Gooey Goblins Read online

  Gooey Goblins

  READ ALL THE CANDY FAIRIES BOOKS!

  Chocolate Dreams

  Rainbow Swirl

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  Magic Hearts

  COMING SOON:

  The Sugar Ball

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

  1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  First Aladdin paperback edition August 2011

  Text copyright © 2011 by Helen Perelman Bernstein

  Illustrations copyright © 2011 by Erica-Jane Waters

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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  Designed by Karin Paprocki

  The text of this book was set in Berthold Baskerville Book.

  Manufactured in the United States of America 0711 OFF

  2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

  Library of Congress Control Number 2011924976

  ISBN 978-1-4424-2213-1

  ISBN 978-1-4424-2214-8 (eBook)

  For Ben Spector, who is spook-tacular!

  Contents

  CHAPTER 1: Melted Mess

  CHAPTER 2: Candy Castle Surprise

  CHAPTER 3: A Sweet Team

  CHAPTER 4: Royal Sugar

  CHAPTER 5: Fairy Tales

  CHAPTER 6: Setting Sail

  CHAPTER 7: Sweet High Seas

  CHAPTER 8: Candy Cliffs

  CHAPTER 9: Black Licorice Night

  CHAPTER 10: Candy Clue

  CHAPTER 11: Red-Hot Idea

  CHAPTER 12: Goblin Chase

  CHAPTER 13: Sweet Help

  CHAPTER 14: Secret of the Sea

  CHAPTER 15: Home Sweet Home

  Gooey Goblins

  CHAPTER

  1

  Melted Mess

  Cocoa the Chocolate Fairy, Melli the Caramel Fairy, and Berry the Fruit Fairy soared over Chocolate River. A cool autumn breeze ruffled their wings, but they stayed their course. Nothing was going to stop them from heading to the far end of Gummy Forest.

  “Look, there’s Dash!” Cocoa called. As the three fairy friends neared Peppermint Grove, they saw their tiny friend Dash shooting up to meet them.

  “You are right on time,” Dash said as she flew alongside her friends. She looked at Berry and smiled. “This must be important. You are never on time!”

  Berry shot Dash a sour look. “The sugar fly said Raina’s message was urgent. I can be on time when I need to be!”

  “And yet she still had time to put on her best sugar-jewel necklace,” Cocoa added with a sly grin.

  “Just because I was rushing doesn’t mean I have to look sloppy,” Berry replied. Berry always liked to look her best and was usually sporting a new piece of jewelry that she had made herself from sparkling sugarcoated fruit chews.

  “What do you think this is all about?” Melli asked. She was worried about her friend Raina the Gummy Fairy. Usually Raina didn’t overreact to situations. She was very calm and always followed the rules.

  “Maybe she just couldn’t find something in the Fairy Code Book and needs our help,” Cocoa joked.

  “No, there’s definitely something strange blowing around the valley,” Dash said. She looked back at her friends. “And no, it’s not just the cold autumn wind,” she added.

  Melli had to agree with Dash. “This is the busiest time in Sugar Valley, and we shouldn’t be distracted from our work. Candy Corn Fields is already full of tall stalks.”

  The four fairies flew in silence for a moment. Then they saw the tops of the gummy trees.

  “I can’t wait to see Raina,” Melli said. “I hope she’s all right.”

  “We just saw her yesterday,” Berry told her. “Don’t be so dramatic. I’m sure she’s fine.”

  Cocoa flew ahead, and then called back over her shoulder, “I don’t think it’s Raina we need to be concerned about.” She pointed to the south end of the forest. “Look at those trees!”

  The four friends gasped as they saw the melted leaves of the gummy trees. Normally, the branches were filled with bright rainbow gummy fruits.

  “No wonder she called us,” Berry whispered.

  “Let’s go find her,” Dash said.

  The fairies flew deeper into the forest. There were puddles everywhere from the melted gummy candies.

