Rosa and the Magic Dream

After the dance class, the girls met up with their parents for juice and biscuits, then went off with the rest of their group to a classroom where they had to write about what they wanted to be and what they liked doing. Rosa wrote as much as she could about her life and her dreams of becoming a ballerina.

Finally, after seeing the doctor, it was time for their interviews with the headteacher. When Olivia went in, Rosa waited outside the room.

Sukie came along the corridor. “Hi, Rosa,” she said. “Are you waiting for your turn?”

Rosa nodded.

“I’ve done mine,” Sukie told her. “Have you seen the dorms where the girls sleep yet?”

“No.” Rosa had been longing to look around the school, but she had been kept so busy she hadn’t had a chance.

“They’re cool!” said Sukie. “And they’re just up these stairs. Come on, why don’t we go now before your interview? I’ll show you where they are.”

Rosa felt tempted but shook her head. “I’d better not. It’ll be my turn in a minute. Olivia’s in there now.”

“She’ll be ages,” said Sukie. “You’ve easily got time to run upstairs with me and have a look. Come on!”

Rosa hesitated. “Um…”

“We’ll be really quick,” Sukie said persuasively.

“Oh, all right!” Rosa jumped to her feet. No, don’t, a little voice in her head said. But she ignored it. It’ll be fine, she told herself.

“It’s this way!” Sukie raced away up the staircase.

Picking up her bag, Rosa followed her…

The stairs curved round. At the top there was a small landing and three corridors leading in different directions. Sukie had vanished. Rosa looked around. Where was she?

“Sukie!” she called.

But there was no reply.

A horrible thought crossed Rosa’s mind. Was Sukie playing a trick on her? Maybe she wanted Rosa to get lost and be late for her interview? But surely not even Sukie would be that mean? Rosa hesitated, unsure what to do.

A tinkle of sweet music echoed through the air and at that very same moment she felt a tingling against her shoulder where she was holding her bag.

She caught her breath. Did her ballet shoes really want to take her to Enchantia right now?

She hesitated for a moment, then unzipped her bag. Sure enough, inside it, her red shoes were glowing and sparkling. She stopped herself, uncertain whether to put them on or not. It wasn’t exactly the best timing. But then again, Rosa knew that the shoes only took her to Enchantia when the characters really needed her help. It’s OK, she quickly reminded herself, no time will pass here while I’m gone. Heart thumping, Rosa quickly pulled on her shoes. A glittering mist of colour surrounded her and she felt herself being twirled around and magically swept away…

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The magic set Rosa down in a strangely familiar forest. There were frosty trees all around and birds singing in the leafless branches. For a moment, Rosa wondered if it was the same place she had been when she had rescued the magical Firebird. She shuddered as she thought of the horrible Wicked Fairy who had imprisoned him.

“Hello?” Rosa called hesitantly. “Nutmeg? Nutmeg, are you here?”

Nutmeg was the Fairy of the Spices. The fairy usually met Rosa when she arrived in Enchantia. But today there was no sign of her.

Spotting a path through the trees, Rosa headed down it. As she reached the main track, she heard a faint noise through the trees behind her – like someone crying out. She spun round. What was it?

“Hello?” she called again. But there was no answer.

Then, suddenly, a carriage pulled by two white horses with silver plumes and golden bridles came around the bend in the track ahead of her. The driver was dressed in white breeches and a coat embroidered with gold thread. Rosa expected the carriage to sweep straight past but, to her surprise, it stopped. The driver jumped down and opened the carriage door.

Rosa stared as she saw a beautiful lady with long blonde hair and a pink sparkly dress sitting inside.

“Hello,” said the lady. “You must be Rosa.”

“Yes, yes I am,” Rosa replied, feeling almost like she should curtsy. Who was this beautiful lady?

The lady smiled. “I thought you must be. My name’s Serendipity. I’m a friend of Nutmeg’s.”