Holly and the Ice Palace. Darcey Bussell

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      Then she gasped as she followed Chloe through the door. It was as though the studio had been transformed into the Land of Snow, with glistening scenery. Across one wall was a backdrop of icy silver and blue, covered with bright white snowflakes like stars.

      In a flash, Holly felt herself transported back to the theatre where she’d seen The Nutcracker all those years ago.

      I’m going to make you proud, Mum, she said to herself, lifting her chin and feeling determination rush through her as she walked to her place.

      “How do you think it went?” asked Chloe, clutching Holly’s hand outside in the corridor when the audition was over.

      Almost immediately, they were surrounded by other students. “What was it like? Did it go well?” they wanted to know.

      Holly was going back over the audition in her head. She thought it had been all right, but you could never be sure.

      “I took your mum’s advice and focused on the music like mad,” said Chloe, as she set off back to the changing rooms with the others.

      Holly stopped in her tracks. It was as though she was glued to the spot. She’d just realised something awful. She’d been concentrating so hard on the steps and the expression, and feeling the icy atmosphere, that she hadn’t even noticed the music. How could she have forgotten such an important thing? Especially when her mum had particularly drawn attention to it. She dropped her head sadly at her stupid mistake and immediately got another shock.

      Her red shoes were glowing! That could only mean one thing – she was about to go to Enchantia. Right now!

      

      The glow was turning to swirls of colours, getting faster and brighter, and suddenly, Holly was swept up amongst them.

      Where am I? she thought, a few moments later.

      The field where she had landed was completely deserted. There weren’t even any trees in it, which was a shame, because the sun was beating down furiously and Holly was dying for a bit of shade. Her friend the White Cat was nowhere to be seen either, but he’d arrive at any moment, she was sure. He usually did.

      I hope he gets here soon, thought Holly, as the heat started to make her feel a bit faint. Thank goodness she was still in her Snow Maiden outfit or she’d boil over. Even the grass was wilting and beginning to turn brown.

      Just when Holly thought she’d melt if she didn’t find some shade, a familiar voice sounded just behind her.

      “Hello! Hello!”

      The White Cat was leaping towards her. Holly could tell he was happy to see her, but it was also clear he was anxious about something.

      “Oh, Cat!” she said, shaking his paw gently. “Sorry, too hot for hugs! Whatever’s going on?”

      “Big problem!” said the White Cat, fanning himself with his tail. “Terrible magic afoot.”

      Holly knew that the shoes only brought her to Enchantia if there was something the matter, and wondered what on earth could be making her friend sound so worked up.

      “You see that palace up on the hill over there?” he went on, a bit breathlessly.

      Holly followed his gaze. She could just make out the most enormous building surrounded by snow clouds, far in the distance.

      “That is the home of King Rat,” explained the White Cat.

      Holly turned sharply at the sound of the name. She had heard of an evil King Rat from The Nutcracker. “He set his army of mice on to the Nutcracker Prince, didn’t he?” she said.

      The White Cat nodded. “Those mouse guards of his are very fierce, with sabre swords and lashing tails. And King Rat himself is really disliked here in Enchantia. He doesn’t like dancing, you see, so he’s forever spoiling things for us.”

      Holly’s eyes widened as she looked back at the hill in the distance. “And that’s where he lives?”

      “Well,” said the White Cat. “He actually lived in a grey stone castle until recently. But he is so vain and selfish, and absolutely has to have whatever he wants. So his latest evil trick has been to capture the magic powers of the Winter Fairy from Cinderella and use them to transform his castle into an Ice Palace!”

      Holly was shocked. “I’ve met the Winter Fairy,” she said. “And the Summer Fairy too. They were at the christening of Cinderella’s little baby, Pearl, weren’t they?”

      “That’s right,” said the White Cat, nodding. Then his anxious look returned. “The trouble is,” he went on, wiping his forehead with his paw, “it is the joint powers of the Winter Fairy and the Summer Fairy that control the temperature and the seasons in Enchantia. Now that the Winter Fairy’s powers have been snatched away, the Summer Fairy’s powers have taken over. The whole land can hardly breathe, it’s so hot. The two sets of powers balance each other out, you see. That’s just the way it works.”

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