Anya the Cuddly Creatures Fairy by Daisy Meadows Page A

pick you up this afternoon, Charlie. Bye, girls!”
    She got into her car and waved her hand out the window as she drove away.
    When the car had disappeared over the drawbridge, Kirsty turned to Charlie with a big smile.
    â€œWhat would you like to see first, Charlie,” she said, "the maze or the petting zoo?”

    â€œOooh, I want to see the animals!” said Charlie, his eyes shining with delight. “I love animals!”

Rachel and Kirsty led Charlie to the playground behind the palace. Charlie gasped when he saw the tall climbing wall in the center.
    â€œThat’s called Rapunzel’s Tower,” Rachel explained.
    â€œI definitely want to explore that later!” Charlie declared.
    They passed the Snow White playhouse, walked around the lake, and finally arrived at the little petting zoo. Charlie smiled happily when he saw the pigpen, the goat enclosure, and the rabbit hutches.
    Rachel crouched down beside a fluffy white lop-eared rabbit. She saw a little bucket full of salad scraps, and picked out some lettuce for the rabbit.
    â€œWould you like to feed him?” she asked Charlie.
    Charlie crouched down beside her and held out the lettuce. But the rabbit turned around and hopped away!

    Charlie’s smile faded a little.
    â€œDid I do something wrong?” he asked.
    â€œMaybe he’s not feeling very well,” Kirsty suggested. “We should probably tell Jean, the animal keeper.”
    She looked around for Jean, but the only people in sight were five boys who were peeking into the henhouse. They were wearing stylish riding jackets and breeches, with tall boots and velvety riding hats. The brims of the hats hid their faces completely.

    â€œNo eggs in here!” one of the boys yelled.
    Then Kirsty noticed something very strange.
    â€œRachel, look!” she said. “There are guinea pigs on top of the henhouse!”
    Sure enough, several guinea pigs were now sitting on the henhouse roof. Kirsty and Rachel exchanged surprised glances.

    Meanwhile, the boys had moved over to the rabbit hutches, and were trying to pet the rabbits. But every time they got close, the rabbits scattered.
    â€œCome on,” said Kirsty, seeing that Charlie was disappointed. “Let’s visit the royal stables.”
    The girls led the way to the stables. They were surprised to see a beautiful golden carriage in the cobblestone courtyard outside. In the sunshine, the gold sparkled and glimmered like fairy dust.

    Kirsty and Rachel peeked inside the carriage and saw soft, cushiony red seats with wide padded armrests.
    â€œIt looks magical,” Rachel whispered in delight.
    â€œJust like Cinderella’s carriage,” said Kirsty, smiling at her best friend.

    Charlie was looking at some sacks of animal feed leaning against the wall. “Horse oats, chicken corn, and llama grain,” he said, reading the labels aloud. “Each animal has its own special food.”
    Suddenly they heard a loud neighing and stomping.
    â€œIt’s coming from that stall over there!” said Rachel, after looking around. “Come on!”
    The girls and Charlie raced over to the stall, which had a brass plaque on the door:
    My name is Duchess.
    I am a Shetland pony.
    Charlie and the girls peeked around the stable door. Inside, Jean the animal keeper was standing beside a pretty Shetland pony holding a grooming brush.

    â€œCalm down, Duchess,” Jean was saying. “I’m just trying to help you look your best.”
    â€œHello, Jean!” said Rachel. “We wanted to show Charlie the stables.”
    â€œI love ponies,” said Charlie, running into the stall.
    â€œBe careful!” warned Jean. “Duchess is in a very weird mood today.”
    Just then, Duchess gave a loud snort and broke away from Jean. She dashed past Charlie, knocking him into a pile of straw, and charged out into the courtyard.

    â€œDuchess, stop!” Jean cried.
    But Duchess was