‘The helper?’ Fluffanora asked, not taking her eyes off the scarf.
‘We’re not going anywhere without our friend,’ Tiga said.
A group of witches rolled past on sparkly boulders, making the ground rumble. The place wasn’t like Peggy had described it at all. There were hundreds of witches and shops and lights. It was like a muddier, icier Ritzy City, buried deep inside the mountain.
‘You’ll need these,’ the witch said, ignoring Tiga and handing them some goggles. When Fluffanora tried them on, her eyes tripled in size.
‘I can see everything – it’s so bright!’ she cried.
‘Just watch out for the helper, because a helper is only a help if they are really there for you,’ the witch said again with a cackle. ‘Take Dirt Lane Four, then cross the street at the Mulch Shop – the lifts to the second floor are across from there, next to the toy shop that only sells rocks.’
‘We really can’t leave without our friend,’ Tiga said, falling backwards when she put the goggles on.
‘The only way to get your friend off my scarf is to keep going,’ the witch said. ‘So you’d better get going. I promise you will get her back if you reach the top.’
‘And we will reach the top,’ Fluffanora said. ‘We will.’
Tiga thought about it for a moment and then reluctantly took a step forward. ‘We’ll be back, Peggy!’
‘I know!’ Peggy said, as she did the thumbs up again. ‘I’m doing the thumbs up, can you see?’
‘Yes,’ Tiga said. ‘It appears as a little embroidered thumb next to your face.’
‘Excellent!’ Peggy said chirpily as if she wasn’t stuck on a scarf. ‘Oh, and you’ll have to take my cats. But they won’t move without me holding the reins, so you’ll have to carry them.’
Tiga picked up some of the cats and unsuccessfully tried to juggle them as she walked. Fluffanora pulled the sled full of jam and the remaining sleeping cats.
‘Dirt Lane One,’ Tiga said, reading the signs. Witches on boulders were travelling down the different dirt lanes, jumping off at their destinations. ‘Ah,’ she said. ‘Dirt Lane Four.’
It was the quietest lane. There wasn’t a single boulder or witch travelling down it, just the one witch right in the middle.
‘Hi!’ the witch said. ‘I’m Jiggle! And I’m here to help you!’
‘What did the witch say about a helper?’ Tiga whispered to Fluffanora.
‘I can’t remember,’ Fluffanora whispered back. ‘I was too distracted by the fact Peggy has been temporarily turned into an embellishment.’
‘Want to play a game?’ Jiggle asked. She was a little witch, with mischievous eyes.
‘We’re already playing a game,’ Tiga said, clutching the stone board game tightly. When she glanced at it, she noticed the Peggy piece was back at the entrance to the Under Peak, whereas she and Fluffanora had moved on. It made her want to go back.
‘Oh, come on,’ Jiggle said. ‘If you win, you get a prize.’
The sides of Dirt Lane Four lit up and a jingle started playing. Jiggle began dancing and miming the words.
‘Her name is Jiggle and she’s trying to start some fun,
Being great and lovely, like your bestest chum!
She’s always being sweet,
Her face is made of meat.
Three cheers for her, yeah, she’s Jiggle.’
‘Isn’t everyone’s face technically made of meat? That’s like saying, “my hair is made of hair” or something,’ Fluffanora said.
‘I needed something that rhymed with sweet,’ Jiggle said.
‘Feet, neat, wheat, beat, pleat?’ Fluffanora said.
Tiga’s eyes widened. ‘I remember what the witch said,’ she whispered urgently. ‘She said, “Watch out for the helper, because a helper is only a help if they are really there for you.” Whatever that means …’
Fluffanora grinned and threw the sled at Jiggle. ‘Here, hold this.’
Their supply of jam jars went flying and smashed and splattered around them, while the sled soared straight through Jiggle and her outstretched arms.
‘JIGGLE!’ she cheered, as she vanished with a pop.
‘She’s an incantation,’ Fluffanora said. ‘The way to deal with them is to ask them to hold something – they can’t. When they come into contact with an object it makes them vanish. I was wondering why she added a bit about her face being made of meat. Such an incantation thing to say.’
‘Because she’s made of air and magic,’ Tiga said. ‘I get it. And the witch said a helper is only a help if they are really there for you. Jiggle wasn’t really there!’
