by Julie Sykes
Layla squashed her fear down and flung her arms round Dancer’s neck. It seemed an impossible leap but her instinct told her to put her faith in her unicorn. “I do trust you! I do!” she cried. “JUMP!”
To Emily French,
who loves magic!
The sun shone on the marble towers of Unicorn Academy as Layla ran to the stable block. She couldn’t wait to show her beautiful unicorn, Dancer, the new sparkly hoof polish that had arrived from her parents. She planned to brush his velvety coat and then paint his hooves.
Layla had loved unicorns for as long she could remember. It had been a dream come true when, just after her tenth birthday, she’d travelled with her parents across Unicorn Island to become a student at Unicorn Academy. On their first day at the academy, students were paired with their very own unicorn. Each pair spent the next year working together and learning to trust each other so that they could bond and graduate to become guardians of Unicorn Island.
Layla had been delighted when Ms Primrose, the wise headteacher, had paired her with Dancer. He was very handsome and his snow-white coat had pink, yellow and indigo patterns that matched the colour of his mane and tail. But Layla loved him most for his kind, thoughtful nature. He was perfect!
I’m so lucky, she thought as she reached the stable block. Being at Unicorn Academy was amazing. It wasn’t just because she had a unicorn of her own, she also loved the lessons and, although she’d felt quite shy at first, she’d made firm friends with the five other girls in Sapphire dorm.
The stable block’s shiny automatic trolleys full of hay trundled down the aisle in front of her as she walked in. Layla called out, “Good morning!” but there was no reply. The stalls that the Sapphire dorm unicorns slept in were empty. As it was such a lovely morning, Layla decided the unicorns must have gone out to play. She hurried back outside and found them gathered beside a rainbow-coloured stream that ran through the meadow. All the streams and rivers in the land contained water that flowed from Sparkle Lake, the huge magical lake in the school grounds. The water was very important because it nourished the people and the land, and strengthened the unicorns’ magic.
Layla paused. All the Sapphire dorm unicorns – Dancer, Blaze, Rainbow, Star, Cloud and Snowflake – were standing on one bank of the wide stream.
“I bet you can do it, Dancer!” said Rainbow, tossing his brightly coloured mane.
“You’re the best at jumping,” said Star.
“Go, Dancer! Go!” chanted Blaze, stamping her front hooves, her fire magic making sparks fly into the air.
Each unicorn had their own magic power that they discovered while they were at the academy. Dancer still hadn’t found his magic yet. Layla hoped it would be something like healing magic. It would be lovely to be able to make people well again. She definitely wouldn’t want him to have something scary like fire magic!
She watched as Dancer reared up on his hind legs. He balanced for a moment and then rushed forward. Galloping towards the stream, he leapt into the air, soaring across the water with the grace of an eagle. He landed safely on the far side of the bank and the other unicorns all whinnied.
“You’re so good at jumping!” called Cloud admiringly.
Dancer’s eyes shone with the praise and Layla’s heart sank. Dancer was brilliant at jumping and Layla knew how much he enjoyed it, but she hated galloping fast and jumping and avoided both at all costs.
“The rest of us will never be able to jump that far,” said Star.
Rainbow’s eyes sparkled. “Then I guess we’ll have to use magic to get across!”
He tossed his mane and multicoloured light shone from the centre of his forehead. It arched across the stream, forming a rainbow bridge. Rainbow anchored the light to the ground. Whinnying happily, the unicorns galloped across it and surrounded Dancer.
Layla hesitated and then, shoving the hoof polish into her pocket, headed back to school. She’d let Dancer have some fun with his friends. She could paint his hooves another time.
“Layla! Wait!”
There was the sound of hooves cantering up behind her. It was Dancer. “Were you looking for me?” He pushed his nose against her chest. She stroked him, happiness spiralling through her as she breathed in his sweet smell – a mixture of hay and sky berries.
“I was. I’ve got some new hoof polish but you look like you’re having fun.” Layla hugged him. “Go and finish your game. I can paint your hooves later.”
