by Julie Sykes
“Faster!” Sophia gasped as her dark curls blew out behind her. All thoughts disappeared from her head apart from the feeling of speed and Rainbow’s warm back beneath her. This was like flying!
“We’re almost at the school!” exclaimed Sophia, seeing a sign just ahead. The swirly gold writing on it said Unicorn Academy beside a painting of a snow-white unicorn with a rainbow arching over its head. An arrow pointed up a long, tree-lined drive.
“Race you up the drive,” called Harry, Sophia’s seven-year-old brother.
Sophia couldn’t wait to see the school after five hours of riding, and she would have loved to gallop, but she slid from her shaggy grey pony’s back and patted his neck fondly. “Sorry, Harry but Clover’s tired. I’m not going to make him race.”
Clover, who was old and couldn’t go fast any more, pushed his nose gratefully into Sophia’s hair. Her wavy black curls hung over his muzzle like a droopy moustache. Sophia giggled but there was a heavy weight in her stomach. Now she was ten, she was thrilled to be old enough to attend Unicorn Academy and finally get a unicorn of her own. But she was really going to miss Clover!
“All right, sweetie?” asked her mum, trotting up alongside. Solitaire, her unicorn, was fully grown and looked very elegant compared to short-legged Clover. “You’re going to have a fantastic time here at the school, but I expect it feels quite strange at the moment. Remember to be polite and please try to think first before rushing into things.”
Sophia grinned. “As if I’d do that, Mum!”
“Hmm,” her mum said, raising her eyebrows. Then her expression softened. “Remember that all the other girls and boys will probably be feeling as nervous as you. But it won’t be long before you get to know each other.”
“I am a little bit nervous about making friends,” admitted Sophia, “but I’m more worried about Clover.” She stroked Clover’s neck. “Do you think he’ll be OK without me?”
“He’ll be fine,” said her mum. “He’s getting old and he’ll be happy having a quieter life. Harry and I will make sure he gets lots of cuddles and fuss. Don’t worry about Clover, just enjoy getting to know your own special unicorn, bonding and learning to work together to protect our island.”
Sophia’s heart swelled. She loved the thought of protecting Unicorn Island, their beautiful home. “I wonder what my unicorn will be like and what its magical power will be. I hope it can heal like Solitaire.”
Each unicorn was born with its own special magical power. There were many different powers and young unicorns usually found out what they could do in their first year at Unicorn Academy.
Sophia’s mum leaned down to push a stray black curl out of Sophia’s eyes. “I’m sure you’ll love your unicorn whatever power it has.”
Sophia fell quiet as she rode Clover through the green tunnel of trees towards the school. She really wanted her unicorn to be able to heal. With healing magic, maybe she could take away some of the aches and pains that Clover was suffering.
The tunnel ended and Sophia rode Clover out into the pale January sunlight. Excitement rushed inside her as she stared at the enormous building of marble and glass with a fountain sparkling in front of it. She’d dreamed of this moment for years.
“It’s beautiful.” She could hardly tear her eyes away from the majestic towers of the school and the perfectly kept gardens surrounding it that were filled with plants and flowers, even in winter. In the distance, the multicoloured, magical water of the famous Sparkle Lake glittered in the sunshine.
“I wish I was old enough to come here,” said Harry longingly.
Girls and boys were rushing in all directions. Teachers called out instructions. A group of girls stood together at the bottom of the steps that swept up to the school’s front door. They looked like they’d just arrived. Sophia took a deep breath. This was it. Time to say goodbye to Clover and her family! She wrapped her arms round Clover’s neck, burying her face and tears in his soft mane.
“Goodbye, Clover darling. Have a nice rest grazing in the field.”
Mum touched her arm. “Shall I walk you over to the others?”
“No, I’ll be fine.” Sophia dried her eyes in Clover’s mane before giving Mum and Harry a hug. “Bye!”
