Flying High Read Free

possible, so the bird squad can go home.’
    A red-haired fairy at the Daffodil table raised her hand. She was called Pix, and Twink thought she looked very clever and serious. ‘Does that mean we’ll be sprinkled with fairy dust tomorrow?’ she asked.
    Mrs Lightwing nodded. ‘Yes, you’ll be sprinkled tomorrow.’
    An excited murmur from the First Years filled the room. Finally, after years of waiting, they’d be sprinkled with fairy dust, giving them the magic to use their wings! Twink’s heart soared. She and Sooze squeezed each other’s hands, bouncing on their mushrooms. Even Mariella looked impressed.
    â€˜That’s all,’ said Miss Shimmery with a smile. ‘Enjoy the school year.’ She touched down on to the platform and waved a slim arm in the air. ‘Butterflies commence!’
    The softest of flapping noises filled the air as a river of jewel-coloured butterflies streamed into the room. Each carried a seed cake or a pitcher filled with fresh morning dew, which they dropped gently on to the tables.
    â€˜Thank you!’ gasped Twink to the red and blue butterfly that served their table. It dipped a wing at her as it flew away.
    The fairies ate hungrily, talking and laughing. When it was finally time for the First Years to mount their birds again and fly back to their branches, Twink was almost too tired to be scared.
    It doesn’t matter if I am , she thought as she held on to her bird. Tomorrow I’ll be sprinkled with fairy dust and I’ll learn how to fly!

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    Chapter Two
    â€˜Wake up, sleepyheads!’ called Mrs Hover.
    Twink cracked an eye open, forgetting where she was at first. All around her, fairies were sitting up in bed, yawning and smoothing their wings.
    Twink sat bolt upright, her violet eyes gleaming. She was at Glitterwings Academy, in Daffodil Branch. And today she was going to learn how to fly! She bounced out of bed and ran a thistle comb through her rumpled pink hair.
    â€˜Very nice,’ said Mrs Hover, coming over to her. ‘Now, let’s get your uniform sorted.’ She had an armful of daffodils in her hands. She held one of them up against Twink. ‘A nice white one for you, I think, with your pink hair. Like it?’
    Twink nodded enthusiastically. ‘It’s beautiful.’
    Mrs Hover dug into a small pouch at her hip and shook a pinch of pink and gold fairy dust on to the flower. Instantly, it formed itself into a dress Twink’s size.
    â€˜Oh!’ gasped Twink, and Mrs Hover laughed.
    â€˜No time to make them by hand here, with so many fairies to clothe. So we use a bit of fairy dust magic to help us along. And why not, I say? Here you go, love, put it on.’
    Mrs Hover produced a woven sash of soft green grass and a jaunty cap made from an oak leaf, and a moment later Twink felt like she had been a Glitterwings girl all her life.
    Sooze, similarly clothed, spun in front of her, lavender hair flying. ‘Look at us!’ she cried. ‘Aren’t we something!’
    Mariella made a face as she peered into the small mirror that hung on the wall. ‘Oak-leaf caps!’ she groaned. ‘Don’t they have any taste at all here? At home I only wore caps made of –’
    â€˜Hey, I’ve got a glimmery idea!’ interrupted Sooze. ‘Why don’t you go back home, and stay there!’
    â€˜You shouldn’t talk to Mariella like that,’ squeaked a thin little fairy called Lola. She had limp blonde hair and pale blue wings. Already she and Mariella seemed to have banded together, sneering at the school and all its occupants.
    â€˜Why not?’ said Sooze, taking a step forward. ‘She asks for it!’
    Lola paled slightly, backing up.
    â€˜Come on,’ said Mariella. ‘No use wasting our time on her. ’ She and Lola linked arms and turned away with a sniff, fluttering their wings grandly.
    â€˜Now, now, enough of that,’ said Mrs