A Magical Friend Read Online Free PDF

had a silvery coat, a long mane and tail, and an enormous pair of feathery wings. She circled overhead, tilting slightly as she drifted through the air.
    â€˜She’s amazing,’ Pippa breathed, her heart thudding. ‘Stardust, I think she’s trying to tell us something!’
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    â€˜I don’t think so,’ said Stardust. ‘Peggy hardly ever shows herself – you’re honoured to have seen her. I think she’s curious about you.’
    Pippa shielded her eyes with her hands as she squinted at the flying horse.
    â€˜But look how she keeps dipping her wing. It’s at the same place every time. And then she turns her head to see if we’re watching her.’
    Stardust watched in silence.
    â€˜It might be just a coincidence, but perhaps we should check it out,’ she said at last.
    Forgetting their thirst, Pippa and Stardust hurried back the way they’d come. Peggy remained overhead, still flying in the same circle, until the friends were directly underneath her. Suddenly she swooped much lower, hovering right above a rocky ledge. Whinnying loudly, she reared up. Then, with a flick of her silvery tail, she flew away.
    â€˜Look!’ Pippa said, breaking into a run. ‘There’s something sparkly up there on the ledge.’
    Pippa and Stardust raced across the rocks until they reached the ledge that Peggy had showed them.
    Stardust neighed with excitement.
    â€˜I can see something shining in the grass.’
    Pippa stood on tiptoes. In the middle of a scrubby clump of grass, something was shining with a soft, yellow glow.
    â€˜It must be one of our golden horseshoes!’ she exclaimed.
    The horseshoe was so well hidden that if it hadn’t been for Peggy, Pippa and Stardust would never have spotted it. Nervously, Pippa rubbed her hands on her shorts. The ledge was over twice her height and she’d have to climb it to reach the horseshoe. The thought made her feel hot and shaky. She couldn’t do it. The ledge was far too high.
    â€˜Stand on my back,’ Stardust said eagerly.
    Pippa hesitated, for she had always been nervous of heights.
    â€˜Don’t worry – you won’t hurt me. I’m really strong,’ Stardust said, misunderstanding Pippa’s concern.
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    Reluctantly, Pippa vaulted on to Stardust’s back, sitting for a moment to work up the courage to go on.
    Come on, you can do this , she silently urged herself.
    Slowly, Pippa stood up. Her heart was racing and her legs trembled like a jellyfish. Stardust remained completely still and, gradually, Pippa relaxed. That wasn’t so bad! Now all she had to do was stretch up to retrieve the missing horseshoe. But, frustratingly, it was just out of reach. Pippa stretched as far as she dared – any further and she’d lose her balance.
    â€˜It’s no good,’ she called at last. ‘I can’t get it. Can you move any closer?’
    â€˜I’m as close as I can get,’ said Stardust.
    Pippa stared at the ground and immediately wished she hadn’t. Quickly, she sat back down, clinging on to Stardust’s mane until her head had stopped swimming.
    â€˜Are you OK?’ asked Stardust.
    â€˜I’m fine,’ Pippa replied, licking her dry lips.
    She was going to have to dismount and climb up to the ledge instead. But as she slid down from Stardust’s back, she saw a long, sturdy stick. Snatching it up, she waved it in relief.
    â€˜I might be able to reach the horseshoe with this.’
    Taking great care not to hit Stardust with the stick, Pippa scrambled on to her back once more. But as she reached up to hook the horseshoe, she froze. What was that? Above the ledge, to the right, was a large slab of rock where two scruffy-looking ponies, with thin, straggly manes and tails, were arguing loudly. Pippa’s insides turned to ice.
    â€˜They must be Night Mares!’ she whispered.
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    Chapter 7
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    Hardly