Crumbelina's Cure
The Di Carmelo household.
If one wanted to see luxury in Sugar Rush, this was the place to go.
The home was situated near the edge of where the kingdom ended, facing the north said of the land and everyone who passed by the enourmous house could not stop but wonder what was going on inside.
But to KNOW the Di Carmelos?
That was another thing.
They were known for…THINGS.
Many things.
…..
VARIOUS things.
The family had power, that was one thing that was for certain. They may not have been ROYAL but what is the point of being ROYAL when your hands stretched out so far and so vast? Little petite Tiramisuzette was the real runner of the family, even though the name had been changed once her husband Zabaione had come from his own home, their marriage arranged and the man more or less 'adopted' into their empire.
Over the years, whispers of what the Di Carmelo's work traveled to and from but in all honestly no one really knew just how DEEP the family was tied to so many people around the Sugar World.
One thing was for certain.
It is not a good idea to mess with a Di Carmelo.
Little Crumbelina rested in her enormous room, her parents only a few doors down. The entire house was silent and even with their maids and butlers going about not a sound was heard nor made.
Until.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA!
Something from far away.
The parents were the first to awake, Zabaione opening his cold grey eyes and shivering. He had no energy to deal with whatever was going on and he tried to go back to sleep; it was just too early. Tiaramisuzette was the second to awaken, the strange sound pulling her from her wonderful dream.
What was the dream about?
Something about slicing people up with her sword.
The parents lay in place as they could hear the echoing laughter bounce off of every wall in the house, the servants stopping in their tracks as they knew that it was next to impossible for the Di Carmelos themselves to make noises like that.
Di Carmelos LAUGHING?
UNHEARD OF.
But now they had to get up. Zabaione buried his head under a pillow, Tiramisuzette threw the covers over her head.
It would not STOP!
"Darling?" the little woman said, looking over at her husband "I do believe our alarm has sounded."
Her husband said nothing, or it SOUNDED like nothing. The only thing Zabaione could do was mumbled deeply and angrily with his face on the mattress, his big fist aching to drive into the face of whoever was making that sound.
To say the least, the Di Carmelos were just a tad sleepy when they came to the great dining hall for breakfast, the three of them not even dressed yet. Crumbelina leaned on her mother, her mother patted her head, Zabaione leaned on the table, looking over at his wife.
His eyes spoke more than his words.
"No, you may not."
He scowled, cheeks turning red.
Breakfast was then brought out for the three, their peppermint butlers placing the meal before them.
"I trust that we will be free for the party coming up." Said Tira, making sure her eggs were just right "Have you talked to Tobias? Things are fine with him."
Zambi just stirred his eggs, once more his expression showing his wife what was going on.
"You two are such good friends." Said his wife "What is going on this time?"
Zambi rolled his eyes, Crumbelina watching him mime.
"Milka?"
Zambi shook his head, turning away with a huff.
"Reese?"
The man shut his eyes, buttering his toast.
"I figured." Said Tira "He means no harm, honestly. He just is very dedicated to his duty."
Zambi took a bite of his biscuit and glared down at his tiny way, the woman looking up with a frown.
"Don't use that tone on me, Mister!" the woman scolded "And do not even THINK about trying to plan some 'escape' out of the party. We are going and that is final."
Zambi grumbled loudly, reaching for another biscuit but Crumbelina slapped his hand. He looked down, his little daughter glaring up at him.
What was wrong?
Oh, he had taken the last one before her.
No one takes Crumbelina's sweet caramel butter biscuits.
Zambi sighed again, handing his daughter off the last of the pastries. Such a softy he had become once CHILDREN entered the picture.
"Did you hear me, darling?"
Zambi looked over, the glint in his wife's eyes piercing.
If he could see them of course.
She always had them covered by SOMETHING.
"So tonight, we get you fitted for a new suit."
Zambi pouted, as if that meant anything.
