Debbie the Duckling Fairy Read online

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Map

  Poem

  A Merry Midterm

  Creatures in the Clouds

  Kidnapped!

  Woof or Quack?

  Goblin on the Cobbles

  The Mystery Cleaner

  Teaser

  Copyright

  I want a farm that’s just for me,

  With animals I won’t set free.

  It’s far too slow to find each one.

  Let fairy magic get this done!

  With magic from the fairy farm,

  I’ll grant my wish—to their alarm!

  And if I spoil the humans’ fun,

  Then Jack Frost really will have won!

  “It’s so nice of your friends to invite me to the farm with you,” said Rachel Walker.

  Her best friend, Kirsty Tate, smiled. They were on their way to Greenfields Farm in the car with Mr. and Mrs. Tate. The farm was just outside Wetherbury, Kirsty’s hometown, where the two best friends were spending their school break.

  “Greenfields Farm is so cool,” Kirsty said. “Mom and Dad have known the owners for years, and they were really happy to invite you to come along, too.”

  “Niall and Harriet Hawkins work very hard,” said Mr. Tate. “They’ve been planning to open the farm to paying visitors for months.”

  “They were so pleased when we offered to help them set up for the opening at the end of this week,” Mrs. Tate added.

  “The new visitors are bound to love the little baby animals that were just born this spring,” said Kirsty.

  “I’m looking forward to seeing the babies the most,” said Rachel. “I keep trying to decide which are my favorite baby animals, but I never can.”

  The car started to bump down the lane toward the farm. The girls rolled the back windows down, and a chorus of birdsong flooded into the car.

  “That’s better than any car radio,” said Mrs. Tate. “What a beautiful sound.”

  “Look!” said Kirsty, pointing into the nearest field. “Look at all the animals. I can see cows … and sheep … ”

  “And there are some gorgeous horses over here,” said Rachel, gazing out of the other window. “I wonder if we’ll be allowed to ride them.”

  “I think we’ll be too busy petting the sweet little foals,” said Kirsty.

  The girls shared an excited smile as the car stopped outside the farmhouse. It was made of reddish bricks, and the door and windows looked freshly painted. There were cheerful yellow curtains in every window.

  A tall woman with straight blond hair strode around the side of the farmhouse and waved to them.

  “That’s Harriet,” said Mrs. Tate, waving back.

  “You’re just in time,” said Harriet, smiling as they all got out of the car. “I’m sorry to put you to work right away, but we have an emergency. We have to mend a broken fence before one of the animals escapes or gets hurt on it.”

  “That’s what we’re here for,” said Mr. Tate with a grin. “Lead the way, Harriet. We can unpack later.”

  “I’m so grateful that you’re all here,” said Harriet. “Come around to the barn at the back of the farmhouse. Niall is just finishing the milking.”

  The scent of honeysuckle filled the air as Rachel and the Tates followed Harriet around the side of the farmhouse. Outside a small barn, a dark-haired man was standing beside a cow, holding a bucket filled with milk.

  “Hello, everyone,” he said as they walked toward him. “Welcome to the farm! Girls, this is Blossom. Would you like to say hello?”

  Rachel and Kirsty felt very excited, but they made sure that they walked slowly, so they didn’t startle Blossom. Soon they were patting and petting her, and she was gently mooing. The girls thought that she was the nicest cow they had ever seen, with her soft nose and her big, shining eyes.

  “I can see that you two love animals,” said Harriet. “Would you like to go and see the new ducklings at the pond while we mend the fence?”

  “That would be awesome,” said Kirsty.

  “I’d love to!” said Rachel at exactly the same time.

  Harriet pointed to a field on the right of the barn, while the girls danced up and down in excitement.

  “That’s where the broken fence is,” she said. “If you need us, you’ll find us there. The pond is down that path.”

  She pointed to where a path wound along the edge of a different field. It disappeared between two large trees.

