rowan asked if she wanted to help with strumming the harp. “This is such fun.”

  “There’s a good wind blowing,” said Captain Rascal as the pirates cast off the mooring ropes. “With luck, we’ll reach the mainland in no time.”

  Connie and the Happy Hooves played their instruments and sang the whole time The Jolly Horseshoe was at sea. They continued to sing as they came ashore on the beach near the Wild Forest.

  The Wild Forest ponies came to the edge of the trees to see what all the noise was about. As Captain Rascal led everyone into the forest, the ponies shyly joined the musical parade. They hadn’t gone far before the Wild Ponies forgot about being shy and joined in, singing with the Happy Hooves and the pirates at the tops of their voices.

  Pippa was enjoying herself so much that she was surprised when they broke through the trees on the edge of the forest. Without stopping, Captain Rascal turned right and led the parade along the Fields to Mane Street.

  “Look!” cried Stardust excitedly. “Everyone’s lining the street to watch.”

  The ponies’ glum faces and hunched shoulders disappeared. As the Happy Hooves and their new piratical backing band, The Jolly Horseshoes, sang and danced along Mane Street, the watching ponies sang loudly and tapped their hooves in time.

  “This is such fun,” said Stardust as Captain Rascal took the parade in a circle around Canter’s, Chevalia’s prep school. “Look, Pippa, the pupils are bringing out instruments to join us. Pippa? Where are you going?”

  A flash of silver in the sunlight had caught Pippa’s eye. At first, she ignored it, but when it flashed again, she stopped in surprise. “I don’t believe it!” Pippa strode purposefully toward a castle-shaped jungle gym in the school yard. “Of all the mean tricks!”

  “Pippa?” Stardust went after her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Up there,” Pippa said, and then pointed to the tallest tower on the jungle gym.

  Stardust gasped. “That is mean!”

  The jungle gym was a replica of Stableside Castle, complete with eight tall towers, each with a different colored flag pictured with a golden horseshoe. All except for the smallest tower. Instead of a pink flag and golden horseshoe, identifying it as Princess Stardust’s bedroom, someone had replaced the flag with a dark green, moldy-looking horseshoe.

  “Divine,” whispered Stardust, the color draining from her face. “Why did she pick my tower? Will I get all the bad luck?”

  “No!” Pippa began to climb up the castle. “Remember what Connie told us. You can’t steal someone else’s luck. It’s still a mean trick, though, leaving a bad spell in the foals’ playground.”

  Pippa was so cross she didn’t remember how much she disliked heights until she reached the top of the jungle gym. As she reached out to remove the unlucky horseshoe, she caught sight of Stardust, watching from the ground. Pippa’s stomach dived to her feet, making her legs feel wobbly. She looked up quickly, fixing her eyes on the unlucky horseshoe perched on top of the tower, and she took a long breath in and out. There! That felt much better. Pippa grabbed the horseshoe. Its coldness made her shiver as she tucked it into the pocket of her jeans. The horseshoe pressed against her leg, the bad magic buzzing faintly.

  “Hooray!” cried Stardust, as Pippa slowly climbed down.

  Pippa was in such a hurry to get back to the ground that she grew careless and slipped. Her hand shot out for a bar, but she missed.

  “Help!”

  Pippa gritted her teeth, bracing herself as the ground came nearer, but to her surprise she landed on something soft. “Stardust,” Pippa said with surprise.

  “I caught you!” Stardust was breathless with relief. “That was lucky! Divine’s spell can’t be working properly!”

  “Thanks,” said Pippa. “Quick, take me out of the school yard. There’s something I need to do, but not here.”

  Mystified, Stardust carried Pippa through the school gate.

  “Take me to the cliffs,” said Pippa, pointing to the Savannah, to the east of Mane Street.

  Stardust galloped and Pippa held on tight. When they arrived at the edge of the island, Pippa slid from Stardust’s back. She pulled the horseshoe out of her pocket and, with trembling fingers, held it upside down over the cliff face below.

  After a few seconds Pippa heard a hiss like steam from a kettle when it starts to boil. She gripped the horseshoe more tightly. With a whoosh, the green magic spurted from the ends of the horseshoe and blew away in the wind, leaving a faint green trail.

  “All gone!” said Pippa. She smiled as the air cleared. “The bad luck, it’s drained out. This is just a regular horseshoe now.”

  Stardust touched it with a hoof. “No magic left at all,” she agreed. “Clever Pippa. How did you know to do that?”

  “Where I live, people hang horseshoes in their houses to bring them luck. I asked my riding teacher if I could have a horseshoe for my bedroom, and she warned me to hang it the right way up or the luck would run out. Come on,” she added. “Let’s rejoin the parade with this horseshoe and show everyone how lucky it is now!”

  Chapter 7

  Pippa and Stardust didn’t reach Stableside Castle. They barely made it to the end of Mane Street when they were met
by a parade of Royal Ponies, led by Queen Moonshine and King Firestar, coming the other way.

