The Pony's Hoof

by Claire Taylor-Smith

  Snorting angrily, Ivar stopped singing.

  Hattie braced herself for whatever he would try next.

  Lifting both arms, he pointed his long bony fingers in her direction and cackled menacingly.

  Hattie grabbed on to the tree tighter than ever and waited nervously.

  The flash of light that Ivar sent towards her was so bright it lit up the entire Great Twister Tree. The leaves glowed fluorescent green and the apples shone like precious stones.

  For a moment, Hattie could see only spots of light dancing in front of her watering eyes. Scrunching them tightly closed, she managed to avoid the next flash, and several more after that, but she didn’t dare move a muscle until she felt Mith Ickle’s warm breath on her neck.

  ‘It’s OK, you can open your eyes again,’ whispered the dragon. ‘I think Ivar’s used up all his light power for now. That last flash hardly lit up the end of his horrible skinny fingers!’

  Hattie saw that Mith Ickle was right. Ivar had tucked his arms inside his oversized cloak and seemed to be planning his next move. She hoped he was tired out from all the magic he’d used. She began to quickly climb through the tree branches again, hoping to reach the golden apple before he recovered.

  Just one branch more and she’d be there – but not if Ivar had his way. Hattie watched with dread as the evil imp rose into the air, his tiny wings flapping frantically. He was going to get the twistabout apple!

  ‘What can I do?’ Hattie called down to her friends.

  She was about to lose all hope when she heard Billy yelling below her.

  ‘Here, Hattie – catch this!’ he shouted, and he threw an apple up to her. Hattie caught it firmly in one hand. ‘It’s a wishing apple. Take a bite and make your wish!’

  There was no time to lose. Hattie bit down and wished hard. Don’t let Ivar reach the twistabout apple. Don’t let Ivar reach the twistabout apple!

  As she swallowed the crisp flesh of the apple, Hattie nervously watched Ivar fly nearer and nearer to the glittering fruit.

  ‘It’s no use! I’m too late!’ cried Hattie.

  Ivar cackled as he stretched his bony fingers out for the twistabout apple, his hungry eyes flashing with glee. But then something strange happened. The branch holding the apple swerved out of his way.

  Hattie couldn’t feel any wind, and the other branches stayed completely still. Her wish must have worked!

  Every time Ivar swooped to take the apple, the branch dodged him. The Imp King got more and more angry as the branch led him into a hopeless game of cat-and-mouse.

  Billy whooped and shouted, ‘You did it!’ Even Mith Ickle looked impressed.

  Hattie sat in the tree, grinning from ear to ear. However, they hadn’t seen the last of Ivar’s attempts.

  When Hattie felt a light breeze catching around her, she knew he had one more trick up his sleeve.

  From her branch, Hattie watched as Ivar began to circle the Great Twister Tree. The leaves rustled as his long cloak trailed behind him. He went round the tree twice more and the branches began to sway. Hattie had to grip on more tightly. He was using the power of the unicorn’s horn to whip up a storm, just as he had when he had hurt the young pegasus!

  The breeze gradually grew stronger. As Ivar continued to circle the tree, faster and faster, the branches rose and fell, and Hattie was stuck holding on to the trunk. The wind whipped her hair round her face, and Hattie’s fingers began to lose their grip. The tree started swaying dangerously from side to side, and Hattie slipped, only just managing not to fall.

  ‘Hold on tight, Hattie!’ called Billy from below.

  The faun’s face was fixed in a worried frown as he darted around, ready to catch Hattie if she fell. Beside him, Mith Ickle hovered nervously, shooting out puffs of smoke and flame whenever Ivar passed her, to try to send him off course.

  However, the wind showed no signs of stopping. Just when Hattie was feeling at her most desperate, she was dismayed to see Billy suddenly leave. He galloped through the orchard until he was out of sight completely.

  ‘Where’s Billy gone?’ Hattie called to Mith Ickle, as Ivar whipped up an extra-strong gust of wind.

  Mith Ickle smiled reassuringly up at her. ‘Don’t worry – he’ll be back. Keep holding on, Hattie!’

  The little dragon was right. After less than a minute Billy reappeared, dashing through the trees and holding a long horn.

  What’s that? wondered Hattie.