“The game’s finished. Did you see me jump the widest part of the stream?” He nuzzled her and she took out the polish. “Gold and silver! That’s fancy! Should we go to the stables and try it out?”
“I really don’t mind if you want to stay here,” said Layla.
“I’d rather be with you.” Dancer’s eyes met hers.
Layla smiled and they walked back to the stables, her hand on his neck. Dancer was totally selfless and very loving. She just wished she could be a better friend to him – she knew he would love her to go galloping and jumping with him.
As her fingers played in his pink, yellow and indigo mane, she wondered when they would bond. She would know when it happened because a lock of her hair would turn the same colour as his mane. If she was being honest, she was a bit surprised it hadn’t happened already. Four out of the six girls in her dorm had already bonded with their unicorns. But maybe it would happen when Dancer finally discovered his magic. A worrying thought crept into her brain – maybe he wouldn’t discover his magic and they wouldn’t graduate at the end of the year.
Most students just spent one year at the academy, but those who hadn’t bonded with their unicorns, or whose unicorns hadn’t discovered their magic by the end of the first year, stayed on for longer. Layla didn’t mind the thought of staying on at the academy, but it would be strange if all her friends graduated and she didn’t.
“Look, there’s Ms Primrose,” said Dancer.
Layla followed his gaze. The headteacher was cantering her majestic unicorn, Sage, across the school grounds towards the gates. Sage’s mane and tail were flying out behind him, shining pure gold in the sunlight. It was rumoured that he was related to the first unicorns who ever lived on Unicorn Island.
“I wonder where they’re going,” said Layla, seeing that Ms Primrose was wearing a backpack.
“I hope everything’s OK.”
Unease trickled down her spine. Sinister things had been happening at the academy. First, Sparkle Lake had been polluted. Then a nasty spell had caused the lake to freeze. And Layla knew the teachers suspected that dark magic had caused the sky-berry bushes that grew near the school to die. Sky berries were essential for the unicorns’ health, and the unicorns’ magic had already begun to fade by the time Ava found new sky-berry bushes in the mountains. Then there’d been torrential rainfall that caused the lake to flood and almost shut the school down. Layla and her friends in Sapphire dorm had saved the lake each time and Ms Primrose had been very grateful. However, so far the culprit hadn’t been caught. It was horrible to think of someone trying to harm the unicorns and the lake. Layla couldn’t understand why anyone would do that.
“Layla! Watch out!” a voice snapped.
Layla jumped and stopped walking. She’d been so deep in thought that she had almost bumped straight into Ms Nettles, the Geography and Culture teacher. Ms Nettles glared down her pointy nose at Layla, her sharp eyes cross behind her glasses.
“Walking along with your head in the clouds, Layla! That isn’t like you.”
“Sorry, Ms Nettles.”
“Just look where you’re going in future. Now, out of my way. Ms Primrose has been called to an urgent meeting and left me in charge.”
“Is the meeting about the bad things that have been happening here?” Layla knew
from her parents’ letters that everyone on Unicorn Island was beginning to worry.
Ms Nettles frowned. “That’s none of your concern. If you’ve nothing better to occupy your time, then I’ve some empty beetle cages that need cleaning.”
“Sorry, Ms Nettles, but I’ve got something really important to do,” said Layla, hastily diving into the stable block with Dancer.
Ms Nettles collected beetles and although Layla found all the animals and insects on the island interesting she didn’t want to clean out some smelly old cages. Luckily, Ms Nettles didn’t pursue her but strode off towards the school, stopping briefly to pat her unicorn, Thyme, on the way.
“So do you think Ms Primrose’s meeting does have something to do with all the things that have been going on?” asked Dancer.
“I don’t know,” said Layla. “Maybe something else bad has happened that only the teachers know about.”
Dancer nuzzled her. “If that’s the case, then we’ll have to work together to try to protect the academy and the lake like we’ve done before.”
Layla nodded. “Yes,” she said firmly, feeling fear curl in her tummy at the thought. She really didn’t like adventures but wanted to protect her school. Her brown eyes shone with determination. “We’ll do whatever it takes.”
