Chapter 2: The Candy Shop

Rachel looked around as they were traveling through the portal to Candy Land. "If we weren't on a mission to stop Kaos and Lord Licorice, I'd be totally enjoying this ride," she said to Spellslamzer, who tightened his protective hold on her a little.

"I know what you mean," he said, glancing down at Crystal, who was holding onto her big sister. "You alright, Crystal?"

The little girl nodded. "I just don't want to get lost in the portal," she admitted.

"Don't worry, mija. Spells and I have got you," Rachel said reassuringly to her little sister.

Spellslamzer nodded and gently tickled Crystal's neck with one hand, making her giggle. "You're in good hands, kiddo," he said before looking up. "Alright, here's our stop."

Kairi and Amelia were holding on tight to Thumpback, who was getting ready for a landing. "You girls ready?" He asked.

"As we'll ever be," Amelia said.

"You bet!" Kairi said excitedly.

A few seconds later, the Water Giant and giant Spell Punk landed in crouched positions, cradling the girls in their arms protectively. After taking a moment to get their senses back, the two set the girls down on their feet. Rachel glanced around to see they were in a shop of sorts. "This must be Mr. Pop's Candy Shop that Master Eon said would be our safe area," she said.

"It is," Kairi said with a smile before she frowned. "And...he's almost out of candy."

It was true. The shelves were almost empty, but there were no customers either. "No one's here," Crystal said softly.

"Maybe they're in their homes to stay safe," Amelia said. "They no doubt heard about Kaos coming."

"And that the protectors have been kidnapped," Kairi said.

"We've got our work cut out for us then," Rachel said.

"When don't we?" Thumpback asked grimly.

"True," Amelia said. "Whenever it comes to Kaos, we always have our work cut out for us."

Spellslamzer suddenly tensed up and his magic gathered in his hands. "Someone's coming," he said.

A door opened and an elderly man came out. "Wait, Spells," Kairi said gently. "That's Mr. Pop. He owns this place."

Hearing that, the others relaxed and Mr. Pop looked at them in surprise before gasping at seeing Kairi. "Kairi," he said, a smile on his face. "Your grandmother was right. You would come when Candy Land needed you."

The brown-haired girl blinked. "You...You knew my grandmother?" She asked in surprise.

"Yes," Mr. Pop said, nodding. "She was one of Candy Land's human protectors."

Everyone was stunned to hear that. "You mean...she helped fight Lord Licorice too?" Crystal asked.

Mr. Pop chuckled. "Oh, yes," he said. "She often times put him in his place. Kind Kandy thought of your grandmother as a daughter, Kairi."

To hear that her grandmother had a special connection to Candy Land made the brown-haired girl feel closer to her grandmother, who the girl had been close to when she had been alive. The others smiled, knowing this meant a lot to their friend. Mr. Pop smiled again before he pulled something out of his pocket. "Your grandmother made these, Kairi, and asked me to give them to you and your friends when you all arrived," he said.

What he pulled out looked like small chains, but Rachel recognized what they were. "Bracelets," she said. "And I think they're for putting charms on."

"Yeah, you're right," Amelia said.

"Charms? Are those like spells?" Crystal asked in confusion.

Spellslamzer chuckled. "Actually, a charm is a small item that you can put on a bracelet to remind you of a place you visited," he said gently. "Like how you got that Eel Plunger from the Secret Sewers Of Supreme Stink a couple weeks ago."

"Oh," the little girl said in realization.

Kairi picked up the chains and counted them. "There's six altogether," she said. "One for each of us."

The girls slipped theirs on their left wrists while Thumpback placed his on his anchor and Spellslamzer put his in one of his pockets. Rachel looked at the others. "Okay, so how do we go about this?" She asked.

"Listen closely and you'll know," Mr. Pop said with a smile. "But take note that there isn't much time. If the protectors aren't rescued, I'll have to close down my shop forever."

"We won't let that happen," Amelia said.

"We'll find Kaos and Lord Licorice, give them the what for, and rescue the protectors," Thumpback said with a firm nod.

"We have the magic of the protectors within us too," Spellslamzer said. "We can do this."

"Yes, we can," Kairi said firmly.

"Be careful, my friends," Mr. Pop said. "And good luck."

