Are you ready, Cocoa?” Princess Lolli asked. She stood at the back chocolate gate of the Candy Castle.
Cocoa nodded her head. She had no idea what the journey would be like, or what would happen. She hugged each of her friends.
“Be safe,” Raina told her.
“Watch your wings,” Berry advised. “Trolls are sneaky.”
“Thanks,” Cocoa said. She turned to Dash. “I’ll see you soon.”
“You better!” Dash called out.
Melli stood off to the side. She was trying to be brave like her friends. She didn’t want to get all gooey; Cocoa wouldn’t like that. Still, it was hard for her to be strong as she watched her friend fly into danger.
“We’ll be all right,” Cocoa told her. She gave Melli a tight squeeze. Cocoa didn’t like to see her upset. “Save some of your caramel sticks for me,” she said. “We’ll be back for Sun Dip.”
Melli managed to smile. “Sure as sugar,” she whispered.
Princess Lolli reached out for Cocoa’s hand. Together, they flew off over the Royal Gardens to Red Licorice Lake. Cocoa watched as a bunch of fairies cared for the licorice growing around the cherry-red lake. They were all laughing as they trimmed the thick, sweet stalks.
As she flew, thoughts raced through her head. What if we can’t get the eggs back? What if something happens to Princess Lolli?
When Peppermint Grove came into view, Cocoa tried to push those thoughts out of her head. She had to be strong. Chocolate River was up ahead. She had only been on the other side of the river once, last winter. She had gone to Marshmallow Marsh to gather filling for chocolate squares. The marsh was sticky, but not a scary place at all. Not like Black Licorice Swamp! Cocoa could feel her heart beating faster.
The rumbling of the river interrupted her thoughts. The flight over the river was quick. Cocoa looked down on the fluffy white peaks of Marshmallow Marsh. In a few quick wing strokes, they would be sailing up over the Frosted Mountains.
Cocoa looked at the princess. “What is the plan?” she asked.
Princess Lolli smiled and winked at the Chocolate Fairy. “We just need to stay true to our hearts. Salty old Mogu might be sneaky, but he isn’t always wise.”
Cocoa wanted to believe the princess. Still, she was unsure how the two of them could battle the old troll. In the stories she had heard as a young fairy, the troll was sneaky and strong. How could two small fairies be a match for him?
“Have you ever met Mogu?” Cocoa asked.
“Once,” Princess Lolli replied. “I was a young fairy working with a crop of marshmallow blossoms at the edge of the marsh. Mogu thought he could trick me into giving him my basket of candy.”
Cocoa flapped her wings to get closer to the princess. “Were you scared?”
“No,” the princess said. “I knew I could outsmart
him.” She grinned and adjusted the silver crown on her head. “And I did!”
The Frosted Mountains were straight ahead. Cocoa took a deep breath.
“Remember,” Princess Lolli told her, “our
powers are not as strong on this side of the mountains. We will need to use our magic wisely.”
Suddenly Cocoa felt dizzy. She closed her eyes for a second.
“Cocoa, hold on,” Princess Lolli said, gripping Cocoa’s hand tighter. “I know this trip is very difficult.”
Feeling the princess’s hand squeeze hers made her feel much better. All at once Cocoa had a burst of energy. When she opened her eyes again, she saw that the princess was smiling.
“The air here makes it hard for fairies to breathe,” Princess Lolli said kindly. “But stay calm and you’ll be fine. Come, let’s head down to the swamp and find Mogu. Raina’s map says this is the right direction.”
Cocoa held tight to Princess Lolli’s hand as
they sailed over the Black Licorice Swamp. The smell of the thick, gooey swamp made her nose twitch. Everything around the swamp was black. Not at all like Red Licorice Lake. She longed to see the bright red stalks and wild berry candy bushes blooming along the Red Licorice Lake shores, and the happy Red Licorice Fairies harvesting the ripe stalks. Here at the dark, gloomy swamp there was no one in sight.
“Look over there!” Princess Lolli said, pointing.
The princess was pointing to a small bridge at the far end of the swamp. The bridge’s black licorice bricks were covered in salt and didn’t look very sturdy. Surrounding the bridge were tall, thin pretzel sticks. It looked like no one had cared for the pretzels—or the bridge—in years.
“There it is,” Princess Lolli declared. “Mogu’s bridge. He’s probably in his cave under the bridge.”
