CHAPTER 1

Pixie in a Jar

“Let’s talk pixie!” said Sasha.

Sasha wore a gold crown. It twinkled with white diamonds and pink crystals. Sasha was the Lost Princess of the flying horses.

Sasha hadn’t always been a princess. She also hadn’t always been able to fly.

Sasha grew up in Verdant Valley. She thought she was a regular horse, like all the other horses she knew.

Then one day, wings popped out. She could fly!

That was Surprise #1.

Sasha went to meet other flying horses that lived in Crystal Cove.

Then came Surprise #2. She was their Lost Princess. (Except now she wasn’t lost anymore.)

Sasha had to pass a tricky test to get her crown. The flying horses said that passing the test would unlock her royal powers.

Now, Sasha was in a cave having a secret meeting with four other flying horses. They were the rulers of Crystal Cove. Sapphire was a kind blue horse. Xanthos was a serious yellow horse. Crimson was a proper red horse. Mercury was a quiet turquoise horse.

“What else can I do?” asked Sasha.

She could fly. Could she also read minds? Change into a dolphin?

“We don’t know what else you can do,” Sapphire told Sasha. “Your royal power is unique to you. It’ll only appear when you need it most.”

Sasha hated waiting—especially for good things like presents, birthdays, and royal powers. “I need it now. The plant pixies are on the move.”

“Exactly!” Xanthos gave a loud whinny in reply.

Six hummingbirds flew into the cave. The hummingbirds were the flying horses’ helpers. They held open a large map of Crystal Cove in their beaks.

“The plant pixies are dancing here,” Xanthos said, pointing to a jungle on the map.

“The plant pixies are skipping here.” He pointed to some mountains.

“The plant pixies are twirling here.” He pointed to a meadow.

“Soon, they will come here.” He pointed to a beach.

Oh, no! Sasha gulped. The flying horses lived in the caves along the beach on the map.

“The plant pixies are coming to steal our wing feathers,” said Crimson.

“We must stop them,” said Sasha.

“It won’t be easy.” Xanthos brought her to a nearby shelf that held a large glass jar.

Sasha pressed her nose to the glass. A little fairy face stared back at her! A plant pixie!

The plant pixie had a pointy nose, pointy ears, and a pointy chin. Her skin was light purple, and her hair was long, flowing, and the color of grass. Her dress was made of tiny leaves.

“Her name is Collie.” Xanthos pointed to a tiny necklace around her neck that spelled Collie in fancy script.

Collie sat cross-legged on a leaf at the bottom of the jar. A tiny tear trickled down her cheek.

“Oh, poor pixie,” cried Sasha. “Why is Collie trapped in a jar? She looks so sweet.”

Xanthos snorted. “Don’t be fooled. Watch this.”

He unlatched the lid from the jar. He slid a horse feather inside and touched Collie with its tip.

She startled and cried out.

Whoosh!

Thick vines sprouted from Collie’s wrists. They grew and grew, twisting and climbing. They shot toward the top of the jar. Collie scampered up the vines like a rope. Her hazel eyes shone brightly. She was very near the top. Soon, she would be out of her glass prison.

The pixie was about to escape!