“You should let Princess Lolli know about all these treasures,” Cocoa told her.
“Who is Princess Lolli?” the gnome asked.
Melli quickly realized that these gnomes knew nothing about the world outside the caves. “Princess Lolli is the ruling fairy princess of Sugar Valley. Her parents are Queen Sweetie and King Crunch.”
“There is a dinner at the castle tomorrow,” Cocoa said.
“Yes!” Melli said excitedly. “Would you and Taly consider coming as our guests?”
“Melli is going to be playing her licorice stick,” Taly said. “Please, Mama G?” she begged. “I’d love to go to Candy Castle!”
Mama G looked nervous. “I’m not sure I am up for such a trip,” she said. “I will think about it.”
Dash flew over to a row of carts that were beat-up and each missing a wheel or two. “What are these?” she asked.
“These are the carts we fill with sugar,” Taly told her. “We mine the sugar from the caves and send the carts out to Sugar Valley.”
“And before this you never left the caves?” Berry asked.
“No,” Taly said. “But I always wondered where the sugar went.”
Melli looked over at Dash. She saw her friend’s face as she looked at the broken cart she knew the Mint Fairy was thinking fast.
“Dash, do you have an idea about how to fix these carts?” Melli asked.
Dash grinned. “Sure as sugar! These carts are similar to sleds, except there are wheels, not blades, on the bottom,” she said, giggling. “I think this will be an easy fix.”
“That might be just the thing to get Mama G to seriously consider our Candy Castle invitation! She would see how we want to be friends and help out.” She hoped Dash would be able to fix the run-down carts.
Sweet Fixings
What do you think, Dash?” Melli asked. She watched Dash examine the carts.
The handy fix-it Mint Fairy was trying to see what needed to be done. Dash held up a hand to signal she needed more time.
“If Dash fixes the carts,” Melli whispered to Cocoa, “the gnomes would sure warm up to us.” She looked over at Mama G and the other gnomes, who were staring at the five Candy Fairies.
“I don’t think they know what to do about us,” Cocoa said.
Melli stepped forward. “My friend Dash can help fix your carts,” she said.
There was complete silence.
“We definitely surprised them,” Raina whispered. “Think about it. These gnomes have never seen anyone different from themselves. They’re scared.”
Melli realized how strange it was for the gnomes to have Candy Fairies in their caves, but it was strange to be a Candy Fairy in a gnome’s cave too!
“I need to get this wheel off,” Dash said. “Do you think you can hold the cart up while I take the wheel off?” she asked.
“We can help,” Mama G said. She waved her hand for another gnome to come over. It was easy for the two gnomes to lift the cart up high enough for Dash to slip off the broken wheel.
“Thank you,” Dash said.
“Was that wheel the problem?” Mama G asked.
The wheel was bent out of shape. It was no wonder the cart wasn’t moving so well.
“The bent wheel is part of the problem,” Dash said, “but there are some other repairs that should be made for the cart to run smoothly.”
“That doesn’t look good,” Taly added, peering up at the bent wheel.
“Actually, the wheel isn’t so bad,” Dash told Taly. “I have to straighten this piece,” she said, pointing to the bent spoke. “All the carts seem to have bent wheels. I can fix that.” She reached over to her bag and pulled out some tools.
“You have your tools with you?” Melli asked in amazement.
“Sure as sugar!” Dash replied. “I never leave home without tools.”
Dash set to work on the broken wheel. Cocoa and Raina were at her side, and Melli knew they’d get the broken carts working again.
“These carts will be good as new in no time,” Berry said.
Mama G shook her head in disbelief. “Can you really fix them?”
“Friends help one another,” Melli said. She winked at Taly.
“Mama G,” Berry said boldly, “I think there are many Candy Fairies who would love to see these candy crystals. This is a natural wonder!”
Mama G looked confused. “Gnomes have never gone outside our tunnels. I don’t think these crystal forms have ever been used for anything except to make more sugar. We never thought anyone else would appreciate their beauty.”
