“Who could that be?” Adriane asked, getting up to open the door. She looked outside and shrugged.
“Hey! Down here!” a voice called.
Adriane looked at the ground. “Tweek!” The stick figure marched over her hiking boot and into the cabin.
“I can’t believe this is happening!” Tweek’s arms flailed in despair, dislodging some sage brush. “I was out there floating in the astral planes trying to coalesce my earthly elemental particles into material matter—”
“English, Tweek,” Kara ordered.
“The web is in worse shape than we thought,” the E.F. wailed. “There’s wild magic, like, flowing all over the place. Who could have done such a stupid—!?” Tweek looked at the mages. “By the great tree! Don’t tell me you did that, too?”
“We were supposed to release magic,” Emily told him.
“Not that much!” Tweek barked. “I just learned the nine power crystals of Avalon were washed away. Now they’re all missing!”
“Well, that doesn’t sound good,” Adriane ventured.
“Good? It’s positively awful! Those crystals are the only way to open the Gates of Avalon.”
The mages exchanged startled glances.
“The Fairimentals told us we have to open the Gates of Avalon,” Adriane said.
Kara nodded. “And we need a key!”
“And now you got one,” Tweek shuddered. “Er, make that nine. Actually, make that none, you lost them all!”
“Those crystals are nine keys?” Emily asked.
“All together they make one key.” Tweek paced in front of the unicorns. “Those crystals contain supercharged magic. With all that power flying around, the web is going to be completely destroyed!”
“Mommmaa!” Spruce honked.
Kara patted the distressed unicorn. “Don’t worry. We’re trained tour guides. We’ll find them.”
“Crikey!” Tweek smacked his head, sending more twigs flying. “These unicorns have to be trained—and fast. They’re needed on the web to control all that wild magic until those power crystals can be found.”
Emily looked at the other mages, determination flashing in her hazel eyes. “I think the unicorns can open the portal.”
“Pooobahh!”
“YodalOOt!”
“MeeMEE!”
“We have no choice now,” Tweek said, shuddering. “I’m going to have to explain this whole thing! This could take all night.”
“The map has been tuned to unlock with special magic, my unicorn jewel.” Kara took the silver amulet from her pocket. With a deft touch of her fingers, her unicorn jewel flashed and the glittering fairy map blossomed in the air. Sparkling points sprinkled across fine lines.
“Holy treewart!”
Kara pointed to a glowing path of portals. “So… all we have to do is find a new portal path to Dalriada, and they’re back on the schoolbus.”
“Well… yes…” Tweek said, startled by the blazing star’s portal savvy. “But, but, but—”
“We’ll have to go into the desert,” Adriane said. “Portals can get pretty big.”
“Exactly!” Tweek peered up at the warrior, impressed. “However—”
“We should wait until tomorrow,” Emily advised, “and hope whoever’s looking for the unicorns loses the trail.”
“Precisely!” Tweek sputtered. “ Fortunately, I have portal GPS but it’s still risky. The portals are all flooie. Without an experienced unicorn, traveling the web will be very dangerous.”
“We can do it!” Pollo insisted.
“Yeah, we can open the portal,” Dante trumpeted.
“We sure can! TweeP!” The group began tooting, lights flashing in their crystal horns.
“Well, we can’t risk keeping them in the barn anymore,” Adriane said.
Emily nodded. “They can stay here tonight. First thing in the morning we leave for Dalriada.”
Unicorns piled into a heap on the floor, snuggling close together as they settled down for the night.
Violet scrambled under Emily’s bunk and curled up happily while Calliope lay on one of Kara’s pillows.
Emily huddled deep inside the covers, listening to the soft toots and honks. Ready or not, the mages had to try and get the unicorns home.
“Good night, Clio.”
“G’nite, Violet.”
“Good night, Dante.”
“G’nite, Emily.”
“Good night, Snowflake.”
“Good night, Calliope.”
“G’nite, Fuzzy.”
“Good night!”
LIGHT BROKE INTO fragments, rippling along towering crystalline walls. Frozen spider webs shivered, draped like delicate glass sculptures.
