Anya the Cuddly Creatures Fairy (6 page)

“Quickly, Merlin, go up to the llamas!” said Princess Anya.

Merlin moved toward the llamas, while Princess Anya, Rachel, and Kirsty pulled open the sack of feed. The llamas didn't seem to notice them. But then Anya waved her wand over the food, sprinkling it with golden sparkles. A delicious aroma rose from the sack, and the llamas paused and sniffed the air.

In the distance, the goblins leaped over the fence and vanished from sight.

“Over to the trough, Merlin!” cried Princess Anya.

Merlin trotted over to the trough, and the girls poured the grain into it. Within seconds, the llamas had stuck their heads greedily into the trough. The chocolate-colored llama was among them, still wearing the golden tiara.

Rachel breathed a huge sigh of relief. Their plan had worked! All they needed to do now was to lift the tiara from the llama's head. But then Kirsty gave a cry of alarm.

The goblin who had been stuck in the hedge had finally wriggled free, and now he was climbing onto the chocolate-colored llama's back!

The llama gave a loud snort and kicked up his back legs, flinging the goblin into the air. The goblin landed on the back of the next llama, who did exactly the same thing . . . and the next . . . and the next!

“YEE-OUCH!” squawked the goblin, as he was bounced from llama to llama. “OOOH! OWWW! ARGH!”

Finally he toppled headfirst onto the ground, and lay there panting, sprawled in the mud.

As the chocolate-colored llama dipped his head down to eat again, Rachel gently took the tiara from his woolly head. She handed it to Princess Anya with a big smile.

“We did it!” she said.

Princess Anya reached for the tiara, and it shrank to fairy-size again. She placed it back on top of her golden hair, where it shined as brightly as the sun.

“Girls, I will never forget what you did for me today,” she said, smiling at them. “How can I ever thank you?”

“The best reward is seeing your tiara back where it belongs,” said Kirsty, giving Princess Anya a hug. “We're just happy that we found it!”

“Merlin helped, too,” Rachel reminded her friend.

Princess Anya waved her wand and a large apple appeared in the air beside Merlin. As he crunched on it happily, Princess Anya waved her wand again so the girls returned to human-size.

“It's time for me to go back to Fairyland,” Anya said. “I can't wait to tell the other princesses how wonderful you've been!”

She waved good-bye and then, in a shower of sparkly fairy dust, she was gone. Rachel and Kirsty chatted happily as they led Merlin back to the stables.

“We did it!” said Rachel. “Three of the missing tiaras are back with the princesses!”

“That leaves four still to find,” Kirsty added.

“We'll find them,” said Rachel in a determined voice. “I know we will!”

As they passed through the petting zoo, they saw Jean scratching her head. The girls hurried up to her.

“All the animals seem happy and friendly again,” she said in a surprised voice. “It's like magic, as if this morning was just a bad dream!”

The girls shared a secret smile. This meant that Anya's tiara was already restoring the special bond between humans and animals!

“That's wonderful news,” said Rachel.

“Charlie is on the playground,” said Jean. “I said I would send you to get him. I'll take Merlin back to the barn — thanks for giving him a walk!”

When Rachel and Kirsty brought Charlie back to the petting zoo, he was overjoyed that the animals were back to normal. The rabbits let him pet their soft fur and feed them little treats. Charlie crouched down and held out a palm full of carrot tops while hens clucked happily around his feet. He petted the guinea pigs, fed the goats, and even went to see Duchess in her stall. He was a little bit scared that she might knock him over again, but as soon as she saw him, she gave him a friendly nuzzle.

“I think she's saying sorry,” said Rachel with a smile.

“You certainly made a lot of animal friends today, Charlie!” said Kirsty.

At that moment, Jean looked around the stable door.

“It's time for today's camp activity!” she said. “I think you'll enjoy it!”

Kirsty and Rachel walked out of Duchess's stall and looked around in delight. Merlin was standing in the middle of the courtyard, harnessed to the beautiful carriage they had seen earlier. All the other boys and girls were there, too.

“This is a genuine old royal carriage that has been restored,” Jean told them. “And Merlin will be happy to give everyone a ride in it!”

Rachel and Kirsty stroked Merlin's mane and then climbed into the carriage. With a proud whinny, the horse set off. Rachel sank back into the soft velvet seat with a giggle.

“I feel more like a real princess than ever!” she said happily.

“Me, too!” said Kirsty, gazing out of the carriage window at the peacocks, who all looked calm again. “Oh, Rachel, I can't wait to find out what our next magical adventure will be!”