There was another pop and Tiga and Fluffanora found themselves standing next to a toy shop that only sold rocks. The cats and battered sled landed in a neat pile next to them.
‘The lifts,’ Tiga said, jumping up and down and dropping a bunch of cats. ‘We made it! We figured out Jiggle so it must’ve moved us here – we’re one step closer!’
Fluffanora read the plaques on the lifts. There were two lifts, made of glass and standing side by side.
‘Tiga, both of them say TO LEVEL TWO.’
‘Both of them?’ Tiga said. ‘Do you think it’s a trick?’
‘I think everything in this place is a trick,’ Fluffanora said.
‘So which one is the real lift to level two? How could we possibly know?’
RITZY CITY POST
FAIRY FIGHTZ INTERVIEW WITH TINY FISTS!
Reporter: Donna, you play the role of Tiny Fists. What is your character’s background? Tell us a bit about her.
Donna: Tiny Fists is really powerful, but she doesn’t like to show it unless it’s absolutely necessary. She likes long walks, bugs called Bob, and exotic holidays.
Reporter: What’s her favourite move?
Donna: A fist. In a nostril.
Reporter: That sounds painful.
Donna: Oh, it’s not really – look, I’ll –
CAN’T WRITE. NOSE TOO SORE. THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW WAS BORING ANYWAY.
The Points Take a Step Back
The mountain rumbled and the mist-covered path groaned as Idabelle came sliding back down it and skidded into the others.
The Scarf Witch materialised in front of them. ‘You failed the level two song, so your choices are: go back a level or lose a team member!’
‘Team member,’ Idabelle said.
The Scarf Witch nodded. ‘You must choose one of them – or yourself.’
‘Bertha,’ Idabelle said, pushing Bertha towards the witch, and with nothing more than a quick zap, Bertha was embroidered on the scarf.
‘I can’t believe you didn’t pick Catriona Catcat,’ Bertha Bram huffed. Her embroidered mouth rearranged itself into a cross little line.
‘We’ll get you back at the end,’ Idabelle said. ‘It just means you won’t have to do any work now.’
‘Oh yes,’ Bertha Bram said, her little embroidered mouth re-stitching itself into a smile. ‘That’s actually much better. And I have Francesca here to keep me company.’
Idabelle rolled her eyes impatiently. ‘Yes, you have Francesca to keep you –’ She stopped when she saw the other face. The face had its eyes squeezed shut as if it was trying to hide.
‘Peggy Pigwiggle,’ Idabelle seethed.
‘Our great and powerful Top Witch,’ Catriona Catcat said, bowing.
Melodie McDamp kicked her. ‘Idabelle will kill you if she sees you respecting the Top Witch!’
Peggy slowly opened her tiny embroidered eyes. ‘Oh, um… hello.’
‘How did you get here? Why are you here? Is Tiga with you?’ Idabelle demanded.
‘Talking to contestants from other teams on my scarf is cheating,’ the Scarf Witch said. ‘You would normally have three tries for this level, but cheats must go back a level.’
The stone game started glowing and Idabelle and her remaining Points were lifted off the ground.
‘NO!’ Idabelle shouted. ‘I wasn’t cheating by talking to P
eggy! And you’ve already got Bertha! I WILL NOT GO BACK ANOTHER LEEEEVEEEEEEL.’
She and her fellow Points were thrown back into the lift.
‘Back to Under Peak you go,’ the Scarf Witch said with a wave.
‘Tiga and Fluffanora might have a chance to get ahead now!’ Peggy chirped.
‘Want a jam star?’ Bertha Bram said, as an embroidered tray of treats wove its way along the scarf to Peggy.
Tiga and Fluffanora stared at the lifts blankly.
‘There’s no way to know. No clues at all. It’s a fifty-fifty chance of getting the right one,’ Tiga said, just as there was a ping and the doors to the left lift opened.
Catriona Catcat and Melodie McDamp were thrown out, followed by a furious-looking Idabelle Bat.
They stopped and stared at Tiga and Fluffanora.
Tiga and Fluffanora froze.
A witch on a boulder whizzed past. ‘Wheeeeeee!’ She scooped up Idabelle and the Points and off they trundled back to the start.
‘Well, now we know!’ Tiga cried, punching the button for the right lift and shoving Fluffanora and the cats inside.
