Scarlett and Blaze

by Julie Sykes

  “That’s it! I’m telling!” shrieked Valentina, storming off to find a teacher. Her two friends gave Scarlett an indignant look before scurrying after her.

  “Scarlett, please stop wasting water!” begged Layla, coming out of Dancer’s stable. “What will our unicorns drink if the lake freezes for more than a few days? Do you want them to get sick?”

  Seeing Layla’s serious expression, Scarlett blushed. It was hard for her to be serious about anything, and annoying snooty Valentina was especially good fun, but she hadn’t meant to put the unicorns at risk, especially dear Blaze. “You fuss too much!” she said to Layla, but after that she only took a small amount of water from the drinking trough and she walked slowly so as not to spill any as she carried it back to Blaze’s stable.

  That evening in the pupils’ lounge everyone wanted to talk about the lake and what would happen if it froze over.

  “We might get sent home,” said Olivia, her green eyes round with concern.

  “The lake won’t freeze,” scoffed Isabel, toasting her hands on the blazing log fire. “You’re all worrying about nothing. It’s not cold enough.”

  “It’s not cold in here,” said Ava, her chin-length dark hair framing her face. “But it’s freezing outside. The teachers are really worried. I heard Ms Nettles talking to herself earlier. She was muttering something about spells and the lake but she went silent when she saw me.”

  “That’s odd,” said Sophia.

  “Not really! Ms Nettles is always muttering about something,” said Scarlett. “She’s weird. Nothing bad is going to happen to the lake.” She hoped she was right. She was certain that Blaze was very close to discovering her magic – she’d seen sparks coming from her hooves when she’d raced Isabel and Cloud back to the stables. She smiled to herself as she imagined what would happen if one day she just took off into the air and swooped over everyone’s heads. Oh yes, flying would definitely be the most awesome power to have!

  The following day was Sunday, and pupils were allowed an extra hour in bed, so Scarlett was not pleased when Layla woke the whole dormitory at the usual time, going to the window and flinging back the curtains with an urgent cry. “Oh no! Look at the lake, everyone!”

  Sleepily, Scarlett tumbled out of her warm bed and went, shivering, to the frosty window with the others. Layla pushed the window up so that everyone could see out and dislodged a thick layer of snow from the roof above.

  “Brrrr,” shivered Scarlett as a blast of cold air stung her face. She slammed the window shut again.

  “But the lake,” cried Layla.

  “Look at it!” gasped Sophia. “It’s completely frozen!”

  The lake’s surface was as smooth as glass with swirls of colour trapped inside. Even the fountain was a glassy statue, the rainbow-coloured water frozen into towering spirals, with beads of water scattered over the icy lake like bright jewels.

  “It’s so pretty,” breathed Scarlett, looking in awe at the beautiful colours.

  “It’s a disaster,” said Layla, turning pale. “I’m going to check on Dancer straight away. Thank goodness we collected water yesterday,” she added as she pulled on a pair of jodhpurs. “There’s enough for a few days – if we’re all very careful.” She shot a reproachful look at Scarlett.

  Scarlett felt guilty but pushed the uncomfortable feeling away. Layla was far too serious about things. She should just lighten up. So what if the lake was frozen? Everything was bound to be fine in a few days.

  Scarlett dressed and headed to the stables through the falling snow. She slowed as she passed the lake. Snow was beginning to lie on the surface, thicker than icing sugar on a cake. Scarlett imagined building an igloo and having snowball fights. Was it wrong to be just a teeny bit excited? The freeze wouldn’t last long so why couldn’t they just enjoy it? Feet crunching through the thick snow, she hurried on to the stables.

  Blaze was in a lively mood, tickling Scarlett with her red and gold tail from the moment she arrived.

  “Stop it,” Scarlett giggled. “I want to tell you about the lake.”

  Blaze stood still and pulled a serious face. “I’m listening.”

  “It’s fro— Ooooh! Blaze! Stop it!” Scarlett collapsed in giggles as Blaze made a goofy expression.

  “Tell me. I’m listening now,” said Blaze, serious again, but as Scarlett started speaking she turned round and tickled her once more.

  “It’s snowing and the lake is frozen!” yelled Scarlett, grabbing her tail. That got Blaze’s attention. She swung back and stared with wide eyes.

