Willa in Jewel Forest

by Poppy Collins

  Thanks fairy much Catherine Coe!

  Welcome to the world of the fashion fairy princesses! Join Willa and friends on their magical adventures in fairyland.

  They can’t wait to explore

  Can you?

  Contents

  Cover

  Half Title Page

  Dedication

  Title Page

  Map

  Jewel Forest

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Fashion Fairy Princess Website

  Sneak Peek of Primrose in Jewel Forest

  Fun Facts about Willa

  Back Ads

  Copyright

  Willa fluttered down to her tree house in the opal-oak tree. She’d been out collecting sapphire berries all morning. They’d just come into season so she was planning on making some jam. She heaved the sack off her shoulder and was about to push open her door when she saw something poking out of her walnut-shell letter box.

  “Ooh, I wasn’t expecting any post,” she said to herself. “I wonder what it is!”

  As Willa pulled out the light blue envelope, she heard someone behind her.

  “Hi, Willa!” called Pip in her tiny lilting voice. She stood waving in the arched door of her tree house. Pip lived in the neighbouring opal-oak tree to Willa. “Do you fancy a cup of beechnut tea? I’ve just made a pot.”

  “That would be lovely – thank you, Pip. All that flying about in the forest has made me thirsty!” Willa grinned at her friend and fluttered on to the silvery branch that led to Pip’s doorway. She could open the letter while she drank her tea. Willa ducked down to get through Pip’s archway. Pip was the smallest forest fairy, and she had a tiny home to match! It was very pretty inside, with knotted beams studded with rubies, and a diamond-daisy rug on the floor.

  Inside, Pip poured the sparkling beechnut tea into sugar-cane cups while Willa read the elegant gold handwriting on the envelope:

  She tucked her long dark hair behind her pointy ears before sliding a finger under the envelope’s flap.

  “You’ve got a letter?” Pip asked as Willa began to read. “It looks important!”

  Willa looked up, her big brown eyes shining below her fringe. “It is!” she cried. “It’s from my friend Topaz, who lives in Sparkle City. She’s getting married – and she’s coming back to Jewel Forest for the wedding!”

  “Oh, wow,” murmured Pip. “A wedding. In Jewel Forest!”

  “That’s not all,” Willa continued. “She’s asked me to be her flower girl!”

  Pip fluttered towards Willa and squeezed her in a hug. “Congratulations!”

  Willa frowned. “But I’ve never been a flower girl before – what do I have to do?”

  “Well, it means that you’re a special part of the wedding – you’ll walk behind Topaz down the aisle and wear a beautiful dress. Sometimes flower girls help with the preparations, too. Does Topaz say anything about that?”

  Willa’s hands shook with excitement as she read the letter over again. “Yes, here – look.”

  As you’re already in Jewel Forest, would you mind helping with the preparations, dear Willa? I’ll need a cake and decorations, but you don’t need to worry about my dress. I’ve had it specially made in Sparkle City and it’s being delivered to your house by magic-express fairy mail. Thank you so fairy much, Willa. I can’t wait to have you as my flower girl!

  With lots of love,

  Topaz xxx

  Willa blew out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness she hasn’t asked me to organize her dress – it’s the most important part of a wedding! I’d be too worried I’d mess it up!”

  “Arranging the decorations and the cake sounds like fun, though,” said Pip. “What will you start with?”

  Willa took a sip of the sweet, nutty tea and looked back down at the letter. “Well, the wedding’s only two days away – so I think I’d better begin with the cake!” Their friend Blossom owned the bakery in Jewel Forest, and she was always busy making delicious treats for the forest fairies. “I hope Blossom will have time to do it!”

  “Do you want me to help you write a list of things to do?” Pip offered.

  Willa shook her head, picked up her tea and drank it in one long gulp. “Thanks, but I’d better get going. There’s so much to sort out!”

  “If you’re sure,” said Pip. “I wish I could come and help, but I’ve got to wait for my honey-blossom bread that’s baking in the oven.”

