Zara the Starlight Fairy

by Daisy Meadows

  “And there are the glow-in-the-dark goblins!” Zara whispered.

  The goblins, still covered in stickers, were kneeling on the ground under the tall, wooden sign.

  They were scooping up handfuls of star–shaped chocolates and shoving them into their pockets.

  “More prizes!” yelled the big goblin, who had glowing stars stuck on each ear like giant earrings.

  “Stop!” Kirsty called. “That chocolate is for everyone!”

  The smaller goblin, who had a star sticker on the end of his long, pointy green nose, scowled at her.

  “Go and find your own prizes!” he shouted, grabbing the last few chocolate stars. Then both goblins jumped up and raced off into the dark of the Whispering Woods. Sparkles drifted around them. They were leaving a trail of fairy dust through the trees!

  “Girls, I’m going to turn you into fairies,” Zara said. “Then we can chase the goblins quickly, and no one will see us.” She fluttered above the girls’ heads, showering them with fairy magic from her wand. Instantly, Rachel and Kirsty shrank to the same size as Zara! They had delicate, glittery wings on their backs.

  “There go the goblins!” Zara called as they saw two glowing figures dart between the trees. “We can follow them easily, even in the dark, because of the star stickers they’re wearing. Come on!”

  Zara, Rachel, and Kirsty zoomed into the Whispering Woods. For a minute, they couldn’t see the goblins at all, but suddenly Kirsty spotted a faint glow through the undergrowth.

  “There they are!” she whispered.

  The goblins were running along one of the paths in the woods. Zara and the girls followed them at a safe distance, swerving around the trees and keeping well out of sight. At last, the goblins skidded to a halt beside a tall oak tree. Zara, Rachel, and Kirsty landed on a branch just above their heads and hid among the leaves.

  “I think we finally got away from that tricky fairy and her silly friends!” the bigger goblin panted. “Let’s eat our chocolate.”

  Zara and the girls watched as the goblins sat down under the tree and began to empty their pockets, piling the chocolate stars on the grass. Then they saw the bigger goblin take out a shiny satin bag and throw it on top of the pile of chocolates.

  “That’s my bag of star dust!” Zara whispered.

  The goblins unwrapped some of the chocolate and gobbled it up.

  “Jack Frost is going to be very happy to see his constellation,” the smaller goblin said smugly. He opened Zara’s bag and tossed a handful of magic dust onto the grass, where it sparkled like tiny jewels. “Maybe he’ll give us another prize!”

  The bigger goblin didn’t answer because he was cramming another chocolate star into his already-full mouth. Just then, Zara and the girls saw one of the whippoorwills flying toward them.

  Rachel and Kirsty were amazed by how big the bird was now that they were the size of fairies. Looking sad, the whippoorwill landed on the same branch where the three friends were perched.

  “This poor bird must be lost,” Zara whispered.

  Suddenly the bird fluttered off the branch again and swooped down to the ground, skimming right over the goblins’ heads. The goblins shrieked with fear.

  “What’s that?” the big goblin wailed through a mouthful of chocolate.

  “It must be a pogwurzel!” the other goblin yelled, shivering and shaking all over. “Let’s get out of these scary dark woods!”

  Quickly, the big goblin grabbed the bag of star dust and the remaining chocolates and they both took off at full speed. Zara, Rachel, and Kirsty flew after them, but then Rachel noticed the beam of a flashlight ahead of them.

  “Someone’s coming!” she whispered to Zara and Kirsty, and the three of them ducked behind a bush.

  A moment later, Peter came down the path and bumped right into the two goblins.

  “Aha, so you’re the boys who stole all the prizes!” Peter said angrily as he spotted the chocolates in the bigger goblin’s arms. Rachel, Kirsty, and Zara breathed a sigh of relief when they realized that, although Peter had a flashlight, the goblins’ faces were hidden in the shadows.

  “That’s very greedy. Give them back, please.” Peter held out his hands.

  “My bag of star dust is in the middle of that pile of chocolates!” Zara said anxiously. “We can’t let the goblins give it to Peter.”

  “Don’t worry,” Rachel replied. “I have an idea. Quick, Zara, make me and Kirsty humans again!”

  Zara twirled her wand, and Kirsty and Rachel grew back to their normal size in a cloud of fairy dust.

  “Hi, Peter,” Rachel called, running out from behind the bush. Kirsty followed, wondering what Rachel’s plan was. “We found those chocolates in the woods,” Rachel went on, “and these boys are helping us carry them back to the signpost by the gate.”

  “Yes, that’s exactly what we’re doing!” the small goblin chimed in quickly.

