The Special Secret Read Online Free

maybe she’ll start being kind back.”
    Stardust nuzzled Pippa’s arm with her nose. “Your mom sounds nice,” she said.
    â€œShe is,” Pippa said, feeling a little homesick. But at least Mom and her brother and sister wouldn’t be missing her—Chevalia existed in a special time bubble so that Pippa could stay there for as long as she needed, while time stood still in her own world. She pushed the sad feeling away. “Let’s get started,” she said.

    Pippa and Stardust searched and searched, until their fingers and hooves were sore from digging through the mud and dirt and grass.
    It was late afternoon when Pippa said wearily, “Let’s stop for a drink.”
    â€œGood idea.” Stardust straightened up. She started to walk back to the stream, where there was a drinking trough with fresh running water, but she slipped on a patch of mud.
    â€œCareful!” said Pippa.
    â€œOuch!” Stardust whinnied. “I stubbed my hoof on something hard.”
    Her eyes met Pippa’s and they stared at each other for a split second. Then, wordlessly, they threw themselves to the ground and began scraping the mud away. Pippa’s fingers touched something hard and cold. Her heart thudded with excitement. Could it be the other horseshoe that was missing in the Grasslands?
    â€œWe’ve found the fourth missing horseshoe!” squealed Stardust.
    â€œIsn’t it funny how sometimes you just stumble across the exact thing that you’re trying so hard to find!” said Pippa, delighted. “How lucky!”
    â€œMom and Dad are going to be thrilled,” said Stardust. “Two horseshoes in one day! Come on, let’s go and get the other one and take them both back to the castle.”
    Stardust scooped up the horseshoe in her mouth and they returned to the stream. Pippa was so happy, she felt like she was walking on air. But as they drew nearer, they saw that Cinders was hunched up and crying. A cold feeling came over Pippa as she hurried toward her.
    â€œCinders, what’s wrong?” she asked.
    â€œI . . . I . . . I’m sorry,” said Cinders. “It wasn’t my fault. I only left it for a minute. A foal came and told me that you needed me urgently, but I couldn’t find you and when I came back the horseshoe was gone.”

    â€œWhat?” shrieked Stardust. “You left the horseshoe unguarded? How could you be so careless?”
    Pippa was so shocked, it was as if all the breath had been squeezed out of her. But she knew that getting upset with Cinders wasn’t going to help.
    â€œWe all make mistakes,” she said kindly. “How long ago did it happen?”
    A strange look crossed Cinders’s face, and for a fleeting moment Pippa thought she almost smiled, but then Cinders’s brown eyes seemed so full of remorse.
    â€œNot long,” Cinders answered.
    Pippa realized that they had to be smart if they were to have any hope of recovering the horseshoe.
    â€œRight, let’s organize a search party,” she decided.
    She looked around to see who was available. Prince Storm, Prince Comet, Trojan, and Mucker had come over to see what all the noise was about. But there was no time to organize them into proper groups, because Pippa saw something else.
    At the far end of the field were two scruffy ponies who were behaving very strangely. They were sneaking away on hoof tips from the Grasslands. Pippa recognized them instantly.
    â€œNight Mares,” she said, pointing. “Although they’re not Nightshade and Eclipse this time.” Seeing something shiny, she added, “And they’ve stolen our horseshoe.”
    Stardust gave the fourth golden horseshoe to Mucker to keep safe.
    â€œQuick,” she shouted. “After them!”

Chapter 5
    â€œJump on!” Stardust turned around to stand by Pippa.
    Grabbing a handful of mane, Pippa jumped onto Stardust’s back. She was