Naomi the Rainbow Glitter Dragon Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Sneak Peek

  About the Authors

  Copyright

  Naomi grinned as she looked around the adventure park. This was her happy place, that was for sure! The park was bustling with people. Kids on skateboards performed tricks on the half-pipe. Others flew by on the zip line. The climbing wall was really busy, too.

  “You might have to wait in line for all the good things today,” said Naomi’s dad. “I hope you don’t get bored.”

  “I won’t!” Naomi promised. “I want to practice my gymnastics routine anyway.”

  “Well, we’ll be over at the picnic area,” said her mom, unstrapping Naomi’s baby brother, Dakari, from his stroller. “Come find us when you get hungry.”

  “Okay!” Naomi called happily, running off.

  Her dad had packed a delicious picnic, but Naomi was way too excited to eat. Lately, some amazing things had been happening to Naomi. Magical things. She had visited an incredible place called the Magic Forest. Everything in the Magic Forest seemed special and different—even Naomi herself!

  When she entered the forest, she was no longer a normal girl. She became a Dragon Girl. This meant she could fly and had incredible dragon strength. Even better, her friends Azmina and Willa were Dragon Girls, too. The three of them weren’t just any Dragon Girls, either: They were GLITTER Dragon Girls!

  Azmina was the Gold Glitter Dragon and Willa was silver. Naomi was the Rainbow Glitter Dragon—which made sense because Naomi loved colorful things. She liked wearing bright clothes, and her parents had finally let her paint one of her bedroom walls purple and another one green.

  Naomi and her friends were helping protect the Magic Forest from the evil Shadow Sprites. The Shadow Sprites were troublemakers who wanted to change the forest into a gray and dull place. This would allow their cruel leader, the Shadow Queen, to return and take control. But the Dragon Girls were determined not to let that happen!

  “I’ll be down near the wall,” Naomi called to her parents as she ran toward the old stone wall near the edge of the park. On the other side were the local woods. The trees rustled their leaves as Naomi got closer. It felt like they were waving at her.

  Naomi sprang up lightly onto the sturdy wall. It was wider than the beam she used for gymnastics training, but it was still good practice. Expertly, Naomi flipped up onto her hands and began to walk along the wall upside down. The stones were smooth and warm to her touch.

  Nearby, Naomi could hear the shouts of excited kids playing. But she could hear another sound, too, and it was coming from the woods.

  Magic Forest, Magic Forest, come explore …

  Naomi lowered herself into a backbend, then stood up. Her heart beat very fast. The Magic Forest was calling her! She had been on a few adventures in the Magic Forest, and she got the same thrilling feeling every time.

  She turned to look at the adventure park. It was alive with color and sound and joy. Kids dashed from one piece of equipment to another. Over in the picnic area, Naomi could see her parents sitting on the grass with her little brother.

  No one was paying any attention to her. Naomi grinned. Perfect! Quickly, she scanned the ground on the far side of the wall. It was fall now, so most of the flowers were gone for the season. But Naomi spotted one, just as she knew she would.

  At first, the flower seemed to be yellow. But when she moved her head, it suddenly looked pink. When she moved back the other way, the flower changed to a rich purple. Excitement bubbled inside her.

  This was definitely her flower. In fact, it was more than that. It was her travel charm—her way into the Magic Forest. She crouched down and reached out her hand. The flower seemed to bend toward her. Gently, Naomi plucked the bloom. A honey-cinnamon scent filled the air. As Naomi brought the flower to her nose, it changed color again. Now it was orange!

  She breathed in the flower’s delicate aroma. It smelled like the Magic Forest. Naomi shivered happily. Soon, very soon, she would be there again.

  Naomi glanced over at the park. Her mother caught sight of her and waved. Naomi waved back, but inside she groaned. It was important that no one watch her right now. Then one of her mom’s friends arrived. Naomi’s mom turned toward her friend and started talking. Phew!