‘CURSES!’ Idabelle screamed back at them, as the glass lift carried Tiga and Fluffanora off to the next level.
‘The right lift was the right lift,’ Tiga said with a smile. ‘It’s so simple when you think about it.’
‘Tiga,’ Fluffanora said, shaking her excitedly. ‘Do you know what this means? We’re ahead!’
RIZTY CITY POST
FAIRY FIGHTZ INTERVIEW WITH HYSTERICAL FAN!
Reporter: What do you like most about Fairy Fightz, hysterical fan?
Hysterical fan: EEEEESWITS TA BEEEEE YAY! FUN IT GRAWEEEE!
Reporter: I see. And are you going to watch the next episode?
Hysterical fan: SWEEEEEEEEEEEE YA PREEEEEEPTEEE!
Reporter: Of course. And who is your favourite character?
Hysterical fan: GAREEEEEEE YAAAAH. Peanut.
Felicity Bat Reveals All
Back at Linden House, Aggie Hoof watched as Felicity Bat’s boot shuffled its way across the floor.
‘Are you sure it’s a boot?’ Aggie Hoof asked.
Felicity Bat grunted. She was too busy reading to listen properly.
Aggie Hoof tottered around the boot and unsuccessfully tried to pick it up. ‘Fel-Fel, this footwear is strangely heavy.’
‘QUIET!’ Felicity Bat snapped. ‘I’m reading about the ancient jam stores near the top of Pearl Peak! Did you know you can feed ancient jam to anything and it will be enjoyed?’
Aggie Hoof stared at her for a second and then slowly stuck her nose in the boot.
She gasped!
‘HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO BE QUIET, AG–’ Felicity Bat froze and dropped her book. ‘The boot … I can … well, I can explain.’
Aggie Hoof slowly backed away from it, her hands raised.
‘What is it, Fel-Fel?’
‘Um,’ Felicity Bat said. ‘It’s a new kind of boot!’
‘That’s not a boot. Well, the thing in it isn’t.’
‘No,’ Felicity Bat said. ‘You’re right, it’s a –’
‘Monster?’ Aggie Hoof guessed.
Felicity Bat shook her head.
‘Fat ghost?’ Aggie Hoof guessed again.
Felicity Bat shook her head.
‘A monster?’
‘You’ve guessed that already,’ Felicity Bat said, flicking her finger and sending the thing bursting from the boot. It landed with a massive thud on her bed. ‘It’s a panda.’
‘IT’S AS BIG AS A BEAR!’ Aggie Hoof screamed. ‘What is pan-da?’
‘It’s an animal from the world above the pipes. I saw it on the pile of things the old cart witch had collected last week,’ Felicity Bat explained. ‘You know, things that have fallen from the pipes. There were nineteen thousand toothbrushes, one squirrel, four hamsters, four hundred hairbands, a shoe, one small briefcase and this panda.’
Aggie Hoof looked sadly at it.
‘They’re endangered above the pipes, Aggie. I have to return him to the right pipe. I was worried the cart witch might keep him. She only knows how to look after hamsters. And fish.’
Aggie Hoof’s eyes welled with tears.
‘Don’t be sad,’ Felicity Bat said. ‘We’ll return him and everything will be OK.’
‘It’s not that, Fel-Fel.’
Felicity Bat raised an eyebrow.
‘I’m just so sad for panda because he’s arrived too late.’
‘Pardon?’ Felicity Bat said.
‘Fel-Fel, he would’ve matched everything so much better when Sinkville was in black and white. It’s so sad. Now he really clashes with the place.’
Felicity Bat flicked her finger and the panda shrank and slipped back into her boot.
‘How tragic,’ she said faintly.
‘When are you going to put him back, Fel-Fel?’ Aggie Hoof asked.
‘As soon as I find the right pipe,’ Felicity Bat said.
Aggie Hoof grinned. ‘Can we call him Pandora?’
Felicity Bat pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled loudly.
‘Because is it a panda OR a boot?’
Level Two
The lift opened on to an icy platform that led to an icy path that weaved up and up inside the mountain and disappeared into mist.
Tiga held Fluffanora’s hand and the two of them carefully walked forward. The cats were piled on the sled, sleeping. It was the only logical place Tiga could think to put them. Leaving them behind meant they might end up stuck in the mountain, and Peggy seemed quite attached to them.
