Midnight Feast (2 page)

‘It's great,' Twink agreed happily, tucking a strand of pink hair behind her ear. ‘Did you have good hols, Sooze?'

Bimi's expression had turned stiff the moment Sooze flitted into the branch. She fed her cricket a leaf without saying anything.

‘Glimmery!' Sooze threw herself on to Twink's bed and bounced up and down. ‘My sister Winn and I did loads of things. Oh, and, Twink, she has all
sorts
of ideas for things we First Years can do to liven things up around here! We're really falling behind compared to what she got up to last term.'

‘What's wrong with things the way they are?' asked Bimi coolly. Twink winced. She knew that Bimi didn't like Sooze very much.

Sooze rolled her eyes. ‘Well, we only played
one
good prank on Madame last term! And we didn't do anything
really
fun. We've got a lot of catching-up to do, I can tell you!'

Twink saw Bimi's lips tighten. ‘Have we got our new timetables yet?' she asked quickly. ‘We're supposed to start Creature Kindness this term – I can hardly wait! What about you two?'

She looked hopefully at them both. If she could just get them chatting about something, maybe the three of them could all get on and be friends.

But Bimi didn't say anything, and Sooze just laughed, fluttering her pink wings. ‘That's all we need, another class! But Winn says Mr Woodleaf is a real pushover. We should have lots of fun with
him.
'

Twink laughed too, but was relieved when Mrs Hover, the matron, arrived just then. The silver-winged fairy huffed a bit as her ample frame touched down on the ledge outside the branch.

‘Hoo!' she gasped, fanning herself with her wings. ‘That flight gets steeper every time I do it. Hello, girls – are we all here?' She counted them quickly, and nodded with satisfaction. ‘Excellent! Come along, now – it's time for the opening gathering in the Great Branch.'

The first gathering of the new term! Twink's wings tingled with excitement. She skimmed across the branch and took off into the trunk with the others. They streamed downwards, single-file. The air hummed with hundreds of wings as fairies from other years and branches appeared, shouting happily to each other.

As they all poured into the Great Branch, Twink saw their table near the front: a long mossy table with a large yellow daffodil suspended over it. Different flowers and plants hung over the other tables, and glow-worm lanterns hung from the ceiling. When it was dark, they lit the Branch like pieces of sunshine.

‘Come on!' cried Twink to Bimi, rushing to their table. The two friends grinned at each other as they grabbed seats side by side on the red and white spotted mushrooms. On the platform above them, the Glitterwings teachers sat talking.

Twink saw Mrs Lightwing, their Flight mistress and first-year head, and bit back a rueful smile. The gruff, no-nonsense teacher hadn't had an easy time of it last term, trying to teach Twink how to fly!

Once the fairies were all seated, Miss Shimmery, the HeadFairy, hovered into the air and clapped her hands for attention. Silence fell over the Great Branch. There was a rustling noise as the students all twisted on their mushrooms to face her, their expressions expectant.

‘A warm welcome to all of our students,' said Miss Shimmery in her low voice. Her white hair shone, and her rainbow wings glimmered gracefully. ‘It's a new term, and I expect a lot of good work from all of you. In fact, I expect much better work than last term, when a few of you took the
fairy fun
in our school song a bit too much to heart!'

Her gaze fell on a fourth-year table halfway along the Branch. Looking over her shoulder, Twink saw the Primrose table – the branch where Sooze's sister Winn lived. Winn and her friends grinned sheepishly at each other.

‘Now, I know that
some
pranks are inevitable in a school full of young fairies, but there will be far less this term,' said Miss Shimmery firmly. ‘If anyone finds it difficult to settle down, we'll assume that you have too much free time, and need more to do. Does everyone understand?'

The Branch was so silent that you could have heard a mouse sniff. Miss Shimmery scanned the school. A very slight twinkle shone in her eyes, but Twink knew that she meant exactly what she said.

‘I'm glad that we understand each other,' smiled Miss Shimmery at last. ‘Now then – all rise, and sing the Glitterwings song!'

