Rosa took a deep breath and followed her, then came Bluebell, Buttercup and Honey. Inside the sand tunnel, it was dark and damp. What a horrible place to live, thought Rosa. Why would anyone want this as a home?
“Wait – what’s that noise?” asked Buttercup, cupping her hand behind her ear in an effort to hear better.
The others listened carefully too. Buttercup was right – there was definitely some kind of sound coming from inside the tunnel.
Violet crept further inside. Now she could hear the noise more clearly, and tried to make out the words.
“Twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen. . .”
Violet turned back to her friends, confused. “Er, I think it’s someone counting?” She paused. “Yes, they’re definitely counting numbers. . .”
“Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four. . .”
Violet edged along the sand tunnel, but froze when she glimpsed a fairy in the darkness. It was gloomy, but Violet could make out the figure, because she was lit up by the gleaming bottles of sunshine lined up in front of her!
“Who’s there!” the sand fairy shouted. “Oh fairy-rats. Now I’ve forgotten what number I got to!”
Violet crawled further towards the sand fairy. The tunnel had opened up, and she soon found that she could stand once more. She shook out her wings and gave the fairy a little wave.
“Um, hello, I’m Violet,” she began. “I’m not sure what you’re doing with the sunshine, but we really need it back.”
Encouraged by Violet’s bravery, Rosa spoke up too. “You see, Shimmer Island is all horrible and grey without it – and everyone is miserable—”
“Well, why should the other fairies be happy when I’m stuck in here feeling sad all the time?” the sand fairy protested.
“What do you mean?” Bluebell asked gently. “You can tell us – we promise we won’t be angry.”
The sand fairy bowed her head. “I stole the bottles of sunshine,” she mumbled, “because I wanted everyone to feel as unhappy as me for a change!”
Honey had come to the front of the group and reached out her arms to the miserable fairy. “But why do you feel so bad?” she asked. “Why do you hide yourself in here?”
“It’s OK for you!” the sand fairy replied. “You’re so pretty, with your perfect long blonde hair. But look at this – who would want to be friends with an ugly fairy like me?” She took a step closer to the sunshine-filled bottles and was suddenly lit up by the rays.
“Oh wow!” said Violet, staggering back in surprise. “But you’re beautiful!”
The sand fairy had waves of curly purple hair that stretched down to her waist, and big hazel eyes framed by long dark lashes. She wore a seaweed-pleated skirt and matching halter-neck top, with delicate bangles of shells on both wrists. “I know you’re only saying that!” she said in a trembling voice. “All the other sand fairies are gorgeous and blonde – and I’ve got this stupid purple hair!”
Buttercup was shocked to think that the fairy had hidden herself away because she thought she was ugly. It was so sad.
Rosa had an idea. “How about we step into the light too?” she said. “I want to show you something.”
“I suppose that’s OK,” the sand fairy replied, her voice still shaky.
Rosa nudged her friends and they crowded closer to the sand fairy and the bottles.
As they were lit up by the sunshine, the sand fairy let out a little gasp. “Oh, but you all look different too!”
“Well, it would be a bit boring if we were all the same,” said Bluebell.
“And I’d give anything to have purple hair,” said Violet.
The other fairies giggled. They weren’t surprised by that!
“Please will you come and join the rest of the sand fairies?” asked Honey. “I know they’ll be happy to see you!”
The sand fairy gave a shy little smile. “Are you sure? I’m scared of what everyone will say. And they might be angry that I took the sunshine.”
Honey put her arm around the sand fairy and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Please don’t worry. We can return the bottles and make sure Shimmer Island is filled with sunshine once more,” she said. “I promise everything will be fine. . .” She trailed off. “There’s just one thing.”
“What’s that?” asked the sand fairy, a worried look on her face.
“If we’re going to be friends, then you’ll have to tell us your name.” Honey grinned.
The sand fairy grinned back at her. “It’s Coco.”
