Chapter 10

10 Mei felt something snuffle at her neck. "Quit it, Squeaklet!" she giggled. "Your whiskers are ticklish." "Sorry, but it's time to return to the Tree Queen," Squeaklet told her. He gave her neck

another whiskery tickle, then scampered to his spot on her shoulder. Mei and her friends took one last glance at the treasure before retracing their steps along the tunnel. At the vault's entrance, Mei called, "Stone Face, please open the door!" The vault's entrance slid open and the last of the day's sunshine flooded in. The Treasure Dragons padded outside. "I'm happy that we completed the quest," Aisha said, "but I'm sad to leave. I loved looking at all that treasure!" "Same," agreed Mei. "It's not that I need to own all those beautiful things. I just want to gaze at them." "Exactly!" Quinn joined in. "It's like feeling the warmth of the sun on your face." "Yup! You three are definitely Treasure Dragons!" Stone Face chuckled. "Great work

getting the book back where it belongs. I can already see its effect." A line of soldier ants marched past in perfect formation. "It's good that they've remembered how to march," Mei said, "but I'd like to see them doing the cha-cha." The very last ant in the line did a quick hip wiggle and flung one of its six arms to the side. "We haven't forgotten how to dance!" it called up at Mei. "We have dance class soon. Join us?" "Next time," promised Mei. "Right now we have to head back to the Tree Queen. Goodbye, ants. Goodbye, Stone Face." "Bye, Dragon Girls," called Stone Face. "I'll be seeing you again soon." Squeaklet nuzzled Mei's face and then jumped down lightly. "I'll see you again, too," he said. "You're not coming?" Mei asked. "How will we find our way to the glade?"

"You'll find it," Squeaklet said confidently. "Head toward the sunset. And don't worry; I am never far away." The Treasure Dragons flapped their mighty wings and launched into the sky. The air was cool as it brushed against their shimmering scales like fresh water. Together, the three friends looped and twirled through the pink-and-orange sky. They enjoyed their sunset flight so much that Mei was almost sorry when she spotted the glade down below. But she was excited to see the Tree Queen again. "Last one there is an empty treasure chest!" Aisha shouted, swooping toward the glade. "Hey!" laughed Mei, speeding up. "No fair!" "No way am I going to be last!" declared Quinn, flapping her wings as hard as she could. A moment later, the Treasure Dragons tumbled onto the velvety mint-green grass of the glade. "That was quite an entrance!" laughed the Tree Queen in her warm way.

"Oops, sorry!" said Mei, jumping up quickly. Landing in a heap probably wasn't the best way to appear before the queen of the Magic Forest. But the Tree Queen didn't seem to mind. "Well done, Treasure Dragons. I already know you've succeeded because the plants and animals are returning to normal. I couldn't be more grateful!" The Treasure Dragons beamed at one another.

"What do you need us to do now?" Mei asked. She was ready for anything. "I need you to return to your homes," said the Tree Queen. "Your friends and families will miss you if you stay here any longer." "Oh," said Mei. She didn't want to leave this magical place yet! "You three must get some rest," continued the queen, her brown eyes twinkling. The Treasure Dragons looked at her hopefully. "Because I will require your help again soon," explained the queen. "As you know, the Shadow Sprites have stolen two other items. The Magic Mirror and the Heartstring Violin need to be returned to the vault. They won't be easy to retrieve. The quests might even be dangerous. Are you willing to return?" Mei, Aisha, and Quinn didn't need to look at one another to know the answer to that. "Of course!" they chorused.