“Oh, Delphie, it really has worked out perfectly after all!” said Sugar as the Prince clicked his fingers and music flooded magically through the air. It was the waltz from the night before. The Prince spun Cinderella round, their feet flying over the rough cobbles. As Cinderella swept past Delphie, she pulled momentarily out of the Prince’s arms.

“Thank you, Delphie!” she cried, her blue eyes shining with joy. “Thank you so much!”

“That’s OK,” said Delphie happily. “I’m just glad it’s all sorted.”

Cinderella took out her golden locket. “Please will you take this with you. The person it once belonged to was a great friend of mine and she left it in my care but now I think it’s time it was returned. Tell her: Always believe in the magic.”

“But who does it belong to?” Delphie asked.

Before Cinderella could reply, the Prince had whisked her away.

As all of the townspeople joined in with the waltz, Delphie didn’t have time to think about what Cinderella had said. She slipped the locket round her neck as Sugar grabbed her hands. Delphie had never really waltzed before but she let her feet in the magic shoes guide her. She and Sugar twirled lightly up and down the street. It felt like flying!

Delphie’s feet began to tingle. Looking down she saw that the red shoes were glowing. “I’m about to go home, Sugar!” she gasped.

“See you soon!” cried Sugar.

“Bye!” called Delphie as, in a haze of swirling light, she was whisked away…

She landed with a slight bump in her bedroom. It was dark and quiet after the music and light of Enchantia. Her hand reached round her neck. Yes, she still had the locket. She carefully took it off and opened it. Inside there were two pictures. One of Cinderella smiling and another of a girl with big brown eyes and browny-red hair. She looked very familiar. Just like Madame Za-Za must have looked when she was younger.

Delphie’s hand flew to her mouth. Her ballet teacher had hinted that she had been to Enchantia too. Maybe this was a picture of her! Maybe she had once been friends with Cinderella?

Delphie closed the locket slowly. She realised she’d just found the perfect present for Madame Za-Za’s birthday.

8
The Birthday Dance

On the following Saturday afternoon, Delphie, Poppy and Lola got to the ballet school early. They had told Madame Za-Za they had a surprise for her.

“Happy birthday, Madame Za-Za,” they all called, running in with the chocolate cake they had made that morning. “We’ve got you a cake and made up a dance for you for your birthday!”

“Really?” Madame Za-Za said. “That is lovely of you, girls. The cake looks delicious!”