Daisy was woken the next morning by a high-pitched squeal. Diving out of bed, she hurried to the stairwell to investigate. She arrived just in time to see Maggie throw her arms around Aunt Acacia.

Joy and relief welled up inside Daisy. Aunt Acacia would work her magic, and when her dress was beautiful once more, maybe Maggie would forgive Daisy. Feeling hopeful, Daisy fluttered down to the kitchen.

‘Here’s the little troublemaker now,’ joked Aunt Acacia as Daisy landed beside her. She put her arm around Daisy’s shoulders. ‘Nen showed me your sewing when I flew in late last night. The idea was good, but the execution was a little bit lacking.’

Maggie snorted.

‘Don’t be mad at her, Maggie,’ Aunt Acacia gently scolded. ‘You know she was trying to help. I’ll return your dress to as good as new, so there’s no reason to stay upset.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ said Daisy.

Maggie ignored her.

‘I wasn’t trying to ruin your dress,’ Daisy persisted, placing a hand on her sister’s arm. ‘I just wanted you to match your partner’s colours for the duet.’

Maggie held herself stiff and silent for a moment. Then the tension in her shoulders eased. ‘I suppose I can forgive you,’ she said.

Daisy squealed and moved to hug her sister. Maggie held her hand up to stop her. ‘But,’ she said, ‘next time you want to help me, ask me first!’

‘I promise,’ said Daisy. ‘It won’t happen again.’

‘Excellent! Now, I’d better get to work,’ said Aunt Acacia, flying up to the spare room.

Daisy picked up a leaf-wrapped parcel and held it to her nose. ‘Mmm, freshly baked damper.’ She unwrapped one corner, breaking off a large chunk. ‘Want some?’

Maggie shook her head. She had that anxious look on her face again.

‘Are you worried about the Festival?’ Daisy asked, popping the chunk of damper into her mouth.

‘I’m so nervous,’ Maggie blurted out. ‘If I could just take someone with me to the rehearsal, I know I’d feel better. But everyone is too busy! Dad’s in the healing grove. Mum’s helping pollinate the grevilleas. And Aunt Acacia is fixing my dress.’

‘I could come,’ said Daisy. ‘I’ve nothing else to do.’

Maggie shook her head. ‘It’s such an important day. I just don’t know if I can trust you, Daisy.’

‘Oh, Maggie. I promise I won’t do anything unless you want me to. I’m so sorry about what I did before. Let me make it up to you.’

Maggie was silent for a long time. Then she smiled. ‘All right, you can come.’

Daisy grabbed Maggie and danced her around the room. ‘You won’t be sorry. Where is the rehearsal?’

‘The same place as the Festival,’ said Maggie as Daisy finally released her. ‘Queen Jasmine’s Tea-Tree House Gardens.’

‘Come on then,’ said Daisy. ‘Let’s go!’

‘Don’t you think you should get dressed first?’ asked Maggie.

Just below the Fairy Queen’s Tea-Tree House were the Tea-Tree House Gardens. Famous for their beauty, they were planted and tended by Queen Jasmine herself.

Daisy and Maggie landed in the centre of a large open area that was blanketed in soft green moss and dotted here and there with the native orchids known as blue fairies. In preparation for tonight’s Festival, fragrant candles hung from the orchids’ slender stems. Cherry blossom-shaped tables were scattered across the mossy ground beneath them, giving the impression of a meadow in bloom.

An elegant fairy in a dark-red dress with spiky red blossom wings approached them. ‘I’m Waratah, the Festival organiser. And you are?’

‘Maggie. And this is my sister, Daisy. We’re here for the rehearsal.’

‘Excellent,’ said Waratah. ‘You’re the last ones.’ Scanning the crowd of helpers, she gestured to one of them. A smiling fairy in a short blue dress, with wings like the petals of the blue fairy orchids, fluttered over to them.

‘This is Cyan. She’s in charge of the rehearsal.’

Distracted, Waratah frowned at a fairy on the other side of the clearing. ‘What is he doing now? Mulch!’ she shouted. ‘Where in the wilderness are you taking that table?’

‘Let’s get you over to the others,’ Cyan suggested to Maggie and Daisy. ‘We’ve a lot to get through before the performance.’

Daisy trailed behind, trying to take it all in. Around her, fairies hurried to and fro, getting everything ready for tonight. She wished Vu could share in the excitement.

Maggie didn’t seem to be enjoying it. She was asking Cyan a million questions about the rehearsal and tonight’s Festival.

‘You’re nervous, aren’t you?’ Cyan asked Maggie. ‘Don’t be. Queen Jasmine chose you. She believes you’ll be great. And Queen Jasmine is never wrong.’

She took Maggie by the hand, leading her towards a clump of flat, disc-shaped fungi that had grown like stairs on the side of a fallen log at the very edge of the clearing. From the number of candles that had been placed around it, Daisy guessed that the highest and largest fungus would be the Festival stage.

Gathered below was a group of nervous- looking fairies – the other contestants and their companions, Daisy thought. With a shock of recognition, Daisy noticed that not all of them were strangers.