The Special Secret Read Online Free Page B

pony’s damp neck.
    â€œI’m fine. We’ll be quicker if you ride,” Stardust said.
    â€œWhich way do you think they went?” Pippa asked as Stardust cantered on.
    â€œIt’s got to be this way if they’re going back to their home at the Volcano. We’ll head toward the farm—it’s the only place they can be hiding.”
    As the farm drew nearer, Stardust and Pippa whispered. Stardust placed her hooves carefully so that she was as quiet as possible.
    â€œOver there,” Pippa said suddenly, “by the small barn—I saw something move.”
    Stardust switched direction. They’d almost reached the barn when there was a scuffling noise and the two Night Mares darted across the farmyard. One of them had the golden horseshoe in its mouth. Its eyes were wide with fear as it ran behind another barn.
    â€œThere!” called Stardust.
    She chased after them but was too late—the Night Mares had disappeared.
    Stardust stood very still, her ears swiveling as she tried to figure out where the Night Mares were hiding. Pippa listened too. At first all she could hear was her own heart pounding. Then a soft clatter grabbed her attention.

    â€œBehind the grain store,” she hissed.
    Her stomach fluttered as Stardust went over to the building on hoof tips.
    â€œWell, they’re not here now,” sighed Stardust.
    Pippa stared in disbelief at the empty space. Some stones crunched behind her. Stardust turned around just in time for them to see the Night Mares run across the farmyard. The golden horseshoe shone tantalizingly as they jumped over a fence and galloped away.

Chapter 6
    â€œHold on,” said Stardust.
    Pippa’s hands shook as they cantered toward the fence. It was bigger than anything she’d jumped before. A shiver of fear ran down her spine. Stardust leaped at the jump. Just in time Pippa remembered to lift herself up off Stardust’s back and grip with her knees. The wind whipped past her face and for a second she felt as if she was flying. All her fears vanished—the jump felt fantastic. Then Stardust’s front hooves hit the ground with a loud thud, and she raced after the Night Mares. The two scruffy ponies thundered on ahead, but they kept changing direction suddenly. Pippa quickly lost all sense of where she was. She was surprised when Stardust pulled up.
    â€œAre you all right?” she asked.
    â€œYes,” panted Stardust. “And I’ve had an idea. If we stop chasing the Night Mares, then they’ll think we’ve given up and are heading home. I know another shortcut. I’m going to take it and hopefully we can cut them off.”
    â€œThat’s a brilliant idea,” Pippa agreed.
    Stardust waited for the Night Mares to get totally out of sight so they wouldn’t guess her plan. Once they’d disappeared, she headed into a nearby grove of trees. Pippa had to keep ducking her head to avoid being dragged off by low-hanging branches. Bushes and twigs snagged her legs as they hammered along the narrow path and jumped the fallen logs blocking their way. It was almost fun, but Pippa thought it didn’t seem right to be enjoying the ride when there was so much at stake.
    â€œNearly there,” Stardust called. “I just hope we’ve made it in time.”
    â€œMe too,” said Pippa.
    They burst out of the woods and into a clearing, where Trojan and a group of ponies were lifting the newly harvested rectangular bales of grass from an open-topped cart and arranging them into an enormous haystack. There were snorts of alarm as Stardust pulled up, and work stopped immediately.

    â€œWhat is going on?” A proud voice cut across the commotion.
    â€œCrystal!” cried Stardust. Lowering her voice so that only Pippa could hear, she added, “I never thought I’d be so pleased to see her.”
    â€œPrincess Stardust, why aren’t you out in the fields picking up