Chapter 1: A Lesson with a Twist Going to school in Unicornia is always an adventure. You never know what magical mayhem might happen! One day you can be doing triple jumps and cartwheels high in the sky on your unicorn, then the next you're learning to brew a potion to make broccoli taste better. But today's surprise really takes the rainbow sprinkle cake. Shall I tell you what happened? I was sitting in class with my best friends, Pippa and Sara, when-- dun dun duuun! --our teacher Florrie told us she had an announcement and started writing something on the board. Gulp! Was she about to give us a pop quiz? But when she finished writing, we saw that the surprise wasn't an exam, but actually something really fun--the best surprise in the whole wide world! We're going on a class camping trip! Don't get me wrong--I've been away from home on school trips loads of times. In my old school, we stayed overnight at a farm every year, and we always had a great time feeding the animals and planting seeds in the vegetable patch. But the thing is, if overnight school trips in the normal, non-magical world are fun, in Unicornia they're bound to be MEGA, MAGIC-TASTICALLY FUN! Pippa and I couldn't stop bouncing in our seats when Florrie told us the details. "We'll be camping for two nights.
" "Two nights!" we exclaimed giddily. But unlike me and Pippa, Sara looked worried. Huh? "Are you OK?" I whispered to her. "Yeah, I'm fine ." After that, Florrie listed all the things we'd need to bring in our backpacks. I rushed to scribble everything down. Can you imagine if I forgot something important? Yikes! Then Florrie exclaimed, "Oh, I almost forgot! You'll need sunglasses too, because it might be very bright where we're going." "And where are we going?" Pippa asked.
"To a very special place in the sky." In the sky?! For a moment, everyone was confused. Then suddenly, we got it. We're going camping . in the clouds! After Florrie's announcement, all we can talk about is our camping adventure! We have lots and lots of questions and we want to find out everything we can about clouds! Do you ever feel like that before you visit somewhere for the first time? There's just one problem: Sara's still not her usual self. "Are you sure you're OK?" Pippa and I ask her again. "Yes, it's just . I don't really like the idea of camping, so I'm not sure if I'll come," she admits.
Pippa and I freeze like sparkle-snow ice pops. "Why?" "Well, I prefer sleeping in my own bed, I suppose. Plus, I need to help my mom with my brothers. There are six of them, remember, and my dad will be away ." "But sleeping in the clouds, Sara!" says Pippa. "It will be super special!" "Mmm." Sara shrugs. "We don't want to go without you.
Please, please say you'll come!" I beg, making puppy eyes. Then I have an idea. "We can all share a tent! That way, we can stay up all night telling each other stories. It will be so cool!" "And we can tell each other all our secrets. We'll have the best time ever!" Pippa says. "It will be the most incredible camping trip of all time, but it won't be any fun without you! Pleeease say you'll come ." Sara thinks for a moment. Then, without much enthusiasm, she nods.
"OK, OK, I'll come." Hooray! We've managed to convince her! Now . time to get packing!.