Sophia approached the five girls. She particularly liked the look of a girl with a sprig of blue forget-me-nots in her dark, chin-length bob, and she gave her a shy smile. The girl grinned back. Sophia was about to ask her name when a tall lady approached them. She had a thin sallow face and a long nose with tiny glasses balanced on the end. A girl with wavy brown hair walked confidently by her side. She had sharp green eyes and a long thin nose just like the teacher’s. Sophia smiled at her but the girl just glared, her nose twitching as if she had smelled something bad.
“Girls,” said the teacher abruptly. “I’m Ms Nettles, your geography and culture teacher. Follow me. You’re the last to arrive and Ms Primrose is waiting in the hall to pair you with your unicorns. Hurry up. No dawdling.”
Sophia fell into step with the dark-haired girl. “Hi, I’m Sophia,” she whispered.
“I’m Ava,” the girl replied. She nodded at Ms Nettles. “She looks a bit scary, doesn’t she?”
Ms Nettles’ head whipped round. Her skinny neck and mean eyes made her look like a badtempered tortoise. “No talking!” she snapped.
Ava made a face at Sophia, who smothered a giggle. A spark of happiness fizzed inside her. She had a feeling that she and Ava were definitely going to be friends!
The girls climbed the marbled stairs and went through the huge front door. The school was light and airy with many windows. It was decorated with statues and paintings of unicorns. Ms Nettles walked so fast that Sophia barely had time to take it all in. It was all very grand, colourful and enormous. Sophia was certain that she’d spend the first week getting lost.
Ms Nettles finally stopped outside an arched multicoloured glass door that reminded Sophia of the lake.
“We are about to enter the hall. You must be on your best behaviour and please ensure you are looking smart before you go in and meet Ms Primrose.”
Sophia pushed her long curls back over her shoulders. When the new girls had finished tugging at their clothes, Ms Nettles inspected them.
“Lovely, Valentina.” She smiled at the brown-haired girl. “Tuck your necklace in though, dear. Jewellery shouldn’t be on show.”
“Thanks, Aunt… Oops, I mean Ms Nettles!” Valentina smirked.
“Aunt!” mouthed Ava, widening her eyes.
Sophia widened hers back. “Really!”
“No talking!” snapped Ms Nettles again.
She led the girls into the hall. Sophia caught her breath. High up, a domed glass roof filled with coloured swirls flooded the room with soft rainbow light. Its long rays lit up the magical map positioned in the centre of the room. The map was a model of Unicorn Island in miniature, with snowy mountains, lush green valleys, dusty plains, deep green forests and sandy beaches. The school with its lake and fountain were right in the centre of the island. The map was protected by a glimmering magical force field. Sophia’s mum had told her that the map was very powerful and you could visit anywhere on the island just by touching the place you wanted to go to. Sophia longed to try it out but Mum had said that it was only to be used by teachers, and pupils who had graduated.
Ms Nettles marched across the room to where a large group of students were whispering in front of an enormous stage. A regal-looking lady, sitting on a high-backed chair, watched as Sophia and the others approached. That must be Ms Primrose, thought Sophia. According to her mum, Ms Primrose was almost as old as the island itself. Sophia didn’t believe that, but looking at her wrinkled face and pure-white hair, she guessed that Ms Primrose was very old in
deed.
Hearing a whinny, Sophia realised that Ms Primrose wasn’t alone. Waiting in the wings at the side of the stage were a group of young unicorns, all with glimmering snow-white coats, glittering horns and silky manes and tails. Some of them were hanging back shyly, others were pushing their way forward, ears pricked.
Ms Primrose rose to her feet gracefully.
“Good afternoon, everyone.” Her voice was low and serious but Sophia caught a twinkle in her blue eyes. “Welcome to Unicorn Academy. Now you are ten years old it is time for you to spend a year here, training and bonding with your own special unicorn. You and your unicorn will be partners for life, helping each other and looking after Unicorn Island.”
