A Magical Friend

by Chloe Ryder

  With special thanks to Julie Sykes

  Contents

  The Pony Royal Family

  Map of Chevalia

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chevalia Now!

  Early one morning, just before dawn, two ponies stood in an ancient courtyard, looking sadly at a bare stone wall.

  ‘In all my life this wall has never been empty. I can’t believe that the horseshoes have been taken – and just before Midsummer Day too,’ said the stallion.

  He was a handsome animal – a copper-coloured pony, with strong legs and bright eyes, dressed in a royal red sash.

  The mare was a dainty yet majestic palomino with a golden coat and a pure white tail that fell to the ground like a waterfall.

  She whinnied softly. ‘We have so little time to find them all.’

  With growing sadness the two ponies watched the night fade away and the sun rise. When the first ray of sunlight spread into the courtyard it lit up the wall, showing the imprints where the golden horseshoes should have been hanging.

  ‘Midsummer Day is the longest day of the year,’ said the stallion quietly. ‘It’s the time when our ancient horseshoes must renew their magical energy. If the horseshoes are still missing in eight days, then by nightfall on the eighth day, their magic will fade and our beautiful island will be no more.’

  Sighing heavily, he touched his nose to his Queen’s.

  ‘Only a miracle can save us now,’ he said.

  The Queen dipped her head regally, the diamonds on her crown sparkling in the early morning light.

  ‘Have faith,’ she said gently. ‘I sense that a miracle is coming.’

  Chapter 1

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

  ‘Steady, girl,’ Pippa said, checking her with the reins.

  None of the other riders had ridden a clear 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 red rosette. 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 to give Snowdrop her head as she pushed her pony into the jump. Snowdrop leapt over it eagerly, carrying Pippa upwards. 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, curly hair that was neatly held in place by a hairnet. Snowdrop cleared the wall, triumphantly flicking her tail as she landed.

  ‘Yes!’ Pippa shouted, galloping Snowdrop over the finishing 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 showjumping arena and the cheering crowds vanished. She blinked and stared round 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, grey. Pippa’s favourite picture of all was of Snowdrop, a silver-coloured pony with deep brown eyes.

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

  ‘Are you ready, sweetheart?’ Mum asked from the doorway.

  ‘Nearly!’ Pippa called, hastily jumping off the bed and following her mum downstairs. ‘Did you remember to pack my swimming costume?’

  ‘Of course,’ Mum said, smiling. ‘Now off you go and get ready!’

  It was boiling hot and Pippa was glad that she, her mum, Miranda and their little brother, Jack, were going on holiday, swapping their terrace 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 Mum to unlock the car so that they could load the luggage into the boot.

  ‘You’re so immature,’ Miranda chided, rolling her eyes as she climbed into the passenger seat.

  Mum snapped Jack into his car seat and Pippa took her usual seat in the back, beside her brother.

  ‘We’re off!’ cheered Pippa as Mum started the engine.

  Dreamily, Pippa stared out of the window, watching the busy city streets gradually change to green fields filled with horses, cows and sheep, until, at last, they arrived at their holiday home.

  ‘Wow! Is it all ours?’ Pippa exclaimed, as Mum pulled up in front of a small, white cottage surrounded by a huge garden. ‘I could have a pony if we lived here.’

  ‘Yes, the garden’s big enough!’ Mum agreed, rummaging in her handbag for the key to the front door.

  The cottage was right by the sea. Pippa breathed deeply, loving the smell of the fresh, salty air.

  ‘Can we go to the beach?’ she asked.

  Mum laughed at her impatience. ‘Let’s unpack the car first. If we’re going to the beach you’ll want to take your buckets and spades.’

  ‘I’ll help,’ Pippa said enthusiastically, pulling her bag from the boot.

  The cottage was even prettier inside than out. Pippa loved the attic bedroom, even though she had to share it with Miranda. It had sloping walls, a sea view and, to Pippa’s delight, there was an old horseshoe nailed to one of the roof beams.

  ‘Horseshoes are lucky,’ she said happily.

  Pippa skipped down the stairs into the kitchen, where Mum was searching their luggage for the bag containing the food.

  ‘We’ll have our lunch on the beach,’ she said, packing sandwiches, cake, apples and drinks into a picnic hamper.

  The gate at the end of the garden opened on to a winding path that led down to the sea. Pippa was too excited to walk along it. Instead she galloped down the path, pretending to be a fiery stallion, until she reached a horseshoe-shaped cove. Pippa stared in wonder at the golden sand and sparkling blue water stretching away from her.

  The cove felt so secret and special it made Pippa’s insides fizz with excitement.

  ‘It’s magic,’ she whispered softly.

  Pulling off her sandals, she ran across the powdery sand to the sea, where tiny, white-crested waves were licking the shore. Just as Pippa was about to paddle in the water, her eyes were drawn far out to sea. What was that at the mouth of the cove?

  Pippa stared in amazement at two animals splashing in the water. ‘They look just like seahorses!’ she gasped.

