Chapter Five

‘Go, Mia! Go, go!’ shouted the Glitterwings cheering section. The twenty fairies who had accompanied the team to Sparklelight Academy sat on special mushrooms down at the front of the pitch, screaming and shouting, trying to make as much noise as they could.

Hovering in the air as she guarded the Flea, Twink saw blearily that Mia was chasing a Sparklelight Stealer. With a sudden dive, Mia tagged the Stealer with a flourish. The Glitterwings fairies cheered and beat their wings, waving oak-leaf banners.

Twink yawned behind her hand. Oh, she was so tired! The team had ridden to Sparklelight on a flock of grey and yellow tits, the school being too far away to fly to on their own. Twink had hardly been able to keep upright in her saddle.

Normally she would have loved travelling to a different school, especially one as grand as this. Sparklelight Academy was behind a waterfall in a woodland lake, with cosy caves for the classrooms and sleeping quarters.

The Sparklelight Fledge field was just as impressive, with the posts rising up out of a shallow forest pool that was just like a mirror. Reflections of the trees gleamed in the water. Twink could see how lovely it was, even if she was too sleepy to appreciate it.

At least I know all the set pieces, she thought. Which was a good thing, as Sparklelight had some pretty glimmery set pieces themselves! It had been a close, quick match so far. The Flea had been tagged twice already – but as Sparklelight only had one Stealer left, Glitterwings’ victory seemed certain.

At the opposite end of the field, Mia and the other Guard were chasing the remaining Stealer. Twink hovered beside the Flea, relieved that it showed no signs of going anywhere.

Oh, hurry up and catch that last Stealer so we can win, she thought drowsily. I want to go home and get some sleep!

No, she had to keep alert! Fluttering in midair, Twink shook out her arms. But a moment later she was yawning again. It was so lovely and warm out here . . . her head drooped, and her eyes shut despite themselves. Slowly, she started drifting towards the ground.

‘HURRAH!’ screamed the Sparklelight students.

Twink jerked awake – and gasped with horror! The Sparklelight Stealer was hovering only a wing’s length away, holding the struggling Flea triumphantly over her head. Twink gaped in confusion as the Sparklelight players all rushed into the air, embracing their teammate. But . . . how had they lost the match?

She flew in a daze to the lily-pad sidelines. The rest of the Glitterwings team was there ahead of her, huddled together talking with their wings almost touching. They fell silent when Twink landed beside them. Mariella had her silvery eyebrows raised.

‘What happened?’ asked Twink nervously. ‘I didn’t see –’

The lily pad sloshed in the water as Madge landed. ‘I’ll tell you what happened! You fell asleep!’ she boomed.

Twink gulped. ‘I –’

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‘You were practically SNORING out there!’ Madge’s broad face was red with anger. ‘I signalled for you to do a Single Swoop Move to catch that last Stealer, and you didn’t even see me – she stole the Flea right out from under your nose! Twink, how could you?’

Oh, no! Twink’s wings felt icy. ‘I – I’m sorry,’ she stammered. ‘I didn’t mean to –’

‘Didn’t you get enough sleep last night?’ demanded Madge. ‘You didn’t, did you? And after what I told you!’

Twink’s face burned. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered again.

‘We could have won against Sparklelight,’ raged Madge, punching her fist into her palm. ‘We almost had it! Oh, you silly little girl!’

‘But Madge, she was only up late because she was studying the set pieces!’ put in Mariella, her eyes wide.

‘Studying the set pieces?’ Madge scowled thunderously at Twink. ‘Didn’t you KNOW them already?’

Twink winced. She wished Mariella hadn’t said anything! ‘I – I thought so, but – I just wanted to make sure,’ she mumbled.

Madge glared at her for a moment, and then let out a heavy breath. ‘Well, come on, everyone – let’s go to the party,’ she said wearily. ‘We might as well try to enjoy ourselves.’

The Sparklelight party was held in a large cavern just behind the glittering fall of water, with bright patterns of light dancing on the walls. The food was delicious – cress cakes and fizzy dew and lily seeds – but Twink could only pick at her share. She felt as if she might never eat again.

The rest of the Glitterwings team stood clustered together, talking in low voices. Go and join them, Twink told herself. Say something!

But how could she face them? It was all her fault that they had lost the game. She didn’t even know if she was still on the team or not!

Suddenly Mariella appeared at her side. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked.

Twink looked up, startled. ‘Er – yes, I suppose.’

Mariella’s green eyes were large with concern. ‘Well, I think Madge was very unfair, shouting at you like that in front of the whole team!’

Twink blinked. ‘You . . . do?’

‘Of course!’ cried Mariella. ‘Falling asleep could have happened to anyone. You were only trying to learn the set pieces.’

Twink gaped at her. Was this really Mariella? ‘Um . . . thanks.’ She glanced at the rest of the team, and tried to sound casual. ‘What do the others think?’

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Mariella made a face. ‘Oh, you’d think they’d never made a mistake in their lives, the way they’re carrying on! Just ignore them, Twink.’

Twink’s spirits plummeted. ‘They’re really cross with me, then?’

Mariella helped herself to a bit of Twink’s cress cake. ‘They’ll get over it. Try not to worry, Twink. Just let them have their little strop!’

Twink risked another look at the team. They were all staring right at her, frowning and nudging each other. Oh, what were they saying? Was she still on the team or not?

Suddenly she couldn’t bear the suspense any longer. ‘I’m going to go and talk to Madge,’ she said, and flitted off before Mariella could reply.

Her spirits sank as she approached Madge, who stood chatting with the Sparklelight Games Fairy. Twink hovered to one side, not at all sure how to word her question.

‘Well, what is it?’ demanded Madge gruffly, scowling down at her. The Sparklelight fairy tactfully chose that moment to flit off for another cress cake.

Twink’s lavender wings trembled. ‘I – I just wanted to say again how sorry I am.’

Madge sighed, and took a swig of fizzy dew. ‘Well, we’ve got two more chances at Sparklelight. So we might beat them yet.’

Twink swallowed, and then blurted it out. ‘And I was wondering – am I still on the team?’

Madge was silent for a long moment, considering her. Twink tried to stand up straight under the scrutiny. Her heart was drumming so hard that she was certain it must be echoing around them.

‘I haven’t decided,’ said Madge, tapping a finger on her acorn cup. ‘You’re a good player, Twink – but that was a really silly stunt, sitting up half the night before a match!’

Twink’s wings drooped. ‘I know,’ she whispered. Oh, what had she done! She loved being on the team, and now she might lose it for good, all because of her own stupidity.

‘All right, I’ll give you one more chance,’ said Madge finally. ‘But you’re going to have to work hard to show me that you’ve got what it takes!’