Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE As Dancer leapt into the air, Layla saw pinky- blue sparks and smelled something sweet. Magic! She felt something strange happening to Dancer's sides as he suddenly soared high in the sky! Layla had never felt so weightless, so exhilarated. The jump seemed to go on and on and she screamed at the top of her voice, "Wow! I love jumping!" "FLYING!" Dancer's voice was full of shock and wonder. "I'm not jumping. I'm flying, Layla!" Looking down in surprise, Layla realised

that the strange movement she'd felt on his sides were huge feathery wings. The indigo wings, marbled with pinks and yellows, had grown out from his sides and were propelling them upwards. "I've found my magic!" cried Dancer. "I can fly!" Layla couldn't help herself. A whoop of sheer delight burst from her as they soared up

into the sky above the smoke and into the clouds. She didn't feel scared at all. She was on her unicorn and he was flying! This was the most amazing moment of her life! Layla threw her arms round Dancer's neck and hugged him tight. She trusted him completely and felt all his love and trust flowing right back at her. It was the best feeling ever. Beneath them, fluffy white clouds floated by and beneath that, through the smoke, she could just pick out a thick red line of lava rolling down the mountainside. They had the fire beetles and they were safe. Dancer flew on until they were away from the lava and then he swooped down in a graceful curve. When he landed on the ground. Layla half jumped, half fell from his back and hugged him again. "That was incredible!" "Hardly any unicorns can fly!" Dancer said in astonishment. "I can't believe I can. I—" He broke off and nudged Layla, catching her hair

on his nose and tossing it over her arm. "We've bonded! Look, Layla, we've finally bonded!" Layla's heart swelled as she looked at the pink, yellow and indigo streak now running through her hair. "I love you, Dancer!" She felt stronger and more confident than she had ever felt in her life. "Now, let's get back," she declared. "We've some trees and a lake to save!" There was no need to use the tiny model of Unicorn Academy to get back to the school. Dancer just flew! He was so good at it, flying steady and fast as if he'd been doing it all his life. They soared away from the volcano, heading over deserted tundra and then on over thick forests and grassy meadows. Finally the academy came into sight. Approaching Lake Sparkle, Layla saw two figures talking on its banks. "Look, it's Ms Nettles and there's Ms

Primrose with her!" she said to Dancer in surprise. "When did she get back?" Ms Primrose's voice floated towards them, loud and angry. "I came straight back when I heard there was a problem. Frankly, I'm disappointed that you didn't tell me about it sooner, Ms Nettles. We must close the school immediately. The students cannot go on living here with this foul smell, and the damage the flash flies have caused to the trees could leave them unstable, liable to fall at any time." "No, Ms Primrose! It's OK!" cried Layla, as Dancer flew down. "The school doesn't have to close." "Layla! What is the meaning of this?" demanded Ms Primrose. She blinked. "Dancer can fly!" "Yes, he's found his magic and we've bonded, but right now it's the trees that matter. We can save them. Look!" said Layla. She pulled the bag off her shoulder and saw

a look of hope light up Ms Nettles' pointed face. "Layla, you didn't go to—" "I did," interrupted Layla. "I'm sorry I disobeyed you and I'm sorry I used the map without asking but I had to help. I went to Mount Fury and found four fire beetles!" "Oh, Layla, well done!" Ms Nettles' glasses jumped on her nose as she clasped her hands together. "With four beetles we can definitely save the trees." "And afterwards you'll have four fire beetles for your beetle collection," Layla grinned at her. "Should Dancer and I fly up and put the beetles in the trees?" She turned to Ms Primrose and was surprised to see that instead of smiling the headteacher was frowning. "It was very clever of you to find fire beetles, Layla," she said, her mouth tight, "but I'm really not sure they will help." "They will," said Ms Nettles. Ms Primrose shook her head. "No, no. I