Free Magic Hearts by Helen Perelman Page A

softly. She looked down at her white boots. Her response was so quiet that Berry and Raina could barely hear her.
    â€œI love your cape,” Raina said tentatively, eyeing the fabric and design. “Is that from Meringue Island?”
    Fruli nodded. “Yes,” she said. She didn’t raise her eyes from the ground. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”
    Again, her voice was so low and soft, Berry and Raina could barely hear her.
    â€œI just came to collect a couple of fruit chews for Princess Lolli,” Fruli said.
    â€œWell, you came to the right place,” Raina said, smiling. She gave Berry a little push forward. She wondered why her friend was being so quiet around this new fairy. Usually, Berry was very outgoing and not shy at all. “Berry grows the best fruit chews on this side of the Frosted Mountains.” She put her arm around her friend.
    â€œRaina,” Berry mumbled, feeling embarrassed. She smoothed her dress with her hands and noticed a big cherry syrup stain on the front.
    Oh no
, Berry thought.
What a big mess! Fruli has the nicest clothes. And look at me!
    â€œThese chews?” Fruli asked, pointing.
    â€œYes,” Berry said. “Please take anything you want.”
    Fruli took a few candies and put them in a white chocolate weave bag. “Thank you,” she said.
    Before Berry or Raina could say a word, she flew off.
    â€œShe was so shy!” Raina exclaimed.
    â€œDid you see her clothes?” Berry asked. “She has the nicest outfits. I have
got
to get moving on making a new dress for Heart Day.”
    â€œBerry—,” Raina started to say.
    â€œI know,” Berry said, holding up her hand. “I will make the heart candies, but I also need to find something new to wear to Candy Castle for Heart Day.”
    Berry flew off in a hurry, leaving Raina standing in Fruit Chew Meadow alone. Raina was worried. When Berry got an idea stuck in her head, sometimes things got a little sticky.

B erry sat in front of two large pieces of fruit-dyed fabric. Bright pinks and reds were swirled around the material in large circles. Berry had been saving the material for something special, and a new outfit for Heart Day was the perfect occasion!
    For a week she had tried drawing designsfor a new dress. Normally, designing a dress was fun and exciting for her. But this time nothing seemed right. To make things a little more sour, none of her friends understood her passion for fashion. Raina kept asking about heart candies, and her other friends did not seem interested in her dress designs. Berry sighed as she picked up the chalk to sketch out the dress form.
    â€œI wish I could go to Meringue Island,” she mumbled to herself. Even though the material in her hand was silky smooth, she was still feeling unsure. If only she could fly to the small, exclusive Meringue Island, she could buy a bunch of stylish new outfits. Meringue Island was known for high fashion and tons of cool accessories. Fruli probably thought all the fairiesin Sugar Valley dressed terribly. Berry looked down at her red shiny dress. She used to love this one, but after seeing Fruli’s dresses, she felt sloppy and very plain.
    Berry didn’t want to think about the beautiful dress that Fruli would be wearing on Heart Day. Thinking of what Fruli would wear made her face scrunch up like she had eaten a sour lemon ball.
    I’ll show her that Sugar Valley fairies know fashion and accessories too!
Berry thought. She smoothed out the fabric and took out her scissors.
    Her new dress was going to be the nicest one she’d ever made!
    With thin caramel thread, Berry skillfully sewed up the dress. For extra sparkle, she added some of her new fruit chews around the collar.

    She stood back and admired the dress. A smile spread across her face.
    â€œStraight from the runways of Meringue Island,” she said, pretending to be an announcer. “We are proud to carry the designs of