by Lily Small
“Please do,” the deer said in his velvety voice. “I have a lovely dream for you.”
“Noooo!” Lexi cried again.
But as Bella’s eyes closed, the ladybug’s voice began to fade. The Dream Deer’s magic was working.
Bella dreamed she was opening buds high in the treetops. But she’d never seen flowers like these before. They were huge white blossoms, hanging like brightly shining moons.
“Please don’t go to sleep!” a little voice squeaked in Bella’s ear. “What about my spots?”
But Bella was lost in her dream, and she didn’t hear Lexi at all.
Now she could see that the white flowers were dotted with gold and yellow and silver. They had lots and lots of beautiful spots.
“Spots!” Bella called out, opening her eyes and jumping up.
“Hurray!” Lexi cried.
The deer looked at Bella, surprised. “Didn’t you like your dream?” he asked.
“I loved it,” Bella told him. “But I can’t sleep now. I need to find some spots. Where did your spots come from?”
The deer flicked his tail and turned his long neck to look at the silvery spots on his fur and wings.
“I don’t know,” he said. “They’ve always been there.”
Bella heard Lexi give another sad little sigh in her ear. Bella tried not to show the deer how disappointed she was. “Oh well. Thank you anyway. And thanks for the lovely dream.”
The deer smiled warmly. “I’m very sorry I wasn’t able to help you,” he said. “I do hope you find some spots, whatever they are for.” Then he leaped gracefully into the air and soared away.
“What are we going to do now?” Lexi whispered.
“I don’t know,” Bella said. She was beginning to feel a tiny bit worried, too.
“You could try another song,” Lexi suggested.
“Good idea.” Bella jumped up and began hopping along a little path that led through the trees. Lexi snuggled back under Bella’s ear. After a moment, Bella began to sing.
Hop-a-long, hop-a-long, hoppity-hop!
We’re looking for someone to give us some spots.
A Dream Deer couldn’t help us,
And neither could a kitten!
So we’re searching the wood
For where they are hidden!
Bella kept hopping and singing.
The path led deep into the Heart of Misty Wood. The trees grew close together, and the ferns and moss were thick and green. Bella felt a little afraid. Apart from her song, this part of the wood was silent. There was no one around, and no sign of any spots!
Oh, dear. I must be going the wrong way, Bella thought.
She was about to turn and hop back when a ray of sunshine lit the path ahead. The trees thinned as she hopped into a clearing.
Bella came to a halt, her heart beating fast. There was a ring of bright red toadstools in the clearing.
“Why have you stopped?” Lexi asked.
Bella raised her ear so that Lexi could see the toadstools.
“Mushrooms?” Lexi said. “How can mushrooms help us?”
“They’re not mushrooms. They’re toadstools!” Bella explained.
Lexi was very puzzled.
“It’s a magic toadstool ring!” Bella whispered. “A place where wishes come true!”
And without another word, she hopped out of the trees and flew straight to the middle of the ring.
CHAPTER FIVE
Magic Toadstools
It was very quiet in the middle of the toadstool ring. There were no birds singing, and even the leaves in the trees had stopped rustling. Bella gave a little shiver, but she knew she must be brave. She raised her ear right up.
“Come and sit beside me,” she whispered to Lexi.
“Why?” Lexi asked.
“We need to close our eyes,” Bella explained. “Then I’ll make a wish for you to have some spots.”
“Oh, I hope it works,” breathed Lexi.
Bella closed her eyes tight and thought for a moment. As soon as the words came into her head, she began to sing.
Lexi’s only got one spot,
Which makes her feel so sad.
But grant my wish, kind toadstools,
And she’ll be very glad!
Bella stopped singing and listened. There was still no sound. Not even the faintest breeze or quietest birdsong. But then … swoosh!
Something ruffled against her.
“What’s that?” Lexi squeaked.
Swish! Swoosh!
There it was again. It felt as if a big, soft brush was stroking Bella’s fur.
“Don’t move!” Bella whispered to Lexi. “It’s the magic. You have to keep your eyes closed.”