Emily wandered into an immense chamber of black ice.
She wasn’t cold. She didn’t feel… anything.
Flashes of light silhouetted a large block rising from the center of the chamber. She moved carefully across the smooth floor, trying to see inside the block. But smoke ran through its icy surface.
“So this is the healer mage,” a surprised voice shattered the silence. “She seems so… ordinary.”
“So were you—once.” Now a familiar voice floated across the chamber.
The first voice laughed, a horrible chitter like bone grating against bone. “What I have become suits me.”
“The blazing star is set on her path, the warrior can be broken, but this one—this one is special.”
Emily slowly turned. Two cloaked figures—creatures—sat upon a raised podium, studying her. One looked grotesquely bloated, robes covering a wide torso like a shroud. Several boney legs were partially hidden beneath the robes.
“And you actually believe she can weave magic?” the spidery figure asked.
“They are smarter than you think.”
“Smart enough to trap you in here.” A maniacal laughter filled the chamber.
“Not for long.”
“Who are you?” Emily called out.
“She knows we are watching,” the first voice clicked.
“It’s only a dream,” the familiar voice answered calmly.
Emily ran toward the murky ice, desperate to see more. Peering into the blackness, she glimpsed what lay inside—wild light played like fire from thirty crystal horns.
Emily stifled a scream.
Under the spell of dark magic, the unicorns stared at her unknowingly.
She shut her eyes, seeking the familiar sensations of healing magic from her stone. She tried to feel something, anything—but she couldn’t. Her heart was numb.
Emily raised her jewel and gasped. Instead of the familiar rainbow stone, she wore a crystal of black ice, its center pulsing a deep blood-red.
The unicorns converged upon her, waiting for her to lead them, waiting to unleash their dark magic upon the web.
Emily opened her eyes and winced. She had no sensation in her right arm. Turning to her side, she found herself buried under the warm bodies of Clio and Violet. Gently pushing the unicorns aside, she slid her arm free. She rolled out of bed, slipped into her jeans, and pulled on a sweatshirt.
Squinting in the early morning light, she took in the room. It was jammed with bodies. Panic shot through her as she flashed on the nightmarish image. She let out her breath as she saw the unicorns stir, awakening from their sleep.
“Emily,” a voice called softly from outside the cabin.
Adriane heard it too. She jumped from the top bunk, awake and ready in an instant, Dreamer by her side.
“Emily, are you in there? I need to talk to you!” Sierra’s voice pleaded from the other side of the cabin door.
“Shhh.” Emily held a finger to her lips as she climbed over the pile of groggy unicorns.
“Emily, are you all right?” Ozzie flailed and dug his way out of the pile, shoving Spruce’s hoof aside.
“BLLEEEAHHHHH!” the startled unicorn complained.
“Where’s the snooze button?” Kara’s hand waved in the air and bon
ked Spruce’s nose.
Emily carefully opened the cabin door and slipped outside.
Sierra’s sweet face was lined with worry. “The barn is empty!”
“It’s okay,” Emily reassured her. “They’re safe.”
“Look Emily, I know you three are involved in something,” Sierra said anxiously. “You have to tell me.”
Emily searched Sierra’s deep brown eyes. She made a decision. “Okay, but you can never tell anyone about this. I’m trusting you with their lives.”
Sierra nodded gravely.
Emily’s rainbow gem and the turquoise jewel around Sierra’s neck pulsed with a sharp light. “All right.” The healer called into the cabin. “Adriane, Kara, I’m bringing Sierra inside.”
The healer swept open the door and backed inside.
Sierra’s eyes went wide, and her mouth opened in shock as the herd of multicolored unicorns with shimmering crystal horns stared back.
“What… I mean, who…!” Sierra could barely form words as she stepped into the cabin. “What’s happened to them?”
“We grew our horns.” Snowflake proudly displayed her shimmering horn.
“They’re not ponies,” Adriane said.
“They’re unicorns,” Kara explained.
