Where's Glimmer?

by Jessica Burkhart

  The four unicorn detectives spent the rest of lunch talking in hushed tones about how they were going to track Glimmer, play it cool with Queen Katherine, and most of all, avoid the dangers that could pull them into the Dark Forest.

  * * *

  “Hi, Mom,” Bella said. After school had ended, Ivy and Clara had waited for Bella to change into riding clothes. Then they found Queen Katherine in the downstairs library.

  “Hello, sweetie,” the queen said, looking up from the book in her lap. Queen Katherine smiled at Ivy, Clara, and Ben.

  “Mom, is it all right if we cross the drawbridge and go into the field across from the castle?” Bella asked. She saw a frown begin to form on her mother’s face. “It’s Ben’s idea,” she added quickly. “He said taking Glimmer to a different setting to ride would be good for her. It will help prepare her for Wednesday, so she won’t be so shy or frightened when we take her into town.”

  “Ben,” the queen said, “is Glimmer comfortable enough with Bella to be riding so far away?”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” Ben answered. “I spoke to my uncle Frederick about it, and he said okay. I promise that Bella will be safe.”

  “Please, Mom?” Bella asked. She tried not to notice Ben wringing his hands behind his back. “We’ll be very careful. If I need you or Dad, I promise that I’ll send for help via a spell.” The queen looked from Bella, to Clara, to Ivy, to Ben. Her face gave away nothing. The queen placed her hands on her lap and smoothed her gold-and-rose-colored dress.

  “Have fun,” Queen Katherine said. “Be safe and come back in time for dinner.”

  “Thank you, Mom!” Bella said. “Bye!”

  Before the queen could say another word, the friends dashed out of the library, through the castle front door, and toward the Dark Forest.

  The guards shot Bella confused looks when she reached the drawbridge, but she waved as she speed-walked by. “My mom knows we’re going to the field,” Bella explained.

  The men and women dipped their heads and resumed walking back and forth across the drawbridge entrance.

  “See you guys in two hours,” Bella said, checking her watch. “We’ll meet at the Snapdragon Garden unless someone messages the other with their crystal.”

  “Got it,” Clara said. “That will give us plenty of time to get home for dinner.”

  “Hopefully, we’ll be feeding Glimmer dinner tonight, Bells,” Ivy said, squeezing her friend’s arm.

  With that, the friends split into pairs, and Bella and Ben headed for the part of the forest farthest from Crystal Castle. Neither of them spoke. They glued their eyes to the ground, searching for hoofprints, and walked to the edge of the forest.

  It was a cloudless day in Crystal Kingdom, and sunlight fell on their backs. One look inside the Dark Forest made Queen Fire’s territory live up to its name. Bella stopped, carefully keeping her toes in the grassy field, and squinted into the forest. It was as if the sunlight didn’t extend to the wooded land.

  “I can’t see anything in the forest,” Bella said. “Can you?”

  Ben stopped walking and looked into the woods. “Just shadows,” he said. “I don’t want to think much about what’s in there.”

  “What if Glimmer is?” Bella’s voice shook a little. She couldn’t stand the thought of her sweet unicorn in the scary Dark Forest.

  Ben tilted his head, swiping hair out of his eye. “Let’s just search our section. In a couple of hours, if no one’s found anything, then we’ll think about the Dark Forest.”

  “It’s the only place left,” Bella said, looking away from the forest. She started to walk again. The short grass grew tall and weedy. She stepped around a patch of burrs, and the prickly round seeds stretched their spikes as far as they could, trying to latch onto Bella’s pants. “If Glimmer was loose in the kingdom, someone would have seen her and reported a royal unicorn sighting. The Dark Forest is it.”

  Bella bit down on the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. She had to stay strong for Glimmer and put her whole heart into searching for her.

  And for the next two hours that’s exactly what she did.

  * * *

  “Are you all right, Bella?” King Phillip asked. “You’re so quiet lately.”

  Bella couldn’t help but slump in her chair at dinner. The chef, Joseph, had prepared a delicious-smelling roasted chicken with plenty of yummy sides, but nothing sounded good to Bella. Not even her favorite mac ’n’ cheese!

