Anya the Cuddly Creatures Fairy (5 page)

The three fairies flew over the fence and found themselves in front of the llama pasture. Kirsty gave a cry of surprise as she spotted the five goblins sneaking in through the gate!

“Maybe they remembered where they lost the tiara,” said Rachel. “Come on, let's follow them!”

The three girls zipped along after the goblins, staying close to the ground so that the goblins wouldn't spot them. The llamas were all in one corner, feeding from a large trough.

“Out of my way, Hairy,” snapped the tallest goblin, shoving a cream-colored llama aside.

“Move over, Big Neck,” shouted a second goblin, who was wearing his riding hat backward.

He elbowed his way past a chocolate-colored llama. The other goblins scrambled forward, too, plunging their greedy green fingers into the trough and scraping out handfuls of llama grain. They seemed to be searching to see if anything was at the bottom of the trough.

“Those poor llamas!” said Kirsty under her breath.

“Don't worry,” said Princess Anya with a little smile. “Llamas won't stand for being pushed around.”

The llamas were already snorting with annoyance. Their food was being trampled into the ground by big goblin feet! The chocolate-colored llama butted one of the goblins and sent him headfirst into a hedge.

“Help!” the goblin squawked in a muffled voice. “I'm stuck!”

No one went to help him, and the chocolate-colored llama bent his head into the trough. When he lifted it again, something shiny and golden was stuck on the woolly fur between his ears.

“My tiara!” Princess Anya gasped.

Unfortunately, the goblins had noticed the tiara, too.

“GIVE ME THAT!” yelled the tallest of the goblins.

He snatched at it, but the llama gave a loud snort and bolted away from the trough. Startled, the other llamas followed him and thundered across the pasture at top speed.

“Catch them!” shouted the goblin. “Stop those horrible hairy beasts!”

The goblins started to chase the llamas, stumbling over weeds and roots. But their yelps and shouts only made the llamas run faster.

“They're too fast for the goblins,” said Rachel.

“Yes, and they're too fast for us, too,” said Princess Anya. “How can we make them come back?”

The girls thought hard.

“Maybe we could lure them back with some food?” Kirsty suggested after a moment.

They darted over to the trough, but it was empty.

"Do you remember the sacks that Duchess kicked over, Kirsty?” said Rachel. “Wasn't one of them full of llama grain?”

“Yes!” Kirsty exclaimed. “Good memory, Rachel. Come on!”

They flew out of the pasture, through the petting zoo, and into the cobblestone courtyard of the stables. The sack of llama grain was still there — but it was a hundred times bigger than the fairies!

“It's much too heavy for us to carry very far,” said Rachel.

“We're going to have to change back to our normal size,” Kirsty said.

“But it will take us too long to carry it all the way to the pasture,” Rachel insisted. “The goblins might grab the tiara before we get back.”

“What are we going to do?” asked Princess Anya in a panic.

At that moment, a loud neigh echoed through the yard. Merlin's handsome white head was poking out of his stall.

He neighed again, and a big smile spread over Anya's face.

“Of course!” she said. “Merlin wants to help us!”

She touched her wand to the stall door and it sprang open. Merlin trotted out, his hooves clattering over the cobblestones.

“Merlin can carry the sack to the pasture in no time!” said Princess Anya. “We just have to lift it onto his back.”

Rachel and Kirsty each took a top corner of the sack, and Princess Anya grabbed the middle. On the count of three, they all rose into the air, fluttering their delicate wings as hard as they could.

“Keep going!” Rachel puffed. “Not — much — farther!”

The bag seemed to get heavier and heavier. But at last, with a final heave, they managed to lift the sack of grain onto Merlin's broad, strong back. Then they clutched his silvery mane, and he was off!

Merlin cantered quickly back through the petting zoo to the llama pasture. The surprised faces of goats, pigs, and rabbits were a blur as he raced toward the pasture fence. Then he gave a loud whinny.

“Hold on tight!” cried Princess Anya.

The girls wound their tiny hands into the horse's silky mane, and Merlin soared over the fence. He landed on the soft grass of the pasture.

The llamas had gathered together in a corner of the pasture, facing off with four of the goblins, who were all flushed and panting. The goblins looked very, very angry, but the llamas looked even angrier. They hadn't enjoyed being chased by the goblins, and since Anya didn't have her tiara, they were feeling even grumpier than usual.

As the girls watched, the goblins slowly started to move forward. The llamas began to paw the ground, lowering their woolly heads.

“Those goblins had better watch out,” said Rachel. “It looks like the llamas are about to charge!”

Just as she finished speaking, the llamas ran at the goblins — who screeched in terror as they scattered around the pasture!