All at once, a gray, hazy cloud appeared over their heads. Then, a cold, freezing rain began to fall. “And I thought I was cold before!” Rachel said, her teeth chattering. The rain was coming down so hard the girls could barely see, and there was a furious wind that whipped at the horses’ tails.
Michelle hid under Kirsty’s hood, trying to work some magic on the dark cloud. “My wand doesn’t seem to work in this rain,” the fairy said. Her wings were wet and limp. “I’ll bet my special snow globe is near. Remember, it can really mess up the winter weather if it’s in the wrong hands.”
Kirsty and Rachel squinted through the heavy drizzle, but they couldn’t make out a thing.
“Did you hear that whinny?” Rachel said a moment later. “It sounded like a happy horse, not a cold, soggy one.” The horses pulling their sleigh were no longer joyfully trotting along. They were walking slowly, carefully picking each step along the uneven, icy path.
“Do you think there’s another sleigh?” Kirsty asked. “Maybe one traveling on a smoother, less dangerous path?”
“Maybe a magical path?” Rachel added, suspecting that Jack Frost’s goblins were not far off.
“There’s only one way to find out!” Michelle declared. She gave her wings a shake and raised her wand.
What we need is a sleigh-ride gift.
With less gravity we will get a lift.
No mucky puddles or rocky ice,
Our path will now be smooth and nice.
Horses, sleigh, and passengers, too,
Will speed along for a better view.
Before the girls had time to think about the magic charm, it began to work. Michelle had created a tiny sleigh pulled by two tiny horses! With another swish of her wand, she shrank the girls and transported them to the new, miniature sleigh.
The fairy-size sleigh zoomed above the trees.
“What about my parents?” Kirsty pointed out.
“Not to worry,” Michelle said, “I used a special spell, so they won’t notice. I hope we won’t be gone long.”
Another set of happy whinnies rang through the air.
“Those other horses are close,” Rachel called out. “How will we find them?”
“It won’t take long,” Michelle announced with confidence.
The tiny horses seemed to love galloping up in the air. They sped ahead, rising and dipping along the tops of the ice-covered trees. They were small enough that they could dodge the freezing rain. But the ice was heavy. It made the limbs of the trees droop from the weight.
Before too long, the rain stopped and the wind calmed. It would have been fun if the girls weren’t so worried about Michelle’s snow globe. “We must be getting close,” Michelle said after a while. “The weather is lovely here.”
“There’s snow!” Kirsty cheered. A humongous snowflake floated by. It looked like a fancy piece of lace made of ice crystals.
“And there’s the other sleigh!” Rachel called out, pointing down between the evergreens.
Sure enough, there were two goblins in the seat of the sleigh. One was jerking the reins to the sleigh back and forth. The other had both hands in the air. He was shaking something.
“He shouldn’t shake my snow globe like that!” Michelle cried, concerned. “It could cause a tornado. We are safe here, so close to the globe. But the rest of the island is in danger.”
Kirsty thought of her parents on the rough and windy path—and the steep cliff down to the ocean. “We have to get your globe now!”
Rachel seemed deep in thought. “I think our best shot is if we stay small and sneak up on them. What if we rig a trap for the globe?”
In no time, Michelle used her magic to make some stretchy rope. The girls tied a velvet blanket under the sleigh, like a pouch. “That should hold it,” Rachel said, satisfied. Next, Michelle told the horses about their plan. Finally, it was time to act.
The tiny horses raced forward, their mighty hooves beating through the frosty air. They quickly caught up to the other, much larger, sleigh. Michelle flew up and landed on one of the horse’s backs. “Pull up to the goblin with his hands in the air!” Michelle called out. “The one on the right.” The horses nickered, agreeing with the plan. “Girls, are you ready?”
Both Rachel and Kirsty took a deep breath and gave a thumbs-up.
The horses ran even harder. Soon, they were even with the other sleigh. They snorted and pulled up, so the tiny sleigh was right next to the goblin on the right.