“Let’s go see,” Cocoa said. She felt a new wave of energy and was ready to go.
“Wait,” Princess Lolli told her. She held Cocoa back. “Remember, anything that is under the
bridge cannot be removed without the troll’s permission. We will need to be clever, and quick.”
Cocoa nodded her head. “Yes, I remember,” she said. She thought of her friends back in Sugar Valley, and tried to be as brave as Princess Lolli. “I’m ready.”
Her head was still feeling strange, and Cocoa wondered if she could fly one more inch. But she knew that she had to keep going.
They flew down and hid behind a large black licorice stalk growing near the bridge. Carefully, they stepped over the rough salted pretzel sticks to get a better view of Mogu.
Cocoa gasped and drew her hands quickly up to her mouth. There was Mogu! His skin was wrinkled and dirty, and his clothes were torn. Just as all the stories described him, he was short and stout with white hair in a rim around his round head. And his large nose was sniffing one of Cocoa’s chocolate eggs!
Chocolate Dreams
Princess Lolli and Cocoa stood together in the shadows of Mogu’s bridge. The air was misty and cold, and the two fairies huddled close. Quietly, they peered around the salty old licorice bricks.
Cocoa couldn’t believe how close she was to the troll! She found that she was less scared now that she saw him. She clutched her fists close to her side. She had to get those eggs back home!
Mogu was lying lazily on a hammock strung up under the bridge. The eggs were laid out in a black licorice basket before him.
Cocoa wanted to reach out and take the eggs, but she knew that she had to wait for Princess Lolli’s instructions. She leaned closer to hear what Mogu was saying.
“Ah, I’ve missed the smell of chocolate,” he grumbled. He rolled over and put his large nose next to the eggs and breathed deeply. “Ahhhh,” he sighed.
Four Chuchies were sitting around the basket. Their round pom-pom bodies shook as they jumped up and down on their short, thin legs. “Meee, meee, meeeeeeeee,” they chanted in a high-pitched squeal.
“Yes,” Mogu said, petting one Chuchie. “I know you want to eat one.” He grinned, showing off his black teeth. “You did a great job of getting these eggs over the mountains.”
“Heee heee heeeeeeeeeeeeee,” the Chuchies cried out together.
Mogu looked pleased. “Yes, this was a ghoulish plan,” he said. He shifted his weight in his hammock. “Those fairies never would have imagined that I could steal these eggs.” His short arms rose up above his head. “Everyone knows spring eggs are the sweetest chocolate.” He stretched happily. A sly grin spread across his face. “One day all the chocolate in the valley will be ours!”
Cocoa’s eyes grew wide. How could Mogu be so cruel? She felt Princess Lolli squeeze her hand. It was getting hard to stay quiet and listen to the mean troll.
“I’ve had enough of all those happy fairies and their sweetness in Sugar Valley,” Mogu went on. He swung his short legs around to the side of the hammock and stood up. “This candy was so easy to take, just sitting in the nest! And no one was even watching! Why shouldn’t we take more?”
Because we work hard to make the chocolate and all the candy in the valley, Cocoa wanted to scream. Stealing is not the way to get candy! She wanted t
o scold the troll. She bit her lip to keep quiet. Looking over at Princess Lolli, she wondered how the princess was remaining so calm. Now more than ever she wanted to reach out for
the eggs.
“When I am the ruler of Candy Kingdom,” Mogu bragged, “things will be different.” He stomped his feet as he marched around the basket of eggs. He puffed his chest out. “I have big chocolate dreams.” He kneeled down next to the basket. He stroked the eggs. “Hmmm,” he said, sighing. Turning to the Chuchies, he grinned. “I will rule over the entire valley, my furry friends. And we will have all the chocolate that we could ever dream of! Bah-ha-haaaaaaaa! ”
Bittersweet chocolate! Cocoa wanted to cry out. What would happen to all the sweet fairies in Sugar Valley if Mogu were in charge? What would happen to Candy Castle and Princess Lolli? This was all too horrible to think about. Defeated, Cocoa sank down to the soft, gooey ground of the swamp. What were they going to do?
Just then she felt a gentle squeeze on her shoulder. Princess Lolli was standing tall next to her. She had a slight grin on her face.