  “I never thought I would say this,” Dash said, “but Gummy Forest is a melted mess!” She flew over a rainbow puddle. Even though Dash was the smallest of all the Candy Fairies, she was always hungry and was the most adventurous eater. If the melted gummies didn’t appeal even to Dash, the fairies knew things were really bad.

  “Sweet sugar!” Raina shouted when she saw her friends. “I’m so glad you got here!”

  “Oh, Raina,” Melli called, rushing down to give her friend a hug. “What happened here?”

  “I’m not really sure,” Raina said, her voice full of concern. “When I woke up this morning, the forest looked . . . melted!”

  Cocoa, Berry, and Dash landed beside her. Their faces told Raina all she needed to know.

  “It still looks awful here, doesn’t it?” the Gummy Fairy asked. “The poor forest animals don’t know what to make of all this. I tried my best to take away some of the melted candies and clean up some of the puddles, but that doesn’t seem to be making a difference. The forest is still a mess.”

  “Are you okay?” Cocoa asked. She put her arm around Raina.

  Raina sat down on a melted log on the ground. “I’m fine,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I’ve been doing all sorts of research. And nothing seems to match up. All I know is that the forest animals and gummy candies are all in danger.”

  “It’s definitely eerie, not cheery, here,” Berry mumbled. “Are you sure this isn’t some kind of spooky trick by Mogu?”

  Raina shook her head. “I don’t think so. This is really bad. Even for a tricky troll.”

  “I wouldn’t put anything past Mogu,” Cocoa said. “That old salty troll is sour.”

  “Yes,” Raina agreed, “but Mogu loves gummy candy. I can’t see him wanting to ruin it.”

  The fairies all knew that Mogu lived in Black Licorice Swamp and that he and his Chuchies often came to swipe candy from Gummy Forest. The troll and his round little workers loved candy too much to spoil the crops.

  Berry looked closely at the melted trees. “I think you’re right. These candies are ruined . . . even for a troll to eat.”

  “I told you something was going on,” Dash mumbled.

  Standing with her hands on her hips, Berry shook her head. “You’re not saying what I think you’re saying, are you?” She smiled at Dash. “You’ve been reading too many Caramel Moon stories.”

  “Most of those stories are based on truth,” Dash said. She loved to read all the spooky tales that fairies had spun about the full moon in the tenth month of the year. “Those aren’t just ghost stories.” Dash looked over at Melli and Raina. “Tell them!”

  “Well, some of those stories are just meant to entertain,” Raina said.
“But others are based on true occurrences.”

  Dash gloated for a minute, but then a melted candy snapped off its vine and fell on her head. She rubbed her forehead and looked to Raina. “What do you think this is all about?”

  Raina plucked a droopy gummy branch off a tree. “Has anyone else seen anything strange going on in Sugar Valley?” She glanced over at Dash. “Or heard anything strange?”

  “The gummy flowers over by Chocolate River did look melted,” Cocoa told Raina.

  Dash’s silver wings flapped nervously as she spoke. “Last night I heard howling and moaning in Peppermint Grove,” she whispered.

  “Something isn’t right in Sugar Valley,” Melli muttered. “Oh, and there’s so much to do! Think of all the fall candy crops that could be ruined.”

  “Let’s not get our wings dipped in syrup yet,” Berry told her friends. “We can get to the bottom of this.”

  A sugar fly appeared and dropped a note for Raina. She read the letter quickly and then showed her friends. “The note is from Candy Castle. Princess Lolli is calling a meeting of all the fairies. We are supposed to go to the Royal Gardens at Candy Castle now.”

  Melli gasped, and her hand flew up to her mouth.

  “If Princess Lolli is calling us to the castle, the situation has to be sour!” Dash exclaimed.

  “Not necessarily,” Cocoa said, trying to keep her friends calm. But in her heart she wasn’t so sure. Princess Lolli was the kind and gentle ruler of all of Sugar Valley. She didn’t often call a meeting of all the fairies—unless something was very urgent.

