by Julie Sykes
“It was all Sophia’s fault,” said Valentina quickly. “She’s been really mean to me!” Her voice rose into a fake wail and her two friends quickly put their arms round her.
Ms Rosemary frowned. “Sophia?” she said questioningly.
Sophia hesitated. She didn’t like telling tales.
“It wasn’t Sophia’s fault,” Ava said, stepping forward. “Valentina started it. She insulted Rainbow.” There were a few murmurs of agreement from the other girls.
“Hmmm.” Ms Rosemary looked from Sophia to the loudly sobbing Valentina. “Well, I think we should all just get on with the lesson. Valentina, the ribbons are coming loose in Golden Briar’s mane. Stop crying now and go and sort them out. Rainbow looks lovely, Sophia, but would you like some of my silver polish for his hooves as a finishing touch?”
“Yes, please,” said Sophia, glad not to be in trouble.
Ms Rosemary turned to her unicorn. “Please could you magic it here for me, Blossom?”
“Of course,” said Blossom. Her powers let her transport objects from one place to another by magic. “The silver hoof polish from the storeroom!” she declared, tossing her long pink and purple mane.
A few sparkles floated up into the air but then they winked and went out. No hoof polish appeared. Blossom looked confused.
“The silver hoof polish from the storeroom!” she repeated with another mane toss. But this time there were no sparkles and the hoof polish still didn’t appear.
Blossom looked at Ms Rosemary. “My magic’s not working.”
Ms Rosemary frowned. “How odd. Last week, Ms Lavender’s unicorn was struggling with his healing magic. This is very strange.”
“Is something wrong with the unicorns, miss?” Layla asked anxiously.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure everything’s fine,” said Ms Rosemary. She patted Blossom. “You’re probably just tired, or coming down with a bug or something.”
“But what about Ms Lavender’s unicorn?” said Scarlett.
“Maybe all the unicorns are coming down with a bug!” said Olivia in alarm.
“That’s enough, girls,” said Ms Rosemary firmly. “I’m sure there’s a very simple explanation for this. Back to grooming, everyone. Five minutes and then it’s final inspection time. Sophia, why don’t you take Rainbow to the storeroom and paint his hooves there?”
Sophia nodded and walked off with Rainbow. She felt worried about the teachers’ unicorns and she was still feeling cross with Valentina. Rainbow nuzzled Sophia’s shoulder. “Thank you for sticking up for me before.”
“Valentina and Golden Briar are horrible,” said Sophia. “You don’t need gold anywhere. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
Rainbow nuzzled her hands. “I think you’re the best, Sophia.”
Sophia wanted to say she thought he was too but the words felt like they were stuck in her throat. She loved Clover. It felt so disloyal.
Rainbow was looking at her expectantly. She gave him a quick hug. “You’re such a special unicorn,” she said quickly. “The best unicorn ever.”
Sophia saw Rainbow’s hurt look and she felt dreadful. She cleared her throat. “Now, I wonder where this silver polish is. You wait out here and I’ll go and get it.”
She hurried into the storeroom and away from the hurt look in her unicorn’s eyes.
After that lesson, Valentina really had it in for Sophia. She made lots of nasty remarks when the teachers weren’t around, and giggled and whispered with her two friends, pointing at Sophia when they were in the dining hall or riding. Sophia ignored her. She didn’t have time for Valentina’s silly games. There was so much to do and learn, and there was the thing that the whole school was talking about – what was it that was affecting the unicorns’ powers?
“Did you hear what happened in the gardens?” Ava said to Sophia after they’d been to the stables to see Star. “One of the unicorns in second year was trying to help the gardeners by making it rain in the vegetable patch but she lost control of her rain powers and caused an enormous flood!”
“That’s awful!” said Sophia.
“I know,” said Ava, shaking her head gloomily.
Later that day, Ms Primrose put up a notice to say that the play park was out of bounds.
“One of the students was getting his unicorn to make a daisy grow when she accidentally caused an earthquake,” Sophia told Ava, having heard it from Rainbow. “Apparently the earth just exploded!”