Cocoa knew that Princess Lolli had come up with a plan. She could tell from the sparkle in her eyes. But would the plan be strong enough to outwit this selfish troll? Would they be able to get the eggs safely home? Cocoa’s wings fluttered. She was ready to do whatever the princess asked of her.
A Touch of Chocolate
Princess Lolli waved Cocoa away from the bridge. They stood off to the side of the swamp so they could whisper.
“This is not your fault, Cocoa,” Princess Lolli told her. “Mogu was wrong. And we will get the eggs back.”
Cocoa wanted to believe the princess. She nodded her head. All she wanted to do was protect those eggs from Mogu. A chocolate promise was
a solid vow, and she wanted to be true to her word.
“When the time is right,” Princess Lolli said, “I will signal to you.” She looked into the fairy’s sweet face. “You must concentrate and focus on your task. Because your magic is weaker on this side of the mountains, you need to rely on your heart.”
Cocoa was not exactly sure what the princess was asking her to do. She could hardly even fly! But she wanted to help. She listened carefully.
“See the pretzel bramble over there?” the prin-cess asked. She pointed behind Cocoa. “Do you think you can coat the stalks with chocolate?”
Cocoa wasn’t sure she would be able to do as the princess asked. Normally, she could touch anything and it would be covered in chocolate. But her head was spinning and there was a heaviness in her wings. Her magic was much weaker here. She didn’t think she could create any chocolate!
Slowly Cocoa reached out to touch the pretzel stick. The pointy salt crystals were rough on her fingertips. Closing her eyes, she drew her breath in. When she opened her eyes, the salt was still there. There was not a drop of chocolate in sight. Cocoa’s wings drooped low, and she looked down at her feet.
“Cocoa, you can do this,” the princess told her. “Try again. Think of Chocolate Falls and Chocolate Woods. Listen to your heart.”
This time Cocoa took a moment to think of her home. She raised her head and closed her eyes. She thought of the ripples in Chocolate River and the rumbling sounds of Chocolate Falls. She imagined the dark bark of the old chocolate oak, and the tiny, strong chocolate branches of the egg nest. She remembered the sweet smell of chocolate rising throughout Sugar Valley on a beautiful spring day. Soon she imagined she could actually smell real chocolate.
“Oh, Cocoa!” Princess Lolli cried out.
Cocoa opened her eyes. The pretzels were now coated with rich, dark chocolate. Gently swaying in the breeze was a bunch of chocolate-covered pretzel sticks!
“You did it!” the princess said proudly. “I knew you had a solid chocolate heart!” She grinned. “You are a brave and true Candy Fairy, Cocoa.” The princess hugged her tightly. “Stay here until I call for you,” she said.
In a flash, the royal fairy was gone.
Cocoa watched as the princess bravely stepped forward from the shadows of the bridge.
“Hello, Mogu,” she said calmly. “I think
you have something that belongs to Candy Kingdom.”
Mogu turned his head, and Cocoa saw the surprised look on his face. “Well, well. Princess Lolli,” he said. He quickly got over the shock of seeing the fairy princess and laughed. His laughter shook the whole bridge.
“What, these eggs? Bah-ha-haaaaaaaa! Your magic is no good here,” he spat. “You know that you cannot move these eggs unless I allow it.” He chuckled to himself. “And that is not going to happen! I am in the mood for some chocolate.”
The princess nodded her head knowingly. “Well then, I have something for you,” she said. “Cocoa, show Mogu what you made.” Bravely, Cocoa flew under the bridge with her arms full of the chocolate-covered pretzels.
Mogu’s eyes grew big when he saw what the Candy Fairy was carrying. He took the sticks and shoved them all in his mouth. “Mmm,” he said with his mouth full. “Salty and sweet! More! More!”
“As you wish,” Princess Lolli said. She motioned for Cocoa to make more chocolate-covered pretzels.
The troll laughed. “You are going to give me candy?” he asked. He laughed as he reached out to grab the chocolate from Cocoa. “This is easier than I thought!”
The greedy troll kept on eating. Cocoa was getting weaker and weaker with each batch that she made. But the troll went on eating up all the chocolate treats. The Chuchies scurried around his feet, grabbing at all the crumbs that fell from his mouth. They were giddy with chocolate joy.
Cocoa wasn’t sure why the princess was being so nice to Mogu. After all, he had stolen from them! Why would she want to give him more? But whatever the reason, she hoped with all her heart that the princess’s chocolate plan worked.