“Oh, what a lovely name!” Bluebell exclaimed.
“Now let’s get this sunshine back to where it belongs!” said Rosa, taking the lead as the fairies gathered the bottles in their arms and crawled back out along the sand tunnel.
A week later, the fashion fairy princesses were waking up for the final time in Honey’s bedroom – it was the last day of their holiday on Shimmer Island. Bright rays of sun streamed in through Honey’s diamond window, just as they had every day since Coco had returned the bottles of sunshine. The music of the songbirds, mixed with the sound of sand-fairy laughter, floated into the room every now and then. It was just one of the things they were going to miss so much when they were back in Sparkle City.
“This has been the best holiday ever!” said Rosa, as she dressed in a pink cloud-print playsuit. “I’m so glad you all came.”
“Well, friends have to stick together!” Bluebell replied. She sat at Honey’s dressing table, clipping a bird of paradise flower into the side of her brown bobbed hair.
“Honey, will we have time to go and say goodbye to Coco?” asked Violet.
“Of course,” she said. “I think she’ll be expecting you!”
Honey and the fashion fairy princesses soon found Coco outside her new coconut beach hut. She was fluttering about the glistening sand, playing coconut catch with her neighbour.
“Hi, Coco,” said Rosa. “We’re about to leave, but we wanted to come and say goodbye!”
“Oh, I’m really going to miss you!” said Coco. “You have to promise you’ll come back and visit again soon.”
“We promise!” Violet grinned. “But you have to come to Sparkle City too – we have so much to show you there!”
“I promise!” Coco replied. “Fairy friends for ever?”
The fashion fairy princesses nodded, blinking back tears. “Fairy friends for ever!” they called, and took turns to give their new friend a hug.
They were about to fly off when Coco suddenly raised her hands to her face. “Oh my fairyness! I almost forgot!” She ran inside the hut while the five friends waited outside on the deck, wondering what Coco had forgotten.
She emerged with her hands behind her back. “Can you close your eyes for a moment?”
Honey and the fashion fairy princesses did as they were told, and felt Coco hanging something around their necks.
“Now you can open them!”
Rosa quickly looked down. There, hanging on a chain of plaited golden grasses, was a tiny glass bottle that burst with light. Rosa cupped it in her hands. It was the same size as the tip of her little finger, and it shone wildly. Was it really. . .
“Sunshine!” Violet cried, flying over to Coco and hugging her so tightly that the sand fairy’s feet left the ground.
“You’ve made me so happy,” said Coco. “I wanted to make gifts that give each of you a little bit of happiness every day.”
“It’s such a special present,” said Bluebell, unable to take her eyes off the sunshine bottle pendant.
“And it’s the perfect reminder of an amazing holiday,” Rosa added.
The fashion fairy princesses all nodded in agreement. For this really had been the most incredible holiday ever!
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Rosa fluttered into Bluebell’s sky-blue bedroom, grinning. “Guess what’s just arrived!” she cried, rushing over to where Bluebell sat on her enormous four-poster bed.
Bluebell had been doodling fashion designs, but she quickly pushed her sketchpad to one side. She looked up at her friend. “Oooh, is it my new blue silk beret? That was quick. I only ordered it yesterday!”
“No, but this is much more exciting,” Rosa said with a shake of her long dark hair. “Look!” Rosa held out a peacock feather inscribed with gold:
“The Summer Ball!” said Bluebell. “We’ve never been before!” She bounced on her bed in excitement, then leapt up and grabbed Rosa by the hand. “Quick!” she cried. “Let’s go and tell the others!”
Delicately fluttering their wings, Rosa and Bluebell flew along the white marble hallway and into Buttercup’s wing of the fairy palace. Buttercup and Violet put down the cupcakes they’d been eating as they read the invitation.
“I can’t believe it,” Buttercup said quietly, holding up the feather to her yellow stained-glass window.
