The Naughtiest Unicorn Read online

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The Fearsome Forest

  Darcy was very much up for the adventure and Raheem reluctantly agreed that they should make sure that everything was okay, as long as he could take some essential items with him on the trip. The items that Raheem considered essential were: Dangers of the Forest book, first aid kit, torch, sun cream, antibacterial hand gel, two changes of clothes, waterproof coat and trousers, high vis jacket, knee pads, notebook, special rock collection, lucky teddy, three packed lunches and an extra pair of emergency socks.

  Brave was stamping his foot at the entrance to the stable yard, impatient for them to get going. He had stopped ignoring Raheem now that they were going on a quest and he was only a bit annoyed when he realized how heavy Raheem’s rucksack was.

  ‘RIGHT!’ shouted Mira. ‘We are going. On a QUEST. And we are going to rescue our class and we are going to get a medal for it. And we are going to have THE TIME OF OUR LIVES!’

  Mira rustled some sweets until Dave woke up and then she jumped on his back.

  ‘Okay people,’ said Darcy. ‘It’s showtime. Which way are we going?’

  Mira blinked hard and held out the map of the school grounds. Dave turned around and sniffed at it. ‘Class Red were heading to the Glitter Glade. So, we . . . we take that path and follow it into the forest and then just as the path splits we –’

  Dave ate the map.

  Raheem sighed. ‘Well, now we don’t have the map, we’d better stay here.’

  ‘We don’t need maps,’ said Darcy. ‘We’ll follow our HEARTS! Or . . . just pick a random path and go for it.’

  Star set off on the bridleway out of the school grounds. Raheem squealed as Brave galloped after them.

  Mira gave Dave a pat on the neck. He did one last poo and then they set off after their friends.

  Everything seemed so much more bright and shiny to Mira as they rode to the edge of the paddock. This was a quest! An ACTUAL quest!

  The entrance to the forest was shrouded in sparkly cobwebs and they began to pick their way carefully through them.

  ‘Brave’s stopped!’ called Raheem, still outside the forest.

  Mira turned Dave around. ‘It’s okay, Raheem,’ she said. ‘It’s not that dark and terrifying in here, I promise!’

  It took a while but Raheem and Brave finally came trotting through. ‘It really was Brave, not me,’ said Raheem crossly. ‘He wouldn’t move.’

  As they made their way through the forest there was less birdsong and they could only just glimpse the sky through the thick branches up above them. Even though it was a bit spooky, Mira couldn’t help but feel happy. She was on an actual QUEST (sort of) and Dave had been awake for ages!

  ‘I wish we didn’t have to trek through this terrifying forest,’ muttered Raheem. He was struggling to stay on Brave who kept backing away from cobwebs and snorting wildly.

  ‘I know what will distract us,’ said Darcy, moving Star away from Brave, who was shaking his mane. ‘Let’s sing the school song!’ She began to sing loudly and somewhat tunelessly:

  ‘We love our unicorns, yes we do!

  We keep them safe and glitter their shoes –’

  Brave suddenly gave a strange, high-pitched whinny and Raheem pointed at the path ahead of them. It was blocked by three huge tree trunks.

  ‘Oh no!’ said Mira. ‘I’m sure we’re getting close to Class Red now.’ She jumped off Dave and climbed up one of the tree trunks, brushing away more of the sparkly cobwebs. ‘Yes! The path forks just up ahead, and the Glitter Glade should be down the hill on the left.’

  ‘Let’s jump it,’ said Darcy, backing Star up to take a run-up.

  Brave started shaking. ‘I think he’s trying to tell us something,’ said Raheem.

  ‘He probably just wants to go first,’ said Mira. ‘Brave by name, brave by nature!’

  At that, Brave knelt down on the path and put his hooves over his eyes. Raheem looked down at his unicorn and then up at the tree trunks. ‘Maybe he’s scared of heights?’ Brave snorted indignantly and shook his head.

  ‘Look, Brave, me and Star will go first,’ said Darcy. ‘You’ll be fine!’

  Star cantered up to the logs and jumped clean over them. Darcy let out a happy whoop on the other side.

  Mira hopped back onto Dave and pointed him towards the trunks.

  ‘What do you think, Dave?’

