forest paths. She glanced behind her. The guards were getting closer!
But Cressida and Nutmeg were also running across the grass towards the trees, aiming for a spot far to the right. Luckily the guards were so busy chasing Rosa that they didn’t look behind them. They raced after her.
Rosa headed in the direction that Nutmeg and Cressida were going but as she did so, she realised there was a wall of trees and bushes in front of her. There was no way through. She was trapped!
“We’ve got her!” screeched Mangy Tail.
Rosa turned around as the guards skidded to a halt behind her. They formed a semi-circle, swords pointing at her. She backed up until she was pressed against the trees.
“Come on, Princess,” snarled Whiskers through the dusk. “I don’t know how you escaped but you’re coming back to the castle with us right now before King Rat finds out…” He blinked. Rosa felt herself tingling all over and glanced down. The magic was wearing off!
“What…what’s happening?” The guards began to back off in alarm as Rosa felt herself change.
Suddenly someone grabbed her hand from behind the tree.
“We’re here!” Nutmeg’s voice whispered.
Rosa’s heart leaped.
“It’s that girl!” said Mangy Tail suddenly.
Whiskers recovered from his confusion. “It’s a trick again! GET HER!” He and the other guards leaped toward Rosa but at that very moment, Rosa felt Nutmeg’s fingers tighten on hers.
“Hold on!” the fairy cried as a tinkling of music rang out.
And just as the guards’ paws reached out to grab Rosa, a swirling curtain of silver and pink sparkles surrounded her and she felt herself being whisked away into the air, twirling round as if she was on a tea cup ride…
She landed a few seconds later. As the sparkles cleared, she realised that she was standing in a bedroom on a cream rug. Nutmeg was holding her right hand and Princess Cressida was holding her left.
“We…we escaped!” Rosa gasped.
“Only just,” said Nutmeg, looking pale. “Oh, Rosa, that was so close!”
“Thank you so much for rescuing me!” Princess Cressida said, giving Rosa a hug as the bedroom door opened and a beautiful lady in a blue dress with a golden crown on her head looked in. “Oh my goodness!” she cried, stopping in her tracks. “Cressida! It’s you!”
“Queen Isabella,” said Nutmeg sinking into a deep curtsey. Rosa quickly followed her example.
Cressida however ran towards the Queen and hugged her. “I’m safe, Auntie! Rosa and Nutmeg rescued me! Oh, wait until you hear what happened!”
The Queen fetched the King and ten minutes later, Cressida and Nutmeg had told them everything. Rosa stood shyly at one side, not wanting to intrude. “Nutmeg used her magic to whisk us all back here,” said Cressida, “and now we’re safe!”
The Queen turned to Nutmeg and Rosa, grateful tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Nutmeg. And thank you, Rosa. You have both acted so bravely.”
“I’m really glad I helped, but I did some stupid things,” admitted Rosa. “I should never have gone off into the castle on my own the first time. It could have turned out really, really badly.” She sighed. “My mum’s always saying I should think more before I do and say things.”
And she’s right, Rosa thought, reminding herself of Olivia.
The Queen smiled though. “Do not be too hard on yourself. It is good to act and not just think, good to be prepared to take risks, good to be brave for the sake of others. I think you are a worthy owner of the ballet shoes, Rosa.” She took her hands. “I am very, very glad you have been chosen to wear them.”
“I am too,” said Rosa happily. The adventure might have been scary but it had also been really good fun!
“You must not tell anyone about your time here,” warned the Queen. “Keep the red shoes’ magic secret.”
“We should have a feast and dancing to celebrate Rosa’s first visit to Enchantia,” King Tristan declared. “Let the party begin!”
The rest of the evening passed in a whirl of eating delicious food, dancing to lively tunes and having fun. As they stopped after an energetic polka at midnight, Rosa felt her feet tingling. At first she thought it was just because she had been dancing so much but then she realised that her shoes were glowing again. “I think I’m about to go home!” she gasped.
“Come back soon!” called Nutmeg. “Bye, Rosa!”
“Goodbye!” called Princess Cressida.
The last thing Rosa saw was Nutmeg and Cressida smiling and waving and then colours swirled around her and she was swept away…
Rosa looked around. She was back in the changing rooms!
She took a deep trembling breath. She could hardly believe everything that had just happened. No wonder Madame Za-Za and Delphie had told her the ballet shoes were special!
Glancing at the clock on the wall, she saw that it was exactly the same time as when she had gone away. It was weird to think that no time had passed here while she had been doing so much. And now she had something else to do, she reminded herself. I’m going to go home and ring Olivia and say sorry.
Just as she finished getting dressed, she heard the main door of the ballet school open. There was the sound of running feet and then the changing-rooms door opened too. Olivia ran in. She stopped when she saw Rosa. “I forgot my cardigan,” she said briefly. Grabbing it from the bench, she went to leave.
“Wait!” Rosa burst out. “Olivia, I’m sorry!” The words tumbled out of her. “I shouldn’t have got cross earlier. I was just angry because I’d wanted to show you round. But it was stupid of me to lose my temper – I’m just too impetuous – and I really didn’t mean to bump into you in class. It was just an accident. I am really, really sorry. Can we be friends again?” She held her breath.
But she needn’t have worried. Olivia smiled almost instantly. “Of course we can.”
Rosa felt a rush of relief.
“Do you want to come to mine for tea?” said Olivia. “We could stop at your house on the way and ask your mum if it’s OK.”
“Yes, please!” Even though Rosa knew she couldn’t tell Olivia about Enchantia, she suddenly realised she could share her adventures with her in a different way. “There’s this new dance I’ve learned. It’s from Swan Lake. I could teach you it.”
“That sounds cool,” said Olivia. “Let’s go!”
Rosa picked up her things. As she looked at the red ballet shoes she stopped and smiled to herself. Thank you for the shoes, Delphie, she thought.