The friends linked arms and flew out of the castle on the lily pad, eager to leave Malucia behind. Together with the unicorns, they took off toward the treetop fort.
When Alexa arrived at the fort, all of the fairies and mermaids clapped and cheered for her.
“Thank you for helping us!” they shouted.
Alexa waved to them all. Then Nori and Romy tackled her in a giant group hug.
I’ve got all the magic I need, Alexa thought, looking around. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder: What happened to Malucia?
Back at the castle, Grodlin crossed his arms and smiled as he watched Malucia sweep up the giant mess she had made. In the center of the throne room, the pile of candy and toys she had conjured up with her magic grew larger with each push of the greedy princess’s broom.
Then a voice boomed from the doorway. “We’re home!”
Grodlin looked up to see the king and queen waltz across the throne room floor.
Malucia dropped her broom and raced toward them. “Mommy! Daddy!” she cried.
“Did you miss us, sweetums?” the king said, hugging his little girl.
“Were you a good girl for Grodlin while we were away?” the queen asked.
Malucia batted her eyelashes innocently. “Yessss,” she said, shooting a sideways glance at Grodlin.
“Ahem!” Grodlin said, clearing his throat.
The king crossed his arms. “Oh, Malucia,” he said, chuckling with amusement. “Did you try and take over the kingdom again?”
Malucia shuffled her foot back and forth. “Nooooo.”
“Malucia,” the queen prodded.
“Maybe,” Malucia admitted with a sigh.
“Well,” the king began. “We’ll deal with that—after we give you your present!”
Malucia gave an excited gasp and followed her parents as they glided toward the door.
But she didn’t get very far before Grodlin stepped in front of her. He handed her the broom. Malucia sighed and returned to her sweeping. Grodlin stifled a smile. The magnificent land of Zinnia had been restored. And that was the sweetest victory of all.
After celebrating at the tree fort with all of their friends, Nori, Romy, and the Queen Unicorn escorted Alexa back to the tunnel entrance. Alexa wasn’t sure she was ready to leave such dear friends, but she knew she had unfinished business at home. It was time to go.
“Don’t forget us,” Nori pleaded, stepping forward to hug Alexa.
“Never,” Alexa replied. She knelt next to the stream that Romy swam in. “I guess you don’t miss your legs,” she said to the mermaid.
Romy laughed. “Not one bit. Come back and visit us?”
“I will,” Alexa promised. Then she patted the Queen Unicorn’s muzzle. “Thank you,” Alexa whispered quietly.
The unicorn nuzzled her back, her horn aglow.
Alexa gave everyone a final wave and then headed into the tunnel to go home.
Alexa pushed open the secret door, sparkles swirling around her just as they had before. She stepped into the castle garden and watched as the door disappeared behind her.
It felt wonderful to be back in such a familiar setting. Alexa noticed that she still wore the magnificent ball gown from her time in Zinnia. She grinned broadly, grateful for such a magical souvenir.
Alexa found the book her grandmother had given her lying on the ground just where she’d left it. She picked it up and hugged it to her chest as she made her way along the path. Then she heard a familiar voice calling her name.
“Princess Alexa! Princess Alexa!”
“Over here, Brookhurst!” Alexa called to her butler.
“Ah, there you are, Your Highness,” Brookhurst said, practically running into her. “Your mother thought perhaps you were still in your room, reading.” He paused, taking in Alexa’s stunning gown. “What a lovely dress!”
Alexa grinned. “Thank you.”
“I thought I’d better alert you,” the butler continued. “The Young Equestrians have gathered on the North Lawn. You may want to take another path back to the palace.”
“Oh,” Alexa said, cocking her head in thought. “No, Brookhurst. I’d like to see them.”
Brookhurst gave her a puzzled look.
“And speak to them!” Alexa added.
“You do?” Brookhurst asked.
Alexa nodded. “I want to try.”
“Are you feeling well? Fever, perhaps?” Brookhurst pressed.
“I’m fine, Brookhurst,” Alexa replied, laughing. The truth was, she felt better than fine. She felt like herself—and it was time to show the world just how beautiful she was.
Alexa stood at a podium on the palace’s North Lawn. She looked out at the sea of young girls in riding attire, staring back at her.
“Hi,” she started, speaking shyly into the microphone. “Thanks for asking me to speak today.”
“She’s so cool!” one girl shouted in the crowd.
“This is so exciting!” said another.
In the back of the audience, Alexa spotted her mother and grandmother watching her. Her mother looked shocked. But her grandmother looked proud. Seeing her grandmother’s face gave Alexa the tiny bit of courage she needed to keep going.
“I’m going to speak to my parents about letting your club use the royal stables to give riding lessons to all the children of our kingdom.”
The crowd broke into applause.
One of the horses stepped forward and nuzzled the princess.
This feels familiar, Alexa thought, remembering the unicorns. She patted the horse’s mane and the crowd laughed. Alexa grinned.
“Where did she get that dress?” Alexa heard her mother ask.
Her grandmother just flashed a knowing smile.
A short while later, Alexa approached the parlor doors. If she hurried, she could still catch the Prince of Hilgovia during his visit. She opened the door and peeked her head in. “I hope I’m not interrupting,” she called.
Her father, the king, was chatting with the ambassador and his son, the prince. Her mother and grandmother sat across from them.
“Alexa?” the king said, surprised to see his daughter. “This is the ambassador and Prince Kieran.”
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Alexa said, shaking his hand. “What do you like to do in Hilgovia?”
“I like to ride horses, and fence, and I love to read,” the prince replied.
“What’s gotten into her?” Alexa heard her mother whisper.
“Perhaps it’s something she read,” her grandmother replied with a wink.
