“Is this a story you remember from the Fairy Code Book?” Dash asked.
Raina grinned. “No, this is about my best friends,” she said. “Thank you for sticking by me throughout this entire mystery.”
“Now we just have to catch the thieves,” Berry added.
Raina snuggled into her bed. “Yes, and we will,” she said. “That is the sweet ending I’m hoping for tomorrow. Sweet dreams, and let’s hope for a goblin catch!”
The Catch
Raina woke up when the moon was high in the sky. Once again, she couldn’t sleep. She wished that the sun would rise and the horizon would be a beautiful orange and yellow blend—just like the gummy flowers that grew by Gummy Lake.
Where are those goblins? she thought.
And then she heard a noise: a rustling in the woods. Raina knew it was time to see the plan in action.
She woke up her friends. Quietly and quickly they sneaked to their waiting spot. They stood behind a thick red gummy tree and kept watch. Raina wasn’t sure how long she could stand to wait. She hoped the goblins had read the message and were following the trail to the lake. The trap was set, and the caramel was thick. They just needed the greedy goblins!
“Oh, I hope they come soon,” Dash whispered.
“Me too,” Raina said.
“Just thinking about all that caramel is making me hungry,” Dash admitted.
Raina smiled. “I know,” she replied. “After we catch the goblins, we’ll have a candy celebration!”
Just then there was some crumpling of leaves from behind the bush. Raina held her breath. She felt Berry squeeze her hand. She looked over at her friends. They knew this was the moment they had been waiting for. The goblins were close.
In a flash, Raina saw two goblins leap out of hiding and sprint for the chocolate hanging from the tree. Raina had never seen a goblin close-up before. She watched as the small creatures moved. They looked just like the pictures in Lupa’s book: large ears and long faces, but no larger than a gummy cub. Suddenly Raina was not afraid. The goblins didn’t look scary. They looked hungry! And greedy!
One of the goblins reached for the chocolate, but his skinny legs sank down into the thick caramel. The more the goblin tried to pull his foot out of the gooey mess, the deeper he sank.
The second goblin tried to help, but he got stuck as well.
The Candy Fairies couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the two struggling goblins.
“If they keep this dance up,” Dash said, “they will make taffy!”
Raina and her friends giggled at Dash’s comment.
“Who’s laughing?” one of the goblins shouted. He held still and looked around. His small dark eyes darted around the moonlit forest.
Raina stepped forward with her friends close by her side. “You’ve been caught,” she said. “We will let you out if you return the Fairy Code Book to us.”
The goblins looked surprised to see the five Candy Fairies standing in front of them.
“How did you know?” the smaller goblin asked. He tried to move, but the sticky caramel held him back.
“We trailed your tracks and followed the clues,” Raina said. “Your mischief-making is known all over Sugar Valley.” She had never felt so much like Lupa! She spread her wings behind her and put her hands on her hips. “Where is the Fairy Code Book?”
“It’s in his bag,” the smaller goblin said. He nodded to his caramel-coated friend.
“I’ll get that for yoooooou,” a voice from above called.
Raina looked up and saw Mallow. The white owl swooped down, took the book from the goblin’s bag, and dropped it into Raina’s hands.
“Mallow!” Raina cried. “Your wing is healed!”
“Nothing like a little mint to heal a wounded wing,” Mallow said, winking at Dash. He landed on a branch near Raina. “I couldn’t miss this catch!” he hooted. “Greedy goblins always get their due,” he said. “Whooo, whooo!” he cried.
“That book didn’t help us,” the larger goblin spat.
“It’s useless!” the other yelped.
Raina nodded. “There is more than just words in the Fairy Code Book. Not everyone is able to create such sweetness.”
“Raina is correct,” Princess Lolli said as she flew down into the forest. She smiled at the five fairies and nodded to Mallow. “Prince Scoop and I got the sugar fly message. We hurried home, but I am glad to see that you have the situation under control.”
“Sure as sugar,” Raina boasted. She hugged the Fairy Code Book tightly to her chest. She looked over and saw Doopie and Blue Belle cheering by the red gummy tree. “Thank you,” she called to them. “You were both a great help.”
