As they looked behind them, they saw Priscilla come hopping out of the castle. She charged among the guards, sending them flying as she went this way and that, croaking. Then suddenly she spotted the muddy waters of the moat around King Rat’s castle. Looking very happy, she gave a loud croak and dived in.

King Rat came charging out, shaking his fist at Delphie. “You tricked me! You… you…”

Priscilla surfaced and gave a croak so loud that everyone covered their ears.

“Go away!” King Rat shouted to the toad.

Priscilla looked at him smugly and croaked even more loudly.

“I think Priscilla likes it here!” grinned Sugar. “She looks like she’s going to stay!”

King Rat looked like he was about to burst with rage. “Get me some ear plugs!” he yelled at his guards. “And lock these tricksters in the dungeons!”

The guards lunged towards them.

“Hold on, everyone!” shouted Sugar, turning a pirouette.

There was a bright flash. Delphie felt herself spinning through the air. The next moment she had landed back outside the royal family’s glittering marble palace along with everyone else.

“We’re back!” she cried in relief.

“And we’re not the only ones!” exclaimed Sugar. “Look!” She pointed into the sky.

Delphie gasped. A flock of bluebirds was flying towards them.

“It’s my family!” chirruped Skye, racing to meet them before disappearing joyfully into the group.

“Thank you, Delphie,” Sugar said, taking Delphie’s hands. “It’s almost time for you to go back home but we’ll see you again, I’m sure!”

Delphie didn’t really want to go but before she had a chance to feel really sad about leaving, Sugar waved her wand.

“Let’s all dance!”

Light, bright music filled the air. The Princess, the King, the Queen, Sugar and even Griff began to dance. The bluebirds swooped around them.

“Join in with us, Delphie!” Skye chirruped.

The music swept through Delphie. She danced forward, the bluebirds encircling her in a glowing cloud. Delphie copied their delicate movements, running in tiny steps on demi-pointes, feeling as light as a feather. She spun into a pirouette and then went forward again, stretching her arms out like wings as the bluebirds fluttered and sang about her. Delphie raised her arms above her head, reaching into the sky towards the fluttering birds. She sprang upwards four times, crossing her feet over with every jump. The joy of dancing filled Delphie. She had never felt so light or so graceful. It was like she was a bluebird herself. Suddenly she seemed to spin faster and faster. Colours swirled round her and she was swept into the air…

8
The Audition

She landed to find herself standing in her bedroom, her head still spinning from the dance. She looked down at her ballet shoes. They glittered for a moment and then returned to their usual red colour.