CHAPTER 5

Enchanted Somersaults

Collie scampered into her mane. She sang softly as she braided.

The sun began to rise. Birds chirped to welcome the day.

Suddenly, their chirps turned into frightened squawks.

What’s happening? Sasha turned and gasped. Goats were somersaulting toward her!

Kimani raced out of her cave. “The pixies enchanted the goats! The goats can’t stop somersaulting.”

They rolled in from the meadow, one after the other.

“It looks like the goat plan didn’t work,” said Sasha.

Major Bill rolled up to them. “Go inside! We don’t want them to find you.”

Sasha felt Collie nuzzle into her mane to hide. Then Kimani pulled Sasha inside her cave. Sapphire and Xanthos soon trotted in.

“Kimani, your room is so messy.” Sapphire looked around. Crumpled blankets lay in heaps. Straw fell out of mattresses. Carrot cake crumbs littered the floor. “You must clean it before we allow you to fly again.”

“No flying?” Kimani sounded sad.

“No flying,” said Sapphire. She could take away flying because she was one of the rulers of Crystal Cove.

“Who cares about a mess right now? It’s a pixie attack!” cried Xanthos. “The pixies want Sasha’s royal feathers most of all.”

“Why my feathers?” asked Sasha.

“Your feathers are more powerful than ours,” Xanthos answered her.

A hummingbird flew in. The goats needed help. They were quite dizzy.

“Stay here. We’ll talk about this later,” said Xanthos. He, Sapphire, and Kimani hurried outside.

Sasha watched them go. Then Collie climbed out of her mane.

“Wow! It was hot in there.” Collie stood between Sasha’s ears. Then she slid down Sasha’s nose and sat by her nostrils.

Sasha crossed her eyes to see her. “I’m glad they didn’t find you.”

“You’re a good friend to keep my secret.”

Sasha grinned. She liked being Collie’s friend.

“I never knew that your feathers were more powerful than theirs.” Collie swung her tiny legs. “You know, if I got your feathers, the other pixies would stop laughing at me. I’d be a hero. It’s so easy, too. I mean, I’m standing right on top of the Lost Princess!”

Sasha’s heart began to thump. What have I done? she thought.

Would Collie take her feathers?

“You need to go back inside the jar,” said Sasha.

“No, I’m not leaving!” said Collie.

“You have to. I don’t want you to take my feathers,” said Sasha.

“Oh, snapdragon!” Collie giggled. “I was only joking. I won’t really do it.”

Sasha didn’t know if she could trust her new friend.

“You need to get off now!” Sasha shook her head.

Collie grabbed onto Sasha’s forelock. She held tight.

Sasha shook harder and harder.

Collie got scared. Vines shot from her wrists. They circled Sasha’s ears.

Oh, no! thought Sasha. I have to do something—fast.

Ah-choo!

Sasha let out a huge sneeze, spraying Collie with snot.

The vines shrunk away. Collie lost her grip. She slid down Sasha’s nose as if it were a waterslide.

Collie landed with a splat! on the ground. Sneeze-snot dripped from her shimmering green hair. “Gross! That wasn’t nice.”

Sasha mopped up the sneeze with her tail. “I’m sorry, Collie.”

“You’ll never believe this!” Kimani hurried into the cave.

“Hide!” Sasha nudged Collie under a blanket.

“The pixie ran away,” said Kimani. “Her empty jar was found on the beach. Do you think she used magic to escape?”

Sasha took a deep breath. It was time to tell Kimani about Collie.