Magic Ballerina 7-12. Darcey Bussell
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Название: Magic Ballerina 7-12
Автор: Darcey Bussell
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Детская проза
isbn: 9780007513550
isbn:
Nutmeg waved her wand and beautiful music from Swan Lake filled the clearing. “Copy me!” Nutmeg danced three steps forwards before turning three times, one arm above her head, one out to the side. Then she danced on in a big circle, turning with every step until she stopped in an arabesque, one leg held out behind her.
Rosa copied her. It felt wonderful to be dancing outside in the open air. She spun around letting the music flow through her. She didn’t care if she got things a bit wrong; she just lost herself in the wonderful feeling. As she finished, she balanced on one leg.
Nutmeg looked very impressed. “You’re really good at dancing, Rosa!”
Rosa smiled at her. “Thank you!” She felt even braver after the fairy’s praise. “Do you think the mouse guards will have given up looking for me by now?”
“I should think so.” Nutmeg nodded.
“Then let’s go back to the castle!”
Nutmeg’s magic took them to the edge of the forest…just as the sun was setting. The swan princess flapped her her wings and took off from the water.
Rosa watched the bird swoop into the tower. A few minutes later, a girl in a white dress appeared at the window. She had long golden hair and looked sad.
“That’s Cressida,” said Nutmeg. “I’d better make you look like her right away!”
Nutmeg began to dance around Rosa. A tingling started in Rosa’s toes. It spread up her body and down her arms and up through her head. Nutmeg stopped and pointed her wand at her. There was a silver flash. Rosa blinked and gasped. Suddenly she was wearing a white dress. She put her hands to her head. She had a tiara on and her hair was now a deeper gold colour. “Oh, wow,” she gasped. Nutmeg took a small mirror out of the pocket of her tutu and held it up. Rosa stared. Her own face wasn’t looking back at her, but the face of the princess. It was a very weird feeling!
“How long will the magic last?” she asked quickly.
“Not long,” said Nutmeg. “Some fairies in Enchantia can do transformation magic that lasts for hours but I’m still not very good at it. But it should last until Cressida and I escape.” She rose into the air. “Good luck!”
“You too,” called Rosa.
Nutmeg ran as fast as she could to the little door, and with one quick look back at Rosa, she disappeared inside.
Rosa took a deep breath. This was it! Nutmeg would hopefully be letting Princess Cressida out. Oh, hurry up, hurry up, she willed them. Please get out before the guards come!
“Hup two, hup two!”
It was too late. The guards were marching around the building. If Nutmeg and the princess opened the door now they’d be seen for sure!
Rosa didn’t hesitate. Nutmeg and the princess were in danger. She had to help! Lifting her arms, she danced out of the trees…
The two guards at the front of the group stopped so that the guards behind bumped into them. There was a chorus of “oofs” and “ouches” as tails were trodden on and swords tripped over.
“It’s the princess!” the guards in the front shouted as Rosa danced.
Rosa’s heart somersaulted as the guards started charging towards her. She turned and ran into the dark trees.
“STOP!” the guards yelled.
No way, thought Rosa as she ran in and out of the trees, jumping over tree roots and stumps. The ballet shoes seemed to help her, making her feet move more lightly than ever as she twisted and turned on the 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 СКАЧАТЬ