by Ahmet Zappa
S.D. WISH BLOSSOM IDENTIFIED. PROCEED TO LADY STELLA’S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
Libby jumped out of bed, shoved her feet into a pair of shoes, and headed out the door.
Once outside, she discovered it was lightfall, the magical time of day when the sun began to disappear and everyone’s glow was at its brightest. Starlings got an extra burst of energy at lightfall; whether it was from being surrounded by shimmering Starlings or was a direct result of their own personal glow, Libby wasn’t quite sure. Perhaps a combination of both. She breezed past groups of classmates chatting on the moving sidewalk as they returned from dinner.
“Where are you going, Libby?” someone called.
“Hey, where’s the fire?” shouted another.
Libby just laughed and waved. She could never explain to them what was going on. Imagine if she told them the truth. “Oh, it’s no big deal. I’m just on my way to Lady Stella’s office. There’s a one-in-eleven chance that I’m going to be on my way to Wishworld before you’re even dressed tomorrow morning!”
By dodging around oncoming students, she soon caught up with her fellow Star Darlings, who were making their way to Halo Hall, where Lady Stella’s office was located. Tessa was still eating a cocomoon. She took a big bite, the milky-white iridescent juice running down her arm.
“Where were you, roomie?” asked Gemma.
To Libby, her voice sounded accusatory. For a brief second, Libby was fearful that Gemma somehow knew she had been unkind. But as Libby’s pulse began to slow down, she realized she was overreacting. “Oh, I wasn’t hungry,” she said.
“Well, that’s just crazy talk,” said Tessa with a laugh, holding up the half-eaten cocomoon.
Libby fell into step with the group, grazing shoulders with Adora. Everyone was making small talk, not mentioning where they were headed, or for what purpose, in case anyone was within earshot. But they couldn’t keep still—eyes were darting, fingers were tapping, the nervous energy was palpable. They couldn’t wait to find out who would be going to Wishworld next.
Sage turned around, and Libby was surprised to see that her eyes were flashing. Even she, who had been through this already and knew for certain that she would not be chosen, seemed to be filled with nervous excitement.
The moving sidewalk took the girls straight to Halo Hall, and they headed up the stairs and inside, their feet echoing in the empty hallways as they walked past silent classrooms. They filed into Lady Stella’s office. The headmistress sat behind her desk, her arms folded. She looked remarkably calm. Libby sat down at the round table, placing her hands on its cool silver surface. It calmed her down—a bit. A few Star Darlings stood, fidgeting nervously. Maybe they were too anxious to sit, or perhaps they wanted a head start when Lady Stella opened the door that led down the stairs to the Wish Cavern.
Once everyone was settled, Lady Stella stood up. “Hello, my Star Darlings,” she said. “As you are aware, one of you is about to be chosen for the second Wish Mission. A good Wish Orb is glowing, and it is especially suited to one particular student’s strengths. Please don’t be upset if you are not chosen today. You will each get your turn.”
The Star Darlings all understood that. Still, Libby knew that they all must feel exactly as she did. They wanted it to be theirs. (Except, perhaps, Cassie, who looked slightly miserable. She had confessed to Libby as they sipped sparkle juice in the Lightning Lounge one evening that she wasn’t in a rush to head down to Wishworld. She needed a little bit of time to get used to the idea. It was pretty clear to Libby that she had not yet.)
“When do we get to go to the caves?” Scarlet asked impatiently.
Lady Stella smiled. “Things are going to happen a little differently this time,” she said. “I have been informed by our Wish-Watcher that we will not be going to the Star Darlings Wish Cavern this evening.”
The girls began to murmur. Not going to the Wish Cavern! The last time, when Sage was chosen, Lady Stella had opened a hidden door in her office wall, and a secret staircase had been revealed. The girls had headed underground into the secret caves beneath the school. Lady Stella had led them to a secret door. When it opened they found themselves in a beautiful Wish-House built just for them.
“But, Lady Stella,” said Vega, “then how are we going to find out who the Wish Mission is intended for?”
“The Wish Orb will come to you this time,” Lady Stella said mysteriously. “Please take a seat so we can begin.” She gestured toward the large round silver table that sat in her office.
