“You guys,” George said, “check it out!”
Nancy looked up from her watch. George was pointing to a huge open tent filled with racks of wizard robes, jester caps, and crowns—even a suit of armor. The costumes were great, and they gave Nancy an idea!
“Destiny is having a medieval party, right?” Nancy asked. “So everyone will be wearing medieval costumes, right?”
“Right!” Bess and George said together.
The girls raced into the tent. Two women dressed in long skirts and puffy-sleeved blouses were hanging up long capes. Their name tags read LADY SUE and LADY INEZ.
“May we borrow some costumes, please?” Nancy asked.
“Borrow?” Lady Sue chuckled.
“This isn’t a library, kids,” Lady Inez said. “Everything in here is for sale.”
The girls traded disappointed looks. They didn’t have enough money to buy costumes. But just as they were about to leave, Lady Sue called out, “Hey, wait! Aren’t you Louise Fayne’s daughter?”
“Who, me?” George asked, turning around.
“You were with your mom at the staff meeting,” Lady Inez said. “You helped cut her delicious pies and cakes.”
“That was me,” George agreed.
“Your mom always gives us free food here,” Lady Sue said with a warm smile. “So we’ll let you borrow some costumes—for free.”
Lady Sue and Lady Inez helped the girls pick out perfect costumes. Nancy chose a purple velvet gown with black trim. After trying on five dresses, Bess decided on a long pink skirt and a white blouse embroidered with pink flowers. George refused to wear a long dress or skirt. Instead, she chose an orange tunic with dark green tights.
“We may have costumes,” George said as they left the tent, “but we don’t have invitations to Destiny’s party.”
“What if her parents don’t let us inside?” Bess asked.
“We don’t have to go inside the house,” Nancy explained. “If Destiny has Sparkle, she’s probably keeping him in the backyard.”
The girls were carrying their regular clothes when they saw two friends from school, Marcy Ruben and Kendra Jackson. They’d just had their faces painted to look like cats, with colorful whiskers.
“Meow!” Kendra howled, swiping a pretend paw.
Nancy giggled. Their faces were funny. But even funnier were the necklaces they were wearing: tiny clear plastic bottles hanging from black cords. Packed inside the bottles were wispy white hairs.
“What’s that?” Nancy asked, nodding at the bottles.
“They’re good luck charms,” Kendra said. “Toby Leo is selling them.”
“Toby?” Nancy asked.
Marcy pointed to Toby walking past a candy apple stall. In his hands was a medium-size cardboard box.
“Get your unicorn hair right here,” Toby was yelling as he walked. “Guaranteed to bring you good luck!”
“Bess, George!” Nancy exclaimed. “Did he just say unicorn hair?”
Chapter Six
Happy Birthday to Clue!
“Hey, Toby!” George shouted. “Where did you get the unicorn hair?”
“Du-uh!” Toby shouted back. “From a unicorn!”
“Can we see it, please?” Nancy asked, stepping forward. But Toby spun on his heel and took off running.
“Get him!” George shouted. She dropped the bundle of clothes she was holding and chased Toby.
“I’m not dropping my clothes on the dirty ground!” Bess cried.
Neither would Nancy. So with bundles in their arms Nancy and Bess joined George in the chase. They didn’t get very far as their long skirts tangled around their ankles.
“Whoa!” Nancy cried as she tripped and fell.
“Ow!” Bess screamed as she tumbled to the ground.
George stopped running. Groaning under her breath, she ran back to help her friends up.
“Our hands were full,” Bess complained. “We couldn’t hold up our long skirts.”
“I told you to wear a tunic and tights instead,” George said, and groaned. “Now Toby got away!”
“At least we know he has unicorn hair,” Nancy said. “And there’s only one unicorn we know.”
“Sparkle,” Bess declared.
While Nancy and Bess dusted themselves off, Mrs. Fayne walked over.
“Do you like our clothes, Aunt Louise?” Bess asked, twirling around. “Lady Sue and Lady Inez let us borrow them for free.”
“How nice of them,” Mrs. Fayne said. She wiggled her car keys in her hand. “I have to go back to the house to pick up some pies. Want to come with me?”
