Magic Ballerina 13-18 Read online

  “We can still get you there,” said Holly. She had almost untied the rope. But just then there was a wild shriek.

  “Holly!” the White Cat cried in alarm.

  Holly looked up and gasped. The Wicked Fairy was running out of the castle and heading straight towards them!

  “What are you doing? I order you to get back to your positions!” the Wicked Fairy yelled at the hunters.

  But the sylphs’ magic held them fast. They gazed wonderingly at Ava and the others, seeming to see and hear nothing else.

  Desperately, Holly tugged at the rope as the Wicked Fairy focused on her and lifted her wand. “Stop that!” the fairy screeched.

  The White Cat leaped in front of Holly, turning and spinning as fast as he could.

  The Wicked Fairy fired a jet of green flames at him. He leaped into the air, jumping high above it.

  “I’ll get you, cat!” the Wicked Fairy snarled, shooting another blast of green fire.

  The White Cat sprang upwards again, tucking his knees high. He landed and immediately twirled away. At the same moment, the rope slipped out from the ring. “You’re free!” Holly cried to the unicorn.

  The unicorn charged forward – straight at the Wicked Fairy! As he reached her, his long horn caught in her cloak and dress. With a squawk, she was swung up into the air and the unicorn whinnied triumphantly. He galloped forward while she screamed, “Let me go! Put me down!”

  The unicorn did as she asked. He stopped abruptly in front of the carousel and dumped her right into the empty space.

  Instantly, the iron carousel split in half with a loud CRACK!

  “Oh, my glittering tail! Putting her into the empty space has broken the enchantment!” cried the White Cat.

  Holly clasped her hands and watched in astonishment as all the creatures suddenly came back to life. The swan hissed, the bear growled, the sea dragon roared and the dove flapped her wings. Then they all turned to the Wicked Fairy! She stumbled to her feet, half falling off the carousel, not having the chance to raise her wand. The creatures leaped towards her. She ran back to the castle with the swan and the dove pecking at her from the air and the sea dragon, bear and stag charging behind her. The Wicked Fairy slammed the door shut in their faces. “We did it!” cried the White Cat, leaping into the air with joy. “The enchantment’s broken!”

  The unicorn appeared beside them. “It won’t take the Wicked Fairy long to get herself together and come out again.” He knelt down on to his front legs. “Get on my back and I’ll take you away.”

  “But what about the others?” demanded Holly.

  “They’ll be fine,” said the unicorn and even as he spoke, the dove and swan were flapping away and the bear, stag and dragon were racing into the woods. “Come on! We must go!”

  Holly grabbed the unicorn’s mane and threw herself on to his silvery back. The White Cat leaped up lightly behind her. Within a few bounds, the unicorn was into the trees and away.

  The world seemed to fly by around them as they raced through the forest, until finally they slowed down to stop, deep in the woods.

  “I will leave you here,” he said. “We are far from the Wicked Fairy’s castle and you will be safe. I must go on to the High Mountains and I presume you will be going back to the Royal Palace.”

  Holly nodded and slipped off his back. “It’s been lovely meeting you.”

  “Thank you for rescuing me,” the unicorn said. “And I’m sorry to have put you both in so much danger.” His dark eyes looked troubled. “I should have listened to you. My pride almost cost you and me – and all the other magic creatures – our lives. I’m sorry.”

  “Everyone makes mistakes,” Holly said softly. For a moment, a picture of her behaviour at the theatre back at home flashed into her mind: dancing on the stage, snapping at Chloe …

  She touched the unicorn’s soft neck.

  The unicorn nuzzled her and then plunged forward, and in a few strides had disappeared into the trees.

  “I’m so glad he’s safe,” the White Cat said in relief.

  “Me too,” agreed Holly, pushing the thoughts of her real life back deep into her mind.

  “And now it is our turn to go.”

  Holly turned and saw that the sylphs had arrived and were standing behind them. Ava walked over. “This is where we must say goodbye.”

