mighty horned horses their citizens adored . . .
Had kidnapped my mother! Oh yes, you heard right!
So, we grabbed our baguettes and we put up a fight!’
‘HEH HEH.’ Florence chuckled at the memory of brandishing bread baguettes and baked goods as weapons against Alpha Unicorn and his unicorn lords.
‘The truth was revealed – and my mother was freeeeeeed!
The Creatures of the Light and the Dark all agreed,
We’ve no need to fear one another anymore,
Together we’ve so much to learn and explore!
So, the King of Nocturnia is now full of glee!
(Even though he was briefly turned into a bee. Yes really.)
And that’s the tale of how two
kingdoms made amends,
And how the Creatures of the Light and the Dark
became frieeeeeeeends!’
Tangine threw both arms in the air, and sent glitter flying across the whole classroom. Once upon a time this would have terrified his Creature of the Dark classmates, but now everyone cheered and clapped and twirled round in the glittery rainstorm.
Amelia stood up, chanting Tangine’s name, followed by Grimaldi, and then Florence. The fairies appeared to be crying sparkly tears of joy.
‘Tangine La Floofle,’ said Miss Inspine with a look of shock on her skull. ‘That was quite possibly the best presentation any student has ever given in my class. TOP MARKS!’
After lunch, Amelia and her friends made their way to the Coughing Classroom, in the deepest recesses of Catacomb Academy, for a brand-new lesson.
‘I WONDER WHAT OUR NEW LESSON IS?’ said Florence.
‘I hope it’s more fun than Zombie Social Studies,’ said Grimaldi.
Amelia giggled. ‘I’m excited to meet our new teacher,’ she said. ‘I heard it might be someone from Glitteropolis!’
Amelia and her friends approached the classroom, where a plump and wrinkly man with thick-rimmed glasses, a big curly moustache and huge fairy wings was waiting by the door.
‘STUDENTS!’ he smiled, his teeth shining blindingly white. ‘Come in, come in! Welcome, welcome!’
Amelia, Florence, Grimaldi and Tangine took seats at the back of the classroom, carefully avoiding any snot that the Coughing Classroom spluttered in their direction.
As Amelia looked around the Coughing Classroom, she noticed it had been adorned from top to bottom with glossy print-outs of Ravishing Recipes and pictures of the new teacher posing with various cooking instruments.
Once the class had settled down, the teacher half-skipped to the front of the classroom and threw his arms out as if he were about to invite everyone over for a great big hug.
‘Hellooooo, students of Catacomb Academy!’ he sang. ‘I am terribly delighted to be joining you all in your wonderfully dark and dismal city of Nocturnia. I’m your new cookery teacher, Mr Sublime!’
‘Oooh, cookery class!’ said Amelia and Tangine in unison.
‘HEH, SOUNDS LIKE MR SLIME,’ Florence guffawed.
‘Florence !’ Amelia whispered, half-smiling.
‘I can’t wait to share some of my favourite Glitteropolan recipes with you. We’re going to have a lot of fun making a LOT of food!’ said Mr Sublime.
Tangine’s eyes lit up and a string of dribble slipped its way down his chin. ‘Hmmmm fooooood !’ he gurgled happily.
AHEM!
‘Yes?’ said the teacher, looking round at the students expectantly for more sentiments of appreciation.
‘IT WEREN’T ANY OF US THAT MADE THAT NOISE, MR SLIME. THAT WAS THE ROOM. THAT’S WHY IT’S CALLED THE COUGHING CLASSROOM,’ explained Florence.
‘Oh, I see,’ said Mr Sublime, looking a little ill as he watched a trickle of snot slide down the back wall, between two particularly dramatically posed pictures of himself with a frying pan.
Grimaldi was trying not to laugh.
Amelia elbowed Florence in the belly. ‘You can’t call him Mr Slime!’ she whispered. ‘It’s Mr Sublime !’
Grimaldi and Florence smirked.
Recovering himself, the teacher flung his arms out wide with a flourish. ‘Well, let’s get started with your first cookery class like no other! And do you know WHY it’s like no other?’ Mr Sublime didn’t wait for anyone to answer. ‘Because it has been said by many – not myself, you understand – that I am the BEST cook you’ve ever met or are likely to meet.’
‘That’s quite a statement,’ whispered Grimaldi. ‘I always thought my Grimpapa was the best cook around . . .’
‘I think you’ll find Wooo is definitely the best!’ Amelia replied.
‘Tonight, class, we will be making my favourite recipe!’ continued Mr Sublime.
‘I wonder if it’s Boasting Buns !’ Grimaldi giggled.
‘Oh no . . . we’ll be making those next week,’ said the teacher looking straight at Grimaldi, whose deathly pale cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ‘This week, we’ll be making Sublime Cookies!’
‘HEH, SLIME,’ said Florence.
Tangine rolled his eyes. ‘Are you going to do that every time?’
‘YEH AND WHAT’S IT TO YOU?’ said Florence, nudging Tangine off his plinth.
‘You’ll find a copy of my recipe book It’s
