Friendship Dance

  .

  To Linda C.

  ..

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Imprint

  .

  Chapter One

  Twink Flutterby and her friends sat perched on mushroom seats in the Great Branch, waiting for Miss Shimmery, their HeadFairy, to address the school.

  Twink smiled happily as she looked around her at the other fairies. A new autumn term! She had had a good summer holiday, but it was glimmery to be back at Glitterwings Academy. The oak tree school felt like home.

  ‘I wonder what Miss Shimmery’s announcement is going to be?’ whispered Bimi Bluebell, her best friend. Both girls were sitting at the Violet Branch table. Other tables in the Great Branch had different flowers hanging over them, so that the long, spacious Branch looked like a colourful garden.

  Twink shrugged. ‘The usual, I suppose – uniforms from tomorrow, and no high-speed flying!’

  Her friend Sooze leaned across the mossy table with a grin. ‘Haven’t you heard, then, Opposite? Miss Twilight said there’s something special Miss Shimmery is going to tell us!’ Sooze had lavender hair and pink wings – the exact opposite of Twink.

  Twink’s eyes widened. ‘No, I hadn’t heard that! I wonder what –’

  She broke off as Miss Shimmery herself appeared, hovering over the platform at the front of the Branch. ‘Welcome!’ said their HeadFairy, her rainbow wings glinting like opals. ‘It’s good to see everyone back. I’ve just a few things to tell you . . .’

  Twink fidgeted as Miss Shimmery made all the announcements she’d predicted, and a few other ordinary ones besides: no bothering the water sprites in the school pond, oak-leaf caps required at all times . . . oh, when would she get to the interesting bit?

  Suddenly Twink sat up straight. Miss Shimmery was taking her sparkle specs off! She only ever did that when she had something important to say.

  The HeadFairy regarded the school with a slight smile. ‘Finally, I’ve a rather special announcement to make. As you may be aware, it’s our beloved Queen’s five-hundredth birthday in two weeks. There is, naturally, going to be a great celebration to commemorate this – and a student from Glitterwings Academy will be taking part in it.’

  Twink and her friends glanced at each other, startled. None of them had dreamed the announcement might be something like this! The school waited breathlessly for Miss Shimmery to explain.

  ‘Fairies from seven other schools will be involved as well,’ continued Miss Shimmery, her snowy hair gleaming. ‘Together, the eight students will perform the traditional Friendship Dance at Queen Mab’s birthday celebrations.’

  A thrill ran across Twink’s wings. Who would the lucky student from Glitterwings be? One of the older girls, certainly. She twisted on her seat to look at the upper-year tables.

  ‘I bet it’ll be Poppy Greenwing,’ said Bimi in Twink’s ear. ‘She’s the best dancer in the school!’

  Speculations buzzed about the Branch like bees. Poppy, sitting with the Sixth Years, seemed to think it might be her as well. Her cheeks were pink, and all her friends were whispering excitedly to her.

  Miss Shimmery went on as if she hadn’t noticed the stir her words had caused. ‘Now, of course, for such an important event, we must make sure that we choose the right student. The Friendship Dance creates a very strong magic. Which student will fit into that magic the best, and bring something to it that’s needed?’

  Twink frowned, uncertain what the HeadFairy meant. She made it sound like it wasn’t about dancing at all.

  Reaching into a small pouch at her hip, Miss Shimmery drew out a bright, gleaming orb. A murmur of surprise ran through the school.

  ‘A sparkle-seeker,’ confirmed Miss Shimmery, holding it up. It shone in her hand like a tiny star. ‘We cannot leave this matter to chance; there are too many variables to consider. And so the sparkle-seeker will tell us which student to send.’

  Twink gazed at the glowing ball in wonder. She had never seen a sparkle-seeker before; they were normally only used for solemn decisions concerning adults. This dance must be very important indeed!

  With a flurry of her long sleeve, Miss Shimmery tossed the sparkle-seeker into the air. It hovered in place for a moment . . . and then slowly flew out into the Branch.

  The fairies held their breath as the shining light circled this way and that. Sometimes it hesitated at a table, but it always moved on again, floating lazily about the room.

