Santa shook his head. “I’d love to, but I have a lot of work to do!” He laughed and shook the reins. “Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas!” everyone called as the silver sleigh flew out of sight.
“What happened to Jack Frost?” asked Rachel.
The king frowned. “His magic powers have been taken away from him,” he explained.
“And he must stay in his ice castle for a whole year before he is allowed to use magic again!” the queen said. “But now it’s time to celebrate Christmas. We have special gifts for all three of you.”
She clapped her hands, and two small fairies hurried forward. They carried the two special presents that Holly had brought back to Fairyland earlier.
“These presents are so special because they are for the three of you!” the queen said.
Rachel, Holly, and Kirsty gasped in surprise, and everyone laughed.
“Since it’s Christmas Eve, you can open them right away.” The king smiled and handed Holly the present that Rachel had just given him.
Eagerly, Holly tore the gold paper off the package and peeked inside the box. “A new wand!” she cried. “It’s beautiful!”
“It is extra powerful,” Queen Titania told her as Holly twirled the wand above her head. It left a trail of magic sparkles behind it and made the sweet sound of tinkling Christmas bells.
“It will help you make Christmas more magical than ever before.” The queen smiled.
“Thank you!” Holly beamed.
Queen Titania handed the other two presents to Rachel and Kirsty. They couldn’t wait to see what was inside! Rachel managed to open hers a second before Kirsty, and she gasped with delight.
“It’s a fairy doll!” Rachel said, her eyes shining. “Look, Kirsty — a fairy for the top of your Christmas tree!”
The doll sparkled with magic. She wore a white dress that glittered with silver and gold, and had a sparkling crown over her long hair. Kirsty had a doll that was exactly the same.
“I can’t wait to get home and put it on our Christmas tree!” Kirsty said, smiling happily.
“There’s just one more thing!” The queen laughed. “These dolls are magical. Every year, they will bring you a special Christmas present from the fairies!”
Rachel and Kirsty were thrilled. They’d never expected this!
“But we shouldn’t keep you any longer,” the king said suddenly. “It’s time for you to go home, or you’ll be late for Christmas!”
Quickly, the girls said their good-byes. They both gave Holly
a hug, and then the queen waved her wand. “Thank you!” she called.
“And Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas!” Rachel and Kirsty replied as they were caught up in a whirl of magic fairy dust.
“Merry Christmas!” called all the fairies.
Suddenly, the fairy voices died away, the magic dust cleared, and Rachel and Kirsty found themselves back to their normal size in the Walkers’ yard.
“We did it, Rachel!” Kirsty laughed breathlessly. “We saved Christmas!”
“Let’s go in the house and put my fairy doll on top of the Christmas tree,” Rachel grinned.
The girls ran inside. Kirsty watched as Rachel placed the fairy doll carefully on the top of the tree.
“She looks beautiful!” Rachel said happily.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Rachel ran to see who it was and found Kirsty’s mom and dad standing outside.
“Merry Christmas!” said Mr. and Mrs. Tate with a smile.
“Mom! Dad!” Kirsty cried, rushing over to them.
Mr. and Mrs. Tate stayed for hot chocolate and pie, and then it was time for Kirsty to leave. She gave Rachel a big hug.
“Have a great Christmas!” Kirsty told her friend.
“You, too,” Rachel replied. Then she stood on the doorstep with her mom and dad, waving at the Tates as they drove away.
Mr. and Mrs. Walker closed the front door and returned to the cozy living room, but Rachel stayed in the hall with Buttons. She stared up at the glittering fairy on top of the tree.
Then Rachel blinked hard. Was she seeing things? The fairy had smiled at her, and a cloud of magic sparkles had drifted from her wand!
Rachel looked down to see where the sparkles had fallen — and there was a present under the tree that hadn’t been there before. It was wrapped in gold paper and tied with a bow that glittered in all the colors of the rainbow.
Rachel smiled and patted Buttons. This really was going to be the best Christmas ever!
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e-ISBN 978-0-545-35969-6
Copyright © 2004 by Rainbow Magic Limited.
Illustrations copyright © 2004 by Georgie Ripper.
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, by arrangement with Rainbow Magic Limited.
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First Scholastic printing, October 2007
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Holly the Christmas Fairy Page 4