  Dave ran straight at the trunks . . . and then scrambled through a gap at the bottom of the trees, scaring away spiders and cobwebs, with Mira clinging on to his back. It was a clever way to get through, Mira had to admit, even though she’d swallowed a cobweb or two.

  Moments later Raheem and Brave came soaring over the trunks.

  ‘It was the spiders!’ said Raheem. ‘As soon as Dave scared them away, Brave was fine!’

  The unicorns and the children all high-fived each other, though Brave still looked a bit shaky.

  ‘It’s okay, boy.’ Raheem patted his unicorn’s neck. ‘Spiders are harmless really. We got through it together!’

  ‘Come on, Team Rescue Quest!’ called Mira. She was still buzzing from getting past the tree trunks. NOTHING was going to stop them!

  Well, until the unicorns’ hooves slipped and the friends found themselves tumbling down a steep, muddy, leaf-covered hill . . .

  CHAPTER NINE

  To the Rescue!

  Mira opened her eyes, rubbing her sore head. She was at the bottom of a pile of Raheem, Darcy and their three unicorns, at the foot of the steep slope. Then a big shape loomed over them. It said: ‘YOU are supposed to be in detention.’

  ‘Miss Glitterhorn!’ said Mira. ‘We found you! We’re here to rescue you!’

  Their teacher helped Mira and the others up. Mira could see that they were in the Glitter Glade! It was a beautiful grassy clearing in the trees, with streams of glitter running down from the hills around. Everything sparkled. The unicorns were holding ornate-looking boxes in their teeth, which the pupils were filling with glitter from the sparkly piles on the glade floor.

  But, Mira realized, no one seemed to be in any trouble. Everyone in Class Red looked . . . well, fine. They were all staring at Mira and her friends, mid-glitter-scoop.

  ‘Uh . . . we don’t need rescuing?’ said Jake, pulling a face at them.

  ‘But . . . you sent up a glitter flare to ask for help.’ Mira was suddenly unsure of herself.

  ‘A what?’ Miss Glitterhorn crossed her arms. ‘Mira, that was a glitter cannon to celebrate the start of the quest.’

  ‘But . . . we heard a moaning and wailing sound. We thought something terrible was after you!’ Darcy was pulling leaves out of her hair from the fall.

  Freya stepped forward and rolled her eyes. ‘That was lunchtime. The unicorns wanted to sing karaoke.’

  ‘That’s enough, Freya, you know the unicorns love to sing.’ Miss Glitterhorn sighed.

  As if on cue, Firework and Snowflake burst out into a howl, and then Princess joined in with several blood-curdling screams.

  Mira winced. It sounded like the time she had accidentally sat on Pickles.

  Miss Glitterhorn stared at Mira and her friends crossly. ‘You are all in BIG trouble. We will deal with this when we get back to the school.’

  Mira’s heart was thumping. Could you get EXPELLED from Unicorn School?

  Freya appeared at Mira’s side. ‘Don’t worry. The quest hasn’t been that fun. You didn’t miss much.’

  They looked over at Freya’s sister Flo, who was rolling around in glitter with Snowflake and laughing with joy. Seb and his unicorn ran past with an armful of glitter shouting, ‘THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!!’

  ‘Well, it’s a little bit fun,’ admitted Freya.

  ‘But Jake’s in a massive mood because Miss Glitterhorn said we couldn’t collect the rainbow glitter from the edge of the Mystical Danger Cliff. It’s too dangerous for First Years – you have to be Class Green or above.’

  ‘Very sensible,’ said Raheem.

  Jus
t then the glade darkened as clouds appeared in the sky.

  Miss Glitterhorn clapped her hands and told the rest of the class to hurry up. ‘Almost time to return to school, children! Remember, we must collect enough glitter to fill the Great Horn so the unicorns can glitter their horns at the party. And there is an extra medal for whoever collects the most glitter!’

  And then the rain started. It was the suddenest, heaviest rainshower Mira had ever seen. The children were all soaked through within seconds. Darcy and Star and Raheem and Brave sped over to the nearest tree to shelter.

  Mira was about to follow, when she heard a noise. She stopped, straining to listen over the rain. It sounded like someone calling for help . . .