Dark Chocolate Wishes
Standing in the shadows of Mogu’s cave, Cocoa watched. With Cocoa’s help, the gentle fairy princess gave Mogu all the chocolate-covered pretzel sticks he wanted. Now his face was stained with chocolate. His hands were covered in a melted brown mess. The more he grabbed the chocolate and shoved it in his mouth, the more the princess grinned—and the dirtier he became.
“Mmmm,” Mogu hummed. “I want more! I want more!”
Cocoa trusted Princess Lolli, but she wondered why she was giving Mogu the chance to eat so much chocolate.
“When I rule Candy Kingdom,” he boasted. “I will make sure there are plenty of these salty chocolate treats. Thanks for the idea, princess! Bah-ha-haaaaaaaa! ”
Mogu’s evil laugh ruffled Cocoa’s wings. She leaned against the bridge’s salty black licorice bricks. Making the chocolate had taken most of her energy. And being on the far side of the Frosted Mountains was taking a toll on her. She tried hard to stand quiet and still.
Cocoa looked over at Princess Lolli. The brave princess was standing next to Mogu’s hammock, watching him stuff himself with the chocolate treats. She caught Cocoa’s eye and winked.
Then Cocoa heard the cry.
“Oooooooh,” moaned Mogu. He stumbled back toward his hammock.
Princess Lolli moved out of the way.
Mogu sat down. His hands were on his bulging belly. “Ooooh, my tummy,” he wailed.
The Chuchies crowded around him. “Mee, mee, meeeeeeeeeee?” they chanted together.
Princess Lolli offered him another bundle of chocolate-covered pretzels. Mogu waved his hand in front of his face. “Let me be!” he shouted. He moaned louder. “No more chocolate!” he mumbled. He closed his eyes and leaned back in the hammock.
“Mee, mee, MEEEEEEEEE ?” the Chuchies asked a little louder.
Cocoa moved closer to Princess Lolli to get a better look. The damp cave now smelled like chocolate. Princess Lolli held up her hand, signaling Cocoa to wait.
“Argh!” the troll barked. He opened one eye. He peered over at the stack of chocolate pretzel sticks lying on the floor. He pushed the pretzels and the basket of eggs away wi
th his foot. “No more chocolate! Take all the chocolate away! I don’t want to see chocolate under this bridge anymore!”
The Chuchies jumped up and got to work. When Mogu gave an order, they moved!
Princess Lolli stepped back and took Cocoa’s hand. The Chuchies lifted the chocolate egg basket. They set the basket on the muddy
ground—away from the bridge.
The eggs were no longer under the bridge!
Princess Lolli and Cocoa had tricked the troll without his realizing! He had ordered the eggs to be moved from under his bridge.
“Mogu,” Princess Lolli said softly. She walked over to the hammock, where the troll was groaning softly.
“Is he asleep?” Cocoa whispered. She peered over Princess Lolli’s shoulder.
“Not quite,” the princess told her. “But he will be in a chocolate coma for a while. He ate more than his fair share of chocolate today. His greed was almost as big as his appetite!”
Cocoa giggled. “And he had a very big appetite!”
“Oh, my tummy,” Mogu cried out. He rolled over uncomfortably in his hammock.
Princess Lolli leaned in closer to him. “Nothing good comes of stealing, Mogu,” she said.
Mogu moaned again.
“The sweet candy that you had today was freely given to you, and therefore the best kind,” Princess Lolli told him. “But be warned,” she said. “You must ask for candy, and never steal.”
The Chuchies scrambled for all the chocolate crumbs left spread around on the ground. They didn’t look up as Princess Lolli and Cocoa slipped away from the bridge.
Princess Lolli turned to Cocoa. “Come, let’s get the eggs back to the nest,” she said. “Mogu won’t be bothering us for a while now.”
“Are you sure?” Cocoa asked. She looked back at the troll.
Mogu grunted and rolled over. “No more chocolate,” he muttered in his sleep. “No more. …”
Soon he was snoring heavily.
“Yes,” Princess Lolli said, smiling. She took both of Cocoa’s hands and held them tight. “You were very brave today, Cocoa. I am so proud of you. I know it wasn’t easy for you to make those chocolate pretzel sticks. That took strength and courage.”
Chocolate Dreams Page 3