Gooey Goblins
Page 6
The fairies were so touched . . . and happy! What a delicious gift! They each hugged Carobee again and took their treats back to the sailboat.
“We can swim with you most of the way,” Bean said.
“But we’ll have to leave you before you get to the Gummy Forest shore,” Sprinkle added.
The fairies understood. They were happy to have the sea horses as their guides. The wind was still strong and the dense fog hanging low. The fog may not have lifted, but the fairies had solved the gooey goblin mystery.
With the wind in their sails and the twins guiding them, the trip home was quick. When Gummy Forest came into view, the fairies were both happy and sad.
“Good-bye, Candy Fairies,” Bean and Sprinkle said together.
“Thank you,” the fairies replied.
“Please thank Nillie again for us,” Melli said.
“We will!” they cried as they dove deep into the sea and swam safely home.
At the Gummy Forest dock, Princess Lolli was standing there to greet the fairies.
“Welcome home!” the beautiful princess exclaimed. “You’ve had quite an adventure.” She helped each fairy off the boat.
“Thank you,” Raina said. “We’ve had a big journey.”
“There were no goblins in the cove,” Dash reported. “It was Carobee, the cotton candy dragon!”
“Yes, I have heard,” Princess Lolli said. “I have also heard you were very kind to all the creatures you met.” She smiled sweetly at them.
The fairies grinned with pride.
“The sugar flies were buzzing about your flight across the Vanilla Sea,” the princess continued. “Everyone in Sugar Valley thanks you for your bravery.”
“And we met Nillie,” Melli blurted out. “The sea serpent says hello.” She hoped Lolli knew who she meant.
“Ah, yes, I am glad to hear she is well!” Princess Lolli nodded. “She must have thought highly of all of you to appear before you. She is a special creature, and quite clever.”
“Yes,” Raina said, agreeing. “The stories of the sea serpent are spooky tales continued to be spun by fairies to protect the animals of the Vanilla Sea.”
“Yes,” Princess Lolli said. “I am proud of you for being so understanding.”
“We didn’t find goblins,” Dash said. “We met a friendly dragon . . . and a new friend.”
“I’ll take that any day,” Melli said.
“And no more gooey candy!” Raina exclaimed.
Berry wrinkled her nose. “Licking lollipops, I won’t miss that mess!”
“Sugar Valley is back to normal,” Princess Lolli said, smiling.
Raina took a deep breath. “Ah, so nice to be home.”
Melli looked at her friends. “Yes, and now there will be a fall harvest to pick!”
“Yum!” Dash shouted as she flew up in the sky. “And lots of candy to enjoy!”
The fairies all laughed and headed back home to their crops. The candy in Sugar Valley was perfectly sweet and safe once again.
Cocoa smiled as she flew across Chocolate Woods. The sun was shining and the air was full of sweet, rich chocolate scents. The Chocolate Fairy spread her golden wings and glided down to Chocolate Falls. Yum, thought Cocoa as she licked her lips. There was nothing better than fresh milk chocolate.
“Cocoa!” Melli the Caramel Fairy called. “Over here!” Melli was sitting underneath a chocolate oak tree. She waved her hands to get Cocoa’s attention.
Waving back, Cocoa fluttered down to her friend’s side. Melli was always on time—or early. She was a shy fairy, but her sweet caramel nature was part of what kept their group of friends sticking together—no matter what.
“What a choc-o-rific day!” Cocoa sang. She smiled at her friend.
“Only one more week until the Sugar Ball,” Melli burst out. “I can’t wait!” She took out a light caramel twist from her bag. “What do you think? I just had to show you right away.” She held up the long caramel rope candy for Cocoa to view.
“It looks delicious,” Cocoa commented.
“Won’t this be perfect for the sash on my dress?” Melli asked. “I’ve been searching for just the right size trim.”
Cocoa laughed. All any of her friends could think about was the Sugar Ball at Candy Castle, and the dresses they’d wear to the party. The big summertime ball was the grandest—and sweetest— of the season. The Sugar Ball was a celebration of summer and the sugar harvest. Fairies from all over came to the Royal Gardens for the party. Princess Lolli, the ruling fairy princess, always made the party the most scrumptious of the year.
“I think that will be the perfect addition to your outfit,” Cocoa said. She touched the golden caramel twist. “This is the exact right color for your dress.”
Melli clapped her hands. “I knew you’d say that!” she said, grinning. “Cara wanted me to make her one just like this too.”
Cara was Melli’s little sister and always wanted to be just like her big sister.
“Did you help her?” Cocoa asked.
“Sure,” Melli said. “She’s so excited about her first ball.” She stopped and admired her dress. “Now I just need to find the right necklace.”
“You should ask Berry to make you one of her sparkly fruit-chew necklaces,” Cocoa said. She was used to her friend Berry the Fruit Fairy always talking about fashion, but this year all her friends were concerned about their Sugar Ball dresses and jewelry. Everyone wanted to make her ball gown special and unique. Even Cocoa!
“You’re right,” Melli said. “I should ask Berry.
I just hope she doesn’t say she’s too busy. Did you know that she is weaving the material for her dress herself? Her dress is going to be sweet-tacular!”
“Hmm,” Cocoa muttered. She was actually growing a little tired of all the talk about dresses. Even though she wanted to look her best, she had another idea of how to make her entrance at the ball special.