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.