That night in her room, Alexa readied herself for the royal ball. She felt nervous but ready. Her time in Zinnia had taught her that everyone had magic—but it was what you did with it that made you special. And even though she might not always know what she was best at, she was no longer afraid to try.
There was a knock on her door, and then her grandmother entered. “How do I look?” her grandmother asked, giving a twirl. She was wearing a multicolored, iridescent gown—almost the same as the one Alexa wore.
“Magical!” Alexa replied. “Oh, I finished your book.”
“And?”
“You know exactly what I like,” Alexa said, and they both laughed.
Alexa pulled on her elbow-length gloves and straightened her twinkling tiara. It was time to dance.
Outside the ballroom, Alexa took a final deep breath. Then Brookhurst opened the set of double doors in front of them and announced loudly, “Ladies and gentlemen, King Terrance, Queen Adrienne, and Princess Alexa.”
Alexa swept into the ballroom behind her parents. She saw an orchestra playing at one end of the room and guests gathered all over.
Across the dance floor, she spotted the ambassador and the prince. Jenna and Samantha were there, too, dressed in their ball gowns.
“Good evening, everyone,” the king welcomed the crowd. “As is our tradition, we’ll start the festivities with the Royal Waltz. Tonight, I will be accompanied by my dau
ghter, Princess Alexa.”
Alexa heard the music rise and saw Mr. Primrose, her dance instructor, sitting nervously on the sidelines. She took a deep breath, clasped her father’s hands, and began to dance.
She moved effortlessly across the floor, gliding and twirling as if she’d been dancing her whole life. Jenna, Samantha, and their partners followed in step next to them. Alexa felt like she was living a dream!
“I think Prince Kieran would like to dance with you,” the king said, spotting him across the floor.
Alexa smiled and waved at the prince. “Maybe another time. I’m perfectly happy dancing with you,” she said, kissing her father on the cheek. Then she got an idea. “But if it’s okay, there’s actually another dance I’d like to do.”
Her father nodded, and Alexa caught Jenna’s and Samantha’s eyes. “Come on!” she mouthed.
The three girls zipped out a side door, leaving the guests wondering where they had gone.
But they didn’t have to wonder for long because the girls bounced back into the room, dressed in more modern, frilly, short dresses.
Alexa signaled the band to stop playing. Jenna cued up their dance track. One, two, three, dance!
The girls moved around the room, electrifying the crowd. Alexa hit every step and felt joy spread through her whole body.
She couldn’t believe she was up here—in front of the whole kingdom—doing something she had never done before! And it felt great! In fact, it felt magical! There was just no other word to describe it.
Magic. And Alexa knew a thing or two about that. She had traveled to a magical land and back again to discover that the right path for her had been in her very own backyard all along! She just needed a little courage—and the support of her family and friends—to follow it. Her eyes sparkling with happiness, Alexa curtsied to her kingdom and grinned.
It was good to be a princess.
by Gabriel Mann, Amy Powers, and Rob Hudnut from “Barbie™ and the Secret Door”
[Verse 1]
All I really wanna do is stay right here
Away from prying eyes
’Cause I really gotta get to chapter three
And see if I’m surprised
Will the princess slay the dragon
Will she save the day
Will she find a brand-new world
That takes her breath away
[Chorus]
What’s gonna happen
I can’t wait to see
What’s gonna happen
It’s all a mystery
I need to turn the page
Prepare to be amazed
See if she’s got it made
Whoa-ah-ah-ah-oh
It’s nothing I’d expect
What’s gonna happen next
[Verse 2]
All I really wanna do is hide right here
And start on chapter four
Maybe this is where the princess saves her friends
And claims her just reward
Will she shoot a
Perfect arrow
Will her aim be true
Will she meet a mighty foe
And know just what to do
[Chorus]
What’s gonna happen
I can’t wait to see
What’s gonna happen
It’s all a mystery
I need to turn the page
Prepare to be amazed
See if she’s got it made
Whoa-ah-ah-ah-oh
It’s nothing I’d expect
What’s gonna happen next
[Bridge]
What if I
Could just dive inside
I could stand tall and it all would come easy to me
Like a dream
[Chorus]
What’s gonna happen
I can’t wait to see
What’s gonna happen
It’s all a mystery
Oh-u-ah-ah-ah-oh
I need to turn the page
Prepare to be amazed
See if she’s got it made
Whoa-ah-ah-ah-oh
It’s nothing I’d expect
What’s gonna happen next
by Gabriel Mann, Amy Powers, and Rob Hudnut from “Barbie™ and the Secret Door”
[Verse 1]
My bed would make itself
New books on every shelf
And then I’d cast a spell, abracadabra
My pets would talk to me
And then we’d all have tea
Create a pair of shoes
That would know all the moves
I’d always find the groove, feel the beat now
And with the spotlight on
I’d twirl perfectly
[Chorus]
If I had magic
Magic, magic
If I had magic
Magic, magic
[Verse 2]
I’d make a chocolate lake
Turn cabbage into cake
I’d text without mistakes, LOL yeah
I’d dream a pair of wings
And I would fly away
I’d zoom across the sky
Make it snow in July
I wouldn’t be so shy, “pleased to meet you”
I’d do just what I want
Like every single day
Hey-hey-ey
[Chorus]
If I had magic
Magic, magic
If I had magic
Magic, magic
[Bridge]
And I could do anything
Suddenly I would be
Everything that I dreamed I could be
[Chorus]
If I had magic
Magic, magic
If I had magic
Magic, magic
If I had magic
Magic, magic
If I had magic
Magic, magic
Magic, magic
If I had magic
Magic, magic
If I had magic
Barbie Fall 2014 Page 5