The Pony's Hoof

by Claire Taylor-Smith

  Contents

  Good Sports

  Telling Tales

  A Sprinkle of Spice

  Flower Power

  Smells and Sounds

  Friend or Foe?

  In a Whirl

  Out of Reach

  Apple Attack!

  Stepping Out

  A Sporting Chance

  Read all the adventures of

  THE DRAGON’S SONG

  THE UNICORN’S HORN

  THE FAIRY’S WING

  THE MERMAID’S TAIL

  THE PONY’S HOOF

  Don’t miss

  THE PHOENIX’S FLAME

  With love to Dad, Tony and Trina

  xxx

  To my dear Mother Bear, with love

  xxx

  IMPORTANT NOTICE

  To all the creatures in the Kingdom of Bellua

  As the terrible threat posed by the wicked Imp King Ivar grows, I’m calling on you. He has already stolen magic from four of us – no one is safe from his attacks. With each power he gains, his strength increases.

  Some of you have met our respected Guardian, Hattie B. When she next visits our land, we must come together to greet her. Only she can defeat the determined Ivar. She needs our help more than ever!

  When you hear of the Guardian’s arrival, make your way to her cave without delay. We cannot allow Ivar to seize power. Creatures of Bellua, heed my call!

  Themis

  Leader of the unicorns

  It was the end of another school day and Hattie Bright and her best friend, Chloe, were the last to leave the classroom.

  ‘Are you coming to Sports Club?’ asked Hattie.

  Chloe nodded as she lifted her red rucksack from her peg. ‘Come on. We’d better get changed or we’re going to be late!’

  Hattie grabbed her own bag, and the two friends set off for the changing rooms, which were on the other side of the playground.

  ‘Mr Kennedy said we can try whatever we like today,’ said Chloe. ‘What do you think you’ll go for? I might do some throwing practice. I really want to get into the rounders team this year.’

  Hattie thought for a moment. ‘Hmmm, maybe running. Definitely not throwing – I’m useless at it!’

  ‘That’s why you need to practise!’ said Chloe, laughing.

  They were walking across the playground when they spotted a boy wandering around just ahead. First he crossed it in one direction, then another.

  ‘Isn’t that Rishi?’ Hattie asked, recognizing the short dark hair of their new classmate. He had joined the school a couple of days ago.

  Chloe nodded. ‘He looks a bit lost,’ she said. ‘Let’s go and see if he needs some help.’

  However, as they walked towards him, the door of the girls’ changing room flew open and out swept Victoria Frost. She was dressed in a pristine new sports kit. Beside her were her friends Jodie and Louisa, who were rarely far from Victoria’s side.

  ‘Hey, you, new boy!’ called Victoria, striding towards Rishi. ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘I’m going to Sports Club,’ Hattie heard Rishi reply, ‘but I don’t know where to get changed.’

  ‘Hang on, I’ll tell you!’ Victoria shouted back, but Hattie saw a sneaky smile spread over her face. It looked like poor Rishi was in trouble.

  Speeding up, Hattie reached him seconds after Victoria, who was already in full flow. Her sidekicks were sniggering beside her.

  ‘Actually,’ Victoria was saying, ‘it’s the same door for the girls’ and boys’ changing rooms. It’s just that the sign saying Boys fell off at the end of last term. You go through the door that says Girls, and there are two more doors inside – one for girls and one for boys. You go through the boys’ one. Obviously.’

  Rishi opened his mouth to say thank you, but Hattie could feel fury rising up inside her.

  ‘You know that’s not true,’ she said firmly to Victoria, stepping forward. She felt herself flush red at standing up to the unkind girl. ‘I suppose you think it’s funny to make Rishi walk into the girls’ changing room because he’s new? Well, it isn’t. It’s mean. All he wanted was some help.’

  Victoria’s mouth formed a surprised O, but for once she seemed lost for words.

  ‘It was only a bit of fun,’ she said eventually. ‘Come on, Jodie, Louisa. Some people can’t take a joke.’