  “I know. It’s awful,” Scarlett lowered her voice, “but it’s not as if you haven’t got anything to drink. There’s enough stored water to last for a while. I bet this cold weather will end soon, so we’d better make the most of it. Do you want to play in the snow?”

  “That sounds fun,” Blaze agreed eagerly.

  Most people had decided to stay in the warm stables with their unicorns, plaiting their manes, weaving friendship bracelets and discussing the big freeze. Even Isabel wanted to stay inside out of the cold, having a contest with Olivia and Sophia as to who could plait the most ribbons into their unicorns’ tails. Scarlett and Blaze threaded their way between the chattering pupils, who were busy swapping coloured ribbons and bottles of glittery hoof polish, to reach the door.

  Outside at last, Blaze’s breath puffed out icy white clouds as she waited for Scarlett to climb on her back. “Look at me!” she snorted. “I’m smoking like a dragon!”

  “Me too!” huffed Scarlett, pursing her lips so that her breath came out as snowy white rings. “There’s enough snow to build an igloo or a snow unicorn.”

  “Let’s have a snowball fight first!” Blaze lifted her hooves high as she waded through the snow. Veering away from the lake, she headed towards the fields and woods.

  “Faster!” Scarlett cried.

  Blaze snorted as she sped up, her mane and tail flying out behind her. The cold air stung Scarlett’s cheeks and blew her hair in her face. She swiped it away, yelling, “Brake!” as the woods came nearer.

  Blaze leaned back, digging her hooves into the snow and trying to stop. The icy snow hissed under her hooves and a rainbow-coloured cloud of steam rose up, enveloping Scarlett.

  “What just happened?” Scarlett gasped, snowball fight forgotten.

  Blaze lifted a hoof and shook it, sending multicoloured water droplets spinning away. “The snow under my hooves is melting!” she said.

  “Oh.” Scarlett was disappointed. She’d hoped that the freeze would last for a bit longer. She heard a shout and turned to see a floppy-haired boy and a unicorn with an electric-blue mane and tail chasing after them.

  “Billy!”

  Billy headed towards them. His unicorn, Lightning, wasn’t as sure-footed in the snow as Blaze. His legs seemed to go in several directions at once.

  “Let’s meet them halfway,” Scarlett suggested.

  “Show them how it’s done,” added Blaze cheekily.

  She trotted towards Lightning, lifting her hooves high, dancing through the snow then speeding up and skating in a serpentine, leaving a long wiggly trail behind her on the snowy ground.

  “Show-offs!” Billy called.

  “That’s just for warm-ups,” Scarlett called back. “Blaze,” she whispered, “can you do something else, like a jump?”

  Blaze sped up then leapt in the air, kicking out her legs and swishing her tail. Scarlett whooped. It felt as if they were flying! As she landed, the snow hissed under Blaze’s hooves again and a fiery shower of bright-orange sparks flew into the air along with rainbow-coloured steam clouds.

  “Whoa!” gasped Billy. “What’s happening?”

  “I don’t know,” said Blaze in surprise.

  Scarlett caught an overwhelming scent of burnt sugar and her eyes widened. “Blaze! I know what’s going on! You’ve just discovered your magic power!”

  Blaze trembled with excitement. “Oh, Scarlett! It is magic! I can feel it tingling thro
ugh me.” She stared at her hooves. “Did you see the sparks? I was sure I was going to be a flying unicorn but I think I have fire magic instead!”

  “Fire magic? Are you sure?” For a moment, when they were spinning round so fast in the air, Scarlett had thought that Blaze had taken off and was flying. She felt a rush of disappointment.

  “Yes!” said Blaze. “I think that’s why the snow is melting under my hooves.”

  “Fire magic!” Billy gave Scarlett and Blaze an envious look. “Lucky! We’re hoping for fire magic, aren’t we, Lightning?”

  Lightning nodded vigorously. “My dad does fire magic. It was so much fun when I was little. He used to toast sky berries and make amazing displays of coloured sparks. Show us your flames again, Blaze.”

  “Yes, try again!” urged Scarlett, thinking Billy and Lightning were right – maybe fire magic would be fun.

