“Oh no!” breathed Sugar as the guards suddenly saw them. The mice stared for a moment and then shouted, pulling their swords out of their belts and charging across the grass.
Delphie’s heart pounded. “What are we going to do, Sugar?”
“Run for the woods!” Sugar cried. “My magic won’t work properly until we’re there.” They began to race towards the trees but the mice realised what they were doing and five of them changed direction to cut them off.
“We’re not going to be able to get there, Sugar!” said Delphie, stopping. The mice guards were closing in, their beady eyes gleaming, their sharp swords waving. “We’re trapped!”
“You’re our prisoners! We’re going to take you to King Rat!” the mice shouted as they hurried towards Delphie and Sugar.
They were so close that Delphie could see their matted brown fur and yellow pointed teeth. She looked round desperately. There was no way of escape! They were going to be captured and then what would King Rat do to them?
“Delphie! Sugar!”
Hearing a voice in the sky, Delphie looked up. “Sabrina!”
Sabrina and the other giant swans were flying towards them, great wings beating through the air.
“Climb up!” Sabrina cried, swooping down beside Delphie.
Holding on tight to the potion with one hand, Delphie scrambled on to Sabrina’s snow-white back. Looking over, she saw Sugar leaping on to Sahara at the same time. With three great thrusts of her wings Sabrina took off into the sky again. Delphie hung on tightly.
“Stop them!” she heard one of the guards shriek. “King Rat will go crazy if they escape!”
But it was too late. Sabrina and Sahara were already carrying Delphie and Sugar safely up into the sky. The other swans swooped down at the guards, beaks open.
“Argh!” the mice yelled, stumbling backwards as they tried to get away. But there was no escape. The swans dived towards them, knocking them down and sending them tumbling, nose over tail. Scrambling to their feet the mice ran back to the castle, shouting and yelling as the swans chased after them, nipping them with their sharp beaks.
Sabrina chuckled in delight as the mice threw themselves inside the castle and slammed the door firmly behind them. “Serves them right for shooting at us the other day!”
Delphie giggled and hugged her. Sabrina’s feathers were so soft beneath her she felt like she was sitting on an enormous feather bed! “I’m so glad you came back.”
“I heard shouting and saw what was happening,” Sabrina said. “We’ll take you all the way back to the palace. I’m good friends with Aurelia and the King and Queen. It would be wonderful to see them.”
Delphie looked down. Beneath them she could see rolling green fields, with glittering streams winding through them. There were sheep and lambs on the hillside, trees and cottages, a village with people in colourful clothes dancing in the village square, a town with tall houses, a house with an amazing garden surrounded by a high wall and a forest of dark trees. She laughed as the wind swept through her hair, whipping tears from her eyes. It was an amazing feeling to be swooping over Enchantia on the back of a giant swan!
Sabrina and the other swans could fly very fast and it wasn’t long before Delphie saw the pointed turrets of the King and Queen’s palace in the distance. “We’re almost there!”
“Only just in time!” said Sugar from Sahara’s back. “Look!” Beneath them, white horses were pulling a golden carriage along the road. “That’s the King and Queen. They’re only about twenty minutes away.”
“Don’t worry! We’ll get there before them!” said Sabrina. She beat her wings faster and they raced towards the palace. Flying over the palace turrets, they swept down into the courtyard. It was still teeming with animals and birds and there was a chorus of surprised whinnies and woofs and squawks as the swans landed.
Aurelia came rushing out of a door. “Sabrina! What are you doing here? Oh!” she gasped seeing Delphie.
“We’re back!” Delphie cried, leaping off Sabrina’s back. “And we’ve got the potion!”
Aurelia looked as if she couldn’t believe it. “You’ve really got it?”
“Yes!” cried Delphie, holding the bottle up. “Sabrina and her friends helped us.”
Sugar pirouetted. “Everything’s going to be all right!”