“What’s going on?” said Ava. “Star says the unicorns’ magic has never gone wrong like this before.” She went to the dorm window. “Do you think there’s something wrong with the lake? It isn’t looking as bright as usual, and remember Star said it smelled a bit strange.”
Sophia joined her at the window and looked out across the lake. “You’re right, it isn’t glittering much,” she said. “And it looks a bit yellow.” Sophia turned to Ava anxiously. “What if something bad is going on? Maybe someone is trying to harm the unicorns.”
Ava shook her head. “That can’t be right. No one would do that.”
However, the next day in assembly Ms Primrose made a dreadful announcement.
“I am very sorry to have to break this news, but it’s come to my attention that someone has been tampering with the lake.”
A hum of chatter rose.
“Do you think it’s the boys playing a prank?” Ava whispered to Sophia.
“No, the boys are annoying but they wouldn’t harm the unicorns,” Sophia said.
“Quiet, please!” said Ms Primrose sharply. “The person responsible for this should know that their actions are irresponsible and very dangerous. By contaminating the water, this person is putting our unicorns’ well-being at risk. I really hope no student is responsible. If it is a student, and they are caught, they will be expelled from the school. If the situation continues then the school will be forced to close. Pupils and unicorns will be sent home for their own safety.”
There was a collective gasp.
Ava looked at Sophia in dismay. “What are we going to do? I don’t want to go home and I’m definitely not leaving without Star.”
Sophia hesitated. She couldn’t help thinking that if they got sent home she could see her family and Clover again.
But it would mean leaving Rainbow, she reminded herself. She felt torn in half. Part of her desperately wanted to be with Clover but she couldn’t imagine life without Rainbow now.
“Quiet, please,” called Ms Primrose. “I’m hoping we shall resolve this issue before we have to take such drastic action. If anyone has any information about what’s happening then I hope you will come and tell me. Off you go to your lessons.”
As the pupils turned to leave, Sophia saw Valentina whispering to the boy next to her, then nodding in Sophia’s direction. The boy seemed surprised and he turned to stare at Sophia. He then whispered something to the boy standing beside him.
Sophia sighed. “What’s Valentina saying about me now?”
“Just ignore it,” murmured Ava. “You know what she’s like.”
Sophia turned away, determined not to let Valentina’s nastiness upset her.
But it wasn’t that easy. Valentina was clearly spreading mean gossip about her. Sophia could tell from the way people stopped talking whenever she approached them. Things came to a head at the start of a lesson on the magical properties of unicorns. Sophia was setting out her pens when Scarlett and Isabel stopped in front of her desk.
“Is it true?” demanded Scarlett. “Have you been messing about with the lake?”
“Pardon?” Sophia wasn’t sure she’d heard right.
“Did you put something in the lake?” asked Isabel. “Valentina’s been telling everyone you have. She said you did it as a joke.”
“And that you were smiling when Ms Primrose was talking about it in assembly,” added Isabel. “One of the boys saw you smiling too.”
Sophia felt as if she’d just had a bucket of ice dumped over her. “I wouldn�
�t do that! I would never harm any of the unicorns or hurt the lake’s magic. I was smiling because I was thinking about my pony at home.”
Scarlett and Isabel exchanged glances.
“We believe you,” said Scarlett. “We didn’t really think you would be so mean but we needed to check. Valentina’s also been saying she saw you by the lake the other night.”
“Well, she’s lying!” said Sophia furiously.
“Girls, go to your seats, please.”
Scarlett and Isabel scuttled away as Ms Rosemary bustled into the room. Sophia fiddled with her pens angrily. How could Valentina spread such a terrible lie! At least Scarlett and Isabel had believed her when she denied it, but as dormitory friends, they knew her better than most people. What about the rest of the school? What if they believed Valentina?
The day passed in an unhappy blur for Sophia. Wherever she went in the school, she was certain people were whispering about her. When she went out to the stables with Ava after lunch, Rainbow sensed her unhappiness but Sophia refused to tell him why she was upset.
“It’s nothing. I’m just not feeling myself,” she lied, not wanting to talk about it in case it upset him.