After chatting with Dancer, and painting his hooves with the glittery hoof polish, Layla hurried back to the academy for lunch. Rainbows sparkled on the walls of the building, reflecting up from the lake that shone brightly in the latesummer sunshine. Layla ran to the bathroom to wash her hands and found the rest of Sapphire dorm there.
“I think it’s Ms Nettles,” Scarlett was saying.
“What’s Ms Nettles?” asked Layla.
“We were talking about the time someone used magic rain seeds to flood the lake,” said Isabel.
“And I think it was Ms Nettles. She’s so mean,” said Scarlett.
Isabel, Scarlett’s best friend, nodded. “I bet she thought if she could get the academy closed down, she’d get an extra-long holiday. She really doesn’t like the students being here.”
“Which is odd for a teacher,” said Sophia thoughtfully.
“She is odd though,” said Olivia. “I mean, who collects beetles for a hobby?”
“Well, beetles are quite—” Layla broke off as her friends stared at her. She’d been going to say interesting but changed her mind. “Weird,” she finished. “Do you really think Ms Nettles is the person causing all the trouble?”
“I do,” said Ava. “Remember how she was on the mountainside when there weren’t any sky berries for the unicorns to eat and we were chased by the scary cloaked figure on a unicorn? It could easily have been her, couldn’t it, Sophia?” Ava rearranged the blue sprig of forget-me-nots she always wore in her dark hair.
Sophia nodded. “And when we were looking for berries, the plants were bewitched and grew into a thorny cage, trapping us in. Thyme, Ms Nettles’ unicorn, has plant magic so he could have made that happen.”
Ava nodded, her brown eyes serious.
“I remember her acting suspiciously by the lake just before it froze over,” said Scarlett
“OK, don’t all freak out,” said Olivia. “But guess who I saw this morning, down by the lake, drinking some sort of potion from a tiny black bottle? Ms Nettles! And after that she climbed a tree!”
They all stared.
“She was drinking a potion and climbing a tree?” echoed Sophia.
Olivia nodded.
“That is definitely weird,” breathed Ava. “Why would she do those things?”
“Because she’s up to no good, of course. We should tell Ms Primrose,” said Isabel.
“We can’t,” Layla put in. “Ms Primrose has just left. I saw her on Sage. She had a backpack with her and it looked as if she was going to be away for a while.”
“Who’s in charge then?” said Scarlett.
Layla gulped. “Ms Nettles.” Her tummy did a somersault. If the others were right and she was to blame for the bad magic, what would happen now Ms Primrose had gone away? Judging by her friends’ faces she could see they were thinking the same.
“This calls for action,” said Isabel decisively. “I vote we keep a close eye on Ms Nettles while Ms Primrose is away. If she’s up to no good, we’ll get proof and tell the other teachers.”
The others all nodded. “We need to catch her red-handed so people will believe us,” said Scarlett. She held up her hand. “Sapphire dorm will save the day!” she exclaimed as the others high-fived her.
At lunchtime, in the large dining room overlooking Sparkle Lake, the girls from Sapphire dorm sat together. Ms Nettles, sitting alone at the teachers’ table, gave the girls and boys in the dining room disapproving looks as they laughed and chatted.
Layla studied her as her friends talked. Could Ms Nettles really be the culprit? She was very strict and Layla knew the others didn’t like her – particularly Isabel and Scarlett, who were always getting into trouble in her lessons – but actually Ms Nettles had never been horrible to her. OK, she could be a bit snappy at times, especially when people messed around, but she was a good teacher and her lessons taught them a lot about the land. Layla often visited the library and she had seen Ms Nettles in there, chatting to the librarian and taking out books. She rubbed her forehead. Ms Nettles was stern and hardly ever smiled but was she bad? And why would she want to shut the school down? If that happened, she would lose her job – and her home.
It doesn’t make sense, thought Layla, her clever brain turning it over.
“So, what do you think, Layla?” said Ava. “Are you looking forward to it too?”
