"Wake up, wake up!"
Sophie groaned. "Euggh."
"Sleepyhead!" Someone nudged her. Sophie rolled over in response.
The someone nudged her harder, forcing Sophie to sit up. She rubbed her blurry, sleep-filled eyes with the back of her hand and yawned.
"Finally!" A figure was slowly coming into view as Sophie's eyes adjusted to the bright morning light. "She's up!"
The figure was Biana, prim and pretty as usual, not a strand of hair out of place-- but looking very excited. Sophie rubbed her eyes once more and swung her legs over and out of bed, pushing herself up. "I was sleeping!" she protested.
"Oh, shush. This is much more exciting than sleep," Biana proclaimed, and practically pushed Sophie out the door and down the stairs.
"Sophie's up!" Edaline smiled at her from the kitchen. "Good night's rest?"
"Yes, until Biana came up," Sophie complained, but Edaline just smiled. "Grady's in the back, sweetie-- you might just want to check in with him before breakfast. I made honeypuffs, by the way-- mint flavored and cream flavored."
Soohie could only wonder about what honeypuffs really were-- three years in the Lost Cities and she still hadn't explored all the wonderful foods yet-- before Biana was pushing her once more through the house, out to the fields.
"Ack!" Sophie flung herself to a halt as soapy, stinky water flew into her face. "Wha-- is it time to wash Verdi already?"
The green, brightly feathered T-rex roared and shook herself again, sending the bathwater flying everywhere as Grady struggled to keep her steady. Sudsy water was already in his hair and on his clothes from Verdi's struggles. "Little-- help-- please?" he grunted as Verdi stamped her feet, barely missing his toes. "Who knew T-rexes were so violent?"
Sophie giggled. "Uh, I think everyone here, Dad. Did you try bribes?"
"She isn't accepting my offers quite yet, I'm afraid. Verdi-- no-- augh!" Grady spit a bright green feather out of his mouth. Verdi roared in victory as, finally, he held his hands up and backed away. "It's the new type of soap. I don't think she's taking to it."
"No kidding," said Edaline from the back doorway. "Didn't the label say it was supposed to be calming?"
"Yes," Grady moaned, picking pieces of straw and Verdi feathers out of his hair.
"But this isn't what Sophie came out here for!" Edaline said, putting an arm around Sophie's shoulder and leading her in a broad circle around the angry dinosaur, and to a pasture with a tall fence stretching all the way around it. Sophie squinted, but couldn't see a thing among the tall, soft grass.
Edaline pressed her hand to a blank silver pad on the gate. It glowed green, and the gate swung open.
Now Sophie could see what all the fuss what about.
Inside was a baby alicorn.

Oh, gosh. After writing this all down on actual paper, it took me a long time to type up. . . . 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃 Hope you guys liked it! I'm already working on the second chapter! And yes, this takes place right after the end of Lodestar, so Amy will be explained pretty soon. Byyeeee!!!!