Free The Rescue Princesses #2: Wishing Pearl by Paula Harrison Page B

on the soft forest floor.

    Jaminta climbed up next and managed several swings. Emily took the next turn, clutching on to the rope and landing safely on the earth.
    “I can’t do the somersault yet,” said Emily breathlessly. “But maybe I will after some practice. Are you ready, Clarabel?”
    Clarabel climbed slowly up to the branch and grabbed the rope. Butterflies fluttered inside her. The ground looked so far away — but she had to do this. All the other princesses had.
    “Go, Clarabel!” cheered Lulu.
    Clarabel took a deep breath and swung free. The earth below rocked scarily. She let herself sway for a few seconds, then dropped to the ground and fell over.
    Emily helped her up. “Are you all right?”
    Clarabel flushed. “Yes, thanks. I just lost my balance.”
    “Maybe we should all practice balancing,” said Jaminta. “It could be useful in all kinds of different rescues.”
    “Great idea!” said Lulu. “I saw a fallen tree over this way that would work really well. Let’s see if we can find it.”
    They walked through the forest, hunting for the fallen tree. The rustlings of the rain forest grew louder and Clarabel found herself listening to the animals’ calls. She could even hear the chatter of monkeys as they quarreled in the treetops.
    “We should test our rings again later on,” said Jaminta, shaking her dark hair out of her eyes. “Just to make sure they’re still working.”
    “They’ve worked really well so far,” said Clarabel. “You made them perfectly.”
    She looked down at the heart-shaped sapphire ring that sparkled on her finger. The other princesses had rings with their own magical jewels, too.
    Even though they looked like ordinary rings, these magical jewels enabled the princesses to call one another for help.
    Jaminta had invented them. She was very good at shaping precious stones and had learned the craft at home in the kingdom of Onica. By shaping jewels carefully, she could give them special powers.
    “Here it is!” said Lulu, stopping next to a large fallen tree. “Who wants to start?”
    Clarabel took a deep breath for the second time. “I’ll go,” she said, climbing up onto the trunk.
    She took a few careful steps, trying not to wobble. But the log was slippery and she fell, landing on her hands and knees again.
    She scrambled up and tried to smile, but her legs felt shaky.
    “Don’t worry!” said Emily, seeing her gloomy look. “I think we all need more practice.”
    Clarabel thanked her, but her blue eyes clouded over. She wasn’t hurt, but there was a sinking feeling in her stomach all the same.
    Did Emily really think everyone needed more practice, or just her? After all, she was the only one who kept falling over.
    Would she ever get better at climbing and acrobatics? If she didn’t, was she really good enough to be a Rescue Princess?

The princesses returned to the palace to find lunch being served in the courtyard.
    Rows of white arches stretched along each wall. A beautiful fountain stood in the center, sending arcs of water flying up in the air. The lemon trees were full of fruit. Vases of yellow hibiscus flowers decorated the tables and filled the air with a wonderful scent.
    Clarabel gasped to see the huge array of food. Lunch was going to be followed by slices of fresh pineapple and coconut, and lots and lots of ice cream.
    The princesses helped themselves and sat down as far away as possible from the frowning Queen Trudy.
    “Do you think Queen Trudy knitted the teapot things without us?” whispered Clarabel.
    “I don’t know, but she doesn’t look very happy,” replied Emily.
    The fair-haired queen of Winteria came by to say hello. “Don’t get too hot in the midday sun, girls,” she warned with a gentle smile.
    “We won’t, Mom,” said Clarabel.
    Then Empress Tia, ruler of Ampali and the other Marica Isles, bustled in with a jug of icy lemonade. Many more kings and queens began to arrive.
    The princesses recognized some boys