Daisy Meadows - Amy The Amethyst Fairy

Kirsty, were here! Rachel Walker announced, looking out of the car window. She pointed at a large sign on the wall that read W ELCOME TO T IPPINGTON M ANOR .

Kirsty Tate, Rachels best friend, was peering up at the cloudy sky. I hope it doesnt rain, she said. Then the house caught her eye. Oh, look, Rachel, theres the house! Isnt it beautiful?

At the bottom of the long gravel driveway stood Tippington Manor. It was a huge Victorian house with an enormous wooden door, rows of tall windows, and old red bricks covered with ivy. The house was surrounded by gardens full of flowers and trees, their autumn leaves glowing in shades of red and gold.

Look over there, Kirsty, Rachel said as Mr. Walker turned the car into the parking lot. A playground!

Kirsty looked where Rachel was pointing and spotted the playground on a hill behind the house. She could see some tire swings, a silver slide, and what looked like a big wooden tree house in the middle, built around a tall oak tree.

Isnt it great? Kirsty whispered to Rachel as they climbed out of the car. The fairies would love that tree house!

Rachel grinned and nodded. She and Kirsty knew just what the fairies would like, because they were friends with them! Whenever there was trouble in Fairyland, the two girls tried to help.

The fairies biggest problem was Jack Frost. He had recently stolen the seven magic jewels from the Queen of Fairylands crown. Because the gems controlled much of the magic in Fairyland, greedy Jack Frost had wanted them for himself. But when the glowing heat and light of the jewels had started to melt his ice castle, Jack Frost had angrily tossed them out into the human world.

The fairies had asked Rachel and Kirsty to help them find the jewels and return them to the queens crown. But Jack Frost had sent his mean goblins to guard the gems, which made getting them back a whole lot harder.

I know where you two want to go first! Mrs. Walker laughed as Kirsty and Rachel stared eagerly at the tree house. Lets all go in together. Then you can explore the playground while your dad and I look at the flowers. They have a famous orchid collection here.

Orchids are Dads favorite flowers, Rachel told Kirsty, rolling her eyes. Hes crazy about them!

Mr. Walker laughed. Theyre very beautiful and unusual, he explained. But a lot of them are tropical, so they need to be kept in greenhouses.

A wooden sign pointed toward the orchid houses. The girls followed Mr. and Mrs. Walker down the twisting path around the beautiful gardens.

The path took them to the bottom of a hill. There they found three large glass greenhouses filled with orchids, and a little gift shop selling plants.

You girls have fun on the playground, Mr. Walker said with a smile. Well meet you back here in an hour.

Rachel and Kirsty waved and headed toward the playground.

I wonder when well find the next magic jewel, Kirsty said thoughtfully. We only have a few more days before I have to go home.

Dont worry, well find them all, Rachel said in a determined voice. I know we will.

At that moment, the sun broke through the gray clouds. The cold, crisp air immediately seemed a little warmer. Thats better! Rachel said, smiling in the sunshine.

Just then, the girls reached the playground. Theres no one else here, Kirsty said happily, looking around.

Thats great! Rachel laughed. Its like our very own playground!

Aside from the swings, there was a big slide, a sandbox, and a maze made of tires and rope ladders. But right in the middle of the playground was the biggest and best tree house the girls had ever seen!

It was built around the trunk of a huge old oak, and was painted green with little round windows.

There were four other trees around the oak, each with wooden bridges attached to them. The bridges made a circle around the central tree trunk, while two more bridges led from outer trees directly to the tree house itself. There were safety nets between the bridges to make sure nobody would get hurt if they fell.

Look at the tree house! Kirsty gasped. Its amazing! Lets climb up to it!

Rachel followed Kirsty over to the tree house. Look, theres only one way to get up there, she said, pointing to a ladder attached to one of the outer trees. You go first, Kirsty. Kirsty began to climb the ladder, with Rachel close behind. When they reached the top, they were near one of the two bridges that led right to the tree house itself. This is great, Kirsty said as they walked across the bridge, holding on to the rope railings. And we have it all to ourselves!

When they reached the tree house, Rachel suddenly felt a sharp tug at the back of her head. It was almost like somebody had pulled her hair. She stopped and turned around to see that the pink ribbon from her ponytail was dangling from a branch overhead.

Hang on, Kirsty! she called to her friend, who was already inside the tree house. The ribbon from my ponytail just came out. It got caught on a branch as we were crossing the bridge.

Kirsty turned to look. Quick, go grab it before the breeze blows it away, she said.