“Now!” Rachel and Kirsty yelled together, and they leaned out of the back of the sleigh. They both grabbed the snow globe and held on with all their might. The goblin didn’t even notice them until it was too late.
“Wait! What? Stop!” the confused goblin yelled when the snow globe escaped his grasp. “Fairies! Noooooo!”
The girls dropped the heavy, oversize globe into the special velvet pouch that they had rigged.
“Now!” Michelle cried to the tiny horses. “Turn off now!”
At once, the horses darted away from the larger sleigh. They left the two goblins yelling and fighting with each other.
Michelle flew off of the horse’s back and ducked under the velvet pouch. When she came back out, she held the magic snow globe. It had shrunk back to fairy size, but the smile on Michelle’s face was gigantic. She hugged the globe to her chest. “Thank you!” she said to Rachel and Kirsty. “Just watch; this is for you.”
The fairy leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the dome of the globe. Within the blink of an eye, the most gorgeous snowflakes began to fall. They were big and lush—perfect for sledding, skiing, and sleigh riding.
The heavy ice that had been on the trees was now gone. Instead, there was a light dusting of snow. They looked like the trees in Mrs. Tate’s painting again.
“I need to get this snow globe back to Fairyland,” Michelle said. “But first I’ll return you to your sleigh.” Michelle raised her wand, and a cloud of glitter burst around her and the girls. In a blink, they were back to their original size, sitting behind Kirsty’s parents in the sleigh.
“The rest of your sleigh ride should be as smooth as silk,” Michelle told them. “Or maybe I should say ‘as smooth as magical snow.’ ” Michelle giggled and raised her wand again. Suddenly, each snowflake seemed to sparkle. “This will be one sleigh ride you will never forget,” she said with a smile. “And don’t forget to look for my other two objects!” Without another word, the fairy was gone.
“I hope all of the activities on Snowbound Island are as memorable as this ride,” Rachel said, snuggling under a blanket that the guides had just pulled out. “But it’s still cold.”
“And it seems early for the stars to be coming out,” Kirsty added with a shiver as she looked up at the darkening sky.
“That’s because we still have magic objects to find,” Rachel realized. “I can’t wait to see which magical item we stumble upon next!”
Bitter Bitterness
For the Birds
A Charm against the Chill
Gleeful Goblins
Terrifying or Terrific?
A hazy light came in through the windows, telling the girls it was morning. It was time to wake up and enjoy Snowbound Island! But the girls didn’t move.
“Chilly, chilly, chilly,” Rachel mumbled from under many layers of quilts and blankets.
“I know,” Kirsty agreed. “I’m cozy under the covers, but I feel like my nose and ears have frostbite.”
“I kind of wish the heater was broken again,” Rachel admitted, “so it would blast hot air everywhere.”
“And so Michelle could magically pop out and surprise us,” Kirsty said. Their new fairy adventure had started with the broken heater, just the day before.
It was the girls’ first full day at the Winter Wonder Festival, and they knew the resort would have lots of fun activities scheduled. Rachel and Kirsty were excited to take part, but they also had plans of their own. They needed to find Michelle’s other two magical items!
Rachel and Kirsty had seen how messy winter weather could get when Michelle’s objects were missing. Still, there was good news. They had already tracked down the magical snow globe. Now, there would be plenty of snow for all the outside fun. The girls could go snowshoeing or sledding, and Mr. Tate could go skiing.
However, Michelle’s hat and candle were still missing. Rachel and Kirsty knew they would have to get them back from Jack Frost’s goblins soon. If they didn’t, no one could really enjoy all the fun of the Winter Wonder Festival.
The girls got dressed as quickly as they could, teeth chattering the whole time. Then they rushed to the lodge restaurant. They found an enormous breakfast buffet there.
“Everything looks amazing,” Rachel said.
