“Leave it to Raina to know all the rules of Candy Fair,” Cocoa said. She sat down on a hard candy rock and took a sip of sugar nectar from a nearby flower.
“It’s true,” Raina told her friends. She folded her arms across her chest. “The candy just needs to be created by a fairy.” She grinned at Berry. “I think you should show these at the fair. Everyone will love them.”
Berry flapped her wings and sat down on the red sprinkle sand. “I’ll think about it,” she said. She sighed heavily. “I’m not sure I’m going to show anything at the fair.”
“What?” Raina said. She couldn’t believe her ears. “What do you mean, you’re not going to show candy at the fair? It’s all we’ve talked about for the past four years! It’s everyone’s dream to win the sugar medal at Candy Fair!”
Berry shrugged. She looked down at her toes. “It’s all you’ve talked about,” she said softly. “It’s your dream.” Then she picked up some sprinkles in her hand and let the tiny grains fall through her fingers. “I’m just not sure that I want to compete. I’ve been busy with my jewelry.”
“Melli and I are going to work together,” Cocoa said, stepping between them. “We’re going to do a caramel and chocolate candy.” She turned and fluttered her wings with Melli.
“What about you, Dash?” Melli asked. “I’m sure you have some minty surprise blooming.”
Dash shook her head. “No, I haven’t had time. I’m too busy building a new sled for the marshmallow slopes.”
“What’s in your basket, Raina?” Berry asked. She pointed to the basket next to her friend.
Raina had almost forgotten to ask Berry to try her new candy. She held out the basket. “These are my new gummy berries for Candy Fair,” she told her.
“May I try one? They look good,” Berry said.
As she handed the candy to Berry, Raina couldn’t help but feel a swirl of sadness surround her.
She couldn’t understand how Berry and Dash didn’t want to compete. She had thought all her friends were just as excited as she was about the upcoming candy event. Didn’t they have the candy spirit too? She never imagined going to the fair without all her friends. Suddenly, going to Candy Fair didn’t seem as sweet to her. …
Melli noticed the sad look on Raina’s face. “Don’t worry, Raina,” Melli said. She came over to her and put her arm around her. “Cocoa and I are going to the sign-up for the fair tomorrow at Candy Castle. Why don’t we meet up and go together?”
Raina smiled, thankful for Melli’s excitement. “Yes,” she said. “Let’s get there early. I want to make sure to be one of the first fairies to sign up for the fair.”
“That’s the spirit,” Cocoa said, jumping up.
“These gummy berries are scrumptious,” Berry said. She reached for another one from Raina’s basket. “And I love how colorful the sweets are. You have a berry flavor for every color of the rainbow!”
Raina smiled. Berry had noticed the one thing she was most proud of. Maybe her candy really could win the sugar medal! She spread her wings. Suddenly she had even more candy spirit bubbling up inside of her. Even though she was disappointed that Berry and Dash were not competing, she had to focus. She’d have to concentrate if she was going to win … with or without her friends.
CHAPTER 4
Sweet Sign-up
Raina set out for the Royal Gardens very early the next morning. The sun was just rising over the pink-and-white Candy Castle, and all of Sugar Valley was still. To Raina, the air smelled especially good this spring morning. Springtime was her favorite season in Sugar Valley. So many of the candy trees, bushes, and flowers were in bloom. Even the lollipop trees had sprouted by the royal gates, making the entrance to the castle more grand than on a normal day. With more candy in bloom and the added decoration, the castle looked ready for Candy Fair. Raina sighed as she took a deep breath. She had been waiting for this for four long years!
She waved when she spotted Melli and Cocoa just outside the royal gates. But much to Raina’s surprise, the three of them weren’t the first fairies there.
“Sour sticks!” Raina cried. She saw the long line of fairies waiting. “I thought we’d be the first fairies here!”
Melli flew up right behind her. “This isn’t a race, Raina,” she said. She put her hand on Raina’s shoulder. “Besides, the line isn’t that long.”
“I suppose,” Raina said, looking around. She looked up at the sky. “I guess Berry and Dash really aren’t going to come after all,” she said sadly.