Princess Lolli faced the goblins. “Gigi and Gion, you are not to take what is not yours,” the princess scolded. “There are rules about this kind of bad behavior. You will need to report to Candy Castle so we can decide your punishment.”
The two goblins hung their heads.
Princess Lolli waved her wand, and the caramel trap melted off the goblins. Two Castle Fairies appeared and took the goblins on royal unicorns back to the castle.
The princess faced the five fairies. “You were all very brave and quick thinkers,” she said, “but you should never feel that you can’t ask for help . . . even if I am far away.”
Raina and Mallow shared a look. “When something as sticky as a marshmallow mystery happens, you need your friends to stick by your side!” Raina said. “I think we all learned that lesson.”
“Whooo, whooo!” Mallow hooted loudly.
“For sure, I learned something very important,” Raina told the princess. “The Fairy Code Book holds only part of the history. The secrets and the magic are within us.”
“That’s right,” Princess Lolli said. She gave a hug to her Candy Fairies. “You have a greater power than you think,” she told them.
“And I learned that friendship is the sweetest part of living in Sugar Valley,” Raina said, looking at her friends. With her best friends gathered around her, Raina knew she was one of the luckiest fairies in the kingdom.
“Now that the goblins are gone,” Dash said, looking around, “anyone up for a candy celebration?”
Raina laughed. “Sure as sugar!” she cried.
Melli the Caramel Fairy licked her fingers one by one. “Mmm.” She sighed. “There’s nothing like the warm, gooey taste of fresh caramel,” she said. She looked over at a caramella bird perched on the tree above her. “I know you agree, right?” she asked. Melli dipped another finger in the barrel and lifted her finger up to the bird. “Let me know what you think. I am trying out new recipes for a caramel dipping sauce.”
The yellow-and-white bird flew down to Melli’s shoulder and pecked at the Candy Fairy’s finger. The bird closed her eyes and flapped her wings.
Melli laughed. “I take that as a compliment!” she said.
She stirred the large wooden spoon around the barrel once again. “I think this is just sugar-tastic for dipping,” she told the bird. “I can’t wait for Sun Dip tonight. My friends will love this sweet treat.”
“We don’t have to wait for tonight!” Dash the Mint Fairy called from above.
Melli looked up and was surprised to see her four Candy Fairy friends circling the barrel. She giggled. “What are you all doing here?”
“We wanted to sample the new sauce!” Dash exclaimed. “How could we not try your dip?” The small Candy Fairy rubbed her stomach. “Any chance to try a new caramel treat!”
Raina the Gummy Fairy, Berry the Fruit Fairy, and Cocoa the Chocolate Fairy landed next to Melli.
“We wanted to come see you before you left,” Cocoa added.
“Are you all packed?” Berry asked.
Melli shook her head. She was supposed to be getting ready for her trip to Ice Cream Isles, but instead she was too busy making the caramel sauce.
“We thought so,” Cocoa said, giving a knowing look to Berry. “We came to help you!”
“I
t’s not every day a Candy Fairy gets invited to the Ice Cream Palace,” Raina said proudly.
“And asked to make something for the Summer Spectacular,” Berry added.
Melli knew her friends were trying to help, but she couldn’t shake being scared about her upcoming trip. She had been so excited to get the invite to Ice Cream Isles from Prince Scoop, Princess Lolli’s new husband. The prince loved caramel and asked Melli to introduce caramel dipping sauce at the ice cream celebration.
Melli was honored to be asked to contribute to the celebration, but she was also a little nervous about going on the journey alone.
“Is this the invitation?” Dash asked. She picked up a sugar paper note. “Wow, this is so mint!” The invitation was a creamy vanilla color, with dark chocolate lettering. She held it up for the others to see.
“I’ve never been anywhere by myself,” Melli said. “Every time I’ve left Sugar Valley, I’ve been with you.” She looked around at her friends. She bit her lip and tried not to cry. “What will I do without you?”
“You are only going for a few days,” Berry offered.
“And Princess Lolli will be there too,” Cocoa said, trying to make her friend feel better.
“Princess Lolli and Prince Scoop would not have asked you if they didn’t think you could do it,” Raina said.
Dash flew next to Melli. “Plus you get to take a royal unicorn ride on Butterscotch!”
