Princess Ponies 2 (2 page)

‘Don’t mind her,’ she said. ‘Big sisters just don’t understand.’

‘She still treats me like I’m a foal,’ said Stardust.

‘She may have a bigger tiara,’ Pippa said, smiling, ‘but you have a girl for a best friend.’

‘Yes, I have,’ Stardust said, smiling back and following her sister.

Reaching the wooden door that opened on to the courtyard, Crystal stopped and turned around. ‘It’s Royal Family only,’ she said haughtily. ‘Your pet should wait here.’

‘Pippa’s my best friend and she’s here to save Chevalia,’ said Stardust. ‘That makes her the same as family!’

Crystal rolled her eyes. ‘You exhaust me,’ she neighed, leading the way.

Stardust and Pippa joined the Royal Ponies gathered in the courtyard. Crystal and Prince Jet stood to attention, nudging each other for the best position to greet their mum and dad. Prince Comet had his nose buried in a book. Honey was doing twirls to show off her glittery new hoof polish, while Cloud was mumbling grumpily. Prince Storm strode in last, covered in mud, causing Crystal to snort crossly.

‘Storm, you could have washed. You look like you just trotted off the farm!’

‘I did,’ he replied. ‘The fields won’t plough themselves.’

‘Stop bickering, children,’ chided Mrs Steeplechase, the royal nanny. She pushed the Royal Ponies into an orderly line, ready to welcome the King and Queen. ‘I trust you’ve all had breakfast and are ready for the Royal Games?’

Pippa’s stomach rumbled noisily as she looked at Stardust in alarm.

‘Games?’ she asked. ‘But I thought we were going to search for the missing horseshoes?’

‘Was that your stomach, Princess Stardust?’ Mrs Steeplechase tutted crossly. Dipping her head inside her satchel, she brought out a shiny red apple and tossed it to Stardust, who deftly caught it in her mouth. She threw another apple to Pippa.

‘Thank you,’ Stardust and Pippa said.

‘Hmmph!’ snorted Mrs Steeplechase. ‘Just don’t be late for breakfast again.’

Pippa stared at the stone wall, where one lonely golden horseshoe sparkled in the sunlight. There were still seven empty spaces left to fill.
Suddenly she didn’t feel so hungry any more.

Stardust followed Pippa’s gaze to the Whispering Wall.

‘The Royal Games are very important –’ she started, but she was interrupted as the Queen and King trotted regally into the courtyard.

As one the Royal Ponies straightened up, with their ears held forward. Bowing their heads, they whinnied, ‘Good morning, Mother. Good  morning, Father.’

The Queen looked up at the wall and then turned to address her children. ‘The annual Royal Games are taking place today and, although Chevalia is in danger, it’s important that we keep up with our traditions. The whole island will be looking to us for how to behave. If we panic about the missing horseshoes, then everyone will panic. Do you understand?’

The Royal Ponies nodded and chorused, ‘Yes, Mother.’

‘Stardust,’ Pippa whispered, ‘if the Royal Games are so important then maybe I should look for the horseshoes on my own?’

‘Don’t do that,’ said Stardust. ‘You’ll miss out on the fun. There are so many great events – dressage, showjumping, horseshoe-tossing, polo, and the Equestriathon race around the entire island!’

‘The Games do sound amazing,’ said Pippa.

‘They take place on the Plateau,’ explained Stardust, ‘on the far side of Mane Street. It’s not too far from the beaches, so we can search them afterwards.’

‘OK,’ Pippa said, feeling a little happier that Stardust wasn’t completely forgetting about the horseshoes. ‘We’ll stick together.’

‘Like best friends,’ said Stardust.

‘Like best friends,’ Pippa agreed, stroking Stardust’s long, soft mane.

Queen Moonshine whispered something into her husband’s ear then turned and nodded at Pippa.

Pippa flushed and her stomach did a cartwheel. She could guess what the Queen had said. The Royal Ponies and the ponies of Chevalia were depending on her.

‘We
will
find the missing horseshoes,’ Pippa said determinedly.

Chapter 2

Queen Moonshine lined her family up in age order. Princess Crystal was first, perfectly groomed and dressed in her best tiara, looking every bit the Queen-in-training. She was followed by her three brothers and three sisters, with Stardust, the youngest Royal Pony, at the end.

‘What a fuss,’ Storm said quietly. ‘I don’t know why I have to go to the Royal Games when there’s so much to do on the farm before the harvest.’

‘But the polo team needs you,’ said Stardust. ‘You’re their best player.’

