Chapter 10

By the time the parents arrived that evening the academy was looking perfect again. Star and Thyme had regrown the plants and trees, and also grown a path of pink flowers leading from the school to the lake. New decorations hung from the trees, and strands of fairy lights sparkled. Unicorns with food magic had conjured candy apples and lollipops and hung

them from the branches of the trees, and Sherbet, Sam's unicorn, had conjured a fountain of raspberry lemonade that fizzed and popped as it shot into the air. Olivia and her friends groomed their unicorns until they shone, fed them sky berries and lake water to replenish their magic, and then went inside to change into their long

sparkly-blue graduation gowns. Olivia felt a rush of happiness as she looked out of their dorm window. "Everywhere looks perfect!" "I can't believe we'll be leaving here tonight," said Layla, looking at the suitcases on their beds, packed and ready to go home with them. "I'm going to miss you all so much," said Olivia. She glanced round at her friends. "Are you really sure you don't hate me for keeping secrets?" "Of course we don't hate you!" everyone chorused. "No more secrets from now on though," said Sophia firmly. "We're a team and we're so much stronger when we work together." "We're going to be friends forever," declared Scarlett. "Friends who keep Unicorn Island safe!" agreed Isabel. "I know we live far away but we

will definitely find ways to meet up. For a start, I don't think we've seen the last of Ms Primrose." "If she tries to harm the lake again, we'll stop her!" said Sophia. "We'll never let her ruin Unicorn Island!" declared Layla. They all nodded firmly. "Ooh, look, there's Valentina," said Scarlett, pointing out of the window to where Valentina was standing with her parents. She wasn't wearing a graduation gown. "Doesn't she look sulky? It looks like Ms Nettles has stopped her from graduating." "Valentina needs to be nicer to Golden Briar before they'll ever bond," piped up Ava. "She never listens to anything Golden Briar has to say." "I'm very glad I finally listened to Snowflake," said Olivia with a smile.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur. Parents arrived, students were hugged and kissed, unicorns were patted and stroked. Everyone piled into the gardens and watched as the dorms did their displays. Sapphire dorm had made some last-minute changes to theirs and everyone gasped and cheered as Scarlett and Blaze made hoops of fire that Olivia and Snowflake froze as everyone jumped through them. Olivia caught sight of her little sister, Matilda, clapping wildly with her parents and felt her heart swell. Matilda was so lucky. After Christmas she would be starting at the academy, making her own friends and having her own adventures. She's going to have the best time ever, thought Olivia wistfully. Part of her felt sad that she wouldn't be at the academy with her little sister, but seeing Snowflake's parents whinnying proudly as they all bowed at the end of the routine, she knew she wouldn't change a

thing! After the demonstration, all the students who were graduating went into the ballroom. Lit by candles hanging in crystal chandeliers, the room sparkled prettily. Olivia gave Billy the thumbs- up as she admired the glittering paper swans, eagles and owls suspended around the room. The boys from Diamond dormitory had done a great job decorating it. On the stage, at the front, Ms Nettles gave a speech. Olivia listened carefully, bursting with pride.