Suddenly, the swooshing stopped. Everything was quiet.
Bella opened one eye and saw the ring of toadstools. Then she opened her other eye.
“Oh no!” she gasped when she saw Lexi.
“Oh no!” squeaked Lexi when she saw Bella.
“What’s wrong?” they both said at exactly the same time.
“You’ve got spots!” Bella said. “But—”
“So have you,” interrupted Lexi. “Big white ones!”
Bella stared at the ladybug. “Yours are white, too!”
“They can’t be!” Lexi cried.
“It’s true,” Bella said. “Let’s go look in that puddle over there.”
They fluttered over to look at their reflections in the water.
“It is true!” Lexi said. “I’ve got lots and lots of white spots. But they should be black.”
Bella gazed at her friend. The ladybug did look strange, with one big black spot and lots of little white ones. Then Bella leaned over to look at her own reflection.
“Oh my!” she exclaimed. There were big white blobs all over her silky gray fur. She didn’t look like her usual self at all.
Lexi started to cry. Tiny trails of tears glimmered as they trickled down her face. “I c-can’t go to Sports Day like this! What are we going to do?”
“Don’t worry,” Bella said. “This toadstool ring is definitely magic, but I must have sung the wish wrong. Let me try again.”
Bella started flying back toward the ring, but Lexi stayed where she was.
“Why aren’t you coming?” Bella asked.
“The magic might go wrong again,” Lexi replied. “I might end up with purple spots. Or spots every color of the rainbow. And that would be even worse!”
“I’m sure that won’t happen,” Bella said, flying back over to Lexi. “I just have to get the wish right. That’s all.”
Lexi gave a little nod and fluttered back to the toadstool ring.
When they were both in the ring again, they closed their eyes. Bella tilted her head, wiggled her nose, and then started singing.
I should have asked for black spots!
Can the white ones disappear?
Lexi needs some black ones.
Oh, I do hope you can hear!
Misty Wood was silent again. Had the song worked? Bella opened one eye to take a peek. Lexi’s spots were still white! The toadstools had worked their magic the first time—why weren’t they listening now? Bella took a deep breath and bellowed at the top of her voice.
Listen, toadstools, in your ring,
Can’t you hear me when I sing?
Lexi needs some BLACK SPOTS
And—
“There’s no need to shout,” a deep voice interrupted.
Bella’s fur stood on end, and Lexi squeaked with fright. They both kept their eyes shut tight. Maybe the magic was working?
“I don’t do black spots,” the voice said. “I do only white.”
That doesn’t sound very magical, Bella thought. She opened her eyes.
A large red fox was sitting in front of them. He was holding a lily pad full of white paint.
“Are you sure you do only white spots?” Lexi said.
“Quite sure,” said the fox, nodding.
“Sorry,”
said Bella. “But Lexi needs black spots.”
“Yes,” said Lexi. “I’m a ladybug, you see.”
The fox stood up and shook himself. “Watch this,” he said. Then he trotted over to the edge of the ring with his lily pad. He dipped his tail in the paint and dabbed one of the red toadstools until it was covered with white spots.
“See?” he said. “That’s my job. Putting the white spots on the toadstools.”
“Gosh, that looks lovely,” Bella said. “Much better than plain red toadstools.”
“Thanks,” the fox said with a smile. “I’m really sorry I’m not able to help you. And don’t worry. The spots will wash off. I have to repaint these toadstools every time it rains.”
He picked up his lily pad and moved on to the next toadstool.
“Good-bye, Mr. Fox. Thank you for trying to help us,” Bella said. “Come on, Lexi.”
“Where are we going?” Lexi asked as she settled down in Bella’s soft fur.
“Moonshine Pond,” Bella told her. “We’ll wash away these white spots, and then we’ll think of what to do next.”
“Okay!” squeaked Lexi as the bunny opened her golden wings and fluttered into the air. “Let’s go!”