“Just because they aren’t showing candy this year doesn’t mean they won’t come to the fair,” Melli told her.
“I know,” Raina said, brushing her foot on the ground. “I just hope they’ll change their minds.”
“Maybe,” Cocoa said. She looked toward the Candy Castle. “I wonder if Princess Lolli is here,” she said.
Princess Lolli and Cocoa had recently gone on a journey over the Frosted Mountains to Black Licorice Swamp. Mogu, the sour old troll who lived there, had stolen Cocoa’s chocolate eggs. The two fairies took a dangerous journey to see him. Since that time, Cocoa and Princess Lolli had shared a special bond.
“Of course she’s here!” Raina replied. “How could she not be here for Candy Fair sign-up? Candy Fair is the most important candy event.”
Cocoa shrugged. “Not to every Candy Fairy,” she said.
Raina’s eyes opened wide. “What are you talking about?” she said. “Candy Fair is one of the greatest candy events. Besides, it’s a huge honor. Every fairy knows that Princess Lolli decides who gets the sugar medal.”
“Princess Lolli and her royal advisers,” Melli added.
Raina felt her face getting red. Why weren’t her friends taking this event more seriously? Didn’t they realize the importance of the fair?
“You don’t have to get your wings in a flutter,” Cocoa told her. “I was just saying …”
Melli stepped in between her friends. “Look, we’re next in line,” she said cheerfully. “You see, the wait wasn’t long after all.”
The three fairies moved up closer to the middle of the garden. There was a long white table set up between the rows of chocolate oaks. Tula, a trusted Royal Fairy adviser to Princess Lolli, was writing down on a giant scroll the name of every fairy who signed up.
“Come on,” Raina said, pulling her friends along. She had read about Tula in her books, and she was anxious to meet her. She was a Gummy Fairy too. But now she lived in the castle with Princess Lolli.
Raina couldn’t wait to tell Tula about her new berries. She hoped she’d like them. And that she could win Tula’s vote for the best candy at Candy Fair.
As Raina got closer to the sign-up table, her wings started to flutter. She was so nervous! She had been dreaming of creating a new candy for the fair for so long. And now she was going to present her candy idea. She couldn’t believe this was actually happening.
“Name?” Tula asked. She didn’t even look up from the large scroll in front of her. In her hand was a large feather that she dipped in a small tub of red syrup for ink.
Raina looked over at her two friends. They pushed her forward toward the table. But Raina was too nervous to speak.
“I’ll go first,” Cocoa said. She stepped in front of Raina. “My name is Cocoa the Chocolate Fairy, and this is my friend Melli the Caramel Fairy. We’d like to make chocolate-caramel lollipops.”
“We’re calling them friendship pops,” Melli added.
Tula wrote down the entry on the scroll with her feather pen. “Very well,” she said. “Nice to see you working together.”
“Thank you,” Melli said, smiling.
“Good luck,” Tula said. Then she looked up at Raina. “Next?”
“My name is Raina,” she said quietly. “I am a Gummy Fairy.” She felt her heart beating quickly and her wings fluttering. She had to will herself to stay firmly on the ground as she spoke.
“What will you be presenting at Candy Fair this year?” Tul
a asked. She peered over her sparkly glasses.
Raina noticed that there were tiny speckles of sugar crystals along the frames of Tula’s glasses. The older fairy also wore a thick, woven red licorice bracelet on her right wrist. Her white hair was swept up in a fancy swirl on the top of her head, and her red dress sparkled in the sun. She was beautiful.
“Sweetie, do you have a candy idea?” Tula asked gently. Her deep blue eyes were kind, and she smiled warmly at Raina.
Immediately Raina felt better. “I’d like to introduce a new gummy candy,” she said. Suddenly she had a burst of confidence as she thought of her candy project.
Tula pushed her glasses up on her nose. “A new gummy candy?” she said. She looked right into Raina’s dark eyes. “Very nice. What is the candy called?” She held the feather next to the scroll.
Raina didn’t know what to say! She hadn’t thought of a name for her candy!
