Brittany pointed her wand at the giddy goblins. “We’d better stay close to them, and wait for our chance to grab the ball,” she suggested. “Look, they’re leaving.”
Two other teams had shown up for a game, and the goblins were hurrying off the court, still chatting excitedly. Their captain led the way, carrying the magic basketball.
Brittany ducked back into Rachel’s pocket, and the girls followed the goblins. They were careful to stay a short distance behind the goblins, so that they wouldn’t be seen.
“Okay, we’re going to practice shooting now,” the captain said bossily. He led his team into the rec center. “We’ll use one of the indoor courts where it’s nice and quiet.”
The other goblins groaned.
“That’s boring!” one complained loudly. “Can’t we do something else? We’re great at shooting already!”
The captain glared at him. “What do you mean, boring?” he snapped. “There’s always room for improvement. Now, come on!”
He marched onto one of the indoor courts. The other goblins trailed after him, grumbling to one another.
Kirsty, Rachel, and Brittany peeked through the open doors as the goblins began shooting at one of the hoops with the magic basketball.
“They’re scoring almost every time,” Rachel whispered. “Even from three-point range!”
The goblins were so confident that they began doing silly tricks. They tried turning their backs to the hoop and shooting over their shoulders or from between their legs. Sometimes they missed, but most of the time they still managed to make basket after basket.
Brittany sniffed as the ball swooshed through the hoop yet again. “It’s my magic basketball that’s doing all the work,” she said angrily. “Those goblins wouldn’t be any good without it.”
“Oh!” Kirsty gasped suddenly. “Brittany, you’ve given me an idea. I think I know how we can get your magic basketball back!”
“What do we have to do, Kirsty?” Rachel asked.
“Brittany, can you use your wand to make a new basketball?” Kirsty asked. “One that sparkles like it’s magic?”
Brittany nodded. “Sure,” she replied. “But it won’t really have magical powers. It’ll just be an ordinary basketball.”
“That’s okay,” Kirsty replied. “But can you also use your magic to make the goblins’ hoop repel any basketball that’s thrown at it?”
This time, Brittany frowned. “I can do that with a simple wave of my wand,” she said slowly. “But the spell won’t last for very long because my magic basketball is so powerful. It will eventually overcome any repelling magic I put on the hoop.”
“Well, my plan shouldn’t take too long to start working,” said Kirsty. “We just need to convince the goblins that the real magic basketball isn’t very magical anymore, and that we have a new, improved basketball that’s full of magic! Then they might trade with us.”
Rachel looked confused. “But the goblins will only want our ball if they see us scoring lots of baskets with it,” she pointed out.
“Exactly,” Kirsty agreed.
“But how is that going to work?” Rachel asked, looking even more puzzled. “Brittany just said that the other basketball won’t really be magic at all. And the goblins will only believe it’s magical if it goes in the hoop every time!”
Kirsty grinned at her. “That’s where you come in, Rachel,” she explained. “You’ll have to use your fabulous shooting skills to persuade the goblins that we really do have a magic basketball!”
Rachel gulped. “You mean I have to get the ball through the hoop every time?”
“That’s the plan,” Kirsty replied. “Do you think you can do it, Rachel?”
“I don’t know.” Rachel looked a little anxious. “I probably won’t be very good at shooting today because the magic basketball isn’t in its proper place.”
“But it is in the same room,” Brittany said. “So some of its magic will help you.”
“OK,” Rachel agreed. “I’ll just concentrate and try my best to make a basket every time the goblins are looking. It’ll be hard, but it’s not impossible.”
“Go, Rachel!” Brittany cheered, twirling around with excitement. “Here’s your new basketball.” She raised her wand and made a circle of purple sparkles in midair. Then the sparkles transformed into a basketball that shimmered slightly, just like the magic one. The ball floated toward Rachel, and she easily caught it.
The goblins had been taking turns shooting free throws, but now they were arguing about who was next.
