Magical Mayhem

by Titania Woods

  Just then Jade, Ivy’s twin sister, stopped by their table. Ivy and Jade both had curly green hair, and looked exactly alike. If it wasn’t for their different uniforms, Twink often thought that she couldn’t have told them apart at all.

  ‘What’s so funny?’ Jade asked, taking a seat beside her twin. She lived in Carnation Branch, and wore a frilly pink dress made of carnation petals.

  ‘Oh, Jade, you missed it!’ giggled Ivy, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. ‘Go on, Sooze, tell the story again.’

  Sooze grinned, leaning forward.

  ‘No, I’ll tell it,’ groaned Twink, pushing her back. Briefly, she told Jade what had happened.

  ‘Oh,’ said Sili, blinking. ‘That wasn’t funny at all, the way you told it.’

  ‘No, she hasn’t got my magic touch with stories,’ commented Sooze, taking a bite of seed cake.

  Jade was frowning, ignoring the banter. ‘But Twink, that’s really weird,’ she said slowly. ‘The same thing happened to me in Fairy Dust class today!’

  The table fell silent as Jade explained how she’d tried and tried to do a simple fairy dust spell, but it had gone wrong every time. ‘Finally Miss Sparkle wouldn’t even let me try any more, after I melted a hole in my mushroom desk,’ she finished sheepishly.

  Everyone burst out laughing. Pix grinned. ‘You just need to pay more attention next time, Jade,’ she said.

  Glancing at her, Twink thought that Pix looked a tiny bit smug. She and Jade were friends, but there was a good-natured rivalry between them to see who could get the best marks.

  Jade tapped her wings crossly. ‘I was paying attention. I knew exactly what I was doing, but I still couldn’t make it work. It was like the spell had gone wrong or something.’

  ‘But Jade, magic isn’t like that,’ said Pix, sounding maddeningly reasonable. ‘Either you do it right or you don’t, that’s all.’

  ‘I was doing it right!’ insisted Jade. ‘And I thought it was just me, but if the same thing happened to Twink –’

  Pix snorted. ‘Oh, come on, Jade! Isn’t it possible that you and Twink just made mistakes?’ She spun on her mushroom seat. ‘Twink, there wasn’t anything strange about it, was there? You just made a mistake, that’s all!’

  Twink hesitated. Like Jade, she had been certain that she’d done the spell correctly – but as Miss Petal had said, it only took a moment for your thoughts to wander. Maybe she really hadn’t been concentrating properly.

  ‘I’m not sure,’ she admitted, playing with her oak-leaf plate. ‘I thought I did it right, but . . . but I suppose I must not have.’

  ‘There! You see!’ said Pix triumphantly.

  Jade rolled her eyes. ‘Fine, Pix, have it your way,’ she said. ‘But I think there’s something strange going on around here!’

  .

  Chapter Four

  A few days later, Twink was in the Creature Kindness log with Sal, grooming him with a piece of soft moss until his black and yellow skin gleamed. Normally the salamander loved this sort of attention, but today he stamped his feet restlessly.

  ‘Sal, what’s wrong?’ asked Twink finally, putting down the moss. The Creature Kindness log was where all the school’s animals lived, and Sal had always seemed happy there before.

  The salamander scampered to the window of his pen and gazed out. Twink stared at him. Sal’s every muscle was tight and alert, as though he was watching something.

  Joining the salamander at the window, Twink frowned as she peered out across the snowy landscape. She couldn’t see a thing!

  ‘What is it, Sal?’ she said.

  He gave her an incredulous look, as if he couldn’t believe that Twink didn’t see what he saw! Propping his front feet on the window sill, Sal stared even more intently, his shiny black nose touching the glass.

  Utterly bewildered, Twink looked out of the window again, scanning the snowy meadow and the wood beyond. What was Sal looking at? Whatever it was, he seemed completely fascinated!

  White flakes spiralled downwards as a light snow began to fall. Suddenly Twink’s eyebrows drew together. Had she seen something? There, on that little hill! There was the faintest of shifting movements – like something white and ghostly, drifting against the snow.