“Why didn’t you tell Rainbow the truth?” said Ava as they went back to the dorm later on. “He’s your friend.”
“I can’t!” Sophia turned her back on Ava as she felt tears fill her eyes. “If I did, Rainbow would probably start an argument with Golden Briar. I don’t want him to get into trouble over me.”
“You should still have told him,” Ava said, her brown eyes serious. “It’s wrong to keep secrets from your unicorn.”
Sophia had a restless night, waking regularly, her stomach in knots at how unfair Valentina was being. She hated people at school thinking she’d do anything to damage the island and she knew Ava was right. She shouldn’t have lied to Rainbow.
At dawn, she silently got up and dressed. She felt close to tears and wanted to talk to Rainbow. As she reached the door, she saw a folded piece of paper had been pushed under it with her name written on it. Curiously, she opened it.
Sophia’s heart hammered against her ribcage as she reread the note. Who had sent it? Was it Valentina or was it someone else? It made her feel sick to her stomach. Swallowing a silent sob, she crumpled the paper up, threw it on to the floor and wrenched open the door. She raced across the dew-soaked lawn to the stables. Rainbow was still asleep. He looked so sweet with his long eyelashes and eyes shut tight. Sophia couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.
“Sophia!” Rainbow said, waking in alarm. “Whatever’s the matter?”
Throwing herself down beside him, Sophia flung her arms round his neck and sobbed. “Everyone thinks I’m the one hurting the lake!” she cried. “Oh, Rainbow! I can’t bear it – I want to go home!” She told him everything – all about the lies that Valentina was spreading and how much she missed Clover and how worried she was that he was unhappy without her.
Rainbow nuzzled her as she sobbed.
“You’re the best unicorn ever, Rainbow,” she told him, scrubbing away her tears. “You really are. But I don’t want to stay here any longer.” She took a deep breath. “I’m going to run away!”
Rainbow snorted in alarm. “No, Sophia! You can’t run away! I know you’re missing Clover but you belong here. Just tell the teachers Valentina is lying.”
Sophia hugged herself. “Valentina’s parents are governors. No one will believe me. I have to go.”
“You don’t!” Rainbow shook his head and jumped to his feet. “I’ll help you clear your name.”
Sophia shook her head. “No.”
Rainbow stamped a hoof. “Stay or I’ll tell the teachers and then they’ll stop you leaving!”
Sophia gasped. “You’d really tell the teachers?”
Rainbow nodded. “I’m not going to just let you go. You’re my best friend.”
“Friends don’t break each other’s trust!” exclaimed Sophia.
“Friends don’t run away from each other!” snapped Rainbow.
Fighting back more tears, Sophia ran from the stables. Just when she didn’t think things could get worse, she’d argued with Rainbow! She didn’t know what to do. She looked at the clock, high on the outside of the hayloft. There was still enough time to go back to the dorm for her things and leave before anyone woke. It would take ages to get home but she couldn’t bear to stay at school any longer.
Sophia hurried across the grass towards the school building. In the distance, she noticed a tall figure dressed in dark trousers and a cloak walking towards the lake. Something about the stealthy way the person was moving made Sophia duck down behind a bush. Who was that? What were they doing so early in the morning? Reaching the lakeside, the figure stopped and looked around. Sophia peered out over the top of the bush.
With lightning speed, the figure reached into a pocket and scattered something into the lake. The moment it hit the water, the lake bubbled and hissed. The person watched for a moment then hurried towards a side door in the school. A sour smell rose in the air.
Sophia cried out in dismay as the water turned a sickly shade of yellow. She jumped to her feet, anger boiling in her stomach. Who was under the cloak? Why would anyone want to do such a dreadful thing to Sparkle Lake? Everyone knew the whole of Unicorn Island depended on its water.
There was only one way to find out what was going on. Sophia followed the figure into the school. The corridor was empty but a trail of wet footprints led straight to the hall. Sophia peeked inside. Early morning sunlight streamed through the domed glass ceiling illuminating the empty room and making the magical map shimmer. Sophia stared around, her eyes coming back to the map. There was no one here. Had the mysterious figure used the map to escape?
