“Glimmer!” Bella cried, waking and sitting up in bed. Her heart thudded against her chest, as if she had just run laps around the castle’s moat.
Glimmer’s home, Bella reminded herself. She let out a breath as if trying to exhale the nightmare. She’d been dreaming that Glimmer had been captured by Queen Fire. Goose bumps ran up and down her arms as she remembered the queen’s promise to collect on Bella’s debt. But Glimmer’s safe from my deal, the princess reminded herself. It could be six days or six years before Queen Fire wants something from me. She took a long, deep breath through her nose. When she exhaled, she pushed all of the thoughts of Queen Fire from her mind. Bella was going to try her hardest not to think about her aunt. At least not today.
Bella yanked back the purple-and-white-striped sheets and comforter and ran to her window. She undid the latch and pushed it open. Her view from the tower was perfect. She could see the stables, pastures, and barnyard. Ben and Frederick emerged from the stables with a gorgeous purple-splashed unicorn in tow. The view instantly made her happy.
Glimmer! Bella thought. You really are home and safe.
Through her window, Bella watched as Ben turned Glimmer in a circle and tied her to one of the white fence rails. Frederick carried over a bucket filled with brushes, and Ben began to ready Glimmer for her debut. Bella closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind of anything but her connection to Glimmer. The princess felt happiness, excitement, and a touch of nerves. Bella opened her eyes, grinning. Glimmer’s feelings matched her own!
“Good morning, Bella!” Lyssa entered Bella’s room. She had a garment bag in one hand.
Bella eyed the bag. “Jeez, Lyss. I thought you were never going to get here.”
“Ha, ha,” Lyssa said, winking. “That’s talk, coming from someone still in her pj’s.”
“Didn’t you hear?” Bella asked, putting a hand on her hip. “Pajamas are so in this season. Everyone is wearing them all the time.”
Lyssa grinned. “Oh, well then, you won’t want the clothes your mom gave me for your debut.” She took the black garment bag and started to put it in Bella’s closet.
“Um, wait!” Bella said, hurrying over to Lyssa. “The pj’s all day is totally a fad. I’m going to stay fashion forward and wear real clothes during the day.”
Lyssa laughed. “Wow! What perfect timing, since I brought this!”
Bella watched as Lyssa unzipped the clothing bag. Carefully Lyssa took out a pair of shimmery gold leggings, a plum-purple tee with lace-edged sleeves and hem, and black riding boots. A gold chain with a prancing unicorn pendant hung from the hanger.
“You like?” Lyssa asked.
“I love!” Bella said. “These clothes are perfect for today.”
Lyssa helped her change. The castle was quiet when Bella left and headed for the stables to meet her parents.
The king and queen had spoken to Bella for a long time last night about the Glimmer situation. Bella had realized that if she had told her parents from the start, she would have probably found Glimmer faster. King Phillip had reminded Bella that what happened wasn’t Ben’s fault, and if he and Bella had told the truth earlier, then they wouldn’t have had to worry about Ben’s future at the castle. Most of all, though, the king and queen were relieved that their daughter and Glimmer were home safe.
“Ben!” Bella called, spotting him in the stable yard.
“Hi, Bella,” he said, smiling. “My uncle’s holding Glimmer. He asked me to keep an eye out for you.”
“There’s one huge problem!” Bella said. She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one else was around. “I haven’t actually ridden Glimmer before. Now I have to ride her to the town square and be in front of the entire kingdom!”
Ben tapped his index finger against one of his temples. “One step ahead of you, Princess.”
Bella clutched her hands together. “Really?”
“Really. Frederick knows that you haven’t had riding lessons, so I asked him if I could lead Glimmer for the debut.”
“Ben!” Bella hugged him quickly. “That’s only the best plan ever! You’re a genius!”
Ben shook his head. “Just a very smart apprentice.” He grinned. “So, Princess Bella, may I assist you during your debut?”
“Hmmm.” Bella rolled her eyes to the sky, pretending to think. “Yes! Thank you, Ben!”
Ben bowed his head. He waved a hand in the direction of the stable yard. “This way, Princess Bella. It’s time for your first ride.” He whispered the last sentence, and he and Bella exchanged secret smiles.
Bella half skipped after Ben. She wanted the kingdom to love Glimmer as much as she did. But right now, what she wanted more than anything was to finally ride her unicorn. Bella’s boots crunched on gravel, and Glimmer turned her head in Bella’s direction. Two pricked ears pointed toward Bella, and Glimmer let out a soft whinny.
