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Valeria and Cassim woke up in their room within their apartment on the mainland. Today was going to be nice summer day for picking fresh lollipops with Valeria's brothers, Drosselmeyer and Little Fritz. As they got up, got dressed, and were making breakfast before leaving to the Land of Sweets and Dreams, Valeria and Cassim talk about recent events.
Valeria: I am so happy that Odette and her family was reunited with their father's side of the family after so many years apart.
Cassim: Yeah, Odette's Uncle Therion had a nasty stalker that wouldn't leave him alone, even though he has a family.
Valeria: Not only that, but who would have thought that stalker was Heishin's daughter. None of us that he was even married, let alone had a child.
Cassim: That was a twist. Still, that Neferina reminded me of Nephthys in regards of being someone who won't let the guy they're obsessed with to live their own lives.
Valeria: I agree, but they were both punished and no longer around to mess with people's lives.
Cassim: Absolutely! Speaking of our lives...
Valeria: This is going to be Fritz's first lollipop picking.
Cassim: I haven't done much lollipop picking before today... Though, we did some sweet gatherings during Springtime and throughout the time we were dating.
Valeria: Yeah, we haven't really been to Lollipop Valley together yet. We have been to Gumdrop Hills and Lemon Falls during our courting, so it will be fun to go somewhere different.
Cassim: I am so glad that Drosselmeyer created that mini teleporter for us to easily travel between the two islands.
Valeria: Drossel is our family's inventor for a reason and it does make seeing our families much easier.
Cassim: Also, we can continue in being able to bond with Fritz. How is Mother Clara? I know that she has been recovering since giving birth to Fritz.
Valeria: Mom has been taking it easy for nearly two months and now she is been busy taking care of Fritz.
Cassim: Glad that she is getting better.
Valeria: As soon as we are done eating breakfast, we can start heading out to the Land of Sweets and Dreams.
Cassim agreed and the two of them continued to eat their breakfast. After they finished and quickly washed the dishes, Valeria and Cassim went to their newly installed teleporter next to the main hall. With the pushing of a couple buttons, the teleporter activated and then Valeria and Cassim found themselves at the main train station in front of the Toy Castle. Greeting them is Drosselmeyer and four month old Fritz in his blue and purple onesie.
Fritz: Vally! Cassim!
Valeria: (picks up and hugs her little brother) Hello Fritz! (looks at Drosselmeyer) Hey, Drossel. Has Fritz been behaving himself?
Drosselmeyer: He has been a good boy, but he is very eager to have some lollipops.
Cassim: Aren't we all eager, Drosselmeyer?
Drosselmeyer: We certainly are, Cassim, but not as much as Fritz here.
Fritz: Can't we go there now?
Drosselmeyer: (chuckles) Yes, Little Fritz.
The siblings and Cassim stepped onto the train and it went on its way to Lollipop Valley. The valley that they were heading is one of the largest sections of the Land of Sweets and Dreams where many of the land's renowned candies originated. As the train approaches the valley, the quartet could the many colors of the lollipops growing on the trees and the multitudes of rock candy trees.
Cassim: What a valley!
Drosselmeyer: Every kind of lollipop or candy on a stick grow in that valley.
Fritz: We pick them?
Valeria: Yes, we are going to do that soon, Fritz.
Fritz: (starts bouncing on Valeria's lap) Yay!
Cassim: He is so excited that he is already started to bounce around, even though he hasn't picked any lollipops yet.
Drosselmeyer: He is going to have the time of his life there, that's for certain.
The train arrived at the station in front of the valley opening and the quartet stepped out and started to explore within the candy valley. While they were wandering around the siblings spotted someone picking some blue lollipops. The individual turned around and saw the quartet walking toward him. Upon closer inspection of the individual, he is a fairy around his twenties with white wings and jaw-length pale blue hair with purple highlights with dark eyes. He is dressed in a dark blue waistcoat with purple jeweled buttons and a white lace collar with light blue trousers and dark blue shoes with light blue flower buckles.
Drosselmeyer: Mellan? Mellan Steel?
Mellan: Drosselmeyer? Valeria? It has been some time since you two came to Lollipop Valley. (looks at Cassim and Fritz) You must be Cassim, Valeria's husband and you little one is Fritz, the newest member of the family.
Cassim: That's right, I'm Cassim.
Fritz: Yeah! I, Fritz!
Valeria: Yeah, I brought my husband and our little brother for their first lollipop picking.
Mellan: Well, you four have picked a perfect day for lollipop picking. The sky is clear and sunny and the temperatures are just right. Want me to lead you all to the biggest lollipop tree in this valley?
Drosselmeyer: Sure, lead the way.