CHAPTER SIX
Moonshine Pond to Heather Hill
“The pond looks so bright and beautiful today,” Bella cried as she spotted the gleaming water through the trees. “The Moonbeam Moles have been busy.”
Every night, the moles caught moonbeams and dropped them into Moonshine Pond to make it glow like the moon itself.
Bella landed on the grassy bank. “Okay, Lexi, time to wash off those spots,” she called, raising her ear so Lexi could fly out.
Lexi landed on the bank and looked down at the silvery water.
“What if they don’t wash off?” she said nervously.
“Oh, I’m sure they will. Look.” Bella dipped a paw in the edge of the pond. The fox was right—the water washed the white blobs clean away.
“Yippee!” Lexi cried, and she did a quick loop-the-loop before diving headfirst into the water.
Bella hopped in, too, and splashed and splashed until all the spots were gone.
“That’s better!” she cried, leaping onto the bank and shaking out her fur and wings.
“You look like a proper Bud Bunny again!” said Lexi, crawling out from the water. “Are my spots gone, too?”
“They are,” Bella replied. “Only the black one’s left.”
“I’d better dry myself off,” Lexi said. She flew up into the air, whirring her little wings as she loop-the-looped.
Bella sat down on the grass. She felt really sad that she hadn’t been able to help Lexi, but it was lovely to rest in the sunshine. She could feel the warm rays drying her fur.
“Wheeee!” came Lexi’s voice from high in the air.
Bella looked up and smiled. Lexi must be feeling very happy that the white spots were gone. She was loop-the-looping again and again.
Then Bella saw a large yellow butterfly fluttering through the trees. It was the same one she and Carla had met that morning.
“Hello again!” the butterfly said, landing on the grass.
“Hello, Mr. Butterfly. I thought you were going to Sports Day,” Bella said.
“It’s just about to start,” the butterfly explained. “As chief steward, it’s my job to make sure no insects get left behind. I wouldn’t want anyone to miss it!”
Then he saw Lexi loop-the-looping.
“My, oh my, little ladybug, what wonderful flying!” he called. “With talent like that, you should be racing in Sports Day. Quick, come with me.”
Bella was about to explain that Lexi was shy, but it was too late. The butterfly had leaped into the air.
“Oh, no, no, no!” squealed Lexi, zooming up to the top of her loop as the butterfly approached.
But the butterfly was in such a hurry that he didn’t hear her. He scooped Lexi up in his long legs and swooped off through the trees.
Bella, confused, twitched her nose. Everything had happened so quickly. One moment Lexi was happily loop-the-looping, and the next moment she was gone!
Bella whirled her shining golden wings and flew after the butterfly as fast as she could.
“Don’t worry, Lexi!” she shouted as she took off. “I’m coming!”
* * *
“Wow!” Bella gasped as she saw Heather Hill.
Everything was ready for Insect Sports Day. There was a circular flying track for the June bugs and the ladybugs, with lots of obstacles for them to get over. Flowers had been laid out to make a nectar-gathering marathon for the bees. There was a high jump for the grasshoppers and a cobweb trapeze for the spiders, and some fireflies were marking out an area in the sky for the butterflies’ races.
All around the edge of the arena, fairy animals were taking their places, excitedly waiting for Sports Day to begin. The Pollen Puppies were wagging their tails so fast they blurred. The Stardust Squirrels were scampering about, sprinkling stardust until the heather glittered silver in the sun.
Bella saw a group of Cobweb Kittens sitting under a large oak tree. She wondered if her friend Carla was here already, but she couldn’t stop and check now. She had to find out if Lexi was okay.
Bella dived into the crowd of insects who were hurrying about and pushed her way to the front.
She spotted the yellow butterfly at the start of the flying track. Lexi was with him. She looked scared. Bella wished there was something she could do to help her.
Three other young ladybugs were there, too. They were wearing leg bands with numbers on them—one, two, and three.
Ladybug Three was holding a fourth band and looking worried. “What shall we do?” he said to the butterfly. “The fourth member of our team has hurt his wing and won’t be able to race.”
