the edge of a huge, messy nest. It was a long way up. Pippa shivered. She was scared of heights, but sheâd been learning to overcome her fear during the hunt for Chevaliaâs missing horseshoes. The tree looked easy to climb. There were lots of handholds on its rough trunk, and if she stood on Stardustâs back, she could easily reach the lowest branch.
âWhat have you seen?â Misty asked, joining them.
Pippa quickly explained about the missing horseshoes and how the island of Chevalia couldnât survive if they werenât returned to the ancient courtyard wall in time for Midsummer.
âI see,â Misty said doubtfully. âBut youâll have to be careful.â
âWhy?â asked Stardust.
âThatâs not just any old nest. That nest belongs to a dragonfly.â
Pippa and Stardust stared at each other in horror.
âWhat do we do now?â asked Stardust.
âThereâs only one thing we can do,â Pippa said. âWe need the horseshoe so Iâll have to climb up and get it.â
Chapter 4
For once Princess Stardust was at a loss for words.
âThatâs far too dangerous,â she whinnied at last.
âWe donât have a choice,â Pippa said firmly. âNeither you nor Honey can climb up there.â
âDefinitely not,â Honey agreed, anxiously glancing at her sparkly pink hoof gloss.
Worry lines creased Stardustâs snow-white face. âAre you sure you want to do this?â
âYes,â said Pippa. The giant seahorses had brought her to Chevalia to save the island. She was the only human ever to go there. Many of the island ponies had been suspicious of her at first, but now they trusted her and were counting on herâshe couldnât let them down.
Misty raised a hoof to show that the unicorns should pause for a moment in their circling of the tree.
Quickly, before her nerves got the better of her and she changed her mind, Pippa waved at Stardust to move closer. The dragonfly nest looked empty. If she was quick, she could grab the horseshoe before the dragonfly returned.
âPlease stand here, under this branch,â Pippa said.
Reluctantly, Stardust stepped forward. âYou donât have to do thisââ she began.
âI do,â Pippa said. She made an effort to sound cheerful, and knowing that Stardust was scared for her somehow made her feel braver.
Swinging herself onto the princess ponyâs back, she carefully stood up on it. Once Pippa had gotten her balance, she was able to reach up and grab the lowest branch of the tree. The rough bark bit into her hands, but Pippa gripped it tightly as she began to climb up the tree trunk. Before long she had straddled the branch in the same way she would a pony. Relief made her feel light-headed.
âEasy-peasy lemon squeezy,â she called down to Stardust.
âLemon squeezy? Is that something humans drink?â Stardust asked.
âNo,â Pippa said.
âIt must be what those elephants drink,â Stardust explained to Honey.
Pippa was too out of breath to explain that it was just a rhyme.
She looked above her. There were only a few more branches to go before she reached the dragonfly nest. She tried to ignore the prickle of fear that was giving her goose bumps. Pulling herself up so that she was standing on the branch, she reached up for the next one. Pippa climbed slowly, checking that each branch could hold her weight before stepping on it. Every time she went higher, she worked out the best places to put her feet before she moved them.
Far below, Stardust and Honey were whinnying encouraging words. And softly in the background, the unicorns sang as they continued to circle the tree. Their lyrical voices gave Pippa courage, and, as the tree echoed their beautiful music, Pippa climbed faster and higher, until she was sitting on the branch directly below the dragonflyâs nest. She was out of breath, and, even
Martha Stewart Living Magazine