Rescue Princesses #4: The Stolen Crystals

  For Mum and Dad, with much love

  CONTENTS

  COVER

  TITLE PAGE

  DEDICATION

  CHAPTER ONE: The Master Gem Maker

  CHAPTER TWO: Emperor Cho’s Ninetieth Birthday

  CHAPTER THREE: Fan-tastic Princesses

  CHAPTER FOUR: Gem Song

  CHAPTER FIVE: Being Lucky

  CHAPTER SIX: Spotting a Ninja

  CHAPTER SEVEN: The Ten-Year Secret

  CHAPTER EIGHT: The Magical River

  CHAPTER NINE: The Star Crystal

  CHAPTER TEN: Finding Lucky

  CHAPTER ELEVEN: Sister Jewels

  CHAPTER TWELVE: The Heart Crystals Come Home

  PREVIEW

  COPYRIGHT

  Princess Jaminta dashed up the stairs with her long green cloak flying out behind her. She ran into her bedroom, undid her cloak, and threw it onto the bed. Her brown eyes sparkled.

  She’d just gone to see the little panda cub that lived on Cloud Mountain with his mother. He was a sweet thing, with big black eyes and a cuddly white tummy. She wished she could have stayed up there all day.

  Quickly, she gave herself a shake. She had to stop daydreaming about the little cub! She had something important to do.

  She hurried to her dressing table and picked up a small lump of white rock that lay in front of the mirror. It was time to do something special with this crystal rock.

  She had made it by sticking lots of tiny crystals together. It didn’t look very pretty yet. But once she had worked on it with her jewel-making tools, it would turn into a beautiful gem that would be perfect for her grandfather’s birthday present. She had to hurry, though. His birthday was tomorrow, and soon the other royal families from all over the world would be arriving to help them celebrate.

  She unfolded her pouch of jewel-making tools and picked up a silver chisel. Her smooth, dark hair curled around her chin as she leaned forward. Holding the rock crystal still, she tapped on the chisel with a tiny hammer. She was planning to smooth its sides and change its shape.

  Maybe she’d make it heart-shaped, just like the famous Onica Heart Crystals that used to belong to her grandfather. Those Heart Crystals had vanished a long time ago, but everyone in the kingdom still talked about them.

  She tapped the rock harder. Delicate white flakes chipped off and dropped onto the dressing table. But the crystal still looked rough and absolutely refused to sparkle.

  Jaminta frowned. Why was it so difficult? It wasn’t as if she’d never done this before. She’d been making jewels for years. She’d even made the special rings that she and the other Rescue Princesses used to call one another when they needed help. She smiled for a moment, thinking of Emily, Clarabel, and Lulu. Together, they had made a secret promise always to help an animal in trouble. She was so proud that her special jewels played an important part in their animal rescues.

  She gripped the chisel tightly, and swiftly tapped the rock crystal again with her hammer. There was a snap, and a jagged crack ran all the way down the side of the rock. Jaminta gasped. She’d tapped too hard. How could she have been so careless?

  She should have started making the jewel weeks ago instead of spending all her time with the panda cub. Now it was too late to make Grandfather a different present. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. The jewel was ruined. Unless … maybe … She’d nearly forgotten about the one person who could help.

  She flung the tools down and fled from the room, taking the lump of rock with her. Swift as a mountain deer, she ran down five flights of stairs. She passed the kitchens, where the clash of saucepans told her that the banquet was cooking.

  She passed the great hall, where her mother was layering twelve round tiers of birthday cake on top of one another. In the driveway, she passed the servants hanging red and gold paper lanterns between every tree.

  Ignoring all the party preparations, Jaminta hurried down the outside steps and along a winding path. She stopped in front of a wooden hut in the farthest corner of the garden. The sound of clinking metal came from inside, and a warm orange light shone from the windows. This was where the Master Gem Maker worked, and he knew more about crafting jewels than anyone else in the kingdom of Onica.

  Jaminta knocked on the door.

  A small man with half-moon glasses opened the door and bowed. “Good afternoon, Princess Jaminta. Aren’t you getting ready for the party? I thought all the royal visitors were arriving today.” He stepped aside to let Jaminta through the door.