Thanking him, they set out, coming to a rainbow path, but before they could step on it, a sloshing sound reached them and they went to jump back, but it was too late for Rachel and Crystal, who were caught up in a tidal wave of brown, sticky liquid. "Help!" Crystal cried out as Rachel struggled to get free.

"What is that?" Amelia asked.

Thumpback grimaced. "Whatever it is, it's got a strong smell," he said.

Spellslamzer kneeled down to analyze it. "It's sticky and seems to be somewhat sweet, though a bit tart," he said.

Kairi gasped. "It's molasses!" She said, a bright smile on her face. "And there's only one molasses person I know. It's Gloppy!"

Rachel, who had caught Crystal in her arms, heard Kairi's exclamation and looked to see that she was right as a head and two arms suddenly rose from the thick brown liquid and lifted both sisters up. A face became visible and the friendly smile that appeared made the older girl smile back. "I'd forgotten about the friendly, molasses monster," she said.

"Sorry about sweeping you away," he said sheepishly, putting both girls down. Crystal looked up at him in surprise while Rachel noticed that she and her sister didn't have any molasses stuck to their clothing, despite having gone for an impromtu swim in it. She guessed that Gloppy had done something to make sure the girls didn't get the sticky stuff on themselves. She suddenly heard the young girl giggle and looked to see Gloppy was making a funny face that was making Crystal laugh. The others laughed too as Kairi came up to them.

"Hi, Gloppy!" She said brightly.

He looked at her and beamed. "Ah, it's you!" He said, giving her a big hug. "Your grandmother spoke highly of you."

The brown-haired girl blushed while Thumpback smiled. Spellslamzer chuckled while Amelia smiled and looked around before looking puzzled. "I don't remember the Molasses Swamp being near here when I played the game," she said. "It was always by King Kandy's Castle."

"It still is," Gloppy said. "When I heard news about you six arriving, I had to come meet you all for myself."

Rachel smiled at that before looking serious. "Gloppy, do you know where Kaos and Lord Licorice have the six protectors and King Kandy?" She asked.

The friendly swamp monster nodded. "He buried Kandy Castle under my swamp and put his castle on top of it," he said. "Not even I can reach them, because Lord Licorice has placed licorice sticks deep in the swamp."

Amelia frowned. "Then we're going to have to go through Licorice Castle to get to them," she said. "If he was able to sink Kandy Castle and build his own castle on top...,"

"Then Kaos helped him do so, without a doubt," Spellslamzer said grimly.

Gloppy nodded. "Hurry," he said urgently. "And listen carefully. The protectors will help you."

He slithered away and the six looked at each other before Crystal closed her eyes, hearing a familiar voice call out to her. She opened her eyes. "I think...I heard Princess Lolli," she said. "She wants someone to go to her forest and make sure the lollipops are okay."

"Then it sounds like we're off to Lollipop Woods," Rachel said and the others nodded.

"Come on, I know the way," Kairi said, stepping onto the colorful path and leading the way.


Lord Licorice cackled as he watched them through a crystal ball Kaos had. "Oh, they'll never be able to save Candy Land," he sneered.

"Not with their precious protectors as our prisoners," Kaos said with an evil smirk.

The protectors, who were in their prison cell nearby, smiled as they sensed the six that they had given their powers to had arrived. "They're here," Queen Frostine said softly.

"They've made it," Mr. Mint said in relief.

"The little one heard me," Princess Lolli said with a happy smile.

"Let's hope they have what it takes," Plumpy said.

"I'm sure they do," Jolly said with a nod.

"If they've answered the call and have already gone to Mr. Pop, then I have every confidence they'll save both us and Candy Land," Grandma Nutt said certainly.

King Kandy nodded. "If you six have confidence in them, then I'm sure we'll be free soon," he said.

He looked at Lord Licorice and Kaos, who were both cackling happily and gloating that the four humans and two Skylanders wouldn't be able to save Candy Land. "Be careful, my friends," he said softly as the crystal ball showed the group heading towards Lollipop Woods.


Well, looks like the group is on their way to set things right, but how will it go? Stay tuned to find out! :)

Also, this story will follow the game loosely, but the group will have different activities to do. :) Next up: Lollipop Woods.

And please leave a review, but no flames! Remember, I'm watching those reviews very closely.

GoldGuardian2418