  Blaze stamped a front hoof again. There was a loud crack. Tiny red and gold flames flickered up.

  “You’re doing it, Blaze! You’re brilliant!” encouraged Scarlett. Blaze stamped again, harder. Sparks flew up from her hooves and little pools of hissing water formed wherever they landed.

  Lightning looked wistful. “I wish we had some sky berries to toast.”

  “We could look for toffee nuts in the woods and toast those,” said Scarlett eagerly. She pointed to a tall tree on the edge of the forest. “That looks like a toffee tree.”

  Blaze stared at the tree intently then stamped. CRACK! A flame arched from her hoof, speeding towards the toffee nuts hanging from the branches. POP! It hit the tree. Several nuts flared a warm glowing red then fell to the ground.

  “Whoa!” Billy’s mouth fell open.

  “Brilliant!” shouted Scarlett, hugging Blaze. She jumped down and took off her scarf to catch another cluster of toasted nuts as they fell from the tree. There was a rich smell of warm toffee. “You’re amazing, Blaze!”

  The nuts glowed brightly, then turned a dull purple in a puff of treacly coloured smoke. They smelled delicious. As Scarlett and Billy stuffed the toasted nuts into their mouths a haughty voice rang out.

  “Don’t you know it’s dangerous to play with fire?” No one had heard Valentina approaching on Golden Briar. She halted at the edge of the trees.

  Scarlett rolled her eyes. “Blaze is doing just fine. Go away.”

  Valentina’s face turned sour. “I’ll tell. My parents are governors, you know.”

  “Really, you should have said,” Billy muttered, making Scarlett giggle.

  Valentina urged Golden Briar forward. “Your unicorn shouldn’t be playing with fire when she’s only just discovered her powers. Stop it right now!” she commanded.

  Blaze’s eyes glinted and she stamped down hard. Fire curled from her hoof, running around Golden Briar in a circle, leaving a trail of melted snow. Golden Briar shied backwards, his hooves slipping and spraying slush everywhere.

  “Eeek!” Valentina shrieked. “We’re getting wet!”

  “How can fire make you wet?” asked Blaze innocently, conjuring up more flames to blast the snow-covered branches. The melting snow created hissing streams of water that rained down on Valentina and Golden Briar.

  Valentina was purple with fury. “Stop it at once, you horrible thing.”

  “I’m trying,” said Blaze, blasting more snow. “Help me, Valentina. I can’t control my magic.”

  Golden Briar snorted indignantly and dashed away from the trees, sliding in the slushy ice. She didn’t stop until she was far in the distance. Scarlett could barely stand up straight for laughing. Each time she managed to stop, Billy and Lightning laughed so hard they set her off again.

  Billy clutched his stomach. “That was brilliant!” he chortled. “Valentina’s silly. I think it’s great that Blaze can melt the snow. What shall we do next, Blaze?”

  “Let’s play a game!” said Blaze. “I’m bursting with energy. It must be the magic.”

  Scarlett and Billy collected a fir cone and sticks and Blaze marked out two goals, melting lines in the snow with her fire magic, for a game of hockey. Once the game started, she cheated like mad, using fire to create multicoloured puddles and tall clouds of rainbow mist to stop Billy and Lightning from reaching their goal.

  “Twenty-seven goals to three,” whooped Scarlett. “We won!”

  “You and Blaze win at cheating,” laughed Billy.

  “You’re just a sore loser!” teased Scarlett.

  “Whatever. I’m hungry now,” said Billy. “Let’s go and get lunch.” He grinned at her. “I’d definitely have won if you hadn’t cheated.”

  Scarlett and Billy rode back towards the stables, squabbling amicably. They were almost there when Layla and Dancer came over. Layla was walking beside Dancer, her arm around his neck.

  “Congratulations,” Layla said shyly. “I saw Blaze making flames. She’s found her magical power then?”

  “Yes, isn’t it brilliant?” said Scarlett.

  “Brilliant,” Layla agreed. “You looked like you were having lots of fun. Have you told Ms Rosemary?”

  Ms Rosemary was their form tutor. She also taught Unicorn Care and all pupils had to tell her when their unicorns discovered their magic power.

  “Not yet,” said Scarlett.