"What are you looking at me for?" asked Tira "I didn't imply anything by that."
"I do believe that father thinks you're implying that he needed to take his suits out." Said Crumbelina.
"I did nothing of the kind." Huffed Tira, Zambi looking over at his daughter.
The big man reached down and pinched Tira on her shoulders, Crumbelina looking on and acting as his translator.
"And now I think he is saying that he knows you're lying and you have no room to make fun of anyone….since you're a featherweight and he has to be careful not to blow you into the next country over if he sneezes near you….Whatever that means."
"Need I remind you that it was I who sent your butt to the floor when you challenged me upon meeting for the first time." Said Tiramisuzette, not at all sounding pleased "I did it then, I can still do it now, even if you're more of a lunk than you were fifteen years ago."
Zambi stuffed another biscuit in his mouth as if to tease his little wife even further.
"Father, you're going to eat all the biscuits before I do." Crumbelina protested, her little hands reaching out for more.
"Beyond your fussing and mussing…." Tira said, ignoring her husband's behavior "We are going to that party."
Another biscuit.
"Do you hear?"
Another biscuit.
"You heard."
Zambi heard, but he wasn't going to like it. He hated going to Royal parties, even it meant bridging more gaps between so many 'businesses'. But then he looked down at his daughter, remembering that she DID like those parties. It wouldn't have been fair for the big man to keep his daughter out of the enjoyment of such events just because he despised them. He took in a deep breath and got up from the table, walking off to get himself ready for the day.
Wash.
Shave.
Dress.
As sharp as ever.
Now to find the others.
Tira had already gotten herself ready as did little Crumbelina, the man finding the two sitting in the large reading room of the mansion.
"So….have you changed your mind." Tira said, on a ladder a she looked for a book.
Again, a slight move of the eyebrows and a change in his walking gait was enough to signal to Tira that she had once more won an argument with the big man.
"Aaaah, see? No troubles."
Zambi felt a tug on his hand, looking down at his daughter. She usual wore the same hard-caramel face as he did but she seemed a lot softer this time, as if she were trying to brush away any worry that was going through the man at the moment.
"Daddy, it shall be fine." The little Di Carmelo said "If you do not like parties so much, I will be by your side."
Zambi patted his little darling on the head, just a slight edge of a smile appearing on his face.
Just a SLIGHT one.
"Now that we have that cleared up…." Tira said, Zambi approaching her from behind "Maybe we can begin to-!"
*HIC!*
"EEP!" Tira cried, stumbling back right into her husband's chest. Thankfully, he caught her but as she looked up…
The look on his face.
It was one of rife embarrassment, something that Crumbelina had never seen and only rarely for Tira.
Had it happened?
It had happened!
"Zabaione?" the little woman asked "Are you alright, dar-?"
HIC!
It happened again.
Now Zabaione was even more embarrassed, that trademark Sugar Rush blush of his growing deeper and deeper by the second.
HIC!
"Biscuits….." Tira said, scolding her husband "This always happens when you inhale those biscuits. Let this be a lesson for you."
Zambi could only reply with another hiccup, standing right in place as Tira walked around him.
HIC!
She went to the desk.
HIC!
She looked for a pen.
HIC!
He did not move.
"Do you want sympathy?"
HIC!
"You are getting none from me."
HIC!
"You can stand there all day. It does not matter."
HIC!
HIC!
HIC!
….
HIC!
Don't fall for the trap, don't fall for it!
Tira looked up, Zambi glaring down at her with his hands in his pockets. It was a face-off, Crumbelina looking on and awaiting to see which parent would flinch first. It could be a tie, it could come to the final leg and-!
HIC!
"Urf."
Had Zambi…..SPOKEN?
This was no joke, Zambi looking rather uncomfortable as he walked away, Crumbelina looking upset.
"Daddy, do you want me to help?"
The big man looked down, preparing to say something but-
"HE'S FINE." Tira yelled from the library, cutting her husband off "He's just trying to get his way!"
