Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN Scarlett dismounted and crouched down beside a large pink diamond that shone like the setting sun just beneath the surface of the ice. It was tantalisingly close but the glacier surface was as hard as iron and no matter how often Scarlett hit it with the heel of her riding boot, she didn't even make a dent in the ice. "Let me try, I can melt the ice," said Blaze. Standing over the diamond, she stamped down hard. There was a pop and a ball of fire sizzled across the surface. Blaze stamped harder

sending bigger balls of fire hissing and crackling over the ice but it remained solid. Blaze breathed gently on the ice, causing so much steam she almost disappeared, but still the ice stayed frozen. "It's useless," Blaze sighed. Scarlett could feel the uncertainty coursing through Blaze's body. She stroked her neck. "No it's not. You can do this, Blaze. You're the only unicorn at the school with fire magic. Even Sage can't do that! If anyone can get this diamond, it's you!" As she spoke, Blaze lifted her head, her eyes glowing with new confidence. She stamped her hoof and with an explosive crack, golden-red flames shot from her horn and drilled into the frozen ground. Steam rose in the air and the ice bubbled and spat as it dissolved. "Ooh! That's lovely and warm," giggled Scarlett, pulling her glove off and dipping her hand in the meltwater. A moment later she

plucked the sparkling diamond free. Dripping water down her arm, the diamond glittered brightly. "I've got it, Blaze! You did it!" Blaze nuzzled Scarlett. "We did it, but it's not over yet. We've got to get back to the lake. How are we going to do that?" Squinting into the sinking sun, Scarlet

looked at the island. The Frozen Wastelands stretched far into the distance before the landscape gradually softened into the green meadows and blue-grey mountains beyond. Her heart sank. They were miles from home. However were they going to get back? She saw Dancer, Blaze and Layla all looking at her expectantly. But she didn't have an answer. "We're going to… um…" Playing for time, she pushed the diamond deep into her pocket and as she did so her fingers touched the model of the academy that had mysteriously appeared when they arrived at the Wastelands. Her fingers tingled as they brushed against it and she pulled it out. It was sparkling and glowing! She stared at it in astonishment. "Of course!" gasped Layla. "That's how we'll return to school!" "It is?" Scarlett said uncertainly. "Yes! It makes sense. The map wouldn't be

any use without a way of getting back home. Look at the way the model's sparkling. It's magic and I think it's ready to take us back!" She rode Dancer over to Scarlett. "Hold my hand!" Scarlett vaulted back on to Blaze and the two girls held hands. The little model sparkled brightly. "We want to return to Unicorn Academy!" Layla said.

A fierce wind sprang up. Scarlett gasped as her hair flew out behind her like a banner and then she and the others were whisked up into the air. Round and round they spun, faster and faster. At first she could see Layla and Dancer spinning beside them then everything blurred. She felt herself plummeting down and then Blaze hit the ground with a thump. "We're back!" cried Layla in relief. They were standing in the school gardens. Scarlett's hand was empty. The model had vanished. Scarlett pulled the diamond from her pocket. "Now, let's get this to the lake!" The girls and their unicorns set off towards the lake. Blaze raced like the wind across the grass, speeding past other unicorns and their riders. Scarlett heard shouting and neighs but she blotted them out. As Blaze skidded to a stop, Scarlett threw the diamond to the centre of the lake. It soared through the air. Plink! It slid across the ice leaving a long thin scratch in its