She paused and gestured towards one of the large windows overlooking the gardens. “Unicorn Academy is a very special place because it is also the home of Sparkle Lake. The lake’s waters originate from the centre of the earth and flow up through the fountain into the lake and then around the island in rivers and streams. Its magical water helps all the people, plants and animals on Unicorn Island flourish.”
She paused and let her gaze fall on every single pupil in the room. “During your year at the school, your unicorn should come into his or her magical powers. Some of you are likely to discover this early in the school year, others will take longer. You will be paired with your unicorn in a moment.”
Sophia felt like she was going to burst with excitement. Which unicorn was going to be hers? A few of the young unicorns were pressing forward eagerly, peering out at the girls.
There was a beautiful unicorn with long eyelashes and a pale-blue and silver tail that swept all the way to the floor; a cheeky-looking unicorn with red, yellow and gold swirls on her body that matched her mane and a tail; and a unicorn with rainbow swirls on his white coat and a rainbow mane and tail. As his lively brown eyes met hers, Sophia’s heart flipped. I want him! The thought leapt into her head. The unicorn gazed back at her and Sophia wondered if he was feeling the same.
Immediately, Sophia felt a flicker of disloyalty as she remembered the promise she’d made to Clover the night before when she’d given him his goodnight hug. “I’ll never love any unicorn as much as I love you,” she’d said.
She looked away from the gorgeous rainbow-coloured unicorn and focused on what Ms Primrose was saying.
“When you bond with your unicorn, a lock of your hair will turn the same colour as your unicorn’s mane. In December, on the longest night of the year, students and their unicorns will graduate at the magnificent Sparkle Lake Ball!”
A ripple of excitement ran through the pupils. Ms Primrose turned to the wings. “Sage, please bring the young unicorns out.”
A tall, regal unicorn with a stunning gold coat stepped from the side of the stage. His sparkling tail swept along the ground. Sophia gasped. This was the legendary Sage, a wise old unicorn, distantly descended from the unicorn that had first made the island its home.
Sage led the smaller unicorns out from the stage wings. They followed him down a ramp. They were different heights and colours and they were all gorgeous, but Sophia’s eyes kept coming back to the unicorn with the rainbow mane and tail.
Ms Primrose called out the name of the first student and unicorn. “Valentina de Silva and … Golden Briar.”
A haughty unicorn with a gold mane trotted daintily to Valentina’s side, then stopped and breathed into her outstretched hands. Valentina gave the watching students a superior look. “Thank you, Ms Primrose,” she said grandly. “My parents said you’d give me the best unicorn.”
Ms Primrose looked at Valentina with wise blue eyes. “You have the best unicorn for you, my dear – just like everyone else will.”
Valentina look confused as she led Golden Briar away.
I wonder how Ms Primrose can tell which unicorn we should have? thought Sophia.
Ms Primrose continued to read out names.
“Ava and … Star.”
A unicorn with a pale-lilac star on her forehead trotted over to Ava and gently nudged her hand. Ava sent Sophia a delighted smile.
“Sophia…”
Hearing Ms Primrose say her name, Sophia held her breath, her eyes scanning the remaining unicorns. Which one was she going to have? Would it be the unicorn with the rainbow mane and tail she felt so drawn to, or maybe the cute unicorn with a swirling pattern of blue over his coat, or the cheeky unicorn with the red and gold mane? Sophia’s heart somersaulted. Which one was it going to be?
“Sophia and … Rainbow,” announced Ms Primrose.
The unicorn with the rainbow mane whinnied in delight. Sophia’s heart leapt as he trotted over and stopped in front of her. She held out her hands. “Rainbow,” she whispered.
He nuzzled her hands. “Hello, Sophia. As soon as I saw you, I knew I wanted you to be my friend.”
“I felt the same.” She felt a thrill of excitement as his lips tickled her fingers. Her very own unicorn! Oh, they were going to have so much fun together. But not as much fun as I have with Clover, she thought quickly, pulling her hands back.
Rainbow sent her a puzzled look as if he sensed her confusion.
