Power Play (8 page)

‘Yes, and now she's quit,' said Twink gloomily. Propping her elbows on her knees, she slumped her chin on her hands.

Romi shook her arm. ‘She'll come back if you ask her to, I know she will! And Twink . . . since everyone else is apologising, I suppose I should as well.'

Twink looked up in surprise as Romi's ears turned pink. ‘I was a real moss brain to you, wasn't I? Acting like you couldn't do anything right, and always trying to take over. Well, I'm sorry. I told myself that it was for the good of the team, but – but I was just jealous that I wasn't the Games Fairy, that's all.'

Twink stared at her, feeling almost cross. ‘So why won't you be the Games Fairy
now,
when I want you to be?'

Romi laughed as she pulled Twink to her feet. ‘Because
you're
the Games Fairy, and I think you could be a great one. Just be yourself, Twink! What have you got to lose?'

.

Chapter Eight

To Twink's surprise, her apology went a long way towards clearing the air with her players. During practices in the weeks after, the Glitterwings team listened attentively to her instructions, and performed even better than before.

It wasn't all smooth flying, of course. More than once, Twink had to mutter
just be myself
under her breath, as a reminder not to be too hard or too soft with them. But for the most part, the tension that had hung over the team like a dark cloud for weeks now had vanished – and little by little, Twink began to feel more confident as a leader.

Her team seemed a lot happier, too. Although practice times were still mostly about working hard, there were also plenty of laughs. The difference was that her team respected her now, and would stop the jokes when she said so.

‘Good one, Summer!' shouted Twink, clapping her hands as she hovered on the sidelines. Summer held up the Flea with a triumphant grin.

Thankfully, Summer hadn't taken much persuading to return to the team. And although Twink was delighted to have her back, she wasn't sorry that the orange-haired fairy had left in the first place. If she hadn't, Twink might never have realised what a moss brain she was being! She shuddered at the thought.

‘Right, everyone, let's put the Flea away and get into pairs – I want to practise our high-speed pole manoeuvres,' called Twink. As they all got into position, Twink spotted Romi pairing up with Jacki.

Neither Romi nor Twink had said anything else about the Power Play. Half a dozen times now, Twink had started to ask Romi to explain it to her . . . and half a dozen times she had firmly shut her mouth. Even though she was doing much better at being in charge these days, it felt important that she did it on her own. The Power Play was Romi's move, not Twink's. Using it would be like admitting that she still needed help.

The fairies zoomed about the field in pairs, their wings flashing as they shot through the poles. Twink noticed with satisfaction how much they had improved over the last few weeks. Sparklelight wouldn't know what had hit them!

‘That's all,' called Twink when everyone was panting from the high-speed exercise. ‘Good practice, you lot. Now, the final Sparklelight game is tomorrow, so I want you all to get a good night's rest. Remember, we almost beat them last time. We can do it!'

‘Hi, Twink,' said Tasha as they met out on the Fledge field the next afternoon. ‘Nice day, isn't it?'

‘Yes, lovely,' laughed Twink. It was grey and misty, with a damp chill in the air. ‘Ready?' she said, taking out the casting stones. Her heart beat faster as she held them in her hand.

‘White,' said Tasha.

Twink threw the three stones, holding her breath for them to land black side up . . . but they landed showing two white faces. A good-natured groan ran through the grandstand. The Glitterwings students were out in full force again, crowding the mushroom seats.

‘Stealers,' said Tasha with a grin.

Twink nodded, trying not to show her disappointment. ‘Two minutes.'

Once the match started, Twink could tell that Sparklelight had become used to their new Flea, and were often able to guess his next moves. The Glitterwings Guards did their best, but Sparklelight won the first match with a glimmery double-play, capturing the Flea before the Guards could tag their last two players.

The second match, with Glitterwings now playing on the Stealer side, went on for ages as the crowd watched breathlessly. The two teams were almost equal in skill, but Glitterwings were on their home field and had the Stealer advantage. Finally they took the second match with a flourish, as Summer jetted through a pole and snatched the Flea from under a Guard's nose.

‘HURRAH!' screamed the crowd, fluttering up from their seats in a massive rush of wings. ‘Go Glitterwings!' The fairy-dust banners waved brightly against the gloomy sky.

Even so, Twink frowned worriedly as the two teams changed sides for the final match. The fog was getting worse, and the Sparklelight flea was so difficult to guard! Twink didn't think they had a chance.

Romi's Power Play popped into her mind. Part of her wanted badly to ask the purple-haired fairy for help, but the words just wouldn't come. She had worked so hard to be a good Games Fairy . . . and now, whether her team won or not, Twink knew that the leadership had to come from her.

‘Right, everyone,' she said, gathering them around her. ‘I want Romi, Vera and Cassi playing Guard – and keep an eye on that Flea! One of you needs to stay right with him at all times.'

Her players nodded grimly. ‘Good luck!' said Twink, and they flew back on to the field.

A light rain started. Twink saw that the crowd were now using their banners to shield themselves from the wet. On the field, it had become harder to see than ever. The grey flea was almost invisible in the misty rain.

