Magic Ballerina 13-18

by Darcey Bussell

  The White Cat nodded. “Where did you get it from?” he asked the peacock.

  “I found it on the ground, just outside the garden gate last week,” Peregrine replied, looking as surprised as them. “I thought someone must have thrown it away.”

  “Outside the gate. Oh, my gleaming eyes! Beauty must have dropped it when she was captured,” the White Cat breathed.

  “Then we can use it to find out where she is!” cried Holly. “Oh, Peregrine, please can we borrow it for a few minutes?”

  The peacock held the mirror out. “Of course, my little sugar swan.”

  “Thank you!” Holly cried. “So, what do we do with it?” she asked the cat. “If it’s a mirror of love, doesn’t the Beast have to look in it, to see where Beauty is?”

  “He just needs to be touching it,” the White Cat said. “Then, it will show the person he loves best.”

  “Stuff and nonsense!” said Peregrine. “When I am holding that mirror it always shows me myself!”

  “Exactly,” the White Cat muttered under his breath.

  Holly hid a grin and turned her thoughts to the matter in hand. “I’ll take the mirror and put it next to the Beast. Only, I hope he doesn’t wake up!”

  She ran over to the bench and sat down as quietly as she could. The Beast was still snoring. Carefully, she brought the mirror round to his side. As she did so, she caught a glimpse of a dark-haired woman in it. The woman was smiling with a group of other ballerinas, as they warmed up in a ballet studio. For a moment, Holly couldn’t do anything but stare. It was her mum!

  “Holly!” the White Cat hissed from the bushes. “Hurry up!”

  Holly hastily put the mirror down and forced the image to the back of her mind. Now wasn’t the time. She pushed the mirror closer, until it was just touching the Beast’s leg. Then, making sure she wasn’t touching it herself, she peered at the glass. What was she going to see?

  A mist travelled swiftly across the mirror’s surface. As it cleared, Holly saw a beautiful girl sitting on a bench in a small wooden summerhouse. She had her hands wrapped around her knees and she was crying. In the corner of the mirror, Holly could see something white and feathery, but she couldn’t quite make out what it was. Visible through the window of the summerhouse was a castle made of pale grey stone. A black flag was flying from the top turret with a picture of a silver serpent on it.

  Taking the mirror, Holly raced back across the lawn to where the White Cat and the peacock were waiting. “I saw Beauty!” Holly described the wooden summerhouse and the flag on the castle, and the White Cat caught his breath.

  “Then that means Beauty is in the grounds of the Dark Witch. She’s the one who enchanted the Prince in the first place. She must have realised that Beauty and the Beast had fallen in love and that her spell was about to be broken, so she’s captured Beauty.” He shook his head. “I thought it might be her, so I checked her castle out earlier with my magic, but there was no sign of Beauty anywhere inside. I guess the Dark Witch must have known we would search the castle, so she decided to imprison Beauty in the summerhouse to trick us!”

  “At least we know where Beauty is now,” said Holly. “Will your magic take us there?”

  The White Cat nodded.

  “I shall come too!” cried the peacock. “I’m not letting you go into danger on your own, my love.” He ruffled his tail feathers proudly. “Peregrine shall be by your side.”

  “You can’t come,” protested Holly. It was going to be hard enough to try and rescue Beauty, without the peacock swishing his great tail and screeching everywhere!

  The peacock stepped between Holly and the White Cat. “You will not go without me.”

  “Oh, let him come,” said the cat. “There’s no time to waste.” He drew a circle with his long tail and, grabbing Holly’s hands, he pulled her inside. Peregrine jumped in too. “Here we go!” the White Cat cried, as the magic spun all three of them away.

  They were set down behind a large stone statue of a snake, in the gardens of the grey castle.

  “It’s just like in the mirror!” whispered Holly, as she saw the tall grey building and a little way off in the distance, the small wooden summerhouse. She peeped around the statue. “I can’t see any guards. Why don’t we just go and unlock the door or break a window or something?”

  “Oh, my brave, beautiful love,” sighed the peacock. “Such courage. Such cleverness!”

