Fairy Dust (3 page)

.

Chapter Three

Twink sat curled up on a window seat in the first-year Common Branch, gazing out of the window. Far below, through the bare winter branches, she could just see the frozen pond, with the glittering ice pole rising up from the centre of it.

She sighed, and slumped her chin on her hand. It had been weeks and weeks now since Miss Sparkle had first let them use fairy dust, but Twink just couldn't seem to get the hang of it. Her petals stayed petals, no matter what she tried.

And to make matters worse, more than half the first year had got the secret by now, with new fairies succeeding every day. In Daffodil Branch, both Sili and Zena had got it. Twink was terrified that the rest of Daffodil Branch would work it out too, one by one, until she was the only one left who didn't have a clue.

Oh, how could she bear it if she wasn't one of the ones dancing about the ice pole when Queen Mab came? She'd never have another chance in her life to change winter into spring!

Suddenly a fourth-year fairy with purple hair flitted past the window. ‘Six hundred and two, six hundred and three . . .' Her voice faded as she flew off. Another Fourth Year followed, busily writing something on a petal pad.

Twink opened the window and leaned out. ‘What are you doing?' she called.

‘Counting the twigs on the branches, to see how many ice ornaments we'll need for Queen Mab's visit,' the fairy called back. ‘We're doing one for each of them!'

Twink perked up. Ice ornaments sounded glimmery! ‘Can First Years help?' she asked eagerly.

‘Of course!' said the fairy. ‘So long as you can use fairy dust, anyone can!'

She flew off. Twink groaned and banged the window shut. Fairy dust again! How could she ever have been so excited by it? She was starting to dread even going to the class now.

Twink glanced across the Common Branch. Pix sat at one of the mushroom desks, her yellow wings slumping as she pored over a pile of thick petal books.
Fairy Dust Through the Ages, A Concise History of Fairy Dust, Fairy Dust Spells.
As Twink watched, Pix sighed and turned a page.

Twink made a sympathetic face. Pix hadn't worked the secret out either, and it was driving her mad! She was used to being the clever one who knew all the answers. But it seemed as if the secret to fairy dust had nothing to do with being clever.

‘Hi,' said Bimi, sliding on to the window seat beside Twink.

‘Hi.' Twink moved her legs to make room for her friend.

.

.

Bimi's blue eyes were concerned. ‘Oh, Twink, please don't worry! You'll get it soon, I know you will.'

‘I may not get it in time for the ceremony, though. It's only two weeks away now.' Twink drew her knees up to her chin and gazed out of the window again. She knew Bimi was only trying to help, but she didn't feel like being cheered up.

‘I bet you will,' said Bimi. ‘We'll do the dance together, wait and see!'

‘How do you know?' said Twink irritably. ‘Fairy dust doesn't come naturally to me the way it does to you.' Her voice came out crosser than she had intended.

‘I wish it didn't!' burst out Bimi. Her silver and gold wings fluttered with agitation. ‘It's awful being able to use fairy dust when you can't.'

‘Bimi, don't be silly!' said Twink, startled out of her mood. ‘You'll get to change winter into spring! And the Queen will be there, and –'

Bimi's shoulders slumped. ‘Yes, but it won't be any fun if you can't do it too. How could I enjoy it, knowing that you're so sad?'

Twink instantly felt guilty. She sat up and rubbed her wing against Bimi's. ‘I won't be sad, I'll be cheering you on!' she said warmly. ‘I think it's wonderful that you got it so quickly, Bimi. If I can't dance around the ice pole myself, having you do it will be the next best thing.'

Bimi looked hopeful. ‘Really? You wouldn't hate me for it?'

‘Of course not!' Twink assured her. ‘And who knows – maybe I'll get the secret in time after all.'

.

.

Inwardly, though, she sighed. How was she ever going to get the secret when she had no idea what she was doing wrong?

‘I wish I could help you,' said Bimi softly, reading her mind as usual. ‘I mean, I know Miss Sparkle told us not to tell, but if I knew how I did it I could at least try to steer you in the right direction.'

‘I know,' said Twink, leaning back against the window. It was getting dark outside, and the glass felt chilly against her wings. ‘I'll just have to get it on my own, somehow.'

Sooze, who had been fluttering restlessly about the branch for the last half hour, flitted over to them. ‘And what are
you
two talking about?' she demanded grumpily. She held up a hand before Twink could answer. ‘No, wait! Let me guess!
Fairy dust!'

Twink laughed despite herself. ‘Fairy dust,' she admitted. ‘What of it?'

Sooze rolled her eyes. ‘You and everyone else in this branch! Fairy dust, fairy dust – that's all
anyone
talks about these days.'

Bimi lifted her shoulder coolly. ‘I suppose everyone wants to dance in the ceremony, that's all.'

