Friendship Dance by Titania Woods

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    Chapter One
    Twink Flutterby and her friends sat perched on mushroom seats in the Great Branch, waiting for Miss Shimmery, their HeadFairy, to address the school.
    Twink smiled happily as she looked around her at the other fairies. A new autumn term! She had had a good summer holiday, but it was glimmery to be back at Glitterwings Academy. The oak tree school felt like home.
    â€˜I wonder what Miss Shimmery’s announcement is going to be?’ whispered Bimi Bluebell, her best friend. Both girls were sitting at the Violet Branch table. Other tables in the Great Branch had different flowers hanging over them, so that the long, spacious Branch looked like a colourful garden.
    Twink shrugged. ‘The usual, I suppose – uniforms from tomorrow, and no high-speed flying!’
    Her friend Sooze leaned across the mossy table with a grin. ‘Haven’t you heard, then, Opposite? Miss Twilight said there’s something special Miss Shimmery is going to tell us!’ Sooze had lavender hair and pink wings – the exact opposite of Twink.
    Twink’s eyes widened. ‘No, I hadn’t heard that! I wonder what –’
    She broke off as Miss Shimmery herself appeared, hovering over the platform at the front of the Branch. ‘Welcome!’ said their HeadFairy, her rainbow wings glinting like opals. ‘It’s good to see everyone back. I’ve just a few things to tell you . . .’
    Twink fidgeted as Miss Shimmery made all the announcements she’d predicted, and a few other ordinary ones besides: no bothering the water sprites in the school pond, oak-leaf caps required at all times . . . oh, when would she get to the interesting bit?
    Suddenly Twink sat up straight. Miss Shimmery was taking her sparkle specs off! She only ever did that when she had something important to say.
    The HeadFairy regarded the school with a slight smile. ‘Finally, I’ve a rather special announcement to make. As you may be aware, it’s our beloved Queen’s five-hundredth birthday in two weeks. There is, naturally, going to be a great celebration to commemorate this – and a student from Glitterwings Academy will be taking part in it.’
    Twink and her friends glanced at each other, startled. None of them had dreamed the announcement might be something like this! The school waited breathlessly for Miss Shimmery to explain.
    â€˜Fairies from seven other schools will be involved as well,’ continued Miss Shimmery, her snowy hair gleaming. ‘Together, the eight students will perform the traditional Friendship Dance at Queen Mab’s birthday celebrations.’

    A thrill ran across Twink’s wings. Who would the lucky student from Glitterwings be? One of the older girls, certainly. She twisted on her seat to look at the upper-year tables.
    â€˜I bet it’ll be Poppy Greenwing,’ said Bimi in Twink’s ear. ‘She’s the best dancer in the school!’
    Speculations buzzed about the Branch like bees. Poppy, sitting with the Sixth Years, seemed to think it might be her as well. Her cheeks were pink, and all her friends were whispering excitedly to her.
    Miss Shimmery went on as if she hadn’t noticed the stir her words had caused. ‘Now, of course, for such an important event, we must make sure that we choose the right student. The Friendship Dance creates a very strong magic. Which student will fit into that magic the best, and bring something to it that’s needed?’
    Twink frowned, uncertain what the HeadFairy meant. She made it sound like it wasn’t about dancing at all.
    Reaching into a small pouch at her hip, Miss Shimmery drew out a bright, gleaming orb. A murmur of surprise ran through the school.
    â€˜A sparkle-seeker,’ confirmed Miss Shimmery, holding it up. It shone in her hand like a tiny star. ‘We cannot leave this matter to chance; there are too many variables to consider. And so the sparkle-seeker will tell us