“Yes, but I definitely don’t want cold cereal or cold fruit. I need hot food!” Kirsty replied. “Waffles, pancakes, and scrambled eggs.” She listed off the foods as she piled them on her plate.
“You should feel free to go outside,” Devi said when she saw the girls. “There’s lots of snow now. It started during your sleigh ride and came down all night. It’s beautiful out there.” But then Devi’s smile fell. “If you do go out, though, you have to promise me you will bundle up. It’s terribly cold.” Devi looked very serious.
“We promise,” Rachel said.
Kirsty glanced out the frosted window. The trees were bent over in the wind. “It looks pretty bad. Maybe we should stay inside for a while.” Then she dropped her voice to a whisper, so only Rachel could hear. “We can let the magic come to us.”
“There is a fun craft project this morning,” Devi offered, pointing in the direction of some tables in a room off the lodge restaurant. A bunch of supplies were piled in the middle of each. “And there will be hot chocolate.”
The girls smiled at each other. Their minds were made up!
After breakfast, Rachel and Kirsty joined the crafting table and began making bird-seed ornaments. They listened to everyone passing by while they worked. No one wanted to go outside. They all wanted to sit by the fire.
Soon, Rachel and Kirsty wouldn’t have a choice. Before long, they would have to brave the fierce wind and the brutal cold. They had to get that magic hat!
“I like the idea of helping the animals,” Rachel said. She was using three different kinds of seeds to make a snowflake design on her ornament. Even though she was enjoying the craft, she kept looking outside. It still looked incredibly cold.
“We’ll put them on the trees for all the birds,” Kirsty said. “Devi was saying that deep snow drifts can make it hard for animals to find food.”
“That makes sense. Many animals eat food from the ground,” Rachel said. She looked around and noticed a group of resort workers. They were gathered together and talking in hushed voices. They all looked worried. “Something is going on,” Rachel said. “I’m going to figure out what it is.”
Rachel picked up her mug and walked over to the hot chocolate stand. She stood as close as she could to the workers. She leaned toward them as she poured her drink.
“Not only that,” a girl with thick raven-black hair said, “but none of the animals have their winter coats.”
Lauren, who was in charge of the sleigh horses, shook her head. “The horses’ hair is short and sleek, like it is in the middle of summer,” she explained. “It’s like their fluffy, warm coats disappeared.”
“I saw a chickadee that was literally shaking in its nest,” Alfonzo said. His blue eyes were sad.
Kirsty tried to hide her reaction. She didn’t want the workers to know she had been listening. But the news was so tragic! She and Kirsty had to act quickly. Animals were in danger!
As soon as she returned to the craft table, Rachel told Kirsty what she had heard.
“That’s horrible!” Kirsty agreed. “You think the missing hat is affecting the animals, too?”
“It sounds like it,” Rachel said. “I hope the deer and chipmunks and other wild creatures are OK.”
“We can’t wait to find out,” Kirsty insisted. “We have to do something.”
“But it’s dangerously cold out there. Shouldn’t we wait for the magic to come to us?” Rachel asked.
“I think it just did,” Kirsty said, smiling. “Look at that window.” Kirsty pointed. There was a message etched in the frost on the big picture window.
Join me, girls!
“It’s Michelle!” Rachel exclaimed. “Let’s go!”
Luckily, the girls had finished their projects and could quickly tidy up. Then they rushed to their room to grab their coats. “We need to tell my parents that we’re going outside,” Kirsty said, tossing her scarf over her shoulders.
The two friends found Kirsty’s parents in their room. Mrs. Tate was sitting up in bed reading. She was wearing all of her outside winter clothes, including her coat and wool hat. Her fuzzy mittens made it hard to turn the pages of her book!
Mr. Tate was busy waxing his skis. “Are you going out?” he asked.
“We’re going to hang our ornaments on a tree! For the birds!” Rachel answered with excitement. She held up her ornament. The pattern looked lovely as it spun around.