  Pippa raised her arm to shield her eyes from the sun so she could take a better look. They really did look like seahorses, and they were almost as big as real horses, with gracefully curved necks bobbing above the water and long spines sticking up along a spiky mane. One was pale pink and the other was green with dark freckles. Pippa blinked and rubbed her eyes, sure she was imagining things, but when she looked again the two animals were still there, splashing water at each other with their curled tails.

  Behind her Pippa could hear Mum, Miranda and Jack laughing together as they made their way on to the beach.

  ‘Quick!’ she called, waving at them. ‘Look at this!’

  ‘What is it, darling?’

  ‘Seahorses,’ Pippa said.

  ‘Where? I can’t see them!’ Jack wailed.

  ‘Seahorses!’ Miranda exclaimed. ‘How can you see a tiny seahorse from here?’

>   ‘They’re giant ones,’ Pippa said.

  ‘I can’t see anything.’ Mum stared out to sea.

  Miranda giggled as she ran over. ‘I see them! The red one’s wearing a hat!’

  Pippa’s heart leapt, then sank right down to her bare toes. Miranda was teasing her! Besides, the sea was empty now. The seahorses had disappeared.

  ‘I did see two seahorses,’ Pippa insisted. ‘They were playing together.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, Pip. There’s no such thing as a giant seahorse,’ Miranda said scornfully.

  ‘Pippa, you’re too big for that sort of make-believe,’ Mum said gently. ‘Come and help me set out the picnic.’

  Pippa gazed at the sea but there was nothing there except for the herring gulls gliding over the bay. But the seahorses were real – Pippa knew she hadn’t imagined them. Full of confusion, she hurried after Mum.

  ‘Do I have to eat now?’ she asked. ‘I’d like to have a paddle first.’

  ‘Go on then,’ Mum said. ‘Be careful. Don’t go deeper than your knees.’

  Pippa ran back to the water’s edge. The sea was lovely and warm. She waded out until she was knee deep. The water was so clear she could still see her feet. Pippa wiggled her toes in the sand.

  ‘Ooooh,’ she said. ‘That tickles!’

  Looking down, Pippa saw two tiny seahorses swimming around her feet.

  ‘Wow! This place is full of seahorses!’

  Pippa bent down for a closer look.

  The moment her fingers touched the water they began to tingle. The feeling was so incredible that Pippa felt sure some kind of magic was at work. Gently, she moved her fingers to get the seahorse to swim to her hand. The tiny animal was almost there when, suddenly, with a loud whoosh, the sea rose up in a peak in the shape of the head and forelegs of a galloping horse.

  ‘Eek!’ Pippa squealed.

  But the wave didn’t crash.

  Two giant seahorses popped through the motionless wave and examined Pippa with their big eyes.

  ‘You are real!’ she exclaimed. ‘I knew I hadn’t imagined it.’

  Pippa waded closer to the giant creatures and, knowing they meant her no harm, stood on her tiptoes to gently stroke their noses.

  ‘Your name, Pippa, is short for Philippa, which means lover of ponies,’ said the pink seahorse.

  ‘That’s right,’ stuttered Pippa, who couldn’t believe she was talking to a giant seahorse.

  ‘Then you are the one,’ said the green seahorse.

  ‘My name is Rosella,’ the pink seahorse continued. ‘And this is Triton. We’ve come to take you to a place that needs your help.’

  With a flick of her pink tail, Rosella scooped Pippa up, placing her gently on her back. The wave melted away and both seahorses surged forward through the foam.

  ‘Where are we going?’ Pippa asked.

  ‘To Chevalia!’

  Chapter 2

  Pippa could hardly believe that she was riding a giant seahorse far out to sea. Rosella swam on, diving in and out of the waves, as Pippa clung to her gracefully arched neck. In a strange way, it was like riding a pony. Pippa stared at the delicate ears and long spines sticking out from the animal’s neck.

  Triton, the great, green seahorse, was swimming alongside her.

  ‘Are you comfortable?’ he asked kindly.

  His voice was soft and deep, and it stopped Pippa from feeling scared. For a moment she was too speechless to answer.

  ‘Yes, thank you,’ she murmured at last. ‘Are you taking me back to my mum? She’ll be worrying like mad.’

  Both seahorses chuckled.

  ‘We’re taking you somewhere very special, where time exists in a bubble,’ explained Rosella in a gentle, feminine voice. ‘You can stay there as long as you like and you won’t be missed, for time will not pass in your own world.’

  ‘Where is it?’ asked Pippa, her voice quivering with excitement.

  ‘The island of Chevalia,’ said the seahorses.

  Pippa looked out to the horizon and saw a large island fringed with a long, sandy beach.

  ‘Wow!’

  Pippa stared at the island in amazement. It was the most beautiful place she’d ever seen. So many questions were bubbling inside her but, before she could ask anything more, Rosella tipped her into the water and nudged her gently ashore.

  ‘Chevalia is in danger but you can help save it,’ said Rosella.

  ‘Me? But how?’

  ‘That is your quest,’ said Triton.

  ‘Good luck, Pippa, lover of ponies,’ called Rosella.

  She dived under the water with Triton and they swam away.