  “Oh, so you weren’t the ones who took them,” Peter said to the goblins. “Sorry about that. OK, make sure you put them back, so the others can find them.” With a smile, he walked away. Kirsty and Rachel breathed sighs of relief.

  “We just helped you, so now you can help us,” Rachel told the goblins. “Give us the bag of star dust, please.” She pointed up at the sky where the Jack Frost constellation now had legs.

  “The stars need to go back where they belong.”

  “And you can put the chocolates back, too,” Kirsty added.

  The goblins glanced at each other. “You have to be kidding!” the smaller goblin yelled. He grabbed some of the chocolates from the other goblin and began throwing them at the girls. The bigger goblin joined in, pelting Rachel and Kirsty so hard that they were forced to run to the bush for cover.

  “Stop it!” Zara shouted, flying out from behind the bush to see what was going on.

  Having used up all the chocolates, the goblins turned and ran off. The big goblin was still clutching the bag of star dust.

  “After them, girls!” called Zara, waving her wand around Rachel and Kirsty.

  When the girls were fairies again, they all zoomed after the two goblins. They were running along one of the paths that led back to Camp Stargaze.

  “We won’t be able to chase the goblins through the camp,” Rachel pointed out, dismayed. “Someone might see.”

  “Maybe we should try to keep them here in the Whispering Woods,” Kirsty suggested. “They’re nervous because it’s dark and scary.”

  “You’re right, Kirsty,” Zara agreed. “It might be our best chance of getting my bag away from them. Let’s chase the goblins back into the trees!”

  The three friends linked hands and flew very fast so that they could get in front of the goblins. Then they swooped down, hovering in front of them and blocking their path.

  “It’s those fairies again!” the bigger goblin shouted, spinning around. “Quick, run the other way!” And the two goblins charged back into the thickest part of the woods.

  “Quickly, girls!” Zara whispered.

  Rachel, Kirsty, and Zara zoomed around the goblins, herding them deeper into the woods. Whenever one of the goblins tried to take a path that led back to the campsite, Zara and the girls would dart down to block their way.

  “But how are we going to get the bag of star dust back?” Kirsty panted as she flew around the goblins’ heads. “We need a plan!”

  All of a sudden, Kirsty’s heart began to pound with fright. A great black shadow was flying through the darkness, heading straight toward her. Quickly, she swerved out of its way. When it came closer, she was very relieved to see that it was only one of the whippoorwills fluttering through the trees. It had looked very dark and scary with its giant wings and enormous beak!

  “Oh!” Kirsty exclaimed, flying over to Rachel and Zara. “I think I know how we can get the bag of star dust back from the goblins!” She took her fairy-sized flashlight out of her pocket. “Look…”

  Kirsty switched on her flashlight and pointed the beam at
Zara. Instantly, a gigantic shadow with enormous wings and long arms and legs appeared on the broad trunk of a tree behind her.

  “Look!” the big goblin shouted, pointing at the shadow looming over them. “What’s that?”

  Rachel grinned. She flew into the light, too, and a second enormous shadow sprang up next to Zara’s.

  “There’s another!” the small goblin yelped.

  With a quick flick of her wand, Zara spun a cloud of magical fairy dust around herself and the girls.

  “WE’RE WATCHING YOU!” Zara called to the goblins. But her spell had changed her sweet, silvery voice to a loud, scary roar.

  “YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE STOLEN ALL THE PRIZES!” said Rachel, trying not to laugh as her voice, now as loud and frightening as Zara’s, boomed through the air. “THAT WAS NOT VERY NICE!”

  “They must be pogwurzels!” the big goblin wailed, terrified. “And they’re not just pogwurzels,” moaned the small goblin. “They’re giant pogwurzels! Help!”

  Rachel turned on her flashlight, too. Then she, Kirsty, and Zara took turns flying around in front of the beams of light, casting their huge shadows all over the trees around them. The goblins moaned with fear and clung to each other, their knees knocking together.

  “DROP THE BAG OF STAR DUST, AND WE’LL LET YOU GO!” Kirsty roared in her pogwurzel voice.

  The girls both held their breaths. Would the goblins give in and return Zara’s bag?

  The goblins stared at each other in a panic.

  “What should we do?” groaned the big goblin. “Jack Frost will be really angry if his constellation disappears!”

  “Do you want to get eaten by pogwurzels instead?” the small goblin demanded. “Which is worse—Jack Frost or pogwurzels?”

  The big goblin hesitated for a moment. Then he yelled, “Pogwurzels!” Quickly he threw the bag high in the air toward the giant shadows, and he and his friend ran off through the trees.

  Smiling, Zara zoomed over and tapped the bag with her wand. It immediately shrank down to fairy-size and Zara caught it in her hand.

  “We did it, girls!” Zara declared happily. “Now everything in the night sky will soon be back to normal. Let’s go and see.”

