“We can do this,” Clara said. It was just after school on Tuesday, and the girls had gathered to continue their search for Glimmer.
“I wish Ben could be here,” Bella said. “He did the right thing, though, by not asking his uncle to let him skip chores and come with us.”
Ivy nodded. “It’s better that he didn’t ask. We need zero suspicion on us.”
Bella’s gaze wandered ahead to the Dark Forest. The girls were only feet away from the edge of the forest.
“So let’s stick with the plan we came up with,” Bella said, looking back at her friends. “Ivy, you and Clara stick together, and I’ll go alone.” It was Bella’s unicorn they were searching for, so the princess wanted her friends to be as safe as possible. If it weren’t for Bella, they wouldn’t be going into the Dark Forest.
Both of her friends frowned. They were not thrilled with Bella’s plan. Clara and Ivy had both argued with Bella about the princess going alone into the Dark Forest.
“Please don’t fight with me about it anymore,” Bella pleaded. “I know you’re both worried about me being alone, but I’ll be okay. We all have our crystals in case we need to get in touch with each other.”
Ivy and Clara exchanged looks.
“Just so you know—I’m not happy about this,” Clara fretted. She pulled her long hair into a ponytail. “But I’m with you, Bella.”
“Me too,” Ivy said. She patted the pocket of her jeans. “Promise us that you’ll use the crystal if you even think you might get into trouble.”
“Promise,” Bella said. She took a long, deep breath. “Today is it.” She didn’t need to remind Ivy and Clara what was at stake. Glimmer’s safety. Ben’s future as an apprentice at Crystal Castle. Bella’s debut tomorrow morning.
“Group hug for luck,” Ivy said.
The three best friends squeezed each other tight.
“Let’s go,” Bella said.
Bella led the way to the edge of the Dark Forest. Light peeked through the tall, leafless trees that stretched into the sky. Before she could think about it, Bella veered away from Ivy and Clara. Immediately, the temperature dropped a few degrees. Bella, glad for her cardigan, pulled the gray sleeves down to her knuckles. Ivy’s and Clara’s footsteps soon disappeared, and the only sounds in the dim forest were Bella’s sneakers crunching on twigs and dead leaves.
Mushrooms—red-and-white spotted—bloomed along the base of a massive tree. Roots as big as Bella swirled into the ground. The princess stepped closer to the tree, in awe of the roots, and movement made her jump back.
The tree roots inflated before her eyes, getting thicker and longer. It was as if they were protecting the tree. Bella took a few steps backward and found a semi-path to walk on. Ravens cawed overhead, and their wings fluttered.
Bella swatted at a bug that whined in her ear. Another one of the annoying insects flew in front of her eyes, and she broke into a run. That was the creepiest bug ever! she thought. Not only had the insect been the size of her hand, but it had a red body and four hairy, gross legs. Bella had never seen that bug outside of the Dark Forest.
Bella licked her dry lips, wanting to call for Glimmer, but she was too afraid of alerting Queen Fire’s spies. The princess wanted to get in and out of the forest as fast as possible. Her parents had forbidden her to enter the dangerous woods ever since she’d been old enough to talk. Now, not only was she in the Dark Forest, but she was without the protection of her unicorn.
Bella’s heart thudded so hard in her chest that she was sure the forest creatures could hear her heartbeat. Please, please don’t let me run into one of Queen Fire’s unicorns, she thought. Let me find Glimmer and take her home.
Bella stopped, bending down to look at a marking in the dirt. A hoofprint! The sight of it sent the princess’s pulse racing. She was on the right track. Or—Bella gulped—she was on the trail of one of Queen Fire’s dangerous unicorns. Bella stood, and a rustling noise filtered into her ears. She saw a flash of something—she couldn’t even make out the color—and that was all she needed.
Bella broke into a run, ignoring the squawking birds, the ribbiting frogs, and the scary shadows that covered a lot of the trail. Bella reached a line of hedges and halted, peering over the top.
She gasped. “Glimmer!” Bella cried.
The unicorn lifted her purple-tinted head from the ground and pointed her ears in Bella’s direction.
Tears started falling from Bella’s eyes. “Glimmer, please don’t run away. Please let me talk to you.”
Bella swiped at the tears on her cheeks as she took slow steps around the hedge. Glimmer stood like a statue—not a flick of her tail or a blink at the princess.
Bella held out her hand and, reaching Glimmer, placed it gently on the unicorn’s shoulder. Glimmer’s muscles rippled, and she let out a huge sigh.