  The snowflakes began to fall more heavily, hiding whatever it was from view. A moment later, it was as if Twink had never seen the ghostly movement at all. Maybe I didn’t, she thought in confusion. It had been so subtle –

  Twink jumped as the magpie’s call came from the tree. ‘Sal, I’ve got to go to class,’ she said, quickly gathering up her things. ‘I’ll be back later, OK? We’ll go outside and take some more temperature readings.’

  Sal didn’t move from the window. As Twink flitted from the log, she looked over her shoulder. The black and yellow creature was still exactly where she had left him, staring outwards.

  ‘And begin!’ directed Madame Brightfoot, sweeping her arms into the air.

  Standing in a circle with their wings touching, the Snowdrop Branch fairies began to dance. Madame Brightfoot’s class took place outdoors, in a ring of mushrooms near the wood. Protected by magic, the little circle was always bright and sunny, with soft grass underfoot.

  Teena smiled to herself as she dipped and spun. It was nice to feel that things were back to how they should be. Perhaps she hadn’t wanted excitement as much as she’d thought!

  ‘Lovely, lovely! Now, up we go!’ called Madame Brightfoot. A curl of purple hair tumbled down from her bun.

  The fairies fluttered upwards, continuing to perform the graceful steps. Teena waited expectantly for the golden sparkles that gathered whenever a magical dance was being performed.

  But nothing happened. The air remained clear, with only a few stray dust motes drifting past.

  Madame Brightfoot frowned. ‘Someone is not paying attention! Again, girls, from the start. We will do it correctly this time!’

  Teena and Zuzu glanced worriedly at each other as the fairies glided back down to the ground. ‘Do you think –’ Zuzu started, and then fell silent as the dance began again.

  Teena performed the steps woodenly. Several of their friends had had problems with spells over the last few days, but that had just been a coincidence! It couldn’t have had anything to do with her wish . . . could it?

  Teena swallowed hard as the fairies took to the air again. Oh, please, let there be sparkles this time, she thought fervently. Just one or two would do – something to show that the magic’s working!

  But there were none. The other Snowdrop girls looked at each other in bewilderment.

  ‘Oh, you naughty fairies!’ burst out Madame from the ground. ‘Who is not paying attention? Land! I shall show you how to do the dance myself!’

  The fairies landed. Teena nibbled the side of her thumb as they watched Madame perform the dance. She lifted up into the air with a flourish, her red wings glinting.

  ‘And now we shall have the sparkles!’ she announced, posing dramatically in place.

  Teena gazed hopefully upwards. Not a single sparkle appeared.

  Madame blinked. ‘And now . . . the sparkles!’ she repeated, striking her pose again.

  As if in answer, a lump of snow fell from a branch overhead, landing wetly on the grass in the centre of the circle. A gasp ran through the Snowdrop fairies as a stray snowflake drifted down beside it – and then another.

  ‘Ooh, it’s cold!’ squealed a fairy called Reni, clutching at her arms. Teena gulped. She had never particularly liked Reni, but she couldn’t deny that the green-haired fairy was correct – the temperature in the magic circle was dropping by the second.

  ‘But we’re supposed to be protected here,’ whispered Summer.

  Madame Brightfoot looked pale. ‘Class dismissed!’ she cried, clapping her hands. ‘Hurry, childr
en, back to the school. I must speak to Miss Shimmery immediately!’

  She sped off towards Glitterwings, with most of Snowdrop Branch racing after her. Teena lagged behind, staring dumbly at the lump of snow on the ground. Her wings felt too leaden to move.

  Zuzu tried to smile. ‘Wow, Teena! When you make something exciting happen, you don’t mess around, do you?’

  ‘Oh, don’t say that!’ pleaded Teena, spinning towards her. ‘You don’t think this is happening because of my wish, do you? It can’t be! My wish only brought on the storm, that’s all!’

  ‘Well . . .’ Zuzu trailed off as she and Summer exchanged a glance.

  Teena’s blood chilled. ‘You do think it’s because of my wish,’ she whispered.

  Reluctantly, Summer lifted a wing. ‘Tee, what else could it be? Everything’s been weird since you made it.’

  ‘Then I’ll make another wish, and change things back to the way they were!’ burst out Teena. ‘Come on, you two – help me find a dandelion!’ But snow covered the ground in a soft, thick blanket. Try as they might, the fairies couldn’t find any flowers at all.