“But we have to be quick,” urged Delphie. “Your parents are coming along the road in their carriage. There isn’t a minute to lose!”
“I’ll get two more bottles to split the potion and then we can all help,” said Aurelia. She looked at Sabrina. “I can’t wait to hear the full story!”
Aurelia raced off and came back with the two bottles. Sugar carefully split the purple liquid and they began. “Here goes!” she said, running lightly to a large horse who was watching nearby. She dripped a single drop on to his back. There was a bright purple flash and the horse gave a whinny, which turned into a happy shout. “I’m me again!” Where the horse had been standing there was now a tall, beaming man wearing a smart golden tunic and a horse mask.
“Come on!” Aurelia said, pulling Delphie’s arm. “Let’s help Sugar!”
The three of them rushed around the courtyard as the animals and birds crowded round, eager to be turned back. At long last, the only creatures left were the twelve snow-white swans.
“We’ve done it!” Delphie exclaimed.
Just then, Griff, the guard who usually stood at the palace gates, came hurrying into the courtyard. “Princess Aurelia! Your parents are on their way up to the palace!”
“Quick, everyone!” Aurelia cried. “Get ready for the ball!”
There was mad panic as everyone dashed about, talking about what had happened and trying to get themselves ready. Servants ran through the courtyard with big platters of food that they placed on long tables decorated with embroidered tablecloths, and an enormous white iced cake with seven tiers was wheeled through to the centre of the courtyard. Drinks were poured into silver goblets and musicians assembled and started to play jaunty music that seemed to catch at Delphie’s toes, making her want to run and leap. Sugar danced around the courtyard, touching her wand to every tree and making sugarplums grow on the branches, filling the air with a delicious sweet scent.
A trumpeter blew a fanfare and everyone gathered into a smiling group with their masks on. Sugar pirouetted up to Delphie and touched her shoulder with her wand. Delphie gasped as her clothes were changed into a beautiful red ball dress with a swirling skirt that was trimmed with feathers. She’d never worn anything so amazing. “Here!” said Sugar, magicking a swan mask and pressing it into her hands. As Delphie quickly put it on, the trumpeter blew another fanfare. Sabrina and her friends raised their wings, Griff threw open the door and the King and Queen’s carriage swept through. The coachman reined in the horses.
“What’s all this?” the King boomed in astonishment as he and the Queen got out of the carriage.
Aurelia ran forward. “It’s a surprise! I’ve organised a masked ball for you. All your friends are here!”
The Queen gazed round in delight. “But this is amazing! How did you manage it?”
Aurelia looked at Delphie and grinned. “With great difficulty. I’ll tell you later, Mother, but Delphie and Sugar helped me.”
“Thank you!” the Queen said, holding out her hand to Delphie. Delphie took it, sinking into a deep curtsey and bowing her head.
“I’ve got masks for you too,” said Sugar, hurrying forward with a delicate cat mask for the Queen and a stag mask for the King.
The King put it on and beamed. “Let the ball begin!”
The musicians started playing again and suddenly the courtyard was filled with people dancing. Sugar grabbed Delphie’s hands and they waltzed round and round together.
Delphie had never been to a ball before but it was exactly as she had imagined. There was more food than anyone could eat, delicious fruit punch to drink, clowns and jesters, people juggling with fire and lots and lots of d
ancing. At last, head spinning, Delphie came to a stop beside Sabrina who was sipping water delicately out of a golden bowl.
“Are you enjoying yourself,” Sabrina asked with a smile.
“Oh yes!” breathed Delphie. “Thank you so much for helping us to get the potion back and making the ball happen.”
“It was my pleasure,” the swan said. “I suppose you will be leaving us soon.”
“I guess so,” sighed Delphie, feeling her shoes begin to tingle.
“Well, maybe I will see you next time you come?” said Sabrina.
“I hope so,” said Delphie, stroking the swan’s soft neck. “I’ll never forget flying on your back. It was amazing!”