  She and her friends had searched for two hours and met back at Snapdragon Garden. Not even one purple, sparkly hair had been found. Bella’s friends promised they would be back tomorrow and they would go with her into the Dark Forest.

  “I’ve been busy with school,” Bella said. “I’ve been spending a lot of time at the stables with Glimmer, too. You know, getting ready for the debut.”

  Where I debut myself alone!

  King Phillip peered at his daughter with kind eyes. “This society debut is nothing more than a royal formality. Please don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

  “I won’t, Dad,” Bella said. She speared a green bean and forced herself to eat it. “I promise.”

  “It’s going to be nothing as grand as your birthday celebration,” Queen Katherine said. “You’ll ride Glimmer into town, and Dad and I will be behind you in the Royal Carriage. At the town square, you and Glimmer will stand next to the platform. You won’t have to do anything, sweetie, if you’re worried about that. This is a very informal event. It’s just to let the townspeople see their princess and her new unicorn.”

  “That helps, Mom,” Bella said. “Thank you.”

  Unless the event is canceled, the town is going to be staring at me, Bella thought. She tried to shake away the thoughts. We are going to find Glimmer. We will. She repeated the last sentence to herself over and over.

  For the rest of dinner, Bella did her best to chat like normal. It felt like hours before the table was cleared and the princess was excused to go to her room. When her door was shut safely behind her, Bella crawled under her covers and cried.

  7

  Does Glimmer Want to Be Found?

  “We can do this,” Clara said. It was just after school on Tuesday, and the girls had gathered to continue their search for Glimmer.

  “I wish Ben could be here,” Bella said. “He did the right thing, though, by not asking his uncle to let him skip chores and come with us.”

  Ivy nodded. “It’s better that he didn’t ask. We need zero suspicion on us.”

  Bella’s gaze wandered ahead to the Dark Forest. The girls were only feet away from the edge of the forest.

  “So let’s stick with the plan we came up with,” Bella said, looking back at her friends. “Ivy, you and Clara stick together, and I’ll go alone.” It was Bella’s unicorn they were searching for, so the princess wanted her friends to be as safe as possible. If it weren’t for Bella, they wouldn’t be going into the Dark Forest.

  Both of her friends frowned. They were not thrilled with Bella’s plan. Clara and Ivy had both argued with Bella about the princess going alone into the Dark Forest.

  “Please don’t fight with me about it anymore,” Bella pleaded. “I know you’re both worried about me being alone, but I’ll be okay. We all have our crystals in case we need to get in touch with each other.”

  Ivy and Clara exchanged looks.

  “Just so you know—I’m not happy about this,” Clara fretted. She pulled her long hair into a ponytail. “But I’m with you, Bella.”

  “Me too,” Ivy said. She patted the pocket of her jeans. “Promise us that you’ll use the crystal if you even think you might get into trouble.”

  “Promise,” Bella said. She took a long, deep breath. “Today is it.” She didn’t need to remind Ivy and Clara what was at stake. Glimmer’s safety. Ben’s future as an apprentice at Crystal Castle. Bella’s debut tomorrow morning.

  “Group hug for luck,” Ivy said.

  The three best friends squeezed ea
ch other tight.

  “Let’s go,” Bella said.

  Bella led the way to the edge of the Dark Forest. Light peeked through the tall, leafless trees that stretched into the sky. Before she could think about it, Bella veered away from Ivy and Clara. Immediately, the temperature dropped a few degrees. Bella, glad for her cardigan, pulled the gray sleeves down to her knuckles. Ivy’s and Clara’s footsteps soon disappeared, and the only sounds in the dim forest were Bella’s sneakers crunching on twigs and dead leaves.

  Mushrooms—red-and-white spotted—bloomed along the base of a massive tree. Roots as big as Bella swirled into the ground. The princess stepped closer to the tree, in awe of the roots, and movement made her jump back.

  The tree roots inflated before her eyes, getting thicker and longer. It was as if they were protecting the tree. Bella took a few steps backward and found a semi-path to walk on. Ravens cawed overhead, and their wings fluttered.

