Whizardy Witch and The Shooting Star Whizardy Witch is always whizzing around. She is the fastest witch in the Land of Magic. “Zoomedy zoom, let’s go broom,” she squeals, making her broomstick go faster. Whiz, and off she whizzes. One day, Whizardy Witch was sitting outside after tea, with her parents, looking up at the night sky. Unex- pectedly, a bright shooting star streaked across the heavens. “WOW! Look at that,” squealed Whizardy Witch excitedly. Moments later, the shooting star dipped down beyond the dis- tant mountains and exploded in a great flash of illuminations. For a few seconds night turned into day. The brilliant lights covered the entire landscape and showed a wispy trail of clouds highlighting the path of the shooting star through the Land of Magic’s sky. Whiz was so ecstatic, at this rare event, she could barely sleep that night. The next morning, Whiz decided to take her cousin Whizby with her to go and find the Shooting Star land- ing site beyond the mountains. The pair whizzed off heading for the area far across the landscape. “Are you sure you know which way it went?” Whizby wondered cautiously. He was reminded of the saying, ‘finding a needle in a haystack’. The Land of Magic is very big, and the shooting star was probably very small, even if it did light up the sky. Whizardy Witch was having none of it, she was confident she knew ex- actly where to look. “I remember it perfectly Whizby,” she insisted. “We just need to head over there beyond the mountains.” The pair sped off along the route Whizardy Witch indicated. After many minutes, the mountains came into full view and then each one dis- appeared behind them as they followed Whiz’s directions. Below, everything looked normal. Whizby became anxious, “Eh! Shouldn’t we have seen something by now Whiz?” “Just a bit further,” insisted Whiz. Beyond the mountains the lands level out into a great deserted area of scrubland and grasses. If the shooting star landed anywhere there, they ought to be able to see it. “What do you think we are looking for?” Whizby wondered. “Would it have punched a big hole in the ground?” “You mean a crater,” corrected Whiz. “Yes, I think we are looking for a crater.” Whizby shook his head frustratingly. He loved his cousin, but she could be a bit obstinate at times and rarely accepted she might be wrong for once. “There, look!” Whiz shouted, point- ing frantically over to their left. “A crater!” Sure enough, the land had been punctured by a great force throwing huge amounts of rock and soil in every direction. At the centre, a thin plume of smoke still rose in the still air. Whizby grinned sheepishly at his cousin, “Okay, sorry, you did know where to look.” The pair flew down towards the rim but could not believe their eyes when they reached the edge. At the smoking centre of the crater was a glowing egg shape, about the size of a large dog, spinning slowly in a pool of molten rock. “What is that?” Whizby wondered. They could not get close because the centre was scalding hot. A loud cracking sound made them both jump in fright. Whiz and Whizby moved backwards several steps be- cause the egg shape was breaking apart and something was inside. “Is that a…” stammered Whizby. “…Baby dragon,” finished Whizardy Witch in excitement. “Look, it’s a rare blue dragon.” The shell fell away revealing a small, confused looking, creature. Its col- our was the deepest blue, shining with streaks of white and gold. “That is amazing,” whispered Whiz. “What do we do now? Do you think it is hungry or something?” “I’m not entirely sure what baby dragons eat?” Whizby replied. “Let’s hope it doesn’t think we are its breakfast!” The baby dragon staggered around a little whilst trying to stretch out its wings. After several attempts at flapping them, the dragon rose into the air and then landed close beside Whiz and Whizby. “Hello little dragon,” said Whiz calmly. “I’m called Whiz, and this is my cousin Whizby.” The dragon coughed gently a couple of times breathing out smoke. Then gave a loud sneeze and blew out a thin flame just missing Whiz and Whizby. “Hey, watch out,” screamed Whizby. The dragon stumbled backwards looking shocked and trembling in fear. “Now look what you have done,” ac- cused Whiz to her cousin. “You have frightened the poor little thing!” “Frightened him,” complained Whizby. “He nearly roasted us then, it is me that is frightened, Whiz.” “Oh, don’t be such a jelly belly,” scolded Whiz. “Just look at him, he is so cute.” Whiz put out her arms to the frightened baby dragon and smiled sweetly. “Come here to mummy Whiz,” she encouraged sympathetically. “Don’t you be afraid of my cousin Whizby, I won’t let him hurt you.” The dragon looked first at Whizby and then back to Whiz. After a mo- ment he stopped shivering and took a tentative step towards the wel- coming arms of Whizardy Witch. “Will you be careful Whiz,” grumbled Whizby. “You’ll end up like a piece of burnt toast if he sneezes again.” The dragon took another step backwards. “I am going to put a be-silent spell on you Whizby if you frighten this little creature again,” Whiz threatened harshly. “He didn’t mean to sneeze, and you can see how afraid he is. We need to take him to our dragon friends in the mountains where they can help him.” Whizby sulked quietly. He secretly thought that was the first sensible thing his cousin had said since they found the baby dragon. But he did not dare speak because he knew his cousins’ magic was more powerful than his. Instead, he nodded and moved away from the frightened creature. “Come on baby dragon,” said Whiz again stepping forwards and picking him up. She placed him on the front of her broomstick, wrapped him in her cloak and whispered, “zoomedy zoom, fly carefully broom.” She did not want to upset the poor little creature any more than he already was. Immediately, broom- stick whizzed off at a gentle rate heading for the dragon’s realm in the mountains. Whizby flew up alongside his cousin and apologised for his concerns. Whiz tapped him lovingly on the arm to offer her acceptance and to reas- sure him she forgave him too. The mountains rose rapidly from the lands below until they were topped with fresh white snow. Ahead, the pair could see the Land of Dragons and zoomed down to meet many of their friends. The black dragon spot- ted them coming and came racing up to greet them. Whiz quickly explained about the shooting star, the great crater in the ground, the boiling molten rock and the egg hatching. “This little fellow popped out of that egg,” said Whiz to her friend show- ing him off from under her cape. “We think he might be hungry and brought him here to you.” The Black dragon gasped loudly and called excitedly to the others to come quickly. Then said, “Thank you Whiz, you did the right thing bring- ing him to us. For this is no ordinary dragon. He is the son of a great King. Only a mighty Prince of Dragons would have his colours. We will feed him here and then take him to the palace of the King. I expect the King will want to reward you for your thoughtfulness and kindness.” Whiz smiled, blushing with embarrassment. Whizby interrupted saying quickly, “I helped too you know.” “Oh, did you indeed,” said Whiz knowingly. Everyone laughed together. *** And that is the story of Whizardy Witch and the Shooting Star.