  Pippa scrambled to her feet. She was standing on a sandy beach edged with leafy, green trees. At first it was very quiet. The only sound was the soft hiss of the sea gently lapping the shore.

  Suddenly she heard a low drumming. Squinting into the sun, she saw a pony galloping towards her along the beach. Its long tail streamed out like a banner and golden sand sprayed up from its hooves. Pippa’s heart was racing. Who was this coming to meet her?

  With a snort of surprise, the pony pulled up, sliding to a stop a short way from Pippa. It was pure white and wore a tiara studded with sparkling, pink diamonds. The pony’s dark brown eyes shone with excitement.

  ‘A girl!’ Reaching out, the pony touched Pippa with a velvety nose. ‘A real, live girl!’

  Pippa stared back.

  ‘Y-you . . . you can talk?’ she stuttered. Pippa couldn’t take her eyes off her. She was the most beautiful pony she’d ever seen.

  ‘Of course,’ said the pony, tossing her head. ‘All ponies can talk, but only special humans can hear us. I’m Princess Stardust, seventh foal of the Queen and King of Chevalia. What’s your name?’

  ‘Pippa,’ she answered. ‘I’m the . . . second child . . . of the MacDonald family . . . of Burlington Terrace.’

  ‘Have you been sent to help us?’ Stardust’s voice trembled.

  ‘Help you?’ repeated Pippa.

  ‘To find the missing horseshoes,’ said Stardust impatiently. ‘If the eight magical horseshoes aren’t found and returned to the Whispering Wall in time for sundown on Midsummer Day, then Chevalia will be lost for ever. Quick! Jump on my back. I’ll take you to the Castle to meet my mother and father.’

  Excitement and fear fizzled through Pippa. She was on a secret island with talking ponies and she was going to meet the Queen and King! She’d only ridden a few times – and never bareback. But here in Chevalia, anything seemed possible. Pushing aside her fears, she swiftly vaulted on to Stardust’s back.

  ‘Hold on to my mane!’ called Stardust.

  As Pippa sank her hands into Stardust’s silky mane, the pony spun round and galloped across the beach towards the trees.

  ‘We’ll cut through the Wild Forest,’ Stardust neighed. ‘It’s out of bounds but it’s the quickest way home.’

  Pippa caught a glimpse of eight tall turrets rising above the treetops. The turrets disappeared as Stardust entered the Wild Forest. Pippa shivered as the dark woods swallowed them too.

  Chapter 3

  There were lots of ponies in the forest, all with tangled manes and dirty coats. They were playing chasing games and having such fun Pippa almost wished that there was time to stop and meet them. But Stardust thundered on, dodging bramble bushes and jumping over fallen trees. Pippa sat firmly, gripping with her knees and ducking to avoid the low-hanging branches. The Wild Forest was on the side of a hill and, as it grew steeper, Stardust slowed. She was breathing noisily and her sides were heaving.

  ‘Stardust, stop and let me walk,’ Pippa called out, concerned.

  ‘It’s too dangerous for you,’ panted Stardust. ‘The forest is filled with quick-stick mud that would swallow you whole.’

  Pippa gulped. She didn’t like the idea of being eaten by mud.

  ‘But don’t worry,’ added Stardust. ‘I know the way!’

  A little while later, the woods began to thin. Stardust sped up as th
ey broke through the trees and came out on the edge of a large, grassy plateau. On the opposite side to the Wild Forest was a range of hills. To the right, at the other end of the plain, Pippa saw a wide road, a collection of buildings and a Sand School, where a group of ponies was gathered. Stardust started to gallop across the plain towards the hills when one of the ponies, waddling on stubby legs, noticed her.

  ‘Princess Stardust! Come here at once!’ she bellowed out.

  Stardust pretended not to hear, until the pony broke away from the group and galloped after them.

  ‘Oh, horseflies!’ Stardust exclaimed, pulling up and waiting.

  ‘Who is it?’ Pippa asked curiously, as the stocky, brown pony hurried towards them.

  Stardust rolled her eyes. ‘Mrs Steeplechase, our nanny. She’s just taken my brothers and sisters to school. I should be there too.’

  Mrs Steeplechase stopped in front of Stardust, her nostrils flaring angrily.

  ‘What do you think you are doing? The Wild Forest is strictly out of bounds.’

  ‘Sorry,’ Stardust apologised. ‘I thought school had been cancelled because of the emergency. I was looking for the missing horseshoes but instead I found Pippa. She’s been sent to help us. Isn’t that fantastic?’

  Suddenly Mrs Steeplechase noticed Pippa.

  ‘A human girl!’ she snorted with alarm. ‘And what’s she doing riding on your back as if you were just any old pony? Get down, girl. You can walk the rest of the way.’

  ‘But –’ said Stardust.

  ‘Don’t argue,’ said Mrs Steeplechase fiercely. ‘She might be dangerous. I dread to think what Queen Moonshine and King Firestar will say about this. A girl indeed!’

  Pippa’s heart sank. She hoped that the King and Queen weren’t as unfriendly as the royal nanny. Pink with embarrassment, she slid down from Stardust’s back.