exclaimed. âAs you can imagine, my trials didnât work out so well.â She laughed to herself as she recalled her attempts. âMy candies were not very good or tasty. I learned an important lesson. Candy Fairies can enjoy all kinds of candy in Sugar Valley, butwhen it comes to making candy, we need to stick with what comes naturally.â
Cara giggled. âWell, I believe that. I canât seem to aim right or make anything except chocolate puddles!â
Cocoa was happy to see a smile appear on Caraâs face. She held out her hand to her. âCome on,â Cocoa said. âLetâs let everyone know the wand has been found and get Sugar Valley cleaned up.â
For the first time since the wand had disappeared, Cocoa had hope that the Sugar Ball still had a chance of happening.
Chocolate Cleanup
C ocoa stood by the chocolate oak tree and watched Cara and Melli. She wanted to give the sisters a few minutes together. After Cara had calmed down, Cocoa pleaded with her to let Melli know what had happened. Just as Cocoa expected, Melli was in Chocolate Woods in a flash once she got the sugar fly message.Knowing Melli, she would feel terrible that Cara hadnât come to her for help.
Melliâs arm was around her sister as the little fairy told her story. After they hugged, Cocoa flew over to them.
âI sent a sugar fly to Candy Castle,â she told the sisters. âI wanted to let Princess Lolli know that there was no chocolate spell, just a chocolate mess.â She looked at Cara. âI didnât get into allthe details,â she said. âSo if you want to tell her what happened, that can be your choice.â
Cara smiled. âThank you, Cocoa,â she whispered. âAnd I promise I will tell her. I donât want her to think that any of this was your fault.â
âLicking lollipops!â Berry shouted as she sprang down beside them. âI just heard the sweet news from the sugar flies. No chocolate spell!â She swooped up in the air and then landed on her feet. âBut we need a cleanup crew. Sugar Valley is still chocolate-coated.â
âAnd weâre just the fairies for the cleanup job,â Dash said as she landed next to Berry.
âWe came as soon as we heard the good news,â Raina added. She hovered above her friends.
Cocoa laughed. âYou see, Cara,â she said, âyou always need your friends around to lend a helping hand.â
âSugar flies really do get the news out in Sugar Valley,â Cara said.
âSure as sugar!â the fairies said together, laughing.
Feeling a boost of energy, Cocoa took charge. âWe should each take a part of Sugar Valley to cleanup. The faster we get the chocolate off the ground, the better the chance for the crops.â
âAnd for making sure that the Sugar Ball happens tonight,â Melli added.
The fairies all stood together in agreement.
âIâll take Gummy Forest,â Raina said.
âConsider Fruit Chew Meadow cleaned,â Berry said.
âPeppermint Grove will be chocolate free after Iâm done!â Dash exclaimed.
âCara and I can help out in Sour Orchard,â Melli offered. She grabbed her sisterâs hand and gave it a tight squeeze.
âAnd Iâll take care of Red Licorice Lake,â Cocoa added.
âSounds like weâve got a plan,â Melli said.
âHopefully weâll have a Sugar Ball to attend too!â Dash said with a grin. âNow that there is no spell, we can have a party tonight.â
âBut first we need to make sure all the crops are safe,â Cocoa said. âThe chocolate puddles havenât been sitting too long, so maybe there wonât be any damage.â
Raina agreed. âI think we have a good chance,â she said. âFrom what I have read, the chocolatehasnât been on the ground long enough to change the crops.â
âLetâs all meet back at Candy
Tamara Rose Blodgett, Marata Eros