Twink stood up with the others. The school cricket-band jumped into place behind Miss Shimmery, and a moment later their rousing music filled the Branch. The fairies eagerly lifted their voices, opening and closing their wings in time to the song.

.

Oh, Glitterwings, dear Glitterwings

Beloved oak tree scho-ool.

Good fairy fun for everyone,

That is our fairy ru-ule.

Our teachers wise,

Their magic strong,

With all our friends,

We can't go wrong.

Oh, Glitterwings, dear Glitterwings

Beloved oak tree scho-ool.

‘Butterflies commence!' announced Miss Shimmery as the song ended. She lifted her arm and a colourful stream of butterflies swept into the Branch, carrying oak-leaf platters piled high with seed cakes and acorn jugs of fresh dew. The tables buzzed into conversation as the girls sat down and started to eat.

‘It sounds like a challenge to me!' grinned Sooze, sprinkling pollen over her cake. ‘How much can we get away with without being caught?'

Pix shook her bright head. ‘I think we'd better be careful. Miss Shimmery wasn't joking.'

Twink played with her food as the conversation went on around her. Her family had probably arrived at Gran's house by now. Gran lived in a snug tree stump in a green wood, and her home was always bright and clean, with delicious smells drifting from it. A neighbouring mole family lived nearby, and Twink and Teena always had great fun playing with the babies. And at night, Gran would tell wonderful stories about life when she was a young fairy.

All of that would be going on without her now, thought Twink. Would her family even remember her on her birthday?
Oh, don't be silly!
she scolded herself. Of course they would.

‘Are you all right?' whispered Bimi.

Twink smiled gratefully at her friend. ‘I'm fine,' she said. She took a bite of seed cake and sighed, thinking of the wonderful honey cake that Gran always made for her birthday.

‘I'm fine,' she repeated. ‘But . . . I'll be a lot happier once my birthday is over with.'

.

Chapter Two

Long after the others had gone to sleep that night, Bimi lay awake in her bed beside the window, worrying about her friend. Poor Twink! What an awful thing, to feel so alone on your birthday. What could she do to cheer her up?

I'll give her my new snail-trail pen for a present,
she decided. Her mother had bought it for her during the holiday. It was the very latest thing – a pen that left a sparkly silver snail-trail. Twink would love it, Bimi knew.

All right, a present was good . . . but she wanted to do something really special for Twink, too. Bimi frowned, staring up at the moonlit ceiling. A party? Yes, but not just any party. It had to be super-glimmery, so that Twink would forget that her family was at Gran's without her.

But all Bimi could think of was having a party in the Common Branch. Boring!
Oh, why aren't I clever like Pix
, she thought in despair.
I want to surprise Twink somehow!

She gasped suddenly. Of course, that was it – they'd throw a surprise party for Twink! Even better, they could have a midnight feast. What a glimmery idea! Even the Common Branch would seem special and exciting at midnight.

Miss Shimmery's warning floated into Bimi's mind, and she frowned worriedly. Secret midnight feasts probably weren't what the HeadFairy had in mind when she had told them all to work hard and settle down!

I'll need help planning it so that we don't get caught
, thought Bimi. She'd get Pix on her own tomorrow, and see if the clever fairy had any ideas. Bimi had hardly ever broken a rule in her life . . . but this was important. A midnight feast might be the only thing that would cheer up her friend.

Bimi smiled as she drifted off to sleep, imagining the look of delight on Twink's face when she found out. Her best friend was going to have the most glimmery birthday party ever!

‘
Chirp-chirp! Chirp-chirp!'

Twink's eyes flickered open as Bimi's cricket clock went off. Drowsily, she sat up and watched Bimi pat the creature on the head. He fell silent.

‘Thanks, cricket,' said Bimi.

‘He works!' said Twink.

Bimi grinned. ‘Well, of course he works. Isn't he great?' She jumped out of bed. Humming to herself, she picked up her thistle comb and brushed her dark blue hair.

Twink's eyes widened. Bimi was never in such a cheerful mood so early in the day, but she seemed very pleased with herself this morning.

