by Ahmet Zappa
Finally, they reached the bottom of the steps, and the singing stopped. The only light came from the glowing rocks set in the dripping walls of the cavernous room they stood in. “Welcome to the Star Caves,” Lady Stella said, her voice echoing. “We will head to the Wish-House in a moment. But first I want you to experience just how complete the darkness is down here. Are you ready?”
“Yes,” said several voices. Sage thought she recognized Leona’s as the loudest.
Lady Stella closed her eyes and all the lights were suddenly extinguished. It was so utterly dark that Sage held up her hand and couldn’t see it. Sage felt a small, cold hand grab hers and knew instantly it was Cassie’s. Sage squeezed her hand, for her own comfort as much as her roommate’s. Just then, the star on the middle of Lady Stella’s forehead began to glow, illuminating her lovely face. After a moment the lights turned back on again, to everyone’s relief.
“Follow me,” Lady Stella said. “The Wish-Cavern is ready for us.”
Sage worked her way through the crowd so she was right behind the headmistress. She shivered in the damp air. She wished she had worn a sweater. A big cold drop of water hit her squarely on the shoulder. In the spooky half gloom, she could see rocky formations rising from the floor and dripping down from the ceiling like stone icicles. A sudden squeaking sound made her jump.
“Don’t worry,” said Lady Stella. “It’s just a bitbat. They don’t bite—unless they’re hungry.”
Sage nervously laughed along with the other girls. She hoped the headmistress was kidding, but she wasn’t quite sure.
“Ah, here we are,” said Lady Stella, stopping in front of what looked like a sheer stone wall. She concentrated and a section of the wall slid open. A secret entrance! To Sage’s amazement, bright sunlight flooded out. The girls pushed inside, eager to be out of the damp gloom. “Welcome to the Star Darlings Wish-Cavern,” Lady Stella said. “This magical place has been created just for you and your Wish Missions.” Though they were deep underneath Starling Academy, the girls found themselves in a working Wish-House, the sun streaming in through the glass roof. Golden waterfalls of pure wish energy streamed down the sides. Sage smiled as she felt the immediate effects of the positive energy. There was grass underneath their feet and a row of Wish Orbs, their sparkly forms bobbing. Sage counted them quickly. Eleven. She noticed that Astra had kicked off her shoes and was scrunching her toes in the velvety-looking grass.
The girls gravitated toward a grass-covered platform in the middle of the garden and stood around it uncertainly. Sage stood between Clover and Gemma, who both looked excited, and across from Cassie, who was much more reserved.
Lady Stella then announced, “One of twelve Wish Orbs is glowing, which means that a wish is ready to be granted. It is the perfect match for one of you. The timing is wonderful, as your studies have progressed enough that you are all ready to make the trip to Wishworld. Now the Wish Orb will choose which of you is the best match for its wish.” The headmistress pointed to the platform. “Are you ready?” The girls nodded.
Lady Stella clapped her hands. The room darkened, and a beam of light appeared and focused on the middle of the round platform. As the girls watched, the center of the platform opened and up popped a single Wish Orb. It floated in the air. As the girls watched, it slowly moved to the edge of the platform and began to circle around, pausing momentarily in front of each Star Darling as if deciding which girl it belonged to.
Sage stared at it, hoping that it belonged to her. She closed her eyes. Me, me, me…please be me, me…When she opened her eyes, the orb was floating in front of her.
Lady Stella reached out and plucked the Wish Orb out of the air. She turned to Sage, her eyes brimming with tears. “This is a historic moment,” she said. “The very first Star Darling has been chosen. The Wish Orb belongs to you, Sage.” Was it Sage’s imagination, or did the headmistress look relieved?
Sage could hardly breathe. “It’s really me?” she finally managed to squeak out.
“It’s really you,” said Lady Stella. “Congratulations, Sage. Now it is time to prepare for your Wish Mission.”
The headmistress clapped her hands again. “When we get upstairs, the rest of you girls are dismissed. Sage, you come with me. We have a lot to do before you leave. By tomorrow morning you will be on your way to helping Wishworld!”
