“Ahoy there, Pippa MacDonald,” a familiar voice boomed up at her.
Four ponies had gathered on the lawn under the window, and Pippa recognized their leader.
“Captain Rascal!” Pippa carefully leaned out to look at him. Captain Rascal was a sturdy black-and-white horse with a neatly cropped mane, wearing a three-cornered pirate’s hat and a purple eye patch. “What are you doing here?”
“We’ve come to take you back to Chevalia.”
“Is there trouble again? Do you need help?”
“Aye, you could say that. Hurry up, there’s no time to lose.”
“On my way.” Pippa drew back inside and silently threw on some clothes. The landing outside her bedroom was in darkness. She could hear loud snores from Jack’s and her mother’s bedrooms. On tiptoe, Pippa crept downstairs, past the pull-out sofa where Aunt Maeve was sleeping, and let herself out through the back door. There was no need to leave a note. Pippa had been on many adventures in Chevalia and knew that no time passed in her own world when she went there.
Outside, a thin moon lit the garden. Pippa ran across the wet grass to Captain Rascal and his ragtag crew.
“Up you hop,” said Captain Rascal. Pippa eyed him doubtfully. He was a lot taller than Princess Stardust, her best princess pony friend. Luckily, Captain Rascal was near a flowerpot. By standing on it, Pippa was able to climb on his back.
“Anchors up and make sail!” called Captain Rascal.
Pippa grabbed at a handful of mane as Captain Rascal trotted through the garden and into the street. He had a rolling gait that reminded Pippa of a boat sailing on the sea. The pirate ponies trotted through the sleeping neighborhood. Pippa hoped they wouldn’t wake the neighbors and was relieved when they arrived at the park at the end of the street. Pippa guessed they were heading for the river, but her breath caught in surprise when she saw the enormous boat tied up on the bank.
Purple and gold sails hung limply from the three wooden masts. A smaller, triangular black flag drooped from the top of the tallest. Even in the dark, Pippa could clearly see the white horseshoe and crossbones pictured on it. Cannons lined the boat deck. Pippa’s stomach flipped with excitement.
“The Jolly Horseshoe,” she whispered, reading the pirate ship’s name from the bow.
A blue-and-red parrot perched on the ship’s wheel watched her with interest. “Pieces of eight, Pippa’s late,” he squawked.
“Permission to come aboard,” said Pippa, smartly saluting.
“Permission granted.” Wearing a pink tiara, a pretty white pony with a long white mane and tail stepped out of the shadows.
“Princess Stardust!” Pippa slid from the captain’s back, raced across the hoof plank, and threw her arms around Stardust’s neck.
“I knew you’d come.” Stardust softly blew in Pippa’s wavy brown hair. “Chevalia needs your help again.”
“Stand by to set sail,” boomed Captain Rascal.
The pirate ponies began to sing, out of tune but with lots of enthusiasm.
Lift the hoof plank, one, two, three.
Away we sail on the deep blue sea.
A pirate’s life is the one for me.
A pirate’s life on the bluey blue sea.
Pippa pushed her hair away from her face. “Where in Chevalia are we going first?” she shouted against the sudden burst of wind.
“To find a pot of gold,” said Stardust. “To pay Divine to stop using the unlucky horseshoe to steal all of Chevalia’s luck.”
Pippa’s face creased with puzzlement. “How can a horseshoe be unlucky?”
“Divine put a spell on it. The horseshoe acted like a magnet. It attracted all the luck in Chevalia to it.”
“It’s a bad business,” said Captain Rascal. “Nothing’s gone right since Divine stole all the luck. We lost a sail when a rope broke and we almost ran aground earlier today. Divine’s keeping the luck for herself until we pay a hefty ransom in gold. Luckily, my grandmother, the great pirate pony Captain Scallywag, hid a pot of gold somewhere on Chevalia’s coast. And we’re going to find it!”
Pippa was surprised. It wasn’t like Divine to simply want money. Divine wanted respect, and she wanted to rule. “Are you sure this isn’t another plan to rule Chevalia?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” said Stardust. “But I do know this. My big sister Princess Crystal broke her tiara this morning and you know how careful she is! And remember my friend Blossom? She was training for the next Equestriathon when she tripped and sprained a hoof. Queen Moonshine’s in complete despair. She doesn’t approve of ransoms, but without luck, Chevalia is doomed.”
“That’s awful!” said Pippa, but at the same time she couldn’t help feeling a little thrilled. Another adventure in Chevalia! “Where are we going first?”
“We’re going to search the caves and coves of Chevalia to locate that ole treasure,” Captain Rascal chimed in. “We’d like you to join us, Pippa MacDonald, lover of ponies; you are our good-luck charm!”
Pippa didn’t want to be anyone’s charm, but she was happy to help since the ponies were in trouble. “I’ll do my best,” she said. “But I’m not feeling very lucky.”
The wind picked up as The Jolly Horseshoe left the shelter of the estuary for the open sea. Pippa clutched the handrail and peered into the night. Stardust was speaking. Pippa could see her mouth moving but the howling wind caught her words and tossed them away. The boat dipped and rose. Pippa stood with her feet wide to stop herself from falling over on the pitching deck. Soon, the waves were taller than Stableside Castle. The wind tossed the spray at the ship, drenching Pippa in cold water. Stardust nudged Pippa’s arm and nodded at the cabin.
“Good idea,” gasped Pippa, the wind snatching her breath away.
Slowly, clutching each other, Pippa and Stardust fought their way across the open deck.
Stardust opened the cabin door and started to go belowdecks, but Pippa stopped her.
“We won’t be able to see when we reach Chevalia. We should stay up here, in case we miss something.”
“Good point,” said Stardust.
They huddled together in the doorway, but they couldn’t escape from the wind and spray.
“It’s freezing,” Stardust said with a shiver, her teeth chattering. “Please, can we go inside?”
The boat jumped and bucked like a wild horse. Pippa’s heart leaped with it. Were they going to capsize? Captain Rascal must have thought so too for he ordered the pirate-pony crew to take down the mainsail.
“Whoaaa!” Stardust clung to Pippa as the boat tipped suddenly.
Pippa hung on to the door with both hands to stop herself from sliding across the deck and into the churning water. If the pirate ponies didn’t get the mainsail down quickly, they were going to capsize!
“The sail is stuck,” said Stardust.
The purple and gold sail was stretched like an overfull balloon. No matter how hard the pirate ponies pulled on the rope, it wouldn’t budge. Squinting her eyes against the spray, Pippa stared at the mast. The rope was caught on a wooden cleat.
The boat lurched again. The sea rushed closer. For a split second, time seemed to stand still, with the boiling water beneath them and the wind roaring above. With a shudder, the boat righted itself, smacking down and creating a spray of water to match the thunderous waves.
There was only one thing to do. Someone had to climb the mast and free the rope before the ship capsized or sank.
Me, thought Pippa, knowing she was the most agile. She took a deep breath as she gathered up all her courage. Forget how high the mast is, she told herself as she sprinted across the deck. Look up. Never down.
You can do this.