“This is sure to be a night to remember,” Dash added. “And since the carts are fixed, we can take a ride to the tunnel opening!”
Mama G liked that idea. She sat up in the front of the cart with Dash to show her the old tracks that led out to the Royal Gardens. She looked over at Taly. “This is a big honor!”
“Thank you,” Taly said to Melli, who was sitting beside her.
Melli was so excited to present her new friends to the kingdom. She no longer felt nervous. She was happy and eager to share her news of new friends with Princess Lolli and Prince Scoop and to share the treasures of Rock Candy Caves.
“This is it,” Mama G called out. “We need to move these stones to find the exit.”
The Candy Fairies, Mama G, and Taly lined up and removed the stones. Just as Mama G had said, the opening of the tunnel was a short distance from the entrance to the Royal Gardens.
“I must have passed these rocks a million times,” Melli said, looking back at the opening. “I never thought that this could be a tunnel down along Chocolate River and behind the falls.”
“There are secrets all over Sugar Valley,” Raina said.
“And supernice friends,” Taly added, grinning happily. She spun around. “That is the most rock-tacular castle I have ever seen!”
“What until you see inside,” Berry told her.
Melli took Taly’s hand and Mama G’s hand. “Come,” she said. “It’s time you met Princess Lolli and Prince Scoop.”
Happy Surprise
Two Royal Fairy Guards were standing at the gates of Candy Castle and gave Melli a strange look as she approached. A few bright stars shone in the night sky, and the moon was full. There were many Candy Fairies from Candy Kingdom, Sugar Kingdom, and Cake Kingdom, all ready to celebrate with Princess Lolli and Prince Scoop. Melli took a deep breath. She tried to gather all the courage she could and gave Taly’s and Mama G’s hands a tight squeeze. As nervous as she was, she was sure the gnomes were feeling even more nervous about walking into a Candy Fairy castle.
“Rock-solid castle,” Taly whispered. “I never imagined this place was so beautiful and delicious.”
Melli smiled, then walked up to one of the guards. “We are here for the royal banquet,” she said, “and we have brought two very special guests.”
“Do Princess Lolli and Prince Scoop know?” the guard asked. He checked the scroll in his hand. “Are these guests on the list?”
“I am Melli the Caramel Fairy and these are my guests,” Melli said. “We’d like permission to see the princess. We’re sure Princess Lolli would want to meet our new friends.” She smiled at Mama G and Taly.
“Please let us have a moment with the princess,” Raina added. “She’s really going to want to meet our guests.”
The guard looked over the Candy Fairies and the two gnomes. This was not the usual type of group to appear at the castle gates. He motioned for them to step to the side and spoke in hushed tones to the other guard.
“Don’t worry,” Melli told Mama G and Taly. “These guards can be a little sour sometimes.”
“Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea,” Mama G said. She pulled at her dress. Melli thought she was feeling uncomfortable out of the caves and in the new fancy outfit that Berry had made.
Just then the guard came back over and told them to follow him. Inside the castle Melli felt lots of eyes on them as they walked to the throne room. No one said a word. She knew in her heart that once they met with Princess Lolli, all would be right.
The guard knocked on the door, then walked inside. “May I present Melli the Caramel Fairy and some friends,” he said.
Princess Lolli came over to the door. She smiled at Mama G and Taly. “Sweet sugarplums,” she said, placing her hand on her chest. “Please come in,” she added, seeing the worried looks on the gnomes’ faces. “I am surprised to see you, but it is a very happy surprise. Welcome to Candy Castle!”
Prince Scoop flew over. “It is my great pleasure to meet you,” he said. He swept his hand down to his waist as he gave a royal bow.
Mama G nearly fainted. “Oh, you are so kind,” she said. “The pleasure is ours.”
“You are so pretty!” Taly exclaimed, looking up at Princess Lolli.
Princess Lolli knelt down. “Thank you,” she said. “And so are you! What is your name?”
“I am Crystal, but my friends call me Taly,” she told the princess. “Please call me Taly.”