Sooze blew a strand of lavender hair from her face. ‘Well, I do too, but not if it means I have to practise fairy dust until my wings fall off. I'm sick of trying to work it out!'

She propped her hands on her hips, glancing around the Common Branch with a scowl. ‘Everyone's acting so serious and gloomy. We need to do something to liven things up!'

Twink grinned. Maybe Bimi wasn't thrilled to see Sooze, but she herself felt better already. ‘Liven things up? Like what?'

A mischevious glint flashed in Sooze's eyes. She propped a finger on her chin. ‘We-ell, now that you mention it . . . it's been an
awfully
long time since we've played a prank, hasn't it?'

Bimi's mouth tightened. ‘A prank? With Queen Mab coming soon?'

Sooze's wings flashed as she darted away, laughing. ‘Oh, don't worry, I won't involve the two of you!' she called over her shoulder. ‘But something
definitely
needs to be done!'

Twink and Bimi looked at each other as Sooze disappeared out of the door. ‘What do you think she's going to do?' asked Bimi. She sounded half intrigued and half disapproving.

Twink shrugged. ‘Who can tell!' she said happily. ‘But knowing Sooze, it's sure to be interesting.'

Sooze spiralled quickly down the great trunk, enjoying the wind singing through her wings. Glancing around to see whether any year heads were about, she abandoned her spirals and plunged into a steep dive, her lavender hair streaming out behind her. Glimmery! She loved flying fast, even though it wasn't allowed inside the school.

With a quick midair somersault, Sooze dipped off to a branch on the left. Landing neatly in front of a red doorway, she edged open the door and slipped inside. The fourth-year Common Branch was long and cheerful-looking, with clusters of shiny mushroom desks and cosy sitting areas.

‘Is Winn here?' called Sooze.

A crowd of fourth-year students looked up. ‘No First Years allowed!' snapped a fairy with bright yellow hair. ‘What do you mean, barging in here?'

Sooze grinned, not daunted in the slightest. ‘I'm just looking for my sister, that's all.' She flitted up towards the ceiling. ‘Winn!' she shouted, spotting her sister at the other end of the branch. ‘I need to talk to you!'

The yellow-haired fairy darted into the air, grabbing her arm. ‘Out!' she said grimly. ‘You First Years are too cheeky for words. In my day, we had some respect for the older years!'

Sooze started to answer back, but thought better of it. Fourth-year students could give the younger years detention if they thought it necessary – and that wouldn't fit in with Sooze's plans at all. ‘Sorry,' she said cheerfully.

Winn came flying up, her face a scowl. ‘Sooze, you little wasp brain! What do you think you're doing?'

‘You need to teach your sister some manners,' said the yellow-haired fairy crossly. She shoved Sooze towards her.

Winn rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, we've all tried; she's impossible. Come on, Sooze, let's go outside.'

Winn looked very much like her sister, with the same lavender hair and pink wings. Normally they shared the same laughing expression as well, but now Winn just looked annoyed.

The two sisters flew out of the branch and hovered in the trunk. ‘Now, what's up?' demanded Winn. ‘You'd better have a good reason for barging into our Common Branch!'

‘Of course,' grinned Sooze. Quickly, she explained what she had in mind. Once she had finished, Winn smiled despite herself.

‘You little scamp! But I bet you're right – half the first year must be miserable, thinking they may not get to dance in the ceremony. A prank could be just the thing.'

Sooze nodded eagerly. ‘And we haven't played one on Madame in absolutely ages! You'll help, won't you?'

Winn hesitated. It wouldn't be the first time that she had helped her sister out with a prank – but everyone was so serious at the moment, with the Queen coming soon! Maybe it wasn't a good idea.

‘Please!' wheedled Sooze. ‘Just imagine the look on Madame's face!'

A mischievous sparkle lit Winn's eyes. The thought of Madame's reaction was too delicious to resist!

‘All right,' she decided. ‘Meet me by the front doors straight after breakfast tomorrow. That'll give you time to set things up before your Dance class.'

‘Hurrah!' Sooze darted into her sister's arms and hugged her tightly. ‘You're the best sister in the world!'

Winn laughed and pushed her away. ‘Yes, I know! Go to bed now, before Mrs Lightwing catches you here.'

.

Chapter Four

Twink sat perched on her mossy bed, carefully polishing her wings. First she poured a dollop of dandelion milk on to her hands from a tiny bottle, gently smoothing it on to her wings from tip to tail. Then she gave them a brisk rub-down with a rose petal, so that they gleamed like pink gemstones.

Sitting on the next bed, Bimi was busy working a thistle comb through her long blue hair. All the other Daffodil Branch fairies were getting ready for bed, too, but the branch was oddly silent, with none of its usual laughter and chatter. Twink sighed. Everyone was too worked up about fairy dust to feel like laughing.