Melli moved forward. “Oh, that isn’t true at all,” she said. “Candy Fairies would love and appreciate these crystals.”
“Perhaps we can try to make something,” Berry said. “We could make scrumptious treats or even a beautiful tiara.”
“Gnomes don’t usually stray from caves,” Mama G said, looking down at Taly. “Except my curious adventurer.” She hugged her little gnome. “If only she had told me where she was going!”
“You never would have let me go!” Taly said, laughing.
“That is true,” Mama G said. “But at least I would have known where to look for you! Do you know how many tunnels are here in Rock Candy Caves?”
Taly hung her head. “A lot,” she said.
“I don’t blame Taly for being so curious,” Mama G told Melli. “I just want her to think before she steps.”
“Especially if she is stepping outside the caves,” Melli said.
Mama G laughed. “Exactly.”
Melli liked Mama G, and suddenly she felt more comfortable. “Please think about coming to the dinner at Candy Castle,” she said. “Princess Lolli and Prince Scoop are very generous and kind. You’ll love meeting them. And I know they would want to know about these scrumptious rock candy crystals.”
“I am not sure,” Mama G said. “We are not like Candy Fairies.”
“Mama G, please can we go?” Taly asked.
Mama G shifted her weight back and forth on her large, wide feet. Melli could tell this was a hard decision for the gnome.
“Please come,” Melli said. “We promise to stay with you the whole time.”
“You’ll love the royal dinner,” Dash said, perking up. “Best candy in the whole kingdom—fairy promise!”
No one said a word. All the gnomes were waiting to hear what Mama G would say.
“Please, Mama?” Taly said.
Melli wasn’t sure what the gnome was going to say. She hoped the answer would be yes.
“If you promise to stay near me the whole time,” Mama G said to Taly. “No running off.”
Taly agreed quickly. Mama G looked at the Candy Fairies. “This will be an important meeting. Candy Fairies and gnomes together—who would have ever thought that was possible!”
Melli grinned. “It’s a delicious thought, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Taly jumped up and down. “I get to go to Candy Castle!” she cheered. She ran over to Melli. “And now I get to see you play your licorice stick. It is going to be a super rocking night!”
“In the meantime,” Mama G said, “please stay the night here. You are our welcomed guests. It is late, and we all could use a good night’s rest before our big Candy Castle day.”
“Thank you,” Melli said. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come!
Wheels and Worries
First thing the next morning, Dash started to rebuild the carts, along with a few gnomes eager to learn how to fix them. Melli was amazed at how quickly Dash was able to work. Taly was a great assistant, and it seemed as if those old carts were going to work better than before.
“Remember,” Melli said to Dash, “these carts don’t have to go as fast as your sleds!”
Dash was one of the fastest Candy Fairies in Sugar Valley. She had won lots of trophies for her fast sledding and knew a great deal about building and fixing sleds.
Dash chuckled. “I know,” she said. “Sleds are similar but different.�
�� She held up one of the bent wheels from the cart. “Sleds don’t have wheels, and that is the tricky part!”
Berry, Raina, and Melli began work on a special dress for Mama G’s castle visit while the others worked on the carts. There was so much to get done!
Seeing her friends and Taly work together made Melli feel deliciously happy. Not only had they gotten Taly home safely, but also they were helping the gnomes.
“This is quite a sight,” Raina said, coming up beside her. She put her arm around Melli. “Gnomes and fairies working together. Princess Lolli and Prince Scoop are going to love this!”
“I hope so,” Melli said softly. “I am getting a little nervous about introducing the gnomes at the castle dinner. I hope everyone there will be welcoming.”
“Why wouldn’t they be? The gnomes are peaceful and kind,” Raina said.
“But also a big surprise,” Melli added. “You didn’t know about the gnomes living in Rock Candy Caves. I am sure most Candy Fairies don’t either.”
“That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t know or they won’t be kind,” Raina told her. “You worry too much, Melli.”