  “They should be here very soon,” said Jaminta. “But I was just trying to finish Grandfather’s present, and then something went wrong.” She held out the lump of crystal for him to see. The crack running down one side seemed even bigger than before.

  The Master Gem Maker took the rough jewel from her hand and studied it carefully with a magnifying glass.

  Jaminta watched him anxiously. Then she swept a quick look around the room. The workshop was crammed with even more jewels and equipment than the last time she had been here. Shelves lined the walls, full of tools and little pots of polish.

  A wooden chest stood open on the floor, bursting with every kind of gem. There were ocean-blue sapphires, forest-green emeralds, and rubies as red as fire. They dazzled her eyes and sent sparkles of colored light dancing across the wooden ceiling. She remembered how she used to come here every day when she was little to learn jewel crafting from the Master.

  “What kind of gem are you trying to make?” asked the Master Gem Maker.

  “I wanted to make it heart-shaped because it’s for Grandfather’s birthday,” Jaminta said miserably. “He always says that the kingdom hasn’t been the same since the Onica Heart Crystals were stolen. I thought if I made him a crystal that looked the same, he’d be pleased.”

  “It’s been nearly ten years since the Heart Crystals were stolen,” said the Master. “Each one was as clear as a diamond, with a flickering flame right in the center. Those jewels were so magical that they could reveal the true nature of a person’s heart.”

  A gust of wind from the mountains swept around the hut, sending an icy chill under the door and making the windows rattle.

  Jaminta bit her lip. “I collected lots of tiny crystals at a place called Shimmer Rock and stuck them all together. I thought it would be beautiful.”

  The Master placed the rock crystal back into Jaminta’s hand and looked at her over the top of his spectacles. “You can still make something special. You just need to do one more thing.”

  Jaminta felt her heart leap. “What is it? What do I have to do?”

  “You must dip it into the Silver River.”

  Jaminta stared at him, openmouthed. “Really? I just have to put it in the river?”

  The Master Gem Maker smiled. “The river has a natural magic. You can’t use it to turn a frog into a prince or a pumpkin into a carriage, but you can make a crystal its true shape. Go there at sunrise. That’s when the magic is strongest.”

  “I’ll go first thing tomorrow.” Jaminta’s face glowed. She could just imagine how beautiful the jewel was going to look and how happy her grandfather would be when she gave it to him.

  The Master smiled. “Remember! Only tell people that you really trust about your crystal. They’re very precious things!”

  “I’ll remember,” said Jaminta. “Thank you!” She hid the rock in her pocket and opened the door, then turned back for a moment. “If only I could find the lost Onica Heart Crystals for Grandfather as well!”

  The Master Gem Maker’s eyes turned hazy, as if he was gazing at something far away. “Crystals are full of surprises. Maybe one day the Heart Crystals wi
ll return.”

  Jaminta was about to ask him what he meant, but just then the deep, clear sound of a bell rang out from the palace.

  Jaminta caught her breath. That was the signal. The royal visitors were arriving. Soon she would see the other Rescue Princesses again!

  Jaminta raced back toward the palace, a fizzing feeling growing inside her. She could hardly believe that the river was magical, although she’d always thought it was special somehow. Now she knew exactly how to turn her rock crystal into a finished jewel in time for Grandfather’s birthday.

  Her grandfather was Emperor Cho, the ruler of the kingdom of Onica, and tomorrow he would be ninety years old. There would be games, feasting, and fireworks. Jaminta could hardly wait! More than anything, she longed to show the Rescue Princesses her beautiful panda cub. She knew they would love him as much as she did.

  The bell rang out again from the top of the high pagoda roof.

  Jaminta scanned the driveway, but there was no sign of the visitors yet. She ran up the palace steps and gazed at the purple mountain peaks soaring beyond the river. Thick green bamboo forests stretched halfway up the slopes, leaving bare rock at the very top. The cold breeze from the mountains tickled her cheeks. It wasn’t winter yet, but soon the peaks would be covered in snow.

