Darcey Bussell - Magic Ballerina 13-18

“Why not?”

Holly shrugged.

The White Cat spun away, jumped into the air and touched his toes, before landing lightly. “Well, you’ve got me now!” He grabbed her hands and waltzed her down the path. Holly giggled. She didn’t think she ever wanted a friend other than her mum before, but the White Cat was so much fun.

“So, tell me something more about you,” he said eagerly. “What do you like? What don’t you like? What are you scared of?”

Holly blinked at all the questions. “Um, well, I like ballet. I don’t like school. What am I scared of? Not much really.” She thought for a moment. “I don’t like heights, I guess.”

“I don’t like water,” admitted the White Cat. “I’m so scared of it. My brother, Puss in Boots, calls me a scaredy cat!” He looked around. “I know, shall we play a game on the way? What do you play in your world?”

“Um … tag?” said Holly.

“OK, I’ll be it!” said the cat. “I’ll count to ten.”

Holly darted away through the trees to the left and scrambled up a bank.

“Wait!” the White Cat called in alarm. “I meant down the path, Holly! Not that way!”

But it was too late. As Holly reached the top of the bank, she realised that on the other side the bank fell steeply down into a swiftly-flowing river. In her surprise, she lost her balance. Her arms flailed and the next minute, she was rolling down the hill straight towards the water!

The cold water made Holly gasp as she splashed into the river. She tried to tread water, gulping a mouthful of air as the current started to tow her along.

“Help!”

The White Cat had reached the top of the bank. Holly could see he looked terrified, but he didn’t hesitate. He bounded down the bank on all fours and launched himself into the water, swimming like a tiger. Grabbing hold of the back of her leotard in his mouth, he pulled her swiftly back.

“You saved me!” cried Holly as he dragged her out on to the bank.

“Oh, my glimmering whiskers!” he gasped. “I thought you were going to drown!”

“You were so brave.” Holly put her arms round him in relief and hugged him hard.

“Thank you!”

The cat licked her face with his rough tongue. “You’re very wet. I hope Red Riding Hood has some clothes you can borrow. Come on!”

It only took them a few minutes to reach Red Riding Hood’s little wooden cottage, but when they got there they found, to their surprise, that it was all closed up.

“I wonder why she isn’t here?” said the White Cat looking puzzled.

“Maybe she called in on some friends on the way back,” Holly suggested. She was very cold and had started to shiver.

The White Cat noticed. “I’ll find her later. Right now, we’d better get back to the Royal Palace and get you some dry clothes. I’ll take us there by magic.” He held his long tail in his hand and swished it around in a circle on the ground. Then he pulled Holly into the circle. “Get ready!” he cried. His whiskers twitched. Silver sparkles flew off them and suddenly they were whizzing away!

His magic set them down in a large walled courtyard in front of a beautiful palace with pointed turrets and pearly white walls.

“Welcome to the Royal Palace!” declared the White Cat.

“Oh … wow!” Holly breathed, looking round.

There was a group of dancers talking near the front door, a band of musicians, and servants setting out tables in the afternoon sun.

“Wait here a minute.” The cat bounded energetically into the palace and reappeared a few seconds later with a long velvet cloak. He wrapped it around Holly. “There, that should warm you up!”

“Thanks,” she said gratefully, snuggling into it. She couldn’t stop staring at the dancers across the courtyard. They were all characters she knew from the ballet of Sleeping Beauty – the fairies, the bluebird, Puss in Boots, Bluebeard and the enchanted princess. A few of them had noticed her arrival and were pointing.

One of the fairies ran over. She had dark brown hair caught up in a diamond tiara, a lilac tutu and glittering wings.

“Hi I’m Lila, the Lilac Fairy – Princess Aurelia’s fairy godmother. Are you the new owner of the ballet shoes?” she asked.

Holly nodded. “I’m Holly.”

“Oh, I’m so glad you’re here.” The fairy’s face was worried. She turned to the White Cat. “We’ve got a real problem, Cat.”

“I know, Lila,” he said airily. “But don’t worry. The shoes have solved it. Holly can dance Red Riding Hood’s part.”

Lila shook her head. “No. You don’t understand.” She lowered her voice. “Goldilocks has gone too!”

“What?”

“Sssh,” Lila said hastily as several of the other dancers looked round at the cat’s loud exclamation. “I’ve been keeping it secret. No one else knows yet, but I found a note five minutes ago saying she’s gone home.” She lowered her voice further. “I’m really worried. They can’t both just have decided to go home. Oh, Cat. I think the Wicked Fairy might be to blame.”

“The Wicked Fairy?” Holly joined in.

The White Cat looked horrified. “The Wicked Fairy is the one who tried to spoil Aurelia’s sixteenth birthday, by making her prick her finger on a spinning wheel that would make her sleep for a hundred years,” he explained.

Lila bit her lip. “Look, I think trouble is afoot here, but I need to ask the King something before I say any more. Wait here. I’ll be back in a moment.” She ran inside.

The White Cat frowned. “I wonder what she’s going to ask the King. Hmm, I think I’m going to go in and find out. You stay here Holly, I’ll be back very soon.”

And leaving Holly in the courtyard, he hurried inside too.

The minutes ticked by. Holly watched the dancers starting to practise the dance that was performed at the end of the wedding in Sleeping Beauty. It was a lively dance with lots of skipping and galloping and turning round in pairs. As the music played, Holly could feel her feet itching to join in. She was sure she could do it …

She was just edging closer when Lila came hurrying out of the palace. “Where’s the White Cat?”

“He went after you,” replied Holly, surprised.

Lila looked alarmed. “I didn’t see him. Oh, no! We have to find him!”

She ran inside the palace. Holly raced after her. “What’s the rush? He said he’d come back.”

But Lila was too busy calling for their missing friend. “White Cat! Where are you?” Holly spotted a piece of paper on the floor.

“What’s that?” She picked it up.

I’ve gone home. Tell them to cancel the dance .

From the White Cat.