Free Christmas Fairy by Titania Woods

Chapter One
    Twink Flutterby sat on the roof of her parents’ cosy woodland stump and sighed happily. Her home was the best place in the world to spend the winter holidays! Especially when her best friend, Bimi Bluebell, was there as well. The two fairies smiled at each other.
    ‘It’s so beautiful here!’ exclaimed Bimi. Looking around her, Twink had to agree. The fields and nearby woods all sparkled with frost, as if they were coated with diamond dust.
    Already the two girls had packed a month’s worth of fun into the week they’d been at Twink’s: skating on the frozen brook with Teena, Twink’s younger sister; making elaborate snow-fairies; sitting up late to hear Twink’s parents tell stories – and eating lots of delicious honey cake!
    ‘You know, it’s funny,’ said Twink thoughtfully. ‘It’s been such great hols, but I’m really missing Glitterwings.’ The giant oak tree that housed Glitterwings Academy felt like home now.
    ‘Me too,’ said Bimi, nodding. ‘But it won’t be long before – oh!’ She jumped up and rubbed her arm. ‘Something hit me!’
    Twink peered over the edge of the roof. ‘Not some thing – some one !’ she said grimly. Down below, Teena was perched on Brownie, the Flutterby family’s mouse. Her arm was just stretched back to throw another snowball.
    ‘Teena, stop that!’ ordered Twink.
    Teena giggled. ‘Why should I? It’s not fair for you two to fly up there where I can’t follow.’ Twink’s little sister wouldn’t learn to fly until she started her first term at Glitterwings in the spring – a fact that caused her a great deal of frustration!
    ‘Yes, that’s the idea!’ said Twink. She loved her little sister, but didn’t want Teena tagging along after her and Bimi all the time.
    ‘Oh! You mean thing!’ screeched Teena.
    Twink ducked as another snowball whizzed through the air. ‘All right, you asked for it!’ she laughed. ‘Come on, Bimi, let’s get her.’
    She jetted off the stump, Bimi close behind. With a startled squawk, Teena nudged Brownie into a gallop. Mouse and fairy scampered across the field, zigzagging this way and that.

    ‘Can’t catch me!’ yelled Teena over her shoulder.
    ‘Just watch us!’ Twink shouted back. Her lavender wings blurred as she darted around frozen blades of grass. ‘Bimi, head her off !’
    ‘With pleasure!’ grinned Bimi.
    Putting on a burst of speed, Bimi shot ahead, circling in front of Brownie. Teena gave a yelp and whirled the mouse the other way – but Twink was waiting for her! Swooping close, Twink grabbed Brownie’s reins and tugged hard. He trotted to a stop.
    ‘Ha! Got you!’ cried Twink, pulling her sister off the mouse. ‘Now, I think someone deserves a tickle attack. Don’t you, Bimi?’
    ‘Definitely!’ said Bimi with a wicked smile. Her blue hair was tousled from the frenzied flight.
    ‘No!’ squealed Teena, shrieking with laughter. ‘Let me go!’ She fluttered her wings wildly as the older girls tickled her.
    ‘Girls!’ came Mum’s voice from the tree stump. ‘Would you like some hot nectar?’
    Still laughing, the three fairies disentangled themselves and headed back to the stump. Twink and Bimi got there first, with Teena riding up on Brownie a moment later, her eyes shining with merriment.
    They took the hot drinks gratefully, warming their hands around the acorn-shell cups. Twink sniffed hers with her eyes closed. Mmm! Nothing was nicer than hot nectar in the wintertime.
    ‘Mum, what’s that?’ said Teena suddenly, pointing towards the woods.
    Turning, Twink caught her breath. There was a human walking into the woods! But what was he carrying? Whatever it was, it glinted sharply in the winter sunshine.
    Mum looked troubled. ‘Oh dear! Your father won’t be very pleased – they usually go to the other side of the forest. Oh, the poor trees!’
    ‘What’s wrong, Mrs Flutterby?’ asked Bimi, her blue eyes wide.
    ‘It always happens at this time of year,’