  Poppy sat watching anxiously, but the glowing orb flew past her without even pausing. Twink and Bimi looked at each other, their eyebrows raised. If not Poppy, then who?

  Sooze gasped. ‘It’s heading this way!’

  As Twink and her friends watched open-mouthed, the sparkle-seeker drifted towards them. It was even brighter up close: a tiny, pulsating whiteness. It circled the Violet Branch table as the fairies sat very still, hardly daring to move.

  It stopped over Twink’s head.

  Twink peered up in confusion, waiting for the star to move on. But it stayed where it was, gently turning. Amazed whispers burst out across the Branch.

  ‘Twink!’ hissed Bimi, grabbing Twink’s arm. ‘It’s chosen you!’

  ‘But –’ Twink could hardly speak. Her face felt on fire. The sparkle-seeker couldn’t have chosen her. Why on earth would it?

  ‘Twink, please come forward,’ said Miss Shimmery.

  In a daze Twink fluttered to the front of the Great Branch, with the star bobbing along after her. Surely there had been some sort of error, and Miss Shimmery was going to tell everyone so and try again?

  Instead, the HeadFairy smiled warmly at her. ‘The sparkle-seeker has chosen,’ she said. ‘Well done, Twink.’

  ‘But – but Miss Shimmery, this has to be a mistake,’ stammered Twink. ‘I’m only a third-year student!’

  Miss Shimmery shook her head. ‘Age has nothing to do with it. You’ll bring something to the dance that is needed, and that no other student can bring. Now, with your permission, I’ll write to your parents this evening by special night-moth. If they say yes, then you’ll leave for the palace tomorrow. You’ll stay there for two weeks, to practise the dance and then perform it at the celebrations.’

  Two weeks? Twink opened her mouth and shut it again. But that was so long!

  ‘Only if you agree, though,’ said Miss Shimmery gently. ‘Are you willing to go to the palace and represent our school, Twink?’

  Twink’s thoughts tumbled like autumn leaves. Go to the palace and dance for Queen Mab? On the one wing, it sounded like the most thrilling thing in the world . . . but on the other, it sounded more than a little scary. Just a few minutes ago, she had been looking forward to a nice, ordinary term with her friends – and now this!

  Biting her lip in uncertainty, she looked out at the school. At the Snowdrop Branch table, her younger sister Teena was staring at her wide-eyed. And a few tables along, Twink’s friends were smiling broadly at her. ‘Say yes, Twink!’ came Sooze’s piercing whisper.

  Laughter rippled across the Branch. Even Miss Shimmery smiled. ‘Well?’ she asked.

  Twink took a deep breath. Above her, the star still shone, casting a bright light across her features. ‘All right,’ she said. ‘I’ll do it!’

  Twink’s parents gave their permission gladly, and a few hours later, Twink found herself repacking her oak-leaf b
ag. It felt very strange to be the only fairy packing!

  ‘Twink, you’re so lucky!’ breathed a pointy-faced fairy called Mariella. ‘Imagine going to the palace! Of course,’ she added, flipping back her silvery-green hair, ‘my parents are very close to Queen Mab, so I wouldn’t be that impressed . . . but you must be over the moon!’

  Twink hid a smile. It was just as well that Sooze hadn’t overheard, or she’d have teased Mariella about her grandmother, who had been one of the Queen’s cleaning fairies.

  ‘Are you excited, Twink?’ asked Bimi when it was time for glow-worms out. She and Twink were sleeping in the larger of the two loft-spaces in Violet Branch this term, along with a clever fairy called Pix.

  Twink sighed, snuggling down into her mossy bed. Her oak-leaf bag sat on the floor beside her, packed and ready for the journey the next morning. At her side, her bedside mushroom looked bare and empty.

  ‘Yes, of course,’ said Twink. ‘It’s just . . . well, I’m going to miss everyone, that’s all. Two weeks is ages.’

  ‘I know,’ said Bimi sympathetically. ‘We’ll miss you too, Twink . . . especially me! But you’ll have a brilliant time. The two weeks will fly past!’

  ‘And it’s not like you could really say no,’ pointed out Pix drowsily from the next bed. ‘Imagine it – Sorry, Your Majesty, but I’m too busy at school to dance at your party. Maybe next time!’