  She watched as Billy put the horn to his lips and blew as hard as he could. His cheeks turned bright pink as a shrill trumpet sound echoed through the orchard. It was so loud that even Ivar covered his ears with his hands. Hattie, though, didn’t dare let go of the tree trunk.

  It took three blasts on the horn before Hattie saw the effect. A dull thud of hooves galloping on the soft orchard grass was followed by the appearance of two creatures: Themis and Arlon, who arrived as if by magic.

  Even Ivar seemed stunned by their arrival. For a moment, he flew erratically round the tree, and Hattie thought the wind had begun to die down. Then suddenly there was a huge gust and she had to use all her strength to hold on.

  Arlon reacted immediately. He unfolded his huge wings and, within seconds, was gliding through the air in hot pursuit of Ivar.

  Hattie felt a lot safer now, knowing that Themis and Arlon were here to help, and she relaxed her grip on the tree. She watched in awe as Arlon chased the Imp King. The wind Ivar had created was feeble against the power of Arlon’s wings, and the pegasus soon caught up with the nasty imp, whose tiny wings were no match for Arlon’s wide wingspan.

  As Arlon pushed Ivar further and further away from the Great Twister Tree, Hattie heard Billy calling from below.

  ‘Go for it, Hattie!’ he shouted.

  ‘Yes – grab the apple while you can!’ added Mith Ickle, fluttering towards Hattie.

  Glancing up, Hattie could still see the twistabout apple glinting above her.

  Meanwhile, Ivar was struggling to control his flight as he faced Arlon a few metres away.

  Without hesitating, Hattie turned and scrambled up the Great Twister Tree as quickly as she could until the apple was within reach.

  The apple shimmered brightly when she finally wrapped her fingers round it and gently tugged it loose.

  With a beaming smile, Hattie pushed the apple into her pocket, where it glowed through the material. Then she began climbing gently down through the branches.

  Hattie was halfway down the tree when she realized that Arlon had landed on the ground below her, and Ivar was nowhere to be seen – but her relief didn’t last long.

  A tell-tale cackle echoing through the orchard told her he hadn’t gone far. Hattie froze as the cackle turned into a roar so loud it made Hattie and all the gathered creatures jump. Then Ivar’s voice rang out through the trees, more threatening than ever.

  ‘That twistabout apple will not leave this orchard! Oh, you foolish Guardian, beware the mighty Ivar! Beware! Beware!’

  ‘Hattie! Watch out!’

  Billy’s cry made Hattie spin round. She was just in time to see Ivar hurtling towards her, his face twisted in rage.

  ‘Give me that apple!’ he spat, lunging forward and extending a spindly arm in her direction.

  Hattie ducked, and Mith Ickle curled herself protectively round her shoulders. With a loud snort, Themis reared up on his hind legs. Then the majestic unicorn charged towards Ivar, causing the squealing imp to spring back in terror.

  Within seconds, though, the Imp King was back. This time Ivar swooped towards Hattie from above. He flapped his wings as fast as he could and zoomed all around her, stretching out his bony arms as he tried to grab the apple. Hattie batted him away, but she could see he wasn’t going to give up easily.

  As soon as Ivar came dangerously close to her, Themis sprang into action again. The unicorn galloped round the Great Twister Tree so that the determined imp had no hope of getting close enough to take the precious apple from Hattie’s pocket.
/>   Snarling with frustration, Ivar retreated behind the trunk of a nearby tree.

  Hattie knew she needed to find a way to get rid of the wicked imp once and for all. Glancing around, she had an idea. She grabbed a large apple from the branch next to her. Then, using all her might, she threw it right at Ivar – and was delighted to hit her target on the shoulder!

  Encouraged by her success, and Themis’s and Arlon’s shouts of congratulation, Hattie grabbed apples from every branch she could reach and threw them at Ivar as hard as she could. When she ran out of apples, Mith Ickle came to the rescue, flying to the higher branches and delivering more apples into Hattie’s hands.

  ‘Try these, Hattie,’ called Billy, throwing some yellowy-orange apples to her from a short, squat tree that was heavily laden with fruit. ‘They’re bouncer apples. Watch!’

  Billy threw an apple at the ground, and Hattie watched it spring towards Ivar, who only just managed to jump out of the way in time.