  “Ssh!” Holly said hastily, seeing he was about to screech in delight. “We’ve got to be quiet. Please! Here.” She handed him the mirror. The peacock held it in his claw, and looking into it, he waggled his crest happily at himself.

  With the peacock suitably distracted, Holly turned back to the White Cat. “I’ll go on to the summerhouse.”

  “You’re not going on your own,” he said. “We’ll go together. Ready?” Holly nodded and they ran across the grass.

  As they neared the summerhouse, Holly felt a tingle run through her and saw several sparks fly from the White Cat’s whiskers, just like they usually did when he sensed magic. She didn’t have time to think about it, though. They had to rescue Beauty!

  On reaching the summerhouse, they found big metal bolts across the doorway, but luckily no lock. The White Cat pulled them back and threw open the door. Beauty was inside! She gave a startled cry and jumped to her feet. “White Cat and… and…”

  “I’m Holly,” said Holly quickly.

  Beauty looked at Holly’s feet. “The girl with the red shoes! Oh, you’ve come to rescue us!”

  “Us?” Holly echoed, wondering what she meant, but the White Cat was already speaking. “There’s no time to waste, Beauty. We must get you back to the Beast. His heart is breaking.”

  “I know, I can feel it here,” said Beauty, touching her own heart. “And there’s my father too. He’s ill.”

  “It’s all right. Your father is very worried about you, but he has recovered from his illness,” the White Cat said. “The Beast, however, does need you.”

  Holly grabbed Beauty’s hands. “The White Cat will use his magic to take us back to him straight away.”

  A harsh voice snapped through the air. “Oh, will he now?”

  They all swung round to see a scary old woman standing behind them. She had jet-black eyes and a wand in her hand. Holly felt her stomach turn to ice. It had to be the Dark Witch!

  Holly, the White Cat and Beauty froze as the Dark Witch cackled. “You lot are going nowhere!”

  “How… how did you know we were here?” stammered the White Cat.

  “Did you honestly think I would be so stupid as to leave this girl unguarded? Fool! I had a magic barrier in place. As soon as you crossed it, I knew there was trouble afoot.”

  Holly remembered the tingle that had run through her and the sparks she had seen flying off the White Cat’s whiskers. They should have realised.

  The Dark Witch threw back her head. “No one is going to free Beauty. She and the bird are staying here!”

  The bird? Holly wondered what she meant.

  “They will stay and so will you!” The Dark Witch raised her wand and pointed it at the White Cat and Holly. But just then, there was a loud screech and Peregrine flew out from behind the statue. “No!” he screamed. “You shall not harm my love!”

  The Dark Witch turned round in surprise. “Get off me, bird!” she cried, staggering backwards as Peregrine flew at her with his beak open.

  “Never!” he cried valiantly. “Peregrine shall fight to the death to save his love!” Bringing his legs up, he kicked out with his feet. At the back of his legs were two sharp spurs, like extra-long claws. They caught in the sleeves of the Dark Witch’s dress and pinned her to the wooden wall of the summerhouse. She tried to wave her wand, but her arm was caught fast!

  “Go!” Peregrine cried bravely to the others as the witch shrieked and screamed and kicked. “Leave this place! I will hold her here.”

  The White Cat leaped on to the grass and drew a circle with his tail. Ho
lly grabbed Beauty’s hand and pulled her forward into it.

  “Pandora!” Beauty cried, looking back at the summerhouse. “Come with us! You must!”

  There was a squawk and out of the summerhouse flew a large white bird. The sparkles were whirling around the circle, which meant that the magic was about to work. “Peregrine!” she shouted. “You can’t stay here! You must come too!”

  “Whatever you say, my love!” Peregrine released the witch and flew into the circle with one flap of his wings.

  “NO!” the Dark Witch shouted, thrusting out her wand. There was a green flash, but she was too late. The White Cat’s magic swirled around and spun them away…

  They all landed in a heap in the grass back in the Beast’s garden. For a moment, Holly just lay there, blinking and trying to get her thoughts together. She felt dazed. It had all happened so fast, but at least they’d escaped. They’d got away from the Dark Witch! And now they just had to return Beauty to the Beast.