“Even with the royal unicorn, it’s a long trip to Ice Cream Isles,” Melli said softly. “I’m really nervous. Plus, I won’t know any of the fairies.” She squeezed Cocoa’s hand. “I wish you all were going with me.”
“We wish we could be there too,” Cocoa said.
Raina opened the Fairy Code Book. “Look at these pictures,” she said. “The Ice Cream Isles are beautiful! You are going to love it there, Melli.”
The fairy friends all leaned in close to look at the pictures. The swirling landscape was breathtaking.
“I bet the isles are even more beautiful than these pictures,” Berry told her.
“Sweet Cream Harbor is full of ice cream history,” Raina said, reading the Fairy Code Book. “Swirl Island is in the middle of the harbor and is where Queen Swirl’s great-grandfather, Sir Swirl, invented the soft, swirling ice cream.”
“Sweet ice cream scoops!” Dash exclaimed. “You are going to have a delicious time.”
Cocoa reached over and turned the page. “And look at the picture of the Summer Spectacular!” she said. “It looks like everyone is having such a great time at the ice cream festival. Sure as sugar, there will be new ice cream flavors to taste! What a yummy celebration!”
“Especially with Melli’s caramel dipping sauce,” Raina said, licking her finger. “Melli, this is delicious.”
Melli did love looking at the pictures of the celebration.
“I’m sure you will make new friends at the Ice Cream Palace,” Cocoa said. “You’ll meet some really sweet Ice Cream Fairies there.”
“What if they aren’t nice?” Melli asked.
Raina put her hand on Melli’s shoulder. “You are one of the kindest fairies I know,” she said. “They will love you.”
“Plus, you are going to give them a sweet-sational new ice cream sauce!” Dash exclaimed. “And you’ll have to tell us everything about the Summer Spectacular and the Ice Cream Isles.”
“Yes!” Raina chimed in. “I wonder how they make all those glamorous ice cream floats for the parade.” She turned to another page in the Fairy Code Book and showed her friends the pictures.
“So mint!” Dash exclaimed. “The floats look delicious in the Sweet Cream Harbor.”
“You are going to have choc-o-rific time,” Cocoa told Melli.
“But I’m already missing you!” Melli said.
“We’re here now,” Dash exclaimed. “And I’d love to dip some of Cocoa’s chunks of chocolate into that sauce.”
Melli laughed. “Please, help yourself!” Melli could always count on Dash to have a snack. “I can’t take this batch with me. I will need to make the sauce fresh once I am at the palace.”
“No use having all this go to waste,” Dash said, rolling up her sleeves. “Those Ice Cream Fairies are so lucky to have you come visit.”
As the fairies started to dip their chocolates, Cocoa pulled Melli aside. “Being away from home is hard, but you’ll be too busy to miss us. You’ll have to make your caramel sauce. There will be so many new things to see and to do.”
Melli hoped Cocoa was right. She glanced over at the picture in the Fairy Code Book. The Ice Cream Isles were beautiful, and the Summer Spectacular was a very important event, but she also thought the place looked cold and different from Sugar Valley. She just knew that it would be a little bittersweet to be away from home.
Helen Perelman enjoys candy from all parts of Sugar Valley, but jelly beans, red licorice, and gummy fish are her favorites. She worked in a children’s bookstore and was a children’s book editor . . . but, sadly, she never worked in a candy store. She now writes full time in New York City, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Visit her online at www.helenperelman.com.
Aladdin
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READ ALL THE CANDY FAIRIES BOOKS!
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Rainbow Swirl
Caramel Moon
Cool Mint
Magic Hearts
Gooey Goblins
The Sugar Ball
A Valentine’s Surprise
Bubble Gum Rescue
Double Dip
Jelly Bean Jumble
The Chocolate Rose
A Royal Wedding
COMING SOON:
Frozen Treats
The Sugar Cup
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
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First Aladdin hardcover edition January 2014
Text copyright© 2014 by Helen Perelman Bernstein
Illustrations copyright© 2014 by Erica-Jane Waters
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Designed by Karina Granda
Jacket designed by Karina Granda
The text of this book was set in Berthold Baskerville Book.
Library of Congress Control Number 2013953375
ISBN 978-1-4424-6500-8 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4424-5301-2 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4424-5302-9 (eBook)
Marshmallow Mystery Page 4