Once everyone was settled, Lady Stella continued. “Now close your eyes,” she said. “When you open them, a Wish Orb will be floating in front of each of you. Everyone, that is, but Sage, since she already went on her mission.” Sage nodded and smiled—a little sadly, Libby thought. Maybe she secretly hoped to be able to go back down again on another mission and do it perfectly this time.
“But only one is the true Wish Orb. The rest are just illusions and will disappear before your eyes.”
Libby looked around the table. Everyone’s eyes were already closed, so she quickly squeezed hers shut, too. Her stomach was dancing with flutterfocuses. What if she was chosen? Then again, what if she wasn’t? The wait seemed interminable. Finally, she heard Lady Stella say, “Open your eyes, Star Darlings!”
There was a collective gasp around the table. Eleven glowing Wish Orbs were floating in the air in front of them. Libby stared at her orb longingly. It looked quite real, pulsing with a gorgeous golden light. But was it just an illusion?
She looked at her fellow Star Darlings. Each girl was staring at her Wish Orb, wondering if it was about to disappear. One by one, Scarlet’s, Gemma’s, Tessa’s, Leona’s, and Vega’s faces crumpled as their orbs disappeared. Cassie let out a gasp—perhaps of relief—as hers vanished. Libby stared at her orb, then stole a quick glance around the table. All the others were gone. She started breathing again.
“It’s Libby!” cried Sage. “Good for you!”
Lady Stella walked over and placed her hands on Libby’s shoulders. “The Wish Orb has chosen.” She peered down at Libby, a gentle smile on her face. “And I think it has chosen wisely. I have a good feeling about this, Libby.”
Libby’s mouth felt dry. “Thank you,” she barely managed to whisper. She pushed her seat back from the table and stood up.
Lady Stella burst into laughter, pointing to Libby’s feet. “I’m guessing you were in a big rush to get here?” she asked.
Libby nodded and looked down. She was wearing her fluffy bedroom slippers!
The Star Darlings roared with laughter. Was it because it was so funny to see ladylike Libby wearing silly slippers in public, or were they mostly letting off steam after the last tense few starmins? Libby wasn’t sure. But after a moment, she joined in on the laughter, too.
Long after the other girls had left to get ready for bed, Libby returned to the Little Dipper Dormitory, yawning a jaw-cracking yawn as she shuffled along in her slippers. She had stayed behind for final lessons in outfit picking and shooting-star riding and had received some last-starmin Wisher identification tips.
The campus was still and empty, and she watched as lights began to turn off in the dorm, which loomed ahead of her. Libby looked up to see a clear sky full of stars. She bent her head back and took it all in. It was so amazing that someone as small as she, in the grand scheme of the world, was about to embark on such a huge adventure. Her Star-Zap began to ring. She pulled it out of her star-shaped pocket to see that it was her parents, again.
Her parents popped up in the darkness ahead of her, wearing silk bathrobes. Her mother’s hands were placed in matching anti-aging pods, as they were every night before she went to sleep.
“Hi,” Libby said.
“Hi, sweetheart,” they said in unison. Her mother peered at her. “What are you doing outside?” she asked. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for bed?” her father added.
“I…um…was studying late,” Libby said. It was technically th
e truth.
“Well, it’s time to get ready for bed,” said her mother. “Listen, we just wanted to see if you had changed your mind about the vacation. There’s still time.”
Libby sighed. “I’m sorry. I haven’t.”
Her mother sighed, as well.
“All right, we’ll figure it out somehow. So, anything exciting happen today, starsweetie?” her father asked.
Libby almost laughed. Anything exciting? Only the most thrilling thing in the history of Starland was all. She scoured her mind for some bit of information to share. “Well, I, um, tried out for a rock band,” she said. “I played the keytar.”
“Oh, that’s fun,” said her father. “Good luck.”
“I hope you make it,” her mother added. “All those years of classical piano lessons will finally pay off.”
“Thanks,” Libby said. She was suddenly seized with an odd feeling—a mixture of longing, excitement, and a little bit of fear. Part of her wanted to hop into a Starcar, head to Radiant Hills, and have her parents tuck her into bed. The other was thrilled to be setting off on an unknown, mysterious, top secret adventure. “Mommy and Daddy?” she said.
“Yes,” her parents perked up. Libby never called them Mommy and Daddy anymore.
“I miss you,” she said. She had a sudden idea. “I know—I’m going to try to find out a way to combine the vacations. Maybe I can do some volunteering on Glamora-ora. And maybe Aunt Kit could come, too?”