Nancy smiled to herself. This was their big chance!
“The birthday party,” Nancy whispered to her friends.
“Oh, right,” George whispered back. She smiled at her mother and said, “Mom, can you please drop us off at Destiny Delgado’s house on the way? We want to wish her a happy birthday.”
“And look for some clues along the way,” Nancy said superquickly so they wouldn’t be lying.
“I once catered a party at the Delgados’, so I know where they live,” Mrs. Fayne said. “But do you have invitations for Destiny’s party?”
The girls exchanged worried looks. There it was. The I word.
“Um, not exactly, Mrs. Fayne,” Nancy said. “But if you drop us off and pick us up on your way back to the fair, we’ll have enough time to say happy birthday and won’t stay too long.”
“Okay, then,” Mrs. Fayne said with a nod.
“Yippee!” Bess cheered with a little hop.
The girls followed Mrs. Fayne to the van. Nancy and Bess carefully lifted their skirts to climb into the backseat. George jumped in after them.
“If we don’t find Sparkle at Destiny’s house, we’ll look for Toby later,” Nancy said.
“When we’re all wearing pants!” George declared.
Mrs. Fayne drove the short distance to Destiny’s. Nancy had seen the house before, so she knew what to expect: a mansion.
After checking out the fountain in the front yard, filled with real fish, Mrs. Fayne rang the doorbell. Instead of ding-dong it played the tune “Happy Birthday to You.”
“How did they do that?” George whispered.
“Well, hello!” Mrs. Delgado said as she opened the door. She smiled at Mrs. Fayne. “Oh … we’re not using your catering service today.”
“Yes, I know, but I’m not here to deliver food,” Mrs. Fayne said, forcing a smile. ”My daughter and her friends would like to wish Destiny a happy birthday.”
Mrs. Delgado looked the girls up and down. She then smiled and said, “And they’re dressed for the party too!”
Bess spread out her skirt and curtsied.
“Why don’t you go around to the backyard?” Mrs. Delgado said. “That’s where Princess Destiny is holding court.”
“Have fun, girls,” Mrs. Fayne said. “See you soon.”
“Are we lucky or what?” George whispered as they scurried around the house. They froze when the backyard came into view.
“Ohmigosh!” Bess squeaked. “It looks like a mini Dragon’s Breath Fair!”
Nancy couldn’t believe it either. On the neatly trimmed lawn stood a miniature wooden castle—big enough for at least ten kids to step inside! Instead of balloons there were banners hanging from trees. Sticking straight up from the ground was a maypole with colorful ribbons blowing in the breeze. Sitting around the maypole were Destiny and her guests—all dressed in medieval costumes.
“She’s opening her presents,” Nancy whispered.
After ripping open a package, Destiny dropped the wrapping paper onto the grass.
“Oooh!” Destiny swooned as she held up a laptop computer. “Now I have one in hot pink.”
While her guests oohed and ahhed, the girls glanced around the yard.
“No unicorn sighting,” Nancy whispered.
“That castle is big enough for Sparkle,” Bess whispered. “Maybe Destiny is keeping him in there.”
The girls waited for Destiny to open the next big gift. Then, when all eyes were on the birthday girl, the Clue Crew scurried toward the castle.
As they hid behind it, Nancy heard bumping sounds coming from inside.
“Someone is in there,” Nancy whispered.
“Someone or something,” George whispered.
“It’s probably Sparkle trying to break down the walls with his horn!” Bess said.
“Don’t worry, Sparkle!” George called through the castle wall. “We’ll save you!”
The girls ran around the castle to the door. George grabbed the handle and gave it a yank. The door swung open and—
“ROOOOOOAAAARRRRR!”
Nancy, Bess, and George jumped back as a giant green head popped out of the door. Inside its huge gaping mouth were two rows of needle-sharp teeth!
“That is no unicorn!” George shouted. “That’s a dragon!”
Chapter Seven
Things Get Hairy
Bess screamed as the gigantic dragon head jerked forward. By now Destiny and her guests were racing over.
