Princess Ponies 2 Read Online Free Page A

it for a moment then quickly tied the broken ends together. The strap wasn’t long enough and kept coming undone. In desperation, she pulled a crumpled tissue from her pocket and wound it around the broken strap like a bandage. But as soon as she took a step the tissue fell away. Crossly, Pippa pulled the sandal off. Now what was she going to do?

 
    Chapter 5
     
    There was only one solution. Unbuckling the other sandal, Pippa slid it off then, holding a shoe in each hand, she bravely set off again. Dust oozed between her toes and tiny stones bit into her feet. Pippa ran on, wincing with pain and hobbling each time she stood on a really sharp stone. She was much slower without shoes, but she continued down the winding cliff path as fast as she could. She just hoped the seahorses would wait for her.
    At last, the path flattened out and she could see the beach ahead. With an extra spurt of speed, Pippa ran on to the white sand, squealing with delight at its welcome softness. Faster now, she hurtled across the beach and splashed into the sea. The water was deliciously cold and soothing for her aching feet. She waded out until the sea reached her knees.
    The seahorses met her, their enormous, curved tails brushing the seabed. Dipping their heads, they each touched their noses against Pippa’s.
    ‘Well done,’ Rosella said, her eyes sparkling proudly.
    ‘You were very brave just now,’ added Triton, his voice gentle and deep.
    Pippa flushed. She didn’t feel brave – more annoyed that she’d fallen and broken her shoe.
    ‘Have you found something?’ she asked.
    ‘I believe we have,’ said Triton.
    Pippa’s heart leapt with joy then instantly plummeted as she could tell from the seahorses’ anxious faces that it wasn’t all good news.
    ‘Is it a horseshoe?’ she asked.
    ‘We think so,’ said Rosella. ‘Something shiny and glittery is wedged in the rocks at the end of that jut of land. Can you see it?’
    Pippa stared into the distance. She could see the rocks – three of them, with jagged tops and steep sides – but that was all. She took a step sideways and saw something flash.
    ‘Yes,’ she said, her voice rising with excitement. ‘There’s definitely something sparkly between the middle and end rocks.’
    ‘You’ll have to hurry,’ warned Triton. ‘The tide has turned and very soon those rocks will be under water.’
    ‘Once the sea comes in it will be too late,’ added Rosella. ‘There’s a nasty whirlpool around those rocks. It’s very dangerous. Even with our magic we’re not strong enough to get close to them.’
     

     
    Pippa sized up the rocks. They were so far away and the sea was rapidly creeping up them. Suddenly she felt very small and alone. Could she really do this by hersel f ?
    ‘I must!’ she said forcefully.
    Pippa rushed along the beach. The sand was soft under her bare feet but running down the path from the headland had taken more out of her than she’d realised. The muscles in her legs ached with every step. She could feel herself slowing and, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make her legs work any faster. She was conscious of the water bubbling up the beach, its frothy white fingers curling around the rocks. What if the tide beat her and the whirlpool prised the golden horseshoe free and whisked it out to sea?
    ‘No!’ she panted. She couldn’t let that happen. All eight of the golden horseshoes had to be in place on the Whispering Wall in time for Midsummer Day so that their magical energy could be renewed and Chevalia could be kept safe.
    There was such a long way to go. It seemed hopeless, but Pippa didn’t give up. On she ran, her heart pounding loudly in her ears, blotting out all other sounds. It was only when a shadow fell over her that she realised she wasn’t alone.
    ‘Stardust!’ she squealed.
    ‘You’d been gone such a long time I was starting to worry. I had to come and check you were OK. Get on my back,’ Stardust called, slowing