Page 88 of Barbie: Dreamscape

No.

She’s deep in the bowels of the school, in what was once an armory, cloaked in pure darkness, her pink clothes now soaked in shadows.

She’s floating, magic surrounding her like a wall. Like she has imprisoned herself.

Robin has made Swancrest into a fortress around her, and trapped everyone else inside, with no way out.

But why? What’s happened to her that she’s somehow transformed since the last time I saw her?

The last time I saw her. I picture it now…

Wrenching my hand away, freeing myself from her grasp.

A sickening stab of guilt runs through me.

Is this my fault? Am I the catalyst that’s brought this horror down on my home?

I close the compact forcefully. Set it down. Scramble back under my pink cooling sheets, which are iced with delicate designs like a cake.

I need to forget what I just saw. I’m not in Heartland; I’m in Dreamland, where my troubles have turned to whipped cream, I’ve found my magic, and any stress and heartache have all but vanished. I think of training with Clover, and lessons with Lune, and the pages of Laurie’s story I have yet to read.

I got out. I fought for a better destiny… and found it.

I close my eyes, willing the images of Swancrest away. Willing for me to be able to banish all bad thoughts to a nightmare realm and just give up on Swancrest, on Heartland, on everyone I love there.

I try to close my heart against it all.

But—

I can’t.

The fact that I wanted the compact, out of everything in the Treasure Trove, is proof enough that I haven’t forgotten where I came from. I can’t stop looking into it. I can’t just leave the people I love behind forever.

Especially now, when they need me. Because I’m not sure what’s going to happen with Robin’s magic next, but I know the whole of Heartland depends on it, for everything.

And if Robin’s magic turns fell… does Heartland go with it?

I clench my teeth. Never in a thousand years would I think I could save anyone or anything. I never believed myself to be particularly brave or strong.

But this journey proved everything I am.

And though much about me feels changed… this compact has shown me that my heart remains the same as it always has been, since the very beginning.

In a flurry, I begin to pack up the new clothes I’ve been working on as a way to practice my magic—a few soft sweaters embroidered with the shape of Dreamland, a pair of patchwork pants—and store them in my enchanted compact.

I look at the necklaces on my night table, holding all the charms I collected. I haven’t used them since the day by the water when I saw my mother. I haven’t needed to. But they’re my ticket back home.

I’ve only been here a few weeks. I’m nowhere near a master of magic. I have almost no chance against Robin.

I just know I have to try.

Heartland depends on it.

Compact in hand, I make my way down the steps of Dreamlake, to the edge of the water. Gaze sharpened, magic focused, I imagine a bridge, and, all at once, stones scatter across the water, building a gleaming path step by step as I bound across.

My eyes prickle, thinking of my very first day here, when Lune took me over the threshold into Dreamland.

Lune. Warm, kind, openhearted Lune.