“Run, Destiny!” Bess warned. “Dragons carry off princesses—and you’re the biggest princess we know!”
Instead of running, Destiny stepped right up to the dragon. She looked him straight in his bulging eyes and said, “You’re too early. You were supposed to come out and pretend to light the candles on my cake with your dragon breath. Now the joke is ruined, Daddy.”
“Daddy?” Nancy whispered to Bess and George.
The dragon’s claws reached up to pull off its giant head. Underneath was the red, sweaty face of Mr. Delgado!
So that’s what that noise was, Nancy thought, feeling dumb. His mask bumping against the wall.
“Sorry, sweetie,” Mr. Delgado said. He nodded at Nancy, Bess, and George. “But your friends here opened the door. I thought that was my cue to jump out and roar.”
Destiny stared at Nancy, Bess, and George. Then she shook her head and said, “Those aren’t my friends. I never invited them!”
“Uh-oh,” George muttered.
“They’re from our school,” a boy dressed as a medieval baker said. “I think they’re in third grade.”
“Wait a minute,” Destiny said as she circled Nancy, Bess, and George. “I think I know who you are. You’re those detectives, aren’t you?”
“We’re the Clue Crew,” Bess said with a smile. “And we’re solving the mystery of the missing unicorn. We think you stole him because—OWWWW!”
Nancy jabbed Bess with her elbow. She didn’t want to embarrass Destiny in front of her father and friends. But it was too late.
“Is that why you crashed my party?” Destiny demanded.
“We didn’t really crash,” Nancy said quickly. “Your mom invited us in so we could say happy birthday.”
“Happy birthday!” Nancy, Bess, and George said at the same time.
“Everything is fine, princess,” Mr. Delgado said. “Why don’t you go back to your party and have a tubular time?”
“Not until these spies leave!” Destiny blurted.
“Not until you tell us where you were during the parade when Sparkle went missing!” George blurted at the same time.
“The parade?” Destiny said. “I was in the parade!”
“You were?” Nancy asked.
“When I couldn’t get the unicorn for my party, Rex invited me to sit on the princess float,” Destiny said. She jutted her chin into the air.
“Didn’t you see me?”
Bess and George shook their heads. Nancy didn’t remember seeing Destiny in the parade either. But she did remember something else.
“We left the parade to look for my wand,” Nancy whispered to her friends. “We probably missed the princess float.”
A sudden trumpet blast made everyone jump.
“My cake!” Destiny squealed, jumping up and down. “My cake is coming! My cake is coming!”
Destiny and her friends stampeded past the girls, almost knocking them down.
“You can have some cake too, girls,” Mr. Delgado said. He pulled the mask over his head. “Now, if you’ll excuse me—it’s showtime!”
A cake shaped like a castle was wheeled into the yard by two boys dressed as knights. Nancy recognized one of the knights as they stepped away from the cake. It was Ned Nickerson, her friend from school.
“Don’t ask,” Ned groaned to Nancy. “My parents are friends with Destiny’s parents. I had to do it.”
Everyone laughed as Mr. Delgado pretended to light the candles with his dragon’s breath. He finally pulled off his mask and lit the candles with a match.
“My mom could have baked that cake with her eyes closed,” George muttered.
“Let’s go,” Nancy said.
“But we didn’t have cake yet,” Bess protested. “And we didn’t get our goody bags—”
“We’re not getting goody bags,” Nancy interrupted. “And who wants gray cake, anyway?”
They were about to leave when Nancy felt someone tap her shoulder. A girl dressed in a long green gown was standing behind her.
“I’m Sophie Wang,” the girl said quickly.
“You mean the Sophie who called me yesterday?” Nancy asked, surprised. “Did they find your horse, Carrot Cake?”
“No,” Sophie said with a frown. “I had to practice with Babe this morning at the riding academy.”
“You mean the horse with oat breath?” Nancy asked.
Sophie nodded sadly. “They’re still not telling me what happened to Carrot Cake,” she said. “I can’t believe you’d rather look for a unicorn than a missing horse. Everybody knows there’s no such thing as unicorns.”
