Free Fledge Star by Titania Woods

held out her hand. Mariella hesitated, and then shook it firmly. Suddenly she smiled. ‘Come on, let’s go to the party – I’m dying for some fizzy dew!’
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    That night in the second-year Common Branch, Bimi and Twink sat on the window seat together, looking out at the star-filled sky. ‘I knew she was up to something!’ said Bimi, shaking her blue head. ‘Well, you’re a lot nicer than I am, Twink. I’m not sure I could have forgiven her for such a mean trick!’
    Twink glanced across the branch at Mariella. She stood flushed and radiant at the centre of a group of admirers, describing the final move of the game once more. And for once, she wasn’t putting on airs or acting stuck-up – she just seemed happy.
    Even so, Twink smiled to herself as she saw Sooze sitting crouched at a mushroom desk with her hands over her ears! Not everyone wanted to hear about Mariella’s triumph, that was clear. But some fairies did . . . and that seemed to be enough.
    â€˜I feel sorry for Mariella,’ Twink admitted, playing with the edge of her peony dress. ‘She just wants to be admired, but she always goes about it in the wrong way. She’s really not so bad, Bimi. Or at least, I don’t think she is deep down.’
    Bimi gave her a sideways look. ‘Is that why you let her catch the Flea?’
    Twink’s wings clapped together in surprise. ‘How did you –’
    Bimi laughed. ‘I know the way you fly, Twink! You could have got the Flea easily. So why did you do it?’
    Twink sighed and dropped her chin on her hand, gazing out at the large oak leaves rustling in the evening breeze. ‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘She just . . . seemed to need it more than me.’
    â€˜You’re daft,’ said Bimi affectionately, tucking her arm through Twink’s. ‘Nice, but daft!’
    â€˜Thanks – I think.’ Twink grinned at her best friend. It had been such a wonderful day! She was back on the team again, she had scored a point in front of the whole school . . . and she and Mariella had even reached a truce of sorts.
    â€˜Oh, look how tired that star looks,’ said Bimi suddenly, pointing at the night sky. ‘We can practise making a shooting star!’ She laughed at Twink’s puzzled expression. ‘You weren’t paying attention in that lesson, were you? Too busy with your strategy book!’
    She explained what Mrs Starbright had taught them. Twink sat up straight, excitement tickling her wings. ‘OK! Let’s try it.’
    The two fairies focused hard on the feebly shining star. It’s all right for you to leave if you like, thought Twink, furrowing her forehead in concentration. You can turn to star dust and come back as a new star!
    â€˜Ooh!’ she gasped, clutching Bimi’s arm.
    The star had become a jubilant arc of light, tracing its way across the glittering sky. Down . . . down . . . and then gone, with a final, joyful sparkle that seemed to wave goodbye.
    â€˜That was so beautiful,’ murmured Bimi.
    Twink nodded wordlessly, and the two friends smiled at each other. Pulling her knees to her chest, Twink leaned against the bark wall and gazed about the Common Branch. Contentment spread through her like warm honey.
    Yes, today had been wonderful . . . but really, the most wonderful thing of all was being a second-year student at Glitterwings Academy – the most glimmery school in the world!
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    The End

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    Bloomsbury Publishing, London, Berlin, New York and Sydney
    First published in Great Britain in 2008 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
    36 Soho Square, London, W1D 3QY
    Text copyright © Lee Weatherly 2008
    Illustrations copyright © Smiljana Coh 2008
    The moral right of the author has been asserted
    This electronic edition published in August 2010 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
    All rights reserved.
    You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or