Fairy Dust Read Free Page B

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.
    â€˜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!’
    â€˜Oh, Mariella, really?’ breathed Lola as the others rolled their eyes.
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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?
    â€˜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 ?
    â€˜In that case, perhaps we’d better have a look at this,’ said Miss Sparkle. She unlocked the bark cupboard 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.
    â€˜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!
    â€˜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