“It’s my turn!” the smallest goblin screeched, trying to grab the ball from the captain.
“I’m in charge,” the captain growled. “I’ll decide who’s next!”
“I think it’s time someone else had a chance to be captain,” another goblin declared.
“No way!” the captain yelled.
As the goblins argued furiously, Brittany grinned at Rachel and Kirsty. “Now I can put the repelling spell on the hoop while the goblins aren’t looking,” she whispered.
Brittany pointed her wand at the goblins’ hoop, and a rush of purple sparkles streamed through the air. Rachel and Kirsty watched as the sparkles circled the hoop and quickly began to fade.
Just then, a tall, thin goblin looked up. “Hey!” he shouted, staring at the faint glitter around the hoop. “What’s that? It looks like fairy magic.”
Rachel, Kirsty, and Brittany stared at each other in dismay. Had their plan failed already?
The goblins all stared up at the hoop, but the last few sparkles had already vanished.
“What are you talking about?” the captain snapped. “There’s nothing there!”
“You’re seeing things!” another goblin teased, and they all burst out laughing.
“But I did see some sparkles,” the tall goblin insisted. He rushed forward and stared up at the hoop, while the other goblins waited impatiently.
“OK, I can’t see any fairies,” the tall goblin mumbled finally, looking embarrassed.
“Your shot,” the captain ordered, shoving the ball into the goblin’s arms.
The goblin squinted at the hoop and then threw the magic basketball toward it. The ball curved toward the hoop in a perfect arc. But, as the ball dropped, it missed the hoop completely.
“What’s happening?” the tall goblin complained, looking confused as the ball fell to the ground.
“You’re useless, that’s what’s happening!” another goblin said rudely. He grabbed the basketball and launched a shot himself. But the ball missed again, even though it looked as if it was aimed right at the basket.
“The goblins are starting to look worried,” Brittany whispered to the girls as the captain took a shot and missed. “I think it’s time for you to do your thing, Rachel.”
Rachel, Kirsty, and Brittany came out from their hiding place behind the doors to the basketball court. They hurried to the hoop at the empty end of the court. Rachel had the new basketball tucked under her arm.
The goblins didn’t notice them — they were too busy arguing about why the magic basketball didn’t seem to be working anymore.
“Here goes,” Rachel murmured, positioning herself in front of the hoop and carefully taking a shot. The ball rose smoothly and fell cleanly through the hoop.
“Nice job, Rachel!” Brittany and Kirsty cheered, applauding loudly.
Feeling more confident, Rachel tried again. This time, the ball trembled on the rim of the hoop, but it still went in.
As Kirsty and Brittany clapped, Kirsty glanced over her shoulder. The goblins were staring at them from the other end of the court.
“The goblins don’t look very happy,” Kirsty whispered.
Rachel grinned and immediately made another perfect basket.
This was too much for the goblins!
They all came rushing over. One of them was carrying Brittany’s magic basketball under his arm.
“How come you’re making all your baskets and we’re not?�
�� the captain demanded.
“Oh, it’s because I have this wonderful magic basketball,” Rachel simply replied, holding the ball up.
“But we have the magic basketball!” one of the goblins said, puzzled.
Brittany looked at their basketball. “Oh, you’ve got the old magic basketball,” she told the goblins. “This is the brand-new, super-magic basketball!”
Rachel took another shot. The goblins all muttered jealously to one another as they watched the ball swish through the hoop once again.
“The new magic basketball is better than the old one!” the captain declared.
“Yes, give us the new basketball!” the goblins begged eagerly. One of them even began sneaking up on Rachel.
Brittany frowned. “If you try to steal the magic basketball, I’ll turn Rachel and Kirsty into fairies and we’ll all fly away,” she told the sneaky goblin, lifting her wand. “Then you’ll never get the new basketball!”
The goblins looked at each other and frowned.
“Well, can we just try the new magic basketball?” the small goblin whined. “Please?”
