Cool Mint

by Helen Perelman

  CHAPTER 1 Cool Ride

  CHAPTER 2 Frosty Sun Dip

  CHAPTER 3 Champion Race

  CHAPTER 4 Sugar Medal Bravery

  CHAPTER 5 A Sticky Situation

  CHAPTER 6 Too Fast

  CHAPTER 7 Magic Mint

  CHAPTER 8 Race Day

  CHAPTER 9 A Little Mint

  CHAPTER 10 So Mint

  Magic Hearts Excerpt

  About Helen Perelman

  For Nathan, my sweet

  A cool morning breeze blew through Marshmallow Marsh. Dash, the smallest Mint Fairy in Sugar Valley, was very excited. She had been working on her new sled all year, and now her work was done. Finally the sled was ready to ride. And just in time! Sledding season was about to begin.

  Many fairies in Sugar Valley didn’t like the cool months as much as Dash. Each season in Sugar Valley had its own special flavors and candies—and Dash loved them all. She was a small fairy with a large appetite!

  Dash was happiest during the winter. All the mint candies were grown in the chilly air that swept through Sugar Valley during the wintertime. She enjoyed the refreshing mint scents and the clean white powdered sugar. But for her, the thrill of competing was the sweetest part of the season. She had waited all year for this chance to try out her new sled!

  The Marshmallow Run was one of the brightest highlights of the winter for Dash. The sled race was one of the most competitive and challenging races in Sugar Valley. And for the past two years, Dash had won first place. But this year was different. This year Dash wanted to be the fastest fairy in the kingdom—and set a new speed record. No fairy had been able to beat Pep the Mint Fairy’s record in years. He had stopped racing now and was one of Princess Lolli’s closest advisers. But no one had come close to breaking his record.

  Dash had carefully picked the finest candy to make her sled the fastest. While many of her fairy friends had been playing in the fields, she had been hard at work. She was sure that the slick red licorice blades with iced tips and the cool peppermint seat was going to make her new sled ride perfectly. If she was going to break the record this year, she’d need all the help she could get.

  Dash looked around. No one else was on the slopes at this early hour. She took a deep breath. The conditions were perfect for her test run. “Here I go,” she said.

  On her new sled Dash glided down the powdered sugar trail that led into the white marshmallow peaks. It was a tricky and sticky course, but Dash had done the run so many times she knew every turn and dip of the lower part of the Frosted Mountains. She steered her sled easily and sped down the mountain. The iced tips on the sled’s blades made all the difference! She was picking up great speed as she neared the bottom of the slope.

  When she reached the finish line, she checked her watch. Had she done it? Had she beat the Candy Kingdom record?

  “Holy peppermint!” she cried.

  Dash couldn’t believe how close she was to beating her best time. She had to shave off a few more seconds to break the record, but this was the fastest run she had ever had. Dash grinned. This year is my year, she thought happily.

  Suddenly a sugar fly landed on her shoulder with a note. Dash recognized the neat handwriting of her friend Raina. Raina was a Gummy Fairy and always followed the rules of the Fairy Code Book. She was a gentle and kind fairy who was also a very good friend.

  “Raina told you that you’d find me here, huh?” Dash said to the small fly.

  The tiny messenger nodded.

  Dash opened Raina’s note. “She thinks she has to remind me about Sun Dip,” Dash said to the fly. She shook her head, smiling.

  Sun Dip was a time when all the fairies came together to talk about their day and share their candy. Dash loved the large feast of the day and enjoyed sharing treats with her friends. Now that the weather was turning colder, her mint candies were all coming up from the ground. Peppermint Grove was sprouting peppermint sticks and mint suckers for the winter season.

  Dash looked up and saw the sun was still high above the top of the mountains. She had time for a couple more runs. She was so close to beating the record. How could she stop now?

  “Tell Raina that I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Dash told the sugar fly. The tiny fly nodded. Then he flew off toward Gummy Forest to deliver the message.

  Flapping her wings, Dash flew back to the top of the slope with her new sled. She had to keep practicing.