  Holly scrambled to her feet and looked about at her friends. The White Cat was leaning back, rubbing his head. And Peregrine was staring open-mouthed at a beautiful snow-white peahen!

  “Well, hellllllllo, gorgeous!” he said, waggling his eyebrows. The peahen cooed and looked down coyly.

  “Valentino!” Beauty was running towards the bench where the Beast was still asleep. “Valentino, I’m back!”

  The Beast woke with a start and stared as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. “Beauty? Is that really you?”

  “Yes!” She flung herself into his arms.

  The Beast made a noise halfway between a growl and a cry. “You’re back! My heart was breaking.”

  “I know!” Beauty clasped her chest. “I could feel it here. I could feel it because I love you – I love you so much!”

  There was a silver flash of magic. Holly gasped and the White Cat cried out as suddenly the Beast was no longer a beast, but a man! He was tall and very good-looking with blond hair. He swept Beauty into his arms. “And I love you too!”

  “Oh, wow!” Holly said faintly, slowly getting to her feet.

  The White Cat put his arm round her shoulders. “We did it,” he said in relief. “We got Beauty back – and broke the enchantment.”

  “We didn’t do that bit,” said Holly, looking at the Prince and Beauty who were sharing a kiss. She smiled. “They did that themselves.”

  “And it looks as if they aren’t the only ones who have found love,” commented the White Cat, grinning at Holly. “I think your place in Peregrine’s heart has been taken.”

  Holly looked round to see Peregrine and the white peahen, Pandora, staring at each other adoringly. Peregrine’s tail fanned out and he rustled his feathers. Pandora clucked and looked very impressed.

  “Who is she?” Holly asked. “And what was she doing in the summerhouse?”

  Beauty overheard. She came over, hand in hand with the Prince. “Pandora landed in the Dark Witch’s garden while I was trapped there. The Dark Witch caught her and locked her up with me. She had been planning to parade her at the celebration feast she was going to have when Valentino’s heart was finally broken.” Beauty squeezed the Prince’s hand. “Luckily, that didn’t happen.”

  “Thanks to you both,” the Prince said to Holly and the White Cat. “I will always be indebted to you for bringing back my Beauty and saving me.”

  Holly smiled. “I’m glad we could help.”

  “My beautiful love,” Peregrine cawed to Pandora. “Let me give you a gift. The most precious thing I own. I used to look in my mirror to gaze on my own face, but now I have you to gaze on and I have no need of it any more.”

  He held the mirror out. Holly caught sight of the reflection and saw the image of Pandora in there. She smiled. Maybe Peregrine really had found true love at last!

  “Thank you, my love,” Pandora clucked. As she took the mirror in her own claw, an image of Peregrine formed in it. Holly and the White Cat exchanged happy looks.

  The Prince turned to Beauty. “Through all my days as a lumbering beast, I wanted so much to dance with you properly. Let us dance now!” He strode to the castle. “Music!” he called.

  The servants, who were no longer invisible, all came streaming out, young and old, laughing and chattering. In no time at all, the musicians were playing a beautiful waltz.

  Holly watched as the Prince gathered Beauty in his arms and they danced around the garden, their eyes never leaving each other. They separated and Beauty stood on one leg, in a perfect arabesque, while the Prince leaped into the air, crossing his feet over before taking hold of Beauty’s hand and spinning her away.

  “Join in, everyone!” Beauty cried, laughing in delight.

  The servants swung each other about. The White Cat grabbed Holly and began to waltz her around the rose garden. “Oh, my glimmering whiskers! It’s been a great adventure!” he exclaimed.

  Holly nodded happily. “It really has!”

  They danced until they could dance no more and then collapsed on a bench. Nearby, Peregrine and Pandora were taking it in turns to admire each other in the mirror. Beauty and the Prince were walking hand in hand, chatting softly.