  She swung around as her grandfather came out of the palace door behind her.

  “There you are, Jaminta!” Emperor Cho climbed slowly down the steps. His gray hair looked thin, but his brown eyes twinkled at her.

  Jaminta smiled back, secretly checking that her rock crystal was hidden deep inside her pocket. Tomorrow at sunrise she would take it down to the river, just like the Master Gem Maker had told her.

  “Are the visitors almost here, Grandfather?” she asked.

  “Yes. Look, you can see the carriages.” The emperor pointed at the road that led up from the valley.

  Jaminta spotted the long caterpillar of carriages trundling up the hill. As they moved closer, she could see kings, queens, princes, and princesses waving from the carriage windows. Her eyes searched for three princesses, one with black hair, one with golden hair, and one with wild red curls.

  Soon the carriages climbed the hill to the palace gate and passed between stone pillars topped with statues of dragons. They came to a stop. Princess Emily appeared, climbing out of the first carriage, her red curls waving in the breeze.

  “Emily!” Jaminta hugged her friend. “I’m so happy you could come!”

  “Hello, Jaminta!” said Emily, hugging her back.

  Emily’s parents, the king and queen of Middingland, climbed out next. Then Emily’s maid, Ally, appeared carrying Emily’s pink suitcase. She smiled at Jaminta, who grinned back. Ally had once been an undercover agent who caught jewel thieves. She had used ninja skills when she was an agent and taught them to the princesses to help with their animal rescues.

  “Your Majesties!” Emperor Cho bowed to the king and queen of Middingland. “Thank you for coming all this way to celebrate my birthday!”

  Suddenly, another figure hopped out of the Middingland carriage. She looked just like Emily, except that her red hair was even curlier and her eyes were a sparkling green.

  “Hurry up, Lottie. You’re being so slow.” Emily turned to Jaminta. “This is my little sister, Lottie. She didn’t come along the last time the royal families gathered together because she was staying with our cousins.”

  “Hello, Lottie.” Jaminta smiled.

  Lottie stuck out her tongue and then grinned.

  The next carriage came to a halt, and a tall man with a red cloak and a crooked mouth climbed out, followed by his servant.

  “Welcome back to Onica, Earl Scrant,” said the emperor. “I don’t think we’ve met for many years.”

  “Greetings.” Earl Scrant bowed stiffly before walking away. Unluckily, he bumped right into Ally and sent the pink suitcase flying. He glared at her and then marched away, his red cloak billowing out around him.

  “Sorry, sir. Please excuse me,” said Ally, darting a mysterious look at the earl.

  Jaminta noticed Ally’s strange glance as she ran over to help pick up the suitcase.

  One by one, Emperor Cho greeted all the other royal guests. Jaminta’s mom and dad, the king and queen of Onica, came to greet the visitors, too. The orchestra played a beautiful tune, and trays of honey cakes were brought around for everyone.

  Emperor Cho clapped his hands. “Ladies and gentlemen, kings and queens,” he announced, “welcome to the kingdom of Onica. There will be feasting, fireworks, and a twelve-tier birthday cake! This has always been a land of adventures and we hope you enjoy your stay very much!”

  A buzz of excitement came from a group of princes standing nearby. “Adventures!” cried Prince George. “I want something really exciting to happen!”

  “Poor princes!” said a voice behind Jaminta’s ear. “They’ll never have the best adventures with us around!”

  Jaminta spun around to find Princess Lulu, with her black curls and flashing eyes, standing behind her, grinning. Next to her stood a smiling Princess Clarabel, tucking her golden hair behind her ear.

  “Lulu! Clarabel!” cried Jaminta, hugging them both. “I’m so glad you’re here! I have something really special I want to show you.” She beckoned her three friends to follow her to the palace gate. She would take them right up to Cloud Mountain to see the panda cub and tell them her big secret about Grandfather’s birthday present and the magical river on the way.

  “Jaminta! Princesses! Come back, please!” the queen of Onica called after them. “You must all come with me and choose a fan for the banquet tonight. It’s an important custom here in the kingdom of Onica for ladies to carry fans, you know! It will make you look graceful and elegant.” She began to shepherd the princesses toward the palace door.