  The three fairies giggled. Pix was right, thought Twink. She had to agree to such an important event, whether she’d miss Glitterwings or not.

  But maybe the time would pass quickly, as Bimi had said. Twink hoped so. Going to the palace sounded glimmery . . . but not as glimmery as being with her friends.

  .

  Chapter Two

  Early the next morning, Twink set off with Miss Shimmery to make the long journey to the palace. A large brown hawk stood outside the tree waiting to carry them.

  Twink gulped when she saw that the entire school had assembled on the front lawn to wave her off. She was glad that she’d already said a private goodbye to her friends and Teena – it would be impossible now, in front of such a crowd!

  ‘Three cheers for Twink!’ bellowed Madge, the school Games Captain.

  ‘Hip, hip, hooray!’ chanted all the students, clapping their wings together. ‘Hip, hip, hooray!’

  Twink’s cheeks burned. She could hardly even look at poor Poppy, standing with the upper years! ‘Miss Shimmery, are you sure the sparkle-seeker didn’t make a mistake?’ she whispered as they settled on to the hawk’s smooth, muscular back.

  ‘Quite sure!’ laughed Miss Shimmery.

  The hawk took off with a sudden rush of wings. Glitterwings grew smaller and smaller below them, until its autumn leaves were only a brightly coloured dot on a miniature green hill.

  ‘Don’t worry, Twink,’ added the HeadFairy, looking over her shoulder. ‘The sparkle-seeker knows things we can’t see. There’s a reason you were chosen, I promise you.’

  It still seemed very strange to Twink, but if Miss Shimmery was satisfied, then she supposed she should be, too. Meanwhile, the autumn morning was crisp and sunny – a perfect day for a flight. Twink gave herself over to enjoying the rhythm of the hawk’s wing strokes, and the cool tickle of the breeze in her hair.

  Even so, the flight took a long time, and Twink was relieved when Miss Shimmery finally pointed to a lush wood in the distance. ‘That’s Royal Wood. The palace is right in the centre of it – there, in that clearing!’

  Twink blinked as the hawk glided downward. Why, this was just an ordinary clearing, with a few spreading bushes in it. Where was the palace?

  The bird touched down with a graceful hop, and Twink and Miss Shimmery flew off his back, landing on the grass beside him. Immediately, a portly fairy with light blue wings came fluttering over.

  ‘Madame Shimmery!’ he cried, clicking his heels together and kissing Miss Shimmery’s hand.

  Madame Shimmery? Twink stifled a giggle.

  ‘Maximus, how lovely to see you,’ said Miss Shimmery. ‘And may I introduce Twink Flutterby, the Glitterwings student who is to take part in the celebrations?’

  ‘Welcome, Miss Flutterby,’ said Maximus solemnly, clicking his heels again. ‘We are honoured to have you here.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Twink. She clutched her bag to her chest. ‘I – I’m honoured to be here.’

  All too soon, Miss Shimmery was saying goodbye. ‘I’ll be back for the celebrations, my dear,’ she said, squeezing Twink’s shoulder. ‘Good luck – I’m sure you’ll do splendidly!’

  ‘Goodbye, Miss Shimmery,’ said Twink, trying to smile. But as she watched her HeadFairy fly away on the hawk, she rather wished that she had told Queen Mab she was too busy to come!

  ‘Come along now, Miss Flutterby,’ said Maximus, taking Twink’s bag from her. ‘I’ll show you where you and the other girls are staying. That will be nice, won’t it?’

  ‘Er – yes,’ said Twink. ‘I mean . . . thank you.’ Oh, great – Maximus sounded as if he thought Twink was still in acorn school!

  The chubby fairy led the way to the largest of the spreading bushes. ‘But where’s the palace?’ asked Twink in confusion.

  Maximus gave her a haughty glance. ‘Right here!’ he announced.

  Passing through a low archway formed by the bush’s bottom branches, he disappeared within its foliage. Twink followed . . . and caught her breath. The inside of the bush was the most amazing residence she’d ever seen!

  Queen Mab’s palace wasn’t just one building, it was hundreds. They were like human tree houses, only these were fairy-sized, and covered every level of the bush for as far up as Twink could see. They had sparkling windows, and towers and turrets, and were every shape and size imaginable.

