Stella the Star Fairy

  Contents

  The Magical Missing Candle

  Darkness Falls

  Trouble in Fairyland

  Carols and Candles

  A Sweet Trick

  Candlelight

  Snowballs and Glass Balls

  A Snowy Start

  A Very Suspicious Snowman

  Girls Under Fire

  A Daring Plan

  Up, Up, and Away!

  Search for the Star

  Girls Become Goblins!

  Starshine in Goblin Grotto

  Catch a Falling Star

  Run Away!

  Flight to Fairyland

  Mrs. Tate popped her head around the door. “Are you ready, girls?” she asked. “It’s time to leave for the Christmas Fair.”

  “Coming, Mom,” Kirsty said, jumping up.

  “I’m really glad I could come and visit,” said Rachel Walker, as she followed her best friend into the hall to get their coats. Rachel was visiting over Christmas break. Her parents were picking her up on Christmas Eve.

  “Me, too,” Kirsty replied. “You’re going to love the fair. And who knows … we might even see a Christmas fairy!”

  Rachel and Kirsty thought they were the luckiest girls in the world, because they had become friends with the fairies! Whenever the fairies were in trouble, they asked the girls for help. Usually cold Jack Frost was causing magical mayhem with the help of his nasty goblins.

  “I forgot to tell you!” Kirsty said, pulling on her boots. “Every year, someone from my school is chosen to be the fair’s Christmas King or Queen. This year, it’s my friend Molly.”

  “Wow! I bet she’s really excited,” said Rachel, smiling. “I’d love to be the Christmas Queen!”

  Kirsty nodded as her parents joined them.

  “Everybody ready?” Mrs. Tate said. “Then let’s go!”

  “Did someone turn off the Christmas tree lights?” Mr. Tate asked. “They were on a few minutes ago, but now they’re not.”

  Everyone shook their heads. Kirsty peeked into the living room, where the tree stood. “The switch is still on,” she pointed out.

  “The lights must be broken,” Mr. Tate decided. “Never mind, I’ll fix them when we get back.”

  “Yes, it’s time to go,” Kirsty’s mom agreed. “The parade starts soon!”

  Quickly, they all left the house and walked up Twisty Lane toward High Street and Wetherbury Market Square.

  “I can hear music,” Rachel said, clapping her hands excitedly.

  Even though it was a cold, frosty night, the square was packed with people! They bustled around stalls selling brightly-painted tree decorations, Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, and gifts. There was even a merry tune playing on an old organ.

  “Isn’t it great?” Kirsty said, her eyes shining. She pointed at a raised platform in the middle of the square. The mayor of Wetherbury was standing there next to a large switch. “It’ll be even better when the Christmas Queen turns on the lights,” Kirsty added.

  Rachel glanced around. She could see dark shapes made out of unlit lightbulbs above their heads, but it was hard to figure out what the shapes were. She was looking forward to seeing them all lit up.

  “Ooh, I can’t wait to see Molly!” Kirsty exclaimed, as the parade began.

  The first float that rumbled into the square was decorated like Santa’s workshop. Elves were making toys, and Santa sat on a golden sleigh!

  “Oh, look!” Rachel gasped, as another float came into view. It carried a huge dollop of papier-mâché fruitcake with a sprig of holly on top. More floats followed, all looking colorful and Christmassy!

  “Here’s Molly,” Kirsty said to Rachel as the final float appeared. “Doesn’t she look pretty?”

  Kirsty’s friend was dressed in white and silver. Her dress had a long full skirt, scattered here and there with sparkling snowflakes. She wore a glittering silver tiara on her head and sat on a jeweled throne, waving at the crowd. Behind her was an ice palace, decorated with gleaming icicles.

  Rachel nudged Kirsty. “The Christmas Queen’s palace is much prettier than Jack Frost’s gloomy ice castle!” she whispered. Kirsty nodded eagerly.

  The float stopped next to the platform. The mayor helped Molly up the steps as the crowd clapped.

