My Secret Unicorn by Linda Chapman Read Free Book Online

waterfall seemed to stretch out to fill the whole sky ahead of them. Up close, it was so dazzling that Lauren had to screw up her eyes to look at it. She felt very small next to the shimmering curtain of stars, but at the same time the light filled her with happiness, as though she’d just opened all the birthday and Christmas presents she’d ever wanted.
    Soon, the waterfall was towering abovethem, and Lauren could see that the thundering cascade was made of pure, sparkling water mingled with millions of tiny stars. Water and stars tumbled down into a pool far below. Lauren felt fine, cool spray on her cheeks and eyelashes, and saw tiny droplets settle in Twilight’s mane.
    ‘You need to take some of the water back to Shadow,’ instructed Sidra.
    For a second, Lauren panicked. How were they going to do that? She hadn’t realized she needed to bring an empty container!
    Twilight turned his head to look at her. ‘What about your water bottle?’ he suggested. ‘We could carry some water in that.’
    ‘That’s a great idea!’ she said. She pulled the plastic bottle out of her rucksack and unscrewed the top. She poured out what was left of the regular water and gave it a shake to make sure the last drops fell out.
    ‘Do I just lean into the waterfall to fill it up?’ she called to Sidra. The noise of the water was pounding in her ears, and the pool of splashing starlight seemed a long, long way below. Lauren gulped as she imagined being swept off Twilight’s back by the force of the water, down, down, down …
    Sidra nodded. ‘You’ll need to get closer,’ she warned.
    Lauren told herself that the UnicornElder wouldn’t ask her to do something that was dangerous. But it still felt very scary as Twilight cantered towards the roaring, sparkling water. Lauren held the plastic bottle firmly and stretched it out towards the waterfall. But she couldn’t reach the water even when she leaned over as far as she dared.
    ‘We’ll have to get even closer, Twilight!’ she called, clinging on to his mane.
    Sidra drew alongside Twilight, so close that she was almost touching him, and the air between them seemed to crackle with magic. Sidra’s horn glowed, and Lauren knew that she was giving Twilight some of her strength.
    ‘Now try!’ said Sidra.
    With a huge effort, Twilight cantered one stride closer to the curtain of rushing water and Lauren took her chance. Gripping tightly with her knees, she stretched out and plunged her hand into the water.
    She expected the water to be freezing, but instead it felt fresh and clear and comforting and warm all at the same time, like ice-cold lemonade on a hot day or a mug of hot chocolate on a cold one. Lauren laughed out loud. It was wonderful! She brought out her hand and saw that the water bottle was full, so she screwed the top back on and stowed it carefully in her jacket pocket.

    ‘I’ve got it!’ she cried breathlessly.
    ‘Well done!’ Sidra called. ‘Now we must go!’
    The two unicorns backed away from the tower of water and stars. Being so close to the waterfall seemed to havegiven Twilight even more energy. He bounded after Sidra and they sped through the sky, back towards the Plateau of Light. Lauren’s fingers were still tingling with the lovely feeling from the sparkling water, and when she looked down she could see the faintest sheen on her skin, like a dusting of diamonds.
    They passed over Arcadia once more, and Lauren gazed down at it, wondering how Frost and the other new arrivals were settling in.
    ‘I would love to show you Arcadia,’ said Sidra. ‘One day, perhaps, you will be able to visit. But now is not the time. Shadow needs you. You must take thewater to him as quickly as you can.’
    The journey to the plateau seemed to speed past, and Lauren soon saw the mountains looming ahead. Sidra circled the peak and landed gently in the ring of rocks, her hooves pounding against the stone.
    ‘You have both done well,’ she told them, her brown eyes