4. Fairy Fireworks

Fairy Fireworks Rachel, Kirsty, and Fern listened in horror as the goblins came closer. As usual, they were arguing with each other. "Come on!" snorted one goblin. "We can't let her get away again." "Stop bossing me around," grumbled the other one. "I'm going as fast as I can. OW!" Just then, there was a loud THUD! It sounded like someone had fallen over.

"If your feet weren't so big, you wouldn't trip over them," jeered the first goblin. "They're big enough to give you a good kick!" the other goblin snapped. "Let's hide in the tree," Fern whispered to Rachel and Kirsty. "I'll make you fairy-sized so we can all fit under a leaf." Quickly, she shot up into the air and sprinkled the girls with fairy dust.

Rachel and Kirsty gasped as they felt themselves shrinking, down and down. It was so exciting! Once they were small enough, Fern took the girls' hands. "Let's go," she said, and the three of them fluttered up into the air and landed on a branch. Fat brown acorns grew on the tree, as big as beach balls. Even the thinnest twigs looked like tree trunks to the tiny girls! Fern lifted up the edge of a leaf, which was as big as a tablecloth, and all three of them crept underneath. A moment later, the goblins rushed into the clearing. "Where can that fairy be?" one of them grumbled. "I know she came this way!" They began to search around the bottom of the tree.

"How are we going to get back to the pot?" Rachel whispered to Fern. "Kirsty and I aren't very good at flying. The goblins will catch us if we try!" Fern laughed. "Don't worry! I think I know someone who can help us." She pointed behind them. Rachel and Kirsty turned to look. A gray, furry face was peeking shyly around the tree trunk. It was a squirrel. "Hello," Fern called softly. The squirrel jumped and hid behind the trunk. Then he peeked out again, his dark eyes curious. "Maybe he'd like an acorn," Kirsty suggested.

There was a big, shiny nut growing right next to her. She wrapped her arms around it, but she couldn't pull it off the twig. It was too big! Rachel and Fern came to help. All three of them tugged at the acorn until it came off the branch with a crack. Fern held the acorn out to the squirrel. "Mmm, a yummy nut!" she said.

The squirrel ran lightly along the branch, his long, furry tail waving. He took the acorn and held it in his front paws. "What's your name?" asked Fern kindly. "I'm Fluffy," squeaked the squirrel, between nibbles. "I'm Fern," said the fairy. "And these are my friends Rachel and Kirsty. We need to get away from the goblins. Will you help us?" Fluffy shivered. "I don't like goblins," he squeaked. "We won't let them hurt you," Fern promised, stroking his head. "Can you give us a ride on your back? You can jump from hedge to hedge much better than we can! We have to get out of this maze."