by Ahmet Zappa
A hush fell over the crowd. Kristie was making her way onstage. She stepped up to the microphone. “In the campaign I also lost sight of what’s most important. I miss you, Ava. If it’s okay with the student council, I propose that we be copresidents. No election needed!”
Ava looked shocked. Then her face broke into a huge smile, and she hugged Kristie. The audience erupted into cheers.
Libby rushed onstage and handed the young female Wishlings matching mustaches. They put them on and waved at the audience, who burst into laughter.
“I mustache you to be my best friend again,” Libby heard Ava say to Kristie.
Kristie nodded. “Of course,” she said. “I really missed you.” The crowd cheered.
“Now watch,” said Sage, appearing at Libby’s side. Rainbow light energy began to flow from Ava, dancing across the stage in a joyful stream as it was absorbed into Libby’s Wish Pendant. It was amazingly breathtaking. Libby felt sorry that she and Sage were the only two who could see it.
“I’m sorry, Libby, but it’s time to say good-bye,” Sage said.
Libby’s shoulders sagged. She had really grown to like Ava. She was proud that she had helped bring two friends back together, and she wanted to enjoy the moment for a bit longer. But the mission was a success, her identity was still a secret, and the wish energy had been collected. It was time to go home.
Libby found Ava in the auditorium happily accepting congratulations from students and teachers alike. Ava threw her arms around Libby. “Thanks so much for helping me,” she said. “Nice mustache.”
“Thanks,” said Libby, twirling the end. “I think it suits me. It was my pleasure.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but I’ve got to go.”
“I wish…” said Ava. Libby cringed for a moment. “I wish you didn’t have to go. But something is telling me that it’s important.”
Libby reached forward and hugged her tightly. “You’re right,” she whispered. When the two broke from their embrace, Ava gave Libby a polite smile, as if Libby was just another supporter wishing her well. “Thank you,” she said. “I promise to be a good copresident.”
“I’m sure you’ll be the best,” said Libby.
“Star salutations,” Libby told Sage as they made their way across campus back on Starland. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“No problem,” said Sage. “I’m glad I could help.”
As the moving sidewalk traveled past Halo Hall, the two girls noticed a crowd of students outside, grouped around the holo-announcement board. Sage looked at Libby. “Do you think it could be the band results?” she asked.
“Could be,” said Libby. “Let’s go see.” They stepped off the moving sidewalk and headed over to see what was going on.
They joined the crowd and waited patiently so they could take a peek. A student, an exasperated look on her face, shoved her way back through the crowd. “Whatever,” she said scornfully. “It’s all those Star Dippers. They should just call it Stupidrock.”
Libby and Sage looked at each other. Could it be true? When they got to the front of the line, they saw the list:
THE STAR DARLINGS
LEAD SINGER: LEONA
GUITAR: SAGE
BASS: VEGA
DRUMS: SCARLET
KEYTAR: LIBBY
“Can you believe it?” someone asked behind them. Libby turned around. It was Leona. She had a big grin on her face. “An all–Star Darling band. Chosen by the Ranker as the best possible combination of musicians. Who would have thought?”
Then she frowned. “I’m not sure about the name, though. I was thinking of something snappier.”
“Like what?” asked Sage.
“Like Leona and the Luminaries,” suggested Leona.
Libby laughed. “It’s fine just as it is,” she told Leona. She grinned. This was exciting news on top of her successful mission. It was a good group. Leona, well, she could be a handful. But Libby was sure the other girls, especially Scarlet, would help balance out Leona’s extra-large personality. Libby practically skipped all the way to her room.
The door slid open, and the first thing Libby saw was the flowers. Oddly enough, they hadn’t faded. They were actually just as fresh-looking as the day the girls had gotten them. The smell, if anything, had gotten even stronger.
“You’re back!” cried Gemma, looking up from her holo-book. “Was your mission a success?”
“It was,” said Libby. “But it had its setbacks. I suppose I’ll be in the starlight tomorrow in class.”
“Probably,” agreed Gemma, perhaps a little too quickly. “So the band results are in,” she told Libby.
