Best Friends For Ever! Read Online Free PDF Page B

around Stardust’s soft neck.
    ‘Best friend,’ she whispered, ‘I’m going to miss you.’
    ‘I’ll miss you too,’ Stardust said, her voice full of tears. ‘But remember – it’s not goodbye. We’ll meet again, I know it.’
    ‘Me too,’ said Pippa.
    They were hovering just above the sand by the horseshoe-shaped cove. Pippa hugged Stardust one last time and, as she did so, Stardust pressed something cold into Pippa’s hand.
    ‘To remember me by,’ she said softly.
     

     
    Then Pippa was sliding from Stardust’s back and she dropped on to the soft sand. The whirr of wings overhead faded and, as Pippa stared into the bright blue sky, Cloud and Stardust vanished.
    The beach was quiet apart from the soft hiss of the sea as it lapped against the shore. Pippa rubbed her eyes. Suddenly it was hard to imagine she’d been anywhere at all. Had she fallen asleep and had the most amazing dream? Her hand tightened around something solid. She unclenched her fingers and in her palm was Stardust’s sparkly pink tiara. Pippa stared at it for a few seconds then carefully slid it into her shorts. As she did so, she realised she was back in her own clothes.
    ‘Pippa!’
    Mum was calling.
    Pippa raced up the beach. Mum was just putting up a parasol over a rug that was spread with an amazing picnic. The Midsummer Ball now seemed a lifetime ago and she was ravenously hungry. Sitting down between her sister Miranda and her brother Jack, she reached for a cheese sandwich.
    ‘This is going to be the best holiday ever,’ Pippa declared.
    Mum smiled as she handed round plastic beakers of squash.
    ‘And that’s even before I’ve told you about my final surprise.’
    Pippa hurriedly swallowed a mouthful of sandwich.
    ‘What surprise?’ she asked.
    ‘I know how much you like ponies –’
    ‘ Love ponies,’ Pippa corrected her.
    Mum smiled. ‘Just down the lane from the holiday cottage there’s a riding school, and guess what? I’ve arranged for you to have riding lessons. Wouldn’t you love to learn to ride a pony?’
    Pippa was speechless for a moment. Then she jumped up and hugged her mum so hard that she nearly dropped her drink.
    ‘Thanks, Mum. It’s a dream come true!’

 
     
    While Chevalia was celebrating the return of the eight magical horseshoes and enjoying the festivities, this intrepid reporter interviewed Princess Stardust and Pippa MacDonald in between the Royal Concert and the Midsummer Ball.
     
    TI (Tulip Inkhoof): Well, you two are certainly the toast of the party. How does it feel to have saved Chevalia?
    S (Princess Stardust): It feels incredible!
     

     
    P (Pippa): It does feel great but, Stardust, let’s not forget that saving the horseshoes was a team effort. We couldn’t have done it by ourselves.
    S: You’re right, Pippa – the entire island came together to help.
    TI: Yes, and even the Night Mares are here at the Castle for the ball?
    S: You mean the Volcano ponies, don’t you? We used to call them Night Mares but that was an unfair name – we never took the time to get to know them. The Volcano ponies are the original inhabitants of Chevalia, and our very special friends.
     

     
    P: That’s very grown up of you, Stardust. I think you’ve learnt a lot this week.
    TI: My word, have you only been on Chevalia for a week, Pippa?
    P: Yes, I can’t believe it either!
    S: As soon as I saw this real, live girl on the beach that first morning, I just knew she’d come to save the island. What I didn’t know was that she’d become my best friend too!
     

     
    P: I’m going to miss you so much, Stardust.
    S: Do you really have to go home to the human world? Can’t you stay on Chevalia?
    P: It’s so tempting, but I love my family and, even though they’re not missing me because of the time bubble, the truth is that I miss them.
    S: I understand – I’d miss my family too.
    TI: What will you do back in the human world, Pippa? It’s such a mystery to us Chevalia