Cocoa spotted four empty thrones in the audience. Those chairs were reserved for Princess Lolli and the royal visitors. She glanced up at the stage. It was not as elaborate as before, but at least there was a stage.
“Oh, Cocoa,” Fruli said. She rushed over to Cocoa, nearly toppling her over. She looked down at Cocoa’s hands. “I’m so glad our scenery is here!”
“Wait, you haven’t even seen the paintings yet,” Cocoa told her as she handed Fruli the canvases.
Fruli carefully unrolled them and was silent.
Oh no, Cocoa thought. She doesn’t like them!
Cocoa found her voice. “I’ll take them back home, Fruli. Don’t worry. You don’t have to use them.”
“Not use them? These painting are even more sensational than I imagined!” Fruli exclaimed. “You have saved the day!” She hugged Cocoa. “Across the back of the stage I put up a licorice rope for you to clip each of the paintings to. The flowers will make an ideal backdrop for all the acts.”
“Okay,” Cocoa said. She smiled from ear to ear.
“I’ll help you,” Melli offered. She came up behind Cocoa and gave her shoulder a tap. “I’m ready for my solo, so I have time.”
“Oh, Melli,” Cocoa said, looking her friend up and down. Melli was wearing an all-pink tank dress with pink sugar candies around the neck and waist. “You look sugar-tastic! I love your outfit.”
“Thanks,” Melli said. She touched her puffy skirt gently. “I wanted to wear pink since that was Candy Cotton’s signature color. Whenever she sang, she always wore a pink dress.”
Cocoa smiled. “You are bubble gum—tastic!” she giggled. “And I know you will sound great too.” She gathered up her paintings. “Come on, let’s get these onstage!”
The two friends worked together quickly to hang the paintings before the curtain opened.
“Places, everyone!” Fruli called. “The royal family is about to make their entrance!”
There was a scrambling of fairies as they all scattered to their positions backstage. Cocoa went over to Berry, Raina, and Dash. Berry was putting last-minute touches on Raina’s and Dash’s dresses.
“I know you are all going to be stars,” Cocoa said. “And your costumes are supersweet.”
Berry secured the final rainbow-gummy jewel on Raina’s collar. “Thank you,” she said. “And, Cocoa, your paintings are amazing. Everyone is talking about how the stage looks choc-o-rific!”
“Art is her special talent,” Melli said, beaming at her friend.
“And making chocolate!” Dash added, tapping the solid chocolate stage with her toe.
“For a fairy who didn’t believe she had any talent, you sure saved the talent show!” Raina said, giving her a hug.
“I’m going to go sit in the audience now,” Cocoa said, blushing. “I can’t wait to watch.” She laughed and hugged each of her friends. “Mocha says that Candy Cotton always used to say, ‘Let’s give ’em some extra sugar!’ Then she’d go onstage and knock everyone out with her voice. You are all going to be a hit. A show with extra sugar!”
“Thanks for everything, Cocoa,” Melli said.
Just as Cocoa took her seat, the caramel trumpets blared and the procession of the royal family began. The king and queen came in first and then Princess Sprinkle and Princess Lolli. The family members were each wearing a crown and their finest royal jewelry.
Princess Lolli winked at Cocoa as she passed by, and Cocoa felt so proud.
From the seat behind her, Cocoa felt a tap on her shoulder. “Cocoa Bean, the paintings are wonderful. I am so glad you are sharing them.”
Cocoa smiled and told her cousin what had happened and how her paintings had come to be center stage.
“We’re in for a treat!” Mocha cheered as the lights dimmed.
The stage went dark. Then all of Cocoa’s paintings were lit with a large spotlight.
There was a roar of applause. Cocoa was so embarrassed. She was glad that no one could see her!