Melli fluttered her wings nervously. “Yes, I know,” she said. “But even Berry was unsure about meeting the gnomes in the beginning.”
Raina shook her head. “Don’t worry, Melli. It is going to be a supersweet night!”
Just then Melli heard Dash yell.
“No, Taly!” Dash hollered.
Melli looked back and saw Taly jump into the cart and rush past her friends on a steep hill heading deeper into the caves. Dash was holding the steering wheel in her hand.
“There’s no steering in that cart!” Dash yelled after her.
Melli flew down the tunnel as fast as she could. She was closer than Dash to the track and had a head start. Even so, she wasn’t sure she could reach the cart in time. Without a steering wheel, the cart could slam into the stone wall.
Melli’s wings were aching, but she had to reach the cart. “Hold on, Taly!” she cried.
“I can’t stop!” Taly screamed. She looked back at Melli. Her purple-and-red hat was flopping in front of her eyes as she gripped the side of the cart.
“I can almost reach you,” Melli called. She stretched out her hands as far as she could. With her last bit of energy, Melli got close enough to the cart to grab Taly’s elbow. She lifted Taly up just as the cart crashed into the side of the tunnel.
“Are you all right?” Melli asked. She gently laid Taly down on the side of the track. Melli was panting so hard, she could barely speak.
Taly nodded. Her eyes were stuck on the damaged cart. “You saved me,” she said. “Thank you, Melli. I am so sorry.” The little gnome hung her head. “I always seem to be sorry.”
The other Candy Fairies flew over to them. They were so relieved to see that Taly was not hurt.
“Taly, you need to think before you run off to do something,” Cocoa told her. “What were you trying to do, anyway?”
“I thought I would take the cart for a test run,” she said.
“I know I like to do things fast too. But you need to be safe,” Dash added.
“I am sorry,” Taly said.
“Acting fast is not always the best,” Dash told her. “Especially when you don’t think about what will happen next.”
“Like exploring outside Rock Candy Caves without telling anyone, or taking a cart before it is tested,” Taly said.
Melli sighed. “Exactly.”
“I promise to be more careful,” Taly said. “I promise. Especially when we’re at Candy Castle.”
“You don’t need to promise that,” Mama G said. She waddled over to the circle of fairies. “You are not going to Candy Castle. Not after the stunt you’ve pulled here today.”
The five Candy Fairies weren’t sure what to say. And Melli had a feeling that Mama G wasn’t going to change her mind. Would the meeting of the Candy Fairies and gnomes ever happen?
Sharing Treasures
You have proven that you cannot listen, and I don’t want to risk us all getting into trouble.” Mama G stomped her large foot and turned to walk away.
Melli looked over at Taly. The little gnome’s eyes were red, and her upper lip was trembling. “Oh, Taly,” she said. “I am so sorry.”
“I have to change her mind,” Taly said, sniffing. “I really want to go to Candy Castle. I wanted to see you play, and to meet Princess Lolli and Prince Scoop. I wanted Mama G to see Sugar Valley. I just have to convince her!”
Melli glanced at her friends. They all looked down at the ground. It was hard to ignore the anger and certainty in Mama G’s voice. Taly had broken a rule. Again. And broken Mama G’s trust.
“Mama G is really angry, Taly,” Melli whispered. “What you did was very wrong.”
“She has to change her mind,” Taly said, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “This is too important.” She looked up at the Candy Fairies. “I know what I did was wrong.”
“Anyone have any ideas?” Melli said, turning to her friends.
“She really doesn’t seem like the type of gnome to change her mind,” Cocoa said.
“I don’t blame her,” Dash mumbled. She looked down at the bashed-up cart.
Melli gave Dash a stern look. “We have come so far,” she pleaded. “I know I was nervous about the gnomes coming to the castle dinner, but think of how exciting it would be, for the gnomes and all the Candy Fairies to meet.”
“You’re right,” Dash said. “But what can we do? What Taly did was wrong.” She bent down to look at the damage to the cart. “This cart was almost fixed, and now it’s a mess.”