  Mira knew her teacher wouldn’t believe her, not after the Rescue Quest turned out to be – well, neither a rescue nor a quest. And Miss Glitterhorn was busy gathering the class and the glitter together. Mira looked over at her friends sheltering under the tree. She couldn’t risk getting them into even more trouble.

  But what if she was right this time?

  She looked around to check no one was watching her, gave Dave a nudge, and they both crept off down the path in the direction of the sound.

  The path under their feet became more rocky. Then they saw a sign that said, MYSTICAL DANGER CLIFF UP AHEAD. Then another one that said, CLASS GREEN AND ABOVE ONLY PAST THIS POINT. Mira and Dave looked at each other.

  ‘Shall we do it?’ said Mira.

  Dave trotted over to the sign and kicked it into a bush, and then looked back at Mira.

  Well that was one way of dealing with it.

  And then they saw it. An enormous cliff face, covered in rainbow glitter. A narrow rocky path led across the side of the cliff to the edge, which jutted out over a ravine. There had been some sort of landslide, and the path was blocked by a huge mound of glitter. Standing against the cliff edge, on the other side of the mound, were Jake and Pegasus.

  ‘Jake? JAKE!’

  ‘Mira?’

  Jake took a step along the narrow path towards her. A few glittery rocks crumbled off into the ravine below.

  ‘Stop!’ yelled Mira. ‘Wait there, I’ll go and get Miss Glitterhorn.’

  ‘NO!’ Jake backed up against the cliff. ‘I . . . I don’t want to get into trouble.’

  Mira hesitated. Jake and Pegasus really were in danger on the cliff path, but she didn’t want to get him in trouble with Miss Glitterhorn. And Mira was in enough trouble herself already . . . She made up her mind.

  ‘Jake, we have to get back to school safely. Just stay there and I’ll go for help.’

  But Dave wouldn’t budge. He’d started eating the bottom of the rainbow glitter avalanche. Mira didn’t even know that glitter was edible. But that had never stopped Dave before.

  Mira nudged Dave with her knees. ‘Dave, come on, we’ve got to get Miss Glitterhorn.’

  Dave started chomping even more greedily. He was crushing pebbles in his teeth as he gobbled the glitter down. His bottom was wiggling as he moved forwards and he was making happy snorting noises. Dave and Mira were practically tunnelling into the avalanche now!

  ‘What’s happening?!’ Jake sounded worried.

  ‘We’re just . . . Dave’s just . . . eek!’

  Dave took one last huge bite of glitter and backed away. Mira gasped – there was now a clear path to Jake and Pegasus!

  ‘He’s just . . . rescuing you!’ Mira stroked Dave’s ears and Dave gave a happy burp.

  The rain stopped as suddenly as it had started. Jake and Pegasus tiptoed back down the cliff path.

  ‘Are you okay?’ asked Mira as Jake stepped off the dangerous path.

  ‘Yes, I’m fine.’ Jake still looked pretty pale and shaken.

  ‘Why did you come to pick more glitter when the class were going back?’

  Jake shrugged and looked down at his feet. ‘Some of us have parents who actually expect them to be the best and not to mess absolutely everything up.’

  Mira didn’t know what to say to that, so they trotted back up the path in silence. Except for Dave’s sparkly burps.

  Mira and Jake caught up with their class on the other side of the tree trunks.

  ‘Where on earth have you been?’ asked Miss Glitterhorn as she was counting the pupils.

  Mira looked at Jake, who had an expression of panic on his face.

  ‘Dave and Pegasus both needed really big poos,’ said Mira.

  ‘Right. Thank you for the detail, Mira. Now let’s get back to school.’

  Once they’d made it through the forest and back to school, everyone hurried into the stables to dry themselves and their unicorns off. The unicorns settled into their stables for a nap and a snack. Mira, Raheem and Darcy were told to write out ‘I must not escape detention’ one hundred times each before the quest party. The rest of Class Red all went back to change into dry clothes.

  Mira could hear Jake boasting about how much glitter he’d collected as they made their way inside. She passed him in the corridor and Jake stopped talking and blushed.

  ‘What was that about?’ asked Darcy.

  ‘Oh, I dunno,’ said Mira. ‘Come on, let’s get ready for the party.’

