Bella smiled as she walked toward her float. Security, almost enough for a royal wedding, walked beside her. The fight with her friends had been a nightmare. Now, everything could be about including Ivy and Clara.
Bella spotted her float before the guards could point it out. The second float in line shimmered and glowed with lavender and sky-blue lights and flowers. Light-blue fog settled above the float and sheer purple fog stretched around the bottom. Four tall posts, mimicking a canopy bed, had light-purple tulle draped from each of them and across the top of the float. At the front, lights in cursive script blinked HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRINCESS!
An oversize throne in the middle of the float was just the right size to fit Bella, Ivy, and Clara. Bella knew from past parades that the floats were all preprogrammed to follow the parade route.
“Princess, please allow me to help you and your friends aboard,” one of the guards said.
In no time Bella, Clara, and Ivy stood on the float. The girls grinned at each other. They had been instructed to keep a hand on the railing unless they were seated. Bella stood at the front of the float and Ivy and Clara were on opposite sides, practicing their parade waves. Bella had never seen bigger smiles on her friends’ faces.
“It’s time!” a man with a bullhorn called from atop a prancing unicorn. “People of Crystal, please join me in wishing Princess Bella a happy birthday! Let the parade begin!”
Queen Katherine and King Phillip’s float lifted a few inches above the ground, hovering, and started forward. The king and queen stood at the front of their elegant red-and-gold float and began waving as soon as they reached the start of the crowd.
Here we go! Bella thought excitedly.
There was a crackle in the air and thousands of tiny lights—like fireflies—appeared at each corner of Bella’s float. The lights whirled in circles and propelled the float forward. The cheers of the crowd grew louder and louder. Bella wondered if people in the next kingdom could hear the people chanting, “Happy birthday, Princess!” Nerves rumbled in Bella’s stomach. I can do this, she told herself. Just smile and wave! That’s it!
Ivy and Clara reached into the large buckets that hung beside them and grabbed handfuls of candy, including Sunstix—a stick of candy that glowed in the dark and did the same to the person’s tongue!