the room Cocoa saw Cara. She was wearing a short dark caramel dress with a sparkling tiara in her hair. Cocoa flew over to her and noticed that the sweet tiara was covered in tiny caramel drops.
âYour tiara is extraordinary,â Cocoa told her.
Cara curtsied. âThank you. I may not be able to handle chocolate, but I am learning how to make caramel candy!â
âWell done,â Cocoa cheered.
Princess Lolli came over to Cocoa and Cara. Her pink-and-white-sugar layered dress looked scrumptious. In her left hand, Cocoa noticed the royal wand. Princess Lolliâs wand was made entirely of sugar crystals. The wand was dazzling with the sugar-frosted jewels. Cocoa couldnât take her eyes off it.
âI see you did bring your chocolate wand,â Princess Lolli said to Cocoa. âIâm glad that you did. Your work is excellent. You should be proud.â
âThank you,â Cocoa said. âAnd Iâm not letting the wand go!â She laughed. âNo more crazy chocolate episodes in Sugar Valley.â
âLetâs hope not,â Princess Lolli said, grinning.
Cara held her hand up to her chest. âCertainly not from me,â she vowed.
Princess Lolli winked at her. âEnjoy the party,âshe said as she flew to greet more guests.
âLook,â Melli cried as she raced over to Cara and Cocoa. âItâs the Sugar Pops! They really are here!â She pointed to the far corner of the room, where a stage was set up.
âWhere are the Sugar Pops?â Dash and Berry exclaimed from behind Melli. She looked all around.
Raina landed next to Dash. âThe Sugar Pops are here already?â she asked.
Melli laughed. âThey are right there,â she said. She put her hands on their shoulders and faced them in the right direction.
Once everyone saw the brothers, they let out a sigh.
âNow the party can really begin,â Coca said, smiling.
âChar is just so yummy,â Melli said with a sigh. âLook at that hat. He is just the sweetest.â
Dash flew up above her friends to get a better view. âI donât know,â she said. âI think Chip is just delish.â
Cocoa laughed. âWell, together those three have the best sound in Sugar Valley. Letâs go say hi to them.â
Melli pulled at Cocoaâs hand. âDo you think they will remember us?â she asked.
âHot chocolate!â Cocoa exclaimed. âOf course they will remember! How could they forget the fairies who saved Caramel Moon?â
The four friends laughed and followed Cocoa over to the front of the stage.
Just as Char, Carob, and Chip took center stage, Cocoa caught Charâs eye. He grinned downat her and then whispered in his brothersâ ears.
A hush fell over the crowd. Everyone wondered what the Sugar Pops were up to. Char grabbed the microphone and greeted the crowd.
âHello, Candy Kingdom!â he sang out. âHappy Sugar Ball! Weâre so happy to be here today now that the chocolate mess has ended.â A roar of cheers and applause echoed in the room. âAnd weâd like to call up five of our fairy friends to help us with our first song, âChocolate Dip.ââ
ââChocolate Dipâ is my favorite song!â Cocoa exclaimed. She grabbed her friends, and they all flew to the stage. They were so excited to be close to the famous singers again. Cocoa reached out and took Caraâs hand. âCome with us!â she shouted.
Char nodded and the music started. Thefriends huddled together and swayed to the music. Looking out at the crowd, Cocoa saw that everyone was having a great time. She waved her wand at the end of the song, and tiny chocolates fell around the Sugar Pops. The boys laughed and threw the candies out in the crowd.
âNice touch, Cocoa,â Char whispered. âThat is some wand!â
Cocoa thought her heart would melt!
âOh, you have no idea,â Melli
Angela Conrad, Kathleen Hesser Skrzypczak