  CHAPTER TEN

  Party Time

  Mira was upset that she wouldn’t be getting a medal in her very first quest ceremony. But she couldn’t be too sad when the preparations were so much fun! The unicorns needed to be groomed and glitter-hooved and the pupils had to put their rainbow party T-shirts on.

  That afternoon, Class Red filed out onto the paddock with their unicorns. The entire school was waiting and cheering for them. The knitted mural of the Great Quest of 1488 was back up and there was sparkly bunting everywhere. Class Red all sat down in a row at the front. The school staff were sitting on a platform and there was something really tall and big hidden under a golden curtain.

  Madame Shetland got up on the sparkly mounting block and clapped for silence.

  ‘It is a very special day. Class Red have been on their first quest.’

  The whole school cheered.

  ‘They did a lot of glitter-picking and successfully filled the Great Horn!’

  Madame Shetland nodded to Colin the Caretaker, who pulled the golden curtain away to reveal a giant, glittery, curved, upside-down unicorn horn. Everyone gasped!

  ‘And I am thrilled to announce that the very special extra medal for Most Glitter Collected on Class Red’s first quest goes to Flo. She picked seventeen boxes of glitter AND brought back another two boxes’ worth in her hair and on her clothes. Such dedication to glitter-picking,’ said Madame Shetland.

  The entire school burst into applause. Flo skipped up to the stage to collect her medal, leaving a trail of glittery footprints on the way.

  Madame Shetland clapped her hands again. ‘Marvellous! Class Red, you may now come up to receive your medals for completing the first quest!’

  Class Red all got up to collect their medals from the stage. Freya, Tamsin and Seb all whooped as they were presented with theirs. Jake even did a bow. Mira, Raheem and Darcy stayed in the audience, feeling a bit gloomy. When Madame Shetland gestured to them to come and collect their medals, Miss Glitterhorn spoke loudly so that everyone could hear. ‘Madame Shetland, these three pupils left detention without permission to join the quest. Therefore they will not be receiving any medals.’

  Madame Shetland frowned. ‘That is very unfortunate. But the School Rules are clear: Number 11 . . .’

  ‘No Quest, No Medal,’ said Mira sadly.

  Just then, someone coughed from the stage.

  Mira looked around to see where the cough had come from. Then, to her surprise, Jake started speaking.

  ‘Miss,’ he said, softly at first, ‘they did escape detention –’

  ‘All right, Jake, don’t rub it in!’ Darcy shouted at him.

  ‘They did escape,’ Jake repeated, speaking louder now, ‘but it was only because they were worried about us. And actually, Mira saved me on the way back.
I’d . . . got lost. They . . . they should get medals too. Maybe just small ones.’

  Jake’s cheeks were red and he was frowning and looking very uncomfortable.

  Madame Shetland thought for a moment.

  ‘This is very noble. But they did not complete the quest and they did leave detention without permission. That is very naughty.’

  Darcy squeezed Mira’s hand.

  ‘However,’ said Madame Shetland, ‘their behaviour ultimately enabled them to help a fellow pupil. So, Mira, Raheem and Darcy, will you please come up to the stage to receive your medals for . . . Being Cautious and Concerned for One’s Fellow Students.’

  The whole school started clapping and cheering. Mira even thought she could hear Rani yelling her name in the crowd.

  They gave each other high-fives as they got off the stage. ‘Medals for being cautious, hey? Your dad will be so proud, Raheem!’ said Darcy.

  ‘He really will!’ Raheem beamed.

  ‘I’m sorry I got us into more trouble,’ said Mira. ‘But I had the best time with you guys. Friendship really is the best kind of magic.’

  And I finally got a medal, Mira thought as she stroked it happily.

  The party was AMAZING.There were cupcakes and balloons and glitter everywhere.

  There were dodgems, a bouncy castle and a coconut shy. And a long queue for the Glitter Horn. This was the highlight of the party for the unicorns, because it made their horns super-sparkly, which is what makes unicorns happiest.

  Each pupil and their unicorn stood under the upside-down horn and when they were ready, Miss Hind pulled a rope and the horn released a shower of glitter onto the pair.

  Speaking of unicorns, Mira hadn’t seen Dave since the Medal ceremony. She started looking for him in the crowd. Then there was a snort behind her.

  ‘Dave! There you ar – oh!’ Mira stopped, shocked.