  “The pond is just past those trees,” said Harriet. “Enjoy watching the ducklings, and come back when you’re ready for a big Greenfields Farm dinner!”

  Rachel and Kirsty hurried along the path. The row of bushes that marked the edge of the field was full of colorful wildflowers.

  “Red campions, foxgloves, daisies … I can’t decide which ones I like best,” Kirsty said, running her hand along the top of the bushes as they walked.

  “Let’s pick some on our way back and put them in a jam jar in our room,” Rachel said.

  The girls held hands and walked through the trees that Harriet had pointed out. At once they saw a large pond sparkling in the sunshine, surrounded by tall cattails. Mother and father ducks lined the banks, resting in the sun while the tiny ducklings quacked and happily splashed in the water.

  “Goodness, they are so loud,” said Kirsty with a laugh. “I can’t believe that something so small can make such a big noise.”

  But Rachel didn’t reply, because she was gazing at the ducks’ nest on the opposite bank of the pond.

  “Look, Kirsty,” she said in a low voice. “The nest is glowing.”

  The girls shared a thrilled smile, because they knew exactly what this meant. They were friends with the fairies, and they knew that the glow was magical. As they watched, the glow grew brighter, and then a tiny fairy flew out of the nest and swooped across the pond.

  “Hooray, I found you!” the little fairy cheered.

  She looped over the noisy ducklings, who flapped their fluffy wings and quacked even more loudly. Her wings glimmered in the sunshine as she hovered in front of the girls.

  “Hello,” she said, smiling. “I’m Debbie the Duckling Fairy.”

  Debbie had wavy light-brown hair with blond tips and sparkling amber eyes. She was wearing a green T-shirt and a pair of blue shorts, and her gold necklace shone in the sunshine.

  “I’m Rachel and this is Kirsty,” said Rachel.

  “Oh my, I know that!” said Debbie with a bubbly laugh. “I came here to find you! A little bird told me that you were here, and I came to look for you right away. We’ve had some new arrivals at the Fairyland Farm, too. Would you like to come with me and see the baby animals?”

  “Oh yes, please!” said the girls together.

  They knew that the grown-ups wouldn’t be worried. However long the girls spent in Fairyland, not a single moment would pass in the human world. Debbie lifted her wand and flew around the girls, trailing fairy dust behind her. She went faster and faster, until she was no more than a blur. Rachel and Kirsty blinked and rubbed their eyes. When they looked again, they were hovering with pale, glittery fairy wings, high in the sky, among big, fluffy white clouds.

  “I’m so excited that you’re here,” said Debbie, who was hovering beside them. “Welcome to the Fluttering Fairyland Farm.”

  Rachel and Kirsty had to rub their eyes again. In front of them, a large green field was floating in midair. In the far corner was a little cream-colored farmhouse, with a red roof and green shutters on the windows. Next to the farmhouse, a round pond glimmered in the sunshine. There was a barn with a curved roof, and stalls with space for three ponies inside.

  But none of the buildings was as wonderful
as the animals that lived in them. Tiny ducks glided across the pond, and little pink pigs snuffled in the trough. Goats sprang across a little brook, and the sheep looked like tiny white clouds on the grass.

  A farmer was standing outside the farmhouse, watching over the animals and smiling.

  “That’s Francis, the Fairyland farmer,” Debbie explained, waving to him. “And there are the other Farm Animal Fairies.”

  Three other fairies were playing with the farm animals. Debbie called to them, and they zoomed up from the magical farm at once.

  “Welcome!” they said, gathering around their visitors and smiling. “We’re so pleased you could come.”

  “I’d like you to meet Elodie the Lamb Fairy, Penelope the Foal Fairy, and Billie the Baby Goat Fairy,” said Debbie.

  “Together, we take care of the baby animals that are born each year, with the help of our magical baby animals.”

  “Come and meet Francis,” said Elodie in a gentle voice.