  “I thought I could smell something delicious.” Willa winked. “Save me a slice for later!” She jumped up and, with a swish of her polka-dot dress, flew through the door.

  Pip waved goodbye, grinning at her impulsive friend. Willa could never sit around for very long. “Good luck, Willa!” she cried, as Willa’s pink-tinged wings disappeared from sight.

  Willa zoomed along the forest fairy skyway. The skyway was a network of leaf bridges that were rebuilt every spring. The bridges weaved high up above the forest ground, connecting all the houses and shops – as well as the beautiful Tree Palace, where the Jewel Forest royalty lived. Willa never got tired of flying through the forest, seeing the gleaming trees sparkling in the sunshine.

  But today she didn’t have time to admire the prettiness of her home. She had work to do! She squeezed past a group of candy-tufted tree squirrels carrying bags of nuts on the tips of their pink fluffy tails, then zipped in front of a blue-winged fairy pushing a barrow of poppy pearls. At the Tree Palace crossroads she took the bridge to her right, but she was so focused on getting to the bakery that she wasn’t paying enough attention. She flew into a fairy coming the other way, knocking her off balance.

  “I’m sorry!” Willa called over her shoulder. “It’s just that I’m in a hurry!” She widened her eyes at the fairy she’d bumped into, who was adjusting the tiara in her nut-brown hair. It was her friend Princess Primrose! Willa zoomed back. “Oh, Primrose, are you OK?”

  “Where are you going in such a rush?” Primrose asked, her hazel eyes wide.

  Willa was relieved to see she had a smile on her face.“I’m so sorry, Primrose!” she cried. “It’s just that I’ve got lots to do – you see, Topaz is getting married and she asked me to be her flower girl, and the wedding’s in two days, here in Jewel Forest, and I’ve got to sort out the cake and the decorations and—”

  Primrose put a hand on Willa’s arm. “Whoa, calm down, Willa – you’ll run out of fairy breath if you talk much faster!” she said in her calm, delicate voice. “Maybe I can help you? I was heading back to the Tree Palace to work on my spider-silk embroidery – but I can do that another day.”

  Primrose’s offer suddenly made Willa feel much better. “Are you sure? It would be great to have some help choosing the cake. I have no idea about it – I’ve never been to a wedding!”

  “Well, then, I insist!” said Primrose. “And anyway, I’d never turn down a chance to visit Blossom and taste her amazing cakes!” She gave Willa a wink. “Come on, I know a shortcut through the silver-willow tree!” She pointed to a tree a little way ahead, and the two fairies zoomed up towards it.

  Willa stared at the tree, wondering how they would ever get through it. Its long silvery leaves trailed down like a shimmery curtain. But once she’d parted back the branches, she wasn’t sure she wanted to leave. It was magical, with rays of sunshine bouncing off the thin leaves, casting silver light everywhere. Primrose weaved in and out throug
h the branches, pulling Willa along by her hand. In no time, they’d reached the other side.

  “Here we are!” Primrose grinned at Willa. They had emerged back on to the skyway and were now standing in front of Blossom’s Bakery. In less than three flutters of their wings, they were inside the bakery, sniffing in delight at the sweet smells in the air.

  Cake stands filled the window, and the counter and shelves were all loaded with gorgeous cakes and sweet treats. There were orange-opal cakes and star-cream buns, and sparkle muffins with rainbow icing. On the counter stood a row of jars filled with giant cookies, chocolate-almond shimmers, and macaroons in every colour you could imagine. Wow, Willa thought, Blossom is so talented!

  But where was Blossom? Willa tiptoed to look over the counter, and found Blossom kneeling down and staring through the window of her large oven.

  “Hi, Blossom, are you OK?” Willa asked.

  The blonde fairy jumped up, her green eyes wide in surprise. “Oh, I’m sorry Willa, – I didn’t hear you come in! I was watching the cinnamon-curly-cream buns. They’re very difficult to get right – one second too long and they fall as flat as pancakes. And I’m terrible at remembering to check them!”