  Hattie breathed a sigh of relief as Victoria strode back to the girls’ changing room. She turned to Rishi, who looked even more confused than before.

  ‘You’ll get used to Victoria,’ said Hattie, not wanting to tell tales. ‘Anyway, the boys’ changing room is on the other side of the hall. If you walk past the main entrance, you’ll spot a green door. I promise there’s a sign on it saying Boys. It’s stuck on perfectly.’

  ‘Thanks,’ said Rishi. ‘I hope I haven’t missed any of the club. I love sport! I used to be in nearly every team at my old school – we won loads of trophies.’

  Hattie smiled. ‘Don’t worry. You’ll be fine if you get changed quickly.’

  Then she and Chloe rushed off to get ready too.

  After getting changed, Hattie and Chloe were on their way to the sports field when Hattie noticed that one of her laces was undone. Telling Chloe to go ahead, she bent down to tie it – and that’s when she saw the tell-tale glow of the charms on her special bracelet, which she never took off. The star, dragon, unicorn, fairy and mermaid charms had all turned a warm yellowy-orange colour. It meant only one thing: somewhere in the Kingdom of Bellua, a magical animal needed her help.

  The evil King Ivar of the Imps must have stolen another magical power. Hattie counted on her fingers the powers that Ivar had already taken. He had a dragon’s song to send his enemies to sleep, the magic from a unicorn’s horn to control the weather, the ability to fly from a fairy’s wing, and the colours from a mermaid’s tail so he could blind his enemies and camouflage himself.

  What power had he taken now?

  There was no time to waste. Nobody else could help the poor creature and try to stop Ivar. She had to get to Bellua – and fast!

  ‘I forgot my hairband!’ she called to Chloe. To prove the point, she bunched up her long dark hair with its unusual white streak. ‘I’ll just run back and get one from my bag. Meet you on the field.’

  While Chloe walked on, Hattie turned on her heels and sprinted straight to the school gate. She checked the coast was clear and ran home as quickly as she could.

  In her bedroom, Hattie was panting as she pulled a dull leather vet’s bag out from its hiding place under her bed. Opening the lock with her star charm, she watched as the bag turned a gorgeous sparkly silver. She traced over the glowing purple letters – H and B – that appeared on it, before leaning forward and peering inside.

  There was the beautiful shell Marina the mermaid had given her on her last visit. That trip had ended with another successful cure, but Hattie couldn’t help feeling a little worried that things might not go so well this time.

  However, a rush of excitement about going back to Bellua soon helped Hattie to push any fears aside.

  ‘I’m coming, Bellua!’ she whispered, and immediately she felt herself tumbling down, down and down …

  Hattie was pleased to find her friend Mith Ickle in the Guardian’s cave. The little pink dragon was perched on the stone table in the middle of the cave, delighted to see Hattie again. The crystal-studded walls glinted, and the shelves cut into them were loaded with pretty glass potion bottles. But something was different. Although the cave was usually silent, this time Hattie could hear a low murmur on the other side of the wooden door at the back.

  ‘Hello, Mith!’ cried Hattie. Then, lowering her voice slightly, she added, ‘That’s not who I think it is making all that noise, is
it?’

  ‘Ivar?’ replied Mith Ickle. ‘Oh no! I haven’t spotted him lurking around … yet. Why don’t you open the door? I kept it closed or you wouldn’t have had anywhere to land!’

  When Hattie threw open the door, she saw what Mith Ickle had meant. A huge crowd of creatures was gathered outside, jostling each other as they pressed closer. There was a cheer as they spotted the Guardian.

  Hattie waved in surprise as she took in the amazing scene. Magical creatures of all shapes, sizes and shades mingled together in a sea of colours. While some animals stood on the soft velvety grass, above them fairies and sprites flitted, their shimmering wings creating sparks in Bellua’s bright sky. Tiny pixies and imps peeped out between the legs of unicorns and trolls, and even the sphinxes were there. Hattie couldn’t begin to count how many creatures had gathered to greet her.