  “You should tell her as soon as possible,” said Layla. “And be careful,” she added seriously. “Blaze should practise lots, especially with fire magic. It’s really powerful. You could both get hurt.”

  Scarlett sighed. Why did Layla have to be so boring all the time? “We’ll be fine,” she said airily. “Race you back to the stables, Billy?”

  “See you there! Go, Lightning!” Billy shouted as Lightning set off.

  Scarlett whooped and set off after them at a flat-out gallop.

  Lunch was hot soup with crusty bread straight from the oven. Scarlett ate ravenously. As she ate she told Isabel everything that had happened.

  “I can’t believe I stayed in the stables and didn’t see it,” groaned Isabel. “You’re so lucky. Fire magic sounds awesome.”

  “It really is.” Scarlett grinned, remembering the way Blaze had soaked Valentina and Golden Briar with snow from the trees. “We can go out together later and I’ll show you.”

  But when they returned to the stables after lunch, the temperature had dropped further and neither of them was keen to go back outside. They decided to groom their unicorns in the walkway instead, but Cloud was thirsty and the water in the troughs had frozen solid again.

  “It’s freezing as soon as it leaves the spout,” said Cloud.

  Worry niggled at Scarlett. How would the unicorns get enough to drink?

  “Can Blaze use her magic to thaw it?” asked Isabel.

  Scarlett grinned with relief. “Brilliant idea. What do you think, Blaze? Do you want to show Isabel your magic?”

  Blaze nodded eagerly. It wasn’t just Isabel and Cloud who were looking. The other pupils and unicorns nearby were also watching curiously.

  “Stand back,” Scarlett said grandly. “Give Blaze some room.”

  “I don’t think you should do this, Scarlett,” Layla said anxiously. “The books I’ve been reading say you need to be extra careful with fire magic.”

  Scarlett ignored her and beat a drum roll on the stable door with her hands. Blaze bowed to the ground as if she was performing. Then, slowly, with lots of show, she pointed her spiralled horn at the main water trough. A flurry of red and gold sparks flew out and landed on the ice, melting it with a loud hiss.

  Everyone clapped loudly.

  Blaze hadn’t finished. She stamped her hoof again and again. The sparks came faster, crackling brightly and warming the water until it began to steam rainbow colours.

  “It’s like fireworks,” squealed Isabel.

  Scarlett was so happy she thought she might burst. “Fire magic’s the best,” she said, slinging an arm around Blaze’s neck and hugging her. “And you’re my best friend.”

  “Best friends forever,” Blaze agreed, n
uzzling her hair. She stamped her hooves one after the other playfully. Whoosh! Whoosh! A stream of orange and gold sparks flew up in the air. Scarlett giggled as they cascaded everywhere, and everyone else clapped. Blaze stamped harder, loving all the attention, until a hay bale by the storeroom burst into flames!

  Valentina was near the storeroom, fetching some hoof polish. “Fire!” she screamed. Delia and Jacinta shrieked loudly and ran for the door. Valentina barged past them, shoving Delia into Jacinta. Everyone else ran to help their unicorns escape.

  Valentina reached the stable door to find the way out blocked by a tall, regal unicorn. He drew himself up to his full height and glared down at her. He was a magnificent creature with a golden mane and tail and gold swirls on his snowy white coat.

  “Sage!” whispered Scarlett in dismay. Now they were for it. Sage was Ms Primrose’s unicorn. He was distantly descended from the first unicorn who’d ever lived on Unicorn Island.

  “Get water!” Sage ordered. The pupils grabbed buckets and threw water from the main drinking trough over the burning hay bale. The fire hissed and spat, the dying flames trailing a plume of acrid smoke that made everyone cough.

  Scarlett had never seen Sage angry but now his nostrils flared and his voice was icy. “That was exceptionally irresponsible, Blaze! Magic should be treated with great respect. You will not use magic again until you have taken some lessons with me on how to conduct yourself when using your powers. And you…” His gaze fell on Scarlett. “You should have told Ms Rosemary that Blaze had discovered her magic instead of encouraging her foolish behaviour. Magic is not a party trick. The sooner you learn that lesson the better!”

  Blaze stared at the floor. Scarlett’s red face matched Blaze’s for embarrassment.