  Maximus almost seemed to smile at Twink’s dazed expression. ‘Come along, Miss Flutterby,’ he urged. ‘It will be time for your first dance lesson soon.’

  He fluttered upwards, leading Twink through a complicated maze of branches and buildings. I’ll never remember how to get there! thought Twink. She hung back shyly as a pair of richly-dressed fairies swooped past, deep in conversation.

  ‘Here we are – Sapphire Room,’ announced Maximus at last. Landing in front of a large circular tree house, he knocked briskly on the door. A chorus of giggles came from inside.

  ‘Come in!’ called a merry voice.

  Looking disapproving, Maximus pushed open the door and motioned for Twink to enter. She did so – and her mouth fell open. The room was decorated with real sapphires! The glittering gems were everywhere, shining like pieces of deep blue sky.

  Three other fairies were in the room, watching her curiously.

  ‘Miss Flutterby, may I introduce Miss Sunlight, Miss Lavender and Miss Wintersong,’ said Maximus. ‘Young ladies, please make Miss Flutterby feel welcome. I’ll be back soon to collect all of you for your first dance rehearsal.’ Handing Twink her oak-leaf bag, Maximus departed.

  A fairy with bright yellow hair and orange wings flitted over. ‘Hi, I’m Tilli – Miss Sunlight, that is!’ She grinned. ‘And these two are really called Jena and Snow.’

  ‘I’m Jena,’ put in a tiny fairy with purple hair. She was sitting cross-legged on her bed examining herself in a mirror, but she looked up and smiled.

  ‘And I’m Snow!’ laughed the last girl. She had snowy-white hair and dark eyes, and wore the leafy Sparklelight uniform.

  ‘What’s your name?’ continued Tilli. ‘When you’re not busy being Miss Flutterby, that is!’

  Twink grinned at them, hugely relieved that she wasn’t going to have to call everyone Miss for two weeks! ‘I’m Twink,’ she said, dropping her bag on the last empty bed. Its carved wooden headboard glittered with sapphires.

  ‘Are you from Glitterwings?’ asked Jena, putting away her m
irror.

  Twink nodded. ‘How about all of you? You’re from Sparklelight, aren’t you?’ she added eagerly to Snow. ‘Our Fledge team played there last year. Your school is really pretty!’ The Sparklelight campus was set behind a woodland waterfall, with sunlight dancing through the curtain of water.

  Snow beamed. ‘Oh, thanks! We like it. And I’ve heard that Glitterwings is really glimmery, too.’

  ‘I go to Forestglow,’ said Jena, rooting about in her bedside drawer. She pulled out a hair clasp. ‘It’s OK, but I’m going to try and change to Sparklelight for my last year. I’m studying Fairy Dust, and Sparklelight has a brilliant course.’

  Twink’s eyes widened. Despite her diminutive size, Jena was clearly several years older than the rest of them. The purple-haired fairy had an air of confidence about her, as if she knew exactly what she wanted.

  ‘And I go to Emerald Leaf,’ grimaced Tilli. ‘Yes, I know, go on and say it! They’re all stuck-up little beetles there.’

  Twink burst out laughing. There was an ornate wooden cabinet next to her bed, and she began to unpack her belongings into it. ‘Well, I have heard that,’ she admitted. ‘Is Emerald Leaf really that bad?’

  ‘Worse!’ said Tilli dramatically, flinging herself on to her bed. ‘There are only one or two normal fairies in the whole school. Everyone else is always talking about who their families know, and how terribly, terribly important they are . . . ugh!’

  ‘It sounds awful,’ said Twink, liking the brightly coloured fairy already. ‘Can’t you change schools? There’s a girl in my branch who used to go to Emerald Leaf, and she’s much happier at Glitterwings.’

  ‘Oh, who?’ asked Tilli, sitting up. When Twink told her, she grinned. ‘Kiki! She was in the year below me; we used to have really good moans together over how miserable we both were. Well, I’m glad she’s better off now!’

  ‘But why can’t you change schools too?’ asked Snow. The white-haired fairy was exploring the common area of their room, peering into sparkling sapphire cupboards and sliding open drawers.