The Naughtiest Unicorn and the School Disco. Pip Bird

but today Dad was driving them and they had to explain everything to him. He even nearly forgot to take them to the supermarket to buy treats for their unicorns! (Most unicorns liked carrots and hay, but Dave liked doughnuts best of all.)

      ‘Stop, Dad!’ yelled Mira. They were about to drive right past the Magic Portal in the leisure centre car park! Dad made an emergency stop as Mira hung out of the car, waving to her friend Raheem.

      Rani refused to be seen dead (her words) with Mira at Unicorn School, so Mira had arranged to go through the portal with Raheem. He was just finishing the ten Rules of Safety song with his dad, but did wave back.

      Dad was under strict instructions to take a picture of them before they went through the portal. Rani would only pose for a fraction of a second, but the photo of the back of her head would have to do.

      ‘Bye, Dad!’ Mira blew him a kiss through the car window and made sure she had her bag of unicorn treats. ‘Ready, Raheem? Why have you got your eyes closed?’

      ‘I always feel sick going through the portal,’ Raheem said. ‘So I’m doing my calming breathing.’

      Mira grabbed his hand and pulled them both through the bushes. No matter how many times she went through the portal, it never stopped being absolutely completely magical.

      First, her toes started to tingle, then her legs and arms, and then rainbow light burst all around them and they were WHOOSHING through the air before landing with a soft thump on the landing haystack in the middle of the Grand Paddock at Unicorn School.

      ‘Wow,’ breathed Mira as she looked around. It was autumn and all the leaves in the Fearsome Forest were turning gorgeous shades of red and gold. Children were arriving in a steady stream on the landing haystack and running to find their UBFFs. The unicorns were grazing and playing in the paddocks and fields around Unicorn School. Mira could see their breath puffing in the chilly air as she looked around for Dave.

      ‘Ta-daaaa!’ a voice sang out behind them on the haystack. Their friend Darcy launched off the haystack and did a spectacular spin in her wheelchair, ending with her arms in the air. ‘Did you miss me?’

      Mira laughed and ran over for a hug. ‘Of course I missed you. That was awesome!’

      Darcy flicked her fluffy blonde hair back over her shoulder. ‘I know,’ she said. ‘I’ve been practising my moves for the disco. I started a feet-and-wheels dance troop at my other school, because I was kicked off the Murderball team. They said I was too aggressive or something. Anyway, dance is WAY more my thing.’

      ‘What’s Murderball?’ asked Raheem cautiously.

      ‘It’s like rugby but in wheelchairs. And more dangerous,’ Darcy replied, looking around for her unicorn, Star.

      Raheem looked a little bit lost for words. ‘Shall we go and find our unicorns?’ he said.

      Star and Brave were grazing in the Grand Paddock and cantered over as soon as they spotted Darcy and Raheem. Mira couldn’t see Dave.

      ‘Is that him?’ asked Darcy, pointing to a giant pile of straw by the side of the fence. Some of the Unicorn School teachers were standing around it, poking something on the top of the straw pile with a stick. Mira looked closer and saw that it was a small unicorn curled up, fast asleep.

      ‘Wake up!’ yelled the PE teacher, Miss Hind.

      ‘How is he still asleep?’ muttered another teacher, shaking his head.

      ‘He’s been up there for sixteen hours!’ said their class teacher, Miss Glitterhorn.

      Dave farted loudly in his sleep.

      Mira gave a huge smile. There was her UBFF. And she knew JUST how to wake him up!

      Mira reached into her pocket. ‘Dave!’ she called. ‘I’ve got a super special treat for you!’ Mira pulled out a strawberry lace and waved it in the air.

      Up on the straw pile she was sure she could see Dave’s nostrils twitching. Then he gave a loud snort, and sat bolt upright. His ears pricked up, his nose twitched and he looked down at Mira.

      Dave launched himself off the top of the straw, bounced off Miss Hind’s head and landed in a heap just in front of Mira. Miss Hind muttered crossly to herself but the other teachers just seemed relieved that Dave was finally awake.

      Dave snaffled the strawberry lace and licked Mira’s face. She giggled and pulled another strawberry lace out of her pocket.

      Dave slurped up the treat, then farted happily. Just then the school bell rang, calling the pupils and unicorns inside. It was time for Unicorn School to begin!