Chapter 5

5 "Oh no!" Aisha groaned as she landed heavily on the ground. She couldn't believe it! Treasure Dragons were meant to protect the Magic Forest's precious objects, not break them! What would happen now that the mirror was broken?

"Aisha, it wasn't your fault," said Quinn quickly. "It could've happened to any of us," agreed Mei. Aisha nodded but didn't reply. Her friends were being nice, but she felt terrible. And she was worried, too. What were they going to do? Just then, Aisha felt a nudge. PlushyPup! "You must get the pieces of mirror away from here as quick as you can!" he said. Even as he spoke, the sky darkened, as if the sun had gone behind the clouds. "What's going on?" cried Quinn. Aisha looked up at a swirling mass above them. "Watch out. Shadow Sprites!" yelled Mei. The Sunset Sheep began bleating very loudly. From every direction, Shadow Sprites streaked down toward the group. Confused, the Sunset Sheep scattered in all directions, baaing at the top of their lungs. The Shadow Sprites continued their attack. More and more of them appeared, darting

across the snow toward the panicking pink sheep, leaving gray marks in the crisp white snow. The two halves of the broken mirror were lying on the snow, unprotected. The gilt frame had broken along with the mirror itself. "Quick, grab the pieces!" PlushyPup urged. Aisha tried to move, but she was frozen in place. She wanted to help the poor sheep, and she

wanted to grab the mirror pieces. But her whole body felt heavy. It was as though the snow around her paws had just gotten extra heavy. "I can't move!" Quinn called. "Me neither!" Mei said. "Maybe we've become Snow Dragons!" Aisha's brain whirred. They had to warm up— and fast! But how? There was only one way. "On the count of three, let's roar!" Aisha said. She really hoped this would work. "One, two, three!"

The Dragon Girls all roared. Instantly, the freezing air around them filled with warmth. Their ruby, sapphire, and jade roars swirled in the air like a tumbling ball of magic. Aisha felt the heat wrap around her like a loving hug, thawing her out. "Good thinking, Aisha," said Mei, flapping her wings and lifting off the ground.

From above them came a strange buzzing noise. As Aisha watched in alarm, the cloud of Shadow Sprites changed into the shape of an arrow. And that arrow was streaking down toward the broken mirror! "We've got to grab the pieces before they do!" Aisha cried. The Treasure Dragons launched into the air. Down below, Aisha could see the first piece of mirror. Just as she swooped down to grab it, she was swamped by Shadow Sprites. Everything went dark. Aisha couldn't tell what was up or down. She felt that horrible cold seeping into her wings again. The sprites muttered mean things as they brushed against her. "You can't possibly win against us! Give up, Treasure Dragon. There's no point in trying," a chorus of sprites hissed. That made Aisha mad! "I will never give up!" she roared, flapping her wings and rising higher. "And neither will my friends!"