Fairy Dust by Titania Woods Read Free Book Online

against mentioning it.
    .

    .
    â€˜She’s probably just down because she hasn’t got the hang of fairy dust yet,’ said Pix. Pix had worked out the secret only a few days before, to her immense relief. Afterwards, she’d looked almost sheepish as she said, ‘Zena was right, you know – it’s not something you can find in books!’
    â€˜Second team,’ called Mrs Lightwing. Mariella and Lola skimmed away.
    Twink shook her head. ‘No, I don’t think that’s it. Sooze wants to dance in the ceremony, but she doesn’t care about it that much. I think something might really be wrong.’
    â€˜With Sooze?’ Bimi looked surprised. ‘What could be wrong?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ said Twink. ‘But –’
    â€˜Look out!’ shrieked several fairies.
    Twink spun round, and gasped. Mariella wasn’t watching where she was going – and she was about to fly straight into a large brown moth!
    Crash! Twink winced as Mariella and the moth collided in a flurry of wings. ‘Oh!’ screeched Mariella, struggling to disentangle herself. ‘Get off me! You clumsy – stupid –’
    Well, thought Twink, she obviously wasn’t hurt, with the fuss she was making! Twink held back a wild giggle as Mariella spluttered and shouted, all flailing legs and flapping wings. Lola fluttered about them helplessly, tugging at first one and then the other.
    â€˜Brilliant!’ whispered Pix. ‘And after she was just bragging about her flying, as well!’
    Mrs Lightwing flew up, grim-faced. With a single wrench of her hand, she had the moth separated from Mariella and zigzagging dazedly on its way.
    â€˜Oh! Did you see that clumsy thing!’ shrieked Mariella, stamping her foot in the air. ‘It just crashed straight into me! It . . .’ She trailed off, noticing for the first time the expression on Mrs Lightwing’s face.
    â€˜ What is the rule about right of way with moths, Mariella?’ demanded their Flight teacher.
    Mariella paled. ‘Er . . . pass on the left,’ she said weakly.
    â€˜PASS ON THE LEFT!’ boomed Mrs Lightwing. ‘NOT try to go straight through them!’
    Twink quickly pressed her hand over her mouth to hold in her laughter. She knew she shouldn’t, but – oh, dear! Mariella deserved it!
    Mariella scowled. ‘Yes, but –’
    â€˜But nothing!’ snapped Mrs Lightwing. ‘That was the WORST bit of flying I have ever seen. You could have seriously injured that poor moth!’
    â€˜Injured him ?’ burst out Mariella. ‘What about me?’
    â€˜You deserve what you get,’ said Mrs Lightwing grimly. ‘Now, thirty laps around the school – go on!’
    â€˜But that’s not fair! He –’
    â€˜ Fifty laps – do you want to make it more?’ Mrs Lightwing folded her arms across her chest.
    Mariella fell into an angry silence, glaring at the dark ground. Mrs Lightwing jerked her head towards the school. ‘Go on, then – start flying!’ Mariella buzzed off towards Glitterwings, looking ready to explode.
    Grinning to herself, Twink glanced at Bimi and Pix. Bimi’s blue eyes were sparkling with suppressed giggles, while Pix was almost doubled over in the air, struggling to hold in howls of laughter. The rest of Daffodil Branch was in much the same state. The other first-year fairies might find Mariella a pain during Flight lessons, but Daffy Branch had to live with her all the time! It was glimmery to see her get her come-uppance so firmly for once.
    Mrs Lightwing shook her sky-blue head. ‘Lola, join the next team, please. Now, let’s continue – third team!’
    Twink caught sight of Sooze, and her merriment faded. Sooze wasn’t even smiling. As Twink watched, she glanced worriedly at the pond again.
    â€˜Look!’ hissed Twink, nudging her friends. ‘I told you something was wrong.