Sky the Blue Fairy (9780545308137) (2 page)

“Rachel, Kirsty, it's almost lunchtime!” called Mrs. Walker. “We're going back to Dolphin Cottage.”

Kirsty looked at Rachel in dismay. “But we have to stay here and look for the Blue Fairy!” she whispered.

The little crab jumped up and down, kicking up tiny puffs of sand. “Follow me, follow me!” he said. The girls couldn't leave him now!

Rachel thought quickly. “Mom?” she called back. “Could we have a picnic here instead, please?”

Mrs. Walker smiled. “Why not? It's a beautiful day. And we should make the most of the last three days of our vacation. I'll head back to the cottage with Kirsty's mom and make some sandwiches. You girls stay out of the water until we get back, OK?”

Only three days,
thought Kirsty,
and three more Rainbow Fairies to find: Sky, Inky, and Heather!

The two girls waved as their moms headed off toward the cottages. Kirsty turned to Rachel. “We'd better hurry. They'll be back soon.”

The crab set off again, this time over a big slippery rock. Rachel and Kirsty climbed carefully after him. Rachel saw him stop next to a small tide pool. There were lots of pretty pink shells in it.

“Is the fairy in one of the tide pools?” she asked. “Is it this one?”

The crab looked into the pool. He scratched the top of his head with one claw, looking puzzled. Then he hurried away.

“I guess not,” Kirsty said.

“What about here?” Rachel said, stopping by another pool. This one had tiny silver fish swimming in it.

But the crab shook his claw at them and kept going.

“Not this one, either,” said Kirsty.

Suddenly, Rachel spotted a large tide pool. It was all by itself, right at the foot of the cliff. “Let's try that one,” she said, pointing.

Kirsty ran over.

The sky was reflected in the surface of the pool like a shiny, blue mirror.

Rachel caught up with her friend. She leaned over and looked into the water.

The crab scuttled up behind them, his stalk eyes wiggling like crazy. When he dipped his claw into the pool, the water fizzed like ginger ale.

“Fairy!” cried the little crab, lifting his claw out of the water. Blue sparkles dripped off it and landed in the pool with a sizzle. The entire pool was shimmering with magic!

“Thank you, little crab,” Rachel said. She crouched down and stroked the top of the crab's shell.

The crab waved one claw at her, then dived into the water. He sank to the sandy bottom and disappeared under some seaweed.

Kirsty peered into the tide pool. “Can you see the Blue Fairy, Rachel?” she asked.

Rachel shook her head.

Kirsty sighed, disappointed. “I can't, either.”

“Do you think Jack Frost's goblins found her first?” Rachel said.

“I hope not!” Kirsty shuddered. “Those goblins will do anything to stop the Rainbow Fairies from getting back to Fairyland.”

Just then, Rachel and Kirsty heard a sweet voice singing a song. “With silver bells and cockle shells, and pretty maids all in a row . . .”

“Oh!” Rachel gasped. “It's so pretty! Do you think it's the little crab?”

Kirsty shook her head. “His voice was all gritty.”

“You're right,” Rachel agreed. “This voice sounds tinkly — more like a fairy!”

“I think the singing is coming from that seaweed,” said Kirsty, pointing into the tide pool.

Rachel peered into the water. She could see something unusual in the rippling seaweed. “Look!” she said.

Just then, a huge bubble came bobbing out of the seaweed. It floated toward the surface of the pool.

Rachel and Kirsty watched with wide eyes. There was a tiny girl inside the bubble! She waved at them and fluttered her rainbow-colored wings.

“Oh!” Kirsty gasped. “It's her! I think we've found Sky the Blue Fairy!”

The fairy pressed her hands against the curved sides of the bubble. She wore a short, sparkly dress and knee-high boots the color of bluebells. Her earrings and headband were made of little stars.

“Please help me!” Sky said. Her tiny voice sounded like bubbles popping.

Suddenly, a cold breeze swept through Rachel's hair. A dark shadow fell across the tide pool. The glowing blue water turned gray. It was as if a cloud had covered the sun.

Rachel looked up. The sun was still shining brightly overhead. “What's happening?” she cried.

Kirsty heard a strange hissing sound. She glanced around in alarm.

A layer of frost was creeping across the rocks toward them, covering the beach in a crisp, white blanket.

“Jack Frost's goblins must be very close,” Kirsty said, feeling worried.

Inside her bubble, Sky shivered as ice began to cover the tide pool.