And where was Sooze? She glanced anxiously at Sooze's empty bed. Mrs Hover, the matron, would be coming in at any moment!

Just then Sooze flitted into the branch, humming to herself. ‘Hello, everyone!' she sang. She did a midair somersault, landing with a flourish in the centre of the room. The daffodil blossoms that hung over every bed bounced wildly in the sudden breeze.

‘Why are
you
in such a good mood?' demanded Sili with a grin.

Sooze winked at her. ‘Oh, no reason!' Still humming, she danced to her bed and started to undress.

‘You're up to something,' said Pix suspiciously. The clever fairy looked tired and cross. Weeks of trying to work out the riddle of fairy dust hadn't left her in a very good mood.

‘Me?' Sooze widened her eyes. ‘Don't be silly. Come on, we have to get ready for bed before Mrs Hover gets here. Look at your wings, they're not even polished yet!'

Pix blew out an irritated breath and turned away. ‘Fine, have it your way!'

The branch went quiet again as everyone returned to their bedtime tasks – except for Sooze's humming, which warbled through the silence like a nightingale. Twink and Bimi looked at each other.

‘She
is
up to something,' whispered Bimi.

Twink nodded, her pulse quickening. ‘She must have worked out a prank already!'

Bimi put down her comb. ‘I'm not sure she should, you know. Not
now,
with the Queen coming!'

The sensible part of Twink agreed with her – but another part could hardly wait to see what Sooze was up to! ‘I know,' she whispered back. ‘But we can't stop her, so we might as well just enjoy it.'

Bimi glanced across the branch, and then leaned close to Twink. ‘Anyway, she's not the only one who's up to something. Look at Mariella!'

Looking across to their old beds, Twink saw that Mariella and Lola had moved them closer to the windows, so that they were slightly apart from the rest of the branch. Mariella sat on the edge of her bed, whispering fiercely to Lola. Lola sat limply on her own bed, staring at the floor.

Twink's lips tightened. ‘She's trying to get Lola to tell her the secret of fairy dust!'

Bimi nodded, her blue eyes concerned. ‘It's been weeks now – I can't believe Lola hasn't told her already. She must be made of stronger stuff than we thought.'

All at once a green pixie boot flew through the air, hitting Mariella squarely on the nose. ‘Oh!' she shrieked, jumping up. ‘Who did that?'

.

.

‘I did!' snapped Pix, propping her hands on her hips. ‘Just leave her alone, can't you? If you can't work out fairy dust on your own, it serves you right!'

Mariella's pointed face flushed dark red. ‘Who says I'm trying to get her to tell me anything? I'm not, Lola, am I?'

Lola looked like a moth caught in a flame. ‘Oh – um – no, no she isn't,' she stammered. ‘We were just chatting, that's all.'

‘Anyway, you're a fine one to talk, Pix!' continued Mariella, tossing her silvery-green hair. ‘Not so clever now, are you? Haven't you found the secret in one of your books yet?'

‘You can't find it in books!' burst out Zena. She had worked out the secret a week or so after Bimi. ‘You have to just
feel
it – and if it's what I think it is, Mariella, I can tell you right now that
you'll
never feel it in a million years!'

The branch stared at her. Zena, who was normally so calm and quiet! But now the tall fairy's face was flushed, her orange wings trembling with anger.

Mariella went pale. ‘How dare you! Why –'

‘Girls!
What
is going on?' The branch went quiet as Mrs Hover bustled in, huffing from her long flight up the trunk. ‘Bickering like babies in an acorn nursery! You should all be ashamed. Now, into bed. I don't want to hear another word. Glow-worms out!'

Climbing into bed, Twink pulled her petal duvet up around her pointed ears. As she listened to the angry silence all around her, she thought that Sooze's prank couldn't come too soon. If
something
didn't lighten the mood before long, they'd all be at each other's wings!

After breakfast the next morning, Sooze skimmed lightly over the frozen grass, clutching the petal-wrapped packet that Winn had just given her. The day was cold and grey, but her heart sang as though it was flooded with sunshine. Oh, this was going to be such fun!

But when she got to the ring of enchanted mushrooms where their Dance class usually took place, there was a notice written on an oak leaf:

Dance class will take place beside the pond this morning. Please be prompt.

Madame Brightfoot

By the pond? Sooze thought of the ice pole, and hesitated. Water sprites were such cross, secretive little creatures. They might not appreciate having a prank played beside their precious pole! Maybe she should save it for another time.

Then she blew out an impatient breath. Oh, she had got just as bad as the others! The ice pole was just a chunk of carved ice, that was all. And the prank really was too good to save.