Melli stepped forward. “I found Taly in Caramel Hills,” she explained. “She was looking for supplies to fix their sugar carts and got lost. And this is Mama G,” she said. “My friends and I brought Taly back to her home in the caves behind Chocolate Falls.”
“Caves at Chocolate Falls?” Prince Scoop perked up.
“So it is true that there are caves behind the falls?” Princess Lolli said.
“We try to stay hidden,” Mama G said. “We never wanted to bother the Candy Fairies.”
“It is no bother,” Princess Lolli said. “We are so pleased to know that you are here in Sugar Valley. Prince Scoop and I were talking about fairy tales we heard when we were young about gnomes and sugar crystals.”
Taly stepped forward. “We have a crystal for you and Prince Scoop.” She handed Princess Lolli a box.
The princess smiled. “This is such a treat,” she said. “You’ll sit at our table for the meal as our honored guests.”
“And for the music!” Taly perked up. “Melli is really talented!”
Melli smiled. She felt so happy that the gnomes were there with her at the castle.
“Let’s go to the ballroom,” Prince Scoop said.
Mama G looked very nervous. “Are you sure? I know we are a bit of a shock.”
“Oh, sugar sticks,” Princess Lolli replied. “You are our guests!”
The princess and prince led the way to the grand ballroom. Again, Melli felt all eyes on them. But this time she realized that all the fairies in the room looked happily surprised. A round of applause sounded as they entered.
“Please welcome our friends from Rock Candy Caves,” Princess Lolli said. She bowed to the guests and everyone cheered. “Many of you may not know about the secret gnomes of Rock Candy Caves. Prince Scoop and I thought the gnomes were tales spun by fairies long ago.” She stopped and pointed to Melli. “But Melli’s kindness to the gnomes led her to a great discovery and new friends for us all.”
Melli thought she would burst with pride. She quickly took her place on the stage with her licorice stick. “I’d like to dedicate this song to Taly and Mama G,” she said. She raised her licorice stick to her lips and began to play. At the end of the song, she heard loud cheers, and Taly came running up to her.
“You played every note perfectly!” Taly exclaimed.
Melli blushed. “Thank you, Taly. You listened to me practice, so you really know the song well.”
The meal was served, and Taly was extremely well behaved. Melli saw that she was trying extra hard to be polite and well mannered. Mama G was beaming with pride.
At the end of the dinner, Taly’s lip began to quiver. “I don’t want to say goodbye,” she said.
“It’s not good-bye for long,” Melli told her. “We’re friends now, and we can visit each other.” She looked over at Mama G. “That is, when you have permission to come visit me.”
Mama G cuddled Taly. “I think Taly is going to have many visits to Caramel Hills in her future,” she said.
“Sure as sugar,” Taly said, smiling at the Candy Fairies. She took a purple-and-pink sugar crystal from her pocket and handed it to Melli. “Please keep this to remember me.”
“I won’t forget you,” Melli said. “But I will treasure this treat.” She folded the crystal in her hand. “Thank you, Taly.”
“Here’s to Mama G and Taly!” Prince Scoop cheered.
“With many thanks to Melli and the Candy Fairies!” Mama G exclaimed.
Everyone applauded and continued to enjoy a royally good tim
e together at Candy Castle.
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, 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
The Chocolate Rose
A Royal Wedding
Marshmallow Mystery
Frozen Treats
The Sugar Cup
Sweet Secrets
Taffy Trouble
The Coconut Clue
COMING SOON:
A Minty Mess
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.
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First Aladdin hardcover edition January 2016
Text copyright © 2016 by Helen Perelman
Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Erica-Jane Waters
Also available in an Aladdin paperback edition.
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Jacket design by Karina Granda
Interior designed by Tom Daly
The text of this book was set in Baskerville Book.
Library of Congress Control Number 2015955334
ISBN 978-1-4814-4678-5 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4814-4677-8 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4814-4679-2 (eBook)
Rock Candy Treasure Page 4