Fairy Dust Read online

  Not a single wing moved in the Branch as the fairies listened.

  ‘As you may know, spring begins at one exact spot every year, and then spreads outwards throughout the world,’ went on Miss Shimmery. ‘Changing winter into spring is one of the most important duties that a fairy can ever perform. The fairies who do so are chosen personally by Queen Mab.’

  Miss Shimmery paused, looking out over the Branch. There was utter silence as the students gazed back at her, holding their breaths.

  Finally a very small smile appeared on the HeadFairy’s face. ‘I am proud to say that this year, Glitterwings Academy has the immense honour of having been chosen.’

  A gasp rippled through the Branch. The Daffodil Branch table stared at each other, wide-eyed.

  ‘But it is not only fairies who change winter to spring,’ said Miss Shimmery. ‘Other magical beings must help as well – and this year, the water sprites have agreed to take part. They are normally secretive creatures who keep to themselves, so we are doubly honoured.’

  So it really had been a water sprite! Twink’s eyes widened.

  ‘The ice pole was built by the sprites,’ went on Miss Shimmery. ‘That is half of the magic. The other half will be provided by us. At dawn on the very last day of winter, every fairy in the school will take one of the icy strands of the ice pole and perform the sacred dance that weaves spring into being.’

  Twink gripped the edges of her mushroom, her thoughts spinning in wonder. Miss Shimmery smiled as she hovered above them.

  ‘Then, at just the right moment, we will use fairy dust to transform the pole into a green, growing thing. Spring will then begin, and will spread outwards from Glitterwings throughout the world.’

  Fairy dust? But . . . they wouldn’t learn how to use it until next year! Twink’s throat went dry. Glancing around her, she saw the same worried look on the other First Years’ faces. Were they not going to be allowed to take part?

  Miss Shimmery’s voice deepened. ‘As I said, this is a very secret ceremony. The only fairies who will observe it will be us here at Glitterwings . . . and Queen Mab and her counsellors.’

  For a moment the Great Branch didn’t react, and then a quick intake of breath rippled through the room. Queen Mab! Here at Glitterwings! There was a low buzz of excited whispers.

  Twink’s eyes burned as she struggled to hold back tears. She had always longed to meet the beautiful and brave fairy queen. And now Queen Mab would actually be here, and she and her friends would have to sit on the sidelines! She swallowed hard, staring down at the gleaming wooden floor.

  ‘I need hardly tell you that this is a once-in-a-lifetime event,’ said Miss Shimmery gravely. ‘We want every student to be able to take part – and so the first-year students will be given the chance to learn how to use fairy dust this term. Those who master it will be included in the Spring Ceremony.’

  Relief flooded through Twink like a mountain stream. She and Bimi squeezed hands, bouncing on their mushrooms. Across the table, Pix’s eyes were shining like dewdrops. Even Mariella and Lola looked excited.

  ‘That’s all,’ said Miss Shimmery with a smile. ‘And now I think we should have a well-deserved meal. Butterflies commence!’ She lifted an arm in the air as she drifted back down to the platform.

  At her command, a rainbow of butterflies streamed into the Great Branch, carrying oak-leaf platters heaped high with seed cakes. They deposited the food on the tables with graceful flutters as the Great Branch burst into conversation.

  ‘Just think!’ gasped Sili. ‘We’ll be the fairies who change winter into spring this year!’

  ‘If we can learn how to use fairy dust.’ A worried frown touched Bimi’s face.

  Pix laughed. ‘Well, it can’t be too hard – after all, Sooze’s sister got the hang of it!’

  ‘Flap off,’ said Sooze with a grin. Her sister Winn was a fourth-year student at Glitterwings, and very like Sooze herself.

  Twink swallowed a bite of seed cake. ‘Sooze, has Winn ever said anything to you about how to use fairy dust?’