Cocoa leaned in close to them. “They are yummy gummy berries,” she said, smiling at Raina. “Each berry is a different color and flavor.”
Tula nodded her head. “I see,” she said. With careful strokes, she wrote the entry next to Raina’s name in fancy script. “That sounds challenging,” she added.
“I’ve done lots of research,” Raina explained. “I have everything all planned out. In my garden each berry bush is a different flavor. The berries will be just perfect.”
The older fairy shook her head. “Oh, Raina,” she said. “The best candy is not always perfect.”
“What do you mean?” Raina asked. She had followed all the rules and had carefully planted the bushes. She was taking excellent care of the plants. She was certain that no Gummy Fairy had ever tried to grow berries like the ones she had. They would be perfect.
“Sometimes the greatest surprises come from the most unlikely places,” Tula advised. She smiled at the three fairies standing in front of her. “Good luck with your berries,” she said with a wink.
“What do you think she meant?” Raina asked Cocoa and Melli as they flew through the Royal Gardens.
“I’m not sure,” Melli said. “But I’m looking forward to the fair. Look at all these fairies here for the sign-up!” She pointed to the long line that snaked through the castle gates.
“Competition will be tough,” Cocoa said. A smile spread across her face. “I can’t wait!”
“Me neither,” Raina gushed. She felt happy after officially signing up for the fair. Now more than ever she wanted to prove that a Gummy Fairy could win the first-place prize at Candy Fair.
CHAPTER 5
Bitter Words
Early the next morning Raina checked on her berry patch. She carefully watered the berry bushes and pruned the leaves. A little gummy bunny poked her head up from underneath one of the bushes.
“Hello,” Raina said. She knelt down and scooped up the little bunny with her hand. “What do you think about these new berries, huh?” She stroked her orange head. “I know you want a bite, but these fruits are for Candy Fair,” she told the bunny, “not for you.” She carefully placed the bunny outside the fence. Then she plucked a bright purple leaf from another bush for the bunny to nibble on.
Raina closed the fence gate and looked over at the small gummy berry bushes.
Everything looks perfect, she thought happily.
Now that she had signed up for the fair, her plan was moving forward. She had a chance to win the sugar medal this year. She was sure her perfect plan was going to work!
Raina arrived at Chocolate River anxious to tell Berry and Dash about what had happened at Candy Castle. The sugar sand beach along Chocolate River was their morning meeting spot. The friends tried to meet there every morning to share stories.
When Raina arrived, she was surprised to find Berry already on the sugar beach. The Fruit Fairy was leaning on a large candy rock and making a candy-chew necklace. By her side was a basket filled with sugarcoated jewels. The candies sparkled in the bright morning sun.
As Raina got closer, she saw that Melli and Cocoa were sitting next to Berry. They seemed to be involved in a very serious conversation. Her friends didn’t even look up to see that she had flown in.
“Aren’t you concerned about Raina?” Berry asked. “All she is talking about is Candy Fair.”
“You mean winning the sugar medal at Candy Fair,” Cocoa corrected her. “I’ve never seen Raina so focused on something … that wasn’t a book!”
“I know,” Berry said. “I’m concerned about her.”
Raina’s wings drooped. While she knew that she shouldn’t be listening to her friends’ conversation, she was hurt that they were talking about her. She stepped out in front of them.
“If you don’t think I can win, you should just tell me,” Raina stated.
Her three friends all looked up. Berry looked startled. “I didn’t see you, Raina,” she said, moving closer to her. “I didn’t mean that you can’t win,” she explained. “I’m just worried about you. All you seem focused on is winning the medal. What about enjoying the fair?”
Raina couldn’t believe her ears. She flapped her wings and lifted herself up. “I’m leaving,” she said. “I have to go over to Red Licorice Lake for some flavor crystals. Since Candy Fair isn’t important to you, you wouldn’t understand.”
Berry looked to Melli and Cocoa. Raina knew her words were bitter, but she couldn’t help feeling mad. Winning was important to her—very important.
“Wait,” Berry pleaded.