  “I would like to wish everyone in Wetherbury a very merry Christmas!” Molly announced. Then she pulled the light switch with a flourish.

  The square lit up in a blaze of color as the lightbulbs sprang to life. Everyone oohed and aahed as they gazed around.

  “This is amazing!” Kirsty breathed.

  “It’s beautiful,” Rachel agreed.

  There were hundreds of snowflakes in different sizes strung on wires overhead, and they all glittered with rainbow-colored lights.

  The Christmas Queen had come down from the platform now and was waving at the two girls.

  “Hi, there!” Molly called, her face glowing with excitement. “Did you like my float?”

  “It was beautiful!” Kirsty replied. “Molly, this is my friend Rachel.”

  “Hi, Molly,” said Rachel, admiring Molly’s sparkling dress. “You look so pretty!”

  “And these are definitely the best lights Wetherbury has ever had!” Kirsty added.

  But just then, one of the snowflakes above their heads began to flicker. As the girls glanced upward, every single one of the beautiful snowflake lights suddenly went out!

  Everyone gasped, including the girls.

  “What happened?” asked Kirsty. “The lights were fine a minute ago.”

  The mayor climbed onto the platform and called for everyone’s attention. “Please don’t worry,” he said firmly. “We’ll have the lights fixed soon. And in the meantime, enjoy the fair!”

  “It’s too bad about the lights,” Molly said. “But I’ve had a great night so far, anyway!”

  “I’m sure the lights will be fixed by tomorrow,” Kirsty replied.

  “I hope so,” Molly agreed. Then she smiled at the girls. “Now, I have to go and hand out presents to the children who rode on the floats.”

  “A Christmas Queen’s work is never done!” Kirsty said with a grin.

  Molly laughed and waved as she walked away.

  Rachel and Kirsty headed back to find Mr. and Mrs. Tate.

  “What a pity that the lights went out,” said Kirsty’s mom. “They looked so pretty.”

  “I’m glad I only have to fix our tree lights and not all these bulbs!” said Mr. Tate, smiling and shaking his head. “Let’s go home and get warm.”

  As Mr. and Mrs. Tate walked on ahead, Kirsty turned to Rachel. “It’s awfully dark tonight. There isn’t a single star in the sky —” Suddenly she stopped dead, clutching her friend’s arm. “Rachel, look!”

  Rachel stared ahead. High Street was lined with lampposts decorated with more of the snowflake lights. The one closest to the girls had a couple of lightbulbs that were shining brightly!

  Kirsty looked puzzled. “How can those bulbs be on, when all the others aren’t working?” she asked.

  But Rachel didn’t reply. Was she imagining it, or had she just seen a swirl of glitter that looked like … fairy magic?

  “Rachel! Kirsty!” called a tiny, musical voice.

  “It’s a fairy!” Rachel gasped.

  The fairy who was fluttering toward them, blond ponytail bobbing, was dressed in Christmas green and red. A string of sparkly gold Christmas lights was looped around the waist of her little red dress. She wore a green feather boa around her neck.

  “Hello!” Kirsty said breathlessly as the fairy landed lightly on her shoulder. “What’s your name?”

  “I’m Stella the Star Fairy,” the fairy explained. “I’m in charge of all the
sparkly Christmas decorations, the lights on Christmas trees, and the stars that guide Santa and his reindeer on Christmas night!”

  “Were you trying to turn the bulbs back on?” asked Rachel.

  Stella’s delicate wings drooped as she hung her head. “I was,” she sighed. “But look!”

  The girls glanced up at the lamppost. The bulbs that Stella had turned on had gone out again!

  “That’s what happens every single time,” Stella said glumly. “I turn a bulb on, but it just goes out again!”

  “Don’t worry, Stella,” said Kirsty. “They’ll be fixed soon.”

  But Stella shook her head. “No, you don’t understand, Kirsty,” she replied. “This is all Jack Frost’s fault!”

  “Jack Frost?” Kirsty repeated, glancing at Rachel. “Is he trying to ruin Christmas again?”

