The Sugar Cup Read online

  Later that day, when Dash got to Caramel Hills for practice, Melli and Raina had already heard about her painting time with Cocoa.

  “Dash,” Melli said, “couldn’t you have cleaned up your mess before you left Chocolate Woods?”

  Dash’s wings dropped to the ground. “Oh,” she said softly. She realized that she had run off without helping to clean up.

  “Cocoa was very bitter about the way you left her paints,” Raina added.

  Melli put her head in her hands. “I knew this was going to be a big mess. Why didn’t you two just stick with what you know best for the Sugar Cup Games?”

  Raina wrinkled her nose. “Well, that would be boring,” she said. “We are allowed to try new things!”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to Cocoa,” Dash told them.

  “Fast-fly practice is not going to go well with the two of you sniping at each other,” Melli added.

  Dash waved her hand. “No, things will be fine,” she said. “Mint’s honor.”

  Raina and Melli raised their eyebrows and gave Dash a long look.

  “Really,” Dash said. “Trust me. I have a supermint idea that will make everything all right.”

  Dash hoped that her plan to win Cocoa over would work. With her giving Cocoa some tips on the slopes, there was no way Cocoa could lose.

  “Cocoa is going to forget that she is angry with me,” Dash told her friends. “Just watch and see!”

  Mint’s Promise

  Waiting for Cocoa to arrive at Caramel Hills was hard for Dash. Melli told her that Cocoa was with Berry, so Dash knew they’d be late. Dash circled around a large caramel tree. When she was nervous, she had to keep moving!

  Melli was right—Dash should have cleaned up her painting mess at Cocoa’s. She was just in such a rush to get back to Peppermint Grove! Knowing Cocoa, she had probably cleaned every strand of those brushes. Now Dash really had to make peace with her chocolate friend.

  “I’ll make it right with Cocoa,” Dash told Raina and Melli. “I don’t want her to be mad. She was really sweet to me. She tried to teach me about drawing and gave me those paints.” She sighed. “Though we do have different styles.”

  “I can imagine,” Raina said, laughing.

  “I am sure Cocoa will be fine with an apology,” Melli added.

  “We all need to work together if we are going to win the fast-fly,” Raina said.

  Dash agreed. She continued circling the trees in Caramel Hills until she saw Cocoa and Berry.

  “Cocoa,” Dash said, flying up to greet her when she finally arrived. “I am really sorry about the mess I left. I should not have rushed off without helping you clean up.”

  Cocoa seemed happy at Dash’s apology. “Thank you for saying that, Dash,” she said. “I was surprised that you left so quickly.”

  “Well, I . . .” Dash struggled with her words. “I hope that you’ll forgive me. It was really nice of you to offer the paints for practice.” She tossed her head to the side. Then she added quickly, “I have a sugar-tastic idea! After fast-fly practice, we could go to Marshmallow Marsh and take a few sled runs. I’d like to give you some racing tips.”

  Dash saw Cocoa look over at Melli. Dash knew right away what the Chocolate Fairy was thinking.

  “Please, Cocoa,” she said. “It wouldn’t be like those Double Dip practices. Mint’s promise.”

  “We all know Dash is the fastest racer in Sugar Valley,” Berry said. “Cocoa, you should listen to her.”

  Dash shot Berry a thankful look. She hoped Cocoa would change her mind. She held up her hands, pleading. “Mint’s promise,” Dash said. “I really do want to help.”

  Cocoa smiled. “Okay,” she said. “After fast-fly practice, we’ll take a run.”

  Dash leaped up and gave Cocoa a huge hug.

  “Good. We’d better get started with practice now,” Raina said. “First we need to decide the order of our relay team. Each of us needs to take one part of the flight.”

  “I should go last because I am the fastest,” Dash boasted. Then she realized that she had spoken very loudly. She bit her lip. She didn’t want to be too minty again. She looked at her friends. “If you think that is a good spot for me,” she added quietly.

  Cocoa rolled her eyes. “Of course,” she said. “The last fairy should be the fastest.”

  “And a strong flier should go first so we get the lead,” Raina said thoughtfully.

  “Cocoa, you should take the lead,” Dash said.