“Maybe you can talk to Mama G,” Taly said. “You can get her to see that I am very sorry.”
Melli smiled and looked directly at the little gnome. “Someone needs to talk to Mama G,” she said. “But it isn’t a Candy Fairy.”
Taly slowly nodded. “I had a feeling you were going to say that,” she said. “I just don’t know what to say to change her mind.”
“You have to prove to her that you are serious about keeping your word and paying attention to rules,” Melli told her. “Especially when you are at Candy Castle.”
“How am I going to do that?” Taly asked. She sat down on a rock candy with a thump. She put her chin in her hand and pouted.
“Be honest with her,” Melli said.
“Princess Lolli always tells us that honesty will get you far,” Raina added.
Dash put her arm around Taly. “I’ve been in stickier situations,” she said. “You can do this. Maybe you could think of a punishment for yourself.”
“That’s a great idea,” Berry said.
Taly stopped looking so sad and suddenly looked up at her new friends. “I can clean up the mess I made here,” she said. She jumped up and started to clear out the broken pieces of cart.
The five Candy Fairies wanted to help, but they knew this was a job that Taly had to do by herself. The little gnome was serious about her work and cleaned up the pieces. And Melli noticed that the Candy Fairies weren’t the only ones who were watching. She spotted Mama G hiding behind a rock, watching Taly.
When the broken pieces of the cart were neatly in a pile, Mama G came out from behind the rock. She went over to Taly and pulled her aside. “Never have I seen you clean up after you made a mess,” she said. “I can see how sorry you are. These new friends of yours must really be helping you.”
“Sure as sugar!” Taly cried. She glanced over at the Candy Fairies, who were trying to look as if they were not listening. “Can we please go to Candy Castle?” she asked. “I promise I will listen and behave.”
Mama G paused for a moment. She watched Taly and then glanced over at the Candy Fairies. “I believe you,” she said. “And I think it would be our honor to go meet the princess and prince and present them with sugar crystals from Rock Candy Caves.”
The Candy Fairies all cheered. Melli swooped over to Taly.
“And,” Mama G said
, putting her large hand up, “there will be no rock exploring or playing in the tunnels for a week.”
Taly hung her head. “I understand,” she said.
“I am proud of you,” Mama G continued. “I am glad you are taking responsibility for what you’ve done.” She turned to Melli. “You have been such a good friend to Taly. Thank you.”
“I’m so happy that you and Mama G will come tonight!” Melli exclaimed. “This is going to be the sweetest dinner concert ever!”
“I look forward to meeting more Candy Fairies,” Mama G replied. She touched her stained dress. “But I am not sure what I will wear.”
Berry flew over to her. “Oh, don’t worry about that!” she said, winking at Melli and Raina. She looked over at Taly. “You too!”
“Thank you,” Mama G said.
“Berry is the best,” Melli said. “She will have you both styling for a castle dinner in no time.”
Dash grinned. “This is going to be so mint!”
“Come with me,” Berry said. Mama G and Taly followed her out.
Melli and the others weren’t sure what to expect, but in a few moments Berry reappeared.
“Dash and some of the gnomes fixed the broken cart while we whipped up two dresses,” Berry said. She looked around to make sure she had everyone’s attention. “I’d like to present Mama G and Taly,” the very proud Fruit Fairy announced.
Melli couldn’t believe her eyes when the two dressed-up gnomes appeared. Berry had created two beautiful dresses trimmed with rock candy crystals.
“Oh, Berry!” Melli cried. “These dresses are beautiful! You both look delicious!”
Mama G looked embarrassed by all the attention, but Taly twirled around in her fancy swing skirt.
“We’d better get going if we are going to get to the castle,” Melli said.
“Follow me,” Mama G said to the Candy Fairies. “There is an old mining shortcut out to Sugar Valley. And I believe there is an opening by the Royal Gardens.”
“Sweet sugars!” Raina said. “I can’t wait to record this in the Fairy Code Book!”
Rock Candy Treasure Page 3