Crumbelina wasn't too sure. She knew that both her parents had their iron will about them but in the case of HICCUPS?
Zabaione seemed to be breaking just a tad.
"I will help you, daddy…." The little racer said as she led her father to the kitchen "Do not worry about a thing."
Crumbelina fished around for the sugar bowl, taking a spoonful and shoving it in her father's face.
"Daddy?"
The big man took the spoon and-!
"Crumbelina!"
"Yes, mother?"
"DON'T YOU DARE FEED HIM!"
"But mother-!"
"YOU HEARD ME!"
Crumbelina knew the orders she had been given….but she gave her father a smile and a wink, popping the spoon right into his mouth.
Did it work?
HIC!
"I guess not…." Said Crumbelina, her mind going away to think of what to do next "Perhaps water?"
She went to the sink, standing on her step-stool and pour him a glass of water.
Drink.
Cured?
There was a moment of pause and…
HIC!
Nope.
"Those are the cures that I am familiar with…." Crumbelina said "Maybe we need to look out for more."
Crumbelina led her father down the halls back to the library but Tira was still inside, going over 'papers'. The little caramel girl had a feeling that her mother's mood would be spoiled should her work be interrupted by Zambi's constant-
"*HIC!*"
Hiccups….
"You gave him sugar."
Crumbelina gulped; CAUGHT!
"You have him water."
"Y-Yes, ma'am."
"And still, nothing worked?"
The little girl shook her head, her mother sighing.
"It always happens like this…." The woman said "It always happens like this, Zabaione."
The big man said nothing, lowering his head down in shame.
"Well, both of you get your coats."
"Why, mother?"
Why?
If the cure for Zabaione's hiccups could not be found at the mansion then perhaps it could be found somewhere in town. The three took the stroll from the mansion all the way down to the main village and through it all….through it all Zambi continued to hiccup, LOUDLY.
This was not a good day to be a Di Carmelo.
Zambi walked with his wife and daughter taking the lead but with each hiccup he just wanted to dive under the nearest car and hide. He HATED it, the sudden attention he got when he hiccupped so loudly and it was impossible for people NOT to stare. People were already wary of the big man given his size and 'skills' but to see him in such a state; his cheeks blushing, that embarrassed little frown on his face?
What could POSSIBLY happen that could make things worse?
"Ah?" Tira asked a she arrived at the house of the royal gardeners. A moment or two passed before the door opened, Ah looking down at the little Di Carmelo.
"Goodness, what a surprise it is to see you, Tira."
"The pleasure is all mine." Tira said with a little bow "We have come here for some assistance."
"What for?" the cherry gardener asked but before another word could come-
HIC!
Ah nearly fell back with a yelp, Muffy appearing out of the door just in time to catch him.
"Goodness me, what was that?"
HIC!
"Look up and thou shall see." Tira said, a hand waving towards her husband. Ah's eyes lit up, his mind already knowing exactly what to do in such a situation.
"Come in, come in you three! I shall help you with this in no time."
No objections were made as the Di Carmelos found themselves lead to the green house, Jubileena and Citrusella politely offering the family some chairs as they got their own. Crumbelina sat across from them but as she slowly turned her head, the twin ducked.
To them, Crumbelina was some sort of ODDITY.
"Do you think she'll talk this time?" asked Jubileena
"I don't know." Meeped Citrusella.
They were nice, but perhaps too curious for Crumbelina's liking.
"I have a hiccup cure down, pat." Smiled Ah, reaching for his dried fruit leaves and other plants "It's a simple matter, really. Everyone says that it is IMPOSSIBLE to cure hiccups? Well, they have never seen the master at work!"
The man turned to his wife, tossing her one of the large jars of leaves down.
"Muffy, you know what to do."
The plump blueberry woman smiled and went to the stove, heating the water and adding the honey.
"Jubi, Cissy?"