  The fairies flew off to Candy Castle hoping that all would soon be right in Sugar Valley.

  CHAPTER

  2

  Candy Castle Surprise

  There was a noisy crowd at the sugar gates of Candy Castle. Fairies from all over Sugar Valley were waiting patiently to enter the Royal Gardens. Princess Lolli’s throne made of peppermint sticks, colorful fruit leather, and sugarcoated jewels sat in the middle of the gardens on a large square platform. The Royal Fairy Guards were busy trying to keep all the fairies calm and quiet as the gates were opened. Raina led her friends to the stage. If there was an announcement, Raina wanted to be front and center to hear every word.

  Berry checked out the scene. “Looks like everyone in Sugar Valley is here today,” she said. She noticed that even the fairies from Sour Orchard were there. Those fairies had to travel the farthest and didn’t always come to Candy Castle gatherings.

  “This must be big news if even the Sour Orchard Fairies are here,” Raina whispered.

  “Look, there’s Lemona,” Berry said. Lemona had been a big help to Berry when Berry had picked wild candy hearts along Chocolate River and didn’t know that the candies had unexpected magical powers. Berry and Raina had traveled to Sour Orchard to meet her.

  “Berry!” Lemona called when she saw the Fruit Fairy. The elderly Sour Orchard Fairy flew up to Berry and her friends. “This is quite a gathering, isn’t it?” she said. “I haven’t seen this many fairies together since the ice storm years ago.”

  “I think everyone in Sugar Valley is here,” Berry replied.

  Lemona leaned closer. “I heard from someone that even Mogu is here!”

  “Mogu!” Cocoa exclaimed, overhearing the big news. “Why would that salty old troll be here?”

  Melli shuddered. Just thinking about the greedy troll made her nervous. “Why would Princess Lolli invite him here?” she wondered out loud.

  “Maybe she didn’t invite him,” Dash said, glancing around. “I’m telling you, there is definitely something spooky going on.”

  A cold chill fluttered their wings, and the fairies all huddled together as they waited for the meeting to begin. The caramel trumpets blared and the castle doors opened. Princess Lolli flew to her throne with her four top Royal Fairy advisers. Raina recognized Tula, a kind old fairy who had been very nice to her during Candy Fair. Candy Fair was held every four years at Candy Castle and was the biggest event for showing new candy. She noticed right away that all the Royal Fairies had serious expressions on their faces.

  “Boiling hot chocolate!” Cocoa blurted out. She couldn’t say anything more. All she could do was point at the castle doors. There, ambling slowly out the door, was Mogu!

  “Lemon drops!” Raina gasped. “A troll in the Royal Gardens? This really is a big deal.”

  The fairies watched as the white-haired troll waddled through the crowd. His clothes were tattered and stained with chocolate. He kept his eyes straight ahead as he walked with four Chuchies chasing after him. The Chuchies tried to keep up on their thin, short legs, but Mogu walked ahead. They jabbered quietly to one another as they made their way to the princess’s throne.

  “This is so not mint,” Dash grumbled.

  “Shhh,” Melli said, trying to hear what the princess was saying. “The meeting is starting.”

  A great hush spread through the crowd as Mogu and the four Chuchies stood around the throne.

  “You could hear a gumdrop fall here now,” Raina whispered to Berry.

  Princess Lolli stood up. “Welcome, everyone. And thank you for coming. I know this meeting comes at a very busy time for all of you.” She took a moment and looked around at the crowd. “I’m sure you are all wondering about our guests.” She waved her hand to her right, where Mogu and the Chuchies were standing. “They have some news to share with us.”

  Mogu stepped forward. “There are goblins haunting Sugar Cove. They are melting the candy and making a mess.” The troll smacked his lips together loudly. “I’ve seen a trail heading out past Gummy Forest to the sea. I’m sure those goblins are in Sugar Cove, across the Vanilla Sea. Nothing a goblin likes better than melted candy.”