  Bella swatted at a bug that whined in her ear. Another one of the annoying insects flew in front of her eyes, and she broke into a run. That was the creepiest bug ever! she thought. Not only had the insect been the size of her hand, but it had a red body and four hairy, gross legs. Bella had never seen that bug outside of the Dark Forest.

  Bella licked her dry lips, wanting to call for Glimmer, but she was too afraid of alerting Queen Fire’s spies. The princess wanted to get in and out of the forest as fast as possible. Her parents had forbidden her to enter the dangerous woods ever since she’d been old enough to talk. Now, not only was she in the Dark Forest, but she was without the protection of her unicorn.

  Bella’s heart thudded so hard in her chest that she was sure the forest creatures could hear her heartbeat. Please, please don’t let me run into one of Queen Fire’s unicorns, she thought. Let me find Glimmer and take her home.

  Bella stopped, bending down to look at a marking in the dirt. A hoofprint! The sight of it sent the princess’s pulse racing. She was on the right track. Or—Bella gulped—she was on the trail of one of Queen Fire’s dangerous unicorns. Bella stood, and a rustling noise filtered into her ears. She saw a flash of something—she couldn’t even make out the color—and that was all she needed.

  Bella broke into a run, ignoring the squawking birds, the ribbiting frogs, and the scary shadows that covered a lot of the trail. Bella reached a line of hedges and halted, peering over the top.

  She gasped. “Glimmer!” Bella cried.

  The unicorn lifted her purple-tinted head from the ground and pointed her ears in Bella’s direction.

  Tears started falling from Bella’s eyes. “Glimmer, please don’t run away. Please let me talk to you.”

  Bella swiped at the tears on her cheeks as she took slow steps around the hedge. Glimmer stood like a statue—not a flick of her tail or a blink at the princess.

  Bella held out her hand and, reaching Glimmer, placed it gently on the unicorn’s shoulder. Glimmer’s muscles rippled, and she let out a huge sigh.

  “I know you don’t want to be my unicorn anymore,” Bella said, choking back tears. “Glimmer, I don’t want you to be unhappy. I just want you to be safe. Please come home with me. You can stay at the stables and I promise—you’ll be released from your duties as my royal unicorn.”

  Glimmer craned her neck to face Bella. She blinked her giant liquid-brown eyes and stared into Bella’s. Bella didn’t break eye contact with Glimmer as she moved her hand to the unicorn’s muzzle.

  Something was happening. Something Bella had never experienced.

  “I must be crazy,” Bella said to Glimmer. “I must want you to stay my unicorn so bad that I can tell you want that too.”

  Glimmer nudged Bella’s hand with her muzzle. She let out a quiet, soft snort. Bella’s eyes swept over Glimmer’s face, and the unicorn’s thoughts rushed into her brain. She could read Glimmer’s body language. Glimmer was telling Bella exactly what she was thinking.

  “Oh, Glimmer,” Bella said, shaking her head. “You want to be my unicorn? You didn’t run away because you didn’t like me?”

  Again, Glimmer touched Bella. This time she rested her cheek in the princess’s palm and looked back into Bella’s eyes.

  “You were scared of the debut? Oh, Glimmer! You’d never be a disappointment to me or anyone! You’re the only unicorn that I want. I’ve been so worried about you and missing you since you left.”

  Bella threw her arms around Glimmer. “I understand that you got nervous. Being a royal can be scary. But you’ll always have me. We have each other.”

  Glimmer stretched her neck around so that it rested lightly on Bella’s shoulder as she gave her a unicorn hug.

  Bella let go and looked into Glimmer’s eyes. “Do you really want to come back to the castle and be my unicorn? That really will make you happy?”

  Glimmer blinked, and a sweet look flashed in her eyes.

  “Hurray!” Bella said. Happy tears pricked her eyes. “Let’s get out of this creepy forest and go home.”

  Glimmer bobbed her head. Bella picked up her crystal from her pocket and squeezed it in her palm. “I need to tell Ivy and Clara to get out of here right away,” Bella explained to Glimmer. “We’ll meet them outside of the forest.”

  Bella couldn’t resist hugging Glimmer again. She began to speak the words to summon Ivy’s and Clara’s crystals. “Crystal I hold in my hand,” Bella started. As she spoke, Glimmer’s head went high into the air. Her nostrils flared, and her tail began to whip back and forth.