“Are you wearing long underwear?” Mrs. Tate asked, her forehead wrinkled with concern.
Kirsty nodded. “Two pairs.”
“Don’t forget your gloves,” Mr. Tate added. “And come in before you’re too cold.”
The girls promised to be careful and then rushed to the lodge’s lobby. Kirsty pulled her coat’s zipper tight under her chin and then pushed the heavy door open.
“I hope Michelle’s still here,” Rachel whispered.
“I sure am,” a tiny, silvery voice declared.
But just as Rachel and Kirsty turned toward Michelle’s voice, a gust of wind nearly blew them over. They stumbled back into the closed lodge door. The wind pressed against them, and tiny pieces of ice pricked their faces. The cold air swept into their lungs. The cold seemed to freeze them in place. They couldn’t even move!
“I’m stuck,” Kirsty mumbled through clenched teeth. “Frozen. Can’t move.”
“Oh no!” Michelle cried. “This is the work of Jack Frost, no doubt. Let me see if I can help you.” She twirled her wand in one hand. “I think I’ve got just the one! It will help you, but that won’t affect the natural world,” Michelle announced. The fairy took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and raised her wand.
When snowdrifts are high
And the temperature is low,
The winter’s deep freeze
Causes nothing but woe.
The cold air still bites,
The snowflakes still flurry.
But remove the chill
From these girls in a hurry.
At once, Rachel could feel a warm glow inside her chest. It began to expand. As soon as she realized she could move again, she turned to look at Kirsty. Her best friend had a look of relief on her face.
“Phew!” Michelle exclaimed. “I’m so glad that worked.” She glanced around at the trees, the clouds, and the snow on the ground. “The spell doesn’t seem to have affected anything else, so that’s good.”
“That is a good thing,” Rachel agreed.
“But it wouldn’t be good if someone saw you, Michelle.” Kirsty glanced at the lodge. She hoped no one was watching. “How about you hide in my hood?” she suggested.
At once, the fairy flew over and landed on Kirsty’s shoulder. She then ducked inside the soft hood of her coat.
“I can tell it’s still super cold out here,” Rachel said. “But I feel warm inside.”
“That’s how the spell is supposed to work,” Michelle explained. “You should still be able to feel winter’s chill, but you’ll stay warm enough to be outside and get things done.”
“Like hang up some ornaments,” Rachel said.
“And track down some goblins,” Kirsty said.
“And get back my hat,” Michelle added. “Then everyone can enjoy being out here. Just look how beaut
iful it is.”
Each girl placed her ornament on a tree branch, and then they took a moment to take in the wonder of winter. The sun had come out, and the snow gleamed in its golden light. Every tree branch was topped with a bright crust of snow. The air was fresh and crisp. Still, they knew that it was horribly cold. They were lucky that they had the warmth of Michelle’s special spell.
“Did you hear that?” Rachel whispered. “I thought I heard a voice.”
The three friends did not speak, so they could pick up on any sounds. Everything was quiet, until there was a high-pitched giggle.
“It’s too cold for anyone to be out here playing,” Kirsty said. “The only people who have gone outside were the workers, and that’s because they had to work.”
“Those aren’t people laughing,” Michelle said. “That’s the sound of goblins nearby! I bet they have my magic hat. That’s why they can bear to be out in this cold.”
“Well, they won’t have your magic hat for long,” Rachel declared. “Let’s get it back!”
It was hard to move quietly through the snow. The top layer crunched when the girls put their boots through it. The snow was also very high in places. The girls grunted as they tried to pull their legs out of the deep holes.
The goblins’ giggles were getting louder. “We must be close,” Rachel whispered.
“Shhhh, you don’t want them to hear you,” Michelle reminded the girls.
Kirsty could tell there was a clearing up ahead. “It sounds like the goblins are on the other side of those trees.” The three friends gathered together and peeked through a gap between the branches.
Michelle the Winter Wonderland Fairy Page 2
