Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO The Safari Trail was a huge success. Miki, Violet, Ariana and Matilda chattered all the way back, saying what a brilliant time they'd had. Rosa felt very content as they rode back to the stables. The only thing that bugged her was that Freya hadn't come too. How would Diamond dorm ever get to know each other and become friends if Freya kept refusing to join in? It wasn't fair on Honey, Freya's unicorn, either. She'd clearly wanted to come along. Rosa felt very sorry for Honey as they arrived back in the stable block. She was

standing dejectedly in her stable, all on her own. She whinnied to them as they clattered inside. "Did you have a good time? What did you see? I want to know all about it! Oh, I wish Freya and I had come too!" While Rosa brushed the dirt from Crystal's silky coat, Crystal told Honey all about the Trail ride. Honey hung on Crystal's every word. "You should get Freya to join in more," Rosa told her. "I do try," said Honey sadly. "But she won't listen." When Rosa had settled Crystal with a large bucket of sky berries, she went inside. As she entered the academy buildings she noticed that the door to the Great Hall was open. The hall was one of Rosa's favourite rooms and she couldn't resist peeking inside. A ray of sunlight lit a path on the floor, drawing her in further. The hall had a domed roof that was made of coloured glass, and the rays of light shining

through it made rainbow-coloured swirls on the floor. Rosa's eyes fell on the centre of the room, where the magical map stood. It was an exact replica of Unicorn Island in miniature, with tiny green valleys, golden beaches and secret forests. Rosa went closer. "You've heard the news, then?" "Freya!" Rosa hadn't heard the other girl coming up behind her. "What news?" "Didn't you even notice the force field wasn't working?" Freya said. "Didn't you wonder why you could walk all the way up to the map?" Rosa realised that the humming, glimmering force field that normally protected the map wasn't there any more. "I didn't," she admitted, cross with herself. She hated people being able to find fault with her. "So, what's the news?" "The force field isn't working because the magical map is broken. I just heard Ms Nettles telling Ms Willow, the new school nurse, about

it. Ms Nettles thinks that Ms Primrose may have something to do with it. You've heard of Ms Primrose, right? The head teacher who was here last year." "Everyone's heard of Ms Primrose!" said Rosa. Ms Primrose and an unknown friend had tried to take control of the island by harming Sparkle Lake and Unicorn Academy. "It can't be her, though. She was caught and she's been locked up. My dad says that she's so well guarded that she'll never be able to harm Unicorn Academy or the island ever again." "Yes, but my mum told me that before Ms Primrose was captured she stole the model of Unicorn Academy from the map." Freya pointed to a gap next to Sparkle Lake, where a tiny replica of Unicorn Academy should have been. "And, just now, Ms Nettles told Ms Willow she thinks that's why the map is broken. The map can take you anywhere on the island, but you need the model of the school to get

back. The map is clever. It wouldn't take you on an adventure unless it was certain that it could get you back safely. Watch this." Freya leaned in and, touching a stretch of beach on the West Coast, she said, "I want to go to the beach." "Freya!" Rosa gasped in alarm. What if the map suddenly whisked Freya away? The teachers would be furious. No one was allowed to use the magical map without Ms Nettles' permission, not unless it was a dire emergency!

"See?" said Freya, her hand still touching the sand. "The map really is broken. I wish I could fix it." "If all the staff can't fix it, what makes you think you could?" said Rosa. Freya shrugged. "I'm good at fixing things." "But it's a magical map," Rosa pointed out. "It will need magic to fix it." She heard a ringing. "There goes the dinner bell. We'd better hurry." Freya was still staring intently at the map. Rosa tugged on her sleeve. "Come on, Freya. It makes all of Diamond dorm look bad if one person's late." Freya shook her off. "When have I ever been late? You really are bossy, you know." Rosa stared after Freya as she stalked off. She didn't know what it was about her and Freya, but the two of them always seemed to end up irritating each other. Dinner was eaten in the dining room.