  Bella lowered the hand that held the crystal. “Glimmer, what’s wrong?”

  The princess followed Glimmer’s gaze into a line of trees just ahead of them. What Bella saw wasn’t easy to miss. Out of the trees, a bright-red unicorn with black eyes and a black horn stepped into the clearing. Its head was lowered—and its horn was pointed right at Glimmer.

  8

  Most Unusual Rescue

  “Glimmer,” Bella said in a whisper. “Let’s just back away. Maybe it won’t fight us.”

  The words had no sooner left Bella’s mouth than the red unicorn swept its ears back and let out a thundering neigh. It had to have been heard throughout the entire forest.

  Glimmer nudged Bella beside her, and the princess shrank into her unicorn’s coat.

  They had no way out.

  The red unicorn’s black eyes narrowed on Glimmer, and Bella’s unicorn bared her teeth. Bella knew Glimmer would fight as hard as necessary to protect her. But she didn’t want Glimmer getting hurt. Queen Fire’s unicorns were unusually strong and filled with rage. The enemy unicorn struck the earth with a front hoof and lowered its head to charge.

  “Enough!”

  A familiar voice echoed through the forest.

  The red unicorn lifted its head, relaxing its ears, and began backing out of the clearing.

  Bella almost fell as she witnessed the unicorn disappearing back into the Dark Forest. Glimmer maintained alert mode, and both she and Bella watched as their unexpected rescuer strode into the clearing.

  “Queen Fire,” Bella said, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

  “You and your precious unicorn are in my woods, darling niece,” the evil queen said.

  Queen Fire looked exactly as she had when she’d made an unwelcome appearance at Bella’s eighth birthday. Red lipstick stained her lips. Long, wavy black hair flowed past her shoulders, and the ends were dyed bright red. She looked nothing like her sister, Bella’s mother. Queen Fire’s eyes were an endless pit of black.

  Her long black dress dragged along the ground, and a red cape was tied across the queen’s shoulders. She stopped where her unicorn had pawed the ground and smiled at Bella.

  The smile held no warmth. It didn’t reach her eyes.

  “Why did you save us?” Bella asked. “You stopped your unicorn from attacking.”

  The queen laughed. “It was not out of sheer devotion and love for you, Princess.” The queen tapped a long red fingernail against her cheek. “You haven’t spent enough time ar
ound your aunt to know how my world—the real world—works. I saved you and your precious unicorn not just because you are my family, but because it will benefit me.”

  Queen Fire’s words made Bella’s stomach drop. Being around this woman was almost scarier than facing one of her unicorns. Glimmer shared Bella’s thinking, and Bella felt Glimmer’s muscles tighten under her hand.

  “What do you want?” Bella asked. She summoned every ounce of courage left in her body. “I owe you for your protection. I want to repay the debt. If you even think Glimmer is part of any deal, you’re wrong.”

  The queen stared. The forest was silent. Bella felt as though she’d stopped breathing. Then Queen Fire burst into laughter.

  “Oh, my Bella!” Queen Fire said, grinning. “You may have a purple aura, dear, but you have the courage of your black-auraed aunt.”

  “I told you the first time we met,” Bella said. “I’m nothing like you!”

  Queen Fire’s smile left her face. “Time will tell, Princess. You can’t control what’s inside of you. There may be untapped evil you’ve yet to even imagine.”

  Bella gritted her teeth. She had to get Glimmer out of here. It wasn’t going to do any good to keep arguing with Queen Fire.

  “Please just tell me what you want,” Bella said.

  The queen folded her arms. “I don’t know when I’ll want something from you or what that may be. But I agree that you, Princess Bella, are in my debt. When I am ready for you to fulfill my favor, you will know.”

  The queen smiled again, making Bella’s knees shake even harder.

  “I—,” Bella started.

  A loud crack! cut her off, and black smoke rose from the spot where Queen Fire had just stood.

  “Let’s go! Right now!” Bella said to Glimmer. Glimmer turned in the direction Bella had entered the clearing, clearly beckoning Bella to follow.

  Without a look back, the two raced out of the Dark Forest and into the waiting open arms of Ivy and Clara.