  “I bet they’re worth the trouble, though,” said Primrose.

  Blossom nodded. “They’re one of my bestsellers – in fact, I’d just run out of them. I hope you didn’t want any? This batch will take a while to cool.” She bent down and pulled the baking tray out of the oven with rose-petal oven gloves. A delicious smell of cinnamon filled the air.

  Willa shook her head. “No, not today, thanks. But I have come to ask you a huge favour, Blossom. You see, my fairy friend Topaz is getting married in Jewel Forest in two days’ time, and I need to organize a cake for her wedding. I know it’s short notice but—”

  “Of course I’ll do it!” Blossom spun on the spot, her wavy blonde hair billowing around her and her pale green wings quivering in excitement. “I love making wedding cakes most of all!”

  “Really?” Willa asked. “Oh, Blossom, that would be wonderful. How can I ever thank you?”

  Blossom winked. “As long as I can come to the wedding, I’ll be happy.”

  “Of course! The whole forest is invited!” Willa told her.

  “Wow – then we’d better start making plans for a gigantic cake!” Primrose added.

  Blossom took a gold-leaf notepad from the polished walnut counter. “Primrose, you’re right – there’s no time to waste.” Blossom began sketching out cake designs. She gave Willa and Primrose violet-fizz macaroons to eat as they watched. The little purple biscuits were melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

  Soon, Blossom had designed a multi-layered wedding cake. It was in the shape of a tree, with a chocolate-cake trunk, peppermint-cream leaves and sparkly edible flowers from the Twinkle Tree in Star Valley.

  “What do you think, Primrose – is it right for a forest fairy wedding?” asked Willa. It looked wonderful to her, and she knew it would taste amazing too.

  “It’s perfect.” Primrose nodded. “I’m sure Topaz will love it!”

  “So, what’s next?” asked Primrose as they waved goodbye to Blossom and fluttered back to the sparkling skyway. Fairies and forest animals skipped by in front of them. “Oh look, there’s Catkin!”

  Willa turned her head and saw Catkin’s curly red hair bouncing along the opposite bridge. She grinned as she saw Primrose and Willa waving, and flew over. “Hi, Willa. Hi, Primrose! Have you just been to the bakery?”

  “Yes, to order a wedding cake!” Willa said. She told Catkin about Topaz’s wedding in Jewel Forest.

  “Oh, that sounds wonderful,” said Catkin. “Weddings are always so much fun. But of course there’s a lot to organize, too! Can I help you with anything?”

  “Well, we’re just about to fly down to the forest floor to ask the animals if they’ll give me a hand with decorations.” Willa hoped her animal friends would help make the wedding beautiful, with bunting and lanterns and petal confetti.

  “Good idea! And you’ve got the cake sorted. What about the music? Is there going to be a band?” Catkin asked.

  Willa put a hand to her forehead. “Music! I hadn’t even thought about that!” Maybe she should have written a list, like Pip had suggested.

  “Oh yes – it wouldn’t be a proper wedding without dancing,” Primrose agreed.

  Willa flapped her wings in panic. “But where will I get a band from? I can’t sing – or play an instrument.” She looked at Catkin and Primrose hopefully. “Can you?”

  Her two friends shook their heads. “My singing’s worse than a tree squirrel’s!” said Primrose. “And I never learnt to play anything at school – not even the bamboo flute. When I tried, my fingers got all muddled up!”

  Catkin put an arm around Willa. “I’m sorry, but I’d be no good either. I love to dance, but the only place I sing is in my sunbeam shower!”

  What am I going to do? Willa thought. I can’t let Topaz down!

  Deep in thought, the three fairies fluttered along the delicate leafy skyway, which twinkled with light green crystals.

  “So the wedding is the day after tomorrow?” Catkin asked.

  “Yes, and the—”

  Bee-coo-be-be-cookoo! Coo be-be-bebe!

