Free Best Friends For Ever! by Chloe Ryder Page A

early birds – Stardust’s brothers and sisters were already at their feeding troughs. No one seemed to be eating much, though. Princess Crystal rolled an apple around three times without even taking a bite and Prince Comet’s hot bran mash grew cold while he listlessly flicked through a book.
    ‘It’s the last day today,’ Princess Honey said bravely, as Pippa and Stardust squeezed in beside her.
    ‘Please don’t start to worry yet,’ Pippa said.
     

     
    She was shocked by Honey’s untidy appearance. Pretty Honey usually took such care of herself and was a regular customer at the Mane Street Salon, but this morning her mane was tangled and she wasn’t wearing any hoof polish.
    Pippa ate a dish of fresh fruit salad without tasting any of it.
    ‘We should go up the Volcano today,’ she declared. ‘I bet that’s where Divine has hidden the last horseshoe.’
    Yesterday Stardust and Pippa discovered that it was Baroness Divine, a courtier, who had stolen the horseshoes. She foolishly believed that she could make a better life for herself without the Royal Ponies.
    ‘That’s if she hasn’t already destroyed the horseshoe,’ Stardust said glumly.
    Comet snapped his book shut. ‘I don’t understand it. I thought every adult pony has read the ancient scrolls but clearly Divine hasn’t,’ he said. ‘If she had read them then she’d know how, a long time ago, Chevalia was little more than a volcano surrounded by the sea. It’s the eight golden horseshoes that allowed it to grow into the wonderful island it is today and they must have their magical energy renewed for all our sakes.’
    ‘Peggy told me that story yesterday,’ said Pippa. ‘She also mentioned her friend Nightingale, the scientist-magician.’
    Comet nodded. ‘Yes, it was Nightingale who discovered the magical gold buried in the volcanic rock. She used it to fashion the horseshoes.’
    ‘Mum used to tell me that story at bedtime but I thought it was just a story for little foals.’ Stardust stared around the dining room. ‘Where is Mum? Is she still in bed?’
    ‘Mum and Dad were up long before us,’ Crystal answered. ‘I think they went to the courtyard.’
    ‘Let’s go and find them,’ Stardust said, leaving most of her oaty breakfast untouched.
    Queen Moonshine and King Firestar were indeed in the courtyard, standing close together and staring forlornly at the ancient Whispering Wall. Seven horseshoes sparkled in the early morning sun but, in spite of their brightness, Pippa’s eyes were drawn to the gap where the eighth horseshoe should have been hanging. The bare space made her feel like a failure.
     

     
    A shadow fell over the courtyard. Glancing up, Pippa saw Princess Cloud hovering above her in the air.
    Queen Moonshine called out a greeting to her daughter and Cloud swooped lower, taking care to keep her hooves away from the stone floor, because touching down would mean losing her wings.
    ‘I’ve got a plan,’ the Queen said urgently. ‘Cloud, if you rub noses with every pony on the island then, come sunset, when the island begins to fade, everyone could fly away to safety.’
    ‘But that would take Cloud ages,’ squeaked Stardust.
    ‘And where would the ponies go?’ asked Pippa.
    ‘They could find homes in the human world,’ the Queen said.
    Pippa shook her head. ‘Many of the ponies came here from the human world because they were neglected or treated badly there. We can’t send them back again. And it isn’t over yet – there’s still time to find the last missing horseshoe.’
    ‘Pippa MacDonald, you’ve already faced so many dangers in your quest and Chevalia is already in your debt. It’s not right for us to ask even more of you.’
    ‘I’m not giving up now.’ Pippa’s eyes burned with determination. ‘I promised to save Chevalia and I will!’
    ‘Stardust,’ said the Queen, ‘make your friend see sense. It’s too dangerous.’
    Stardust tossed her head. ‘No, Mum. Pippa is right. We