Bella hurried over, and Frederick laughed and he moved out of the way as the princess threw her arms around Glimmer’s neck. The unicorn smelled like sweet hay and daisies. Superfine strands of clear wire had been twisted throughout Glimmer’s mane and tail. The wires shimmered and slowly changed from pink to green to purple—they ran through every color that Bella had ever seen in Crystal Kingdom! Glimmer’s white coat glittered in the sun, and it reminded Bella of pixie dust.
“You look so pretty!” Bella told Glimmer. The princess looked into Glimmer’s eyes and saw love and happiness. The princess knew she would do anything to protect her unicorn in return.
Bella perched on her tiptoes and leaned close to Glimmer’s right ear. “Nothing’s ever made me feel more like a princess.”
“May I help you up?” Frederick asked.
“Please!” Bella said. I get to finally ride! she thought.
Frederick motioned for Bella to follow him as he led Glimmer over to a set of three wooden stairs.
“Climb on up and put your left foot here,” Frederick said. He held a triangle-shaped iron with a rubber grip at the bottom. The triangle’s bottom supported Bella’s weight. Bella followed the stable manager’s instructions and lowered herself onto the leather saddle.
Frederick quickly explained how Bella would use her hands and feet to guide Glimmer.
“That’s a lot to remember,” Bella said. Her heart beat a little faster.
“Ben will be right there, so don’t worry,” Frederick said. He patted her knee, smiling as he waved to Ben.
Ben hurried over and took the rainbow-striped rope from Frederick.
“Oh, Bella!” Queen Katherine, arm in arm with King Phillip, beamed at her daughter. “You look perfect with Glimmer. Phillip, take a photo!”
Bella’s dad already had the camera lens pointed at the princess and Glimmer. Bella grinned into the camera. “Unicorn!” she said, giggling.
After a few more photos, the king and queen climbed into the Royal Carriage. The beautiful carriage, powered by the sun, glowed bright despite the sun being out in full force.
With a smile at Bella, Ben led Glimmer forward through the stable yard, across the drawbridge, and out onto the private winding Royal Road to town.
The shimmering purple strands in Glimmer’s mane and tail complemented the crystal-flecked path under her hooves. Glimmer pranced toward town, and Bella couldn’t stop grinning.
“Ben?” Bella asked. “What if the crowds scare Glimmer? She’s never been around so many people before.”
“Again,” Ben said, smiling, “got you covered.”
Soon they were in town. Ben led Glimmer down a path secured by a few Royal Guards and into the town square. High in the air, a giant red sign flashed QUIET, PLEASE! and NEW ROYAL UNICORN! CAUTION!
“My uncle came here before we got here,” Ben explained, looking up at the signs. “He asked the crowd not to wave any signs or make any noise that might scare Glimmer. She’s new to everything. But soon the people won’t even faze her.”
Dozens of people, held back by a shield spell, smiled, held up cameras, or whispered to each other as Ben halted Glimmer. Bella looked over her shoulder for her parents. The king and queen emerged from the Royal Carriage and greeted the people of Crystal Kingdom with waves and smiles.
Bella recognized a few reporters from the local newspaper as they scribbled in notepads and had cameras on tripods that recorded the event. She looked over the crowd, and two hands shot into the air. Clara and Ivy! Bella waved at her besties.
The king and queen stood on the podium that towered above the crowd. Bella couldn’t help but flash back to her dad standing there, sword at his side, when Queen Fire had scared the crowd on her birthday. The evil queen’s words from yesterday made Bella shiver.
Immediately, Glimmer’s ears swept back toward Bella, and she struck the ground with a front hoof.
“Easy, girl,” Ben said, petting Glimmer. “You okay?” he asked Bella.
“Totally fine. Just thought about yesterday for a second,” Bella said.
Ben half smiled. “Look around. Maybe the fact that, oh, a few people showed up will distract you.”
Bella laughed. “That helps! Plus, we’re here on a school day.”
“I’m not exactly sad about school being canceled,” Ben said. He led Glimmer toward the crowd and turned her in a big circle so everyone could see.
“People of Crystal Kingdom,” King Phillip’s voice came through a microphone.
Everyone’s heads swiveled in his direction. Even Glimmer’s!
“Thank you all for joining my family on this beautiful day,” the king said. “Queen Katherine and I are thrilled to introduce you to our daughter’s unicorn. Princess Bella is now paired with Glimmer.”