A Special Surprise by Chloe Ryder

Chapter 1
     
    ‘Would you like some more chocolate cake, Pippa?’ asked Mum.
    Pippa looked at the cake. It was filled with buttercream and topped with chocolate sprinkles, and it tasted delicious. ‘I’m not sure. If I eat too much then I might be too heavy for Snowdrop to carry me over the jumps tomorrow.’
    Mum laughed. ‘Nonsense! Snowdrop’s a big strong horse. She could carry two of you.’
    Pippa smiled. ‘I’ll have a little slice then, please. I need to keep my strength up. It was hard work jumping Snowdrop today. Did I tell you how we cleared the wall? Mrs Woods said it was a perfect jump.’
    Miranda, Pippa’s big sister, rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, but you’ve only told us about it six times.’
    ‘Have I? I’m really excited and nervous about the riding school gymkhana tomorrow. It must be making me forgetful.’
    Pony-mad Pippa MacDonald was on a seaside holiday with her mum, Miranda and little brother Jack. There was a stables nearby and at the start of the holiday Mum had secretly arranged for Pippa to have riding lessons there as a surprise. The stables had a pony called Snowdrop, named after a famous show pony. Pippa had a poster of the famous pony on her bedroom wall at home, so she was thrilled when she was given Snowdrop to ride.
    Pippa had a secret too. On the first day of her holiday two giant seahorses had whisked her away to Chevalia, a magical island where Royal Ponies reigned. Chevalia had been in danger. Pippa and her Princess Pony friend, Stardust, had saved the island by finding eight golden horseshoes. The horseshoes had been stolen from an ancient wall in Stableside Castle by a wicked pony called Baroness Divine. Divine had escaped but now the horseshoes were back in their rightful place the Royal Ponies felt safe again.
    Pippa finished eating her cake then carried the plate to the sink. It was her turn to do the washing-up. As she played with the bubbles she thought back to that magical day when she first met the seahorses. She’d had so many adventures in Chevalia. Pippa missed Stardust but especially today, as it was Stardust’s birthday. Stardust would be celebrating with her family. Pippa wished she could be there too but at least she had the riding school gymkhana to look forward to.
    When the evening meal had been cleared away everyone crowded into the lounge to watch Pippa’s favourite television show, a singing competition. But Pippa couldn’t get into it. There was so much to do before tomorrow.
    She went to her room to check she had a clean shirt and jodhpurs to wear. Then she sat on the bedroom floor and polished her boots until she could see her face reflected in them.
     

     
    Tired but happy, Pippa rested her arms on the sill and stared out of the window. The sinking sun spread a fiery red glow over the sea. Pippa breathed deeply, loving the smell of the salty sea air. It was so quiet. The only sound was the distant mewl of the herring gulls . . . and the strange rustling noise coming from the bushes under her window. Pippa stood very still. What was making that noise?
    ‘Pippa, are you there?’
    Pippa’s heart jumped with disbelief. She recognised that voice.
    ‘Stardust?’ she called back.
    ‘Yes, it’s me.’ A pretty, white pony, wearing a tiara studded with sparkly pink diamonds, stepped from behind the bushes and appeared on the lawn. ‘Surprise!’
    ‘Wait there! I’m coming down.’ Pippa shook with delight as she raced downstairs to the garden. What was Princess Stardust doing here, in the human world?
    As Pippa tiptoed past the lounge she heard Mum, Miranda and Jack laughing at something on the television. She let herself out of the kitchen door and hurried round to the back of the house.
    ‘Stardust,’ Pippa said as she wrapped her arms around her best pony friend’s neck and hugged her. ‘Happy birthday. What are you doing here? Aren’t you having a party in Chevalia?’
     

     
    Stardust blew softly in Pippa’s curly brown