  “Yes.” Stella sighed. “Every year at Christmastime, we have a huge Christmas tree in Fairyland. There are three very special and magical ornaments on it. But this year, wicked Jack Frost sent his goblins to steal them. Now they’re gone!”

  “Oh no!” Kirsty said. “Why are these ornaments so special?”

  “The first one is the shining white candle,” replied Stella. “It controls all the Christmas decorations in the human world.”

  “So that’s why the Wetherbury snowflakes went out!” Rachel exclaimed.

  Stella nodded. “The second is the glass ball. That controls all the Christmas tree lights,” she went on.

  “Our tree lights!” Kirsty gasped. “That’s why they’re not working.”

  “And the third is the shining star from the top of the tree,” Stella continued. “The star makes sure that the real stars shine in the night sky, to guide Santa when he’s delivering presents. We have to get all three of the ornaments back from the goblins, or Christmas will be ruined!”

  “Do you know where the magical ornaments are?” Kirsty asked.

  “Well, when we realized what the goblins were doing, we chased them,” explained Stella. “Only the goblin with the magic star made it back to Goblin Grotto. The others were forced to escape into the human world. They took the magic candle and glass ball with them!”

  “Can we help find them?” asked Rachel.

  Stella beamed at her. “I was hoping you’d say that!” she declared. “The candle and the glass ball became larger when they entered the human world, so they’re big enough for you to spot.”

  “Then we’ll look for them,” said Rachel, determined. “We won’t let Jack Frost ruin Christmas!”

  “Thank you, girls!” cried Stella happily. “I’ll rush back to Fairyland and tell the king and queen that you’re helping me. But remember not to search too hard — the fairy magic will come to you!” And with a wave of her glittering wand, Stella flew away into the night.

  “There isn’t much time before Christmas,” Rachel remarked, as she finished her cereal the following morning. “I hope we can get the candle, the glass ball, and the star back by then.”

  “We’ll do our best,” Kirsty replied. “Mom says we can go Christmas shopping in Wetherbury later, so we should keep our eyes open for fairy magic!”

  After lunch, the girls bundled up and headed into town. Mr. Tate stayed behind, struggling to fix the Christmas tree lights. Even though the sun was shining in the pale blue sky, there was a frosty chill in the air.

  “Maybe we’ll have some snow tonight,” Kirsty said eagerly.

  “Look,” Rachel said, nudging her friend. “The electricians are trying to fix the snowflake lights.”

  Two men on top of long ladders tinkered with the bulbs, as shoppers milled around on the street below.

  “They won’t have much luck unless we get the magic candle back,” Kirsty whispered.

  The square was full of market stalls and busy stores. The floats and the platform from the night before were gone. A tall Christmas tree had been set up in their place! It was decorated with shiny glass balls, tinsel, and lights, though they weren’t working. A small group of children was gathered on one side of the tree, holding candles in silver holders and singing carols.

  “Doesn’t that sound Christmassy?” Kirsty said with a grin. The girls walked closer to the sound of the children’s voices.

  “Yes, but I think someone’s singing out of tune!” Rachel whispered.

  Kirsty nodded. She had noticed one child who was a little shorter than the others. He was wrapped up in a big coat with a hood, and a long thick scarf. He was singing very loudly … but not very well!

  “It’s the one in the big coat,” she whispered.

  “He may not be able to sing very well,” Rachel whispered back, “but he’s got the best candle!”

  Kirsty stared at the candle. It was bigger and rounder than the ones the other children were holding, and was a very pure white color. It almost seemed to glow with hidden fire! Looking closely, Kirsty saw tiny white and silver sparkles swirl around the candle.

  “Rachel, I think he has the magic candle!” Kirsty gasped. “He must be a goblin!”

  Her heart thumping with excitement, Rachel stared at the caroler. As he moved, she caught a glimpse of a green nose poking over the top of his scarf.

  “It is a goblin!” she said to Kirsty. “But how are we going to get the candle back from him?”

  “Hello, Rachel!” a tiny voice sang out beside her.

