Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN Honey's ears pricked and gold and purple sparks shot up from her hooves. She leapt forward and suddenly she was just a blur leaving the other unicorns far behind. Freya gasped as just a few seconds later Honey arrived beside her. "What is it?" she asked Freya. Freya was already vaulting on to her back. "We have to catch that cloaked figure!" she said, grabbing Honey's mane. "Gallop as fast as you can!" Whoosh! The noise came from Honey's hooves. More sparks exploded into the air and the next second Freya felt cold air rushing past her face so fast it made her eyes stream. She could feel Honey's muscles bunching and stretching,

hear the pounding of her hooves. She realised they had left the others far behind and were gaining on the unknown unicorn. "Keep going, Honey!" Freya yelled. They thundered on, drawing closer to the figure with every stride. "Stop!" she yelled. "You can't escape from us!" The figure turned and made a flicking motion with one hand. Sparks flew up and a sheet of thick ice instantly covered the ground behind her unicorn's hooves.

"Honey! Whoa!" Freya shrieked. If Honey galloped on to the ice, she would slip and fall and quite possibly break a leg. Honey skidded to a halt, stopping millimetres away from where the ice began. Freya almost catapulted over Honey's head but managed to hang on to her mane and pull herself down on to Honey's back. She looked up. "They've gone!" she gasped. There was

nothing there. The figure, her unicorn– and the ice– had all vanished into thin air! Honey gasped for breath and staggered. Freya jumped off her. "Honey, are you all right?" "Just tired," Honey said, drawing in deep breaths. "It was doing all the magic. I'll be OK soon." Freya hugged her. "You were amazing. Your magic is the best! We went so fast." Honey whickered. "It was fun, wasn't it?" Just then, the rest of Diamond dorm came galloping up. "Where's the figure gone?" demanded Rosa. Freya quickly explained what had happened. "I guess the ice must have just been a glamour– an illusion. We could have kept on going." "You weren't to know," said Violet. "And you were right not to risk it." "I wonder how the figure just vanished," said Freya. "One second she and her unicorn were there and the next they weren't." Rosa looked around. "I can't see anywhere

there might be another tunnel or passageway. She may have used magic to disappear. She's done it before remember, when we saw her in the woods." The others nodded. "We have to go and tell Ms Nettles about this," said Ariana. "Then we'll need to clear up the barn," said Rosa. "I really want to fix the robot before tonight," added Freya. "I'll help you clean it up," offered Matilda. They went back to the stables. Freya gave Honey an extra ration of sky berries to help her recover her strength. Then she went to find Ms Nettles with the others. Ms Nettles listened seriously, peering down her glasses at the girls as they related their adventure. "Thank you, Diamond dorm," she said when they'd finished explaining. "You certainly have a knack for getting into adventures. I'll look into all this. This cloaked figure appears to have a very detailed knowledge of the school, which is extremely worrying. We must put some

protection spells on these tunnels so that no one can use them to get into the school again. But now," she raised her eyebrows, "can you please explain to me why you had pumpkins, peas and apples in the barn?" Rosa sighed. "We were planning a party. A spooky midnight feast." Ms Nettles' eyebrows almost hit her hairline. "We're sorry," Rosa rushed on. "It's just that everyone's been so tense since the camping trip we thought it would be good to have something fun to do." "It was my idea," said Matilda. "But we were all involved," said Freya, not wanting Matilda and Rosa to get into trouble on their own. "Hmmm." Ms Nettles adjusted her glasses. "Well, maybe this once– just this once– I shall overlook the breach of school rules. You may still have your party– but not at midnight! I want you all in bed by ten o'clock at the latest. Agreed?" They all exchanged delighted looks. "Agreed!" they chorused.