“What?” Layla blinked.
“Our cross-country lesson after lunch, of course,” said Scarlett, taking a huge bite of pizza. “For the first time we’re going to get to use the advanced course. No more silly baby jumps for us!”
“Awesome,” said Isabel. “The log jump is enormous. I can’t wait to try it on Cloud.”
“Have you seen the water jump? It’s like a lake. I know!” Scarlett’s eyes sparkled. “Let’s jump it together.”
“Cool!” said Isabel.
Layla pushed her food away as her stomach twisted into a tight knot. Did everyone have to jump the scary-sounding log jump? She hoped not. Cross-country was her worst lesson ever. She hated doing even the smallest jumps on the beginner course. She couldn’t bear the thought of having to jump higher. Maybe she could pretend to have a headache and ask to sit it out? No, she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t lie and, besides, Dancer loved jumping. She was amazed at how high he’d leapt when she’d seen him messing around in the meadow with his friends. It wouldn’t be fair on him if she deliberately missed the lesson.
Olivia leaned over and whispered in Layla’s ear, “Are you feeling all right? You’ve gone really pale.”
“I’m fine. You know I don’t like jumping.” Layla blushed. “Sorry, I’m just being silly.”
“No, you’re not.” Olivia gave Layla’s hand a friendly squeeze. “But don’t worry. You won’t get hurt even if you fall off.”
Layla nodded. If anyone ever fell off their unicorn, the island magic formed a protective bubble around them and floated them down safely. But it wasn’t the falling that worried her. The thought of galloping and jumping made Layla feel sick and wobbly.
“Dancer will look after you,” said Olivia. “Just try to enjoy it.”
Layla gulped. Enjoy it? Olivia had no idea!
That afternoon, as they all rode to the start of the cross-country course, Layla hummed to herself so she wouldn’t hear Scarlett and Isabel amicably squabbling over who could jump the highest. Layla’s stomach churned with nerves.
“Cross-country! Yippee!” said Dancer happily. “This will be fun!”
“Not for Layla,” said a snide voice. Layla’s heart sank. It was Valentina De Silva, the meanest girl in school. Her rich parents were governors and Ms Nettles was her aunt. Valentina rode up alongside Dancer on her beautifu
l but snooty unicorn, Golden Briar. “You’re such a chicken, Layla.” She made a squawking noise like a hen. “Scared of a few cross-country jumps.”
Layla flushed as red as a tomato. She told herself to ignore Valentina but her eyes grew hot with tears.
“Aw, is the little baby going to cry?” mocked Valentina.
“Go away!” said Layla through gritted teeth.
Valentina smirked. “You’ll never be a guardian of the island if you can’t jump.”
“And you’ll never be a guardian if you can’t stop being mean!” said Dancer hotly. He put his ears back at Golden Briar and pulled a face. Golden Briar shied away, taking Valentina by surprise so that she fell on to his neck. Dancer stamped and Golden Briar whinnied and raced away with Valentina hanging on for dear life round his neck. The other riders laughed and pointed as Valentina struggled to pull herself upright.
“She’s horrible.” Dancer rubbed Layla’s leg with his nose. “Don’t take any notice of her. I think you’re brilliant.”
Layla stroked him gratefully but she couldn’t help remembering what Valentina had said. What if she was right and you couldn’t become a guardian unless you could jump?
I’ve got to be braver, she thought anxiously.
The class gathered at the start of the cross-country course. “We’ll walk round first so you can look at the jumps and check the take-off and landing,” said Ms Tulip, their cross-country riding teacher. “Then you can try a few small practice fences before you set off.”
Ms Tulip led the way on her short unicorn, Rocket. Rocket had a crimson and purple mane and tail with swirls of colour that looked like exploding fireworks. She was small but she was super-quick and she could jump really high. Ms Tulip showed the class how to approach the jumps and Rocket leapt gracefully over them. Dancer snorted excitedly. Layla felt like she was going to be sick.
“Please can we start jumping now, Ms Tulip? Pleeeeease?” begged Isabel.