Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR Rosa was up early the next morning, waking everyone up. "Today we're going to look for the Glittering Cavern!" "Go away. I'm a bear. I'm hibernating," groaned Matilda, burrowing deep inside her pink and silver duvet. But Rosa wouldn't leave Matilda alone. She tickled her until she finally sat up, groping for her glasses, while Rosa flung the curtains wide, flooding the room with winter sunlight. Rosa had loved Diamond dorm from the moment she'd first set eyes on it. It was a tower

room. The five beds were arranged around the curved walls and the girls slept with their feet pointing into the middle of the room. On the first day, Rosa had claimed the best bed nearest one of the windows, hurriedly emptying the contents of her overnight bag and putting her things in her wardrobe before any of the other girls arrived. Each bed was covered with a blue and silver duvet. It had a small wardrobe on one side and a chest of drawers on the other, with a lamp lit with a diamond so that each girl had her own light to read by. Rosa had made her area feel more homely by putting pictures on her chest of drawers– one of her mum and dad, and another

of her granny and grandpa. On her bed was a colourful silk elephant that Granny had made her to remind her of home. The other girls had pictures too, of parents, grandparents, siblings and pets. Rosa wished she had a brother or sister, or even a pet. Freya was dressed before anyone else. Tucking a notebook into her pocket, she hurried down to the stables. Rosa wanted to chase after her and get her to agree to come with them, but she was worried that if she did Matilda would go back to bed and then they would all be in trouble. "I can't find my hoodie," said Matilda, hunting around. "You should try hanging things up instead of throwing them on the floor," said Ariana, dumping a pile of Matilda's clothes that had crept into her space back on Matilda's bed. "Oh, thank you, Ariana. That's where my hoodie went," said Matilda, pulling it over her

head back to front and almost losing her glasses. "Whoops!" she giggled. Ariana sighed. At last everyone was ready, but as they walked to the stables Rosa fell behind the others and slipped inside the hall to look at the magical map once more. It seemed so forlorn without the buzz of the magical force field. The hole where the academy should have been was like a missing tooth. Rosa reached out hesitantly and touched the map. "Show me where the Glittering Cavern is," she breathed. "Please," she added hopefully. A tremble ran through her fingers. Rosa snatched her hand away. Was the map trying to work? What if it managed to take her to the Glittering Cavern? Without the model of the school to bring her back, she might be stuck there for good. Rosa pushed her straight, dark hair behind her ears and bent to study the map again. The gap where the academy should have been was

glowing. I think the map's asking for my help, Rosa thought suddenly. I think it wants me to find the model of Unicorn Academy. "I will help you," she whispered. "Just show me where the Glittering Cavern is." Another area of the map suddenly began to glow. It was a ridge of snowy mountains to the north of the academy. Rosa caught her breath. Was that where the Glittering Cavern was? The mountains looked like just the kind of place where an icy cavern might be found. The glow faded away and Rosa was filled with a warm sense of duty and pride. The map had chosen her to help! Well, I'm not going to let it down, she thought. She ran full pelt to the stables, hoping to catch the others up before she got there. But the rest of Diamond dorm were already there and Rosa heard their cheers and shouts of laughter as she opened the stable door. A stream of

bubbles drifted out, floating past her and into the sky. There was another loud cheer. Whatever was going on? Rosa burst inside. The rich smell of burnt sugar hung in the air. Rosa immediately recognised the smell. Magic! Her mother's unicorn, Ace, was a fire unicorn and whenever he did magic the air smelled just the same. She saw a crowd of people gathered around Jester's stable. "Jester's found his magic," said Violet, budging up to let Rosa in. "He's got bubble magic. It's the coolest thing ever. And Miki and Jester have just bonded– look at Miki's hair." Rosa couldn't take her eyes off Miki. He was standing in the centre of an enormous silvery bubble that wobbled and shimmered around him, so at first she didn't notice his hair. But there it was, a streak of dark blue that was just noticeable against his own black locks. "Do it again," Matilda was begging. "Please,