  Pippa dropped into a low curtsy with Stardust beside her. “Your Majesties,” they murmured.

  “What is going on?” asked Queen Moonshine. Her deep-brown eyes took in the Happy Hooves and the singing pirates.

  “How come everyone sounds so happy when their luck has gone?” King Firestar added.

  “But it hasn’t,” said Pippa. Quickly, she explained what Connie had said about luck and how you could make your own. Queen Moonshine listened carefully, nodding thoughtfully as Pippa spoke.

  “What about Divine? What about the bad-luck spell she cast over Chevalia? It doesn’t matter how hard we try, we’ll never be lucky with that hanging over us,” Princess Crystal said as she pushed her way to the front.

  Behind her, the ponies of the Royal Court murmured in agreement. Crystal blushed with pleasure. One day she would be Queen of Chevalia, and she took her royal duties very seriously.

  “We found the horseshoe that Divine used the spell on. It’s in here.” Pippa pulled the unlucky horseshoe out of her pocket. It didn’t feel cold anymore as she held it up for everyone to see.

  “Pippa tipped it upside down and the spell ran out,” explained Stardust.

  “Pippa MacDonald, we are so lucky to know you,” said Queen Moonshine. “You always bring good luck!”

  Pippa’s face turned red from her chin to the tips of her ears. “Thanks,” she said, “but I didn’t do it on my own. Everyone helped.” Pippa pointed at Stardust, the pirate ponies, and Connie and her band.

  Queen Moonshine smiled. “What’s the music for?”

  “Because everyone’s so happy,” Pippa explained. Then she added, “But, back in my world, today is called St. Patrick’s Day, after a famous saint. It’s a lucky day. People even celebrate it with a parade, a bit like this one.”

  “Then we shall celebrate St. Patrick’s lucky day too,” said Queen Moonshine. “Not just today, but every year.”

  “Really?” Pippa couldn’t stop smiling as the music started up again and the parade began to play along Mane Street with the Royal Ponies following behind. As they circled Canter’s for the third time, Pippa saw a hooded pony, half hidden behind the school gate, tapping a hoof as the musicians passed by.

  “Divine!” she said, nudging Stardust.

  Stardust’s chest swelled indignantly. “She’s got some nerve.”

  “I can’t help feeling a little bit sorry for her,” said Pippa generously. “She acts like no one likes her.”

  “That’s because they don’t.”

  Pippa shook her head, gently disagreeing with her friend. “She doesn’t give anyone the chance to like her. It’s a bit like finding luck. You have to work hard at making friends.”

  “I suppose.” Stardust nudged Pippa fondly with her nose. “I’m so glad we’re best friends.”

  “Me too,” Pippa said as she hugged Stardust back, and when she drew away, Divine had gone.

  Much later, after an impromptu feast in the middle of Mane Street where Pippa dined on pizza and fizzy strawberry juice, prepared especially for her, Captain Rascal sought Pippa out.

  “Time to go home, Pippa. Stardust can come along too for the ride, if she’d like to.”

  “Definitely,” said Stardust.

  Pippa sighed, but then she remembered how she was always welcome to visit Chevalia. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world,” she said happily.

  “And I’m the luckiest pony in Chevalia,” Stardust whinnied.

  “The adventure’s not over yet,” said Captain Rascal. “Connie would like to come with us. She feels she owes your aunt an explanation. If that’s fine by you?”

  Pippa turned to Connie, who was shyly standing by a bucket of honeyed bran. “It’s not fine. It’s fantastic,” she said warmly.

  “Why, thank you, Pippa,” said Connie.

  It took Pippa ages to say all her goodbyes, but at last she was on the beach, waiting to board The Jolly Horseshoe.

  “All aboard, me hearties,” cried Captain Rascal. “Prepare to sail.”

  Rosella and Triton, Chevalia’s magical giant seahorses, escorted The Jolly Horseshoe out to sea.

  “’Bye, Pippa. Come back soon,” cried Rosella, saying good-bye with a flick of her pink tail.

  “You’re always welcome here,” Triton reminded Pippa.

  Pippa and Stardust stayed on the deck, the salty wind blowing through Pippa’s hair and Stardust’s mane as The Jolly Horseshoe flew through the waves. In no time at all, Pippa spotted land.

  Lights twinkled on the water but onshore nothing moved. Pippa smiled to herself. How many other people were lucky enough to see their city frozen in time?

  Unseen, The Jolly Horseshoe sailed along the river until it reached the park near Pippa’s house. All of the pirate ponies wanted to accompany Pippa home, but Captain Rascal put his hoof down.

  “It’ll be a big enough surprise for Aunt Maeve to meet one pony, let alone a whole pirate crew.”

