“Because of all the rain,” Dash said, “we came up with a different theme for the jubilee this year.”
Berry handed the queen a hatbox. “We’re all wearing colorful hats to tea,” she said.
“Sometimes you have to make your own rainbows,” Dash said, smiling.
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Queen Sweetie said. She opened the box and squealed with delight. “How scrumptious!”
“Let’s get this party started,” King Crunch said, and opened the door.
Dash was so happy as they all piled out of the carriage and headed into the castle to begin the festive Mint Jubilee.
Mint Truth
When Dash walked into the Candy Castle ballroom, her mouth hung open. “Holy peppermint,” she said, looking around. “The Candy Fairies were certainly busy while we were away. This place looks like a minty wonderland.”
In the time that it had taken to fly to Sugar Kingdom and back, all the decorations had been put up and the rainbow centerpieces had been perfectly placed on all the tables. The ballroom had been completely changed into a minty wonderland full of white, red, pink, and green colors and candies. Dash felt so proud of the work all the Candy Fairies had done to make this event happen.
“It looks delicious,” King Crunch declared. He flew over to Princess Lolli and Prince Scoop. “It’s like the jubilee was meant to be here all along. No rain can dampen the spirits of these Candy Fairies!”
“Dash, you have done a great service to everyone,” Queen Sweetie said. She leaned in closer to her. “Lolli filled me in on your ideas for this event. You are a minty marvel!”
Dash blushed. “Thanks, Queen Sweetie.”
“Moving the event inside to the castle was minty brilliant,” the queen went on. “You really saved the day.”
When Dash turned around, she saw Spera and Pepper standing nearby. She couldn’t help but feel good even though she knew they’d be talking about her. After all, they were not getting compliments from the queen. And they still had sour expressions on their faces!
She wondered what they were thinking. They had been so mean and negative about everything. At that moment Dash decided that she really didn’t need to think about what Spera and Pepper thought! What mattered most was what she felt. And right now she was feeling extra minty good!
On one of the tables there were large trays of mints in the beautiful wrappers that Dash had designed. Dash took a few and put them in her bag. For sure Hopper would want to have some of those treats. She would tell the bunny lots of sweet stories tonight!
“Dash, come put your hat on,” Berry called. She waved Dash over to where her friends were gathered. Melli, Cocoa, Raina, and Berry all had put on their new colorful hats and were holding teacups. They looked so sweet. Dash was the luckiest Candy Fairy to have such loyal, true friends.
Before Dash reached her friends, Prince Scoop took her aside. “Your command of the carriage was outstanding,” he told Dash. He handed her a cup of mint tea. “I was really proud of how you flew forward to help out. Plus, you had a perfect landing.”
“You are a very good teacher,” Dash replied, smiling. “Thank you for taking the time to teach me. And for . . . well, everything,” she said, trying not to gush. She touched the rainbow charm on her necklace. “Our talk helped so much, and so has this pin. You are the best fairy prince a Candy Fairy could ask for.”
Prince Scoop laughed and gave Dash a hug. “I’m glad,” he said. “I’m just so happy this day worked out. And everyone got such nice-looking hats!” He fixed a green fedora on his head. “What do you think? Even I got a fancy new hat for the occasion!”
“Dash has a new hat too!” Berry said as she flew over. She was holding a beautiful pink-and-green hat made of twisted mint leaves and candy.
“Thanks, Berry,” Dash said. She put her stylish hat on and smiled. “You all look so mint!” she told her friends as they flew around her. “Thank you again for coming with me to Sugar Kingdom.”
The royal Mint Jubilee was a great, sweet success. At the end of the evening Princess Lolli gave Dash a hug. “Dash, everyone is talking about your mint candy designs,” she said. “You should be very proud.”
Dash grinned. She was one hundred percent mint happy. “Thank you,” she said.
“Your positive attitude rubbed off on everyone!” Prince Scoop said. “Look around! I have never seen a Mint Jubilee so well attended.”
“Or so fashionable!” Berry exclaimed, touching her hat. “Doesn’t everyone look so sugar-tastic in their hats and drinking mint tea?”
Dash nodded as her friends circled around her. “I’m never going to just wait for the rainbow. I’m always going to make my own!” she declared.
Her friends gave a little cheer. Dash felt a minty rush of joy. No matter what happened with those mint meanies, she knew who her real friends were and who she could count on. As far as Dash could tell, everyone was having a great time. Except for Spera and Pepper—they never smiled once!
“Look at Spera and Pepper.” Dash pointed across the room. The two Mint Fairies were standing together, looking bitter. “They didn’t want to wear hats, and now they are the only ones not wearing them.”
“It must get stale and old being so minty mad all the time,” Cocoa said.
“I think they’re used to it,” Dash said, giggling. For the first time she really didn’t care. “Come on, let’s get some more mint treats!”
The royal Mint Jubilee may have been different from what everyone expected, but it was sure sweeter than Dash had ever imagined. Dash and her friends had made their own rainbows and turned the event into something sugar-tastic! And that was the real mint truth.
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
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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
Rock Candy Treasure
COMING SOON:
Peppermint Princess
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 June 2016
Text copyright © 2016 by Helen Perelman
Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Erica-Jane Waters
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Book designed by Karina Granda
The text of this book was set in Baskerville Book.
Library of Congress Control Number 2016933488
ISBN 978-1-4814-4681-5 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4814-4680-8 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4814-4682-2 (eBook)
A Minty Mess Page 4