Chapter 9

9 "Look!" Mei cried, showing the page to the others. Aisha and Quinn leaned over and read the words. "Maybe there's something in here," she said, opening The Forest Book at a random page. When

she read what was written there, she gasped. Quinn frowned. "That's what just happened." Mei nodded. "The book is writing our quest as we go!" "No way!" Aisha yelped. "Let me see." As she spoke, curly lettering appeared on the page: "No way!" Aisha yelped. "Let me see." "That's so magical," Quinn marveled, watching as new words appeared. "But we still don't know how to open the vault." "Or maybe we do," said Mei, flying over to Stone Face. She held out The Forest Book. "Is the story of how the Shadow Queen tricked you in here?" she asked gently. Stone Face began to cry again. "Yes! I will be forever remembered as the one who allowed treasure to be stolen."

"But the story isn't finished yet," Mei pointed out. "If you let us in, you'll be known as the one who put things right again." This made Stone Face sob even louder. "How do I know you're not tricking me?" he wailed. She held The Forest Book tightly and closed her eyes. Mei needed Stone Face to understand. They wanted to protect the Magic Forest's treasure as much as he did! Mei felt a warm glow in her scales. She opened her eyes and saw that her red gemstones were glowing. That had to be a good sign.

Mei turned to the most recent page and held it out to Stone Face. "Read this," she said. In his deep, gravelly voice, Stone Face read: Mei needed Stone Face to understand. They wanted to protect the Magic Forest's treasure as much as he did! "Do you really?" Stone Face asked Mei. "The words wouldn't have appeared in The Forest Book if they weren't true," Mei pointed

out. "That's right!" said Stone Face, cracking another huge grin. "Stand aside, Dragon Girls!" There was a rumbling noise like distant thunder as Stone Face swung himself open, revealing a dark space that led into the mountain. Mei, Aisha, and Quinn peered in excitedly. What was in there? "Careful!" Squeaklet said suddenly. "Danger nearby!" Mei felt something brush against her. She saw a flash of gray. A Shadow Sprite was trying to wrap itself around The Forest Book! Mei knew if she paused even for a moment, the sprite would make her doubt herself again. "Don't you dare!" Mei roared, swiping a claw at the sprite. With an annoyed hiss, it dissolved into dust. "Into the vault, quickly!" called Stone Face. "I must shut the door behind you!" Mei stepped through first, Squeaklet on her shoulder. Aisha and Quinn followed and the door

rumbled closed. Mei and her friends waited for their eyes to adjust to the gloom. A tunnel stretched before them, leading deep into the belly of the earth. Mei had been expecting a dark and scary tunnel, but in fact it was dotted with beautiful lamps set high up on the walls. As the Treasure Dragons passed, the lamps lit up one by one, each a different color. Glowing circles of light twinkled. After a few moments, the tunnel widened, and suddenly they were in a cavernous hall. It must have been four stories high and as wide as a stadium. Treasure glittered on every surface! On one side they could see thick gold chains looped across the walls of the vault, many of them dripping in gemstones. Another corner was given over to goblets and statues and delicate vases of every shape and size. The floor was strewn with ancient coins and even more twinkling gemstones.