Flying at top speed, Sooze darted around the tree and down the small hill to the pond. The ice pole rose up from its frozen centre, its long, icy strands chiming together in the breeze.

Sooze landed on the edge of the pond and quickly unfolded the petal. A single perfect snowflake lay inside, about half the size of her hand, enchanted so that it wouldn't melt. She held it up, admiring its lacy delicacy, and then placed it carefully on a pebble.

The prank was very simple. The snowflake would wait on its pebble until class began. Then, when Sooze whispered the magic words under her breath, it would drift up into the air and land on the tip of Madame's nose – and that's exactly where it would stay, no matter what Madame did!

Sooze giggled, imagining the look on Madame's face when she discovered she had a snowflake she couldn't get rid of. This was going to be glimmery!

What were the magic words, though? Oh, wasps! She hadn't forgotten them already, had she? Sooze's lavender eyebrows came together as she tried to remember.

‘
Snowflake rise, snowflake blow . . . snowflake land upon her nose,'
she muttered. No, that wasn't it. ‘
Snowflake rise, snowflake go . . . snowflake fly on to her nose.
'

On the pebble, the snowflake shuddered suddenly. Too wrapped up in her thoughts to notice, Sooze continued. ‘
Snowflake fly, snowflake blow . . . go right now and find a nose!
'

The snowflake burst off the pebble in a rush,
zinging
past Sooze's ear. She yelped, and then gasped in horror as she realised what she had done.
How
could she have been so stupid?

The snowflake was buzzing about the pond like a deranged fly, faster and faster. ‘No!' called Sooze, waving her arms. ‘It's not time yet!'

The snowflake took no notice. Its circles became smaller, until it was zipping about the ice pole itself, dangerously close to its carved creatures. Sooze gave a squeak and took off after it. ‘No! Come back!'

She darted about wildly as she chased it, trying to guess which way it would go next. ‘Oh,
stop
!' she cried, close to tears.

Shining like a white dragonfly, the snowflake jetted to the very top of the pole and crashed right into it. A robin's carved beak broke off with a resounding
snap,
and fell on to the ice with a tiny tinkling noise.

Sooze's hands flew to her mouth in horror. ‘Oh, no,' she whispered.

Slowly, she flew down and picked up the beak. It stayed cold and hard in her hand, enchanted like the snowflake.

What on earth was she going to do? Clutching the beak, Sooze looked at the top of the pole. She could see the beak-less robin perched there, looking very silly indeed. The snowflake, now an ordinary snowflake once again, drifted gently to the ground.

Crash!

Sooze screamed as a section of the frozen pond burst outwards, sending ice shards flying in all directions. A small green head popped through the hole. A pair of round, water-coloured eyes glared at Sooze.

‘What is the meaning of this!' demanded the water sprite.

Sooze gulped, and whisked the beak behind her back. ‘I – I was just playing a prank. I didn't mean –'

‘A prank!' screeched the creature. Its eyes bulged like an angry frog. ‘A prank that has ruined our ice pole! Bah – you fairies have no respect! It is always the same with you! Pranks, and fun, and no respect for beautiful ice poles!'

‘No!' cried Sooze. ‘I mean – I mean, most fairies have a lot of respect for it! I didn't mean to break it, I really didn't. You can mend it, can't you?' She held her breath.

The water sprite snorted in derision. ‘We can, but we shall not!'

‘But – but you have to,' faltered Sooze. ‘The ceremony – we have to change winter into spring –'

‘You must mend it yourself, you stupid fairy – you, and no one else! Or we shall take away the ice pole and no one will use it at all. Bah! We should have known better than to trust the fairies!'

With a furious splash, the water sprite dived back under the water. ‘Wait!' called Sooze, her wings fluttering in alarm. ‘I don't know how to mend it! Does it just attach back on? What do I do?'

But there was no answer. The hole froze quickly over again, until there was no sign the sprite had been there at all. Spurred by sudden panic, Sooze flitted to the top of the pole and tried to press the beak on to the robin's face. It fell off in her hand.

Licking her finger, Sooze frantically wet the end of the beak and tried again. ‘Please, please work!' she muttered. But the beak refused to stay attached.

‘Sooze, what are you doing?' called a voice.

Sooze gasped. Twink and the others were flying towards her in a brightly coloured stream. It was time for class! Quickly slipping the beak into her pocket, Sooze flew to the bank and tried to look relaxed.

.

.

Twink landed lightly beside Sooze, eyes gleaming. ‘Is it the prank?' she whispered.

Sooze flinched. ‘I – no – sort of,' she muttered, cheeks blazing. ‘Just forget the prank, Twink!'

Twink's face fell. ‘But I thought you were going to play one. Everyone's in such a bad mood –'