“Go back to that cute striped jacket and that skirt with the folds in it,” said Cassie. She was lying on her bed watching Sage flip through the options on the Wishworld Outfit Selector on her Star-Zap. Pants, shirts, vests, skirts, dresses, leggings, hats. All kinds of shoes—sneakers, flats, platforms, tall boots, short boots, booties. The choices were endless. Sage pressed the CHOOSE button and a new Wishling outfit instantly appeared on her body.
“Now spin,” said Cassie. Sage did, and the pleated skirt stood out, floating in the air. “Oh, I really like Wishworld fashion,” said Cassie. “Can you find it in white?”
Sage flipped through several more outfits before finally settling on a comfortable pair of blue pants and some lavender sneakers. On top she wore a lavender shirt with a glittery flutterfocus—make that a butterfly—on it and a cute cropped jacket. She registered her choice by pressing a button on her Star-Zap, then put on a lavender nightgown, soft as a cloud, and crawled into bed.
“Good night, Sage,” said Cassie. “I’m really excited for you. And I’m also really relieved that it’s not me.” She yawned. “I’m sure you’ll do great.” Sage stared at the ceiling, her mind racing. In mere hours she would be on her way to a strange new place where she would have to fit in, find the right Wisher, identify the wish, and help make it come true. She shivered with anticipation.
Sage stood on the private Star Darlings section of the Wishworld Surveillance Deck, her heart beating fast, her eyes protected by a pair of special safety starglasses. Two Star Wranglers stood nearby with lassos made of wish energy in their hands. Their job was to catch a falling star as it passed by and attach Sage to it. Then they’d let go and she’d be flung into the heavens.
Sage thought she’d be nervous, but she felt oddly calm. The rest of the Star Darlings, however, were buzzing with excitement as they hugged her and wished her well.
Lady Stella called for everyone’s attention. “I have some last-starmin details to share,” she said. “When you enter Wishworld’s atmosphere, your Star-Zap will signal that it is time to change your appearance. You must make sure that your hair, skin, and clothing blend in with the Wishlings.
“That means no sparkly skin, no vibrant hair color, no Starland fashions,” the headmistress stressed. “You must always keep your true identity a secret. To let the Wishlings know of our existence would be disastrous. We would be overwhelmed by wishes—many of them selfish ones. It is imperative that we keep the balance just as it is.”
Sage nodded. “I understand.”
“And a reminder—you must pay careful attention to the Countdown Clock on your Star-Zap. The wish must be granted before the orb dies. The timing is different in each case. A starsec too late and the wish energy will be lost forever. And keep a careful eye on the energy levels of your Wish Pendant. You can use it to help make the wish come true by using your special power.” Sage nodded. “But of course, you have to figure out what your special power is!” Lady Stella smiled at her. “And remember, you never want to completely run out of wish energy, in case of an emergency.
“I cannot stress to you how important it is that each of you collect your wish energy. We need every drop.”
“No need to worry,” Sage said confidently. “I can do this.”
Lady Stella continued. “Due to Wishworld’s atmosphere, we will only be able to monitor your wish energy reserves in your Wish Pendant and see how much time you have left on the Countdown Clock. We will not be able to communicate with each other.”
Sage nodded again.
“Now where is Lady Cordial?” asked Lady Stella. At that moment, the door opened and the purple-haired w
oman emerged, out of breath and holding a rectangular lavender bag with two shoulder straps and a purple stuffed star hanging from the zipper. “This is a bag we created to look like the ones all Wishworld children carry. This will help you fit in.” Sage took it and slipped it over her arm.
Lady Stella looked at Sage proudly. “I have total faith that your journey will be a success,” she told her. She smiled gently at Sage. “One last thing—don’t forget your Mirror Mantra. It has been chosen especially for you: I believe in you. Glow for it! Recite it when you feel like you or your Wisher need reassurance and strength.”
“I believe in you,” Sage repeated. “Glow for it!”
Then there was a flurry of embraces and farewells, and before Sage knew it, the star wranglers had lassoed a falling star and attached her to it. Before she could tap her elbows together for luck, she was jolted back as the star was released and took off like a shot. Next stop: Wishworld.
