Fledge Star (4 page)

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Chapter Four

‘Weather magic is the most
dramatic
of all fairy magic,' intoned Mrs Starbright. Her blue sleeves billowed as she raised her arms. ‘We are responsible for making snowflakes! Rainbows! Thunderstorms!'

Mariella stifled a yawn. This was the most boring class ever. Who cared about making snowflakes or rainbows? She'd rather do something important – something that would get her
noticed.

‘We are also responsible for shooting stars,' continued Mrs Starbright, adjusting her cobweb shawl. ‘Who knows why we must help stars fall from the sky? Yes, Pix?'

‘Stars are very hard-working,' said Pix eagerly. ‘They'll keep burning for ever, even if they're exhausted, until a fairy tells them they can stop.'

‘Perfect!' cried Mrs Starbright. ‘And then once they've fallen, their star dust makes a new star – such a beautiful cycle. Now, who read ahead in their petal books to find out
how
we make stars fall?'

.

.

Pix's hand shot in the air again. ‘If you find a star that looks weak and tired, you just concentrate on it and tell it that it's all right for it to retire. And that's all there is to it!'

‘Yes!' Mrs Starbright gave a rapturous sigh. ‘Shooting stars could not be simpler.'

Mariella rolled her eyes as the lecture went on. That Pix was such a show-off. Mariella didn't know why the others couldn't see how insufferable she was. Of course, they were all pretty insufferable, too!

Especially Twink. Mariella propped her chin on her hand, brooding to herself. It had been bad enough when Twink made the team, but how
could Madge have chosen her over Mariella for the Sparklelight match? It was so unfair! Mariella knew that
she
'
d
be the star player if only Twink wasn't around.

She slid a glance towards Twink. She sat with her forehead furrowed, studying her strategy book from under her arm.

Mariella held back a groan. Twink had been studying practically non-stop for days now! At this rate, she'd know all the set pieces inside and out, and fly brilliantly in the match.

Unless . . . a slow smile spread across Mariella's face as a plan came to her. Ooh, yes – perfect!
Ha ha, Twink,
she thought smugly. The pink-haired fairy wasn't going to play quite as well in the match as she thought. Then Madge would see what a wasp brain she'd been not to choose Mariella – and with any luck, she'd be so furious that she'd throw Twink off the team for good!

The day before the match the Fledge team practised for hours, chasing the Flea and hurtling around the posts until their wings were aching.

‘That's it!' called Madge finally. She hovered in the air, looking pleased. ‘Excellent practice, everyone. I think we have a real chance of beating Sparklelight tomorrow.'

‘It'll be the first time in years if we do,' whispered Mia to Twink. ‘But I hope Madge is right!'

‘Now listen up,' continued Madge. ‘We leave for Sparklelight straight after breakfast tomorrow, and I want you all to get a good night's sleep tonight. No staying up late, no larking about. You're to REST! Understand?'

Twink nodded agreement with the others. She was so tired already, she couldn't imagine doing anything but falling into bed tonight!

‘Good,' said Madge with a sudden smile. ‘Go on then, get your showers!'

Twink flitted back to the changing log with the others. After a soothing rainwater shower, she pulled on her peony dress, tying her blue sash around her waist.

Mariella appeared beside her, patting her silvery-green hair dry with a bit of spongy moss. ‘Looking forward to the match tomorrow?'

Twink looked up in surprise. ‘Oh – yes!' she said. ‘It'll be fun to see another school. Mia says the hosting school always throws a party for the visiting team – it'll be really glimmery.'

The most glimmery part of all would be playing in the match, she thought, though it didn't seem very tactful to mention it!

Mariella looked like she was thinking the same thing. ‘Mmm. I suppose. I almost went to Sparklelight instead of here, you know.'

Twink paused as she pulled on her dark pink pixie boots. ‘You did?'

Mariella nodded, combing her hair out with a thistle comb. ‘Mummy says you get a much better class of fairy at Sparklelight, but my father put his wing down. He said he wasn't going to have me turn out a snob.' She wrinkled her nose. ‘It was
so
unfair of him! Mummy went to Sparklelight, and loved it.'

Privately, Twink thought Mariella's father had a point – no one was more stuck-up than Mariella already! But she didn't say this out loud. ‘Oh,' she murmured. ‘That's too bad.'

Mariella lifted a shoulder, looking almost friendly for a change. ‘Well, never mind about that. Have you memorised all the set pieces?'

Twink hesitated. ‘I
think
so. There's so many of them, but –' She stopped at the look of wide-eyed horror on Mariella's face.

‘You
think
?'
she echoed.

Twink licked her lips, suddenly uncomfortable. ‘Well – yes. I mean, we've gone over most of them in practice, but there might be one or two that –'

Glancing over her shoulder, Mariella lowered her voice. ‘Twink! Are you saying you
haven't
memorised them all?'

‘No, I have!' cried Twink. ‘Only – well, you know, there's so many of them, and they're all so long . . .' She trailed off. A moment ago she had been perfectly happy with how well she knew the set pieces, but suddenly she felt very unsure.