Twink hovered on the sidelines, watching tensely as the match progressed. It was just as she had feared. Though Glitterwings was playing well, Sparklelight was only two players down by the time they had stolen the Flea twice.

Twink grimaced as Romi dived at a Stealer and missed. Meanwhile, the Flea was leaping from pole to pole, with Cassi and Vera chasing after him in the drizzle. They were doing their best, but there were too many Stealers still left for them to keep an eye out in every direction.

We're going to lose
,
thought Twink in dismay. To her side, Summer and the others were watching the field as anxiously as she was. ‘Come on, come on,' she heard Summer mutter.

Twink's jaw grew tight. Her team was looking to her for leadership, and she couldn't do anything!

On the field, Tasha started to fly towards the Flea. ‘Watch it, Tash!' cried one of her players.

Glancing over her shoulder, Tasha neatly changed direction as Cassi swooped after her, missing her by a wing's breadth. ‘Thanks!' she called to her teammate.

Twink stood very still as the realisation roared through her: Tasha was a brilliant Game Fairy – but she didn't do it all on her own. She took help when it was needed. Suddenly Twink found herself flying up into the air, waving her arms frantically.

‘Time out!' she yelled. ‘Time out!'

Each team was allowed two time outs during a game, and at Twink's shout the match stopped. Tasha's team hung about the field, chatting, as Twink's players gathered round her.

‘What's up, Twink?' asked Romi, pushing back her damp hair.

‘Romi, I want you to take over for the rest of the game,' said Twink.

The older fairy gaped at her. ‘Take
over
?'

‘Yes!' insisted Twink. ‘You've got to teach us your Power Play – you're the only one who knows it.'

Romi looked taken aback. ‘But –'

‘But nothing,' interrupted Twink. ‘Don't you remember what you said to me? A good Games Fairy knows when she needs help. Well, I need help – and I'm asking for it!'

The other players stared at Romi with hopeful expressions. Slowly, she smiled. ‘All right, Games Fairy – I'll do it!'

She turned to address the team. ‘Well, this move really needs a bit of practice, but I agree with Twink that it's our best chance. Twink, I want you, Summer and Zayna to take over as the Guards.'

‘Us?' Twink blinked in surprise. ‘But we're Stealers!'

‘Yes, but it's more of a Stealer move than a Guard one. Now, what I want you to do is . . .'

Twink's wings began to tingle as Romi explained the play. She exchanged an eager glance with Summer and Zayna. The Power Play was an outrageous move – but if it worked, it was going to be brilliant!

The magpie's call sounded, signalling the end of the time out. Twink and the other two flew out on to the field. There was a startled buzz as the crowd saw that the players had changed.

The Flea sat on the centre post. Normally the Guards hovered loosely around him at the start of play, but now Twink and the others surrounded the little insect in a tight circle, not quite touching him.

The Sparklelight team had got into their places as well. Tasha was frowning, obviously trying to work out what was going on. Twink grinned to herself. With any luck, she was about to find out!

The magpie's call sounded again, and the players fluttered into action. ‘Now!' cried Twink.

Quick as light, Zayna grabbed the Flea and held him tightly against her chest. With their arms linked through hers on either side, the Glitterwings Guards flew straight at the Stealers.

Twink saw Tasha's eyes widen as she realised what they were doing. So long as Zayna was clutching the Flea, no Stealer could grab him without getting tagged by Summer or Twink – and meanwhile, banded together, the three of them could go after whichever Stealer they liked!

‘One . . . two . . . three . . .' counted Zayna as they shot across the field.

The rules of Fledge said that the Guards could only take hold of the Flea once per match, for up to thirty seconds. This was mainly so that the Guards could catch the insect if he went out of bounds – but, as Romi had pointed out, there was nothing in the rules that said they couldn't hold on to him for some other reason!

The remaining Sparklelight players jetted away in a frenzy, with the Guards right behind. Summer quickly tagged two of them, and then the trio turned neatly in the air, diving downwards so that Twink could snag a third.

‘HURRAH!' screamed the crowd, bobbing up and down above the grandstand like excited bumblebees. Their banners waved in the rain.

‘Seventeen . . . eighteen . . . nineteen . . .' chanted Zayna. She held tight to the Flea as he struggled sulkily.

‘Hurry!' cried Twink. ‘There's only Tasha left!'

The Sparklelight Games Fairy led them a merry chase, darting this way and that about the field. ‘Twenty-one . . . twenty-two . . . twenty-three . . .' continued Zayna. The Flea writhed in her grasp, kicking its legs.

Twink spotted a flash of Tasha's silvery hair around a post, and tugged at Zayna and Summer. ‘Go left!'

The three of them plunged sideways, hanging on to each other. With a quick somersault, Tasha shot through a hole.

Breaking away from Zayna, Twink flew after Tasha on her own, diving through the hole in pursuit. Tasha had flown straight up and then twisted off to one side, and the wind whistled through Twink's hair as she followed.