"Happy Halloween, sweetie," Sabine told her daughter. "And thanks for helping us in the bakery all day," she smiled.
Marinette smiled back, but as she trudged upstairs, she wasn't sure if she wanted to see another piece of candy or sweet again.
She fell asleep instantly, drifting away into a dream….
Marinette opened her eyes, blinking slowly then jumping up. This wasn't her bedroom! She had fallen asleep against a large gray boulder, next to a side that read "Lollipop Woods."
How did I get here? Marinette thought. And how do I find my way home? Maybe someone who lives in the woods can help me.
She set off along the trail, and she noticed the air smelled sweet. Very sweet. She stopped, glancing at the trees and grass around her, then walked over to the nearest tree. She placed her hand upon the bark, her hand coming away with a brown substance. Curious, she sniffed her hand. "Chocolate?" she asked aloud, and gave her hand a tentative lick. It was chocolate! Everything here must be made of candy!
Just then, she heard footsteps along the trail, and ducked behind some bushes. She cautiously peeked over the top, finding a man in a black cat suit with a colorful bow-tie and golden bell at his throat. Well, maybe he would know where she was.
Slowly coming out of hiding, she cleared her throat. "Excuse me?" The black cat gaped, a grin of delight blooming on his feature. "Princess Lolli, I found you!" Princess Lolli? "No, My name is Marinette." "Oh, I get it, Princess," Cat said with a wink. "One of your many alias to be hidden from King Licorice." "No, really-" "You must come with me immediately for its time to do the annual chocolate tasting before the Day of Sweets." Cat took her hand.
"Not before you tell me who you are first," she jerked her hand away. "Cat Noir, Royal Escort to Princess Lolli, that's you, and Jester of Jokes." He gave a playful wink. Marinette rubbed her head.
"I'm just trying to figure out what I'm doing here." "My poor Princess, come let's get you home." Cat trotted off, and Marinette sighed, thinking she'd better follow him.
"So, who is King Licorice?" she asked. "Oh, he loves candy and wants to steal it. Ah, the carriage has arrived!"
Marinette gasped aloud as two chocolate brown horses pranced about attached to a waiting sleigh. Could even the horses be made of chocolate? Was she made out of candy here? She looked down into a small puddle and she could see that her outfit had been transformed. A red and black polka dress, plus a striped ribbon bow sat a top her head. Maybe she was a Princess after all.
The ride to the castle was one of the prettiest rides she ever been on. The horses trotted through the Field of Pastries, splashed through Blue Frosting Lake, and she shivered as they crunched their way through the Peppermint Forest.
But the crowning jewel was the castle, decorated entirely with sweets, and Marinette could see people lined up and waiting.
"There all waiting for you," Cat said. "For me?" "Yes, for you will give out the sweets."
Marinette felt like she was in a whirl as they headed in through the entrance, met by rousing cheers. She tasted and sampled many delicious goodies, but she glad to be handing out candies.
Marinette woke to the buzzing of her alarm. She groaned as she slapped the alarm off, it was Halloween. The dream still lingered in her mind, and Marinette sat up.
Instead of keeping most of the candy for herself this year, maybe she could give it to the Children's Hospital as she and Cat had a Halloween event there that weekend.
She smiled to herself, knowing Princess Lolli, alas Marinette would be proud.