  Sooze stared at her like she was mad. ‘Why would we talk about lessons? We get enough of them at school! But I’m sure it’s easy. All fairies can use fairy dust.’ She poured herself some fresh dew from the almond-shell pitcher.

  Twink bit her lip. All fairies could fly, too – but she hadn’t been able to for ages. Would fairy dust cause her the same problems?

  Bimi squeezed her hand. ‘Don’t worry,’ she whispered. ‘You’ll be fine!’

  Twink smiled gratefully at her. The best thing about having a friend like Bimi was the way they could almost read each other’s minds.

  ‘So will you,’ she murmured back. Bimi didn’t have a very high opinion of her own cleverness at times, even though she had more common sense than any fairy Twink knew.

  Bimi made a face. ‘I hope so . . . I suppose we’ll just have to see what happens.’

  As the conversation buzzed at their table, Twink took another bite of seed cake, hardly tasting its sweetness. Her mind whirled with ice poles, water sprites and springtime.

  Her father had been right. This term was going to be unforgettable!

  .

  Chapter Two

  The Daffodil Branch fairies had never been so early for a lesson before. Long before Miss Sparkle was due to arrive at the Fairy Dust branch the next morning, Twink and the others were fluttering impatiently outside.

  Now that school had started, they all wore matching daffodil dresses, with the Glitterwings oak-leaf cap perched on their heads. Other fairies flitted past on their way to class, wearing flower dresses that matched their own branches – poppies and bluebells and roses – all with the same jaunty oak-leaf cap.

  Oh, it would be so glimmery to actually use fairy dust, instead of just talking about it! Twink bobbed in the air, unable to keep still. ‘Just imagine turning winter into spring,’ she breathed.

  ‘And Queen Mab, here with all her counsellors!’ added Sili. ‘Why, we might even get to meet her.’ She shot an inch or so up in the air at the thought.

  Twink’s heart raced. Meeting the Queen! Would it be possible?

  Mariella tossed her silvery-green hair. ‘My family is very well-known to the Queen. I’m sure I’ll get to meet her!’

  ‘Oh, Mariella, really?’ breathed Lola as the others rolled their eyes.

  ‘Of course,’ said Mariella with a superior smile. ‘I might even make sure you get to meet her, as well – if you learn how to use fairy dust, that is.’

  ‘But you have to learn too, and you don’t always do very well in your lessons, do you, Mosquito Nose?’ said Sooze with a wicked gleam in her eye. ‘I wouldn’t be putting on airs just yet – you’ll look pretty silly on the sidelines while the rest of us dance!’

  Mariella’s face darkened. Before she could respond, Miss Sparkle arrived.

  ‘Hello, girls. You’re a bit early, aren’t you?’ Unlocking the classroom door, she flitted into the branch. With a glare at Sooze, Mariella flounced off to sit at the back of the branch, with Lola close behind.

  Twink perched on one of the spotted mushroom seats. She watched Miss Sparkle with shining eyes, determined to take in every word that the teacher said.

  Miss Sparkle looked over her class with a wry expression. ‘My, such a lot of eager students. I’m sure I’ve never seen you quite so keen before.’ She folded her thin white wings behind her back. ‘Well, shall we take some notes?’

  Twink’s face fell. Notes?

  ‘But, Miss, we’re supposed to learn how to use fairy dust!’ cried Sili. ‘Miss Shimmery said –’

  Sili broke off as Miss Sparkle chuckled. The class gaped at her. Miss Sparkle, laughing?

  ‘In that case, perhaps we’d better have a look at this,’ said Miss Sparkle. She unlocked the bark cupboa
rd behind her desk.

  Twink craned to see as their teacher took out a large oak-leaf bag and placed it on her mushroom podium. Fairy dust! She held her breath as Miss Sparkle scooped out a glittering handful. Bright pink and gold reflections danced through the branch as she turned her hand this way and that.

  ‘We fairies perform magic in many ways,’ said Miss Sparkle. ‘With our singing, our dancing, and even our thoughts. Fairy dust is how we transform things – the most difficult magic of all.’