  She and the other sylphs danced around Holly and the White Cat in a shifting, shimmering line and then vanished.

  “Goodbye!” Holly called. She sighed, her head was spinning. “What an adventure!”

  The White Cat grinned at her. “Come on, let’s get back to the palace and tell everyone all about it!”

  King Tristan and Queen Isabella, the rulers of Enchantia, were delighted to hear that the enchantment on the carousel had been broken and how the sylphs had helped. The King ordered a garden party in celebration.

  Everyone rushed around getting everything ready until there were tables in the gardens piled high with food and great pitchers of fruit juice and elderberry cordial. Musicians started playing in the shade of a willow tree and the party started!

  People talked and danced on the lawns. Holly and the White Cat spun each other round and then Holly broke away to dance with the other people she had met before – the Lilac Fairy, Little Red Riding Hood, Bluebeard and Princess Aurelia. It was so much fun to be surrounded by a laughing crowd, all celebrating together. Holly couldn’t stop smiling. “I wish the sylphs had come,” she said to the White Cat, as she rejoined him for a lively polka. “I’m sure they’d have liked it here.”

  “I’m not so sure. Some people prefer keeping themselves to themselves,” the White Cat told her as they swung around. “That’s just the way they are. I wouldn’t like to be like that, though. I think you’d miss out on so much!”

  Holly was just thinking about that when her feet start to tingle. Her shoes were glowing. “It’s time for me to go home!” she cried. “Goodbye, cat! Goodbye, everyone!”

  “Goodbye!” she heard them all shout as a myriad colours surrounded her and whisked her away.

  Holly landed in the street outside the theatre, snowflakes falling on her hair. She shook her head. It was hard to believe that not a second had passed in the real world while she had been away having such an adventure.

  Everything came flooding back – the way she had danced on stage before she’d left, selfishly and not for the rest of the corps.

  The White Cat’s words about the sylphs echoed in her mind: some people like keeping themselves to themselves. That’s just the way they are.

  Holly paused. Is it the way I am? Do I really want to be different from everyone?

  She thought about how she had felt at the garden party: dancing, feeling surrounded by so much laughter, being part of something – did she really want to be on the outside, like the sylphs, just looking in?

  No, she thought suddenly. I don’t want to miss out on things. She turned from the snow. She had some explaining to do.

  The first person she saw when she reached the changing rooms was Chloe. There was a central area with sofas and a drinks table. Chloe was pouring out a glass of water and looked upset.

  Holly walked straight over. “I’m sorry,” she blurted out.

  Chloe looked at her in surprise. Holly carried on, her heart beating almost as fast as it had done when she had faced the Wicked Fairy. “You were right. I shouldn’t have danced differently. I should have tried to do what everyone else was doing. And I’m really sorry I snapped at you.”

  Chloe’s face broke into a smile. “That’s OK. I was just worried that you were going to get told off by Madame Za-Za.”

  Their eyes met. “Friends?” said Holly anxiously.

  “Friends!” said Chloe, hugging her.

  “I’d better apologise to the others. ”Holly’s heart sank. She wasn’t looking forward to that at all. She went into the other changing room that her class were using, with Chloe at her side. The other girls stopped talking as she walked
in.

  “I’m sorry,” Holly burst out nervously, knowing she should get it over and done with straight away. “I was really stupid to dance like I did. I just got carried away. I promise I won’t do it again.”

  The other girls’ faces relaxed.

  “That’s OK,” said Alice. “It’s only the dress rehearsal anyway.”

  “And it is easy to get carried away on stage,” said Lily. “I almost did three pirouettes instead of two, I was having so much fun!”

  “And I was so busy looking at the lights,” said Chloe, “that I almost fell over!”

  They all laughed and started talking about what it had been like on stage. Holly slipped happily into the group, comparing the best and worst bits. She felt warm and happy; it was almost like being back in Enchantia again.

  Her eyes glanced to the door and she caught sight of a tall, elegant figure there. Madame Za-Za! Holly left the others and went over to the dance teacher. “I’m sorry …” she began for the third time.

