The girls rushed off the ice to the changing area. Sophy looked at Issy in excitement. ‘What do you think this week’s competition will be?’
‘I don’t know,’ Issy replied. ‘But I can’t wait to find out!’
At the end of every week at the Academy there was a competition designed to help the teachers decide who the Ice Princess would be. Last week’s competition had been to perform a routine that showed the girls’ personalities on the ice. Sophy had been the winner and had been awarded a gorgeous pair of sapphire skates.
Issy had been very pleased for her best friend, who had worked hard. She’d love to have a pair of jewelled skates herself though. Maybe I’ll be the winner this week, she thought hopefully as she got changed.
‘I wonder what sort of skates we’ll have for a prize this time?’ mused Jo.
‘Maybe diamonds!’ burst out Maisie. ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,’ she sang, holding her hairbrush like a microphone. Everyone laughed.
‘Well, I want to know more about the Ice Princess and what she has to do,’ said Abigail from the Frost Fairies dorm. ‘They’ve hardly told us anything and I’m sooo curious!’
There was a chorus of agreement. All the girls wanted to know more. They knew the land was melting and that the Ice Princess would have to do a dance to stop that happening, but they didn’t know anything else.
It’s so beautiful here, Issy thought as she pulled a sweater on over her jeans. I hope I get to be the Ice Princess so that I can help.
Soon all the girls were gathered in the hall. Madame Letsworth smiled at them. ‘I’m sure you’re all eager to hear about the competition. Well, this week, the other teachers and I would like you to do an ice-skating routine that shows bravery.’
Bravery? Issy felt a tingle go through her as the girls looked at each other in surprise.
Madame Letsworth continued. ‘Without being silly or taking risks, we want you all to push yourselves to do that little bit extra this week and try things in your routine that you wouldn’t normally do. Confront your fears!’
Issy blinked. She wasn’t sure that she had any fears when it came to skating. She loved doing it so much that it had never occurred to her to be afraid! But pushing herself to do new things sounded great.
Jo raised her hand. ‘What does being brave have to do with being the Ice Princess?’ she asked. ‘I thought she just had to do a dance.’
The headteacher’s face grew serious. ‘There is more to being the Ice Princess than you have been told, Jo. The dance takes place in a difficult spot and the journey there might be long … and even dangerous. For these reasons, the Ice Princess will need to be brave.’
The girls all held their breath as they waited for Madame Letsworth to go on, but she didn’t explain further. ‘You’ll find out more in time,’ she told them firmly. ‘For now, doesn’t anyone want to know what this week’s winner will receive?’
‘Oh, yes!’ cried several voices. Issy sensed that some of the girls were relieved to change the subject, which she didn’t understand at all. She was longing to hear more about where the Ice Princess would skate and the dangerous journey!
‘These amber skates will be the prize for this week’s winner,’ Madame Letsworth said, holding up a pair of sparkling orange-yellow skates.
They were beautiful! Issy hoped she would win them.
‘Like last week, you’re to plan your routine yourselves and design your own costumes,’ said Madame Letsworth. ‘You may choose your own music as well.’
Issy felt fizzy with excitement. She could hardly wait to start planning her routine. She knew exactly what she wanted to do!
‘Right, what do you think of this?’ said Issy eagerly. She and Sophy were in the music room later that day, trying out different pieces of music for their routines. Issy had decided on a wild, lively piece of music that made her feel like laughing whenever she heard it.
‘So, I’m going to start with a double toe loop and then a double axel then a Flying Camel. After that I’ll do some crossovers and then a double lutz–double toe loop …’ Issy demonstrated each move as best she could as she spoke. ‘And I’ll end with another double axel!’ she finished, whirling up in the air. But, without skating, she couldn’t get the height she needed, and she stumbled and fell on to the carpet. She bounced up again, laughing as the ice dragons in the music box stood up and applauded.
Sophy looked doubtful. ‘Two double axels? But you’re still trying to learn them. Why don’t you stick to the double lutz?’
‘No way!’ exclaimed Issy, pushing back her thick blonde hair. ‘Madame Letsworth said to challenge ourselves, remember?’
Sophy laughed. ‘Well, that will certainly be a challenge! OK, do you want to see mine?’
Sophy had selected a slow, sweetly sad piece of music. As the ice dragons began working the series of wheels and levers that made it play, she went to the centre of the room. ‘Right, I thought I’d do some backward crossovers, a Flying Camel, and then more backward crossovers and a single lutz–single toe loop, and then a spiral …’
She demonstrated as Issy had done, leaping and spinning about the carpet. When she’d finished, she looked at Issy hopefully. ‘What do you think?’
‘Is that it?’ Issy blurted out.
Sophy stared at her. ‘What do you mean?’
Issy realized that she’d said the wrong thing. ‘Nothing! It’s a great routine. It’s just … well, maybe you should push yourself more.’
‘I am pushing myself,’ said Sophy defensively.
‘Really?’
‘Yes!’ Sophy insisted. ‘Not everyone is as fearless as you, Issy!’
Issy blinked. ‘Fearless? What are you talking about?’
Sophy crossed her arms over her chest. ‘When’s the last time you felt scared doing a jump?’
Issy shrugged. ‘Well … never.’
‘Exactly!’ said Sophy as if that proved her point. ‘Some people actually find jumps pretty scary, Issy.’
‘I know that!’ protested Issy. She felt a bit silly. ‘It’s just that –’
‘Just that you’re not one of them,’ finished Sophy. She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. ‘It’s OK. I’m not mad at you. I’m just trying to explain that this routine is difficult for me.’ She smiled. ‘Come on, we can practise some more later. We’d better get to class!’