The cast of fairies all performed well. Dash and Raina didn’t miss a beat, and their dance was a complete hit. Melli’s song took everyone by surprise. Her music made everyone tap their toes and flutter their wings. The last act of the show was Berry and Lyra’s duet. The lullaby, “Sweet and True,” brought tears to the queen’s eyes. And Cocoa couldn’t take her eyes off Berry’s dress with the dazzling jelly candy stones sewn around the waist.
At the end of the show, King Crunch and Queen Sweetie flew over to Cocoa.
“I heard you are the artist who created those choc-o-rific paintings onstage,” Queen Sweetie said. “Do you think King Crunch and I could have one of those paintings to hang in the Royal Palace?” she asked. “I’d love to put it in the garden room.”
Cocoa was so stunned that she couldn’t answer. Her mouth just hung open and no sound came out.
“She’d love that,” Melli said for her friend. She flew up beside Cocoa and took her hand. Berry, Raina, and Dash circled around her as well.
“Excellent,” King Crunch said, smiling. He leaned down to Cocoa. “You take after Mocha, yes?” he said. “She has a real talent for growing flowers, and you have a talent for painting them.”
“Cocoa also has a garden,” Berry said.
“And she’s growing chocolate roses,” Dash blurted out.
Queen Sweetie smiled. “Chocolate roses in Sugar Valley? I’d enjoy seeing them,” she said.
Cocoa whispered into Melli’s ear, then turned to the king and queen. “Excuse us, please. We must check on something, but we will be right back.”
Queen Sweetie and King Crunch looked at each other and smiled. “We were going to the party at Candy Castle. Princess Lolli has invited all the fairies to come for some sweet treats.”
“So mint! Don’t worry, we’ll be there,” Dash cried.
Everyone laughed and promised to meet up later at the castle.
Cocoa and her friends flew back to her home. She needed to see if the roses had bloomed. With all her heart, she wished that at least one bud had opened.
As the fairies approached her garden, Cocoa almost started to cry. There, in the middle of her garden, was a chocolate rose! The center flower was open. Her wish had come true!
“Now, that is one delicious-looking blossom,” Dash said, sniffing the flower.
“Hot chocolate!” Cocoa exclaimed. “I did it! I really did it!”
“Pure talent,” Raina said.
Cocoa bent down and smelled the fresh flower. She had never smelled anything so sweet. In a flash, she knew what she wanted to do with it.
“Thank you,” Cocoa said. She reached down and cut the flower’s stem.
“What are you doing?” Dash asked.
Cocoa smiled. “Growing flowers is a gift,” she said. “And I know just the fairy I’d like to give this to.”
“But you already gave Queen Sweetie a painting,” Melli said.
“I wasn’t thinking of the queen,” Cocoa said. “I was thinking of someone else.”
Her friends looked at one another. They weren’t sure what Cocoa was thinking.
Back at the Royal Gardens, the party was in full swing. Trays of candies and cakes were served. Princess Sprinkle had brought mini cupcakes with chocolate flowers from Cake Kingdom for the occasion.
Cocoa flew a little ahead of her friends. She was searching the crowd. There were fairies from all kingdoms. Royal Palace fairies, Cake Fairies, and Candy Fairies were all enjoying the delicious treats and the festive party.
Finally Cocoa spotted the fairy she had been looking for.
“I would like to present you with my very first chocolate rose,” Cocoa said. She handed the flower to Mocha.
Mocha’s eyes widened. She gasped and put her hand to her mouth. “Cocoa Bean!” she cried. “This is the sweetest rose. What a royally chocolate gift from a truly talented Candy Fairy!”
Cocoa giggled, and her friends circled around her. The chocolate rose was the grand finale to a supersweet show.
>
Melli the Caramel Fairy swooped down to the sugar sand beach at Red Licorice Lake. The sun was slightly above the top of Frosted Mountains. She knew she was early for Sun Dip and that her friends wouldn’t be there for a while. Sun Dip didn’t officially start until the sun sank below the Frosted Mountains. Melli fluttered her wings. She couldn’t wait to share her news!
