A Unicorn Adventure! by Chloe Ryder

Chapter 1
    Pippa woke with sunlight warming her face and the sound of singing in her ears. The music reminded her of her big sister, Miranda, who often sang in the mornings. Miranda was mostly out of tune though, unlike the beautiful voices Pippa could hear now. Curious, she got out of bed.
    â€œStardust, are you awake?”
    Princess Stardust’s straw blanket was crumpled as if she’d gotten up in a hurry. A wave of homesickness hit Pippa as she stared around the empty room. Annoying as Miranda was, she missed her—and Mom and her little brother, Jack. Did they miss Pippa too?
    Four days ago Pippa and her family had been on a beach vacation when two giant seahorses had taken her to the enchanted island of Chevalia, a world inhabited by talking ponies. Pippa had learned that Chevalia was in terrible danger. The eight golden horseshoes that gave the island life had been stolen from the Whispering Wall, an ancient courtyard wall in Stableside Castle. If the horseshoes weren’t hanging back on the wall in time for Midsummer Day, their magical energy couldn’t be renewed by the Midsummer sun and Chevalia would fade away. To Pippa’s amazement, she had been asked to find the missing horseshoes. Along with her new best friend, a royal pony called Princess Stardust, she’d managed to find four of them, but Midsummer was three days away and there were still four horseshoes to find.
    As Pippa got up, she remembered something important—Chevalia existed in a magical bubble. No time would pass in her world while she was on the island, meaning that none of her family would miss her. Pippa’s homesickness vanished immediately.
    She skipped to the window to see where the singing was coming from. Princess Stardust’s bedroom was in the smallest tower of the castle, topped with a pink flag, and it had a marvelous view. Pippa glanced at the sea sparkling in the distance before looking at the courtyard below.
    â€œIt’s the Royal Court,” she breathed.
    All the ponies of the Royal Court were gathered together, with the princesses and princes in the front. Their colorful sashes and jeweled tiaras shimmered in the morning sun. Crystal, Stardust’s bossy oldest sister, was conducting the singing with a riding crop, and the music made Pippa want to dance. When she had first arrived on Chevalia, Pippa had been so shy, but now she was starting to feel as if she belonged here and she couldn’t wait to join them.
    Pippa quickly put on the new outfit that had magically appeared overnight especially for her—a denim skirt, a striped T-shirt, leggings, and a sweatshirt—then she hurried down the tower’s spiral ramp.
    â€œExcuse me,” she whispered as she made her way to the front of the courtyard. The royal ponies smiled as they parted to let her through. “Thanks,” she said.
    Princess Honey was singing next to Stardust, tapping the ground in time to the music with a sparkly pink hoof. She was very pretty, with a shiny, strawberry chestnut coat, but she couldn’t quite reach the higher notes, and her voice kept squeaking.

    â€œYou sound like a rusty stable door,” Stardust said, laughing at her.
    Honey hung her head.
    â€œHi, Stardust. Hi, Honey,” Pippa whispered, squeezing between them. “What’s going on?”
    â€œWe’re rehearsing for the Royal Concert,” Stardust replied. “We always hold it on Midsummer Day, to give thanks for Chevalia and the magical horseshoes. But Honey won’t be allowed to sing if she keeps on making that racket.” She playfully nudged her older sister.
    Honey’s brown eyes filled with tears. “You’re so mean!” she said. Pushing past Stardust, she trotted out of the courtyard.
    â€œThere isn’t going to be a concert if we don’t find the horseshoes,” said Pippa. “But before we start searching for them, you’d better find Honey and say sorry for hurting