  Holly felt her feet start to tingle. “It’s time for me to go!” she cried. “Goodbye, Cat! Goodbye, Beauty and Prince Valentino! Bye, Pandora and Peregrine. Bye, everyone!”

  And before she knew it, the magic had whirled around her and swept her away.

  Holly came to rest in her bedroom. As the cloud of colours cleared, she took a deep breath, her head still spinning from the magic. No time ever passed in the human world while she was away, so she knew her aunt wouldn’t have missed her. What an adventure! she thought. In her mind, she could see Beauty and the Prince waltzing round. They had looked so perfect together – so completely in love. She was really glad that she had been able to help them.

  Her eyes fell on her own mirror and she walked over to it slowly. She touched the shining surface, remembering the magic mirror in Enchantia. “I wish you were magic too, and I could see Mum,” she whispered.

  But as she spoke, the White Cat’s words from earlier echoed in her head: Love is more powerful than even the strongest magic. It reaches across the miles, no matter how far apart you are or what barriers are in the way.

  It’s true, Holly realised, suddenly. Mum might be a long way away, but I don’t need to see her to know that we love each other. I’m not alone. She’s always with me in some way.

  Lifting her arms, she spun on the spot gracefully, thinking about Beauty dancing with Prince Valentino. One day, just like Beauty and her Prince, she and her mum would be dancing together again. She smiled and with a light heart, pirouetted away round the room.

  1. Hold on to the barre with your right hand, and stand with your feet in third position, one foot placed against the instep of the other. Place your left arm out to the side in the second position.

  2. Bend your knees outwards and crouch down, keeping your back straight and your head up. Keep your right arm in second position.

  3. While you crouch down, your heels will come off the ground. Open your right arm further as if picking a flower on your right side. Follow this arm movement with your eyes so your head turns towards the flower.

  4. Gently stand back up, using the barre to help you. Then lower both arms to your sides and check your feet are still in third position.

  Holly Wilde ran excitedly up the steps of her ballet school. She was about to audition for the local production of The Nutcracker, which Madame Za-Za, her ballet teacher, was helping to produce, and there was one particular part that Holly was desperate to get. She could still feel the tight good-luck hug that her aunt had given her at home a few moments before.

  “Just remember what your mum told you,” her aunt had said.

  “Don’t worry, I will!” Holly had replied, nodding hard.

  Holly’s parents were both professional ballet dancers. They had divorced and were so often away on tour with their different ballet companies
that it was easier for Holly to live with her aunt and uncle during term time. Holly really missed her mum, but whenever she felt sad she reminded herself that they had two big things connecting them. Firstly, they both loved each other, and secondly, they totally loved ballet.

  And I’ve got a special ballet secret all of my own! thought Holly, as she pushed open the door to Madame Za-Za’s. She glanced down at the red ballet shoes poking out of her bag and smiled. Her shoes had special powers – when they glowed it meant they were about to take Holly on a magical journey to the Land of Enchantia, where all the characters from the ballets lived. It had happened quite a few times already, and each time Holly had an amazing adventure.

  “Hi, Holly! Are you nervous? I am!” Her friend Chloe had caught up with her and they went into the changing rooms together.

  “I do feel a bit nervous,” admitted Holly. “But excited too. I’ve been practising like mad and I’m determined to get the part of a Snow Maiden.”

  “Me too,” said Chloe, “but, you know, apart from us, it’s only older students auditioning to be Snow Maidens.”

  Holly stared out of the window, suddenly wrapped up in a memory of the first time she’d ever seen The Nutcracker. Her mum had taken her to the theatre when she was only five, and she could still remember the magic thrill inside her at the sight of the Prince and Clara, travelling through the Land of Snow in a glittering magic sleigh on their way to the Land of Sweets.

  But the Snow Maidens were even more magical than Clara and the Prince. They had seemed to float around the stage like the softest snowflakes as they’d danced.

  Holly sighed at the lovely memory as she broke out of her daydream, then began to put on her silver-white tutu over her pale tights.

  “Mum said the Waltz of the Snowflakes is very difficult,” Holly told her friend. “She said it’s important to listen to the music really carefully.”