  Jaminta groaned. She wished her mom hadn’t noticed them sneaking away.

  “Don’t worry!” whispered Clarabel, squeezing her hand. “Maybe this won’t take long.”

  “Come along, princesses!” said the queen. “You’re very lucky girls to be borrowing Onican fans. Put your best dresses on and then join me in the Fan Room.” She waved her hand majestically to send them hurrying away.

  Jaminta clomped up the stairs, frowning. Who wanted to spend time looking at fans when there was a cute panda cub to play with?

  Jaminta showed her friends to their rooms, then trudged to her own. She pulled her new dress out of her closet. It had been sewn especially for the emperor’s birthday celebration and was made of shimmering green silk decorated with gold blossoms. It had wide sleeves that hung elegantly below her arms. She pulled it over her head and dropped the rock crystal that she’d taken to the Master Gem Maker into her pocket. Then she added a gold tiara, and with one last look in the mirror, she made her way to the Fan Room.

  The other princesses arrived in their best dresses, too. Emily was wearing a pink dress with a wide skirt, while Clarabel’s dress was very long and pale blue. Lulu, who was gazing longingly out the window at the mountains, wore a shorter yellow dress decorated with beads.

  “Ready, girls?” said the queen. “Let me show you our fan collection.” She opened a large display case filled with beautiful fans in every color. Many of them glimmered with sequins or tiny pearls. Jaminta chose one that had been painted with a picture of the Silver River and the mountains beyond.

  When all the princesses had finished choosing, the queen closed the case again. “Now I’ll show you how to use them. Place your thumb behind the fan, like this.” She twisted the fan, showing them what she meant. “Then you must make the fan flutter quickly and delicately, like this.”

  The princesses copied her, trying hard to use the fan just as elegantly. Lulu flapped hers a bit too hard and knocked off Jaminta’s tiara, sending them both into fits of giggles.

  A maid appeared in the doorway and curtsied. “Excuse me, Your Majesty. The Chief Cook would like to speak to you about the noodles.”

  “Keep
practicing, girls,” said the queen as she hurried away. “Remember, the banquet starts at six o’clock. Don’t be late!”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” they all said, curtsying.

  “I think these fans are lovely,” said Clarabel, waving hers, which was decorated with pearls and soft blue feathers.

  Lulu groaned. “They’re nice, but I want to stop waving them now. I mean, what good are they?”

  “I know!” said Emily suddenly, her hazel eyes sparkling. “They could be really handy for our ninja moves!”

  “Really?” said Lulu. “How would you use a fan for ninja moves?”

  Emily flipped her fan open in front of her face, disappearing behind its red-and-gold pattern. “See? You can hide behind them!”

  “You can do more than that,” said Jaminta. “I’ve been using them since I was little. Watch this!” She flicked her wrist, sending her fan across the room in a graceful arc. It swept over the top of a fruit bowl, knocking into a bunch of oranges, which rolled away across the floor. The fan landed on the windowsill and closed with a neat snap.

  “Awesome!” said Lulu. “You have to teach us how to do that!”

  “Are you sure we’re allowed to use them like that?” asked Clarabel, her blue eyes wide.

  “Don’t worry! The fans are too strong to get damaged,” said Jaminta. “It’s really easy. I’ll show you!” She retrieved her fan and flicked it again, making it land in exactly the same place on the windowsill.

  The other princesses each took their turns, and soon there was a flurry of whizzing fans and falling oranges.

  “I’ll tell Ally about this,” said Emily. “Maybe she knows some ninja moves using fans as well.”

  When the fruit bowl was empty, the princesses hurried to gather up the fallen oranges. Some had rolled away under a long table, so they crawled underneath it to collect them. They were just about to crawl out again, when they heard voices and heavy footsteps.

  Jaminta pulled the others back under the table and yanked the tablecloth down to hide them. “If we climb out now, we’ll get yelled at for not being all prim and proper!” she hissed. “Let’s stay under here till they’ve left.”