  Suddenly Miss Sparkle tossed the fairy dust at a snail-trail pen on her desk. With a flash of golden light, the pen became a real snail, waving its antennae in confusion. The class gasped in delight.

  Placing the snail on the podium, Miss Sparkle patted its shell. ‘With the power to transform comes great responsibility. Can you imagine the chaos it would cause if a fairy were to use fairy dust carelessly? Or for a silly prank?’ She gazed sternly at them.

  Glancing at Sooze, Twink saw her friend sit up very straight, an expression of wide-eyed innocence on her face. Twink struggled to hold back a giggle. If she knew Sooze, she was already plotting!

  ‘That’s why we spend so long teaching you the theory of fairy dust before we allow you to use it,’ continued Miss Sparkle. ‘It’s only to be used for the most sincere purposes.’

  She tossed the remaining fairy dust on to the snail. Another flash of light lit the room as the snail became a pen again, falling to the podium with a clatter. The class sat very still, watching.

  Miss Sparkle held up the pen and smiled. ‘It looks easy, doesn’t it? But there’s a secret to using fairy dust. I can’t tell you what it is; it’s something every fairy must find out for herself. And until you do, you will never be able to use it.’

  A secret? Twink’s pink eyebrows drew together. Bimi, sitting on the mushroom beside her, looked more worried than ever.

  ‘Pix, please pass out these rose petals.’ Miss Sparkle held out a brightly coloured stack. As Pix flitted about the room, handing a rose petal to each of the girls, Miss Sparkle filled small bark boxes with fairy dust.

  ‘This is your fairy dust,’ she said, passing them out. ‘You are not to take it out of this branch without my permission.’

  Twink touched the side of her box, and then withdrew her fingers with a gasp. The fairy dust felt alive!

  .

  .

  Miss Sparkle returned to her podium. ‘Let’s begin. Your first assignment is to change your rose petal into a pixie boot.’

  Twink looked doubtfully at the pink rose petal that Pix had laid on her desk. A pixie boot? It sounded awfully difficult for a first spell.

  Miss Sparkle held up a glittering handful of dust, rubbing it between her fingers. ‘Fairy dust is magic of intent. You must have the right intentions before its magic will work. If you do not, things can go terribly awry.’

  She paused, scanning the class carefully. Twink swallowed hard. Now that the moment had come, she felt very unsure. Fairy dust sounded more dangerous than she had thought. What if she got it all wrong?

  Finally Miss Sparkle nodded. ‘You may open your boxes and take out a pinch of dust.’

  Her heart thudding, Twink slowly creaked open the bark lid and reached inside her box.

  ‘Oh,’ she whispered. The pink and gold dust shimmered and sparkled, and seemed to tremble in her hand like nervous sand. She had never seen anything so beautiful!

  Miss Sparkle cupped her hand. ‘The throwing position is like so – hand cupped, fingers almost together. Remember, you are directing the fairy dust at the object, not scattering it to the winds.’

  She fluttered about the room, correcting some of their holds. ‘No, no, Pix – fingers too stiff; you need to relax. That’s better. Mariella, you need to bend your elbow; you’ll throw it right in Lola’s face, holding it like that!’ The class snickered as Mariella scowled.

  Twink breathed a sigh of relief as Miss Sparkle nodded approval at her hold. ‘Very nice, Twink. You too, Bimi. Fingers a bit more together. Now then,’ she continued as she returned to the front of the branch. ‘When you throw the dust, you flick outwards with your fingers.’ She demonstrated with her hand. ‘You see? Flick! Is everyone ready?’

  Twink nodded with the others. Her stomach felt like a thousand anxious fleas were jumping about.

  Miss Sparkle smiled. ‘Some of your spells will work instantly, and some will not. The reason why is the secret of fairy dust. Now, concentrate on what you wish to do. Think of all the reasons for it. What you think is very important!’

