Sweet Showdown

Am I dreaming?

'I still find it strange how cotton candy fell on your head. Fortunately, you're doing a little better,' said Altana, supporting Zane as he left the room.

'Huh, what's that in the sky?' cried Stella, looking up in confusion. Stella stood still, trying to figure out what she saw. Altana came out quietly and saw it too.

'Stella, look out!' shouted Altana, who ran toward Stella. Crystal candy flew straight at them. 'Crystal Deflecta!' Altana shouted loudly, and a giant shield that appeared to be made out of a crystal pineapple appeared above Altana and Stella, just in time to dodge the attack.

Zane lay on the ground, still half-confused, watching what was happening. 'What... What's happening?' asked Zane, slowly trying to stand up.

'Haha,' giggled a voice. 'Oh, how good it feels to be back!' cried the voice.

'Show yourself! Who are you, and what do you want?' shouted Altana, helping Zane get back up.

Suddenly, the person appeared. 'Did you miss me?' said a fairy flying above their heads.

'Azura! How are you free?' cried Stella, standing a little frightened on her feet.

'Oh, since King Cody is free again, he has taken power over Berrinia. Without my help, he was still frozen there, but now that he is free, nothing can stop me!' Azura shouted loudly.

Zane, Stella, and Altana watched as a small bluish creature rushed toward Azura.

'What are you guys looking at like that? Do I have something of yours maybe?' cried Azura. Immediately, she looked behind her. The creature jumped right at her. 'AAAHHH!' cried Azura, crashing to the ground.

Immediately, Altana and Stella were ready. 'Time to end this fight!' shouted Stella.

'Just wait, you won't get rid of me that quickly. I'll get my revenge yet!' shouted Azura, and in a flash, she was gone.

'Zane? Altana? Where are you guys? Why is everyone frozen?' Didi came running when she saw Zane lying on the ground. 'Why are you lying here on the ground? And what is that thing?' cried Didi, jumping in terror.

'This here is a Berry Bear. He's from Berrinia. I think he was so scared that he somehow came along with Azura,' Stella explained, playing a little with the Berry Bear.

'Huh? Am I crazy? Am I seeing things?' Didi just fainted from all the stimuli.

'What a drama queen!' said Zane, already recovering from the blow.

'I still find all this confusing. Superpowers and magical creatures don't exist at all, do they?' asked Zane, watching his sister still lying there on the ground.

'I think you'd better ask your mother for an explanation. She knows more about the situation than we do. Oh, and Stella, don't you have to unfreeze everyone again?' asked Altana, looking at the hundreds of frozen statues of students and teachers on the playground.

'Oh haha, my bad.' Before she unfroze everyone, she decided to give the Berry Bear to Zane and Didi. 'Show him to your mother. Once she sees this, I guess she'll have to tell the truth,' Stella said, getting ready to unfreeze everyone.

'But then school? Don't we still have to stay here? We might get in trouble,' Zane asked, carefully shoving the Berry Bear into his backpack.

'All right, we'll make sure that doesn't happen. Now go!' shouted Altana.

Zane woke Didi up, and together they left the school. Zane began to send a message to Carissa to pick them up.

[11:32 AM] Zane

Mom, come pick us up. Didi fainted!

[11:34 AM] Carissa

Oh my, I'm coming right away!

Is she sick?

[11:36 AM] Zane

Uh, yes! Yes, she has a headache and a stomach ache.

[11:37 AM] Carissa

Oh, that sounds awful!

I'll be there in 5 minutes

[11:38 AM] Zane

Okay!

Waiting for Carissa to arrive, Zane stood by Didi, who was so nervous. She just didn't understand a thing.

'Hey - sorry it took so long, crawl in quickly. We're going home soon so Didi can get some rest. Why did you have to come along, anyway?' asked Carissa as she looked at Zane in amazement.

'Oh, I just wanted to come along. I wanted to be some support for her.'

'Support? She's just sick, right?' asked Carissa, not understanding him.

'Yes, support! She's sick because of your lies! What are you hiding from us that we don't know?' cried Zane flat out.

'Honey, I don't understand what you're talking about. Let's go home. Didi is already asleep by now, and she's not even in her bed yet,' Carissa said as she started the car again.

'No, why can't you just tell the truth? I can handle it! I already know anyway,' Zane said as he looked away from Carissa.

'But I don't understand what you're talking about, honey. What do you already know?' asked Carissa, who looked questioningly at Zane.

'You know quite well what I mean. The magical superpowers, candy villains and fruit heroes, fruit creatures, maybe even a magical planet?!' Carissa looked in shock and stopped answering. She kept her hands firmly on the steering wheel and looked sternly ahead.

'I'll explain everything to you once we get home...' And without another word they left on their way home.