“What? But that’s impossible! Unicorns aren’t real.” Sierra looked closely at Clio’s pistachio horn, pulsing with soft light. “Right?”
“We could use some apples.” Pollo yawned and stretched, sending a flurry of magic up and down his horn.
“They’re so beautiful!” Sierra trembled as she walked among them, absently reaching in her vest pocket for a few apples.
“Thank you,” Electra said, stumbling over Pollo to take one.
“I feel like I’m dreaming.” Sierra rubbed her wide brown eyes as the dazzling blue unicorn munched from her hand. “Where did they come from?”
Emily grasped Sierra’s arm. “I can explain everything later, but we have to get them out of here right now. Do you want to help?”
“We need to take them to a secluded area,” Adriane said. “No one can see them.”
“The Arrow Rocks,” Sierra suggested, though she still seemed dazed. “It’s about three miles south of the ranch.”
“Any idea how we can sneak them away?” Adriane asked.
“I’m scheduling the trail rides this morning. I can make sure everyone heads north. The path through the riding arenas will be all clear,” Sierra said thoughtfully.
“Sounds good,” Adriane approved. “Dreamer and I know the way.”
Sierra shook her head in amazement. “I knew Ravenswood was special, but I never realized just how special.”
Kara smiled. “Welcome to the club.”
THE UNICORNS MARCHED single file past the cabins and riding arenas. Just as Sierra had promised, no one was around to see the strange herd as they left the ranch grounds, crossed the dirt road, and made for the desert.
Adriane took the lead as Dreamer scouted the perimeter, keeping a nose out for trouble. Kara walked alongside the group, while Emily took position in the rear. Ozzie and Tweek, riding Ralfie, scanned the desert. Lyra, her elegant magical wings spread wide, circled overhead, watching from the skies.
“You think we’ll like school?” Calliope asked, sticking her tongue out.
“Of course you will,” Kara answered. “I love school. You get to hang with all your friends and look cool.”
“And you can even learn things, too,” Emily pointed out.
“Oh yeah, that,” Kara conceded.
“You’re going to be the best class the academy ever had!” Emily smiled.
The unicorns proudly puffed their chests and marched faster.
Emily’s smile faded as she looked around nervously. The vast desert stretched in front of them, empty and quiet. It felt so open, vulnerable to attack from anywhere. But they had the all-clear from Dreamer and Lyra. They could make it. They had to.
“Everyone’s looking terrific this morning,” Kara called out, walking up and down the ranks inspecting the group.
Calliope tooted in agreement, head held high. But no one could deny the cloud of despondency and worry among the group. Last night had been sheer joy; now, the unicorns were scared.
After a while, the group wound down a trail that led past a series of rolling, scrub-covered hills. Up ahead, a cluster of tall, red rocks stood in a giant circle.
“There it is,” Adriane said. “The Arrow Rocks.”
The strange dream nagged at Emily’s mind again. She felt the need to hurry, as if they were running out of time.
The ring of rocks pointed to the wide, blue sky like rough fingers, surrounding an area about half the size of a football field.
The mages herded the group through the windblown, towering spires.
“Quickly now, I want everyone in the center!” Emily instructed. “Let’s get into position.”
Inside the circle of rocks, the unicorns made their own ring around the healer.
“Dreamer?” Adriane called out.
“All clear,” Dreamer’s voice popped into Adriane’s head.
“Everything’s quiet from up here,” Lyra reported, gliding overhead.
The warrior nodded to her friends.
“Okay, Kara, open the fairy map,” Emily said.
Kara took the silver amulet from her pocket and stood between her friends.
Adriane held up her wolf stone. Emily raised her healing gem. The unicorns prepared to unleash their magic, lights pulsing from their horns.
Holding her unicorn jewel in her other hand, Kara closed her eyes and concentrated. “Open sesame!”
“A magical incantation!” Tweek’s quartz eyes spun in his twigs.
A bubble of light blossomed from the center of the amulet, forming an intricate web of lines and lights. Kara stepped back as the fairy map floated before them.
