Edwina Pilkington's Computer School of Magic (9 page)

‘Just a few more minutes, Edwina, we are nearly into the heart of the sandstorm. We will soon see the Sand Dragons.'

‘My left leg, Miss Prudence Pugwort, something has got hold of my left leg and is trying hard to pull me forward!'

‘It's the Sand Dragons. I can see them. They are trying to force you towards them. Now, Edwina, your ring is aimed directly at the Sand Dragons. Do your witches magic now!'

Edwina sent her powers from her Magic Ring directly into the hearts of the Sand Dragons. ‘I can feel the strength going through my Magic Ring. Zack's Computer Magic is overpowering the Sand Dragons and the evil spell is being broken! The Sand Dragons no longer have the power of the Bloodstones of Courage and Strength!'

‘The sandstorm has finished, Edwina. It is now safe for you to take your Magic Helmet off.'

‘I can see the Sand Dragons. They look frightened and sad. Come, Miss Prudence Pugwort, I must talk to them.'

The Sand Dragons moved their four heads so that they could look at Edwina; their large, yellow eyes looked scared as they tried to hide their massive bodies in the sand.

‘We are so ashamed of what we have done,' they said.

‘You are not to blame, Sand Dragons,' Edwina said. ‘You were under a spell from your cousins, the Fire Dragons.'

The Sand Dragons suddenly began to crawl further back into the sand, looking more terrified than before, their golden skin shining against the sand. Edwina looked around to see what was frightening them and there, looking furious, was Rueban, Guardian of the Bloodstones.

‘Come to me, Sand Dragons,' Rueban said in a loud voice. ‘We have some unfinished business to discuss.' The Sand Dragons moved slowly towards Rueban. ‘I could have protected you from your evil cousins, the Fire Dragons, if I had only known what terrible plans they had for you, my friends.'

‘You called us your friends.'

‘Yes, you are still my friends. I do not blame you, Sand Dragons.'

‘These bloodstones belong to you, Rueban. You now have your powers back,' the Sand Dragons said. ‘It is now time for us to go back under the sand, and we promise never to cause trouble again.'

‘Go, my friends, and do not worry about your cousins, the Fire Dragons, as I will search the world and find these evil dragons and destroy them,' Rueban said.

‘They are gone,' Edwina said. ‘They are such beautiful, gentle creatures. Why would their cousins make the Sand Dragons do such terrible things?'

‘Because the Fire Dragons are evil, Edwina. They have no hearts.'

‘I can never thank you enough, Edwina and Miss Prudence Pugwort. You saved the Ancient City of Temples and also saved the Sand Dragons. I am once again the Guardian of the Bloodstones and I have also found two very special friends. I have a small gift for you, Edwina. It's a bloodstone with special powers that will keep you safe, and always remember, I will be watching over you.'

‘For Zack, I have a surprise,' Rueban said. Rueban wrapped his wings around his body and out jumped a big grey kangaroo. ‘His name is Mr Hubbleston.'

Mr Hubbleston jumped over and sat next to Edwina.

‘Give Mr Hubbleston to Zack and tell Zack he is a great computer whiz and every computer whiz needs a kangaroo with its own pouch to hide his secret disks in.'

‘Miss Prudence Pugwort, how can I repay your kindness?'

‘Miss Prudence wishes to have a new tin body,' Edwina said. ‘Could you grant that wish?'

‘It would be a great honour to grant you your wish, Miss Prudence Pugwort. Come to me, place your two tin hands on my chest and close your eyes.'

Rueban wrapped his large, black wings around Miss Prudence Pugwort as if hiding her from the world. Silver dust formed all around and then slowly, Rueban spread open his wings and there stood Miss Prudence Pugwort, all shining and new, no longer made of old rusty tin and bolts but new and sparkling, with the latest mechanical technology a robot could ever wish for.

E
dwina, Zack, Harriet and Miss Prudence Pugwort were all sitting down, enjoying a great party at Professor Frogsley's Computer School of Magic. Zack even brought along Mr Hubbleston, the grey kangaroo. Mr Hubbleston was sitting next to Zack, eating a carrot and watching Millie the Monkey perform some funny tricks.

‘I can't believe Professor Goodspell went to so much trouble organising such a grand celebration party for us,' Edwina said.

‘You all deserve it,' Harriet said. ‘I have the best friends in the whole world and I can't wait for next summer for us all to be back together again at Professor Frogsley's School of Computer Magic.

‘Let's make a pledge,' Zack said. ‘From this day on, we are best friends forever.'

Miss Prudence Pugwort raised her tin hands and gave them the thumbs up. Edwina, Harriet and Zack all raised their thumbs as they made their pledge of friendship.

‘You are all invited to our next big Halloween party at Stone Castle. I can't wait for you all to meet Thirty-four, my pet pig; Eleka, my beautiful unicorn; my sister Gabriella, and Mum and Dad. Then, of course, there is my favourite Aunt Ada who is always popping in unannounced.'

‘Attention, everybody!' Professor Goodspell said, tapping the table with her wand. ‘Before you all eat too much, I have a special announcement to make from the Witches Council.'

Professor Goodspell gently unrolled the rolled up scroll of paper and began to read out loud: ‘The Witches Council is pleased to announce that Edwina Pilkington, Zackary Ernest Hemmingway the Third (the computer whiz) and our very own robot, Miss Prudence Pugwort, will have their names entered into the Witches Hall of Fame.'

‘Hooray!' everybody shouted as balloons and Magic Snowflakes began to fall from the ceiling in honour of Edwina, Zack and Miss Prudence Pugwort.

Professor Frogsley's School of Computer Magic was now closed till next summer. Edwina was back at Stone Castle in Rainbow City, showing Gabriella and Thirty-four the magic ways of her Witchery Cozmo. Zackary Ernest Hemmingway the Third was busy making new software for next summer's computer classes. Harriet was busy sending witchery email to Edwina, and as for Miss Prudence Pugwort the robot – well, what else does a female robot do but admire her new found mechanical body.

The old woman yawned and looked down at her grand-daughter who had fallen fast asleep. She smiled to herself as she looked at the picture, hanging on the wall, of her eldest grand-daughter, Edwina Pilkington, standing in front of the most famous Magic School in the world: Professor Frogsley's Computer School Of Magic.

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