Spreading her blanket, Melli smiled to herself. She had made fresh caramel hearts for a Sun Dip snack and displayed them on a plate. Sun Dip was her favorite time of day. The colorful sunset in Sugar Valley was the perfect time to be with friends. And Melli had the four best friends in the world.
She didn’t have to wait too long for her Chocolate Fairy friend Cocoa to arrive. Cocoa’s golden wings were easy to spot in the late afternoon light.
“Hi Cocoa!” Melli called.
“I thought I was going to be first today,” Cocoa said. She looked at her friend. “You look like you are bursting with some sweet news.”
Melli giggled. “I am!” she squealed. “The most delicious news!”
“Hold on!” Raina the Gummy Fairy cried from above. “I have the most scrumptious news of all!”
Dash the Mint Fairy whizzed past Raina and landed next to Melli. “Gee, everyone is extra early today,” she said. “What’s the great occasion?”
“Someone has news to share,” Cocoa said, nodding to Melli and Raina.
“Well, spill!” Dash said as she settled down on Melli’s blanket. “Please don’t tell me we have to wait for Berry.”
Berry the Fruit Fairy was almost always late to events. Her friends knew this about her and expected her to be the last one to arrive.
“She’s probably trying on some new outfit,” Dash said. Dash was more interested in sledding and speed racing than all the fashions that Berry liked to talk about.
“Maybe,” Cocoa said. She looked over at Melli. “I don’t think Melli and Raina are going to be able to wait. Go ahead, Melli.”
“Hey!” Raina shouted. “I have huge, huge news!”
Dash pointed her wings to Melli. “But Melli was here before you. She should share first.”
Sitting up straight, Melli grinned. “Well,” she said slowly. She wanted to savor the moment. “Princess Lolli wanted to work on a new dipping technique during the caramel harvest,” Melli said, “and she chose me to help!” Her wings flapped and she lifted off the blanket. “I am going to Candy Castle in a couple of weeks so I can meet with her. Today I have been trying different kinds of caramel for the dip.”
Cocoa flew over to her friend and gave her a tight squeeze. “I am so proud of you!” she said.
“You are so lucky,” Dash told her. “It’s not often that you get alone time with Princess Lolli.”
“I know.” Melli giggled. “I can’t wait.”
Raina smiled. “That’s great, Melli.”
Dash looked down at the plate in front of Melli. “Are these fresh caramel?” she asked.
Melli laughed. Dash might be the smallest fairy, but she had the largest appetite. “Yes,” she replied. “I couldn’t use this batch for the dipping because the caramel was too hard, but it was perfect for shaping hearts.”
“Yum!” Dash said. “I think that I am going to love this special project of yours,” she added.
“I will be making lots of caramel,” Melli said proudly.
Raina stood up. “Now it is time for my news!” she exclaimed. “I’m sorry Berry still isn’t here, but you are not going to believe this announcement.”
Raina took a deep breath. “I was at Candy Castle this morning,” she said, “and I saw this!” She took out a copy of the Daily Scoop. “It’s a special edition because this news is so delicious!”
On the front page of the newspaper was a large photo of Princess Lolli and a fairy named Prince Scoop. The headline across the top of the paper read, “A Royal Engagement!”
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
Simon & Schuster, New York
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READ ALL THE CANDY FAIRIES BOOKS!
Chocolate Dreams
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
COMING SOON:
A Royal Wedding
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 July 2013
Text copyright © 2013 by Helen Perelman
Illustrations copyright © 2013 by Erica-Jane Waters
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
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Jacket and interior designed by Karina Granda
Jacket illustrations by Erica-Jane Waters
The text of this book was set in Berthold Baskerville Book.
Library of Congress Control Number 2013937572
ISBN 978-1-4424-6499-5 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4424-5299-2 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4424-5300-5 (eBook)
The Chocolate Rose Page 4