  ‘Brilliant!’ cried Hattie, taking the first of the bouncer apples in her hand and hurling it at Ivar. ‘Mith, Billy – join in!’

  As more and more apples hit him, the Imp King’s roars of fury were soon replaced by yelps of pain. Then, as though someone had given them a silent signal, all three friends threw an apple at the same time. One hit Ivar’s leg, another smacked into his chest and the third bounced off his bottom.

  ‘Yow, ow, ouch!’ cried Ivar, hopping on his injured leg and rubbing his sore body. ‘Immie! Immie! Where are you, you useless servant? Help me, worthless imp! NOW!’

  At this, Hattie saw the blue-haired imp emerge from behind a clump of grass, her eyes full of fear.

  ‘What shall I do, Your Majesty?’ she said in a tiny, shaky voice.

  ‘Just – just – oh, just come with me, you pathetic imp!’ huffed Ivar, before turning back towards Hattie. ‘You won’t get away from me again, Guardian!’ he spat, wagging a long thin finger at her. ‘You or your pathetic friends. Soon you won’t have any friends anyway. When I am the supreme leader of Bellua, no creature will listen to you. They will all be under MY command. There will be no place for you in Bellua – EVER AGAIN!’

  Hattie felt Mith Ickle settle round her shoulders, the dragon’s warm little body trembling as Ivar blustered on.

  ‘I know which creature will give me the ultimate power,’ he continued, narrowing his mean eyes, ‘and I know where to find her. Nothing will stop me in my quest. NOTHING! So beware, meddling Guardian. This is not the last you’ll see of me, be certain of that!’

  As Ivar limped away, his cloak swishing behind him, Hattie didn’t doubt his threat for a moment. Feeling suddenly exhausted from climbing trees and throwing apples, she sank to the ground.

  When she looked up, she saw Mith Ickle, Billy, Themis and Arlon gazing at her sympathetically.

  ‘Thanks so much for helping me out,’ she said. ‘Ivar’s getting more and more determined. I wish I knew which creature he’s after next. Maybe we could try to stop him now, before he even …’ Hattie’s voice trailed off as she remembered Archie waiting for her to return and cure his twisted hoof. ‘We need to get back to Unicorn Meadows right now. Come on, everyone – we’d better hurry up. Ivar will have to wait!’

  Then, though her legs were quite wobbly, Hattie jumped up. Billy put out one arm to steady her.

  ‘You are in no state to hurry anywhere, young Guardian,’ said Themis in a kindly voice.

  ‘I … I’m fine,’ replied Hattie. ‘I have to get back to Archie. He needs me!’

  ‘Then let me take you,’ said Arlon, bowing his long neck towards her. ‘Climb on!’

  Encouraged by Mith Ickle and Billy, Hattie gratefully swung her leg over Arlon’s back. Themis gently nudged her with his nose until she had shuffled right up on to the pegasus.

  ‘Hold on tight, Hattie!’ said Arlon, as Hattie threw her arms round his strong neck.

  ‘We’ll see you in Unicorn Meadows!’ called Mith Ickle, who was already in the air and flapping her wings for a head start. Billy looked ready to set off too.

  ‘Gather your strength during the ride, Hattie,’ said Themis. ‘Arlon will take great care of you.’

  Hattie felt a cool breeze as the pegasus spread his wide wings and leapt gracefully from the ground. They soon left Themis behind them, and the trees of the Enchanted Orchard were just a blur of green below. All around her, the Belluan sky glimmered and glittered.

  No fairground ride could ever be this magical, thought Hattie.

  As Arlon soared towards Unicorn Meadows, his passenger looked upon the magical Kingdom of Bellua, her eyes wide with wonder.

  It didn’t take long to reach Archie. He was resting on a clump of emerald-green grass by the arch to the Valley of the Guardians. Beside him, his mother softly nuzzled her young son.

  Arlon landed gently beside them and lowered his neck so that Hattie could easily slide off. He greeted his family warmly, but looked concerned about Archie.

  ‘Mum said you would be back soon,’ whispered Archie, smiling weakly.

  ‘I came as quickly as I could,’ said Hattie, putting her hand on Archie’s fuchsia mane. ‘Now come with me. I promise I’ll look after you and bring you back to your family as soon as I can.’

