Princess Ponies 2 Read Online Free Page B

to a walk.
    ‘I’m so happy to see you!’ exclaimed Pippa.
    ‘Well, what are best friends for?’
    Pippa stumbled alongside her. Her legs were trembling and she didn’t think she had enough energy to jump on to Stardust’s back. Stardust seemed to realise this because she stopped and knelt down on her forelegs.
    ‘I hope Mrs Steeplechase isn’t watching right now!’ she joked.
    Pippa couldn’t help laughing too. The royal nanny was so strict she wouldn’t care if all seven of the missing horseshoes were in danger of being swept out to sea – manners and behaving like a proper Princess Pony came first!
    Climbing astride Stardust’s back, Pippa sunk her hands into her silky mane and wound it around them.
    ‘Comfortable?’
    ‘Very,’ said Pippa.
    She lurched sideways as Stardust rose up, only just remembering to squeeze her legs into Stardust’s flanks to prevent herself from sliding over the pony’s head.
    ‘Let’s go,’ Stardust called, bucking with excitement as she raced away.
    Pippa leaned forward like a jockey, taking some of her weight from Stardust’s back as they galloped across the beach. Sand sprayed up from Stardust’s hooves and her long, white tail streamed behind her like a silky banner.
    Was it her imagination or was the sea coming in even faster now? Pippa couldn’t take her eyes off it as she willed it to slow down. It was no good. The sea closed in, licking against the bottom of the rocks and becoming deeper and deeper, until it spun round them in circles, like water whirling round a plughole.
    ‘Faster!’ Pippa cried urgently.
    She threw herself flat against Stardust’s neck, making herself as streamlined as possible. Stardust galloped harder, her breath coming in noisy rasps. Gradually, the rocks came closer, but poor Stardust was exhausted. As she lost speed, Pippa could hardly bear to watch the sea’s greedy, blue fingers reaching up the rocks to the glittering object wedged there.
     

     
    Bravely, Stardust galloped on but her stride was shorter and she kept stumbling. Now they were closer there was no doubt that the glittering object was a golden horseshoe. But there was still some distance to go to reach it. A white wave lapped over the horseshoe.
    ‘Oh no!’ groaned Pippa.
    They’d finally found the second horseshoe but any second now they were about to lose it again.

 
    Chapter 6
     
    A pony was thundering up behind them, neighing loudly. Was it Mrs Steeplechase? Pippa could hardly bear to look. But no, surely the royal nanny was too large to gallop that fast. Turning her head, she saw that it was Blossom.
    ‘Blossom!’ exclaimed Pippa. ‘What are you doing here?’
    ‘When the racecourse turned a corner I saw you both from the cliff top. You promised you’d watch me and I knew you wouldn’t let me down, so I guessed something must be wrong if you were down here on the beach. What’s happened?’
    ‘We’ve found one of the golden horseshoes,’ Pippa said, pointing at the distant rocks. ‘But it’s almost under water!’
    ‘You won’t get there in time to retrieve it,’ Blossom said, galloping beside Stardust. ‘I’ll go for you.’
    Relief swept through Pippa but it was quickly replaced with despair.
    ‘What about the race? You were in the lead.’
    ‘I pulled out. Chevalia matters far more than the race.’ Blossom snorted. ‘Besides, winning isn’t everything. Helping your friends is much more important.’
    ‘But how will you get the horseshoe off the rocks?’
    ‘With my hooves,’ Blossom said bravely.
    Pippa shook her head. The whirlpool was already too strong. Blossom would need all four hooves on the ground to withstand its force.
    ‘I’ll come with you,’ she declared.
    ‘There isn’t time to stop for you,’ called Blossom, who was starting to pull ahead of Stardust.
    If Blossom was making sacrifices and putting herself in danger then Pippa must too.
    ‘You don’t have to stop. Come closer and I’ll jump on your back,’ she