"Yes, daddy?" both girls said at the same time.
"Help us. This is going to take many hands to work."
And so the Bing-Bings began their work at the stove, mixing the brew up as rainbow colored tuffs of steam began to billow up into the air, a sweet, sweet scent surrounding all.
"And there…." Said Ah, pouring the tea into the cup "You go."
"Are you sure this will work?" asked Tira "And what exactly is in this by the way."
"A private mixture!" winked the gardener, walking over towards his twins and patting them on the head as they smiled "Though I shall say that there are hints of cherries and blueberries in it. They are always the go-to for making up a nice cure-all."
Zambi wasn't so certain about taking his 'medicine' as for as long as he knew Ah, he knew that some of his cures could get….CRAZY.
HIC!
But at this point, Zambi would try ANYTHING to cure himself, no matter how silly the tea looked to him, the liquid inside the cup turning colors every second.
He just wasn't a man for Sugar Rush.
"Zabaione, do not be rude." Scowled his wife "Ah and Muffy made this for you. Drink it."
And that was what he did.
The brew TASTED alright; a little sweet a little sour and it went down smoothly enough. But was it going to work, that being the most important question of all. Everyone looked at the big man, his mind screaming for them to get away but then-!
!
?!
?!
"Zabaione?!"
It felt like an ENORMOUS jolt of electricity hit the man, his body knocked right out of his chair as an EXPLOSION of color flashed in everyone's eyes! It happened so fast that Zambi had no chance at all to scream, his heavy body landing with thud on the ground and-!
HIC!
He still had the hiccups!
"Darling!" Tira cried out, rushing to her love only to let out a gasp "YOU'RE-! You're….PINK?!"
Pink?
No, wait blue!
RED!
….Green?
The man was dizzy as he sat up but once he got a look at his hands he saw the 'side effects' of his so-called cure. He was now turning COLORS every second, waves and waves and waves of chorme and rainbows splotched not only on his skin but his suit as well.
"Wait, Ah?"
"Yes?"
"Was that the hiccup cure?" the blueberry woman asked "Or did we mix up a brew of our fruit-tree restorer?"
The look Zabaione shot Ah at that moment would have frozen anyone into stone; he was NOT at all happy.
"Is Mr. Di Carmelo turning RED because he's angry or is that because of that tea?" asked Citursella.
"I don't know….now he's turning green with blue spots." Said Jubileena.
Thankfully apologizes were made and the families were able to say their goodbyes to each other without the worries of something getting their face whomped in but now Zambi had another problem. He was turning colors AND hiccupping which only made the stares and points come at him faster.
The big man knew he was notorious and there were certain situations where he knew he could not avoid the gaze of onlookers but this was beyond that! The last time THIS many people had looked at him in such a manner was when….what when….!
That moment of arrival in the Kingdom all those years ago.
When he was knocked off that stupid boat.
And he had to swim five miles to shore…..
And then fell on Reese in total exhaustion when he finally made it.
HIC!
"Oh, goodness. It sounds like they are getting worse." Said Tira, now realizing that her anger and annoyance that her husband could be faking the aliment was wrong. She knew that Zambi could play a role in order to get out of something but to go through such calamity? No, he would never do that!
Crumbelina was just as worried as her mother, taking her father by the opposite hand as they both lead him down the street and passed The Candle Wick Café.
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!
The three looked over at the café, hearing a familiar sound.
"Well, I suppose at least ONE mystery has been solved."
"You know, this is all your fault Koko…."
"How is it MY fault?!"
The Di Carmelos looked over, seeing the Orangeboar kart still set up in the middle of the square. Blanc was removing some of the decorations from the latest performance while his wife sat on a large barrel, reading the paper.
Gloyd on the other hand was turned the other way, head lowered for some reason.
What was HIS problem?
HIC!
Nothing could escape Kobacha's ears and the woman looked up, spying Zambi from afar.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" she cried teasingly, pointing her skinny fingers up at him "SPOTTED YA!"