  Zuzu put her arm around Teena. ‘Don’t worry, I’m sure the teachers can put things right!’

  ‘But I can’t tell them,’ protested Teena, wringing her hands. ‘I’d get into so much trouble – I can’t even imagine how much!’

  ‘I bet you won’t even need to tell them,’ said Summer reassuringly. ‘They’ve got loads of magic, especially Miss Shimmery. Now that they know something’s up, they’ll sort it just by waving their wings!’ She did a pirouette on the snow, fluttering her purple wings.

  ‘Really?’ said Teena. ‘Do you really think so?’

  ‘Of course!’ said Summer. The three friends started back towards the school. ‘Just wait and see. When it comes to magic, there’s nothing the teachers can’t do.’

  ‘Definitely,’ agreed Zuzu as they swooped through the double doors. She linked her arm through Teena’s. ‘Don’t worry, Tee – it’s all going to be fine!’

  The Great Branch was unusually subdued during lunch that day. All over the school, it seemed, spells were going wrong. At each table, the fairies whispered worriedly, swapping stories of magical mayhem.

  ‘See, Pix, Jade was right,’ said Ivy at the Violet Branch table. ‘There is something strange going on – it’s happening to everybody now!’

  Pix’s cheeks reddened as she nodded. ‘Yes, it looks like she was. But – but I just don’t understand it! Magic always works, if you do it correctly . . .’ She trailed off, biting her lip.

  ‘Not any more,’ said Sili softly. ‘We couldn’t get any of our spells to work in Fairy Dust class today. Miss Sparkle finally dismissed us, and went to see Miss Shimmery.’

  Twink’s stomach tightened. The same thing was happening all over the school – but the possibility of magic not working was unthinkable, like the sun refusing to rise! What could it mean?

  ‘It all began with that storm,’ pointed out Sooze. She picked up her seed cake and then put it down again, pushing her oak-leaf plate away. ‘I still say there was something strange about it, coming up out of nowhere like that.’

  ‘Well, I think the teachers should do something,’ burst out Mariella, her pointed face pinched with fear. ‘Why do our parents send us here, if something like this is allowed to happen? I’ve a good mind to write to my mother and –’

  ‘Oh, hush, Mosquito Nose,’ snapped Sooze. ‘You don’t suppose the teachers are letting it happen on purpose, do you?’

  ‘Twink,’ whispered Bimi from behind her wing, ‘do you think that strange patch of grass we found might have anything to do with it? We thought it was because of a hot spring, but . . . well, what if it’s not?’

  Twink frowned, remembering the warm circle of earth that Sal had seemed so excited by. ‘I don’t know,’ she muttered back. ‘Maybe we should –’

  ‘Your attention, please!’ called Miss Shimmery.

  All talking ceased as the school turned towards the HeadFairy. Every face in the room looked tense, and eager for answers.

  Unlike the night of the storm, Miss Shimmery’s face was now grave. ‘I’m sure you’re all aware that there have been problems with magic occurring in the school,’ she said. ‘The teachers and I will be working our hardest to correct this, but meanwhile, all classes are dismissed until further notice.’

  An uneasy murmur swept through the school. Twink gulped.

  ‘Students are not to attempt to use magic – any magic at all – until the problem is sorted,’ continued Miss Shimmery. ‘Hopefully we’ll locate the source of the problem quickly and things will return to normal, but if not, you will all need to be sent home.’

  There was a stunned silence. ‘Sent home?’ whispered Sili, looking close to tears. ‘But –’

  ‘Meanwhile, I want you all to try not to worry – but do use your Glitterwings good sense,’ finished Miss Shimmery. ‘Stay close to the school, and don’t go anywhere on your own. Now then, if the teachers would please come with me –’

  Miss Shimmery flew towards the door in a flurry of rainbow wings, followed by the Glitterwings teachers. Only Mrs Hover the Matron remained, comforting some of the younger students.

  ‘Twink, I think we should tell her about that patch of grass!’ hissed Bimi urgently. ‘It might mean something!’

  ‘You’re right – come on!’ said Twink, leaping from her seat. The two friends flitted after Miss Shimmery, but before they could reach her, Mrs Hover called them back.