  “I heard,” Madame Za-Za broke in softly. “There is no need to say any more, Holly. It is enough for me that you have apologised to your classmates. I know you will not do it again.”

  “Oh, no, I promise I won’t!” Holly said fervently.

  “Well done.” Madame Za-Za’s eyes held hers. “It is not wrong to dance your best, Holly, or to want to be an individual. I am sure in the future there will be many times when you dance solos and can fully show off your talent, but for now, dance the best you can as part of a group and enjoy it.”

  Holly nodded. “I will. I promise.”

  Madame Za-Za’s face creased into a smile before she clapped her hands. “Five minutes, girls, and then you need to be back on stage!”

  They all lined up. Holly could feel determination beating through her. She wanted to make Madame Za-Za and the others pleased.

  “Good luck,” Chloe whispered. Holly grinned at her. “You too!”

  The music started, the curtain rose and suddenly they were dancing on to the stage. Holly moved in perfect time with the others. They all swept their arms gracefully up and down, and began a series of turning steps that carried them around the stage. As they spun, dresses swirling, Holly felt her heart swell with happiness. She was dancing on stage with her friends and there was no place she would rather be.

  She smiled secretly to herself. Well, apart from Enchantia, of course!

  This pretty turn will have you spinning like a carousel!

  1. Start with your arms gently bent in front of you and feet in first position. Rise up on to demi-toe.

  2. Raise your arms straight above your head and hold them in an oval shape so your fingertips are almost touching. This is fifth position.

  3. On your demi-toes leading with your right foot, take tiny steps in the smallest circle you can, going round to the right until you are back facing towards the front.

  4. Return your arms to first position and repeat the steps. This time, turn in the opposite direction so you don’t get dizzy!

  Slowly Holly sat upright on the sofa, her eyes never leaving the screen. She was watching the end of the ballet of Cinderella, her favourite bit. She caught her breath as the Spring Fairy leaped softly into a grand jeté, almost floating in the air, before landing gracefully. Holly leaned forward, her hands clasped tight together as she watched the dancer flutter and move with the lightest of steps. Then the credits went up.

  Her mother, a professional ballerina, had been dancing the role of the Spring Fairy. She’s just the best, thought Holly, blinking back the tears. It had been so wonderful staying with Mum over the Christmas holidays and learning the steps to this very dance herself. But now it was January, and a new school term had started, so Holly was back living with her Aunt Maria and Uncle Ted while Mum was on tour with the ballet company. She liked her aunt and uncle, but it wasn’t quite the same.

  Still, it wouldn’t be long till half term. Holly glanced at her watch and jumped up. She’d been so absorbed in Cinderella that she’d completely lost track of the time. She was due at Madame Za-Za’s ballet school in five minutes. She’d have to hurry if she was going to make it in time for class.

  Grabbing her ballet bag and throwing on her jacket, she rushed out into the cold air.

  “And-one-and-two-and-keep-in-time …” came Madame Za-Za’s voice, crisp and clear, as the girls sank down in their pliés.

  Holly felt a rush of happiness flood through her as she did what she loved most in the world.

  “Push down into the floor as you straighten up … Nice work, Holly,” called Madame Za-Za.

  Holly’s friend, Chloe, smiled at her as the class turned at the barre to do pliés on the other side. Holly smiled right back. It was lovely to have a new friend – up until last term, she hadn’t really made any. Her parents had divorced over six years ago, and there had been a lot of moving around since. Her dad was a professional dancer as well, and, although Holly occasionally spent time with him, she was mainly with her mum or her aunt and uncle.

  Holly concentrated hard, as Madame Za-Za instructed the class to move to the centre.

  “Use your eyes, girls! Feel the magic!” said Madame Za-Za, walking down the rows of students, tilting a head here or raising an arm there.

