The Special Secret
Read The Special Secret Online
Authors: Chloe Ryder
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A Magical Friend
A Dream Come True
The Special Secret
A Unicorn Adventure!
An Amazing Rescue
Best Friends Forever!
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For Sidonie, a true pony lover
With special thanks to Julie Sykes
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Contents
Will Pippa and Princess Stardust find all the golden horseshoes?
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Early one morning
, just before dawn, two ponies stood in an ancient courtyard, looking sadly at a stone wall.
“In all my life this wall has never been empty. I can't believe that the horseshoes have been takenâand just before Midsummer Day too,” said the stallion.
He was a handsome animalâa copper-colored 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 don't have much 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, the diamonds on her crown sparkling in the early morning light.
“Have faith,” she said gently. “I sense that a miracle is coming.”
“Look how blue the sky is this morning,” said Pippa MacDonald. She was admiring the pretty view of the island from a window high up in Stableside Castle.
“It's always lovely here on Chevalia,” Princess Stardust said, carefully braiding red ribbons into her long white mane.
It might not be if you don't hurry up
, Pippa thought.
It wasn't Stardust's fault that as a princess pony, and seventh in line to the throne, she was expected to always look her best. And it certainly wasn't Stardust's fault that the island of Chevalia was in danger.
Pippa picked up a comb and started brushing Stardust's tail. It was so long it hung down to the floor and Pippa had to kneel to reach it. She could still hardly believe that, while on vacation with her family, she'd been brought to Chevalia, a magical island where ponies can talk. Pippa had discovered that Chevalia was in grave danger. The eight golden horseshoes that gave life to the island had been stolen from the ancient wall in the castle courtyard. If they weren't all back in their places on Midsummer Day, so that they could have their magical energy renewed by the Midsummer sun, then Chevalia would fade away.
With Stardust's help Pippa had already found two horseshoes, but now there were just four days until Midsummer, and six horseshoes were still missing.
Placing the comb on the dresser, Pippa stood back to admire her work. Then she put on the pretty dress that had magically appeared overnight and was neatly laid out for her on a chair.
“Can we search the Horseshoe Hills today?” she asked.
“But it's Harvest Day,” Stardust said, studying her reflection in a long mirror. “Everyone who attends Canter's Prep School for Fine Equine is expected to go to the Grasslands to bring the harvest home. That includes me.”
“Oh!” Pippa's heart sank.
Even though Chevalia was under threat, Stardust's parents, Queen Moonshine and King Firestar, were determined that the Royal Family continue their many traditions so as not to worry everyone.
“Harvest Day is fun,” Stardust assured her. “And it's not all work. The best part is the picnic lunchâit's like a party with all our favorite things to eat, like carrots dipped in linseed oil.”
