The next morning, Princess Courtney’s roommates were getting ready for their first full day at Camp Pop.

“This year we get to learn about special effects!” Zia exclaimed.

Rayna looked at Courtney. “I’m guessing that’s not a princess’s kind of thing,” she said. “Unless you want to check it out…”

Courtney bit her lip. She needed to see how her transfer was going. But special effects sounded fun. Courtney stuffed her scepter into her pocket. Then she raced after the girls.

Over the next couple of days, Princess Courtney had a blast! She rocked out on a microphone and tried country dancing. She even met some other super-nice campers, like hip-hop star Marcus.

A princess had so many rules. But at Camp Pop, everyone wanted to be free and stand out. No one was afraid to try new things. It was such a nice change! Princess Courtney didn’t even mind when Finn Oxford explained that her transfer would take a few more days. She wasn’t a pop star, but she was having a royally good time pretending she was!

Across the island, Erika watched princesses Aubray and Genevieve get ready for their first day at Camp Royalty.

Genevieve waved her magic royal scepter through the air. A shimmering class schedule appeared before them.

Erika gasped. “How did you do that?” She had seen many special effects onstage, but none as cool as that!

“With my scepter, of course. All royals have one,” Genevieve replied. She looked at the schedule. “We have scepter training first. Then tea party etiquette. Then unicorn grooming. I suppose we could bring you with us,” she said, looking at Erika. “Unless you need to get going?”

Erika frowned. She wanted to go to Camp Pop. But how many chances would she have to see real unicorns? “Wait for me!” she cried.

Over the next couple of days, Erika discovered that being royal wasn’t as boring as she thought. She made rainbows with a magic scepter. She brushed a real unicorn.

She also played in the royal orchestra. That was very different from her solo act. Erika had to admit, being part of the group felt nice. She even daydreamed about how things could be if her transfer to Camp Pop never got approved! Lady Anne said it should only take a couple more days. But Erika was having too much fun to notice!

One afternoon, she had singing class. Erika was excited to finally do something familiar. In the choir room, she listened as the royals sang. She took a deep breath and began to sing, too. Slowly, all the royals around her stopped to listen. Erika’s voice was beautiful!

Just then, Lady Anne and her assistant, Clive, passed the choir room. They stopped to listen. Lady Anne liked what she heard.

“I have never heard such a magnificent voice!” Lady Anne whispered to Clive. “Pity it will go to waste at Camp Pop.” Then she had an idea. She had often thought about hosting a singing competition between Camp Royalty and Camp Pop. Now, with a real pop star at Camp Royalty, she would have the upper hand. She whispered her plan to Clive.