  There wasn’t a moment to lose. Naomi tucked the flower (which was now bright red) behind her ear. She turned to face the woods as she heard the familiar words:

  Magic Forest, Magic Forest, come explore …

  “Magic Forest, Magic Forest, hear my roar!” finished Naomi.

  She jumped up into the air. Midair somersaults were Naomi’s all-time-favorite move. And they were even more fun when she did them to get into the Magic Forest!

  Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. It was like Naomi was floating in space, with no gravity to pull her down to the ground. She felt the breeze on her face and her hair being pushed back. Naomi tucked her knees in even tighter as she spun through the air. She stretched out her legs and landed firmly on the ground. Perfect dismount!

  The sounds of the park had faded. The busy playground had completely disappeared. Gone were the slides and the swings and the kids waiting for the zip line. The bloom from behind her ear had also disappeared, but Naomi knew her travel charm would reappear when it was time to return home.

  She was surrounded by clusters of flowers, all swaying gently in the breeze. Trees grew thickly around her, tendrils of ivy winding up around their trunks. The noise of people had been replaced with a strange and magical birdsong.

  But it wasn’t just her surroundings that had changed. Naomi looked down. Her normal-girl feet had been replaced by powerful paws tipped with claws, each one a different hue. Her smooth skin was gone, and she was now covered in scales and striped with color. And best of all, a pair of mighty wings had appeared on her back. She was a Dragon Girl!

  Naomi stretched out her wings and gave them a flap. Multicolored specks of light whooshed into the air. The specks danced for a moment before gently falling to the ground like rainbow mist.

  “Hi, Magic Forest,” Naomi whispered to herself, spinning around. “It’s so good to see you again!”

  Naomi knew she had to hurry to the glade at the center of the forest. This was the safe place where the Tree Queen lived. Willa and Azmina would also be on their way to the glade. They would be eager to discover what their next quest was, too.

  All the same, Naomi couldn’t resist bending down to smell the flowers growing all around her.

  Naomi took a deep breath. The flowers smelled like a heady mix of sunshine, honey, and magic. But then the scent began to fade. A moment later, the smell was completely gone. When Naomi took another breath, the flowers smelled like … cardboard. Even worse, the color began to fade. Now the flowers were gray!

  “What is going on?” Naomi cried in shock.

  “It’s the Shadow Queen and her tricky Shadow Sprites,” said a nearby voice.

  From behind a tree appeared the strangest, most delightful little bird Naomi had ever seen. She had gorgeous, bright tail feathers, and tiny wings that were all the colors of the rainbow. The bird’s tail was long, almost like a pony’s tail, and streamed out behind her. Her eyes twinkled in a friendly way. Most curious of all, a tiny horn protruded from the bird’s little forehead.

  “My name’s Unichick,” chirped the creature, landing on a branch and giving a little bow. “Because of my unicorn horn, obviously. I’m here to help whenever you need me.”

  Naomi liked the little bird already. And she was very happy to hear Unichick was there to help! “The Shadow Sprites are stealing the color from the flowers now?” she asked, frowning.

  The sprites had already tried to take away the sunshine and the sparkle from the forest’s waters.

  Unichick flew closer. “Not just from the flowers. They’re also taking it from the grasses and the trees—and all the berries and other fruits that grow in the forest.”

  Naomi looked around. Just moments before, the trees and plants around her had been bright and beautiful. Now she saw the color slowly fading away. The grass beneath her paws, the leaves on the trees, even the ivy was gradually turning pale and gray.

  Naomi’s heart pumped faster. “We have to stop this!”

  “Yes, and there isn’t much time,” said Unichick in her singsong voice. “Have you noticed the sky?” Naomi glanced up and saw that the sky glowed red. “The sun is setting much earlier than usual,” explained Unichick. “The Shadow Sprites are more powerful in the twilight, when the shadows are longer. It’s going to be hard to outsmart them with the sun so low.”

  “There’s no way we Glitter Dragons are letting those Shadow Sprites beat us,” declared Naomi. “Come on, Unichick. Let’s race to the glade.”

