“It is,” said Cinders sadly.

“So why did you call me?” Sugar asked Delphie. “Do you think you can help us do something about it?”

“I don’t know,” said Delphie thoughtfully. “But there seems to be something strange on the clock face and we don’t know what it is or if it’s important.” Delphie pointed. “Can you see it glittering near the twelve?”

“Oh yes,” Sugar said. “There isn’t normally anything there.”

“Maybe that’s what causing the problems with time.” Delphie gave Sugar a hopeful look. “Would you be able to fly up there and take a look?”

“Of course!”

Delphie watched eagerly as Sugar pirouetted round and rose into the air, her wings fluttering.

What was she going to find?

4
Playing with Time

As Sugar hovered in front of the clock, Delphie and Cinderella saw her peer closer, run her wand over the face and then reach forwards and pull something out.

What was it? Delphie could barely contain her excitement.

The Sugar Plum Fairy flew down. “Look!” she exclaimed, waving a glass slipper in the air. “This was jammed into the clock face!”

“A glass slipper!” exclaimed Cinders as Sugar landed.

The slipper was large with a high heel, a pointed toe that curled upwards and covered in gaudy blue, green and red jewels.

“This is what’s been causing all the problems,” said Sugar. “Its heel has been used to scratch a magic crack between the hours of seven and twelve. Every time the hour hand on the clock reaches the seven it whizzes forwards in the groove and goes straight to midnight. When the hour hand gets to midnight it bumps into the glass slipper and bounces all the way back to the afternoon taking everyone back in time!”

“So that’s how King Rat has been doing his time-spell,” Delphie said to Cinderella.

“Yes! I bet it’s one of his ball slippers!” said Cinders, looking at the ugly shoe. “He wouldn’t mind giving it up because he hates dancing anyway.”

“So now that we’ve got it out of the clock does that mean that everything will be all right?” Delphie asked eagerly. “Will time work normally for Cinderella again?”

“Yes!” said Sugar. “I mended the crack with my wand while I was up there and now the clock is working perfectly again.”

Delphie and Cinders hugged each other. “Oh, Delphie, maybe tonight I’ll meet my prince properly!” said Cinders.

Just then the window of the house flew open and an older girl with a long nose, pointed chin and three big warts looked out. “Cinders, you ugly little woodlouse!” she bellowed. “What are you doing lazing around out there? I’ve been calling and calling for you. Hurry in here this minute and get me ready for the ball!”

“Yes, Augusta,” Cinders said quickly.