Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE Branches and vines snatched at Olivia's clothes and hair, almost dragging her from Snowflake as they pounded through the Tropical Garden. The air rang with the sound of magical explosions. Olivia urged Snowflake on. When she saw the bamboo gate ahead, her heart skipped. Surely Ms Primrose would stop chasing them once they were out in the open! BANG! In a flash of crimson the gate exploded, throwing poles of bamboo into the air like javelins. The remains came crashing down in a pile, blocking the way out.

"Stand back!" Sophia and Rainbow pulled up beside them. Rainbow stamped his hoof, filling the air with glittery magic. A rainbow sprang from his hoof, arching over the fallen gate. Cloud and Dancer galloped over the rainbow bridge followed by Star, Blaze, Snowflake and Rainbow. As Rainbow's hooves touched the ground, the bridge dissolved. Ms Primrose's screech of fury rang in Olivia's ears as she and her friends continued across the grasslands towards the lake. Ms Primrose was some way behind. It was almost as though she was letting them escape– but why?

"To Sparkle Lake!" cried Isabel. "We have to protect it!" The unicorns increased their speed. There was no one else anywhere to be seen– they would all be inside getting ready for the ball. Reaching the banks of the lake they turned to see Ms Primrose and Sage directly behind them. "Got you!" crowed Ms Primrose. The loudest clap of magic yet thundered around them. Six bolts of magic arched overhead, burning with a trail of fire and landing in a perfect ring around the lake and the girls. An explosion followed, lighting the lake up with an orange glow as the surrounding trees caught fire. Thick smoke billowed into the air. "We're trapped!" gasped Olivia. The trees crackled and spat as the fire gobbled them up. Flames leapt from the burning branches, running across Sparkle Lake to the fountain, which ignited in a rainbow of colour. Blaze stamped her hoof and attempted to

control the flames but the magic fire was too strong for her to put out. "I can't do anything," she cried. Cloud made a rain cloud but as the droplets fell they just sizzled away and the flames burned on fiercely. "What do we do now?" squeaked Sophia. "Rainbow's too exhausted to make another rainbow bridge." "Dancer and I could fly and get help but it would mean leaving you all behind," said Layla. "Go!" urged Sophia. "Get help!" Dancer spread his wings but before he could take off a section of the circle of fire extinguished for a moment and Ms Primrose came cantering through on Sage, firing another spell straight at them as she did so. Before any of them could move, a blazing thorny cage grew up around them all. Ms Primrose's eyes were wild as she circled them. "There'll be no more meddling from

Sapphire dorm now!" she spat. "There is nothing you can do to stop me! This time you're too late to save the lake. I've put a spell on the locks of the school so the teachers and students are stuck inside. The lake will burn, the school will shut down, and the unicorns will be so weakened that with a few powerful spells my accomplice and I can take over!" Ms Primrose sent more magic spinning at the bushes and trees. The flames grew higher and hotter around the girls. "One last shot!" she shouted, raising her hands. "One final direct hit and then it is all over for you!" "No!" whinnied Snowflake, stamping her front hooves in anger. Olivia saw a gold spark fly up and smelled the familiar smell of burnt sugar. "I won't let you hurt everyone!" "How will you stop me?" laughed Ms Primrose. "You haven't even found your magic."

Olivia gasped. "Stamp again, Snowflake!" As Snowflake banged her front hooves on the floor Ms Primrose and Sage suddenly froze. "Snowflake!" squealed Olivia, throwing her arms around her. "You've found your magic!" "But what magic is it?" said Snowflake, staring at the icy blue figures of Ms Primrose and Sage. "It's freezing magic," Cloud exclaimed. "My