Crumbelina saw her father's face turn white and instead of a hiccup, the braying sound of a dying animal came from his mouth.
Not Kobacha.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS!
Kobacha was kicking her thin legs in the air and laughing up a storm "Big Bad Zambi-Bi-Bi-Bi! I was wonderin' why tha ground was shakin' an' Bernie wasn't anywhere ta be found since he lost his-!"
"KOBACHA!" shouted Blanc "If you keep behaving like this we're all going to get into trouble! Gloyd is already in enough-!"
The boy said nothing, pulling his hat down over his head.
"Tha last thing we need to do is make anyone else uncomfortable!"
"It is fine, Blanc." Said Tira calmly "We've….we've just had a wild day."
"Why is Zambi-bi-bi turnin' colors?"
"KOBACHA."
Suddenly….
AN IDEA!
"Mr. Orangeboar. Mrs. Orangeboar."
The family of pumpkins looked down, the tiny caramel girl walking up to them.
"My father needs help."
"Um, with what, young lady?" asked Blanc.
"All day my father has braved through so much humiliation all in the name of…."
The girl looked back, her father hiccupping and turning a strange CLOUD-PATTERN.
"In that name of whatever he does…." The girl continued "But now? It is my turn to seek help for him."
Gloyd narrowed his eyes "An' what do ya think ya can do ta cure him, twist-head?"
Crumbelina stood on her tip-toes to face Gloyd, her chest puffed out.
"I believe that I, Crumbelina Di Carmelo, can SCARE the hiccups from my father!"
The two families stood silent….and then Gloyd erupted into laughter.
"PFFFFFFFFFFFT! HAHAHAHAHAHHA!"
"What is so funny, Orangeboar?"
The little mallow-crème tried to catch his breath, his cheeks glowing orange through his laughter "Oh, oh! Crumbles! I know ya scare people enough with that cookie-stalin' stare of yours! But REALLY?! Ya think ya can scare your dad!"
"HUSH BOY." Blanc glared, slapping the boy on the back of his head "You're in enough trouble….."
"Oh, like I'm tha only one who sent that picture around!"
Picture?
Crumbelina suddenly shoved her cell-phone DEEPER in her pocket.
"I know I can scare the hiccups from my father, Gloyd." declared Crumbelina "And in fact, I can do it in a manner using YOUR magic and use it better than you!"
Gloyd was nearly floored; Crumbelina was DARING to outdo HIM in MAGIC?
HOW DARE SHE!
"Crumbles, I would LOVE ta see ya try." The boy growled, trying to push the small Di Carmelo back "'Course, I would love ta see ya try ta break a smile without causin' you face to shatter but hey, we can't have everythin' can we?"
"Hey, give tha girl a chance." Smirked Kobacha "After all, ya know how good audience participation can be right, Pumpkin-Butt?"
"MOOOOOOOOOOM!"
Crumbelina gave a little bow towards Kobacha "Thank you ma'am. And I hope I can show great respect for your trade through my participation."
Tira and Zambi looked at each other, not sure what in the sweet world their daughter was planning for them but the little Di Carmelo huddled with the Orangeboars, all four whispering something to each other.
What? Really?
That sounds like a good idea.
But it doesn't have the piazza to it!
This is my first time but I do believe it should work.
And of course, Zambi hiccupped again,
The four then went into the kart, the vehicle turning and shifting into an even larger stage and *POOF!* chairs suddenly appeared under the two Di Carmelo parents, forcing them to sit down. The stage light popped on center, Gloyd, dressed in his best, facing the audience before twirling around, his cape billowing around him.
"LADIES AN' GENTLECANDIES!" the boy announced "Prepare for a special treat for we have a NEW magician joinin' us!"
An invisible crowd began to clap, Zambi and Tira looking around as suddenly the ghostly shadows of other candy people began to appear around them.