  Rachel and Kirsty flew down with the other fairies and landed beside Francis. He was wearing a yellow vest and a checked hat, and he smiled from ear to ear when he looked at Rachel and Kirsty.

  “I’m very proud to welcome you here at last,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot about you from the fairies.”

  “It looks like a really happy farm,” said Rachel, gazing around. “You must really love all your animals.”

  Francis nodded. “We have lots of wonderful animals here,” he said. “And I have lots of visits from Debbie, Elodie, Penelope, and Billie, because the magical baby farm animals live here, too.”

  “Oh, you must come and meet Splashy!” said Debbie, bouncing up and down and clapping her hands together. “He’s my magical duckling, and he’s so sweet and funny.”

  Splashy was playing with the other ducklings in the pond. Even though he was the same size as them, Rachel and Kirsty could immediately tell which one he was. His fluffy feathers shone with a tint of gold, and there was something extra special about the look in his bright eyes.

  “He’s adorable,” said Kirsty. “I’d love to meet all the animals you have here.”

  “And I’d love to introduce them to you,” said Francis. “Follow me.”

  The fairies and Francis led Rachel and Kirsty to a daisy-filled meadow. A little white lamb came bouncing over to them.

  “It’s as if she has springs in her legs!” said Rachel, laughing at the sight. “And look, she has the same tint of gold in her wool as Splashy.”

  “This is Fluffy, my magical lamb,” said Elodie.

  “She’s adorable,” said Kirsty, stroking Fluffy’s soft coat.

  Next they met Frisky the foal. Penelope had to coax him out of his stall at first.

  “He’s a little shy,” she said as Frisky snuggled into her arms.

  “He’s lovely,” said Rachel in a kind voice.

  Soon Frisky was nuzzling Rachel’s arm, and she felt as if she had made a new friend.

  “Come and meet Chompy,” said Billie.

  The magical baby goat made everyone laugh by trying to push his nose into Kirsty’s pockets.

  “He’s very curious,” Billie said.

  “I don’t mind,” said Kirsty with a giggle.

  Just then, Splashy came flapping out of the pond to join them, and everyone giggled as the magical babies wobbled and waddled around together on the bright-green grass of the farm.

  “There are plenty more animals to see,” said Francis. “Come and meet the cows—there’s a brand-new baby calf that I’m sure you’ll love.”

  The fairies followed Francis toward the barn, leaving the magical babies playing. Inside, a little calf was standing beside his mother. He looked at the visitors and blinked his big, brown eyes.

  “This is Toffee,” said Francis in a soft voice. “He’s only one day old.”

  One by one, the fairies fluttered over to Toffee and stroked his brown coat. At first he was shy and pressed close against his mother, but after a little while he relaxed. Soon he was nuzzling the fairies and making happy, snuffly noises.

  Suddenly, a rough cackle rang out across the farm. Toffee flinched at the sound and pressed against his mother again.

  “I recognize that laugh,” said Rachel in alarm.

  Francis and the fairies zoomed out of the barn and came upon a horrible sight. Jack Frost and three goblins were standing on the grass in the middle of the farm. Jack Frost had Frisky tucked under his arm, and each of the other goblins had one of the magical animals, too. Jack Frost was smiling his most evil smile.

  “Oh no!” cried Debbie.

  “Stop, thieves!” Rachel called out.

  Jack Frost cackled again.

  “I don’t take orders from silly little fairies,” he said with an evil sneer.

  “These animals do not belong to you,” said Francis in a very stern voice. “Put them down at once.”

  Jack Frost stuck out his tongue and replied with a long, loud raspberry.

  “No way,” he snapped. “My snow goose and her baby, Snowdrop, need some friends. So I’m going to make my very own petting zoo at my Ice Castle, starting with these animals.”

  “You can’t just take these animals,” Penelope exclaimed. “They’re our friends, and this is their home.”

  Jack Frost ignored her and turned to his goblins.