  My friends will understand, she thought.

  As she reached the top of the slope, Dash could think about only one thing. Wouldn’t all the fairies be surprised when the smallest Mint Fairy beat the record? Dash couldn’t wait to see their faces! And to get the first-place prize! The sweet success of winning the Marshmallow Run was a large chocolate marshmallow trophy. It was truly a delicious way to mark the sweet victory of winning the race.

  With those happy, sweet thoughts in her head, Dash took off. Cool wind on her face felt great as she picked up speed down the mountain. A few more runs and she’d beat the record, sure as sugar.

  This year everyone would be talking about Dash—the fastest Mint Fairy ever!

  Dash flapped her wings quickly, racing toward Red Licorice Lake. She hoped her friends would still be there. She knew that the sun had already dipped below the mountains—and that she was very late. But wait till they heard her great news!

  As she neared the sugar beach, Dash saw Raina looking up at the sky. She was pointing toward the Frosted Mountains. “The sun has been down for a long time,” she stated. “Soon the stars will be out.”

  “No sign of Dash?” Melli the Caramel Fairy asked. Squinting, she searched for any sign of her friend.

  “Dash has never missed Sun Dip,” Cocoa added. The Chocolate Fairy flew up in the sky and scouted the area. “No sign of her.”

  “Here I am!” Dash called out. Her cheeks were red as she rushed over to her friends. “I know I’m late,” she said, starting to explain.

  “Let me guess, you were on the slopes?” Berry asked. The Fruit Fairy fluttered her pink wings and settled down on her blanket. “I think all that time on the other side of Chocolate River is getting to you, Dash. You’ve never missed a Sun Dip.”

  “She’s all about making the best time for the Marshmallow Run,” Melli said, shaking her head.

  “She should be concentrating on making the best peppermint sticks instead of a faster sled,” Raina mumbled. “Princess Lolli asked Dash to make her two tall peppermint sticks for her new throne in Candy Castle. Did you all know that?” She looked around at her fairy friends. They all looked surprised.

  Dash shot Raina a minty glare. “You don’t have to talk about me as if I’m not here,” she said. “Everything is under control.”

  The truth was, Dash felt very honored that the ruling fairy princess of Candy Kingdom had asked her to make the sticks for the new throne. When Princess Lolli asked fairies to do something, the fairies all did as she wished. Princess Lolli was a fair and true princess who was very generous and kind. She took good care of the Candy Fairies, and everyone in the valley loved her.

  “I don’t think Dash has been at Peppermint Grove at all this week,” Cocoa said.

  “That’s not true!” Dash said, flying above her friends. “You don’t know the first thing about growing peppermint sticks!”

  Melli stepped forward. She didn’t like when her friends argued. “Dash, we’re just worried about you. It’s not like you to miss Sun Dip.”

  “Or not do as Princess Lolli asks,” Cocoa added. “Having peppermint sticks as part of the new throne in Candy Castle is a very big deal.”

  “That is pretty sweet,” Berry said. She turned to Dash. “Have you been working on the peppermint sticks?”

  “Yes,” Dash said. She landed and planted her feet f
irmly on the ground.

  “How’s your new sled?” Melli asked. She sensed that Dash wanted to change the subject—and fast.

  “It’s so mint!” Dash replied with a grin on her face. “I think I have a chance to break Pep’s record!” She sat down on Berry’s blanket. “How sweet would that be? Today I tied his best time!” Reaching into Berry’s basket, she picked a fruit chew and popped it in her mouth.

  “Dash!” Berry scolded. “Those chews are not for eating. They’re for my necklace that I’m making!” Berry held up a string of sparkled fruit jewels. Berry was very into accessories and never had enough jeweled fruit gems.

  “Sorry,” Dash said, shrugging. She licked her finger. “It was delicious.”

  “Did you really tie Pep’s record?” Raina asked. “His record has been unbroken for years! No one has even come close to his time.”

  “Until this year, right, Dash?” Cocoa said.