  Rachel jumped, and turned to see Stella peeking out from behind a shiny glass ball on the Christmas tree.

  “I spotted my magic candle, too!” Stella whispered, as Rachel and Kirsty gathered around to hide her from sight. “But I don’t know how to get it back. Any ideas?”

  Rachel and Kirsty were silent for a minute, thinking. Then Kirsty’s face broke into a smile. “I thought of something that might work!” she said. “Stella, could you use your magic to make a copy of the magic candle?”

  “Yes, I think so,” Stella replied. “But it won’t be magical, like the real candle.”

  “That doesn’t matter,” said Kirsty, “as long as it fools the goblin!”

  “I’ll do my best,” Stella promised. She frowned in concentration and waved her wand. Immediately, green sparkles whizzed and fizzed around in front of her!

  The green sparkles faded away, and a candle appeared in Kirsty’s hand. It was a perfect copy of the magic candle — except that it was pink!

  “Whoops!” Stella laughed. “Let’s try that again.”

  She waved her wand. This time, as the sparkles died away, Rachel and Kirsty watched the candle slowly turn from pink to white.

  “Perfect!” said Kirsty, tucking the candle into her pocket. “Now, wait here.”

  Kirsty headed across the square while Rachel and Stella kept an eye on the goblin. When she came back, she was carrying two paper bags.

  “What’s in there?” Rachel asked curiously.

  “Candy!” Kirsty replied, opening the bags. Rachel peeked in and saw striped mints in one bag and fruity hard candies in the other.

  “Now, you take these, Rachel,” Kirsty said, handing the mints to her friend as the carolers finished their song. “Go offer all the carolers a treat!”

  Looking confused, Rachel did as she was told. “Merry Christmas!” she said, holding the bag out to the singers closest to her.

  “Oh, thank you!” they replied, each taking a mint.

  Kirsty watched the goblin as Rachel kept handing out candy. He was looking very eager as he waited his turn, but before Rachel reached him, Kirsty stepped forward. “Here, have some candy!” she said, holding out her bag.

  Greedily, the goblin thrust his gloved hand into the bag and pulled out a whole fistful of candy. He didn’t even say thank you! But a look of dismay came over his face as he stared at the candy in his hand. Kirsty grinned. The goblin had just realized that he couldn’t unwrap his candy and hold the candle at the same time!

  Now Rachel and Stella could see what Kirsty’s plan was!

  “What’s the matter?” Kirsty asked the goblin. �
�Don’t you like candy?”

  “Yes, but I can’t unwrap these while I’m holding this candle!” the goblin grumbled.

  Kirsty held out her hand. “Why don’t you let me hold it for you?” she offered politely.

  Rachel and Stella exchanged a hopeful look as they waited for the goblin to reply.

  “Oh no!” the goblin said quickly, his eyes moving from side to side. “This is a very special candle.”

  “But I’ll be standing right next to you the whole time,” Kirsty assured him.

  The goblin still looked doubtful, so Rachel decided to help Kirsty out. She took a piece of candy from Kirsty’s bag and unwrapped it right under the goblin’s nose. Then she popped it into her mouth.

  “Mmm!” she said. “This candy is delicious!”

  The goblin stared longingly at the candy while Kirsty held her breath. Would he give in and let her take the candle … or not?

  After a moment, the goblin couldn’t stand it any longer. “Here!” he said gruffly, thrusting the magic candle at Kirsty.

  Kirsty took the candle and breathed a silent sigh of relief. Now that his hands were free, the goblin started unwrapping candy as fast as he could. Then he crammed a whole handful of pieces into his mouth at the same time.

  While the goblin was stuffing himself, Kirsty quietly pulled out the fake candle. Quickly, she swapped the two candles, slipping the magical one into her pocket.

  “I’ll take that back now,” the goblin mumbled through a mouthful of candy. He snatched the candle from Kirsty and turned his back on her.

  Kirsty winked at Rachel. They moved over to the Christmas tree where Stella was hidden.

  “Good work, girls!” the little fairy whispered, her eyes shining. “You have the candle!”