  Twink closed her eyes tightly as she clutched the fairy dust. I want to turn the petal into a pixie boot! she thought. I want to learn how to use fairy dust so I can dance in the Spring Ceremony!

  ‘– and THROW!’

  Twink opened her eyes and flung the fairy dust at the petal. It sparkled in the air, making a noise like the tinkling of tiny chimes. She caught her breath. Oh, please work!

  The fairy dust shimmered on the pink petal . . . and then faded. The petal hadn’t changed. Twink bit her lip, wondering what she had done wrong. Oh, well, she thought. I suppose it was silly of me to expect to get it first time.

  She glanced across at Bimi, ready to exchange rueful grins – and gasped in surprise. A perfect yellow pixie boot was sitting on Bimi’s desk! Bimi stood staring at it with wide, disbelieving eyes.

  ‘Bimi, you did it!’ Twink flung an arm around her shoulders, hugging her hard. ‘You clever thing!’

  ‘But – but how?’ gasped Bimi, laughing. ‘I don’t even know what I did!’

  Miss Sparkle came over, beaming. ‘Good work!’ she said. ‘Look, girls – Bimi’s cracked it!’

  The fairies clustered around, exclaiming excitedly. ‘Oh, well done!’ said Pix. ‘I couldn’t get mine to do a thing.’

  ‘But I haven’t cracked it!’ Bimi’s cheeks reddened. ‘Honestly, Miss Sparkle – I don’t know how I did it. I probably couldn’t do it again.’

  Miss Sparkle smiled. ‘Well, let’s see, shall we? Twink, hand me your petal. Now go on, Bimi, show us.’ Miss Sparkle placed the petal on her desk.

  Bimi looked red and flustered. Twink felt a pang of sympathy for her. She knew how much her friend hated being the centre of attention.

  As everyone watched, Bimi reached into her bark box and took out another pinch of fairy dust. Shutting her eyes, she concentrated for a moment, and then tossed it at the petal.

  With a shimmer of light, the petal became a pink pixie boot. The Daffodil Branch fairies burst into applause. Twink clapped harder than anyone – but at the same time, she couldn’t help feeling just a tiny bit jealous. Bimi had changed the petal so easily!

  ‘Oh, isn’t it glimmery,’ breathed Sili, picking up the pixie boot. ‘Look, it even has a little bell on its toe!’

  Miss Sparkle patted Bimi on the shoulder. ‘I don’t think you need to worry about not knowing the secret, Bimi. You do know, deep down – it’s just part of who you are.’

  Straightening her wings, Miss Sparkle looked around the branch. ‘Is Bimi the only one who’s got it?’

  ‘No,’ said a sulky voice. ‘Lola’s got it, too.’

  Twink turned in surprise with the rest of the class to see Mariella glowering at Lola’s mushroom desk. A bright red pixie boot sat on it. Lola’s thin cheeks were flushed with pride.

  Sooze burst out laughing. ‘Glimmery, Lola! You’ll have to teach Mariella how to do that, so she can impress the Queen.’

  Miss Sparkle stilled the sniggers with a glance. ‘Very good, Lola,’ she said, inspecting the red pixie boot. ‘Perfect work, in fact. I’m proud of you and Bimi both!’

  ‘Thank you.’ Lola’s eyes shone as she smiled shyly at Miss Sparkle. Fuming at her side, Mariella looked like a volcano about to erupt.

  Twink turned quickly away as laughter bubbled
up inside her. Fancy Lola getting it and Mariella not!

  Miss Sparkle glanced at the sun outside the window. ‘Class is almost over,’ she said. ‘Please return any unused dust to your boxes, and write your names on the fronts.’ She tapped her wings together, and gave Mariella a sharp-eyed look.

  ‘And I know you’re all keen to learn, but it’s no good asking Bimi and Lola how they did it. Remember – the secret is something that you must find out for yourselves, or else it won’t work!’

  .

  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!’