Mariella shook her head. ‘Twink, you've got to learn them!' she hissed. ‘You've got to know them inside and out before the match, or else Madge will never forgive you.'

Twink swallowed. ‘Well – I was planning on going over them again tonight during evening study –'

Mariella's green eyes widened. ‘But that's only an hour! And if you don't know them all . . .'

‘But – that's all I can do,' faltered Twink. ‘You know we're supposed to get a good night's sleep tonight –'

Mariella stared at Twink as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. ‘Well, which is better, to be a bit tired and know all the set pieces, or wide awake and useless? It's your first match, Twink! Don't you want to show Madge you've got what it takes?'

‘Of course!' cried Twink. ‘But –'

Mariella huffed out a breath. ‘Well, it's up to you, of course, but if
I
had been chosen for the match, I know what I'd do – I'd make sure I knew all the set pieces, no matter how late I had to stay up!'

Flinging her woven-grass towel over her shoulder, Mariella headed for her bark locker without another word. Twink stared after her, biting her lip.
It's all right,
she told herself.
I've been studying the set pieces for days now. I know them, I really do!

But suddenly it was as though they'd all vanished from her head.

Secret Flea Manoeuvre. When I make an X with my wings, all Stealers are to fly to the centre of the field. When the Guards try to tag –

Twink stifled a yawn as she turned the page. Nestled beside her under the covers, the wooden glow-worm lantern gave off a soft glow. The glow-worm inside it lay curled up grumpily, looking as tired as she felt.

‘Just a few more,' Twink whispered to him. She yawned again, trying to stop the letters on the page from blurring together. If only her moss bed wasn't so lovely and soft!

‘Twink?' murmured a sleepy voice. ‘Are you still awake?'

Twink poked her head out from under the covers. Bimi was sitting up in the next bed, her blue hair tousled in the moonlight. ‘What are you doing up?' she whispered. ‘It's almost three o'clock.'

Twink swallowed. ‘Just – going over the set pieces for tomorrow.'

‘But you know them all already! Aren't you supposed to get a good night's sleep?'

.

.

.
Twink clutched her strategy book tightly. ‘I've only got a few more to go over.'

‘A few
more
?' Bimi's eyes widened. ‘But, Twink –'

‘Hush, you'll wake everyone up!' Twink glanced over her shoulder at the sleeping branch.

Bimi shook her head. ‘I really think you should go to sleep now, Twink. You're going to be exhausted.'

Worn out with worry and lack of sleep, Twink felt her patience snap. ‘Stop nagging!' she whispered sharply. ‘I know what I'm doing, all right?'

A hurt frown crossed Bimi's face. ‘Fine. But I think you're being completely daft. You already
know
all the set pieces!' She flipped over on to her side, pointedly opening her silver and gold wings to hide herself.

Twink felt like crying. Oh, that was just what she needed – a row with her best friend!

No time to worry about it now, though. She couldn't take a chance on not knowing the set pieces. Wiping her eyes, Twink burrowed back under her covers and started to read again, her eyes aching with the effort to stay open.

Awakened by angry whispers, Mariella had lain quietly in the darkness, listening to the argument with satisfaction. Oh, how funny! Twink had fallen for every word!

Now we'll see how well she plays tomorrow,
she thought smugly. Lulled by the sound of turning pages coming from Twink's bed, Mariella drifted back to sleep, smiling to herself.

Chapter Five

‘Go, Mia! Go, go!' shouted the Glitterwings cheering section. The twenty fairies who had accompanied the team to Sparklelight Academy sat on special mushrooms down at the front of the pitch, screaming and shouting, trying to make as much noise as they could.

Hovering in the air as she guarded the Flea, Twink saw blearily that Mia was chasing a Sparklelight Stealer. With a sudden dive, Mia tagged the Stealer with a flourish. The Glitterwings fairies cheered and beat their wings, waving oak-leaf banners.

Twink yawned behind her hand. Oh, she was so tired! The team had ridden to Sparklelight on a flock of grey and yellow tits, the school being too far away to fly to on their own. Twink had hardly been able to keep upright in her saddle.

Normally she would have loved travelling to a different school, especially one as grand as this. Sparklelight Academy was behind a waterfall in a woodland lake, with cosy caves for the classrooms and sleeping quarters.

The Sparklelight Fledge field was just as impressive, with the posts rising up out of a shallow forest pool that was just like a mirror. Reflections of the trees gleamed in the water. Twink could see how lovely it was, even if she was too sleepy to appreciate it.

At least I know all the set pieces,
she thought. Which was a good thing, as Sparklelight had some pretty glimmery set pieces themselves! It had been a close, quick match so far. The Flea had been tagged twice already – but as Sparklelight only had one Stealer left, Glitterwings' victory seemed certain.

At the opposite end of the field, Mia and the other Guard were chasing the remaining Stealer. Twink hovered beside the Flea, relieved that it showed no signs of going anywhere.

Oh, hurry up and catch that last Stealer so we can win,
she thought drowsily.
I want to go home and get some sleep!

