‘Daisy!’ A small fairy girl with stripy socks and a guileless grin ran over to greet them. Daisy’s heart lurched as the girl tripped over a bump in the ground. She stumbled awkwardly but remained upright by throwing her arms around Daisy.

Daisy grinned as she helped her friend back to her feet. ‘Oh, Pea.’

Pea was not daunted by her ungraceful entrance. ‘What are you doing here, Daisy? Are you performing, too?’

‘Definitely not,’ Daisy laughed. ‘My sister Maggie is.’

‘Great to meet you,’ said Pea, reaching out to shake Maggie’s hand and almost knocking her over. ‘Sorry, I’m so nervous today I can hardly stay on my feet.’

‘That’s all right. I’m pretty nervous myself,’ said Maggie.

‘I didn’t know you were a musician,’ Daisy said to Pea as they headed towards the others.

‘I didn’t know myself until recently,’ said Pea.

Daisy shook her head in wonderment. Pea had found her Calling. Surely it wouldn’t be much longer until Daisy found hers, too.

‘Dad! This is Daisy. The one I told you about,’ called Pea.

A short, roundish fairy, all dressed in brown, came towards them. He walked with a rolling gait and from the front, Daisy couldn’t see his wings at all.

‘So you’re Pea’s new friend. I’m Pod, her overprotective dad.’ He laughed, a deep rumbling laugh. Daisy liked him immediately.

‘Since you seem to be acquainted, Pea can fill you in while I see if the band is ready,’ said Cyan, heading to where a group of fairies had begun setting up their instruments.

‘So,’ said Pea, leaning in conspiratorially. ‘Shall I start with the other musicians?’

She pointed out a dainty fairy in a pale-pink dress who stood apart from the group.

‘That one’s Boronia.’ Boronia was accompanied by an older fairy who looked to be talking sternly to her. ‘The grumpy curmudgeon is her mum, Grevillea.’

Daisy giggled. Pod shot his daughter a reproachful look as Grevillea glanced in their direction. Pea paid no attention.

‘The two boys with the wavy brown hair are Grebe and Lark. Grebe, the shorter one without wings, is the one competing.’

‘Is Lark his brother?’ asked Maggie. Her voice was casual but her eyes sparkled.

Daisy poked her sister. ‘You like him, don’t you?’

‘I don’t even know him,’ said Maggie, her face flushing red.

‘Yes, but you want to,’ whispered Daisy.

‘He is handsome,’ said Maggie.

‘Rose and Ella certainly think so.’ Pea nodded in the direction of two identical fairies with matching rainbow dresses and rosella wings. They were giggling and shooting covert looks in Lark’s direction.

‘They’re twin sisters who perform together. They seemed friendly enough when I talked to them, although it was a bit hard to join in with them finishing each other’s sentences.’

‘And what about the other boy?’ asked Daisy. ‘The one standing by himself.’

‘That’s Ash. He doesn’t say much.’

‘Contestants, over here please!’ Cyan clapped her hands and gestured for the contestants to move closer.

Daisy gave Maggie a hug, whispered ‘Good luck’, then watched with Pod as Pea and Maggie joined the others with Cyan.

When Pod turned to stand beside her, Daisy caught a glimpse of shiny, bronze, Christmas-beetle wings lying against his back.

‘Isn’t this exciting?!’ Pod said. ‘I just hope Pea doesn’t knock someone off the stage.’

Daisy wondered if he was kidding but then, watching Pea stumble over her feet, she realised it was a real possibility. Please, thought Daisy. Don’t let it be Maggie. Then she crossed her fingers for both of them.