But Raina had already flown off. She sped past Dash as she flew toward Red Licorice Lake.
Dash looked after her, confused. What had she missed?
“I’ve never seen Raina have such a sugar fit,” Cocoa remarked, shaking her head.
“Where was she off to?” Dash asked. She looked after her friend speeding away. “There’s a terrible storm coming. All the fruit flies are buzzing about the high winds and rains.”
Raina didn’t look back. She didn’t want to hear a weather report. She was on a mission. Her bushes needed more flavor crystals right away. Her friends just didn’t understand. They weren’t taking Candy Fair seriously at all! She’d show them who could win first place!
As Raina flew, she saw dark clouds moving quickly toward her. A tiny fruit fly buzzed around her ear, warning her of a dangerous storm. But Raina pressed on.
If I can just get the crystals quickly, she thought, I’ll make it back to Gummy Forest before the rains come!
A few cool raindrops splashed her face. Raina flew faster. But then the sky turned a dark purple—a shade she had never seen.
“Head home,” a fruit fly buzzed in her ear. “A terrible storm is coming.”
Raina swatted the fly away and swooped down to the shore of Red Licorice Lake. As her feet touched the ground, the rain began to fall harder. She had never seen so much rain! She took out a bottle and scooped up the flavor sprinkles for the berry bushes.
Then a strong gust of wind lifted Raina’s feet off the ground. She was picked up and tossed into the air. She sailed across the lake and landed in a sticky web of licorice stalks. Her wings were caught in a tangle of licorice. She couldn’t move. She was stuck!
Oh no, she thought.
As much as she tried, her wings wouldn’t budge. She couldn’t move. As she looked around at the storm whirling around her, she thought about her berry bushes.
I need to get home and protect them, she thought.
The more she struggled to free herself, the more she felt the pull on her wings.
Watching the rain beat down around her, Raina thought about how she had not prepared for the storm. She had not even put a cover over the bushes. Sure as sugar, those bushes would be destroyed.
All her hard work was going to be swirled away by the storm. Her eyes filled with tears.
“How did I let myself get into this sticky mess?” she wailed.
But no one was around to hear her. It seemed that all the other Candy Fairies had listened to the warnings the fruit flie
s were spreading. And now her perfect candy was going to be ruined. All her dreams of winning the sugar medal were washed away.
CHAPTER 6
A Sour Sight
Raina was miserable. She was soaking wet and still stuck in a sticky tangle of licorice vines.
Sure as sugar, my candy berry bushes are destroyed by now, she thought sadly.
As she tried to wiggle free from the vines, Raina thought back over the past couple of weeks. Maybe her friends had been right. She had been so stuck on getting the sugar medal, she wasn’t seeing straight. Raina knew she should have listened to the fruit flies. If she had listened, maybe she could have saved her candy … and not gotten stuck!
“Raina!” Berry called. The Fruit Fairy appeared before her. She was holding a large lollipop umbrella. “Are you hurt?”
“Not hurt,” Raina said. “But I’m stuck.” She shielded her eyes from the rain so she could see. “What are you doing here?”
“I knew you wouldn’t turn around,” Berry said. “Even in this awful storm. I came to see if you were all right.” She quickly flew up to Raina and untangled her wings from the sticky red stalks. “I’m sorry about what happened before at Chocolate River,” Berry said. “I was just very worried about you.”
Raina fluttered her wings and ducked under Berry’s umbrella. “I’m sorry too. You were right, you know,” she said. “Winning is all I have been thinking about. And I wouldn’t listen to anyone.” She looked down at her wet dress. “Now all my chances are ruined.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” Berry said. “Come on, let’s head back to the forest. Maybe the bushes are fine.”
Raina hugged her friend. She was so thankful for her bravery—and her friendship. Berry was a special kind of friend—the best kind.
Together, the two fairies flew off into the storm, careful of falling branches and pelting rain.
“What a gooey mess!” Raina cried as she flew over Gummy Forest. The storm had hit the forest hard. Many of the trees were down, and most of the crops looked destroyed. Raina always kept the forest orderly and clean. This was a very sour sight indeed.
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