Daisy Meadows - Poppy Muddlepup’s Daring Rescue

“This is it!” the witch sneered. “Your last chance to save Patch. Hand over Garden Grove and the magical plants to me, and the puppy will wake. If you refuse, he will sleep forever! Haaa!” Her laugh boomed like thunder.

Lily and Jess heard movement behind them and turned to see the Muddlepups emerging from their den. Last to come out was Patch—looking as wide-awake and bouncy as ever!

Grizelda gasped when she saw the puppy. A look of fury spread across her face, and her wild green hair stood out like the bristles on a hairbrush.

“How did this happen?” she shrieked. “You couldn’t have made the Rise and Shine potion, because you didn’t have all the ingredients!” She pointed at Patch. “He broke my spell! How did he break it? Answer me!”

Jess went to speak, but Goldie hushed her. “Grizelda doesn’t know you got the Sunrise Berries from her tower,” she whispered. “She thinks Patch has special magic powers!”

Jess’s face lit up. “Let’s tell her that all the Muddlepups are magical,” she whispered back, “and that she’d better leave them alone if she knows what’s good for her.”

Lily nodded and turned to the Muddlepups so that her back was to Grizelda, putting a finger to her lips.

Jess spoke in a loud voice. “Of course Patch broke your spell. Everyone knows that all the Muddlepups are magical and can break spells. Isn’t that right, Lily?”

“Yes, that’s why they look after Garden Grove,” Lily said. “They have special powers, so you’d better stay away, Grizelda! There are four of them and there’s only one of you!”

Jess glanced around. The Muddlepups were trying to hide their grins.

“I’m magical, too, you horrible witch!” Poppy shouted bravely. She skittered past the girls, clutching a bunch of purple pom-pom puffballs. She held them up and chanted nonsense words. “Bikker cree duckfar!” Then she blew on them, releasing clouds of bright pink smoke, just as she had shown the girls earlier. They wafted toward the witch.

“Run, Grizelda!” Lily called. “Poppy just did a spell that makes witches disappear!”

Grizelda screamed and backed away from the pink cloud. “You might have won this time,” she shrieked, “but this isn’t the last you’ll see of me!”

She snapped her fingers and vanished in a shower of yellow sparks.

After a moment’s silence, everyone burst into loud cheers. “Hooray!”

Mr. and Mrs. Muddlepup hugged the girls, and both their tails wagged.

“We’re not really magical, are we?” asked Patch. “We’re not special?”

Lily smiled. “We did make up most of what we said to fool Grizelda,” she explained, “but you Muddlepups definitely are special.”

“And so are you girls!” yapped Poppy in delight.

A little while later, they were all enjoying Mrs. Muddlepup’s delicious sweetroot soup and hazelnut crackers, and then it was time for Jess and Lily to say good-bye. There were lots of hugs for everyone, and kisses and cuddles for Poppy, then Goldie took Lily and Jess all the way back to the Friendship Tree. The girls put their warm clothes back on while Goldie touched a paw to the trunk.

“Thank you for helping with the flower festival,” she said as the door appeared, “and thanks for helping the Muddlepups.”

They both hugged her.

“I’ll come and visit you again,” Goldie promised.

“I hope it will be soon,” said Lily.

“Me, too!” said Jess. “Bye, Goldie.” She opened the door and stepped into the shimmering golden light.

Lily followed and both girls found themselves back in Brightley Meadow. Snow was falling softly, sparkling white. It was nothing like the dirty gray slush around Grizelda’s tower.

“Let’s hurry back,” said Jess. “That hot chocolate will be waiting!” The girls knew that no time passed in the human world while they were in Friendship Forest.

They raced across the meadow, over the stream, and up the garden until they reached the woodpeckers’ aviary. They crept inside the enclosure and quietly lifted the nest-box lid. The chicks were snuggled together, fast asleep.

“Aww, they’re just like Dig and Tipper,” said Lily.

“But quieter!” giggled Jess.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Hart passed them steaming mugs of hot chocolate with pink marshmallows. “You’ll never guess what I just saw,” she said. “Ollie was walking his dog, and a beautiful golden cat walked right alongside it, almost like they were friends!”

Lily and Jess shared a secret smile. That golden cat was their friend, too. Their magical friend! They couldn’t wait for their next adventure with Goldie in Friendship Forest!

The End