As Pippa climbed the mast, Stardust called out, “Pippa, be careful!”
Pippa nodded but didn’t dare look back at Stardust. She focused on her hands as she pulled herself up the mast. The boat pitched and rolled on the sea, as if it was trying to shake Pippa off. She climbed higher even though her clothes were soaked and her hands so cold it was hard to get a grip on the mast. Water dripped from her wavy hair and she could taste salt on her lips.
“I can do this!” Pippa said as she took one tentative step at a time, until at last she reached the hook-like cleat. The wet rope was wound tightly around it and stretched taut by the billowing sail. Pippa’s fingers were frozen and clumsy. Gritting her teeth, she struggled with the rope, loosening it from the cleat with her fingernails. Just when she thought she couldn’t untie it, the rope came free.
“Yay!” Pippa’s heart soared as the mainsail collapsed, flopping onto the deck like a stranded jellyfish.
“Hooray!” came the call from below. Stardust’s cheer was the loudest of the bunch. Without looking, Pippa gave her friend the thumbs-up.
Climbing back to the deck was much easier with the mainsail down. The waves were still huge and the wind wild, but the boat felt more stable. Pippa reached the deck and collapsed, panting as she got her breath back.
“What luck you were here. We couldn’t have done that without you,” said Captain Rascal, clapping Pippa on the back. “Pirates, take her downstairs. Give her a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate.”
“Wait!” cried Pippa as Stardust started to hustle down the cabin stairs. “What’s that, to the left of the boat?”
“Left!” screeched the parrot. “Left is for landlubbers. Pippa’s a landlubber.”
“What’s that, to the port?” Pippa corrected herself.
A short way from the boat, two heads bobbed in the water, watching Pippa with big eyes.
“Triton and Rosella!” Pippa felt a tingle of magic pass through her as Triton, the green seahorse, and Rosella, the pink one, swam toward The Jolly Horseshoe.
“Hello, Pippa, lover of ponies,” said Rosella, softly. “We hear you’ve come to return the luck to Chevalia.”
“With Stardust and the pirate ponies,” said Pippa, her face turning as pink as Rosella’s skin.
“So modest,” said Triton in his singsong voice. “Throw us a line and we’ll tow you out of this storm.”
“Really? Thanks!” Pippa looked to Captain Rascal, who pointed with a hoof to the rope Pippa needed. She threw it overboard and Rosella caught it in her mouth. Triton swam to help her and together they towed the boat to a place where the sea was calm and the sky bright blue.
“Thank you!” called Pippa.
“You’re welcome. Our magic is too strong for Divine; she couldn’t steal our luck, so we’re giving it to you.”
Pippa felt another tingle, like a soft breeze.
“Use our luck wisely, Pippa.” Triton and Rosella dipped their heads and, with a flick of their delicate ears, swam away.
The tingling feeling grew stronger, then gradually it faded. Pippa smiled. She felt so lucky and full of hope. Triton and Rosella were magic! With their help, she could restore the luck to Chevalia.
“Land ahoy!” shouted Captain Rascal.
“Chevalia!” Stardust and Pippa cheered, rushing to the deck rail, their eyes pinned to the shore, searching for gold and the unlucky horseshoe.
“That’s too tiny to be Chevalia,” said Captain Rascal. “Fetch me my telescope, Pirate Hoofpick.”
“Aye, aye, sir.” A tiny chestnut pony saluted smartly and trotted below-decks. Minutes later, he came back with a telescope.
Something in the corner of Pippa’s eye caught her attention. She turned her head and stared at the now flat sea. What had made it ripple like that?
Captain Rascal peered through his telescope. “Well, I never,” he muttered. “I don’t remember that island being there.”
There was a loud bang and the boat juddered. Stardust’s brown eyes widened as she gripped Pippa. “What was that?”
“Cow sharks!” roared Captain Rascal. “Well, I’ll be a parrot’s papa! Cow sharks are attacking the bow. Stand by to repel these scurvy attackers.”
“Cow sharks!” Stardust’s white coat turned even whiter.
Pippa ran to the bow and blinked in surprise. Four cow sharks were circling in the water. She hung over the side, fascinated by these strange creatures. The cow sharks each had a triangular fin that stuck out of the water. Their bodies were gray-blue and resembled a shark, but their tails were long and cowlike with a fluffy tip, which they used to swat at the seaflies circling above the water around them. The cow sharks had the head of a cow, big with velvety ears, large eyes, and soft black noses. Their mouths were more frightening, shark-like with rows of huge teeth that glinted in the sunshine.
The cow sharks swam in an orderly group, taking turns to bite the bow of the boat. Each time one took a mouthful, the boat swerved erratically.
“Help!” squeaked Stardust. “We’re going to be eaten alive.”
Captain Rascal strode down the deck. “Prepare to fire the cannons!” he ordered.
The pirate ponies swung into action. Running to the lockers at the rear of the boat, they pulled out a stash of heavy iron cannonballs.
“Form a chain!” called a pirate with a gold ring in one ear.
“Don’t be a pain, form a chain,” echoed the parrot.
The pirate ponies formed a long line that stretched from the lockers all the way along the deck to the cannons. Deftly they passed the cannonballs along the pony line, where the end pony, a tall black horse with one wooden leg, popped them into the cannons.
“Take aim!” the captain ordered. “Prepare to fire, and . . .”
Pippa had been staring into the water. Something about the cow sharks bothered her. What were they doing? Pippa had studied sharks last year in science class and recalled that when sharks attacked, they formed a circle around their victim, who was usually in the water. She’d not heard of them attacking a boat before, at least not a big boat like The Jolly Horseshoe.
“Wait!” Pippa cried. “Hold your fire.”