Brittany looked thoughtful for a moment. “Well,” the fairy said reluctantly, “we’ll trade our new basketball for your old one if you agree to go back to Goblin Grotto immediately.”
“Done!” the goblin with the ball agreed eagerly, holding it out toward Rachel. But just as she was about to take it …
“STOP!” yelled the captain in a suspicious voice.
The goblin snatched the ball out of Rachel’s grasp. She glanced anxiously at Kirsty and Brittany. Had the captain guessed what was going on?
“Why do you want us to go back to Goblin Grotto?” the captain demanded.
Brittany put her hands on her hips.
“Because if you stay in the human world much longer, someone’s going to realize you’re goblins!” the fairy replied quickly. “Your caps and tracksuits aren’t very good disguises. And you know we can’t let humans find out about Fairyland and Goblin Grotto.”
The captain nodded thoughtfully. “That’s true,” he muttered. “OK, let’s make the switch!”
The goblin held out Brittany’s basketball again, but before Rachel could take it, the captain leaped forward again.
“STOP!” he shouted.
“Oh, make up your mind,” the goblin grumbled, yanking the ball away from Rachel once again.
“We agree to the trade on one condition,” the captain declared. He pointed at Kirsty. “She hasn’t tried shooting. I want to make sure the new magic basketball works on everyone. Let’s see her make a basket!”
“Me?” Kirsty gulped. She’d never made a basket in her life!
“You can do it, Kirsty,” Rachel whispered encouragingly, handing her the ball.
Brittany fluttered over to Kirsty. “Take a deep breath and steady yourself,” she told her quietly. “Keep your eye on the hoop, and make your shot as smooth as possible. Most important, believe in yourself.”
Kirsty nodded, feeling very nervous. Her palms were sweating as she held the ball up and looked at the hoop. She tried to remember exactly how Rachel had made all her amazing baskets.
After a moment, Kirsty took her shot. The ball flew through the air, and Rachel, Brittany, and Kirsty all gasped as it bounced off the backboard and rattled around the rim. Would the ball go through the hoop or not?
It seemed to take forever, but the ball finally dropped through the hoop. Kirsty almost burst with relief as she grinned delightedly at Rachel and Brittany.
“OK, we definitely want that magic basketball,” the goblin captain decided quickly.
Kirsty picked up the ball and traded with the goblin who had Brittany’s magic basketball. “Now, remember, you’re going straight home to Goblin Grotto,” Brittany reminded them.
“Yeah! We can show the new magic basketball to Jack Frost,” the goblin with the ball exclaimed. “He’s going to be so happy with us!”
“Give me the ball,” the captain ordered.
“No!” the goblin answered rudely, running off across the court. The other goblins chased after him, and Rachel, Kirsty, and Brittany laughed.
“They’re going to be disappointed when they find out that the new magic basketball isn’t actually magical at all,” said Rachel.
“Oh, but it is!” Brittany replied with a wink. “We didn’t lie. The new ball is magical because it is made of fairy magic. It just doesn’t make anyone good at basketball, that’s all!” She grinned, flew over to Kirsty, and took the magic basketball. As Brittany touched it, the ball shrank to its Fairyland size. Then Brittany tapped the ball with her wand, making it sparkle even more brightly for a moment.
“Thank you, girls!” she cried. “Basketball games everywhere will be fun and fair again. Now, I need to return to Fairyland and tell the other Sports Fairies the good news.” She smiled at Rachel and Kirsty as she spun the magic basketball around on one finger. “Keep up the good work.” And Brittany flew out the door, leaving a trail of dazzling purple sparkles behind her.
“Well, you were right, Rachel,” Kirsty said happily as they went off to search for Abby and her friends. “The magic did come to us!”
“Now we’re going to have fun trying out other sports.” Rachel laughed. “And hopefully we’ll have more exciting adventures with the Sports Fairies, too!”
Swimming Pool Puzzle
Goblins Galore!