  Nor could she work out what any of them were saying! It seemed they all had a story to tell. Crouching down, she caught the end of a pixie’s description of how Ivar had tried to lull her to sleep with a song.

  ‘I was only saved because I dozed off on a thorn. That woke me up pretty quickly!’ explained the pixie with a grin.

  Before Hattie could respond, a large dragon swooped by and told her he’d overheard Ivar making plans to steal his fire.

  The high voices of the smaller creatures merged with the low voices of the larger ones, getting louder and louder … until suddenly the much deeper sound of an animal clearing his throat filled the air, and everyone went quiet. When this creature stepped through the crowd Hattie recognized him immediately. It was Themis, leader of the unicorns.

  ‘My friends,’ began Themis, addressing the crowd. ‘Let us not all speak together. We must welcome our Guardian. She is here to help us defeat the evil King Ivar, whose wickedness is spreading further into our beautiful land.’

  Themis then turned his majestic head to Hattie and spoke to her directly. ‘What you have heard is true. Ivar has attempted to steal more of our precious magical powers. We are so thankful that you have come again to aid us in our struggle. And we want you to know that we will be here, if you need our help.’

  There was a murmur of agreement from the assembled crowd and Hattie bowed her head in gratitude. She hoped she wouldn’t let these wonderful creatures down.

  ‘I’ll do all I can to help you defeat Ivar,’ she said when everyone fell silent again. Scanning the crowd before her, she asked, ‘Does someone need my help now? Who has met Ivar today?’

  There was movement in the gathering, then Hattie saw a small horse-like animal hobbling slowly towards the front. The creature was apricot-coloured with silky, dark pink hair. At first Hattie thought it was another unicorn, but then she noticed the wings folded awkwardly by his side. Was it some kind of magical flying pony?

  Hattie made her way to the young creature straight away and knelt down to examine him. However, the noise from the crowd began to build again, and she couldn’t hear what he was saying.

  She stood up and said aloud, ‘Everyone, thank you so much for coming here, and for trusting me to help you. I will do my very best.’ The creatures quietened down once more, so she added, ‘I have to take this little one to my cave for treatment, but I really hope to meet you all again soon.’

  Themis started off a chorus of goodbyes that sailed through Bellua’s lightly shimmering sky as Hattie led the limping creature into the cave.

  While Mith Ickle closed the wooden door behind them, Hattie reached for the big red book that she had used on her previous visits: Healing Magickal Beastes & Creatures. It had been used by generations of Guardians before her to find cures.

  She turned to her patient and he looked up at her, his large plum-coloured eyes full of sadness.

  ‘You poor little pony,’ Hattie said gently. ‘I know Ivar had something to do with this, but can you tell me exactly what happened? Then I’m sure I’ll be able to help you.’

  Hattie saw a tear form in the corner of one of the young creature’s eyes and roll down his face. She put her fingers between his soft ears and gave him a soothing stroke.

  The winged pony nuzzled against her, and Hattie could feel his small body trembling. Just what had Ivar done to terrify him and leave him barely able to walk? She listened carefully as he began his story.

  The first thing the creature did was tell Hattie and Mith Ickle his name, which was Archeron. ‘But you can call me Archie for short,’ he said. Then he added, ‘I’m a pegasus, you know.’

  ‘Ah, so that’s why you’ve got wings!’ said Hattie, who had never come across one of these flying ponies in Bellua before.

  She lifted Archie carefully on to the vet’s table and peered closely at his front foot. It looked swollen and very painful.

  ‘So, Archie, how did you hurt your hoof?’ she asked, anxious to find a cure as quickly as possible.

  ‘Well, I know it was a bit naughty, but I was practising my flying, even though my parents told me I was too young,’ said Archie. ‘I should only just be learning to open my wings.’

  He demonstrated by jerkily spreading his wings, so that his fluffy feathers tickled Hattie’s cheek.

  ‘I’d managed to lift off the ground when I heard a scary noise, like really loud thunder or an explosion!’ continued Archie. ‘Then there was some horrible loud laughing and … and …’

  Archie’s eyes filled with tears again, which this time fell freely down his face.