  As Holly checked her position in the ceiling-to-floor mirror of the studio, her eyes fell on her old red ballet shoes. They might look shabby, but they were really special. When she’d first been given them, she’d never imagined quite how special. They looked so ordinary, but they were a million miles from that, thought Holly, as she opened her arms from first to second position.

  For Holly had a special secret. Her ballet shoes were magic! Twice already they had whisked her away to the land of Enchantia, where all the characters from the ballets lived, and where Holly had the most incredible adventures.

  The class were working on a new position now, one that the Fairy Godmother held in the ballet of Cinderella. As Holly raised her leg behind her, trying not to wobble, pictures of the characters she’d met in Enchantia whizzed through her mind, finishing with the White Cat.

  She couldn’t help breaking into a smile at the thought of him.

  “Holly, are you daydreaming?” Madame Za-Za’s sharp voice cut into Holly’s imaginings. “Your hand is drooping. You’ve lost your extension!”

  Instantly, Holly snapped back to attention. How could she have let her position slip like that? She really needed to pay more attention.

  “Rise up through your spines, girls.”

  Holly’s legs and arms were aching with the effort of holding the position, and she noticed a few girls letting go and sighing as they flopped forward.

  “Lower the leg and close in fifth,” instructed Madame Za-Za, then after a few seconds she added, “and relax.”

  There were sighs of relief from all around the studio and someone even mumbled, “It’s impossible.”

  But Madame Za-Za didn’t take any notice. “It is important to keep the hip down,” she went on, demonstrating the balance. “Not like this …”

  Even in the wrong position, Madame Za-Za still looked wonderful and graceful.

  “And now, girls, I shall give you a sequence of steps that the Fairy Godmother dances in Cinderella. Get ready to pay close attention. Pas de chat, pas de chat, chassé, degagé …”

  Brilliant, Holly thought, pleased there would be another opportunity to hold the balance at the end of the sequence. I’ll try really hard to do it well. She started picturing herself with a nice straight supporting leg, but then realised Madame Za-Za was talking again. “Right, one row at a time, and we’ll start with the front row …”

  Holly went forward to take her position, feeling a flutter of panic in her stomach. She’d only taken in the first few steps that Madame Za-Za had set, and now she had to dance the whole sequence.

  The music started and her eyes darted to the right as she tried to copy Chloe, but it was no good. She was falling behind the beat and her face was getting hotter and
hotter under Madame Za-Za’s intense gaze. Her row didn’t even finish the exercise before Madame Za-Za clapped her hands and told them to stop.

  “Holly, I won’t tell you again about daydreaming in class.” For a moment, Holly felt a flash of irritation, but she fought it off. Madame Za-Za was right to tell her off. She should have been concentrating more.

  As the other rows each took a turn at the steps, Madame Za-Za’s corrections seemed to ring out more and more. Then she took a deep breath and said, “Take a short break, girls. We will try again in a few moments.”

  Some of the students went off to the toilets and others to the changing rooms. Holly hung back a bit because she wanted to try out the steps again, but Chloe took her hand and the two girls went outside into the corridor.

  “I’ll catch up with you in a sec,” Holly told her friend, as she bent down to rub a dirty mark off her pale pink tights.

  As Chloe hurried off lightly, Holly suddenly noticed her ballet shoes. Was it her imagination or were they a brighter red than usual? They were sparkling! And now her feet had begun to tingle too. That could only mean one thing – it was happening again. Right here. Right in the middle of class! She was on her way to Enchantia …

  A rainbow of colours began to swirl around Holly’s feet and rose higher, lifting her up till she was spinning. She felt as though she was swirling through the air, until quite suddenly, she landed. The rainbow dissolved into sparkling silver and gold and she found herself inside a palace, at the edge of a grand hall.

  It wasn’t the Royal Palace belonging to King Tristan and Queen Isabella, that she had visited before. This one was quite different.

  The hall was buzzing with activity and there seemed to be all sorts of preparations going on. Servants were rushing back and forth from the kitchen to the hall carrying china dishes, silver cutlery, lacy napkins, elegant mats and sparkling glasses.