  Dash grinned. “It’s all I can think about!”

  Raina came over and sat next to Dash on the blanket. “That’s great, Dash,” she said. “But you really need to figure out what’s going on with your peppermint sticks. Princess Lolli is counting on you.”

  Melli and Cocoa shared a look. Berry kept her eyes on her fruit-chew necklace.

  “You don’t understand,” Dash said. She looked toward the Frosted Mountains. “This race means everything to me.”

  “But you have lots of other responsibilities too,” Raina said.

  “Sorry I missed Sun Dip today,” Dash said, getting up. She had just gotten there, but now all she wanted to do was leave. She couldn’t stand the look of disappointment on Raina’s face.

  “Where are you going?” Melli asked.

  “Home,” Dash said. “I need to frost the tips of the sled again for tomorrow’s run.”

  Raina sank down onto Berry’s blanket. “You’re not even going to check on the peppermint sticks?”

  “I will,” Dash assured her friend. “Don’t worry.”

  “But I am worried,” Raina said as Dash took off. “I’m very worried.”

  The next morning, Dash flew out to the Frosted Mountains for another early-morning practice. As she flew over Peppermint Grove, she thought about what her friends had said to her. Maybe they were right. She really hadn’t been spending as much time as she should have at the grove. She dipped down to see her peppermint sticks.

  The strong, fresh, minty smell of the grove greeted Dash as she drew closer. This was a special place for her. She flew by the tiny mint candy bushes. They were budding new delicious-looking minty treats along the edge of the garden. Farther down the grove she spotted the peppermint sticks that were just starting to push out of the sugar soil.

  Looking down the row of peppermint sticks, Dash realized that the sticks could have been bigger. She put her hand on one of the sprout sticks.

  “This needs more mint,” she said. She walked over to a small shed and got her mint can. She knew peppermint sticks needed lots of mint. Since some of these sticks were for Princess Lolli’s new throne, she wanted them to be perfect. Even though her friends thought she didn’t care, she did. “I can race and raise peppermint sticks,” she declared out loud.

  While minting the soil, Dash was distracted. She couldn’t stay too long in the grove. She had to keep up with her practice schedule. She sighed. If only her friends understood what breaking the Marshmallow Run record meant to her. Maybe then they wouldn’t have given her such a hard time at Sun Dip.

  Dash poured more white minty liquid into the ground. Then she gently pulled stray mint weeds from around the sticks and straightened the sugar fence around the grove.

  There’s no need to panic, Dash thought. She stood back and admired the peppermint stick crop.

  Maybe she should spend more time here, she thought, but she had to get going. A cool, refreshing breeze blew her blond hair and tickled her silver wings. She put her mint can back in the shed and headed toward the slopes. Time for another practice run!

  Once Dash was on the slope, she double-checked her sled. Everything looked perfect. Just as she was getting ready to take her first run of the day, she sensed someone standing behind her. She turned to see a Mint Fairy. Dash squinted her eyes. And then her jaw dropped.

  “Pep?” she said breathlessly. Her heart was beating extra fast.

  The Mint Fairy walked over to Dash. “Yes, I’m Pep,” he said. “You must be Dash. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  Dash blushed. “You’ve . . . you’ve heard about me?” she stammered. She could barely speak. Standing in front of her was one of the most famous fairies of all time. And certainly the fastest.

  Pep laughed. His teeth were as white as the mint syrup Dash had poured around her peppermint sticks. And his bright green eyes twinkled like the sparks from a mint candy.

  “Yes, of course I’ve heard about you,” he said, smiling. “You are about to break my speed record, right?”

  “I . . . I . . . Well, I hope to break your record,” Dash spat out. She looked down at the packed powered sugar by her feet.

  Nodding, Pep grinned. “Princess Lolli says you’ve got a good chance of beating the record,” he told her. He winked. “I had to see you take a run for myself.”

  “I’m about to go now,” Dash said.

  “Would you like to race me?” Pep asked. He pulled a green mint sled out from behind a tree. “I’m up for a run. Would that be okay?”

