A Magical Friend Read Online Free

of hot carrot juice. Delicious!’ Stardust said, smacking her lips. ‘And there’s Mr Gems. He sells the nicest jewels ever.’
    It reminded her of the high street back at home, only Mane Street was much prettier, with beds of sunflowers decorating the pavements and tiny silver horseshoes strung from the old-fashioned street lamps. Everywhere was spotlessly clean – even the silver water troughs had been polished until they shone. The street was packed with ponies and Pippa was amazed to see so many different types. There were well-groomed ponies, stocky working ones and scruffy little Shetlands. Everyone seemed very quiet, mostly talking in whispers. When a pony whinnied with laughter, it earned them a glare.
    â€˜It’s been like this since the horseshoes went missing,’ sighed Stardust.
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    Pippa was beginning to doubt that they’d find any of the golden horseshoes here. There were too many ponies and not enough hiding places. There was a funfair at the end of the street, though. That looked like a more promising place to hide things.
    â€˜Shall we try in there?’ she asked.
    â€˜That’s where I’m taking you!’ Stardust said excitedly. ‘You should see the merry-go-round. It’s rainbow-coloured with tiny flashing lights. It’s so pretty. And the ghost train is really scary. It’s even got Night Mares.’
    â€˜Night Mares?’ asked Pippa. ‘What do you mean?’
    â€˜The Night Mares are spooky-looking ponies. They’ve lived here for ever, even when Chevalia was just a tiny lump of volcanic rock and not the magical island it is today. I’ve never seen one but everyone says they’re really mean.’ Stardust shivered. ‘Do you want a ride on the ghost train? It’s great fun.’
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    â€˜I thought we were looking for the horseshoes,’ said Pippa.
    Stardust went pink.
    â€˜We are! It’s just so brilliant having you here and I want to show you everything. But you’re right. Finding the horseshoes is the most important thing. Without them Chevalia will lose its magic.’
    Stardust shuddered, her brown eyes suddenly glistening with tears.
    â€˜Don’t worry,’ Pippa said, stroking her neck. ‘I promise we’ll find the horseshoes.’
    â€˜Really?’ sniffed Stardust. ‘Thank you, Pippa. You’re the best pet ever.’
    Pippa opened her mouth to argue that she wasn’t a pet, but Stardust was already heading into the fair.
    The fair was less crowded than Mane Street. None of the ponies, except for the really young ones, seemed to be enjoying themselves. Pippa and Stardust walked around the rides but found nothing.
    â€˜Let’s search the rest of the Plateau,’ Stardust said eventually. ‘It’s big enough to hide all eight of the horseshoes.’

    Pippa and Stardust spent the rest of the day walking the Plateau. It was hard work and there were many false alarms. By teatime Pippa had met many of Stardust’s friends and they had both found lots of precious items that other young ponies had lost, like hairclips and combs, but they hadn’t found any of the golden horseshoes.
    As the sun began to set, they made their way back to the Castle. Pippa was hungry and very frustrated that they hadn’t discovered anything about where the missing horseshoes might be.
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    â€˜We both need a hoof massage with dandelion hoof balm,’ Stardust said longingly, as they passed by the Mane Street Salon. ‘But Mrs Steeplechase is very strict about mealtimes. She won’t let us go out together tomorrow if we’re late.’
    â€˜We must find those magical horseshoes tomorrow,’ said Pippa.

    Meals were eaten in a huge dining room with three stone feeding troughs, and a special gold one at the top of the room for the Queen and King. Once again, everyone stared at Pippa as she followed Stardust to a trough.
    As the