Her parents smiled widely, looking both relieved and happy. “That would be lovely, Libby,” her mother said gently. “Really lovely,” her father added.
Libby stopped under a lamppost outside the Little Dipper Dormitory door. “Good night,” she said softly.
“Good night, starsweetie,” her parents said together.
It had been really difficult to talk to her parents and not share the exciting, world-changing thing she was about to do. But she still felt better just seeing them and hearing their voices.
The Cosmic Transporter dropped her off at her door, and she gently placed her hand on the scanner. “Good evening, Libby,” the voice said in hushed tones reserved for after-dark hours. She walked into the unlit room. Gemma was already asleep, and the starry curtain that divided the room was drawn. Libby got undressed and rooted around in her drawers to find her favorite old pair of pajamas. They were a little snug, and her ankles and wrists stuck out. But they were warm and cozy and reminded her of home. Vaguely comforted, she nestled between the covers and drifted off to sleep.
Libby stepped off the Flash Vertical Mover and walked toward the hidden door that opened onto the private Star Darlings section of the Wishworld Surveillance Deck. She pushed down her safety starglasses, then walked onto the deck. She was pleased to notice that her fellow Star Darlings were bathed in a pretty rosy glow through her pink lenses.
“Hey, Libby!”
“Over here!”
“Way to go, Libby!”
Libby was immediately mobbed by her fellow Star Darlings, all wearing different-colored safety starglasses that matched their outfits. Apparently, being chosen for the next mission had turned her into a momentary celebrity. She grinned at everyone, pleased that they had come to see her off.
Astra pushed to the front of the crowd. “How can you stand it?” she practically shouted. “You’re about to set off on the biggest adventure of your life, and you’re as cool as a calaka!”
“Are calakas really cool?” wondered Vega. “I’ve always wondered where that expression came from.”
Libby shrugged. While she might have looked calm on the outside, she certainly didn’t feel that way. It felt like a bunch of flutterfocuses were having a dance party in her stomach. She glanced at the far end of the deck and saw the Star Wranglers trying to spot a shooting star heading their way. They would use their lassos to grab it; then they would attach Libby to it, and she would be on her way to Wishworld to start her adventure. Gulp.
Leona walked up to her, a grin on her face. “Any last words?” she joked. She threw an arm around Libby’s neck. “Hopefully by the time you get back, they’ll have posted the results from the band tryouts.” She let go of Libby and tapped her elbows together three times for luck.
The what? thought Libby. Oh, that’s right, the band tryouts. That seemed so long ago and so inconsequential to Libby at the moment. “Yes, I hope so,” she said. “Good luck.”
“Star salutations,” said Leona. She patted Libby on the back.
One by one, Libby’s fellow Star Darlings hugged her, tapped their elbows, and offered unsolicited last-starmin advice. Libby smiled and thanked them all politely, but her mind was elsewhere. She had a moment of panic when she thought she had forgotten her Wish Pendant, but there it was, around her neck, where she had carefully put it that morning. Wait, where was her—Oh, there, her Star-Zap was in her pocket. Relax, she told herself. Everything is going to be okay.
Finally, she made it to the end of the platform, where Lady Stella was waiting.
The headmistress gave Libby a warm smile and embrace, and Libby could feel her tension begin to ebb. Lady Cordial pushed through the crowd to hand Libby a pink backpack with a stuffed glittery pink star attached to the zipper so she would blend in on Wishworld. Libby put her arms through the straps. She made a face. It felt kind of uncomfortable.
Sage pushed forward. “No, silly, you wear it on your back,” she said kindly. She removed the backpack and helped Libby put it on correctly. That was much better.
“Star salutations, Sage,” said Libby gratefully.
“Everything is going to be fine,” said Sage, putting a comforting hand on Libby’s arm.
“Now, Libby,” Lady Stella said, “you are going to do a great job.” She pointed to Libby’s necklace. “Just remember to keep an eye on your Wish Pendant. It has enough wish energy inside for you to use your secret power. Use it wisely.”
“I will,” Libby said.
“You also need to watch the Countdown Clock on your Star-Zap. If the wish is not granted before the clock runs out of time, the orb will fade and the mission will fail. And no wish energy will be collected.”