  Cocoa seemed to like that idea, and the others agreed. Dash was proud of herself. She was keeping her mint promise. This wasn’t so hard!

  The practice went well. Each fairy had to fly one hundred yards. Raina’s stopwatch clocked the fairies in at great times.

  “We have a good chance this year,” Raina said, looking over the times. “Those Cake Fairies will have some real competition this year.”

  “They haven’t raced us before,” Berry said. “They will be surprised!”

  “It’s a big deal that we are racing,” Melli said. “The fast-fly counts double any of the other events.”

  “Which means we have an excellent chance of winning the cup!” Dash exclaimed.

  As all the fairies were saying good-bye, Dash pulled on Cocoa’s arm. “Are you ready to practice with me?”

  “Yes,” Cocoa said. “I bet we can get a run in before Sun Dip.”

  “Or two or three,” Dash said eagerly. Then she noticed the look on Melli’s face.

  “Dash,” Melli whispered, “remember you promised not to be so minty.”

  Dash nodded. “I know, I know. Mint’s promise!”

  Together, Dash and Cocoa flew to the slope on the Frosted Mountains where the Sugar Cup race would be held. Cocoa showed Dash her sled at the shed near the top of the mountain. Dash held true to her word and didn’t say anything about Cocoa’s sled. It wasn’t a style that she liked to use for racing. The blades were a little too wide for her, but she didn’t want to come across as too pushy. Instead, she showed Cocoa some cool ways to turn and slide. The practice was going well until the last run. Dash saw that Cocoa was holding her steering bar too tightly.

  “You might want to ease up on your hold,” Dash said. “If you hold too tight, you might throw off your balance.”

  Just as she said that, Cocoa fell off her sled and into a frosted mound. Poor Cocoa was covered in frosting! Dash couldn’t help but laugh. She giggled and then tried to stop—which only made her giggle more.

  Cocoa stomped her foot. “So much for ‘mint’s promise,’ ” she mumbled. She grabbed her sled and pulled it back to the shed.

  Dash felt awful. “Oh, come on, Cocoa!” she begged. “It’s funny. It’s all in good fun.”

  “Not for me,” Cocoa said. “Forget it, Dash. I don’t need your help.”

  Cocoa flew off and left Dash alone on the slope. Dash lowered her wings and sighed. The practice race hadn’t gone as she’d planned—and neither had her plan to make Cocoa feel better.

  Just then Dash saw a sugar fly. She decided to send Cocoa a note. Keep on track, Dash wrote. I believe in you! She thought the note might make Cocoa happy. At least, she hoped it would as she sent the sugar fly off with her message.

  Feeling Sour

  Dash flew to Candy Castle early the next morning. She had an appointment with Tula. Tula was going to go over the rules of the Art Treat competition. Only now Dash was feeling unsure about her choice.

  Maybe I can switch my event, Dash thought.

  After yesterday’s race with Cocoa, Dash had started to miss racing. And all that talk of art technique with Cocoa had put her in a bad mood. Dash loved messy, fast art. Cocoa did not. Maybe the judges of the event wouldn’t like Dash’s art. Past winners of the Art Treat all had different styles. What would happen if the judges didn’t like Dash’s style? She didn’t want to be the fairy who lost the Sugar Cup for Candy Kingdom because she had done so poorly at her event. And Cocoa hadn’t replied to her sugar fly note. Mayb
e Cocoa was still upset with her. It was unlike her not to respond.

  That did it. Dash made up her mind that she would ask Tula if she could switch her event. Dash flew around the gardens, looking for the wise fairy. The Royal Gardens were crowded with Castle Fairies setting up for the Sugar Cup Games. In three days the games would begin! Finally Dash found Tula.

  “Sweet morning,” Tula called to her. She flew over to Dash. “There’s so much going on here today,” she gushed. She looked down at her clipboard. “The slopes at the Frosted Mountains are set, and the stage for the trivia and music events is finished. We need to finish the Art Treat tent and mark the path for the fast-fly.” She sighed. “So much to get done!” Tula looked up at Dash. “Why such a sad face?” she asked. “I heard you were excited about being picked for the Art Treat. You did request it, right, Dash?”