“Aha!” the butterfly said. “No need to worry. It just so happens that I have found a ladybug so fast, so fantastic, and so fabulous at flying, she will make the perfect fourth member of your team.” The butterfly twirled his antennae with a flourish. “This is Lexi. She is your new Number Four!”
“Yay!” The three ladybugs whooped and buzzed excitedly.
Bella held her breath. She wondered if they would notice that Lexi had only one spot. Lexi was obviously wondering the same thing. She was hopping from one tiny foot to the other. But the other ladybugs didn’t seem to notice at all.
“You’re the most important member of the team,” the butterfly told Lexi. “Number Four does the last lap of the race. If you win, you’ll be the star of Sports Day.”
He fixed the number four band onto Lexi’s leg. Lexi fluttered her wings nervously.
“The Obstacle Relay Race is on!” the butterfly cried. “Ladybugs against June bugs. Good luck!”
“Be brave, Lexi,” Bella called. “You’ll be great!” She hoped Lexi could hear her.
Just then, a baby caterpillar who was sitting on his moth mommy’s back noticed Lexi waiting behind the start line.
“Look!” he said in a loud, surprised voice. “That ladybug’s got only one spot!”
Bella groaned. Poor Lexi! Lexi was quite close to the little caterpillar, so she must have heard what he’d said. But there was nothing Bella could do.
The yellow butterfly was giving his instructions to the ladybug team. He held up a grass seed. “Here’s your baton. Pass it to the next ladybug as you finish your lap. If you don’t, the team will be disqualified.”
Ladybug One took the grass seed in his antennae and fluttered up to the start. He lined up next to a small green June bug.
“Ready?” the butterfly asked.
The ladybug and the June bug nodded.
“Get set!” called the butterfly.
A bumblebee flew forward.
“ZZZZZ! GO!” she buzzed.
The two little insects flew off so fast that their wings began to hum. They headed for the first obstacle—a huge pile of sticks.
Bella looked back at Lexi and saw tha
t her friend was sitting on the ground, looking very frightened indeed. With a quick hop and a skip, Bella made her way to the front until she was standing right next to Lexi.
“Wow, this is so exciting!” Bella said. “Three laps and then it’ll be your turn.”
Quivering with fear, Lexi held her front legs over her eyes. “I can’t do it, Bella,” she said. “Everyone will laugh at me. What am I going to do?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Loop-the-Loop
The yellow butterfly hovered in the air. He was holding a bright orange mushroom shaped like a trumpet. “They’re off!” he shouted into the mushroom. His voice echoed all over Heather Hill. “The ladybug and the June bug are coming up to the first obstacle, the sticks! And they’re over!”
Bella looked down at Lexi.
Lexi was still covering her eyes.
The rest of the crowd was very excited. All the ladybugs jumped up and down. “That’s our boy!” they yelled.
The June bugs jumped up and down, too. “Faster!” they shouted to the green June bug. “Go, go, go!”
Behind her, Bella could hear the Pollen Puppies yelping with joy. She looked back at the race. The June bug was just entering the cobweb tunnel.
“Touch those sides, and you’ll stick fast!” the butterfly cried.
Bella’s whiskers twitched with excitement as the ladybug reached the tunnel.
“Number One’s just about to go in,” she said to Lexi, “but he’s behind the June bug.”
“The June bug’s way out in front! He’s at the last obstacle!” shouted the butterfly. “There he goes, up the helter-skelter tree!”
“This bit looks really exciting,” Bella said to Lexi as the June bug flew around and around between the branches of a tall tree. But Lexi still wouldn’t uncover her eyes.
Bella’s heart pounded as the June bug bumped into some branches. But he made it to the finish safely and back to the starting line.
“Now June Bug Two’s got the baton, and he’s still in the lead!” the butterfly shouted.
Ladybug One was a long way behind as he flew up to the start, holding out the grass seed for Ladybug Two.
The second ladybug was faster than the first. She raced through the tunnel so quickly, she came out ahead of the June bug!