Sylvie grabbed her backpack and groped for the misshapen stick of gum.This will have to do.She shoved the wad into her mouth, pulled off a sticky gob, and stuffed her hand back into the bag. She could feel the bees moving toward it. They were curious.
Come on. Work!
“Umm … you guys … I think we have a problem,” cried Flora. “Either I’m seeing things or there are—”
“TWO DRAGONS!” screamed someone nearby.
The silvery figures raced through the air with their wings outstretched.
Whoosh!
A string of flags sizzled as one of the dragons spat out a flame.
“Hey! This is a no smoking section!” Georgia coughed.
Flora’s eyes watered.
Cinders rained down as another string of flags shriveled into nothing. Sylvie eyed the judges’ table.Why isn’t LeGrande coming down?
“This would be a really good time to come up with one of your clever fixes,” said Georgia.
The dragons were now circling like hungry sharks.
“Yeah. Preferably before they roast us,” said Flora.
“I’m almost there. Keep stalling!” Sylvie said. She could feel a bee inching its way up her hand.Gotcha!Sylvie pressed her thumb and index finger together, squishing the blob of gum into the bee’s wings.
Georgia spun around. “Look out!”
The flag in Flora’s hands burst into flames as the dragons dove toward the final peanut butter ball.
Sweat poured down Sylvie’s brow as she shoved the rest of the gum into the bag.
“What’s taking so long?” cried Georgia.
“I’ve got ’em!” Sylvie ripped the bag open. The honey packets hobbled across the steps. Sylvie picked them up and squeezed. A sticky golden trail oozed into the jar as she rolled several fresh balls. “Here.” She shoved two at Georgia.
More treats sailed into the sky. The dragons were now in a frenzy. Sticky droplets of saliva rained down. Smoke and cinders filled the air.
“I’m starting to wonder if the Pep Powder was a bit much,” said Georgia.
Bam!
A tail collided with Caron’s skybox.
Chocolate exploded in the air as one of the dragons snatched several roosters.
“Possibly … yes,” said Sylvie, staring at the scene.
“All available Emergency Magical Malady Technicians report to the Sky Deck for duty!” the announcer shouted. “Competitors, please redock your kitchens. We’ll be taking a short break.”
Then again. Maybe it was just right.“The competition is being paused,” said Sylvie. “Our plan is working.”
Sylvie looked back up at the judges’ table, trying to see what was happening, but it was impossible.
A stew of smoke, feathers, and chocolate swirled through the air like confetti. One of the dragons locked eyes with Sylvie. A long black tongue flicked out of its mouth as it spotted the peanut butter balls. The dragon’s jaws opened wide.
Sylvie had never imagined that hardened sugar had a sound. But as she stared into the enormous flaming mouth, an echo erupted, like plates of the Earth grinding together. It was actually beautiful, melodic, but the ball of fire churning inside kind of ruined the mood.