  Hattie hugged the little pegasus until he stopped crying.

  ‘Did you see Ivar?’ she asked gently.

  Archie shook his head. ‘The sky turned grey and the shimmering colours disappeared and a loud wind whistled around me. It lifted me higher and higher and spun me round and round. I couldn’t do anything – my wings were useless!’

  Now Archie’s trembling had turned to shaking and his soft furry ears were twitching nervously.

  ‘Was it the spinning that injured your hoof?’ Hattie asked.

  Archie shook his head again. ‘No. The wind stopped as suddenly as it began and I fell to the ground. I must have landed badly because when I looked at my hoof it was twisted and I couldn’t walk on it. And I’m sure I heard that horrible laugh again when I tried.’

  ‘So do you think Ivar was after your flying power?’ Hattie asked, a little confused. Ivar had already stolen the power of flight from Titch the fairy. Why would he want it again?

  ‘I think he might have wanted another pegasus power,’ replied Archie. ‘We can make springs of water appear from dry ground. We just need to stamp our hooves! It’s quite useful if you need a drink. My cousin’s so good at it that he can make a lake if he stamps enough. I think Ivar might have taken that power from me. I can’t stamp my hoof to see because it hurts so much. It took me a while to get back to my family, but I made it in the end. They brought me here … and now they’re waiting outside to see if you can help. So can you, Hattie B? Can you make my hoof better again?’

  The hope in Archie’s young eyes brought a lump to Hattie’s throat. She had to find a magical cure and treat Archie as soon as possible. Then she might be able to protect Bellua from Ivar’s evil plans.

  Flicking through the red book, Hattie quickly found the page that dealt with pegasus injuries. At first, she could only see problems to do with wings: stiffness when opening, lost feathers and uneven flapping. Then, at the bottom of the page, she spotted a passage on leg injuries. Just below it there was a box on hooves, with a pretty border of twisted branches hung with horseshoes.

  Hattie waited impatiently for all the text to magically appear on the page. One by one the words formed:

  A twisted hoof is cured by eating a twistabout apple (cut in the very thinnest of slices).

  Below was a picture of a large apple, coloured in with gold ink. Hattie had never seen such a grand illustration in the red book before. She thought it must be a very special apple indeed!

  As Hattie read on, she learned that the fruit only grew at the top of one tree in the Enchanted Or
chard. It was the Great Twister Tree, which the book described as having ‘the twistiest of branches and the palest of leaves’.

  ‘Let’s hope I can find the tree, Mith,’ said Hattie, as further instructions appeared on the page. ‘Oh, look! The book’s telling me more about the apple – and there’s a rhyme too. Listen.’

  Hattie read the rhyme aloud, her forehead wrinkled in concentration:

  A Guardian’s hand alone may touch this cure,

  Or the apple’s power exists no more.

  Only once each year it grows to size.

  If tainted or bruised, the whole tree dies.

  ‘That’s it! We need to go to the Enchanted Orchard!’ Hattie said to Mith Ickle, who was hovering by her shoulder.

  However, just as she was about to close the book, more text appeared. The writing was getting smaller and smaller in order to fit on the page, and she had to squint to read it.

  For full and lasting recovery, sprinkle each apple piece with cinnamon spice from the honeyspice bees, and the pegasus will be able to summon water once more.

  The idea of finding a mysterious tree, a special apple and this spice filled Hattie with excitement. She’d begun to look forward to the challenges that came with every adventure in Bellua – and she had Mith Ickle to help her along the way too.

  A map fluttered out of the book, and Hattie caught it. She looked over to her loyal friend, who had flown across to the young pegasus. The little dragon was cheering Archie up by puffing out small rings of smoke from her nostrils. Hattie was sorry to interrupt their game but she knew they had to get going.

  ‘Right, Mith,’ she said, putting the trusty map in her pocket. ‘Let’s collect the spice first and find the apple in the Enchanted Orchard on the way back. And remember to watch out for Ivar. He’s never far away when I’m around!’