Page 60 of Barbie: Dreamscape

He bows his great head in return.

The two guards open both doors in tandem.

I inhale sharply.

The masquerade is full of dancing magical beings.

Unicorns with multicolored horns tap their hooves to the drumbeat. Mermaids slide across the marble floor in puddles that follow their movements, one with blonde hair and a pink tail, another with purple hair and a green fin. Miniature dragons produce columns of flame in the corners, in keeping with the music’s rhythm. Atop the tables are bowls—punch? No. A moment later, fish leap out of them in coordination and twirl midair before falling back in again.

I glance upward. The ceiling is domed and full of winged creatures flying up above, mirroring the movements from the dance floor below. There are faeries with wings of every shade, draped in fabrics spun from forestry. Leaves spin with them, as if also entranced by the music.

Even—I squint—a few insects are dancing atop whirling lily pads. Some guests fly alongside the creatures, thanks to their paired creatures’ magic.

All these fairy-tale creatures, the ones I thought only ever existed in books and stories, are real. They live in Everland.

And they’re here, at this party.

Did my mother ever see something like this during her time with Evalyn and the spiders? Did Robin ever come with her?

Suddenly, in ripples, beings start to notice us.

Every head—animal and human—turns in our direction.

I meet the guests’ eyes. I swallow.

“Are they… looking at something behind us?”

No.

“Do… you have something in your teeth?”

No.

“Do I?”

He huffs. I haven’t attended in centuries, and I chose you. They’re wondering what makes you so special. Don’t worry, though. You’re going to be upstaged by my illustrated horn. The others are already dripping with envy.

After several more beats of notice, heads turn back to their conversations. Still, as we make our way toward the center of the ballroom, I hear whispers begin to bloom.

“I’m looking for something,” I tell Bartholomew softly. “A key. Something enchanted to help me get to another world. Can your powers help me find it?”

Bartholomew straightens. We’ve approached a herd of pegasus, and yes, they do look pretty jealous of his horn.

I can sense any object with magic. I can sense your necklaces, and the keys you hold. So I already know exactly what you’re looking for.

“You do?”

He nods. The lord’s crown, of course.

Just then, the crowd parts…

And there he is. Lord Evernight, looking exactly as I would expect. Dressed in regal clothing, pads on his shoulders, golden buttons down his front, and a suit of fabric that glows even brighter than my pink starlight-woven dress. His mask is modeled after the wings of a bat.

A crown sits upon his head, made of twisted branches and thorns. I don’t see a pink glow like with the other keys. But I trust the pegasus.

The only question is… how am I supposed to take a crown from a lord?

Well, dancing with him would be a start, Bartholomew says.