Princess Ponies 2 (5 page)

Pippa set off at a run, haring across the headland as if she were racing in the Equestriathon herself. The ground was bumpy and covered in long, spiky grass that whipped against her legs. She gritted her teeth and ignored it. She ran so fast, and with her head down, that she almost missed the path. Pulling up sharply, Pippa turned left and stumbled down the steep track. Stones rattled under her feet, and once she slipped and nearly fell. Throwing her arms out to save herself, she flushed hot with panic. Luckily, she regained her balance and carried on, more slowly this time.

Far away, the seahorses watched, bobbing up and down in the water so urgently that Pippa thought this must be an emergency. The path turned abruptly, catching Pippa totally unawares and causing her to trip up. One minute she was running, the next she was pitching head first down the path. She was so shocked that her heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she curled into a ball. She tumbled to the ground, hitting the path with a dull thud and rolling a short distance, until she stopped.

‘Ouch!’

Now her heart was banging like a
crazy drum. Everything ached. Gingerly, Pippa sat up and tested her arms and legs. She was amazed and relieved to discover that nothing was broken. Dusting the dirt and grit from her clothes, she took several deep breaths to steady herself then stood up slowly.

Out at sea the seahorses seemed to be still now. Pippa waved to show that she wasn’t hurt. But as she started off again something pinged against her ankle. Stopping, she stared at her foot.

‘No!’ Pippa said in dismay.

The strap of
her sandal had snapped, leaving the shoe hanging uselessly off her foot. Pippa stared at it for a moment then quickly tied the broken ends together. The strap wasn’t long enough and kept coming undone. In desperation, she pulled a crumpled tissue from her pocket and wound it around the broken strap like a bandage. But as soon as she took a step the tissue fell away. Crossly, Pippa pulled the sandal off. Now what was she going to do?

Chapter 5

There was only one solution. Unbuckling the other sandal, Pippa slid it off then, holding a shoe in each hand, she bravely set off again. Dust oozed between her toes and tiny stones bit into her feet. Pippa ran on, wincing with pain and hobbling each time she stood on a really sharp stone. She was much slower without shoes, but she continued down the winding cliff path as fast as she could. She just hoped the seahorses would wait for her.

At last, the path flattened out and she could see the beach ahead. With an extra spurt of speed, Pippa ran on to the white sand, squealing with delight at its welcome softness. Faster now, she hurtled across the beach and splashed into the sea. The water was deliciously cold and soothing for her aching feet. She waded out until the sea reached her knees.

The seahorses met her, their enormous, curved tails brushing the seabed. Dipping their heads, they each touched their noses against Pippa’s.

‘Well done,’ Rosella said, her eyes sparkling proudly.

‘You were very brave just now,’ added Triton, his voice gentle and deep.

Pippa flushed. She didn’t feel brave – more annoyed that she’d fallen and broken her shoe.

‘Have you found something?’ she asked.

‘I believe we have,’ said Triton.

Pippa’s heart leapt with joy then instantly plummeted as she could tell from the seahorses’ anxious faces that it wasn’t all good news.

‘Is it a horseshoe?’ she asked.

‘We think so,’ said Rosella. ‘Something shiny and glittery is wedged in the rocks at the end of that jut of land. Can you see it?’

Pippa stared into the distance. She could see the rocks – three of them, with jagged tops and steep sides – but that was all. She took a step sideways and saw something flash.

‘Yes,’ she said, her voice rising with excitement. ‘There’s definitely something sparkly between the middle and end rocks.’

‘You’ll have to hurry,’ warned
Triton. ‘The tide has turned and very soon those rocks will be under water.’

‘Once the sea comes in it will be too late,’ added Rosella. ‘There’s a nasty whirlpool around those rocks. It’s very dangerous. Even with our magic we’re not strong enough to get close to them.’

Pippa sized up the rocks. They were so far away and the sea was rapidly creeping up them. Suddenly she felt very small and alone. Could she really do this by hersel
f
?

‘I must!’ she said forcefully.

Pippa rushed along the beach. The sand was soft under her bare feet but running down the path from the headland had taken more out of her than she’d realised. The muscles in her legs ached with every step. She could feel herself slowing and, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make her legs work any faster. She was conscious of the water bubbling up the beach, its frothy white fingers curling around the rocks. What if the tide beat her and the whirlpool prised the golden horseshoe free and whisked it out to sea?

‘No!’ she panted. She couldn’t let that happen. All eight of the golden horseshoes had to be in place on the Whispering Wall in time for Midsummer Day so that their magical energy could be renewed and Chevalia could be kept safe.

There was such a long way to go. It seemed hopeless, but Pippa didn’t give up. On she ran, her heart pounding loudly in her ears, blotting out all other sounds. It was only when a shadow fell over her that she realised she wasn’t alone.

‘Stardust!’ she squealed.

‘You’d been gone such a long time I was starting to worry. I had to come and check you were OK. Get on my back,’ Stardust called, slowing to a walk.

‘I’m so happy to see you!’ exclaimed Pippa.

‘Well, what are best friends for?’

Pippa stumbled alongside her. Her legs were trembling and she didn’t think she had enough energy to jump on to Stardust’s back. Stardust seemed to realise this because she stopped and knelt down on her forelegs.

‘I hope Mrs Steeplechase isn’t watching right now!’ she joked.

Pippa couldn’t help laughing too. The royal nanny was so strict she wouldn’t care if all seven of the missing horseshoes were in danger of being swept out to sea – manners and behaving like a proper Princess Pony came first!

Climbing astride Stardust’s back, Pippa sunk her hands into her silky mane and wound it around them.

‘Comfortable?’

‘Very,’ said Pippa.

She lurched sideways as Stardust rose up, only just remembering to squeeze her legs into Stardust’s flanks to prevent herself from sliding over the pony’s head.

‘Let’s go,’ Stardust called, bucking with excitement as she raced away.

Pippa leaned forward like a jockey, taking some of her weight from Stardust’s back as they galloped across the beach. Sand sprayed up from Stardust’s hooves and her long, white tail streamed behind her like a silky banner.

Was it her imagination or was the sea coming in even faster now? Pippa couldn’t take her eyes off it as she willed it to slow down. It was no good. The sea closed in, licking against the bottom of the rocks and becoming deeper and deeper, until it spun round them in circles, like water whirling round a plughole.

‘Faster!’ Pippa cried urgently.

She threw herself flat against Stardust’s neck, making herself as streamlined as possible. Stardust
galloped harder, her breath coming in
noisy rasps. Gradually, the rocks came closer, but poor Stardust was exhausted. As she lost speed, Pippa could hardly bear to watch the sea’s greedy, blue fingers reaching up the rocks to the glittering object wedged there.

Bravely, Stardust galloped on but her stride was shorter and she kept stumbling. Now they were closer there was no doubt that the glittering object was a golden horseshoe. But there was still some distance to go to reach it. A white wave lapped over the horseshoe.

‘Oh no!’ groaned Pippa.

They’d finally found the second horseshoe but any second now they were about to lose it again.

Chapter 6

A pony was thundering up behind them, neighing loudly. Was it Mrs Steeplechase? Pippa could hardly bear to look. But no, surely the royal nanny was too large to gallop that fast. Turning her head, she saw that it was Blossom.

‘Blossom!’ exclaimed Pippa. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘When the racecourse turned a corner I saw you both from the cliff top. You promised you’d watch me and I knew you wouldn’t let me down, so I guessed something must be wrong if you were down here on the beach. What’s happened?’