Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE It was cold and wintery when the girls woke up the next morning. "Let's take our breakfast down to the stables and start practising our routine," said Lyra. Sienna didn't move. "You lot go on ahead without me. Sparkle and I will turn into icicles if we have to stand around watching you all morning. I'm going to stay in bed a bit longer." "Can't I stay in bed longer too?" moaned Ivy, who hated getting up. "No!" said Lyra, plucking the duvet off her. "You need to get up!" Evie came over to Sienna. "Please come and practise with us. It's more fun when we're all together." Sienna shook her head. "It's boring watching you all do things when Sparkle and I can't join in. You go. I'll see you later." She lay in bed, listening to their voices fading as they clattered down the stairs. Excitement started to fizz inside her as she remembered her idea from the night before. The others might be cross with her, but in the end they'd understand that she'd had to do it to graduate with them. And how amazing would it be to come back to the academy with the diamond and with Sparkle having found his magic? Once she was sure the others would be busy practising their routine, she ran to the stables. There was no one else around; all the other students were

busy practising for their displays. "Sparkle!" Sienna said excitedly, bursting into his stall. "Get ready– we're going on an adventure!" "What, now?" Sparkle looked intrigued. "What kind of an adventure?" "An adventure with just the two of us!" Sienna quickly explained her plan, leaving out the part where she used the diamond to wish for them both to graduate. "Let's go right away," she finished, heading out of his stall. Sparkle hurried after her. "Sienna, wait! What about the others? We're supposed to be a team. Won't they be upset if you find the diamond without them?" Sienna frowned. She wasn't used to Sparkle disagreeing with her. "Don't fuss, Sparkle. It'll be fine. They're really busy practising their

graduation display. I'm just saving them the trouble of going to the maze." Sparkle still looked worried. "We have to go," she insisted. "If we find the diamond, we can—" She broke off. What if he wasn't happy about her plan to make a wish with the diamond either? "We can what?" he asked curiously. "We can bring it back here and stop Dr Briar from getting it!" she said, continuing out into the stable yard. "Come on!" "I'm really not sure about this," Sparkle said, following her. "Well, I am," Sienna said impatiently. "I'm going to the maze, Sparkle. Are you coming with me or not?" He gave in. "Of course I'll come." Sienna felt a rush of triumph. "Awesome!" She was about to climb on his back when she heard Ms Rosemary, the Care of Unicorns teacher calling her sharply. "Sienna!" Heart sinking, she looked round. From across the yard Ms Rosemary and Ms Nettles were striding towards her. "What are you doing?" "I'm going for a ride," Sienna said. "But look at Sparkle! You haven't groomed him. His mane and tail are full of straw; his coat has stains on. This is not good enough, Sienna." Ms Rosemary fixed her with a stern look. "Why are you going for a ride? Shouldn't you be with your dorm in the indoor arena working on your display?" "They don't need me." Sienna was aware she sounded a bit sulky. "I can't do magic," she explained. "I can't do anything fun in the display, so I don't need to practise." Ms Nettles raised her eyebrows. "The point is that you should be there to support your friends. It's not always about being the star; it's about being part of a team." Sienna felt like pulling a face but she stopped herself. She did like being part of a team but only when there was a competition to win and everyone was cheering her on! Ms Nettles studied her. "Sienna, you have the potential to be a wonderful guardian. You're strong and independent, brave and determined,

and I don't want you to lose those qualities. However, you will not fulfil your potential unless you learn to be a team player." Sienna sighed inwardly. Ms Nettles was so annoying. Blah, blah, blah. She let her thoughts drift off to the maze. When she came back with the Unicorn's Diamond, Ms Nettles and Ms Rosemary would both have to admit she'd be a great guardian! "Take Sparkle back into the stable and groom him properly," Ms Rosemary added crisply. "It's only one week to graduation. You should spend every moment with Sparkle trying to bond and discover his magic." Reluctantly, Sienna turned Sparkle round and headed back into the stables. "Ms Nettles and Ms Rosemary are mean," said Sparkle, nuzzling her as she started to brush his mane. "Yes," agreed Sienna. "You'll be a brilliant guardian," Sparkle told her. "And you and I make a great team." Sienna felt a flicker of guilt as she thought about her plan for the diamond. "So what are we going to do now?" Sparkle asked. "Are we still going?" Sienna hesitated. Although she felt cross with her teachers, she couldn't

help hearing their words in her head and it was making her rethink. Maybe Sparkle was right. It wasn't a very team-like thing for them to go to the maze on their own. She knew how mad she'd be if one of the others decided to do that. And she might need their help. There was no reason why she couldn't go ahead of her friends once they were in the maze and make sure she reached the diamond before anyone else. "We'll wait for the others," she said slowly. Sparkle looked relieved. "Oh, good!" After she had groomed him, they went outside. Sienna was just debating whether to join Ruby dorm in the arena– boring– or whether to go for a gallop in the meadows– much more fun– when Ivy came out of the arena and spotted her. "Sienna!" she called happily. "You've come to join in! Yay!" Sienna forced a smile. She couldn't exactly go off now. "Yeah, I'm here," she said, riding Sparkle over to the arena where several other dorms were practising too. It was a very dull morning watching the others. Misty made bubbles with her bubble magic and Sunshine exploded them. Flame shrank all the jumps dotted around as the others jumped them before turning them back to their proper size. Sienna watched, half-heartedly calling out encouragement until she could join In with the crossnet skills and riding displays at the end. "Well done, everyone," called Lyra as they got into a line and bowed. "I'm worn out!" said Ivy, flopping on Flame's neck. "Not so tired that you don't want to come out with the rest of us this afternoon, I hope," said Lyra. Ivy smiled. "Definitely not." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Imagine how exciting it will be if we actually find the you-know-what!" "That might not be the only exciting thing that will happen." Lyra shot a meaningful look at Sienna and Sparkle. Sienna's tummy lurched. Had Lyra guessed her plan? "What do you mean?" she said. "Misty discovered her magic when we were out on an adventure. Maybe Sparkle will find his too," said Lyra.

Sienna breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, I hope Sparkle does discover his magic!" said Evie. Sienna nodded quickly. "Me too!" If that happened, she wouldn't even need to make a wish on the diamond! But she decided she would still make sure she reached it first– just in case. "This adventure is going to be fun!" Ivy said happily. Sienna grinned. "Bring it on!"