“There is too!” Bess said. “We saw one with our own eyes.”
“George, your mom is here to pick you up,” Mrs. Delgado called to them.
Nancy felt bad for Sophie. But as long as Sparkle was still missing, they couldn’t look for Carrot Cake.
“Sorry, Sophie,” Nancy said. “We’ve got to go.”
The girls rode in Mrs. Fayne’s van back to the Dragon’s Breath Fair. Nancy tried not to think about Sophie and how sad she’d looked.
“How do we know Destiny was telling the truth about the parade?” George asked.
“We don’t,” Nancy said. “That’s why we have to find someone who would know for sure. Someone like Rex.”
After the van arrived at the fairgrounds, the girls jumped out. First they helped Mrs. Fayne unload pie boxes. Next they ran to look for Rex. They found him eating a pretzel as he strolled past the game stalls.
“Mr. Martindale, Mr. Martindale!” Nancy called as they ran to him. “Was Destiny Delgado on the princess float?”
“Destiny?” Rex sputtered pretzel crumbs. “It wasn’t enough for Destiny to be a princess. She had to be queen!”
Nancy raised an eyebrow at Bess and George. That proved Destiny had been on the float. But what about her dad?
“Do you know where Destiny’s father was?” Nancy asked.
“On the float too.” Rex groaned. “He wanted to make sure everybody cheered for Destiny.”
“So Destiny was telling the truth,” Bess said.
Rex looked confused. He gave his head a shake and said, “If you’ll excuse me, I have a mud-wrestling contest to introduce.”
“Wait, please,” Nancy said. “What about Sparkle the unicorn? Did you tell the police that he’s missing yet?”
Rex froze at the mention of Sparkle … or at the mention of the police!
“No,” Rex said. “I’ll handle it myself.”
Nancy, Bess, and George watched Rex hurry off.
“Did you see that?” George asked. “When we asked Rex about the police, he practically flipped.”
“But he did help us rule out Destiny,” Nancy said. “Now our only suspect is Toby.”
The girls looked around the fairgrounds for Toby. Instead, they found Toby’s best friend, Peter Patino. Peter was standing in the line for giant turkey dr
umsticks.
“Hi, Peter,” Nancy said as they walked over.
“Hey,” Peter said, nodding toward the stall. “Did you see the size of those things? Turkeys must have been huge in medieval times!”
“Peter, have you seen Toby around?” Nancy asked.
“He was just here, but he went back home,” Peter said. “He said he ran out of unicorn hair and had to get more.”
“More?” Nancy gasped.
The girls backed away from Peter. They were too stunned to even thank him for the information.
“If Toby is getting more unicorn hair,” Nancy said, “it means he’s cutting Sparkle’s beautiful mane and tail!”
The girls ran to Mrs. Fayne. But when they asked her to please drive them to Toby’s house, she shook her head.
“I was just about to drive us all home,” Mrs. Fayne said. “The fair is closing in less than an hour.”
Nancy turned to her friends and said, “Don’t worry. We’ll find Toby first thing in the morning.”
“By then Sparkle will be bald!” Bess cried.
“At least we know Toby has Sparkle,” George said. “I wonder if the kids who bought his hair had any luck.”
“If they did, then we’ll know Sparkle is a unicorn for sure,” Bess said with a little smile.
After helping the vendors clean up, Mrs. Fayne drove the girls home. She dropped Nancy off at her house first. Hannah was waiting on the doorstep with Chocolate Chip. She usually welcomed Nancy with a cheery smile, but not today.
“My vegetable garden was ruined today,” Hannah said, and sighed.
“No way!” Nancy gasped. Chip followed her as she ran around to the back of the house. Her father was in the backyard, standing over a few straggly stalks.
“It’s a shame,” Mr. Drew said with a frown.
“Hannah’s carrots and tomatoes totally disappeared.”
“Disappeared?” Nancy asked. She turned to stare at her magic wand, which was still on the picnic table. The glittery star was pointed straight at the garden!
Oh no, Nancy thought. Did I make the vegetable garden disappear too?