Free Flying High by Titania Woods

around the mossy platform where Miss Shimmery and the teachers waited.
    The HeadFairy hovered above the crowd, her rainbow wings glinting in the sun. ‘With so many talented fliers here today, it hasn’t been easy to decide on the winners, but Mrs Lightwing and I have done our best!’
    Mariella, standing nearby, smirked. ‘I’m sure they’ll choose me,’ Twink heard her say to her mother. ‘No one in our year can hold a glow-worm to me.’
    â€˜We’ll start with our First Years,’ said Miss Shimmery from the platform. ‘It was a very difficult choice, but the best flier in the first year is . . . Sooze Birdsong!’
    The entire first year burst into wild applause. Sooze screeched with delight, and flitted to the stage to collect her prize.
    â€˜Oh!’ Mariella’s wings snapped shut.
    â€˜How outrageous!’ huffed her mother. ‘You’re far more talented, Mariella!’
    Twink watched Sooze collect a scroll and a kiss from Miss Shimmery, and smiled. Well done, Opposite, she thought. Even though they weren’t best friends any more, she was still pleased for Sooze. All that practising she had done had paid off!
    After Miss Shimmery had announced the best fliers from all the years, she held up her hands for silence. ‘Now then. There’s still one more prize to give . . . that of the best flier in the entire school.’
    Mariella and her mother perked up, their eyes gleaming.
    â€˜Oh, no,’ Twink murmured to Bimi. ‘There may be hope for Mariella yet!’
    Miss Shimmery smiled at the crowd. ‘Mrs Lightwing suggested to me who deserves this prize the most, and I wholeheartedly agree with her. It’s unusual to give this prize for only three loop-the-loops . . . but I think you’ll understand when I explain that the fairy in question only learned how to fly this morning.’
    Twink’s heart skipped a beat. Miss Shimmery looked directly at her.
    â€˜Twink Flutterby, please fly forward and collect your prize!’
    â€˜Oh, Twink!’ gasped Bimi, clutching her arm. ‘You’ve won!’
    Twink stood without moving, certain that she had heard wrong. Her father laughed and pushed her gently between the wings. ‘Go on, Twinkster – everyone’s waiting for you!’

    In a dream, Twink flew to the stage. Everyone was cheering. Miss Shimmery handed her a scroll and a small golden brooch embossed with the Glitterwings Academy emblem – an oak tree with wings.
    â€˜Well done, Twink.’ She kissed Twink’s cheek. ‘I’m so glad – we knew you could do it.’
    Mrs Lightwing gave her a hug. ‘Those were some very impressive loops for a new flier, my girl!’
    â€˜Thank you!’ gasped Twink, clutching her prizes. ‘Oh, thank you!’
    As the day ended, the Daffodil Branch fairies gathered on the front lawn, saying quick goodbyes before flying home with their families for the holiday.
    â€˜Hurrah for Sooze and Twink!’ cried Pix, punching the air. ‘We’ve got both the first year prizewinners in Daffodil Branch – how glimmery is that?’
    â€˜Yes, aren’t we wonderful?’ laughed Sooze, flying up and doing a somersault in the air.
    Mariella scowled. ‘Well, I don’t think it’s so wonderful,’ she snapped. ‘The contest was obviously unfair!’
    Lola linked arms with her. ‘Never mind, Mariella,’ she sniffed. ‘You didn’t want their silly prizes anyway!’
    â€˜Oh, yes she did,’ laughed Sooze, dangling her scroll in front of Mariella. ‘Never mind, better luck next time!’
    Mariella batted Sooze’s scroll away from her face with a glare. She and Lola skimmed quickly away over the grass, whispering behind their hands.
    Poor Mariella! thought Twink. She had brought this on herself, but now she’d never live it down. Twink’s new brooch was pinned to her uniform,