Libby nodded. “I understand.”
“We’ll be monitoring your levels from here. If we think you may be in trouble, we’ll send down backup.”
“Okay,” said Libby. She was hoping she wouldn’t have to rely on anyone’s help, but it was nice to know it was there if she did need it.
“The ride down will be fast. Don’t forget to change your appearance before you touch down on Wishworld,” Lady Stella reminded her.
“I won’t,” said Libby solemnly.
“Shooting star spotted!” called the Star Wrangler.
Libby felt numb as she watched the wrangler toss out a silver lasso of wish energy and expertly nab a shooting star. Luckily, everyone had on their safety starglasses, because it was so bright it was almost blinding, throwing off a shower of sparks. “You’re on!” the wrangler called, struggling to hold the star in place. Her heart nearly thumping out of her chest, Libby stepped forward to the edge of the Surveillance Deck, where she was attached to the star.
“Ready for takeoff?” asked the wrangler.
“Ready!” said Libby.
“Libby! Libby!” Libby turned her head and saw Sage fighting her way to the edge of the balcony. “I just remembered something! When my mission started going wrong, I started feeling really—”
Whoosh! The wrangler released the powerful star, and Libby’s head was thrown back as it took off. She was on her way as quick as she could say Jack Starling (an old expression of her great-grandmother’s, which oddly came to mind at that moment).
What had Sage been about to say? She had felt really hungry? Angry? Sad? Hopefully, Libby wouldn’t find out.
Whoa! She hadn’t realized what a bumpy ride it would be down to Wishworld! Her long pink hair whipped back as she sped down, down, down. She stared out at the swirling air around her, almost hypnotized by the shifting colors,
the intense glow and flashes of light.
Just then she remembered her Star-Zap. She fished it out of her pocket and realized that it was blinking. Libby snapped back to reality. COMMENCE APPEARANCE CHANGE, the screen read. APPROACHING WISHWORLD ATMOSPHERE. Oh, starf. How long had the Star-Zap been trying to remind her? It was flashing really intently, surely an indicator that she had been ignoring it for a while.
Quickly, she accessed the Wishworld Outfit Selector, and she was instantly dressed. She looked down at the outfit Lady Stella had helped her choose the night before. Pink denim skirt, pink-and-white-striped leggings, pink flats, and a pink shirt with white polka dots. A white jean jacket completed her Wishling ensemble. She smiled. Adorable!
Next step: skin and hair. She placed her hand on her star necklace and recited the words that would start the transformation: “Star light, star bright, the first star I see tonight: I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.” A wonderful, warm, comforting feeling began to flow through her, and she focused first on her body. She visualized her smooth pale skin devoid of any glitter. Next she pictured plain brown hair instead of her beautiful sparkling pink tresses. (That was a tough one for her, and she was happy to notice that a streak of pink remained.) The star sped up for a moment as it swerved around a meteorite, and she watched in dismay as the sparkles were swept right off her skin. She felt very dull indeed. But now she was ready.
PREPARE FOR LANDING, read her Star-Zap. Libby shot through the clouds and began hurtling toward Wishworld. She closed her eyes as the ground rushed up to meet her. Nobody had told her how scary that would be! But to her relief, she touched down gently. When she opened her eyes, she was pleased to discover that the star had brought her to a secluded spot. She picked up the star and folded it neatly, then stowed it in her backpack. It would come in handy to help her get back home; that was for sure! She scooped up her Star-Zap, which lay on the ground beside her, and stuck it in her pocket. It was only then that she took a closer look at her surroundings. Everything was so lovely, bathed in pink light! Then she laughed as she realized she had forgotten to take off her safety starglasses. Things weren’t quite so rosy anymore. Instead of the beautiful park that Sage had described landing in, Libby discovered that she was in a dreary alley, and there was a large green metal container that really stank. She could hardly breathe! She held her nose and peeked inside, morbidly curious to discover what on Wishworld could make such a terrible smell. It was filled with garbage! Papers and wrappers and leftover food scraps and used drink containers, as well as other unidentifiable items in various degrees of decay. She looked away. What a mess! Then she remembered learning in class that Wishlings did not have disappearing garbage as they did on Starland, and she felt very sorry for them. She caught another whiff and realized that at the moment, she felt sorry for herself. She held her breath and scurried out of the alley.
