Megan Button and the Brim-Tree Read Online Free PDF Page B

she thought.
    She reached down one-handed and felt if the leaf from The Brim-Tree was still in her right pyjama pocket: it was.
    Rocking to and fro, seemingly for an eternity, she noticed that in front of them, instead of crests of sweeping hills, there was now imposing pickets of fortified trees; though they were still a
bit too far off that no-one could see them clearly. As they veered closer, they could tell that they were weeping willow trees; they were big, and had many over-hanging branches, which scattered on
to the ground.
    Prince Tumble and the other Unicorns slowed down and all craned their necks, gawping at the willow trees that were dotted for as far as the eye could see.
    Hoofing over slowly, everything appeared impassively normal. The trees didn’t move, they didn’t start having conversations with one another, and the only movement that splintered the
blanketed stillness, was the stirring of the low-feathered twigs swaying from the blustery flurries.
    Stopping, Prince Tumble looked back and spoke to Megan and Lucy and his Royal Subjects. ‘I have heard it is customary for us to step into this gap, which will lead to a clearing that was
created for the creatures of The Kingdom. After a short time The Brim-Tree will present itself.’
    ‘So, you mean that the tree is here, but we can’t see it?’ asked Megan searchingly, as she scrambled down.
    ‘Yes. The Brim-Tree, in its representation,
is
the Magic of The Kingdom. The tree is everywhere and knows all, as it is pure Magic, but when needed it takes the form of this magical
tree and leaves are created like the one you have, Megan,’ replied the Prince, he then told them all to be quiet - as the Magic would need silence.
    Spokes of air shifted in tornado-like funnels, and a creaking, groaning moan, made everyone turn round.

Chapter Nine
Stormy Skies
    Facing them was a devistatingly shriveled, failing tree, with spindly branches that arrowed far into the sky.
    Megan stared confusingly at The Brim-Tree.
    ‘What’s happened?’ She asked grimly. ‘Where are all the leaves?’
    Prince Tumble’s ears pricked. ‘Abraxus must have been here, and attempted to destroy The Brim-Tree,’ he said solemnly. ‘That is why, on our journey here everything looked
dark and dying.’
    Megan saw her own shock was mirrored on Prince Tumble’s face.
    All heads then turned to the feeble whisper emanating from the blackened trunk. ‘What’s happening?’ asked Lucy, loudly.
    ‘I do not know. I have never seen The Brim-Tree myself,’ replied Prince Tumble, in a very disconsolate tone. ‘I only knew of its whereabouts.’
    The murmuring grew louder, and then suddenly a voice cracked. ‘I fear the time has come for me too die; my power is growing very, very weak. You are my last hope. You must go and find the
leaves that hold my Magic.’
    ‘What do we do with the leaves once we find them?’ asked Prince Tumble.
    The coarse voice, like ancient bark from an age long time past, spoke around them. ‘The child named Megan has the Key. The answer lies within her,’ the voice then trailed
off…
    Abruptly, the air swept upon them, lifting Megan’s hair up and whipping around the Unicorns tails and manes. ‘Whatever evil purpose Abraxus wanted The Brim-Tree leaves for he is
using it now,’ Prince Tumble said. His voice met the rush of the hissing wind, ‘each leaf is connected too one another and to the tree; we may be able too use the Magic inside
Megan’s leaf to locate the rest of them, but he would be enraged to learn that you have one.’
    ‘But what could he possibly
want
with them?’ she asked bleakly.
    ‘If Abraxus
did
want every leaf from The Brim-Tree,’ Prince Tumble reckoned with a hunch of a premonition, ‘I can only assume he desires to completely ravage The
Enchanted Kingdom.’
    With quaking fingers, Megan fished in her pyjama pocket for The Brim-Tree leaf. She slowly uncurled her hand, fingering the stalk tightly - to make sure that