The silver trees of Honoria disappear. The soft sand turns into a different kind of ground. It is white and bouncy. It feels like walking on a giant marshmallow or a thick wool carpet.
The kids look up. The sky is no longer purple. It is a bright, glowing gold. There are no clouds, only streaks of light that look like ribbons. This is the Kingdom of Gloria. It is the land of hope and joy.
"It is so bright!" Robbie says. He shields his eyes with his hand. "It feels like a summer morning that never ends."
"Gloria is the heart of the light," Clara says. She holds the Mirror of Truth. The mirror reflects the golden sky. "In this land, if you believe in something, it becomes real. That is why it is the home of the Crown of Hope."
Audacia jumps. She bounces high into the air. "Look! I can jump ten feet!"
She laughs and doing a flip. The bouncy ground is perfect for a Captain of the Guard. She feels fast and strong.
But Everett looks at the horizon. He see something strange. Far away, there are dark spots in the golden sky. They look like drops of black ink in a bucket of yellow paint. The dark spots grow bigger.
"The light is fading over there," Everett says. He points to a large mountain in the distance.
The mountain is made of solid white clouds. On the very top, a palace of gold shines. But the dark spots are moving toward the palace.
"The Dragon," Robbie whispers. He touches his leather bag. The Blue Ball inside feels cool. "He is trying to steal the hope."
They start to walk toward the cloud mountain. As they move, the air becomes heavier. The golden light turns into a dusty gray. The bouncy ground becomes hard and cold.
"The kingdom is getting sad," Robbie says. He looks at a group of flowers by the path. The flowers are drooping. Their yellow petals are turning gray.
"We must hurry," Everett says. "If the light goes out, we cannot find the palace."
Suddenly, a group of small creatures flies toward them. They look like tiny birds made of glass. But they are not singing. They make a crying sound. They fly in circles around the kids' heads.
"They are the Sprites of Gloria," Clara says. she opens her notebook. "They live on the light. If they are crying, it means the darkness is very close."
A cold wind blows. It smells like old, sour milk and wet ash. It is the smell of the Dragon's breath.
"Rule Number Sixteen!" Clara shouts over the wind. "Rule Number Sixteen: When the sky turns gray, keep your chin up!"
"That is a good rule," Robbie says. He takes a deep breath. "I am not afraid. I hope the sun comes back. I really, really hope it."
The Blue Ball in Robbie's bag pulses. A small beam of rainbow light shoots out. It hits the gray ground. For a second, the ground becomes white and bouncy again.
"Our hope makes the magic work!" Everett realizes. He raises the Red Sword of Daring. "The more we believe, the stronger we are!"
But the dark spots in the sky gather together. They form a giant, black cloud that looks like a claw. The cloud blocks the golden sun.
The kingdom of Gloria goes dark.
"Stay close!" Everett commands.
They are at the bottom of the cloud mountain. It is dark, it is cold, and the path is steep. The Palace of Hope is high above them, but they cannot see it anymore.
"How do we climb in the dark?" Audacia asks.
Everett looks at his friends. He looks at the dark sky.
"We follow the light in our hearts," Everett says. "And we follow the rules."
They step onto the mountain. The final climb to the third gift begins.