.

.

Before she could ask Bimi what she was so happy about, Mrs Hover bustled into the branch, her arms full of yellow and white daffodils. ‘Wake up, sleepyheads! Rise and shine, my loves!'

Our new uniforms!
thought Twink, bouncing out of bed herself.

In no time at all, Mrs Hover had fitted them with their new school dresses – a pinch of pink and gold fairy dust from the pouch at her hip, and the flowers instantly became dresses in each girl's size. Glimmery! Twink twirled in her new white flower-dress, admiring its yellow trim.

‘When can we make our dresses ourselves?' called Sooze from across the branch. She adjusted her oak-leaf cap at a rakish angle.

Tutting loudly, Mrs Hover padded across and tugged her cap firmly straight. ‘Not until fifth year. You have to have a good few years of Fairy Dust class before you can transform things properly!'

‘Do the upper years all make theirs?' asked Pix. Her daffodil dress was bright yellow, to match her yellow wings.

Mrs Hover nodded grimly. ‘Yes, and I have to watch them like a cat. They'd fair make your wings curl, the things they try to get away with with those dresses! Now, who wants a timetable?'

Twink crowded around with the others as Mrs Hover passed out the rose-petal timetables with their names written on them. ‘Look, we
do
start Creature Kindness this term,' she said, nudging Bimi with her wing. ‘I can hardly wait!'

‘Oh, not Double Flight first thing!' moaned Mariella, scowling down at her petal. ‘Doesn't Mrs Lightwing think we know how to fly yet?
'
She stopped, smirking at Twink. ‘Of course, some of us who were s
low starters
may not have quite mastered it . . .'

She poked her friend Lola, a thin, pale fairy with washed-out blue wings. The two of them snickered as Twink's face reddened.

Bimi glared at Mariella. ‘Just remind me, who won the award for best flier last term?' she asked pointedly.

Mariella's face darkened as the rest of the Branch laughed. She had been furious when Twink, and not herself, had won the award. Twink gave Bimi a grateful grin.

‘Now now, none of that!' said Mrs Hover briskly, shepherding them towards the ledge. ‘Come on, everyone – time for breakfast.'

‘Right!' said Mrs Lightwing, hovering above the First Years. Her sky-blue hair was pulled back into a stern bun. ‘We're going to work on barrel rolls today. I'm tired of seeing sloppy wingwork when you come out of the roll.'

Twink listened carefully. She knew that most of the other First Years were impatient with Flight class by now, but she herself had only learned to fly at the end of last term. Finally, she'd get to have some fun in this class!

Mrs Lightwing flitted back and forth in front of the long line of fairies. ‘Barrel rolls aren't just done for a laugh, you know! They can be a vital manoeuvre for getting out of a tight spot.' On the other side of the flying field, Glitterwings rose up towards the sky, its windows glinting in the sunshine.

‘Now, let's do some practice.' Mrs Lightwing tapped her wings together. ‘Twink, you and Pix fly together this term. Everyone else, please get in the same teams as last term.'

Oh, no! Twink glanced quickly at Bimi. Her best friend looked like she had just been drenched with freezing rain.

‘But, Miss –' started Bimi. She stopped abruptly, her face colouring up.

Mrs Lightwing swept over to her, hovering a few inches above the flying field. ‘Yes?' she barked.

Bimi looked at Twink, who nodded encouragement at her.
Go on!
she thought fervently.

‘Please, Miss, could I be in a different group?' burst out Bimi.

Mrs Lightwing frowned. ‘And what's wrong with the group you have?' she demanded.

Twink saw Mariella watching Bimi with narrowed eyes, and shuddered. Poor Bimi! It was bad enough that she had had to fly on Mariella's team all last term. Surely Mrs Lightwing wouldn't make her do it again!

Bimi took a deep breath and straightened her wings. ‘I don't want to fly with Mariella,' she said.

The Flight mistress raised a sky-blue eyebrow. ‘Oh? And why not?'