  Three ponies went in the end: Captain Rascal, Connie, and Stardust. Captain Rascal threw tiny stones at the window of the living room, where Aunt Maeve was sleeping on the pull-out sofa. When she opened the window, the ponies hid in the shadows. Aunt Maeve rubbed her eyes and yawned as she looked outside. “Pippa, what are you doing out of bed?” she asked.

  “I want to show you something,” said Pippa.

  “Can’t it wait until the morning?”

  “Pleeease, Aunt Maeve, it’s really important.”

  It took a lot of persuading, but finally Aunt Maeve came out to the garden in her dressing gown and shoes.

  Connie stepped out of her hiding place and Aunt Maeve stared at her in astonishment. “Where did you come from? You look like my childhood pony from Ireland.”

  “That’s because she is your childhood pony,” said Pippa.

  Aunt Maeve threw her arms around Connie. “I knew you were real. I’m so lucky to have found you.”

  “Shhh,” said Pippa nervously. What would she say if Aunt Maeve woke everyone up!

  But the family slept on while Aunt Maeve made a fuss over Connie, and Pippa persuaded her to ride Connie around the neighborhood. When they returned, Pippa sensed that Captain Rascal was getting restless.

  “I have to take Connie back now,” she said.

  Aunt Maeve slid from Connie’s back and wrapped her arms around her neck. “I’m dreaming,” she said and shook her dark head. “I know I’m still asleep, but this is the nicest dream ever.”

  “You’re not,” said Pippa, smiling at her aunt. “But it is time to go back to bed.”

  Aunt Maeve sighed deeply. “Thanks, Pippa. You always make me feel so lucky to have you as family.”

  “Me too,” said Pippa, pushing her aunt indoors. “I’m just so lucky to have you as my aunt.”

  With Aunt Maeve back inside, Captain Rascal and Stardust came out of hiding.

  “’Bye, Stardust,” said Pippa as they hugged. “I’ll miss you.”

  “’Bye, Pippa. See you soon, my lucky friend.”

  Together, Stardust, Connie, and Captain Rascal left for the park. Pippa waved until they turned a corner and disappeared.

  She felt like the luckiest girl in the whole world.

  JOURNEY BACK TO THE VERY BEGINNING OF PIPPA AND THE PONIES’ ADVENTURES IN THE WONDROUS LAND OF CHEVALIA . . .

  SOMEONE HAS STOLEN THE HORSESHOES THAT GIVE CHEVALIA ITS MAGIC! CAN PIPPA AND PRINCESS STARDUST WORK TOGETHER TO FIND THEM?

  Turn the page to read a sneak peek . . .

  Pippa MacDonald turned her pony, Snowdrop, toward the last jump, a solid-looking red-and-white wall. Snowdrop pricked up her ears. She snorted with excitement and sped up.

  “Steady, girl,” Pippa said, pulling gently on the reins.

  None of the other riders had jumped a clean round. Pippa and Snowdrop were the last to go, and if they cleared the wall they would win the competition, taking home a silver cup and a blue rib
bon. As the wall came closer, Pippa forced back the nervous, fluttery feeling growing in her stomach.

  “We can do this,” she whispered to Snowdrop.

  She leaned forward, standing up in her stirrups, loosening the reins as she pushed her pony to the jump. Snowdrop leaped over it eagerly, carrying Pippa upward. For a magical moment it felt like they were flying. Any fear of heights simply slipped away. Fresh air rushed at Pippa’s face, lifting her dark, wavy hair that was neatly held in place by a hairnet. Snowdrop cleared the wall, happily flicking her tail as she landed.

  “Yes!” Pippa shouted, galloping Snowdrop over the finish line.

  The crowd cheered and screamed, but one voice shouted louder than the rest.

  “Pippa! Are you awake? It’s time to go.”

  Pippa jolted out of her dream, nearly falling off her bed as Snowdrop, the show jumping arena, and the cheering crowds vanished. She blinked and stared around the small bedroom she shared with her big sister, Miranda.

  It was easy to see which side of the room was Pippa’s. Her wall was totally covered with pictures of ponies—big ones, small ones, black, brown, chestnut, roan, palomino, gray. Pippa’s favorite picture of all was of Snowdrop, a silver-colored pony with deep-brown eyes.

  Miranda’s side used to have horse pictures too, but it was now covered with posters of boys—some were famous movie stars but most were in bands. Both sisters thought the other one’s decorations were silly.

  “Are you ready, sweetheart?” Mom asked from the doorway.

  “Almost!” Pippa called, jumping off the bed and following her mom downstairs. “Did you remember to pack my bathing suit?”

  “Of course,” Mom said, smiling. “Now go get ready!”

  It was boiling hot and Pippa was glad that she, her mom, Miranda, and their little brother, Jack, were going on vacation, trading their apartment in the city for a cottage by the sea. Pippa was so excited she trotted up and down the pavement, riding an imaginary pony as she waited for Mom to unlock the car so that they could load the luggage into the trunk.