A Magical Friend Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    Stardust splashed with her hooves and Pippa with her feet. They disappeared in a shower of water, which sparkled like diamonds in the sunshine, until Pippa and Stardust were soaking wet.
    â€˜Stop!’ Pippa begged, pushing her soggy curls away from her face.
    â€˜That was such fun,’ Stardust whinnied, shaking herself dry and soaking Pippa all over again.
    â€˜Eeww!’ squealed Pippa. ‘I didn’t think I could get any wetter!’
    It was already very hot, and as the friends climbed higher the sun soon dried Pippa’s clothes. After a while, they followed another stream that snaked alongside the path before tumbling over a cliff in a fast-flowing waterfall.
    â€˜It’s beautiful!’ gasped Pippa.
    â€˜Chevalia is beautiful,’ Stardust said, her face clouding with worry. ‘I can’t understand why the Night Mares would want to harm it.’
    â€˜It might not have been them,’ said Pippa.
    â€˜Who else could it have been?’ asked Stardust. ‘No one knows about Chevalia. Only true pony lovers can see it and a true pony lover would never harm us.’
    Pippa twisted a curl of her hair around her finger. ‘But the island’s not going to disappear. We’re going to find the golden horseshoes.’
    â€˜Promise?’ asked Stardust.
    â€˜Yes,’ said Pippa.
    Knowing it was a sign of friendship in ponies, she leaned forward, softly blowing air at Stardust’s nostrils.
    Stardust blew air back.
    â€˜Thank you, Pippa,’ she whispered. ‘You’re a true friend.’
    Pippa fought back her worries as she smiled at Stardust. Promises were easy to make, but could she really keep hers?
    Yes , she told herself firmly. She would not break her word. She would find the golden horseshoes in time to save Chevalia.

 
    Chapter 6
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    As Pippa and Stardust neared the base of the Volcano, the path grew steeper and it was strewn with black rocks.
    â€˜They’re hot!’ exclaimed Pippa. She picked one up and quickly put it down again, brushing the black dirt from her hands.
    â€˜Yes, and this is as far as we can go,’ Stardust said nervously. ‘I think the Night Mares live near here.’
    â€˜So now we look for clues?’ Pippa asked.
    Stardust nodded.
    â€˜But only on this side of the Volcano. We mustn’t stray into the Cloud Forest on the other side. No one’s allowed to go there. Not even Mum and Dad.’
    â€˜Why not?’ asked Pippa.
    â€˜It’s haunted,’ she whispered.
    â€˜Oh,’ Pippa said, feeling both scared and relieved.
    The Volcano was so big it would have taken for ever if they’d had to search it all. On the other hand, she hoped she wouldn’t have to look for the horseshoes in a haunted forest.
    Side by side, Pippa and Stardust started to hunt for clues. At first Pippa was very excited, thinking that they might find all eight of the horseshoes. The rocky landscape had lots of nooks and crannies, perfect for hiding things in. Each time she saw something glinting in the sun Pippa rushed forward, and each time she was disappointed.
    â€˜I’m thirsty,’ Stardust said at last. Her white coat was smudged with dirt and her long tail was full of tangles. ‘Let’s go back to the stream for a drink.’
    She was trotting towards the path when something soared overhead.
    â€˜What’s that?’ Pippa cried, pointing upwards.
    Stardust swung round.
    â€˜What?’ she asked. ‘I can’t see anything.’
    â€˜It’s gone.’ Pippa was dismayed.
    â€˜Maybe it was an eagle?’ said Stardust.
    Pippa fell silent. The thing she’d seen had been far too big to be an eagle but, as she followed Stardust to the stream, the creature flew over again. Pippa’s eyes widened.
    â€˜Look!’ she shouted. ‘It’s a flying horse!’
    Stardust spun round again.
    â€˜Peggy!’ she exclaimed.
    Peggy