The only way for Sage to describe the ride through the heavens was that it was like being on the most exciting, fastest star coaster in existence. There were flashes of light and glimmers of starshine. She passed through a gray cloud and shivered. Must be negative wish energy, she thought. And as soon as her ride began, it was almost over. Mooniums of floozels covered in mere starmins. Sage was entering Wishworld’s atmosphere.
Her Star-Zap began to flash. COMMENCE APPEARANCE CHANGE, it read. Sage accessed the Wishworld Outfit Selector and was instantly dressed in the Wishling clothing she had chosen.
Next she closed her eyes and held her Wish Pendant tightly. “Star light, star bright,” she began to recite, “the first star I see tonight: I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.” Immediately, her pendant began to glow, and a warm, pleasant feeling settled over her.
Sage first concentrated on her hair, envisioning plain, light brown braids. She then focused on her skin, imagining it to be smooth and dull. The warmth went away and Sage opened her eyes.
Looking down, she felt a small stab of disappointment when she saw that her hair was no longer its rich lavender hue. The light brown braids looked very dull indeed. She was surprised to see that there was a layer of sparkles on her skin. She gave herself a quick shake and the glitter fell off. She felt plain and unadorned. But now she would fit right in.
PREPARE FOR LANDING, the Star-Zap read. Sage screwed her eyes shut and braced herself as she fell to Wishworld. If any Wishlings happened to look up and spot her arrival, they would think they were witnessing a falling star—a particularly lovely one, at that.
She landed with a gentle thump and opened her eyes. She was sitting on a small grassy hill in the middle of a cluster of yellow and orange trees. The star sat beside her, sputtering. She took off her safety glasses and put them away. She’d need them for the return trip home. She’d also need the star. She reached out a finger and gently poked it. It was cool to the touch. With a smile, she began to fold it, as she had been instructed by Lady Stella, until it was the size of a small star-shaped wallet. She placed it in the zippered front pocket of her backpack, then slipped her arms through the straps. There! Now she looked just like a real Wishling!
She was all alone. The landing coordinates had been carefully chosen to avoid Wishling observation. The only sound was a strange yet lovely chirpy kind of music, which she soon discovered came from small winged creatures that sat in the branches of the surrounding trees.
“Take me to the Wisher I’ve come to help,” she said into her communicator. It immediately gave her precise directions.
Sage walked for a bit until she found a pathway. As she walked she saw lawns, benches, and more trees and soon realized that she had landed in the middle of a park. She saw more of those winged creatures that were making the melodic sounds she liked so much, as well as some gray animals with bushy tails. They chattered at her as she passed.
Very soon after that, she started seeing Wishlings. She couldn’t help staring at them, despite herself. They really did look remarkably like Starlings but with lusterless, non-sparkly skin and plain hair colors, though some of them embellished their appearances with bright clothing, accessories, or face paint. Some of the female Wishlings wore improbably high shoes. Many of the males had long strips of cloth tied around their necks. Some Wishlings rolled by on wheeled footgear. Others led furry animals of all shapes and sizes by long ropes. Sage vaguely remembered they were called dags, or something like that. Sage left the park and crossed a busy street.
She gaped at the oddly shaped wheeled vehicles and the Wishlings inside them. It was true—they were actually driving!
Several blocks later she reached her destination, a large redbrick building with a flag flying out front. Her Wisher’s school. She felt her pulse quicken as she walked up the steps and pushed open the doors. The hallway was long, empty, and lined with small metal closets. She wrinkled her nose at the harsh sanitized smell in the air. WALK DOWN THE HALLWAY, TURN LEFT, AND GO UP THE STAIRS, the communicator instructed on-screen. Sage stepped forward confidently, hardly able to contain her excitement. Her adventure was about to begin.
Until a voice halted her. “Stop right there,” someone said. The order echoed in the empty hallway.
Sage’s heart dropped. Would her mission be over before it even began?
Sage spun around. An adult male Wishling with dark brown hair and a green uniform was standing in the middle of the hallway, frowning at her.
“And what are you wearing? You know that jeans and sneakers aren’t allowed in school. I’ll have to write you up a detention slip!”