Violet peered over Buttercup’s shoulder. “Is it really tomorrow?” she said, scanning the words once more.
“And we have to wear our best outfits!” Buttercup added.
All four fashion fairy princesses crowded round the invitation. “Oh my goodness,” said Rosa, “we don’t have long to prepare!”
The fairy princesses lived in Sparkle City. It was half a day’s journey to Dream Mountain from there. They’d have to leave at noon tomorrow to get to the ball in time.
Bluebell reached for a lemon cupcake from Buttercup’s sun-painted cake stand. The creamy lemon icing melted in her mouth. Cupcakes always helped calm her down. “So,” she began, “what in fairyland shall we wear?”
The four best friends fell silent for a moment. It was a very good question. They had to look their best for the ball.
“We can wear our new diamond-heart tiaras,” suggested Violet, ducking into Buttercup’s fly-in wardrobe. “The ones Fern made us.” Fern was one of their best friends, although she didn’t live in Sparkle City, but nearby, in Star Valley.
“But we don’t have any ball gowns,” said Buttercup. “What will we do?”
Rosa put her arms around her three friends. “We’ll go shopping, of course! If we hurry, we’ll get to Topaz’s shop before it shuts.” And in the blink of an eye, the four fairy princesses had fluttered out of Buttercup’s bedroom and flown down the grand glass staircase of Glimmershine Palace.
Bluebell, Violet, Rosa and Buttercup arrived at Sparkle Sensations just in time.
“You’re in luck – I was about to close,” said the owner, Topaz, as they flew through the door to the clothes shop. “What are you looking for, fairy princesses?”
“Those!” all four friends shouted at the same time. They were pointing at the four beautiful sparkling ball gowns that were displayed on mannequins in the shop window. The dresses were identical, apart from the colour. The bottom of each ball gown had tiers of shimmering fabric, with a satin bow in the middle and a halter-neck top covered in gems. What’s more, the dresses were in blue, pink, yellow and purple – perfectly matching each of the fairies’ wings!
“I ordered them in especially for you,” said Topaz. “I’m so glad you like them!”
The fairy princesses quickly changed into the dresses and fluttered around the huge shop. Sparkle Sensations was filled with skirts, dresses, tops, trousers and shoes in every single colour of the rainbow, and the whole shop shone with gems and pearls. It was one of the fairy princesses’ favourite places.
Bluebell flew back and forth in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror. Sparkles danced from her dress as she moved. She was so excited she couldn’t keep still! Now they had the perfect outfits for the Summer Ball. Except…
“Shoes!” said Rosa, spinning round in her pale pink dress. “We need some to match!”
“Oh yes,” said Buttercup, putting a hand to her mouth. She looked down at her golden-yellow ball gown. “I don’t think I have any to go with this dress.”
Topaz held up a finger covered in glittering rings. “I have just the thing,” she said. Topaz fluttered behind a glass door at the back of the shop. She reappeared carrying a teetering pile of boxes. The fairy princesses quickly flew over and each grabbed one before they fell.
Bluebell lifted the lid of her box and her heart leapt. Inside, nestled between layers of delicate tissue, were sparkling peep-toe shoes covered in tiny blue gems. They were gorgeous, and like nothing she’d ever worn before – and they fitted perfectly, too.
The four fashion fairy princesses stood in front of the mirror in their completed outfits, beaming from ear to ear. Violet did a little pirouette in her deep purple dress, surrounding her friends with sparkles. “Now we’re ready for the ball!” she said.
Yes, they were – and Bluebell couldn’t wait!
Scholastic Children’s Books
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First published in the UK by Scholastic Ltd, 2014
This electronic edition published by Scholastic Ltd, 2014
Text copyright © Scholastic Ltd, 2014
Cover copyright © Pixie Potts, Beehive Illustration Agency, 2014
Inside illustration copyright © David Shephard, The Bright Agency, 2014
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eISBN 978 1407 14705 5
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