CHAPTER SIX
Everyone in Sapphire dorm was up long before the sunrise. It was unicorn matching day, and the students couldn’t think or talk about anything else. They had been told to gather at the edge of Wonderwood Forest right after breakfast. As she walked over to the meeting point with her new friends, Sophia felt a tingle of excitement. The idea of getting to know a real-life unicorn really was a dream come true. She thought of Mary Lou and the special connection that they shared. Nothing could ever replace her in Sophia’s heart—they would always be friends forever—but she couldn’t wait to go riding again.
“I feel super-nervous and a little scared,” said Ava, “yet I can’t stop smiling.”
Layla nodded energetically. “I’ve never done gymnastics, but my stomach is doing some serious somersaults!”
“Try to shake it out,” Sophia said helpfully, showing her how to jump up and down on the spot and wiggle her hands. “If unicorns are anything like horses, you don’t want them to see you scared.”
Layla’s face fell. “Really? Now I’m even more nervous!”
Sophia gave Layla an encouraging smile as they stepped aside to let Ms. Primrose ride past on Ethera. The unicorn looked even more dazzling than the first time they had seen her, gold hooves trotting so elegantly and head perfectly raised in a deep curve. When they arrived by the thick line of trees at the edge of the forest, Ms. Furi was waiting on Ghost. She called everyone to attention—it was time for the matching to begin.
“Good morning, students!” announced Ms. Primrose. “This is where the unicorns of the island roam. Today you will each discover if one of those unicorns is destined to become yours.”
Ms. Furi quietly reached forward to tickle Ghost’s ears. Although the teacher’s face was as serious as usual, Sophia could tell how much she loved her unicorn. Ghost’s long eyelashes fluttered happily. Enjoying the attention, she gave a little whinny of pleasure.
As the head teacher continued with her instructions, tiny dots of light began to come out of the forest shadows. Orange, blue, yellow, green—every color of the rainbow was there. A dot darted by, and Sophia was stunned to discover that each light was actually a tiny fairy, no bigger than her finger.
“Right on time!” said Ms. Primrose. “The Fate Fairies are some of the most ancient residents of this island. If you find the unicorn that is your destined match, your Fate Fairy will glow more brightly.”
The students glanced nervously at one another as the Fate Fairies sought them out. Sophia watched spellbound as a dark pink Fate Fairy fluttered out of the trees and hovered close beside her shoulder.
Ms. Primrose explained that every student who matched with a unicorn would be presented with their uniforms at the Enchanted Archway later that afternoon.
“For those who don’t,” added Ms. Furi, “becoming a Unicorn Rider is not your destiny. You will be sent home.”
Several students shuddered. Only Valentina was wearing a smug grin, seeming like she didn’t have a care in the world. Sophia felt more determined than ever to find a unicorn. She had to prove to the world, and Valentina, that she deserved to be here!
“Just follow your heart and see if it leads you to a unicorn,” Ms. Primrose advised. “And remember that parts of this island, such as the Crystal Caves, are forbidden to students. There’s only one strict rule—as you search, do not go beyond the Shimmerstone Wall.”
Everyone nodded, excited to get on their way.
Ethera’s horn lit up and an emerald firework soared up into the sky.
“Your destiny awaits,” declared Ms. Primrose. “Good luck!”
Isabel led the way into the forest at a sprint, with the rest of the students fanning out behind her. Sophia, Ava, and Layla picked a mossy path lined with ferns and bell-shaped blossoms. Three little Fate Fairies floated along beside them.
“It’s…it’s like a dream,” said Sophia. She had never explored anywhere quite so beautiful. The colors, the smell of the flowers, the Fate Fairies—all of her senses felt alive.
Ava sighed with happiness. “Just when I thought this place couldn’t get any better!”
“It’s just unbelievable,” said Layla. “I wonder where the unicorns…argggh!”
A strong and powerful ice-white unicorn burst through the ferns and came pounding along the path toward them. Sophia and Ava leapt out of the way in the nick of time, but Layla was knocked off-balance and fell to the ground. The towering creature raised herself onto her hind legs and snorted proudly before Layla.
Layla straightened her glasses, then dared herself to look back. Why was this headstrong animal standing next to her? Everyone knew she couldn’t even ride.
“Your Fate Fairy!” whispered Sophia, pointing into the air beside Layla. “It’s glowing!”
Sophia was right. The orb around Layla’s Fate Fairy was glowing a rich golden yellow. This had to be her unicorn!
“Hello,” Layla said shyly, scrambling to her feet. “It looks like we’re a team.”
“Congratulations!” gushed Ava.
Isabel ran back down the track and skidded to a halt beside them. She’d heard the noise and assumed that such a powerful unicorn had to be searching for a sporty girl like her.
“She can’t be yours, Layla,” Isabel insisted. “This must be a mistake. If that’s not my unicorn, who could be?”
Suddenly a singsong neighing echoed through the forest. Another unicorn!