  The little limping pegasus said goodbye to his parents, and Hattie led him back to the cave, with Mith Ickle and Billy hurrying behind.

  Inside the cave, Hattie found a red-and-blue-checked blanket hanging on an old wooden hook and spread it on the hard stone floor. She settled Archie on it, where he curled up gratefully, with Billy and Mith Ickle watching over him. Hattie quickly looked at the red book again, then began carrying out the instructions.

  She found a sharp knife in the bowl of instruments on the stone table and a small wooden board propped up on one of the cave shelves. She halved the apple then sat down next to Archie. As she carefully cut the first thin slice, her eyes widened in wonder. The flesh of the apple had a golden glow, which was bright enough to be reflected in Archie’s apricot coat.

  When she sprinkled the cinnamon spice on to the twistabout apple, the glow became even brighter, so that the crystal-encrusted walls of the cave twinkled. It looked even more magical than usual! Hattie hoped the apple’s healing effect would be just as powerful.

  ‘Here, take a bite,’ Hattie urged Archie, holding out the slice.

  As Archie began to nibble, Hattie saw his twisted hoof make the smallest of movements. She held out the slice again. ‘Can you eat the whole piece? I think it’s going to work!’

  The young pegasus didn’t need much encouragement. With each bite he took, Hattie could see his injured hoof recovering. After several slices, Archie was almost completely better. Hattie sprinkled a little extra cinnamon spice on the final piece for luck. Then she put the leftover spice in a small jar and added it to the collection of potion bottles on the cave shelves.

  Hattie breathed a sigh of relief as she watched a broad smile spread across her young patient’s face.

  ‘You’ve fixed it, Hattie! You’ve fixed it!’ Archie cried, jumping up and testing out his healed foot.

  ‘Slowly, slowly!’ laughed Hattie. ‘Take a couple of steps with me first.’

  Together they circled the stone table twice before Hattie felt Archie was ready to attempt walking on his own. Although his first solo steps were a bit wobbly, Archie was soon walking steadily. He got faster and faster, until he looked like he might break into a gentle trot!

  ‘Whoa, steady!’ said Billy, as he jumped out of Archie’s way. ‘Do you think you’ve got all your powers back in your hoof now?’

  Archie stamped his foot on to the cave floor with a loud CLOP. A spring of water shot up and sent Mith Ickle flapping into the air with an annoyed screech. Though Billy managed to leap out of the way in time, Hattie was too slow to avoid taking an unexpected shower – much to the amusement of her friends!

  ‘Sorry, Hattie,’ said Archie, looking sheepish as water dripped from Hattie’s nose. ‘Guess I still need to
practise that a bit.’

  Then he tapped his hoof more gently and a much smaller spring appeared. Every drop of water in it shimmered like a beautiful diamond, which vanished with a tiny spark as it hit the cave floor. When the spring had disappeared, instead of a puddle Hattie saw a glinting pegasus charm.

  Hattie picked up the charm and attached it to her bracelet straight away.

  ‘Thanks, Archie,’ she said with a smile. ‘I’d better get you back to your family now. Let me just put my special red book away and we’ll head back outside.’

  ‘OK, Hattie,’ said Archie. Then, as Hattie was closing the book, he flapped his tiny wings and managed to lift himself into the air.

  ‘Hey, I thought you weren’t supposed to try flying until you’re older!’ laughed Hattie, as Archie smiled sheepishly.

  She returned the book to its place on the shelf and then said to her friends, ‘Come on – let’s get going.’

  ‘I can take Archie for you,’ offered Billy, as Hattie made her way towards the cave door. ‘You should get out of Bellua in case Ivar decides to visit again.’

  ‘Hmm, I think you might be right,’ said Hattie, looking out of the window nervously. ‘Thank you for all your help today, Billy. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon. Ivar meant it when he made that threat about getting the ultimate power.’

  ‘Anytime,’ replied Billy, as he guided Archie towards the cave door. ‘I’m always happy to help – you only have to ask.’

  ‘Me too,’ added Mith Ickle, swooping down on to Hattie’s shoulder and nuzzling her neck. ‘Just as I’ve always been.’