  The trees grew very close together in this part of the Magic Forest. It was hard for Naomi to see where she was flying. The strange red glow of the sky made it harder still. Luckily, Naomi’s gymnastics gave her quick reflexes. She ducked underneath low-hanging branches and swooped around thorny bushes. Unichick stuck close to her side. The little creature’s bright feathers seemed to glow, which helped Naomi see her way through the dense thicket.

  It felt good to have
the little bird with her because everywhere she looked, Naomi could see signs of the Shadow Sprites. Many of the tree trunks were concrete gray, and when she brushed against the leaves, they crumbled into ash-like dust. Sometimes she saw gray shapes slither from the undergrowth and curl up the trees. Wherever the shadowy shapes went, they left a faded streak behind them.

  “The sprites are everywhere,” Unichick cheeped. “They are determined to win this time.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Naomi. “Azmina, Willa, and I will fix this. We’re a great team.” Just saying the words made Naomi feel stronger. The Glitter Dragon Girls could do anything—she was sure of it!

  Up ahead, the branches of trees had formed a tunnel. The space was very narrow, but Naomi knew they needed to get through it. “Lucky you’re so tiny,” she called to Unichick.

  She pressed her wings close to her sides and whooshed at top speed toward the leafy pathway. Naomi felt a bit like a train heading through a mountain pass!

  The tunnel was very dark. Twigs and branches scraped at Naomi, but she kept zooming as fast as she could. She could see the end of the tunnel up ahead, so she knew the shimmering force field that protected the glade wasn’t far.

  Naomi grinned. “We’re almost there, Unichick!”

  But just as Naomi was coming out, everything went completely black. It was as if someone had turned out the lights. “Unichick? What’s happening?” Naomi called, jolting to a stop in midair. Something cold and scratchy, like fine sandpaper, was pressing against her face.

  “There’s a sprite wrapped around your eyes!” Unichick cried out.

  Naomi shook her head, but the sprite didn’t budge. She could feel all her confidence start to seep out of her. She was no longer sure that she and the other Dragon Girls would beat the Shadow Sprites. She wasn’t even sure she’d make it to the glade!

  What should I do? Naomi wondered. She knew that panicking would not help, but it was hard to stay calm.

  She heard the hum of fast-beating wings in her ear. “You have to roar the sprite away!” Unichick chirped.

  Of course! Naomi took in a huge gulp of air. Then she roared with all her might! She couldn’t see her roar’s rainbow glitter because it was so dark, but she could definitely hear the roar. The trees seemed to sway with the sound.

  Taking another deep breath, Naomi roared again. This time, tiny holes began to appear in the shadows covering her eyes. She could see streaks of color swirling in the air.

  “That’s it, Naomi!” Unichick sang excitedly. “It’s working!”

  Naomi took one final breath and roared as fiercely as she could. This time the shadowy blindfold dissolved completely.

  “You did it!” trilled Unichick, doing happy loops in the air. “I knew you would.”

  “Thanks for your help,” Naomi said, relieved. Now that the mask was gone from her eyes, she felt strong and confident again. But she had no doubt the Shadow Sprites would try their worst tricks during this quest. She and her friends would have to be very brave and very clever to beat them!

  Naomi and Unichick flew to the edge of the glade. The force field that protected the glade buzzed with powerful magic. Naomi knew that Unichick wouldn’t come in with her. Only those who had been summoned by the Tree Queen could pass through the force field. Naomi felt a little sad to say goodbye to the gorgeous bird. She already felt like a friend.

  “I’ll return when you need me,” Unichick promised, as though she could hear Naomi’s thoughts. “Good luck!”

  With that, she fluttered away. Naomi took a deep breath and pressed through the force field. It always reminded her of passing a hand slowly through running water … except the force field wasn’t wet. The air inside the glade was warm and sweet-smelling. Naomi was relieved to see that within the glade, the plants were still colorful, and the flowers smelled just as they should.

  “Hi, Naomi!” called a cheerful voice. “We just got here, too.”