Everyone watched in awe as bright star points glittered and sparkled, reflecting off the crystal horns.
Emily pointed at the brightest light amid an arcing strand of stars. “That one?”
“That’s the one that opens to Dalriada,” Tweek said, hopping up and down. “Hurry now!”
“Focus on that portal,” Emily directed. “Are you ready?”
The unicorns nodded their heads in unison.
“Okay.” She raised her arms as Adriane and Kara held up their jewels. The healing jewel emanated a crystal clear note. Adriane tuned her germ to match the wafting sound perfectly. Then together, they hummed along, jewels pulsing in sync.
“BLLeahHHH!”
“DinG!”
“LoOooie loOOia!”
Horns blinked as notes wavered in and out of tune.
“Eeeek!” Tweek squeaked. “That’s awful.”
“Easy now.” Emily tried to hide her anxiety. “Try again.”
Bright magic flashed from their horns. But the notes were all off-key.
“Let it flow naturally,” Emily called out, trying to sync the wild lights from the horns to her pulsing healing gem.
The unicorns sang louder, trying to get their music in tune. Magic zipped up and down their horns, sending bursts of fireworks into the air.
Kara grasped her jewel tightly but the fairy map began to dissolve, warping into wavering lines.
“Hold it together, Kara!” Adriane ordered.
“I’m trying!” The blond girl clamped down harder.
The unicorns hooted and honked. Wisps of rainbow magic twinkled above them, shimmering in the wind. Emily fretfully tried to conduct the music but the unicorns seemed to have reached the limits of their untrained magic.
“Ahh!” Kara screamed. The unicorn jewel blazed like sun fire as the fairy map burst apart! Fragments snaked away, and the amulet flared and vanished.
“What happened?” Adriane demanded.
“Are you all right?” Emily grabbed Kara’s hand, inspecting it for burns.
“I don’t know, it just overloaded.” Kara examined her jewel.
“I’m okay.”
“Oh no!” Tweek cried. “The amulet is destroyed.”
The unicorns went silent, heads bowed sadly.
Then Violet squeaked, “How are we going to get home?”
Emily didn’t have an answer.
“We’ll figure out another way, Violet,” Riannan said reassuringly.
Emily tried to smile, but inside, she felt the first tingles of panic crawling in her stomach. This was all her fault. She’d said they could do it, but they just weren’t ready. What were they going to do now?
With a rush of air, a flash of rainbow lights popped in the air. To the group’s shock, a small portal split open in front of them.
“Look!” the E.F. gasped. “They must have opened it after all.”
“It’s a lot smaller than the Ravenswood Portal,” Emily noted. Still she was hopeful.
The shimmering circle stretched to the size of a large door, trails of mist spilling to the desert sand. Inside, a grid of dark purple gleamed amid glowing black lights—this was nothing like the glittering magic web the mages had seen before.
“That doesn’t look right. What is that?” Kara pointed at dark shapes slithering and skittering inside the portal.
Dreamer ran past the rocks, skidding into Adriane. “Magic. Bad magic!”
“Everyone, stay together!” Golden wolf fire sprang from Adriane’s jewel, spiraling up her arm. “Kara, Emily, by me!”
Emily and Kara assumed positions back-to-back against Adriane. Lyra landed next to Kara, teeth bared.
“BLEEWaaWWW!”
“Shhh, Spruce!” Riannan whispered.
“Something’s coming!” Spruce wailed.
“I’m scared!
“Emily!”
“Don’t let them hurt us!”
“Shh, everyone stay calm,” Riannan said gently.
The unicorns trembled, warbling notes squeaking and peeping.
The portal pulsed a baleful green.
“Steady,” Adriane said, whipping her magic into rings of fire, ready to defend her friends.
Without warning, a ball of green light sprang from the portal.
Kara’s jewel exploded with bright magic, sending the blazing star rolling backward. She struggled to control the power as Lyra leaped to protect her.
“Kara!” Emily yelled.
Song of the Unicorns (Avalon: Web of Magic #7) Page 9