Goggle Guard
A Tricky Thief
Spotted!
Making Waves
“Fetch, Buttons!” Rachel Walker called, throwing her dog’s favorite ball across the yard.
Kirsty Tate, Rachel’s best friend, was staying with the Walkers for spring break. She smiled. “Buttons loves exercise, doesn’t he?” she said, as the dog bounded after the ball. “And we’re almost as fit as he is. We’ve had such an athletic week!”
Rachel grinned. Without her parents knowing, Rachel and Kirsty had been taking part in a new fairy adventure this week. They were helping the Sports Fairies track down their missing magic objects. Rachel thought that she and Kirsty were the luckiest girls in the world since they were friends with the fairies.
“Good dog!” said Rachel’s dad, coming out to the yard with Mrs. Walker. Buttons rushed back with the ball in his mouth, then dropped it at Rachel’s feet and went to his water bowl for a drink.
“Phew, it’s hot,” Mrs. Walker said, fanning herself. “It’s the perfect day for a swim.”
Rachel and Kirsty looked at each other excitedly. Swimming would be a great idea — especially since Samantha the Swimming Fairy’s magic goggles were still missing.
“Oh, yes, can we go swimming?” Rachel asked.
“The Tippington pool is closed,” Mr. Walker pointed out, “so you’d have to go to Aqua World in the next town over.” Then he frowned. “But I took the car into the garage to be fixed, so I won’t be able to drive you there.”
Kirsty felt disappointed. She loved swimming! At the beginning of the week, she and Rachel had discovered that Jack Frost’s mischievous goblins had stolen the Sports Fairies’ magic objects. When the objects were with the Sports Fairies — or in their lockers in the Fairyland Arena — the objects made sure that sports in the human world and in Fairyland were safe, fun, and fair. But, when they weren’t in place, only the people who were very close to a magic object were good at that particular sport. Sports everywhere were being ruined!
The Fairyland Olympics were starting soon, and Jack Frost wanted his goblins to use the objects’ powers to win the big prize — a golden cup full of luck. Kirsty and Rachel knew that the goblins were practicing hard for their events, so the goblins with Samantha’s magic goggles must be in a swimming pool somewhere.
“You could take the bus to Aqua World,” Mrs. Walker said. “The 41 goes all the way there. If you take your cell phone, Rachel, you can let me know when you’ll be back.”
“Hooray!” cheered Rachel and Kirsty together. They both rushed inside to pack their swimm
ing things. Then Rachel’s mom walked them to the bus stop.
They didn’t have to wait long before a bus pulled up. The girls waved good-bye to Mrs. Walker and sat together at the back of the bus where the seats were slightly higher, so they could easily see out the window. Kirsty gazed out at the houses, and the bus started up.
As they waited at a traffic light, Kirsty noticed that they had stopped near the Tippington swimming pool. A sign outside read CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE. The building had a glass front. It was tinted at the bottom to keep people from looking in, but it was clear at the top. A huge pipe wrapped around the outside of the building. Kirsty guessed it must be a water slide.
Suddenly, Kirsty noticed something green flash above the tinted glass. She blinked and stared. What was it?
The green thing appeared again, and Kirsty let out a gasp. She was sure she’d just seen a goblin!
Kirsty nudged Rachel. “Look!” she cried, pointing.
As the girls watched, the goblin popped up again and Rachel’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I can’t believe you spotted him!” she exclaimed. “How lucky is that? If he’s in there, I bet Samantha’s magic goggles are, too.”
“But why does he keep popping up and then disappearing?” Kirsty wondered, as the goblin bounced above the tinted glass once more.
“He must be jumping on the diving board.” Rachel giggled. She stood up and pressed the button to tell the bus driver that they wanted to get off. “Come on,” she said, “let’s investigate. We can go to Aqua World later.”
Kirsty jumped up eagerly. Another fairy adventure was beginning!
The Sports Fairies Collection Page 6