  All Dash could do was nod her head up and down. She was too excited to say anything! Racing against the most famous speed-racer fairy was a huge thrill. “Sure,” Dash finally managed to say. She pulled her snow goggles down over her eyes and got set to race.

  “Sweet!” Pep called out. He jumped on his sled and started to count down. “Three, two, one—GO!”

  The two Mint Fairies raced down the slope. They were wing to wing for most of the ride, but when the marshmallow turn came, Pep sped ahead, and he won the race.

  “Great race!” he said, lifting up his goggles. “Princess Lolli was right about you.”

  Dash took off her goggles. “Thank you,” she said. “I’ve been practicing. I really want to beat your speed record. But I have big tracks to fill!”

  Pep stood up. “You have an excellent chance,” he told her. “I wasn’t this fast when I was your age. You need to keep up the practicing. Those last turns through the marshmallow are pretty sticky. But with practice, you can do it.”

  Dash was so happy that Pep understood her wanting to break the record. “It’s so great to talk to you,” she said. “My friends don’t really understand my racing. They keep after me about my candy duties. They don’t get my need to race.”

  “Well, your friends are right too,” Pep explained. He pulled his sled off the slope. “It’s great to race, but your first responsibility is your candy crops.”

  “Have you been talking to my friend Raina?” Dash asked, smiling.

  Pep shook his head. “No,” he said, laughing. “But if she’s after you about tending to your chores, then she is a good friend. A real champion is responsible.” He wrapped the rope of his sled around his wrist. “Good luck, Dash. I’ll be at the Marshmallow Run cheering you on.” He flashed her a smile. “Remember, to be a champion, you have to think like a champion.” He gave a wave and turned to leave.

  “Thanks!” Dash called out. She was still in shock. As she watched Pep fly away, she thought about what he had told her. She squinted up at the sun. She realized a perfect way to make up with her friends. At Sun Dip tonight, she’d bring some special mint candies for her friends . . . along with an apology. A champion apology!

  Since Pep had suggested that Dash practice the turns through Marshmallow Marsh, Dash spent the rest of the day on that part of the run, near the bottom of the slope. She weaved in and out of the turns and tried to shave off extra time. If Pep gave her advice, she was going to take it!

  With time for one more full run, Dash was feeling confident. She climbed to the top of the s
lope for her final run of the day.

  This time I can beat Pep’s record, she thought. I can be a champion! I know I can.

  She sat for a minute at the starting line and imagined crossing the finish line below in record time. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

  Think like a champion! she told herself.

  She knew this slope. She could break the old record!

  With great sped, Dash went down the mountain. She cleared all the turns and jumps in good time. As she neared the Marshmallow Marsh, she steadied herself. She made a sharp left turn and then a quick right. Then she came around a turn, and something was in her way—something that was not supposed to be in the marsh. Dash steered her sled off the slope to avoid a crash and went straight into a sugar mound on the side of the trail.

  “Who’s there?” a voice grumbled loudly. “Who’s that?”

  Dash was startled from her near collision. She tried to catch her breath as she took off her goggles. Then she rubbed her eyes. Was she seeing clearly?

  “Holy peppermint,” she mumbled.

  Standing in front of her was Mogu, the salty old troll from Black Licorice Swamp!

  “Who are you?” Mogu growled. He stepped forward and stuck his huge nose down in Dash’s face. He sniffed around her. “And what do we have here?” The troll peered down at the tasty sled made of the finest candy.

  Dash had to think fast! She knew all about Mogu, who loved candy and stole Candy Fairy treats. He was a sour troll who was full of greed. When Mogu had tried to steal Cocoa’s chocolate eggs, her friend had been very brave and strong. Cocoa had even gone to the Black Licorice Swamp on the other side of the Frosted Mountains to get the eggs back! Dash knew she had to be brave as well as clever to get out of this sticky situation. No way was that hungry troll going to get her sled as a snack!

  “What do you want?” Dash asked, trying to be strong. She stood up with her hands on her hips.