Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2 Ava and Sophia joined the noisy group of students and unicorns gathering along the shore of Sparkle Lake. The colorful fountain and waters of the lake looked extra glittery in the spring sunlight. "Ava, Sophia, over here!" called Scarlett eagerly. Star and Rainbow threaded their way through the crowd to where Scarlett and two of their other friends from Sapphire dormitory—Isabel and Layla —were gathered with their unicorns. "This scavenger hunt is going to be way more fun than boring old lessons!" said Isabel, grinning. "The first team back wins a prize." "I wonder why we have to leave so quickly?" said Ava. "It's a bit odd, isn't it?" Layla looked anxious. "I hope everything's okay," she said. "Lessons are never normally just canceled." "Billy told me it's because the teachers are all

having a meeting," said Sophia. "What about?" said Scarlett. "Maybe it has to do with the lake," suggested Sophia. "After all, someone's already attacked it twice. Maybe someone's trying to harm it again?" "Oh, I hope not!" said Layla. A chill swept through Ava. In the short time she'd been at Unicorn Academy, a mysterious person had tampered with Sparkle Lake on two different occasions. The first time, the lake had been polluted so that the unicorns couldn't drink its magical waters. The second time, a freezing spell had turned the fountain and the lake to solid ice. She peered at the magical multicolored water, trying to see if it looked different from usual. "Stop being such worrywarts, all of you!" said Isabel impatiently. "I'm sure Ms. Primrose won't let anything happen to the lake again. We should be concentrating on the important things—like getting into teams. We're supposed to be in twos or threes." Sophia slipped her arm through Ava's. "We're a team." "Definitely!" declared Ava. She and Sophia had met on their very first day at Unicorn Academy

and had been friends ever since. Star and Rainbow bumped noses. They were best friends, too! "You'll come with me and Scarlett, won't you, Layla?" Isabel said quickly. Layla was one of the smartest students at the academy. She spent a lot of her time in the library. Layla looked pleased to be asked. "Okay!" The noise and chatter rose as everyone sorted out their teams. Billy and Jack high-fived their

friend Jason, while Jacinta and Delia fawned over Valentina, who was looking as smart as ever in expensive riding clothes and shiny boots. Valentina's aunt was the strict Geography and Culture teacher, Ms. Nettles, and her wealthy parents were school trustees—a fact Valentina never let anyone forget. "Where's Olivia?" said Ava, her eyes scanning the crowd for the other member of Sapphire dorm. "Look, there she is with Snowflake." Olivia and Snowflake were at the water's edge. As usual, redheaded Olivia was smiling, but Ava noticed something sad about her eyes. She looks a bit lonely, she thought. "Olivia doesn't have a best friend, does she?" she said to Sophia. Sophia looked surprised. "No, but she gets along so well with everyone. I don't think she minds being on her own." "I'm not so sure," Ava said thoughtfully. "I can't imagine what I'd do if I didn't have you to share my secrets with. I tell you everything." "Me too! You know all my secrets," said Sophia with a smile. "Well, you and Rainbow." Ava looked across at Olivia again. "Let's ask her

to join us." "Sure. Hey, Olivia!" Sophia called, waving at her. "Would you like to join our team?" A huge smile lit up Olivia's face. "Yes, please," she said, bringing Snowflake, her beautiful white-and-silver unicorn, over to join them. Ava smiled as she approached, realizing that although they'd been sharing a dorm for three months, she still didn't really know much about Olivia. She was a very good listener, but she didn't talk about herself or her family much. Sophia and I should try to include her more, Ava thought. Just then a woman riding a tall, slender unicorn with a deep-pink mane and tail came cantering across the lawn toward them. It was Ms. Rosemary and her unicorn, Blossom. Blossom reached the lake and stamped her hoof. The girls, boys, and their unicorns stopped chatting and turned to face her and the teacher. "Thank you for coming so quickly," said Ms. Rosemary. Her eyes twinkled as she looked around at their excited faces. "As you have heard, there's been a change to the timetable today. Lessons are temporarily suspended, and while the staff attend a meeting, I hope you'll all enjoy going on a

scavenger hunt!" Jason, a tall boy with curly black hair, called out, "What's the meeting about, Miss? It must be important if you're letting us out of class." A few people giggled, and even Ms. Rosemary smiled. "It is important, but it's nothing to worry about," she said. "Anyway, enough about boring meetings. Pass these around please, dears." She handed a