  Rachel and Kirsty followed Zara as she flew upward through the trees.

  Then they hovered above the Whispering Woods, staring at the sky. The stars were already sliding away from Jack Frost’s arms and legs and back to their own constellations. As the girls watched, Jack Frost gradually got smaller and smaller until only his icy grin was left. Soon, even that was gone.

  “All the stars are back in the right place.” Rachel sighed happily. “The night sky looks beautiful.”

  “And the birds can find their way again,” Kirsty added as the flock of whippoorwills swooped past them, calling happily to each other.

  “I want to give everyone in Fairyland the good news,” Zara said as they floated down and landed at the edge of the woods. She showered her magic fairy dust over the girls and they instantly became humans again. “Thank you, girls. You’re both stars! Keep up the good work!”

  Rachel and Kirsty waved good-bye as Zara vanished in a mist of golden sparkles.

  “Look, the pajamas constellation is the only one on the map left to find now, and it’s right above the observatory,” Rachel pointed out as they went back to camp.

  “And there’s the third sign outside the observatory door,” said Kirsty. “This is the last location.”

  All the other kids, including Alex and Lucas, were also heading to the observatory.

  “Now that the stars are back in their place, everyone can follow their maps!” Kirsty whispered to Rachel as Peter gathered everyone together.

  “Nice work!” Peter said. “Can anyone put the three locations together and solve the puzzle?”

  Everyone started talking, trying to work it out.

  “The first location was in the camp by the tents,” Kirsty murmured to Rachel.

  “The second was the gate with the silver star on it,” said Rachel.

  “And the third was the observatory,” Kirsty added. “And we gaze at the stars from the observatory, so it must be—”

  “CAMP STARGAZE!” the girls called together.

  “You got it!” Peter said, and everyone applauded. “Now, come into the observatory. Professor Hetty and I have a surprise for you.”

  Everyone crowded into the observatory where Professor Hetty was waiting for them. The walls were decorated with glow-in-the-dark stars and there was a table set up with sandwiches and cakes.

  “It’s a starry party!” Professor Hetty laughed, handing out glasses of punch. “It’s been fun watching the strange events in the sky, but I’m glad everything’s back to normal.”

  As the party got underway, Rachel and Kirsty sneaked a peek through the giant telescope.

  “There’s Zara!” Kirsty whispered, pointing to a silver light floating in the sky.

  As the girls watched, the silver light burst into a shower of sparkles. Then the sparkles formed themselves into a dazzling constellation in the shape of a fairy. It hung there glittering in the sky for a moment, and then disappeared.

  Rachel and Kirsty glanced at each other in delight. It was a wonderful ending to another fairy adventure!

  “I’m not tired at all, are you?” Kirsty Tate asked her best friend, Rachel Walker. It was late at night and the two girls were in the Whispering Woods, shining their flashlights into the shadows as they collected firewood. They were staying with their families at a vacation spot called Camp Stargaze. Tonight, the whole camp was having a midnight feast.

  “Not one bit,” Rachel replied as she tugged at a branch from the undergrowth. “I’m too excited to even think about being tired!” She grinned at Kirsty. “What a great vacation this is turning out to be. A whole week together, lots of adventures, a midnight feast, and…” She lowered her voice, cautiously glancing around. “And plenty of fairy magic, too!”

  Kirsty smiled. It was true—she and Rachel had been having a wonderful time this week.

  It was a chilly night, and Kirsty and Rachel were happy to see that the moon and stars were shining brightly. “Zara’s starlight magic is working perfectly again,” Kirsty said, gazing up at the twinkling stars. She gathered some more sticks, humming cheerfully to herself.

  Tonight was going to be so much fun! Peter, one of the camp counselors, was lighting a big fire, and then there were going to be lots of fireworks at the stroke of midnight, followed by a feast for everyone.

  As the girls made their way through the dark woods, they heard a voice calling: “Kirsty, Rachel, is that you? We found lots of firewood down here!”

  “Follow the beams of our flashlights!” shouted a second voice. Then the girls saw bright white beams of light flashing through the trees in the distance.…

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Rainbow Magic Limited c/o HIT Entertainment, 830 South Greenville Avenue, Allen, TX 75002-3320.

  e-ISBN 978-0-545-54958-5

  Copyright © 2010 by Rainbow Magic Limited.

  All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, by arrangement with Rainbow Magic Limited.

  Previously published as Twilight Fairies #3: Zara the Starlight Fairy by Orchard U.K. in 2010.

  SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. RAINBOW MAGIC is a trademark of Rainbow Magic Limited Re. U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and other countries. HIT and the HIT logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited.

  First Scholastic printing, July 2011

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