Her footsteps echoed as she crossed to the middle of the hall. There were several splodges of coloured lake mud on Sophia’s side of the barrier but it was impossible to tell if the map had been used or not.
“Sophia!” a voice hissed. “What are you doing?”
Sophia spun round. “Ava! Why are you here?”
“I was looking for you. I saw your bed was empty and then I found this!” Ava held out the note that Sophia had crumpled up. “How could anyone write such mean things? I thought you’d run away.” Ava gave Sophia a hug.
“I was about to,” said Sophia truthfully. “But that’s not important now. We need to talk!” She pulled Ava along the corridor, until she reached a secluded alcove. Ava glanced out of the window. The lake had turned mustardy yellow.
“Eeew!” Ava’s eyes widened. “Why is the lake that colour?”
Quickly, Sophia told Ava everything.
Ava was shocked. “You mustn’t run away, Sophia. I’d miss you tons. Everyone in our dorm would. Everyone likes you, apart from stupid Valentina, and everyone knows that you wouldn’t harm the lake.”
Looking into Ava’s earnest eyes, Sophia felt her confusion and unhappiness fade slightly.
“Go to Rainbow and tell him you’re sorry,” urged Ava. “He’ll be feeling awful that you’ve argued.”
Sophia nodded. “I will,” she decided. “But first we need to do something about the lake.”
“Should we wake Ms Rosemary and tell her?” suggested Ava.
“No,” said Sophia. “I think we should fix it ourselves. That will prove it wasn’t me. We just need a plan.”
“Frogs!” said Ava, almost sliding off the window seat with excitement.
“Frogs?”
“The frogs in the woods,” nodded Ava, her dark hair swinging about her chin. “Remember the way the frogs we caught made the dirty water in the buckets sparkle?”
“Yes…” said Sophia.
“Maybe those frogs have the power to purify water! If we could put some in the lake then they might be able to make it healthy again.”
“Brilliant idea—” Sophia broke off suddenly, putting a finger to her lips to silence Ava.
“What is it?” mouthed Ava.
S
ophia looked up and down the corridor. It was empty, in both directions. “Nothing,” she said, giving a small laugh. “For a second I thought I heard someone.”
Ava touched her arm in reassurance. “There’s no one here but us and we need to act fast to save the lake. Let’s go to the woods now and get the frogs.”
“Good idea,” said Sophia. She grabbed Ava’s hand and they ran full pelt towards the stables.
The girls charged into the stable block. Rainbow’s eyes brightened. “Sophia,” he whickered. “You haven’t run away! What made you change your mind?”
“The lake!” Sophia gasped. “We need to go to the woods.”
“We’ll explain as we go,” said Ava hurriedly as she led Star to the door.
In next to no time, Rainbow and Star were galloping across the grounds towards the woods, the girls each clutching a bucket to carry the frogs in. Rainbow’s silky mane blew up in Sophia’s face, tickling her nose. Sophia laughed. She was on her way to save the lake and clear her name! “You said we’d have adventures, Rainbow! Well, I think this is our first one!” she cried.
Rainbow neighed in delight.
The gardens passed by in a blur. As they reached the woods, Rainbow slowed. The gloomy woods felt cold and strange hoots and screeches came from the shadows.
Star’s ears flickered nervously. “I’m scared. I feel like something bad is going to happen.”
“We’ll be fine. We just need to find the frogs and get out of here fast,” said Ava.
The unicorns cantered along the path, jumping the tree roots that seemed to want to trip them up.
There was a howl in the trees. Both unicorns skittered nervously. Sophia patted Rainbow’s neck.
“I like it when you do that,” said Rainbow. “It makes me feel braver.”
Sophia stroked Rainbow again and he whickered with delight.
They reached the grove and pushed their way through the trees. They could hear the frogs croaking as they stepped into the clearing. Sophia blinked in the morning sunlight that streamed from the sky and danced across the surface of the pond. The frogs were everywhere, perched on lily pads, swimming in the water or lazily croaking to each other among the rushes. She and Ava dismounted and carefully scooped up the frogs, placing them in the buckets along with some water.