Ms Primrose continued pairing students and unicorns until only a floppy-haired blond boy with a big smile and a unicorn with an electric-blue mane and tail were left. “Billy and Lightning,” she said.
As Billy and Lightning completed the circle, everyone started to chatter. “Quiet, please,” said Ms Primrose, clapping her hands. “You can now spend the afternoon exploring the grounds. You may go riding with your unicorns if you wish.”
Sophia’s excitement grew. She loved riding Clover but he was so slow these days. Rainbow looked full of energy, impatiently dancing on his hooves as he waited for Ms Primrose to finish.
“After you’ve finished exploring, please take your unicorns back to the stable and settle them before you tidy yourselves up for dinner. You will find your travel case in your dormitory. There are six dorms with either six girls or six boys in.”
Ms Primrose told everyone who they were sharing with. Sophia was in Sapphire dormitory with Ava. How lucky!
At last, Ms Primrose smiled and said, “Have fun exploring the grounds. Your lessons start tomorrow.”
Sophia grinned at Ava. As she led Rainbow out of the hall she glanced at the other five girls in Sapphire. As well as Ava there was serious-looking Layla with dark hair long enough to sit on, smiley Scarlett, her blonde hair held back with a diamond hair slide, sporty-looking Isabel with the brown curls and red-headed Olivia with mischievous green eyes. Would they all be friends? Sophia hoped so.
Layla made for a side door, saying, “Dancer wants me to see his stable first.”
Olivia and her unicorn, Snowflake, followed her. Scarlett and Isabel went off with their unicorns, Blaze and Cloud, daring each other to a race, leaving Ava and Sophia together.
“Star said she wants to show me the lake,” said Ava, who had already jumped on to Star’s back. “Do you want to come with us?”
“Yes, please.” Sophia couldn’t wait to dip her hands in the rainbow-coloured water. She’d known about its importance since she was little. Sophia almost had to pinch herself to believe that she was now at school right next to it.
“Aren’t you going to get on?” asked Rainbow, nudging Sophia towards his back.
Sophia desperately wanted to ride Rainbow but was hesitating because it made her feel disloyal to Clover. But she could hardly say no, could she? She grinned and vaulted on to his back. Before she even had chance to sit properly, Rainbow whinnied in delight and took off.
“Whoa!” Sophia grabbed a handful of coloured mane.
“Off we go!” shouted Rainbow.
Pulling herself straight on his back, Sophia began to feel excitement swooping through her as Rainbow galloped around the gardens. “Faster!” she gasped as her dark curls blew out behind her. All thoughts disappeared from her head apart from the feeling of speed and Rainbow’s warm back beneath her. This was like flying!
She squealed as the cold water hit her and then leaned down and hugged his neck, gasping and laughing. “That was amazing!”
“It was! This is the happiest day of my life,” declared Rainbow, reaching round and nuzzling her leg. “We’re going to have lots of adventures and be best friends forever!”
A picture of Clover suddenly popped into Sophia’s mind. Poor Clover. How could she have forgotten about him so quickly? She hoped her mum and Harry would remember to rub comfrey ointment into his legs when they got home and that he liked treacle in his bran mash at suppertime. She stroked Rainbow’s neck, wishing Clover could be at the school too.
“We will be best friends, won’t we?” Rainbow said hopefully.
Sophia wanted to say yes, but how could she when Clover was her best friend? She was saved from replying by Ava trotting up to the lake on Star. “You two are wild!” she said, grinning at Sophia and Rainbow. “Star and I had no chance of keeping up with you.”
Star dipped her muzzle into the lake and flicked water up at Rainbow. “Show off!” she teased. “You didn’t have to go so fast.”
Rainbow snorted. “Why not? I like galloping and so does Sophia. I’ve got the best unicorn rider ever!”
“No, I have,” said Star.
“I have!” said Rainbow.
The two unicorns bickered affectionately as Rainbow waded out of the lake to join Star.
“The lake is beautiful,” said Ava.
Star nodded. “It is, but something seems different today.” She put her nose to the water again and sniffed it delicately.