  Dash fluttered her wings. “I was happy,” she said. But she couldn’t lie to Tula. “I think I miss racing more than I thought I would,” she blurted out.

  Tula was quiet for a moment. “I understand,” she said. “You’ve always been our star racer. But isn’t it nice to try something new?”

  “Maybe,” Dash said. “I was excited about the art, but, you see . . . Cocoa . . .” She couldn’t finish her sentence.

  Tula grabbed Dash’s hand and brought her to a quiet spot in the garden. “New things are harder sometimes,” she said. “And you and Cocoa are both trying new events. The good news is that maybe you can help each other.”

  “That would be good,” Dash told her. “Only, we can’t seem to help each other.” She looked down at her feet. “We’ve been fighting.”

  Tula nodded. “Trying new things sometimes makes you cranky, yes?” she said. “At least, that is how I feel. Oh, when I first had to fly up to Sugar Castle on a unicorn, I was crankier than an Ice Cream Fairy in warm weather.” She smiled. “But now I don’t know what I would do without these rides. And it’s fun.”

  “Maybe switching was a bad idea,” Dash mumbled.

  Tula took off her glasses and let them hang down from the chain around her neck. “Dash, you were chosen for the Art Treat because you have a great chance of winning. Your work is exciting and bold,” she told her. “And more important, you said you wanted to try this event. Remember?”

  Dash thought back to when she’d spoken to Tula about switching events. She had been so excited. That was probably how Cocoa had felt too.

  “You and Cocoa are lucky,” Tula went on. “This competition is supposed to be fun and give you a chance to do something you haven’t tried before. Help each other!”

  “We had a better chance when we were getting along,” Dash mumbled.

  “Oh, Dash,” Tula sighed as she stood up. She put her glasses back on. “No more sad faces. Come, let me show you where the Art Treat is being held.”

  Dash followed Tula to another area of the Royal Gardens. She saw all the easels lined up where the fairies would be painting.

  “Remember, Dash,” Tula said. “This is not a race. You don’t have to finish in seconds. You will have about an hour to create your treat. The paints will all be here for you.”

  “So my fast art style is bad?” Dash asked. Her wings twitched. “That is what Cocoa told me.”

  Tula shook her head. “I know your work. You have your own style,” she told her. “I’m just telling you that you don’t need to rush.”

  “You don’t think that I’m messy and sloppy?” Dash asked.

  Tula smiled. “Not at all, Dash,” she said. “You have a unique style, and if you take your time, I think you will create something original and delicious.”

  Dash blushed. “Thank you,” she said. But she really didn’t believe Tula. She remembered Cocoa’s face when she had quickly splattered her paint. She was the only one who liked her art fast and messy! Dash wasn’t sure what she should do.

  “I have to fly,” Tula told her. “Feel free to stay around and watch some of the other artists. You will see that everyone has a different style unique to them. Everyone brings something special to whatever they do—if everything looked the same, the world would be a very boring place.”

  Dash nodded.

  “Everyone is flying in from the surrounding kingdoms today and tomorrow for the games,” Tula continued. She pushed her glasses up on her nose. “I really have to fly. So much to do! Come by tomorrow and we’ll talk more!”

  “I’ll see you later,” Dash called out as Tula flew off. She turned and looked around the gardens. Several fairies from different kingdoms were grouped together, laughing and getting ready for the competition. There were fairies practicing music, dance, and art. Dash remembered last year’s Sugar Cup Games and how she’d had such a great time during the days before the race. She hadn’t been nervous or unsure, and she’d had a great time visiting with old and new friends on the slope. This year everything was different. She felt out of place.

  Looking around for a sugar fly, Dash felt hollow inside. Cocoa still hadn’t responded to her note.

  Dash left the Royal Gardens feeling sour about this year’s competition and the choice she had made.

  Mint Masterpiece

  On the way back to Peppermint Grove, Dash stopped off at Lollipop Landing. She found Melli and Berry practicing their song for the Sugar Cup Games. Dash landed quietly and listened. Melli was playing her licorice stick, and Berry was singing an old unicorn lullaby. They sounded sugar-tastic!

  “Bravo!” Dash cried at the end. She leaped high up in the air to applaud her friends.