“This way!” said Sophia.
The girls hurried down the path, following the sound. A little farther along, a stunning electric-blue unicorn was standing in a clearing, drinking cool water from a stream. Sophia thought he was very handsome with his eye-catching pink-and-blue mane. But when the unicorn spotted the students, the poor thing became so frightened, he hid, trembling, behind a tree.
Isabel sighed. Her Fate Fairy was glowing.
“He can’t be mine, can he?” she asked. “Really?”
Ava and Sophia shrugged, leaving Isabel, Layla, and their unicorns to make their way back to the academy.
“Come on,” said Ava, linking arms with Sophia. “Let’s keep looking.”
As they walked deeper and deeper into the forest, Sophia wondered if she would ever find her match. Every couple of minutes there was a shout as someone else met the unicorn destined to be their companion on the island. Rory soon passed them with a mischievous purple unicorn, closely followed by Valentina.
“You’ve both still had no luck?” she said smugly, shooting a look at her own unicorn companion. “Oh dear.”
Sophia felt a pang of jealousy as she watched the fiery orange creature stepping alongside Valentina. The unicorn looked beautiful but snobbish, just like the young Ms. Furi.
Ava tried to take Sophia’s mind off things by leading her into a glade filled with tiger lilies. These weren’t just any ordinary tiger lilies, though; they were magical. The stripy flowers swayed from side to side in the breeze, their tiger faces roaring happily in the sunshine.
“Aren’t these just amazing?” Ava asked, kneeling down to smell their sweet scent.
“Ava!” gasped Sophia. “Watch out!”
A majestic yellow unicorn pushed her face through the flowers and licked Ava on the nose! The unicorn leapt to her feet and danced around the girl, swishing her tail in delight.
Ava clapped her hands together, taking in the unicorn’s gentle eyes and beautiful violet-and-turquoise mane. She was perfect in every way.
“I can’t look at my Fate Fairy,” she cried. “Please be glowing…. Please be glowing….”
Ava’s Fate Fairy shone starbright. She really had met her unicorn match! Sophia smiled to congratulate the pair.
“We’ll see you on the other side, okay?” said Ava.
Sophia nodded, waving bravely until Ava and her unicorn had disappeared down the path back to school. The second they had gone, her heart sank.
“Everyone has found their match except for me,” she said sadly.
Sophia was alone. Inside, she felt worried and a little scared that her time at the academy could be over already. She lifted her hand up to her neck and felt the precious crystal in her star pendant.
“You can find a unicorn, Sophia,” she told herself out loud. “You just need a better view.”
Her eyes settled upon an ancient tree towering up ahead. It had magnificent tangled branches, glittering gold leaves, and a massive twisted trunk like a spiral staircase. It would have been perfect for climbing, if it wasn’t growing just beyond a wall built from gleaming blocks of stone.
“I’m guessing this is the Shimmerstone Wall,” said Sophia, catching the eye of her Fate Fairy. “Ms. Primrose said not to cross it, but this is a unicorn-finding emergency.”
She checked that the coast was clear, then straddled the wall in a single jump. “And if I’m going to be fighting evil, I think I can handle a quick trip out of bounds.”
Sophia’s Fate Fairy crossed her little arms and frowned, then followed after her.
“Oh!” gasped Sophia, climbing onto the tree. “Maybe this isn’t so good….”
The ancient plant was twisting underneath her, its branches curling, pulling, tugging. Sophia found herself being carried into the heart of the tree and suddenly realized that she was trapped.
Thwack!
A golden unicorn horn lunged at the branches, shocking the tree so that it released its grip on Sophia. She fell back down to the forest floor, landing on the right side of the wall in an ungraceful heap.
“Oh my…”
Sophia looked up in awe. A spectacular opal-white unicorn was standing above her, lit by the sun shining through the trees. Her mane and tail were peppered with rainbow shades, and her coat seemed to shimmer in the sunshine. She was the most stunning creature Sophia had ever seen.
“I did it!” she sputtered. “I found my unicorn!”
Her heart gave a joyful leap as she glanced at her Fate Fairy and saw that it was glowing a dark shade of pink.
Only the unicorn seemed unimpressed. She turned on her hooves and began to walk back into the woods.
“Wait!” begged Sophia. “You’re my match! I have a feeling that I am supposed to be a Unicorn Rider.”
The unicorn kept walking, her tail swishing impatiently with each step.
“Maybe you just need to get to know me?” said Sophia. “My name is Sophia. Sophia Mendoza.”
The unicorn stopped at once. While Sophia rattled on about home, Mary Lou, and her invitation to the academy, the unicorn’s eyes became soft. She trotted back up the path and sniffed Sophia’s dad’s checkered shirt, then nuzzled the girl gently with her nose. Finally she tossed her head and neighed, as if to say, “It’s a match! ”
Sophia felt a warm rush of happiness.
“So we’re doing this?” she asked, stroking the unicorn’s neck. “Let’s go!”