EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth chapter in a 12-chapter fictional tale that will run through Christmas Day. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children.

When Molly and Jax arrived at the base of the tallest landmark in all of Candyland, they crouched behind a large boulder near the entrance to Marshmallow Mountain.

The only way in — a narrow path that led to a tall, solid iron gate — stood just 50 yards ahead.

The smell of sweet marshmallow was so strong that Molly could taste it. Rivers of white, gooey marshmallow lava oozed from the top of the mountain, flowing into a stream that led into the village.

“Well…” Jax whispered beside her, “any suggestions?”

Molly had none. It seemed the tales of Marshmallow Mountain were true. It was locked down tighter than a jar of ginger butter.

“We could…go over the wall? Climb the trees?”

“And get shot out of the branches by the guards. I have no desire to be pelted with hardened marshmallows, those things hurt,” Jax muttered.

“How do you know? Nevermind. What about scaling the mountain? Climbing down the other side?”

“And get melted into a marshmallow abyss? No thank you.”

“Well, what are your bright ideas then, Mr. Negative?”

Jax thought for a moment. “We wait for a delivery to come out, tackle them and steal their uniforms. Then we can go undercover.”

“Uh, that’s a little much,” Molly said. “Besides, the marshmallow people have pastel skin. We look nothing like them, not to mention the fact that you smell like a candy cane.”

“Well, you smell like a spiced bread loaf!”

“Or…” a voice came from behind them. “You could just walk through the gate with me, as prisoners.”

They turned quickly and Molly backed up into Jax’s side. A bored looking teenage boy with pale green skin and messy white hair stared down at them. But it wasn’t his appearance that had frozen Molly in place. The boy was sitting on the shoulder of a 20-foot tall marshmallow monster that resembled a green sugared Christmas tree…with a face.

“Is that…” Molly could hardly speak.

“A peepling,” Jax finished, sounding much less terrified than she believed the situation called for. “Or maybe I just climb up that tree and knock you down to size,” he called to the boy.

Molly stared at Jax with wide-eyed fear, urging him to be quiet, but he didn’t relent.

“Showing off a bit, don’t you think?” Jax asked, nodding to the peepling monster. It was actually sneering down at them. Molly had heard such creatures existed here, but never believed it.

The two boys stared each other down in silence before the one on the peepling started laughing. He slid off the marshmallow giant, landing gracefully in front of them.

Molly watched in shock as the two boys shook hands in a warm greeting.

“Molly, this is Bash, prince of Marshmallow Mountain, and an old friend.”

Bash laughed. “Hardly a prince, my father is mayor here. It’s nice to meet you, Molly.”

“Nice to meet you and your…tree.” She glanced nervously up at the menacing marshmallow.

Bash gestured behind him. “That’s just Steve. He looks mean, but he’s a pile of goo inside.”

“I can’t tell you how good it is to see you right now. We’re looking for…,” Jax said, glancing at Molly. “Well, I’m not sure yet … something from inside the mountain.”

Molly figured Bash would have questions, but he just nodded.

“You’ll have to wait out here and hide until 4:30,” Bash said. “Then the whole village will be shutting down and heading into the mountains for a wedding. You can sneak in then, but you’ll only have 30 minutes tops. After that, everyone will be in the town square for a feast and there will be no way to get you out unseen.”

Steve bent down and Bash climbed back up his shoulder.

“The gate will be unlocked,” Bash said. “Get in and out as fast as you can. Jax, you know where the warehouse is. If you’re looking for something, that’s where you’ll find it. Take what you need.”

Jax nodded up at him. “Thank you. And make sure to visit soon, my mom misses you.”

“Deal. Take care, Molly of Gingerbread Island. I hope we meet again.”

“S-same to you…and thank you!” she stuttered as Bash and Steve disappeared through the trees. She turned to Jax expectantly.

“I think you have a story to tell.”

Read chapter 7 in tomorrow’s newspaper.