  “Dash, I didn’t see you,” Melli said. “Did you hear the whole song?”

  Dash clapped her hands. “Sure as sugar, you two will win the music competition,” she said. “You have gotten so good.”

  Berry bowed. “Thank you,” she said. “I think we’ve come a long way since last year’s competition.”

  “Yes,” Melli agreed. “We’re doing a much harder arrangement this year,” she added.

  Dash was jealous. Maybe if she were racing, she could have done something extra-minty on the slopes. She could have wowed the judges. This year she could be the worst artist in the competition!

  “Dash, how is your art coming along? And how is coaching Cocoa?” Melli asked. She put her licorice stick back in the case.

  It was nice of Melli to ask, but Dash had a feeling that Melli had already heard all about the practice at the Frosted Mountains yesterday.

  “Well,” Dash said, “it probably wasn’t the best practice run. I didn’t mean to laugh when Cocoa tumbled and make her upset.” She looked down at the ground. “She hasn’t responded to my sugar fly note.”

  Berry looked over her shoulder. “Oh, that doesn’t sound good,” she said. “Is that why Cocoa couldn’t stop to talk to me this morning? She was in a big rush to get to the slopes.”

  Dash dragged her foot on the ground. “I wasn’t so nice to Cocoa,” she said. “I didn’t mean to, but I laughed at her. She took a fast turn and wound up in the frosting.” Dash sat down and grabbed a lollipop. “But to tell you the truth, I miss being good at something and having fun. Art is hard.”

  Melli sat down next to her. “Aren’t you having fun with art?”

  “Sometimes,” Dash said. She was thinking about how she felt when she first started painting her mints. Painting bright, delicious colors on her white mints was fun. “I think Cocoa is more serious than I am.”

  “You can still be your fun, minty self,” Berry said.

  “Maybe,” Dash said, thinking. “I’m jealous that you both are doing something you know you are good at.”

  Berry put her arm around Dash. “Lighten up, Dash!” she said. “This is all supposed to be a good time. Just wait till those judges see your minty masterpiece.”

  Dash looked up at Berry. “Thanks,” she said. “I hope you’re right. I think I’m going to skip Sun Dip tonight,” she added. She didn’t feel like seeing Cocoa. “Please tell the others I was tired and I will catch up with them tomorrow.”
r />   Melli nodded. “We understand,” she said. “Get a good night’s rest. We’ll see you at Candy Castle for the fast-fly trials tomorrow afternoon.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it,” Dash said. She was relieved her friends understood. Maybe tomorrow she would feel differently. Maybe after the practice Art Treat session in the morning and then the fast-fly relay she would be feeling better about the whole Sugar Cup Games.

  At Candy Castle the next day, Dash saw Tula in the Royal Gardens again. Only this time, Tula was standing next to the Sugar Cup! Dash flew right up to the beautiful, shimmering gold sugar trophy. She couldn’t take her eyes off the gorgeous prize. She had never seen the trophy so close up before.

  “Look what arrived today from Cake Kingdom!” Tula exclaimed. “Isn’t this exciting?”

  Dash leaned in close to see the details on the cup. “Oh, I hope this gets to stay here in Candy Kingdom,” she said.

  “We haven’t had the Sugar Cup in Candy Castle for a few years,” Tula said. “Maybe this is our time.”

  “It’s been three years,” Dash told her. “And I really, really hope we’re the kingdom that wins and gets to keep the Sugar Cup this year.”

  Tula laughed. “Well, we have a supersweet chance,” she said. “How are your art practices coming along?”

  “I am trying out new ideas,” Dash said. She kept her eyes on the cup. She wanted to reach out and touch it! The trophy was so shiny!

  “Dash, I found some paintbrushes for you that I think you’ll like,” Tula said. “Stay here and I’ll be right back.”

  “So mint!” Dash exclaimed. Maybe with the right brushes she would feel better about her artwork.

  When Tula flew off, Dash looked around. No one was looking at the Sugar Cup—or her. She really wanted to touch the treasured trophy. Was it heavy or light? What would it feel like to hold the cup?

  Dash flew up to the trophy and lifted it up off the pedestal. She held the Sugar Cup close. “Thank you for this award,” she began.