Chocolate Dreams Read Online Free Page B

Dip.”
    Melli managed to smile. “Sure as sugar,” she whispered.
    Princess Lolli reached out for Cocoa’s hand.Together, they flew off over the Royal Gardens to Red Licorice Lake. Cocoa watched as a bunch of fairies cared for the licorice growing around the cherry-red lake. They were all laughing as they trimmed the thick, sweet stalks.
    As she flew, thoughts raced through her head. What if we can’t get the eggs back? What if something happens to Princess Lolli?
    When Peppermint Grove came into view, Cocoa tried to push those thoughts out of her head. She had to be strong. Chocolate River was up ahead. She had only been on the other side of the river once, last winter. She had gone to Marshmallow Marsh to gather filling for chocolate squares. The marsh was sticky, but not a scary place at all. Not like Black Licorice Swamp! Cocoa could feel her heart beating faster.
    The rumbling of the river interrupted her thoughts. The flight over the river was quick. Cocoa looked down on the fluffy white peaks of Marshmallow Marsh. In a few quick wing strokes, they would be sailing up over the Frosted Mountains.
    Cocoa looked at the princess. “What is the plan?” she asked.
    Princess Lolli smiled and winked at the Chocolate Fairy. “We just need to stay true to our hearts. Salty old Mogu might be sneaky, but he isn’t always wise.”
    Cocoa wanted to believe the princess. Still, she was unsure how the two of them could battle the old troll. In the stories she had heard as a young fairy, the troll was sneaky and strong. How could two small fairies be a match for him?
    â€œHave you ever met Mogu?” Cocoa asked.
    â€œOnce,” Princess Lolli replied. “I was a young fairy working with a crop of marshmallow blossoms at the edge of the marsh. Mogu thought he could trick me into giving him my basket of candy.”
    Cocoa flapped her wings to get closer to the princess. “Were you scared?”
    â€œNo,” the princess said. “I knew I could outsmart
him.” She grinned and adjusted the silver crown on her head. “And I did!”
    The Frosted Mountains were straight ahead. Cocoa took a deep breath.
    â€œRemember,” Princess Lolli told her, “our
powers are not as strong on this side of the mountains. We will need to use our magic wisely.”
    Suddenly Cocoa felt dizzy. She closed her eyes for a second.
    â€œCocoa, hold on,” Princess Lolli said, grippingCocoa’s hand tighter. “I know this trip is very difficult.”
    Feeling the princess’s hand squeeze hers made her feel much better. All at once Cocoa had a burst of energy. When she opened her eyes again, she saw that the princess was smiling.
    â€œThe air here makes it hard for fairies to breathe,” Princess Lolli said kindly. “But stay calm and you’ll be fine. Come, let’s head down to the swamp and find Mogu. Raina’s map says this is the right direction.”
    Cocoa held tight to Princess Lolli’s hand as
they sailed over the Black Licorice Swamp. The smell of the thick, gooey swamp made her nose twitch. Everything around the swamp was black. Not at all like Red Licorice Lake. She longed to see the bright red stalks and wild berry candy bushesblooming along the Red Licorice Lake shores, and the happy Red Licorice Fairies harvesting the ripe stalks. Here at the dark, gloomy swamp there was no one in sight.
    â€œLook over there!” Princess Lolli said, pointing.
    The princess was pointing to a small bridge at the far end of the swamp. The bridge’s black licorice bricks were covered in salt and didn’t look very sturdy. Surrounding the bridge were tall, thin pretzel sticks. It looked like no one had cared for the pretzels—or the bridge—in years.
    â€œThere it is,” Princess Lolli declared. “Mogu’s bridge. He’s probably in his cave under the bridge.”
    â€œLet’s go see,” Cocoa said. She felt a new