  Two Dragon Girls were hovering near the majestic tree in the center. One silver and one gold—both dazzling. Naomi felt her heart leap. Willa was a very old friend from kindergarten, and Azmina was a very new friend. It was so good to see them both!

  The branches of the tree began to sway gently. As Naomi watched, two branches softened into long, elegant arms. The lower part of the trunk changed into a flowing gown. The upper part became a neck, and soon a kind, beautiful face appeared. The face was framed by long locks of wavy brown hair.

  The Tree Queen stood before the Dragon Girls. She looked strong and healthy, but when she smiled, Naomi could see worry in her eyes.

  “What’s wrong, Tree Queen?” she asked, stepping forward. “You can tell us anything, you know.”

  “Ah, but that is exactly the problem,” replied the queen, frowning. “I can’t talk freely at all. Look!” The Tree Queen pointed one of her strong, flexible arms at the protective shield of the glade.

  Naomi saw gray shapes moving across its surface. Were they clouds?

  “Shadow Sprites!” Azmina gasped.

  “Can they get in here?” Willa asked nervously.

  “No,” the Tree Queen assured them. “Here in the glade we are safe from harm. But I fear they can hear us. Normally, they cannot get so close to the force field. My magic is too powerful. But their Shadow Queen has created a long-lasting sunset, and the sprites can move almost anywhere. As you’ve all noticed, they are stealing the color from the trees and flowers of the forest. Some of the birds and butterflies are losing their color, too.”

  Naomi thought about Unichick’s gorgeous multicolored feathers. It was too terrible to think of her turning gray!

  “But we can make a potion to stop them, right?” Naomi asked.

  “There is a potion,” the Tree Queen agreed, “but I can’t tell you the ingredients. If the Shadow Sprites hear what you need to find, they will get to the ingredients first. And they will destroy what you require.”

  The Glitter Dragons looked at one another in dismay. How could they gather ingredients for a potion when they had no idea where to start? It didn’t seem possible.

  Then Naomi had an idea. Sometimes, on the way to school, her dad gave her logic puzzles to solve. Just yesterday, he’d asked, “Naomi, what goes up and up, but never comes down?”

  That was an easy one, and Naomi had gotten it straightaway. A person’s age!

  “Maybe you could tell us the ingredients as riddles?” she suggested to the Tree Queen.

  “Yes!” Azmina nodded. “I bet we can work them out before the sprites do.”

  The Tree Queen rewarded Naomi with a broad smile. “That’s an excellent suggestion. The sprites are devious, but they’re not very clever. Certainly not as clever as you three! But they might ask the Shadow Queen for help. She might be shadowy, but she is also very bright.”

  “Naomi will work out the riddles faster than some shadowy queen,” Willa said, wrapping a silver wing around Naomi’s shoulder. “And we’ll help.”

  Naomi grinned at her friend. She really hoped she could prove Willa right!

  The Tree Queen fell silent for a moment, swaying gently as she considered her riddles. “To find the first ingredient,” she said slowly, “you must aim high before you get to the root of the problem. Find the one who seems calm, but is actually petrified.”

  The shadows crawling across the force field began to slither around very quickly, making horrible sounds. It was clear they were angry.

  Azmina nudged Naomi. “I hope you understand what that riddle means,” she muttered. “Because I sure don’t!”

  “I’ll figure it out,” Naomi said.

  “For the second ingredient, look for the ones who are feared but should be revered,” continued the Tree Queen. “Do not be afraid of them. They don’t have a leg to stand on and are completely harmless.”

  Naomi tried not to look worried. She had NO idea what any of this meant! These puzzles were totally different from the ones she did with her dad.

  “And for your final clue: Sweetness is held within my skin. But I am protected by many a pin,” said the queen.

  On the surface of the force field, the Shadow Sprites were whipping back and forth in a furious panic. Naomi felt like her insides were doing the same thing! But sometimes, when her dad gave her a really hard puzzle, she pushed it to the back of her mind for a while. It was like her brain kept working away on the problem, even when she wasn’t aware that she was thinking about it. Maybe that would happen this time.