  Willa’s reply was drowned out by a nest of purple sparrows. The pretty birds sang over each other, louder and louder, as if they were having a competition.

  Willa spun round and stared at the sparrows. “That’s it – we’ll have a competition!”

  “What do you mean?” asked Primrose, looking from Willa to the birds and back to Willa again.

  “We’ll hold auditions for a fairy band! There must be plenty of fairies and creatures in the forest who can sing and play an instrument…”

  Primrose clapped her hands together. “Oh, that’s such a good idea!”

  Suddenly Willa’s smile turned into a deep frown. “But I need to go and tell everyone about it – and I can’t do that and arrange the wedding decorations. We’ll have to have the auditions tomorrow to be ready in time! Oh, there’s so much to do!”

  “But we can help you!” said Catkin. “There’s no need to do everything on your own. Why don’t I go and spread the word about the fairy band auditions while you and Primrose speak to the tree squirrels about the decorations.”

  “Really?” asked Willa. “Are you sure?”

  “Of course! And if I ask everyone I meet to pass the message on, the whole forest will know about the auditions in no time!”

  “That’s a great plan,” said Primrose. “We can tell everyone we meet, too!”

  Willa felt a lot more cheerful. Thank fairyness for her friends!

  Catkin grinned and began zooming back along the sparkling skyway. Willa saw her stop to talk to a group of fairies from the cherry-jewel tree, who all nodded and smiled. Catkin was doing a great job already!

  There really is an AWFUL lot to organize for a wedding, thought Willa as she and Primrose flew along the gleaming green bridge. Cake, decorations, music… But at least I don’t have to worry about the dress!

  Willa woke with a start. She sat up in her palm-leaf hammock, hoping she hadn’t overslept. But it was OK – the sun was only just rising over the horizon, casting a gorgeous pinky glow over the whole forest.

  She yawned, stretched out her pink wings, and fluttered over to the window to admire the magical sunrise. As she looked outside, she spotted a note pinned to a branch nearby. Willa quickly fluttered out of the doorway and plucked it off.

  Good morning, Willa!

  Everything’s set for the band auditions. Meet me in the Great Wood Hall!

  Catkin x

  Before long, Willa was standing in the huge carved room of Great Wood Hall. It was beautiful. Sunlight streamed in through the jewel-glass windows, shining multicoloured rays on to the wooden floor. At
the door stood a queue of forest fairies and animals chattering nervously, all waiting to audition.

  Catkin was already sitting down on a golden toadstool seat in front of the stage. Willa flew over to join her. “Hi, Catkin. Thank you so much for arranging the auditions! Please will you help me judge them?”

  Catkin looked up, her blue eyes sparkling. “I was hoping you’d ask! I prepared audition sheets for us.”

  She passed a piece of reed-paper to Willa, and Willa grinned at her super-organized friend. The sheet had one column for names and one for comments. “Ready?” Willa asked Catkin, who nodded. “Please could the first contestant enter?” Willa called across the room.

  The fairies did a double take. Pip was climbing up the stairs to the stage!

  “Hello, Pip – I didn’t know you could play an instrument!” said Catkin.

  Pip looked back at them shyly, pushing her cute bobbed hair behind her pointy ears. “Um … well … I can’t,” she said in a tiny voice barely audible in the great hall. “But I like to sing.”

  Willa was surprised – she had never heard Pip sing before. The tiny fairy had such a quiet voice that Willa couldn’t imagine it! Pip shuffled up to the yellow bellflower microphone and took a deep breath.

  What came out was a magical, wonderful sound. Pip’s voice was soft but vibrant, beautifully in tune, and it reached every single high note. Through the bellflower microphone, her voice rang clearly around the high-ceilinged hall. When Pip reached the last line, a tingle shot up Willa’s spine. Her friend’s voice was incredible. She had to be in the fairy band!

  Willa picked up her beeswax pen and wrote a big “YES” in the comments box. She glanced over at Primrose’s sheet – she’d jotted exactly the same!

  “Thank you, Pip,” said Catkin.