No, she had to keep alert! Fluttering in midair, Twink shook out her arms. But a moment later she was yawning again. It was so lovely and warm out here . . . her head drooped, and her eyes shut despite themselves. Slowly, she started drifting towards the ground.

‘HURRAH!' screamed the Sparklelight students.

Twink jerked awake – and gasped with horror! The Sparklelight Stealer was hovering only a wing's length away, holding the struggling Flea triumphantly over her head. Twink gaped in confusion as the Sparklelight players all rushed into the air, embracing their teammate. But . . . how had they lost the match?

She flew in a daze to the lily-pad sidelines. The rest of the Glitterwings team was there ahead of her, huddled together talking with their wings almost touching. They fell silent when Twink landed beside them. Mariella had her silvery eyebrows raised.

‘What happened?' asked Twink nervously. ‘I didn't see –'

The lily pad sloshed in the water as Madge landed. ‘I'll tell you what happened! You fell asleep!' she boomed.

Twink gulped. ‘I –'

.

.

‘You were practically SNORING out there!' Madge's broad face was red with anger. ‘I signalled for you to do a Single Swoop Move to catch that last Stealer, and you didn't even see me – she stole the Flea right out from under your nose!
Twink, how
could
you?'

Oh, no!
Twink's wings felt icy. ‘I – I'm sorry,' she stammered. ‘I didn't mean to –'

‘Didn't you get enough sleep last night?' demanded Madge. ‘You didn't, did you? And after what I told you!'

Twink's face burned. ‘I'm sorry,' she whispered again.

‘We could have won against Sparklelight
,'
raged Madge, punching her fist into her palm. ‘We almost had it! Oh, you silly little girl!'

‘But Madge, she was only up late because she was studying the set pieces!' put in Mariella, her eyes wide.

‘Studying the
set
pieces
?'
Madge scowled thunderously at Twink. ‘Didn't you KNOW them already?'

Twink winced. She wished Mariella hadn't said anything! ‘I – I
thought
so, but – I just wanted to make sure,' she mumbled.

Madge glared at her for a moment, and then let out a heavy breath. ‘Well, come on, everyone – let's go to the party,' she said wearily. ‘We might as well
try
to enjoy ourselves.'

The Sparklelight party was held in a large cavern just behind the glittering fall of water, with bright patterns of light dancing on the walls. The food was delicious – cress cakes and fizzy dew and lily seeds – but Twink could only pick at her share. She felt as if she might never eat again.

The rest of the Glitterwings team stood clustered together, talking in low voices.
Go and join them,
Twink told herself.
Say something!

But how could she face them? It was all her fault that they had lost the game. She didn't even know if she was still on the team or not!

Suddenly Mariella appeared at her side. ‘Are you all right?' she asked.

Twink looked up, startled. ‘Er – yes, I suppose.'

Mariella's green eyes were large with concern. ‘Well, I think Madge was very unfair, shouting at you like that in front of the whole team!'

Twink blinked. ‘You . . . do?'

‘Of course!' cried Mariella. ‘Falling asleep could have happened to anyone. You were only trying to learn the set pieces.'

Twink gaped at her. Was this really Mariella? ‘Um . . . thanks.' She glanced at the rest of the team, and tried to sound casual. ‘What do the others think?'

.

.

Mariella made a face. ‘Oh, you'd think they'd never made a mistake in their lives, the way they're carrying on! Just ignore them, Twink.'

Twink's spirits plummeted. ‘They're really cross with me, then?'

Mariella helped herself to a bit of Twink's cress cake. ‘They'll get over it. Try not to worry, Twink. Just let them have their little strop!'

Twink risked another look at the team. They were all staring right at her, frowning and nudging each other. Oh, what were they
saying
?
Was she still on the team or not?

Suddenly she couldn't bear the suspense any longer. ‘I'm going to go and talk to Madge,' she said, and flitted off before Mariella could reply.

Her spirits sank as she approached Madge, who stood chatting with the Sparklelight Games Fairy. Twink hovered to one side, not at all sure how to word her question.

‘Well, what is it?' demanded Madge gruffly, scowling down at her. The Sparklelight fairy tactfully chose that moment to flit off for another cress cake.

Twink's lavender wings trembled. ‘I – I just wanted to say again how sorry I am.'

Madge sighed, and took a swig of fizzy dew. ‘Well, we've got two more chances at Sparklelight. So we might beat them yet.'

Twink swallowed, and then blurted it out. ‘And I was wondering – am I still on the team?'

Madge was silent for a long moment, considering her. Twink tried to stand up straight under the scrutiny. Her heart was drumming so hard that she was certain it must be echoing around them.

‘I haven't decided,' said Madge, tapping a finger on her acorn cup. ‘You're a good player, Twink – but that was a really silly stunt, sitting up half the night before a match!'

Twink's wings drooped. ‘I know,' she whispered. Oh, what had she done! She loved being on the team, and now she might lose it for good, all because of her own stupidity.

‘All right, I'll give you one more chance,' said Madge finally. ‘But you're going to have to work hard to show me that you've got what it takes!'