Mellan smiles and gestures the family to follow him to the lollipop tree that he spoke about. While they were walking through the woods, Cassim and Fritz learn that Mellan is a Lollipop Fairy Wizard who uses the blue lollipop that was he was picking as his magic wand. Though Mellan spent majority of his life in Fairyland, he was originally born in Avalon. His father is a human wizard and former apprentice of Merlin and his mother is a Lollipop Fairy that tended to the lollipop trees in the valley.
Cassim: Your father was trained by Merlin himself?! Were you ever trained by Merlin yourself?
Mellan: I was getting training from my father and Merlin, which is why I haven't seen Odette and Nymphadora for a while.
Valeria: Hmm? You know Odette and her cousin personally?
Mellan: Yes, before I started training under Merlin, Father was teaching me what I could while I was being raised here in Fairyland. My dad acted as Court Magician for both King Arthur and the Royal Family on Fairyland's mainland. I was four when I met both Odette and Nymphadora and I was playing with them and showing them my magic until we were all eight years old.
Fritz: Why eight?
Mellan: Nymphadora and her family left Fairyland due to someone threatening them and didn't want to endanger the rest of their family, so we had to reluctantly part ways, but we didn't fully know everything until now. My father decided to have me learn under Merlin around that time too, so I unfortunately had to part ways with our Princess Lady.
Valeria: Why did your father chose that time to have you go train under Merlin?
Mellan: I expressed that I wanted to be a good protector for Odette and her family, so I guess Father figure that if anyone could help me achieve my goal, it would be his former mentor.
Drosselmeyer: You had a thing for Odette?
Mellan: I really like her, but not as a girlfriend, if that is what you are trying to imply Drosselmeyer. I really liked her and Nymphadora, but I wanted to be someone who they can depend on for whenever they need help. A protector.
Valeria: During those years that you were training under Merlin, have you seen Odette?
Mellan: I did whenever she or/and her family came to Avalon for the trade talks. Those were times I was able to catch up with her, but at that time, she barely remembered Nymphadora.
Drosselmeyer: That was because her late grandfather, Foster Crystalline cast a memory spell on Odette so to spare her the worry of never seeing that part of the family again. The spell lasted until Foster's passing, which eventually led to the reunion of the family.
Mellan: That would explain everything. I am glad that the cousins are reunited. Hopefully, I could see them both together again.
Valeria: Perhaps they would visit here sometimes, if you are still going to be here in Lollipop Valley.
Mellan: Perhaps, I would like to meet my girlfriend.
Cassim: You have a girlfriend, Mellan?
Mellan: Yes, her name is Shimmer Lightblossom and she is currently in Avalon at the moment, but would be coming back to Fairyland in a few days.
Valeria: That's wonderful that you met someone.
Mellan: Thank you. I first met her here in the valley a few years ago during early spring candy sprouts. She is such a sweet fairy and I was lucky to have met her.
Drosselmeyer: Glad that you are happy then.
Mellan: (stops in front of a large tree with many different colored and shaped lollipops.) Here we are!
Fritz: (looks at how massive the tree in front of him is) Wow....!
Mellan: (chuckles) This is one of the largest lollipop trees in the valley.
Drosselmeyer: We can see why. (holds out a basket for Fritz) Ready to pick some lollies?
Fritz: (takes his little basket, but looks at the tree) Tree is big...
Mellan: You can pick the lollies at the base of the tree if you feel nervous about going up to the branches, Little one.
Fritz: (sees the lollipops on the ground around the tree) They good?
Mellan: Yes, they are just as good as the ones on the branches. The only differences between them are that the ones on the branches are much bigger than the ones on the base.
Fritz: Okay! (starts picking the lollipops around the base) Vally! Dross! Cassim! Come on!
Valeria: (giggles) All right, all right Fritz! We are coming!
Soon, all of them are picking lollipops from both the base and on the branches. By the time everyone was done picking lollipops, Fritz made a bouquet of lollies.
Fritz: Think Mom would like these?
Valeria: (looks at the bouquet) I believe that Mom would love them, Fritz!
Cassim: This was a perfect day for lollipop picking. Thank you for your help, Mellan.
Mellan: Anytime. Hope you guys come back soon and that Odette and Nymphadora visit too.
Drosselmeyer: We will see what we can do, but we will let them know.
Mellan: Thank you and bye!
The family: Good bye!
The family parted ways with Mellan and went back to the train station and head back to the Toy Castle. As Fritz was getting excited in giving his mommy his bouquet of lollipops, Cassim and Valeria are happy that today went well for them and their brothers. With the knowledge that Mellan wants to see his oldest friends again, Cassim and Valeria are hoping that they could arrange for a time for the three friends to reunite and meet his girlfriend, Shimmer. Until they speak to Odette and Nymphadora, Cassim and Valeria are cherishing the time that they have spent with Fritz as he is growing up and forming happy family memories together.