“Delphie!” Sugar came over with Aurelia. “It’s time to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye!” Delphie sighed, giving them each a kiss on the cheek, before she was engulfed in a whirl of colours. In no time at all she was spinning round and round. The lights blurred and twinkled as she twisted and turned through the air …
Delphie found herself back in her lounge, sitting on the sofa. She looked down. Her ball dress was gone …
Just at that moment, the door to the lounge opened and in came her mum with Sukie.
Suddenly everything came flooding back to Delphie. Of course, Sukie had called round before she left for Enchantia! Luckily, as usual, although she had been in her magical world for hours, no time seemed to have passed here.
“Are you all right, Delphie?” Delphie’s mum asked.
“Fine … I’m just fine,” Delphie stuttered, realising she must be looking shocked and startled. “Er, hi, Sukie,” she said, gathering herself back together. “What are you doing here?”
“Um, I just came to see you,” Sukie said, looking awkward. She took a present wrapped in pink paper out of her bag. “I brought this for you.”
“I’ll go and get some drinks and biscuits,” said Mrs Durand cheerfully as she went out.
Delphie stared at Sukie. Why was Sukie giving her a present? For a moment she wondered if it had something horrid in it and was just a trick. “Thanks,” she said slowly. She undid the sellotape and found a beautiful china ballerina wrapped in layers of silver tissue paper inside. “It’s beautiful,” she said, unable to keep the surprise out of her voice.
Sukie shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “Oh, Delphie. I’m really sorry!” The words rushed out of her. “I didn’t mean to run into you at the theatre. It really was an accident. I was just dashing back on stage because I’d left my rabbit ears there. I felt awful afterwards. I could tell you thought I had done it on purpose but you didn’t say anything to Madame Za-Za and that was so nice of you. I’m really sorry you hurt your foot.”
“My foot,” Delphie breathed, suddenly remembering all the dancing she had been doing as she gazed down. Delicately she put her foot to the ground.
“I wish you could dance the part of the Bluebird still,” Sukie was rushing on. “How is your foot by the way?”
But Delphie wasn’t really listening as she moved her toes. Her foot was fine. It was still fine! “Um, actually it’s feeling much better!” Delphie grinned as her mum came in with the biscuits.
“Nice try, Delphie,” her mum smiled. “But the doctor said it would be a couple of weeks before you can dance on it.”
“I know, but look Mum!” Delphie jumped up and stood on her toes. She danced forward then stood on her foot, lifting her leg behind her just as she had to do as the Bluebird. “It really is fine!”
“Delphie! That’s brilliant!” exclaimed Sukie, looking genuinely delighted. “You can be the Bluebird after all!”
Delphie pirouetted round the room, clutching the china ballerina.
Mrs Durand stared. “That’s a miracle!”
Delphie grinned and sprang into the air. It wasn’t a miracle – it was magic!
The next night, Delphie stood on the stage holding hands with the other dancers, curtseying as the audience applauded. She knew she had performed better than she ever had before. Her mum and dad were sitting a few rows back, their faces glowing with pride as they clapped. Glancing to her left, she saw Poppy and Lola grinning at her and Madame Za-Za standing just offstage in the wings. As Delphie’s eyes met her teacher’s, Madame Za-Za gave a knowing smile and nodded encouragingly. Delphie stepped forward just as her teacher had told her to and swept into an extra deep curtsy. As the audience cheered, she felt like she was going to burst with happiness. Her life had changed so much since she had started doing ballet at Madame Za-Za’s. She had danced the lead part in a show and had some amazing adventures in Enchantia. Whatever was going to happen next?