"She comes from the lands where tha caramel flows, where tha cookies crumbles. She has a gaze that can make even tha great three-horned Chocoal Beast quiver! She is tha one, tha ooooonleeeee-! CRUMBELINA DI CARMELO!"
The ghostly sweets began to clap again, Tira jabbing her big husband in the side to get him to join along.
And then Crumbelina appeared on stage.
Her usual outfit had been replaced by something more….magical, something to be expected considering the amount of costumes they had in their home.
What was she planning though?
HIC!
"It has come to my attention…." The girl began "That there is someone suffering from a rather bad affliction in our audience."
The audience gasped and turned, Zambi and Tira sitting in the middle of them.
"If that is the case, then it looks like it is time for ME to do something about that."
Crumbelina twisted her hands, a wand suddenly appearing.
"Sweet, sweet caramel, come to me now."
Suddenly, Zambi felt his chair shift under him. Without so much as a warning, the thing acted as if it had a life of its own and DASHED to the stage, the big man holding on for dear life as it landed on the stage, making him tumble out and hit the wooden floors hard.
And Crumbelina was not at all phased.
"Up."
Zambi felt as if something were pulling his arms up, straining to lift his heavy weight off the ground.
"Aurrg! AURGH! I FORGOT HOW HEAVY THIS DOOF IS!"
"Kobacha!"
"Now…" said Crumbelina "Let us get rid of those hiccups."
Behind the curtains, Gloyd was working the controls, making more lights and sparks fly as the caramel girl began her act.
This hiccups, they have gotten so bad
They are going to drive the entire household mad
Father please, maybe mother was right
We are curing these hiccups TONIGHT!
Zabaione was still hanging from the stage limply as smoke and sparks surrounded him, crackles and thunder roaring around him! It got bigger, bigger, LOUDER, LOUDER!
HIC.
"HICCUPS!" Crumbelina said, a look in her eyes that neither of her parents had ever seen "DISAPPEAR!"
And then-!
EXPLOSIONS!
The 'crowd' gasped but Tira was knocked over, looking at the stage as the cloud finally disappated and-!
And….
A hamster?
"HUH?!"
In Zabaione's place on the stage sat a tiny, chubby, white and grey hamster. One that was wearing the same irritated face as he always did.
*HIP.*
AND IT HAD THE HICCUPS.
Gloyd was CRYING from laughing so hard, Crumbelina looking at the creature on stage and the creature looked back at her.
"That…that wasn't supposed to happen."
By now, Gloyd was on the floor, tears streaming from his eyes "T-Try again?"
Might as well.
Crumbelina waved her wand again and-!
POOF!
The hamster was gone!
But nothing else had appeared.
"Daddy?"
Where was Zabaione?
Not behind the curtains, not behind the crowds.
"Daddy?"
He was gone.
He was really gone!
"Hold on…." The girl said "What did you two do with my father?"
"He was supposed to come back on stage." Said Blanc looking at the mark "But-!"
"Hey, hey! I know he's here!" shouted Kobacha as she jumped on the stage "I nearly threw my back out tryin' ta lift him up! He couldn't have gotten that far!"
"Are you telling me that you misplaced my husband?" Tira said, walking up to the stage.
"It is still part of the show, that is all." Blanc said, trying to keep things calm "He is here, he is here. I know it!"
"AAAAAAAAAW MAN!" laughed Gloyd "This is AWESOME! Now we can't be blamed for someone disappearin'! But hey, ya ARE a Di Carmelo, Crumbz! Makin' people disappear is what your family does best!"
AND THEN CRUMBELINA TACKLED GLOYD TO THE GROUND.
Below, there was a tussle going on as eyes were all about looking for the missing Sugar Rush parent….but had they looked up they would have noticed a very large, very tired looking caramel man sitting atop the Orangeboar's kart, a little hamster in his hands.
The hamster hiccupped.
And so did Zabaione.