Bimi's face was on fire. ‘I – I don't like her,' she said.

A snicker ran through the class. Even Lola gave a hysterical giggle, and Twink saw Mariella's face turn purple with anger. ‘You just wait!' she hissed at Bimi under her breath.

Mrs Lightwing looked sharply at her. ‘Wait for what, Mariella?'

Mariella's scowl deepened. ‘Nothing, Miss,' she said sulkily.

‘Hmm.' Mrs Lightwing tapped her wings together. ‘All right, Bimi, you can fly with Twink and Pix instead. Mariella, you and Lola can fly alone – until you become more pleasant and others want to be around you!'

As Mariella seethed, Twink and Bimi exchanged an excited look and squeezed hands.
Oh, hurrah!
thought Twink. They'd get to fly together – how perfectly glimmery!

Mrs Lightwing blew her reed whistle. ‘All right, now, teams in the air. We'll start with a series of six rolls. And remember – tight wingwork, everyone!'

The fairies took off in a flurry, causing a group of nearby midges to dart away in alarm. As Twink, Pix and Bimi searched for an empty space of sky to practise in, Mariella darted up, with Lola hovering close behind.

‘How
dare
you show me up in front of the whole year, Bimi?' Mariella's voice trembled with rage. ‘You won't get away with it! I'll –'

‘Oh, buzz off!' snapped Pix. ‘It's not Bimi's fault you're so awful. Everyone in the whole year knows it!'

Mariella clenched her fists as if she might explode. She zoomed off abruptly, glaring at Bimi over her shoulder.

Bimi swallowed hard, looking shaken. ‘I think she really hates me now! But I
couldn't
fly with her again, I just couldn't!'

‘Of course not!' Twink flew close to Bimi and rubbed her wing against hers. ‘Don't worry about Mariella. She's just a wasp brain.'

The girls started on their barrel rolls, first getting up a good head of speed and then tucking their wings in as they twisted in the air. Twink grinned, her pink hair whipping about her face. Barrel rolls were good fun, no matter what Mrs Lightwing said!

As they came out of their last roll, she glanced over at Mariella and shook her head. She had never seen Mariella quite so angry before. Bimi would probably do well to avoid her for a while!

Bimi had been trying all morning for a chance to talk to Pix alone, with no luck. Then, after Flight class, Twink solved the problem for her.

‘Oh, look, there's Sili!' she cried as they drew near the school. ‘I'll be right back – I just want to ask her about her hols.' She skimmed away in a bright blur of pink and lavender.

‘Pix, I need to talk to you,' said Bimi urgently once Twink was gone.

Pix glanced at her in surprise. ‘All right! What's up?'

Quickly, Bimi explained about Twink's birthday, and her idea for a midnight feast. ‘But it needs to be really special! And of course we don't want Mariella and Lola to come, so we'll have to keep it a secret from them, somehow.'

.

.

Pix's eyes were shining. ‘A midnight feast, what a glimmery idea! But you're right, those two can never know about it. They'd be sure to go straight to Mrs Lightwing to get us into trouble, and you know what Miss Shimmery said.'

Bimi gulped. Stupidly, it hadn't occurred to her that Mariella and Lola might tell on them, but of course Pix was right. Mariella would
love
to get them all into trouble if she could. Especially her, after this morning!

She peered over her shoulder. Mariella and Lola were flying some way behind the others, whispering behind their hands to each other.

‘Maybe it's too risky,' said Bimi doubtfully. ‘Should we just have an ordinary party at break time?'

Pix shook her head. ‘No, we should have a midnight feast for Twink – it's perfect! We won't get caught if we plan it right.'

They flew through the great double doors. ‘What about Sooze?' said Pix suddenly. ‘I know she's not your favourite fairy, but you should ask her to help you plan, too – she's sure to have loads of great ideas!'

Bimi made a face, but she knew Pix was right. Sooze was wonderful at this sort of thing. With her help, Twink's party would really be something to remember.

‘All right,' she said. ‘Let's make some sort of excuse to Twink at break, and the three of us can talk about it then.'