Sage looked down at her blue pants and her shoes. She pressed a button on her Star-Zap and made a mental note, which she knew would instantly be recorded in her Cyber Journal: Mission 1, Wishworld Observation #1: Do not wear “jeans and sneakers” to school. As the male Wishling began filling out the paper, Sage quickly pressed another button on the communicator and accessed the outfit changer. She was instantly wearing brand-new clothing, hopefully appropriate this time.
In her haste she hadn’t been able to make an informed choice and hoped her outfit was a pretty one. The man looked up from his clipboard. “Like I said, no jeans or…” The man stopped talking when he took in her outfit. He blinked slowly. “Wait—what? I could have sworn…” He shook his head, flustered. “Well…then where is your hall pass?” he asked, bristling.
Sage bit her lip. What on Starland was a hall pass? She hadn’t learned about that in school. Suddenly, the Wishling looked around, sniffing the air. “Mmmmm,” he said, a smile creeping over his face. “Angel food cake.”
That gave Sage a moment to think. And then, to her surprise, she found herself looking deep into his eyes and saying: “My name is Sage. I am the new student in school.”
His reaction both surprised and delighted her. He nodded, his face solemn, almost as if he was in a trance. “Yes,” he said. “Your name is Sage. You are the new student in school.” He took another sniff and closed his eyes for a moment. “Reminds me of the cakes my grandma baked for me and my sister after school. She used to let us lick the beaters when she was done. Go right ahead!”
Sage allowed herself a small smile of victory as she resumed walking down the hallway and moved up the stairs, her footsteps echoing. She added observation number two: Find out what a hall pass is. Seems important.
ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION, the Star-Zap spelled out. Sage paused in front of the classroom door, took a deep breath, smoothed her braids, and opened it. Twenty-five students swiveled their heads in her direction. Sage suddenly felt self-conscious for the first time. It was an unfamiliar feeling, and fortunately only a momentary one.
A pretty adult female Wishling with straight blond hair pulled back into a low ponytail came to the door in a red polka-dotted dress. “May I help you?” she asked. She had a puzzled expression on her face. Then she looked down the hallway and breathed in deeply.
“They must be baking carrot cake in the lunchroom. Delicious.” She smiled a faraway smile
. “I can almost taste my mom’s cream cheese frosting.”
This time Sage knew just what to do. She looked deep into the teacher’s eyes. “I am Sage,” she said pleasantly. “I am the new student in your class.”
The teacher nodded, just as the man in the hall had. “You are Sage. You are the new student in my class,” she repeated. She pointed to a desk halfway down the row closest to the windows. “Please be seated. I am Ms. Daniels, your teacher.”
Mission 1, Wishworld Observation #3: Young Star Darlings clearly have some form of mind control over adults. Sage walked down the aisle as some of the students gave her curious glances. She looked down at her outfit, and her eyes widened in surprise. In her rush to change, she hadn’t noticed that the outfit changer had selected a bright green-and-blue-striped top, an orange skirt, and bright yellow leggings. She looked down again. And red-and-purple shoes. She grinned. She looked like a rainbow! Well, at least I’m very bright and cheerful, she thought.
A couple of the students tittered as she passed.
“Class,” said the teacher. “There’s no need to be rude to our new classmate.”
“Nice backpack,” said a boy. “But why isn’t it on your back?”
Sage looked down at the bag, which she was wearing on her chest.
“Oops,” she said. “I guess I thought it was a frontpack!”
The class laughed. But in a nice way, like she had made a joke on purpose. Sage grinned. She was off to a good start, completely unintentionally.
Sage stepped over a boy’s outstretched legs and slid into the plastic seat, resting her arms on the desk that was attached to it. Jon was here was scratched into the surface. She waited for the seat to adjust. But it stayed the same—hard, plastic, and uncomfortable. That was observation number four: Wishling chairs do not adjust.
She glanced around the room, wondering which student was the Wisher. Her Wish Pendant was glowing faintly, proof that her Wisher was nearby. Was it the redhead with the freckles? The pigtailed blonde staring into space? The one with jet-black shoulder-length hair who was gazing at her curiously? It could be anyone!
