A Special Surprise Read Online Free

Comet was miffed. He scowled at Jet through his round glasses. ‘Why didn’t you tell me before? You know how much I’d like to interview her for the book I’m writing.’
    Jet shrugged. ‘There isn’t any proof and I don’t spread pony tales.’
    Princess Crystal snorted loudly. ‘The only interview Divine will be giving, once she’s captured, is to the Royal Court. She still has to answer for stealing the horseshoes.’
    ‘If Divine’s been seen near the ruins then we should start there,’ said Stardust.
    A haunted castle! Pippa shivered. Why couldn’t Divine have chosen somewhere less scary to hide?
    Bravely she said, ‘The spooky ruins of a castle sound just like the sort of place that Divine would make her new home. Let’s go there now.’
    ‘You can’t go on your own. We’d better come with you,’ Crystal said, bossily.
    ‘We found the missing horseshoes without any help and it’ll be quicker if Pippa and I go alone,’ said Stardust.
    Princess Crystal opened her mouth to argue but Queen Moonshine was already speaking. ‘Stardust, Pippa, go. Go and rescue those poor riding school ponies.’

Chapter 5
     
    Racing across the island on Stardust’s back was so much fun that Pippa almost forgot where they were going. She held on tightly, leaning forward to shout encouragement in Stardust’s ear. The wind whipped through her curls and blew it over her face. Pippa gave up trying to push it out of her eyes and put her trust in Stardust as they galloped up the craggy paths through the Horseshoe Hills. The higher they climbed, the fiercer the wind grew and the more rugged the path became. Stardust slowed to a trot and then to a walk. She edged forward one hoof at a time. Pippa looked down and immediately wished she hadn’t. They were travelling along a ridge with a river hurtling through the gorge below. Pippa’s stomach dived and she tightened her grip on Stardust’s mane. ‘Look up,’ she reminded herself, but even though she didn’t want to look down at the jagged cliff face it was hard to pull her eyes away.
    ‘Are you OK?’ called Stardust. She twisted her neck to look at Pippa.
    ‘Yes,’ replied Pippa through gritted teeth. She wished Stardust would concentrate on the path and not on her.
    ‘I think we’re nearly there.’ Loose stones rattled under Stardust’s hooves. Her neck was lathered with sweat and she was breathing heavily. Pippa knew she should offer to walk but she didn’t dare. The path was too narrow to dismount safely.
    Stardust’s steps became slower until at last the path widened. Spiky-leaved plants with small flowers clung to the rocks. The path dipped then rose. They came over the hill and into a grassy hollow. Stardust stopped dead.
    ‘Oh!’ gasped Pippa. She slid from Star dust’s back and stood with her hand around her neck. ‘It’s really creepy.’
     

     
    This castle was nothing like Stableside. It was smaller and mostly in ruins. Ivy grew everywhere, blackening the outside with its thick woody stems and dark green leaves. The turrets were crumbling and through the tumbledown walls Pippa saw a dismal round room with plants growing through the floor. The massive front door was covered in cobwebs. Pippa shivered and clamped her jaws together to stop her teeth from chattering. A thin curl of smoke rose from the back of the building.
    ‘Someone’s home,’ said Pippa. Her arms broke out in goosebumps. Taking a deep breath she added, ‘Shall we find out who?’
    Stardust nodded. Her eyes were round and her nostrils flared. On the tips of toes and hooves Pippa and Stardust crept closer and round the side of the building. The ivy grew thicker here, covering the window slits. Pippa tore it aside. Dirt flicked in her face and something pricked her finger.
    ‘Ouch,’ she said as she sucked it to stop it from stinging. This time she was more careful as she ripped the ivy from the walls. The first few rooms they looked into were empty save for dust and cobwebs