An Amazing Rescue (5 page)

‘What’s inside?’ she asked suddenly.

‘I don’t know,’ said Cinders. ‘Like I said, you don’t question Mum.’

‘May I have a look?’

Cinders hesitated then passed the satchel to Pippa. ‘Why not? Mum didn’t tell me I couldn’t show anyone.’

The satchel was surprisingly heavy. Pippa felt all eyes watching her as she opened it up. As the flap fell back a flash of golden light blinded her. She blinked as she carefully opened the satchel wider.

‘One – no,
two
of the missing horseshoes,’ she exclaimed.

‘No!’ Cinders whinnied, the colour draining from her face.

‘Are you sure?’ Stardust and Cloud crowded closer.

‘I don’t understand.’ Cinders had tears in her eyes. ‘Mum doesn’t believe in the legend of the horseshoes so why would she take them?’

‘She nearly had you bury them for ever,’ Cloud said quietly.

There was a shrill neigh and a hooded pony crashed into the clearing. It thundered over to Pippa. She froze in surprise as the hooded pony tore the satchel out of her hands and threw it into the quick-stick mud.

‘Divine!’ squeaked Stardust.

‘Mum?’ Cinders pushed the hood back from the pony’s face.

‘How could you?’ shouted Pippa.

She lunged for the satchel. One moment it was floating in the mud but, just as she reached to save it, there was a loud sucking noise like water being pulled down a giant plughole. The mud belched out one large, brown bubble then closed over the satchel, swallowing it whole.

The golden horseshoes were gone.

Chapter 6

Pippa stared in horror at the powerful quick-stick mud.

‘Oh no!’ neighed Stardust.

Pippa couldn’t let Chevalia disappear with the satchel. ‘The horseshoes!’ she cried, leaping into the mud.

‘Pippa, no!’ shrieked Stardust.

Pippa wasn’t thinking clearly as she plunged her hands into the thick mud, her fingers scrabbling for the satchel.

‘I’ve got it,’ she called. ‘I’ve got hold of the strap.’

But the mud had hold of Pippa. The more she struggled to pull her hands out, the further the mud sucked her down.

Pippa froze, not wanting to risk being pulled down even more.

‘How stupid of me!’ she muttered. How could she have been so reckless?

But she wasn’t the only one not to think. Cloud launched herself into the mud to help Pippa. Somehow they managed to pull the satchel free and toss it to Stardust.

Divine jumped forward. ‘Silly little girl,’ she shouted. ‘This isn’t your battle. Why can’t you mind your own business and go back to where you came from?’ She snatched the satchel from under Stardust’s nose and crashed away into the forest.

Cloud and Pippa were sinking fast.

‘Use my back as a stepping stone to get to solid land,’ Cloud shouted.

Using all her strength, Pippa reached out for a clump of Cloud’s mane and pulled herself on to her back. The added weight made Cloud sink faster. Quickly Pippa jumped for dry ground, landing with a squelch. Mud splattered from her feet, covering Stardust and Cinders. For once Cinders didn’t seem to mind she was dirty. She raced to the nearest tree and began to gnaw at the lowest branch with her teeth.

‘Help me,’ she grunted.

Pippa reached her first, closely followed by Stardust. They wiggled the branch up and down while Cinders continued to chew on it. At last it snapped free.

‘Easy now,’ Cinders said, as she guided it back to the quick-stick mud. She laid the branch over the mud like a bridge. ‘Hold on to the end,’ she called to Cloud.

Cloud held on to the branch with her mouth.

‘Ready, everyone? On the count of three, pull,’ said Cinders.

Pippa’s fingers gripped the branch tightly. As everyone pulled, the bark cut into her hand. She winced but never let go even though it felt like her arm was going to be pulled off. The drag of the mud made Cloud feel ten times heavier than she really was. Sweat trickled down Pippa’s face. Gritting her teeth, she pulled harder. There was a crack like thunder and the branch snapped. Pippa fell backward, and Stardust and Cinders almost fell over too. Cloud was sinking even further into the mud.

Stardust bolted to the edge of the forest, where long vines trailed from the trees. Selecting the strongest-looking vine, she broke it off and brought it back to the mud.

‘Catch,’ she said, throwing one end to Cloud.

The vine fell short. Stardust reeled it in and threw it again. By now Cloud’s back had disappeared and the mud was creeping up her neck. Pippa fought back tears. She couldn’t let anything happen to Cloud, especially as the pony had just saved her life.

‘Let me,’ she said, taking the vine from Stardust.

Pippa took a deep breath as she aimed. The vine snaked across the mud and landed at Cloud’s head. Gratefully Cloud caught it in her teeth.

‘Pull,’ called Pippa. ‘Harder.’

But it was no use. Cloud was stuck – and was sinking even deeper. She was going to disappear into the mud, and it was all Pippa’s fault.

Suddenly, a familiar, rhythmic noise sounded in the air. Pippa glanced up.

‘Peggy,’ she gasped.

The sun flashed on Peggy’s silvery wings, filling Pippa with hope, as the flying horse dived for Cloud. She hovered above the ground and rubbed noses with the terrified pony. The mud began to shake and bubble. Pippa stared in amazement as a set of wings broke through the surface of the mud.

‘You’ve given Cloud wings to fly,’ she breathed.

‘Yes,’ Peggy neighed. ‘I’m allowed to use my magic to help any pony in difficulty, even if they already live here on Chevalia.’

Cloud’s eyes widened in surprise and at once she began flapping her wings, causing the mud to bubble like volcanic lava.

‘Harder,’ Pippa encouraged her.

Cloud’s new wings soon found a rhythm. Mud sprayed off
her in all directions, spattering everyone. Then, with an enormous
pop
, Cloud burst free.

‘Hurrah,’ cheered Pippa.

Cloud rose into the air but the mud on her wings was making her fly lopsidedly. She rolled towards Peggy, slapping her with a muddy wing. Caught off
balance, Peggy reeled backward and landed on the ground. There was a loud
clap
and a flash of brilliant green light. Silence followed.

Everyone stared at Peggy. Her wings had disappeared, leaving her as a pretty, silver-coloured pony.

Cloud reared up, squealing in horror. ‘What have I done? I’m so sorry. How can you ever forgive me?’

A slow smile spread across Peggy’s face. ‘The power is yours now, Cloud. I bestow upon you the magical gift of flight. Use it wisely. There are many ponies in the human world who need help. Go and seek them out and, by rubbing noses with them like I did to you, allow them to fly so that they may come here to the safety of Chevalia.’

‘If there still is a Chevalia,’ Stardust burst out. ‘Divine has run off with two of the horseshoes.’

Cloud hovered above Peggy.

‘Are you sure that’s what you want?’ Cloud asked. ‘I could rub noses with you and transfer the power back.’

Peggy closed her eyes. ‘I’ve loved my job. But I’ve done it for hundreds of years and lately I’ve grown tired. It’s time to step down and let someone younger take my place – if you want to, that is?’

Cloud’s silver-grey chest swelled with pride. ‘I do. I want it more than anything.’

‘Then the power is yours,’ said Peggy. ‘And will be for as long as you stay in the air.’

Stardust was bursting with impatience. ‘But what about the horseshoes?’ she shouted.

‘Can I make them fly?’ Cloud asked, nodding at Stardust and Cinders.

Peggy smiled and whispered, ‘The power is yours.’

Cloud flew to Stardust. Keeping her hooves above the ground, she rubbed noses with her sister. There was a crack and a flash of light. Stardust gasped.

‘I’ve got wings!’