  All the fairies gasped as they took in this information.

  “We have to do something!” Mogu ranted. “These pesky goblins want to melt down Sugar Valley! They must be stopped.”

  “Why doesn’t he do something?” Berry said, glaring at the troll. Her arms were crossed tightly across her chest.

  There was talking and sighing heard throughout the gardens. Princess Lolli held up her hands to quiet the crowd. “I know this is very upsetting, but the fact is that there are a few areas of Sugar Valley that are in danger. There have been reports of melted candy.”

  “It’s not just Gummy Forest?” Raina said, sinking down to the ground. She put her head in her hands. “This is worse than I thought.”

  “We’re supposed to believe Mogu?” Melli asked. “This is a little hard to swallow.”

  “For once I think that salty old troll is right!” Dash said.

  “At a time like this,” Princess Lolli said to the crowd, “we must all work together.” She noticed the worried looks on many of the faces. “I am not convinced that there really are goblins. But I am sure that we need to investigate these meltings.”

  “Why would goblins want to melt Gummy Forest?” a tall Gummy Fairy called out.

  “And melt sugar around Sugar Valley?” a young Fruit Fairy asked.

  “Goblins are mischievous,” Cocoa suggested.

  “I cannot deny that there is some trickery going on,” Princess Lolli explained. “And since the fall crops are so precious, I decree that a team of fairies will journey to Sugar Cove to explore.”

  Many of the fairies started to talk. Sugar Cove was a long journey from Candy Kingdom. A fairy would need to be very brave and sail across the sea to make the trip. Princess Lolli quieted the crowd once again.

  “Please take a moment and decide if you are up for the journey,” the princess told the fairies. “I will be in the castle awaiting the right team for the task.”

  Raina looked at her friends. They all nodded. They wanted to go!

  CHAPTER

  3

  A Sweet Team

  The Sugar Valley fairies were buzzing about the news of goblins and about who would go to Sugar Cove. Raina overheard many conversations as she flew over to a corner of the garden where her
friends had gathered to talk.

  “Oh, we have to go!” Cocoa said. She pumped her hand up in the air. “We are just the fairy team for the quest. We can do this!”

  Melli’s hazel eyes grew wide. “I don’t know, Cocoa,” she said. “Even Mogu looked afraid. And he’s a troll!”

  “I guess trolls get scared too,” Dash said quietly.

  “What do you think, Raina?” Berry asked.

  Raina studied her friends for a moment. “I know everyone here is excited and wants to find an answer. But I really don’t think this is a goblin hunt.”

  Dash sat down on the ground and pulled a mint stick out of her bag. “Well, that’s good to hear,” she mumbled.

  Melli rolled her eyes. “Oh, Dash, how can you eat at a time like this?” She knew Dash had a big appetite for such a tiny fairy, but this didn’t seem like the time to snack.

  “When I’m nervous, I eat,” Dash replied, smiling. “And come to think of it, there’s really no time I don’t like to eat!”

  Cocoa and Berry laughed, and Melli rolled her eyes again.

  Raina clapped her hands. “We have to focus,” she said. “I know Melli and Dash are nervous, but I don’t believe this is about goblins.”

  “You think Mogu is lying?” Melli asked.

  “When have you ever trusted a troll?” Berry asked.

  Cocoa looked toward the castle. “Maybe this time we have to,” she said. “We all saw Gummy Forest. If Black Licorice Swamp is in the same shape, all of Sugar Valley is in danger.”

  “And during fall harvest!” Melli blurted out.

  “Think of all that candy. . . .”

  “I am!” Dash said, springing up. “We have to do something. What if Mogu is right and there are goblins trying to ruin Sugar Valley candy?”

  Raina paced back and forth between the gumdrop trees. “Remember when we made a ghost out of Berry’s shawl and the Chuchies believed that there was a ghost in Candy Corn Fields?”