  ‘Not now, girls,’ she urged, flapping heavily over to them. ‘Miss Shimmery is very busy right now.’

  ‘Yes, but we’ve got something important to tell her!’ cried Twink. Across the Branch, the HeadFairy vanished through the doors, with the teachers flying after her.

  Mrs Hover glanced at the younger years’ tables, and then ushered Twink and Bimi closer to her.

  ‘Listen, my lovelies,’ she whispered. ‘Miss Shimmery and the other teachers have gone to try and fix the tree’s magical protection. If they can’t do that, then anything you have to tell them won’t matter a whit! Now, do try and finish your lunches – we all need to keep our strength up.’ She bustled off, patting her pink hair worriedly.

  Twink and Bimi gaped at each other. ‘The tree’s magical protection?’ whispered Bimi as they started back towards their table. ‘But if that’s not working . . .’

  Twink’s wings felt clammy. The tree’s magic kept Glitterwings and its nearby grounds shielded from all sorts of dangers. Without it, anything could happen!

  ‘What was that about, Opposite?’ demanded Sooze as they sat down again. The rest of the table were gazing at them, too, their expressions a mix of curiosity and fear.

  Twink and Bimi exchanged a glance – and decided in the same moment not to worry the others unless they had to.

  Twink managed a shrug. ‘Nothing,’ she said, picking at her seed cake. ‘We just wanted to ask if we could do anything to help, that’s all.’

  Teena felt cold as she watched Miss Shimmery and the other teachers fly from the Great Branch. She had thought that the adult fairies could solve the problem easily – but clearly, this wasn’t the case.

  ‘Did you see how worried they all looked?’ whispered Zuzu, her violet eyes wide.

  ‘It looks really serious,’ agreed Summer. She swallowed. ‘Teena, I know it would be awful for you, but – but maybe . . .’ She trailed off.

  Dread swept over Teena as she realised what her friends were thinking. She couldn’t tell what she had done; she just couldn’t! ‘Come on, let’s finish our lunches,’ she said hurriedly. ‘Then we’ll go to the library. Maybe we’ll find an answer in there!’

  .

  Chapter Five

  The Glitterwings library was a tall room with shelves that stretched t
o the ceiling. Quite a few students had gathered here on this strange afternoon with no classes, though not many seemed to be looking for books. Instead they sat at the mushroom tables in worried clusters, whispering together.

  Teena and her friends waited until Mrs Stamen’s attention was elsewhere, and then flitted into the Restricted section.

  ‘What are we looking for?’ asked Zuzu doubtfully, gazing up at the lofty shelves.

  ‘Anything that might help!’ Teena pulled out a book at random, flipping through its petal pages. No, that one was no good! She shoved it back into place.

  Summer was looking more methodically, reading titles out loud. ‘Befuddled, The Magic of Confusion . . . Advanced Biped Transformation . . . Spells on the Wing: Mid-Flight Magic . . . Hang on, what’s this?’

  She took down a dusty volume with an old, cracked spine. ‘Wish Spells,’ she read, her voice rising in excitement. ‘Oh, Tee, I think this is it!’

  Teena and Zuzu darted to Summer’s side as she opened the book to its table of contents. ‘Chapter Seven: When Wishes Go Wrong,’ read Teena in wonder. ‘Summer, you star!’

  Taking the book from Summer, Teena shoved it under her uniform. She peeked out to check that Mrs Stamen wasn’t watching. ‘Come on!’ she hissed.

  With her friends following, Teena flew to an empty table in the corner. Trying to look casual, she spread her wings. ‘There, now no one can see what we’re doing!’ she whispered, taking the book out.

  The three girls huddled together as they read the strange, old-fashioned words. Teena blinked as she saw that the chapter was mostly about humans who had made foolish wishes. Apparently fairies in olden times used to grant wishes to humans, though she couldn’t imagine why. The humans seemed to have messed it up every single time.

  Like me, I suppose, thought Teena, her cheeks reddening. Her wish hadn’t been very clever either!

  ‘Wasps! Who would have thought that there are so many ways for wishes to go wrong?’ murmured Summer, turning a page. ‘Teena, look – here’s something!’