CHAPTER 3
The Great Hall was on an enormous cloud. Sparkles led the way along the path that followed the soft curves of the cloud. As they climbed the steps, the hall’s magnificent door magically opened.
“Look at that!” Evie gasped.
She pointed to the domed ceiling. It was painted with a beautiful skyscape of shimmering clouds. On one side of the dome, the morning sunrise was painted in warm colours. The evening sky was on the opposite side. It was a deep blue that looked as if it went on forever, scattered with constellations of gold stars. The arched windows were open and pale blue curtains floated gently in the breeze.
A little crowd of sprites was already waiting and the air was full of chattering and laughter. Clouds the size of plates floated from sprite to sprite, carrying tasty marshmallows, pink candyfloss on cocktail sticks and tiny fairy cakes that were so fluffy they almost floated away! Whenever a plate began to look empty, it magically filled up with more treats.
Skye and Wanda met a few sprites they knew and Evie recognised Rosy from when she, Diamond and Sparkles had taken part in the Unicorn Games. Rosy smiled and waved as she came over to say hello. Then the huge wooden doors at the end of the hall opened and in walked three important looking cloud sprites.
“The instructors,” whispered Skye. “Look! There’s Raphaela.”
“I hope we don’t get Professor Nimbus first,” said Wanda. “She’s the one on the end. She trains riders for the Olympic team.”
Evie could feel poor Sparkles jump when the professor began to speak.
“Welcome to this year’s Unicorn Riding Camp,” said Professor Nimbus. “I hope all your unicorns have settled in. This afternoon, I will be taking the training session on riding technique.”
“I am Madam Mariposa,” said the older, shorter sprite who was standing beside the Professor. She had a warm smile and fluffy white hair that had silver lining like a halo. “I will be helping you learn about unicorn well-being and stable management.”
“And I’m going to be helping you bond with your unicorns,” said Raphaela. “And together, we will develop your unicorn empathy skills.”
There was a ripple of excitement among the cloud sprites.
“There will be a list of the groups on the noticeboard after lunch,” said Professor Nimbus.
Evie spotted Professor Nimbus wink at the girl with the long blonde plait before turning to leave.
“That’s Professor Nimbus’ niece,” Rosy whispered in her ear. “Her name’s Storm.”
All the cloud sprites filed out of the Great Hall and followed the long corridor to the dining room.
The dining room was hung with paintings of unicorns and each of the round tables was lit with a golden candelabra. Everyone was hungry; it had been a long morning and the room buzzed with anticipation. Wanda, Skye and Evie shared a table and enjoyed the fluffy bread and hot soup. Pudding was the most delicious cake Evie had ever tasted – layers of light sponge with heavenly mousse in between.
“Imagine learning how to communicate with your unicorn like Raphaela does!” said Wanda when they had all finished their lunch. Everyone was starting to leave the dining room to have a look at the list that had been pinned on to the noticeboard.
“Stuff and nonsense!” snorted Storm, as she and her friend pushed past Wanda’s chair. “My aunt says the only way to communicate with a unicorn is to show it who is the boss.”
“Let’s hope we’re not in Storm’s group,” said Wanda, and all the friends nodded.
“There’s only one way to find out,” said Evie. “Come on, let’s go and have a look at the lists.”
“Oh, this is so exciting,” said Skye. “I hope we’re all in the same group.”
But they weren’t. Skye had been put in Rosy’s group.
“What a shame I’m not with you,” said Skye.
“It might have been a lucky escape, Skye,” said Evie. “Look who’s in our group.”
Princess Evie & Diamond
Wanda & Zephyr
Storm & Misty
Juno & Cherub
“The Sunshine Girls,” said Wanda.
“Never mind,” said Skye. “They’re probably lovely, once you get to know them.”
“Well, there’s one good thing,” said Evie, seeing that Wanda was looking a little worried. “Our first lesson is with Raphaela in the arena.”
“Lucky you,” said Skye, “I’m with Professor Nimbus.”
The friends went off to saddle up their unicorns for the first lesson. But when they reached the stable yard, they were met with complete chaos. Cloud sprites were running about and shouting, trying to catch a unicorn that had escaped from its stable. She was rearing like a wild animal. When the unicorn was finally cornered by the sprites the friends saw it was Zephyr – Wanda’s unicorn.
“Zephyr!” shouted Wanda.
As soon as she heard Wanda’s voice, Zephyr neighed, looking wildly around the yard for her owner.
“That animal is out of control!” said Storm, just as the instructors appeared. “Look at this mess.”
“What’s made Zephie do this?” asked Wanda, completely baffled by the scene of devastation.
The barrel of apples had been kicked over, straw was strewn across the yard, water buckets had been knocked over and some tack and grooming kit lay in the big puddles.
“This is not acceptable,” said Professor Nimbus, looking around the yard. “You will not join in any activities, Wanda, until you have cleaned this up. Is that clear?”
As the Professor was talking, Raphaela walked carefully towards Zephyr, murmuring quietly to the frightened unicorn. She helped Wanda put a halter on Zephyr and tied the unicorn up.
“Come along everyone, tack up, time for your first lesson,” continued the Professor.
As the other sprites tacked up, Wanda, Evie and Skye looked at each other.
“There’s no way you can be late for Professor Nimbus’ lesson, Skye, she’ll be cross.” said Evie. “I’ll help Wanda clear this up.”
“I don’t understand,” said Wanda, looking at the stable door hanging off its hinges. “Zephyr has never done anything like this before. Why would she kick her door down?”
Evie and Wanda set about sweeping and cleaning the yard. Sparkles tried to cheer Wanda up by chasing after apples and catching straw that was blowing in the breeze. But the little sprite found it hard to smile.
“I just can’t understand what got into Zephyr,” she said.