‘Do you play polo, Stardust?’ asked Pippa.

‘I wish I could play but Mrs Steeplechase won’t let me. She says I’m too young.’ She sighed crossly. ‘The only game they let me play is horseshoe-tossing, which is for babies.’

The King and Queen led the Royal Family from Stableside Castle to the Plateau at a smart trot. Pippa was glad that Mrs Steeplechase had allowed her to ride on Stardust’s back or she might not have kept up. Pippa looked out for the missing horseshoes as she rode towards the Royal Games grounds. Away to her left was the Wild Forest. She was surprised to see that three ponies were gathered by the edge of the trees. The largest, a stocky pony, was cloaked in a dark grey coat and hood, with a few strands of chestnut mane showing. There was something familiar about it.

‘Stardust,’ Pippa whispered urgently, ‘who’s that over there by the Wild Forest?’

‘Where?’ asked Stardust.

‘Right there,’ Pippa said, pointing. But when she looked again, the ponies had disappeared into the woods.

‘Was it the wild ponies? They’re brilliant fun. I wish I was allowed to play with them,’ Stardust said wistfully.

Pippa fell silent. They hadn’t looked like wild ponies and Pippa was sure she’d seen the large, hooded animal before. If only she could remember where.

As they approached the Royal Games grounds, the delicious smells of warm bran mash and steamed carrot juice drifted towards Pippa. An enormous horseshoe arch marked the entrance. It was decorated with red, blue, yellow, green, pink and purple rosettes, and their silk ribbons fluttered colourfully in the light breeze. One by one, the Royal Family ducked under the horseshoe arch, to the rapturous hoof-stamping of the hundreds of gathered ponies. The Queen led them into the royal box, which was higher than the rest of the audience and gave an excellent view of the entire show ring.

Conscious that the whole crowd could see her, Pippa carefully slid off Stardust’s back. There was a loud crackle followed by a shrill whinny, then a deep voice sounded over the tannoy system.

‘Ponies and foals, please show your appreciation for the arrival of Their Majesties Queen Moonshine, King Firestar, the Prince and Princess Ponies: Crystal, Jet, Cloud, Honey, Comet, Storm and – not forgetting the little foal of the family – Stardust. Plus our very special guest Pippa MacDonald.’

There was a thunderous roar and the ground shook with even more stamping. Pippa’s face felt hot and her chest tightened as she stared shyly at the enormous crowd. She’d never seen so many ponies all in one place. There was every kind, from tiny Shetlands with shaggy manes covering their eyes to magnificent thoroughbreds with highly polished coats.

‘Mmm, can you smell that carrot juice?’ said Stardust. ‘I could drink a whole trough of it.’

‘You’re only hungry because you slept through breakfast,’ Cloud said irritably.

‘I could drink a troughful of carrot juice too,’ said Honey. ‘Let’s go and get some together. Do you like my hooves by the way? I wasn’t sure which colour to paint them.’

‘I
love
your hooves,’ said Stardust.

‘They are pretty,’ Pippa said, taking in Honey’s glittery pink-and-purple-striped hooves.

‘Where did you get the polish from?’ asked Stardust.

‘The Mane Street Salon. Excuse me!’ Honey said indignantly, as Crystal and Jet pushed past to get to the front of the royal box.

‘Out of my way, Jet. The crowds are here to see me,’ said Crystal.

‘No, they’re not,’ Jet said, winking at a group of young fillies and grinning when they blushed. ‘It’s me they’ve come for.’

‘Well, they’re certainly not here for me,’ Storm said, grinning at Pippa.

‘I’m not surprised,’ Crystal said moodily. ‘You might have cleaned up your hooves at least, Storm, if you’re going to stand in the royal box.’

‘Don’t worry, Storm,’ Stardust whispered. ‘No one’s interested in me either.’

Pippa sighed. Stardust seemed to have forgotten they had an important job to do.

‘I’m going to start looking for the horseshoes,’ Pippa said impatiently.

‘Wait for me! Sorry, Honey, I’ve got to go,’ added Stardust. She hurried after Pippa, stepping out of the royal box and into the crowd.

‘We’ll never find anything here. There are too many ponies around!’ Pippa said in despair. Then she thought of something. ‘Do you think the crowd would help us?’

‘That’s a great idea!’ said Stardust.

Stardust’s enthusiasm was infectious and she soon had a group of eager ponies helping her to search the showground. Pippa tried asking for their help too but many of the ponies just gaped at her in awe. They had never seen a real, live girl before. In the end she gave up asking and searched alone, keeping her head down to avoid all the curious stares.