1. Start in first position and then gently move your leg backwards
2. Begin to raise your arms until they are around the height of your shoulders
3. Lift your leg up from the ground, then sweep your arms out to the side
4. Bring one arm forward to help with your balance and then hold the pose
Prologue
In the soft, pale light, the girl stood with her head bent and her hands held lightly in front of her. There was a moment’s silence and then the first notes of the music began. For as long as the girl could remember music had seemed to tell her of another world – a magical, exciting world – that lay far, far away. She always felt if she could just close her eyes and lose herself, then she would get there. Maybe this time. As the music swirled inside her, she swept her arms above her head, rose on to her toes and began to dance …
Holding on to the barre with one hand, Delphie Durand drew her toe up to her knee and pointed her leg forward. Head up, back straight, shoulders down… The thoughts tumbled around in her head as she watched herself in the mirror of the ballet studio. Alongside her were nine other girls, all gracefully performing the same exercise.
Barre work was quite repetitive and not as much fun as actually dancing in the centre of the room but Delphie was just glad to be doing ballet again. Madame Za-Za’s School of Ballet had been closed for two weeks over the Christmas holidays and Delphie had really missed going to classes.
“Keep your knee turned out, Delphie. Graceful arms, please, Sukie.” Madame Za-Za walked along the line gently correcting each girl. “Keep your body centred and straight, Poppy.”
Delphie thought back to the last term. It had been such fun. The best bit had been dancing the main part in the school’s Christmas show. Actually, no, she thought, correcting herself. The very best bit of last term had been finding out that the old red ballet shoes that Madame Za-Za had given her were magic!
The shoes could whisk Delphie away to Enchantia, a land where all the characters from different ballets lived. Delphie had been there many times now and she had always had an amazing adventure. I wonder when I’ll go there again, she thought.
“Good,” Madame Za-Za said finally when she reached the end of the line but as she turned away, Delphie saw her pass a hand over her forehead and sigh. Madame Za-Za looked very weary. “And to the centre now, please, girls,” she instructed.
The girls began to repeat the exercises in the centre of the room.
By the end of the class, Delphie’s muscles were tingling from all the work. She felt tired but happy. Poppy and Lola, Delphie’s two best friends, ran over to her. “Come on! Let’s go and get changed!”
“In a minute,” Delphie told them.
She went over to Madame Za-Za. The teacher smiled. “You danced very nicely today, Delphie,” she said in her slight foreign accent.
“Thank you.” A warm glow spread through Delphie at the praise. She hesitated. “You… you look tired, Madame Za-Za. Are you all right?”
Madame Za-Za sighed. “I am tired. Sometimes I wonder if I am getting too old for all of this.” She swept her hand around the dance studio.
Delphie stared at her. “You’re not too old! Of course you’re not!” Madame Za-Za had greying hair and there were a few wrinkles around the corners of her eyes but she could still dance really well and she was very
elegant and beautiful. “You’ve got to keep teaching ballet!” Delphie said.
“Maybe it is just because it is my birthday next week that I am thinking like this,” Madame Za-Za spoke gently. “I will be another year older – another year will have passed.” She looked affectionately at Delphie. “Do not worry about me though, child.”
Delphie joined Poppy and Lola feeling very worried.
“What was Madame Za-Za talking about?” Lola asked.
“I’ll tell you when we get to Poppy’s,” said Delphie.
Back at Poppy’s house the three girls hurried up to her bedroom. “So what’s going on with Madame Za-Za?” Lola asked.
Delphie sat down cross-legged on Poppy’s large double bed and told her friends what Madame Za-Za had said.
“But she can’t give up teaching!” said Poppy.
“No way. We won’t let her!” said Lola.
“She didn’t exactly say she would give up teaching,” said Delphie. “Only that she was weary of it all. But maybe we can do something that will make her remember how good it is.”
“Like what?” demanded Lola.
They all thought hard for a moment and then Delphie’s eyes widened. “Perhaps we could try and cheer her up by learning a special dance? She said it was her birthday next week – we could perform it then. It would be our way of saying thank you for teaching us and telling her how much we love her classes.”
“Oh yes!” breathed Poppy.
“That’s a cool plan,” said Lola. “We could try and work something out now?”
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