  “Meet me at the petting zoo,” he ordered. “Here’s some magic to get you there. I have to go and see my snow goose now.”

  He disappeared in a bolt of blue lightning, but the three goblins looked at one another with mischief on their faces.

  “They’re glowing blue,” said Rachel in astonishment.

  “That’s because Jack Frost has given them each a tiny bit of his magic,” said Debbie.

  “Goblins with their own magic?” said Elodie. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “I want all the cuddles for myself,” said the goblin holding Splashy.

  “Me, too,” said the one with Fluffy in his arms. “But how can we keep the animal babies away from Jack Frost?”

  “Let’s go and hide in the human world,” said the third goblin, who was struggling with a wiggly Chompy.

  “You shouldn’t do that,” said Kirsty. “Those animals belong here.”

  “Too late!” shouted the goblins. “You can’t tell us what to do, and Jack Frost won’t be able to find us when we hide away. We’ll be the most famous goblins in Goblin Grotto.”

  They vanished in a flash of blue, taking the magical babies with them.

  “We have to get back to the human world,” said Debbie.

  With a wave of Debbie’s wand and a whoosh of fairy dust, the girls found themselves standing once again beside the pond at Greenfields Farm. Debbie was still with them, her eyes blazing.

  “Poor Splashy will be so scared,” she exclaimed. “That horrible Jack Frost—and those naughty goblins—how dare they steal our little friends away!”

  “I’m sure Splashy knows that you will come and save him,” said Rachel, trying to comfort the little fairy.

  “It’s not just Splashy I’m worried about,” Debbie went on. “He helps me look after ducklings everywhere and keep them out of trouble. Without him, I don’t know how to take care of them all.”

  Just then, the girls noticed that there was a lot of noise coming from the pond. All the grown-up ducks were swimming around in circles and quacking loudly.

  “Are they looking for something?” asked Kirsty.

  “I don’t see a single duckling,” Rachel exclaimed. “This pond was full of them last time we were here. Oh, Kirsty, where did all the ducklings go?”

  “It’s happening already,” said Debbie, biting her lip. “Without Splashy by my side, ducklings all over the human world are going to get into trouble.”

  “Look over here,” said Kirsty, peering at the soft mud on the bank of the pond and pointing. “Do these look like goblin footprints to you?”

  Large footprints were leading away from the pond and along
the path to the farm. Rachel and Debbie nodded.

  “Good eye,” said Debbie. “Let’s follow them.”

  “It’ll be easier to follow them if we can all fly,” said Rachel.

  “Hide in the cattails, just in case anyone comes along,” said Debbie.

  Rachel and Kirsty dove into the cattails, and Debbie raised her wand. Soon the three fairies were zooming over Greenfields Farm, their eyes fixed on the goblin footprints below. From high in the sky, the fields looked like a beautiful quilt.

  “Look, there are Mom and Dad,” said Kirsty, pointing down to the field where the grown-ups were mending the fence.

  Nearby, Blossom was grazing in the pasture outside her barn. The goblin footprints led the fairies past Blossom and all the way to the farmhouse.

  “I can hear puppies yapping,” said Debbie, speeding up. “Maybe something has upset the farmhouse dogs.”

  “Something or someone,” said Rachel. “I’ll bet it’s someone green and grumpy. The goblins probably scared the puppies.”

  “But Niall and Harriet don’t have any puppies,” said Kirsty.

  She and Rachel caught up with Debbie, and they all landed in the yard. They were so small that the gaps between the cobblestones seemed as wide as country lanes.

  “Let’s hide around the side of the farmhouse and turn back into humans,” said Rachel. “We’ll have a better chance of stopping the goblins if we are big again.”

  The yapping from inside the farmhouse grew louder, and Debbie quickly transformed the girls into humans again. She darted into Rachel’s pocket and the girls hurried into the farmhouse kitchen through the open door. They expected to see a basket full of playful puppies.