‘This was where we saw Idabelle and the others, when we were right back at the start!’ Tiga said, getting down on her knees and smooshing her face against the icy floor. ‘Right here!’
Fluffanora yawned. ‘Maybe we should stop here for the night. I’m tired and Idabelle is all the way back in the Under Peak. I bet they’ll have to do a different challenge this time around, and who knows, they might not even make it here. I’d say we have time for a nap at least.’
Tiga took off her shoe and placed it on the floor.
‘Old laces and heels in a heap
Make me a better place to sleep.’
The shoe rose up in the air and –
CRACK!
A giant shoe-shaped house landed with a bang in front of them. Fluffanora stepped inside and began coughing.
‘Sorry,’ Tiga said as she rearranged the dusty cushions on the sofa. ‘I haven’t used my boot as a house since Witch Wars, and I haven’t cleaned my boots recently either.’
Fluffanora herded the cats upstairs while Tiga peered out of the window.
‘Any guesses what’s in that mist up ahead?’ Tiga called up to Fluffanora.
Fluffanora yawned and flopped on to the dusty bed, flicking her finger and making an eye mask appear on her face. ‘I’m not even going to think about that until the morning.’
Tiga woke up with a cat licking her eyelashes.
Fluffanora was already awake and making them a breakfast of toasted jam, with the remaining jar of Mavis’s jam.
Tiga pulled on her one boot and went downstairs. ‘Is the mist still there?’
Fluffanora nodded and handed her a splodge of jam.
Tiga gulped it down. ‘Well, I suppose we’d better go and see what’s waiting for us.’
‘Hello?’ Tiga whispered as they disappeared into the mist. It was difficult to see the path, so they stuck as close to the wall as they possibly could.
Fluffanora didn’t say anything, she just squeezed Tiga’s hand tightly.
‘It can’t just be a treacherous path,’ Tiga whispered. ‘That would be too easy.’
It got darker and the mist grew thicker.
Tiga’s stomach flip-flopped with every step she took, and Fluffanora’s grip on her hand grew painfully tight.
Then came the buzz.
A ghostly witch appeared in front of them. She floated a little to the left, and
made another buzzing sound.
‘Did she just buzz?’ Tiga whispered. ‘Like a bee?’
‘I did,’ the ghost witch said, sounding bored. ‘I went above the pipes and encountered a bee.’
‘What’s a bee?’ Fluffanora said, her eyes wide.
‘Nice small things,’ Tiga explained quickly. ‘They make honey. They sometimes sting if they think you’re going to hurt them. Maybe she was allergic to it.’
‘So you died because a bee stung you?’ Fluffanora asked.
The ghost witch raised a nearly invisible eyebrow. ‘No. I tried to run away from it, tripped and fell down a pipe and died that way. The last noise you hear before you die becomes your haunting noise. So I buzz.’
Tiga slyly glanced down at the game in her hand. Their pieces were far up the mountain now, but she could see something new. A musical note.
The ghost buzzed about in front of them, eyeing them suspiciously. ‘I can’t understand how you two even got past the Mean Lock.’
‘Do we have to sing a song?’ Tiga asked.
The ghost rolled her almost-invisible eyes. ‘Yes, I was just getting to that, if you’d give me a second. I want you to make up a song about bees. And it must end in buzz. It’s entirely up to me whether the song passes the test.’
‘This is silly,’ Fluffanora said. ‘Plus it’s unfair. Of course you’re going to say the song isn’t good enough, and why does it have to end in buzz?’
There was a bang and the Scarf Witch appeared next to them. ‘Oh dear,’ she said, raising a finger. ‘I’m afraid the ghost witch didn’t like your song.’
And with a quick flick, Fluffanora was gone. Her face appeared on the scarf, with nice feathers for hair.
‘Fluffanora!’ Tiga cried.
Her stitched eyes rearranged themselves to look up. ‘The feathers are too much! Plus, I didn’t even sing a song, I asked a question.’
‘You spoke after I had set out the rules, and ended with a buzz,’ the ghost witch said. ‘I could only assume you were playing the game.’
Tiga stood in silence, trying to process what had just happened. She was on her own. No Peggy, no Fluffanora, just her. And she needed to carry on, she needed to get to the top now more than ever – not only to stop the Ritzy Six, but to save her friends!
Witch Tricks Page 5
