Prologue

You’ve probably had a family day trip or overnight stay on a skyship before. I certainly have. In summer, you would have soared over islands, explored new jungles and stared at the luminous sun. When you flew, mice would have hassled around, sails would have flown and people would look up at you in awe. When you flew, you would be the centre of attention. You would never get fed up. You probably experienced the kind-heartedness of the crew, taking you to your destination. Travelling by skyship in the summer is like that. It is incredible.

However, travelling on an expedition to unknown lands can be hazardous and unforgiving. Many great explorers came to this fate. You should only try a skyship journey when the winds are low and it is a calm, unclouded day. Ensure that there will be no mists. You should try living in the air without a single droplet of fuel in the tank. You should try travelling when the weather has escaped its jar and is untameable. No-one knows what monsters lie in the unexplored eastern lands, waiting for prey. No-one knows because they aren’t courageous enough to try.

Chapter 1

The crowds cheered as the Italian skyship Oceanei rose into the clouds. Captain Cattaneo waved as her ship set off. It was her 1000th flight, but the first time sailing to the east. It was intended to be a real celebration.

Emma and Ellie peered down as the ship began to move. They could see ​tiny dots of where people stood, an assortment of red, purple and yellow patches stood out from the crowd. It was a masterpiece. They could hear roars of enjoyment and thuds of feet from the crowd down below. Emma smiled as they set off on an adventure. Inside, Ellie worried about the flight, she had never been away from home before. Would they get back?

Within an hour, the ship had left the Arora Isles. Emma sighed, “I wonder if we will find Diana Anka Chávez,” she whispered, hopefully. Ellie replied, “I wonder if Captain Cattaneo can find her. Last time she couldn’t.”

That night, rumbles could be heard from all over the world. Reports of flashes of lights were on display. It wasn’t safe to fly.

Chapter 2

Over the next few weeks, the Oceanei experienced many thick mists. They were unable to view any islands below. It was nightmarish. On the twenty-fourth day of travelling, Emma and Ellie awoke to see a clear sky. The sun peaked out and they could see for miles.

Scanning down below, Captain Cattaneo saw a bunch of islands like a pile of ashes. There seemed to be the wreckage of a smaller airship. “Buckle up, we’re going down!” Had Chávez landed here?

The cogs stopped as the ship hit the ground; everyone ran to the door as it opened. Emma and Ellie stared across the vast valley on the remote island, miles out from land. On one side a fir forest blossomed, some trees reaching as high as a skyscraper. On the other side, a luscious lake glimmered in the everlasting sunshine, surrounded by meadows of flower fields. Above, the sky was crystal clear.

The crew entered the wreck worriedly. Emma tumbled around, and found an old, dusty book. On it, there was the writing Diana A C: Adventures of Queen’s Crown. “Look!” she shouted, “I think Diana Anka Chávez has been here!”  She handed the book to Ninfa Cattaneo.

“We’ll set camp up here”, Ninfa exclaimed, “I want to find Diana Anka Chávez tomorrow.” Soon, the Camp was up and they were all in their tents. As the shadows lengthened, thuds of footsteps could be heard.

It was the middle of night, everyone else was asleep. Ellie woke with a start. Something was howling. Something with purple eyes. Something that had a smoky mist surrounding it. A twig snapped. Ellie looked out of the tent once more, and an idea sprouted in her mind: was it a ghost of Diana? Ellie went straight back to sleep…