“I just saw them,” Libby replied. “I’m sorry.”
Gemma cocked her head at Libby. “Are you?”
Libby surprised herself by answering truthfully. “I—I don’t know.”
Gemma shook her head. “I thought so. You know, we haven’t been getting along at all, and it makes me so sad. But lately I just find you so…so…”
“Annoying?” offered Libby.
“Yes, that’s exactly it. Annoying!”
“Me too!” cried Libby. The girls looked at each other, momentarily glad to have something in common again. But as the reality of what it was sank in, their faces fell.
Just then their Star-Zaps went off. Libby felt relieved. It wasn’t easy to tell the person you lived with that her very presence irritated you. Or to hear it, come to think of it. She frowned. She knew why Gemma was annoying, but why in the world was Gemma annoyed by her?
Everyone rose to their feet as Libby entered Lady Stella’s office. “Libby!” the headmistress cried. “Congratulations on a job well done!”
Libby grinned as everyone burst into applause.
“Star salutations,” she said as the girls hugged her and clapped her on the back. She basked in the admiration of her fellow Star Darlings. “It wasn’t easy. But it’s over!”
“I have something for you,” said Lady Stella, reaching toward her desk drawer. But then her Star-Zap buzzed. She reached into the pocket of her midnight blue tunic and pulled it out. Libby watched as she read a message. A look of shock, followed by severe dismay, crossed the headmistress’s face. Libby felt panicked.
“Excuse me,” Lady Stella said, looking flustered. She left the room abruptly, leaving the door ajar.
Everyone stopped talking. They could hear Lady Stella speaking in low tones outside the door. Leona silently crept to the door and started listening. Even though they knew it was wrong, no one stopped her.
Leona listened intently, then turned to the group. “She said, ‘How on Starland could this happen?’” she reported in a whisper.
Libby bit her lip. Tessa and Gemma put their arms around each other. Cassie wrung her hands.
“I can’t hear what the other person is saying. Wait. Lady Stella is talking again.” Leona paused. “She said, ‘What a terrible mistake.’”
Libby felt her heart sink. There must have been a problem with her mission. She looked down at her Wish Pendant. It looked like it was full. What could be wrong?
Leona listened again. “She said, ‘How can we fix this?’”
Some of the Star Darlings began to whisper among themselves. “Shhhhhhh!” commanded Leona. She strained to hear. “Oh, no,” she said.
“What is it? What is it?” Gemma cried.
Leona turned to the girls, her eyes glassy with tears. She could hardly get the words out. “She said…she said…”
“Spit it out, Leona,” said Astra. “You’re killing us!”
“She said, ‘How in the world am I going to tell her that she isn’t really a Star Darling?’”
There was a collective gasp. Libby couldn’t even look at the other girls. Did this mean one of them was an imposter? Libby didn’t want to see the furtive looks in her classmates’ eyes as they glanced at one another, each hoping it wasn’t herself, wishing that someone else would receive the terrible news. It was an aw
ful, selfish, difficult-to-deal-with feeling.
The door slid open. Leona jumped back. Everyone stared at the floor. Lady Stella stepped into the room, her face ashen. She walked to the middle of the room and simply stood there, her head bowed.
Finally, she spoke. “Girls, I just received some terrible, shocking news.” Her eyes were wet and she wrung her hands. “Something very unexpected has come up. I don’t even know how to begin….” She sighed. “I’m going to have to ask you all to leave. Libby, I’m sorry. We will have to postpone your Wish Orb presentation.”
The girls began to file out of the room. Libby fell into place at the end of the line. The only sound was their feet shuffling across the carpet.
Lady Stella spoke up. “Everyone except for…Scarlet.”
Scarlet stopped in her tracks, her expression frozen. Libby didn’t think she would forget that sad, resigned, fearful look for as long as she lived.
“Scarlet, we need to talk,” Lady Stella said gently. “I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
And then Libby didn’t hear any more, because the door slid shut behind her with a loud click.
Bad Wish Orbs: Orbs that are a result of bad or selfish wishes made on Wishworld, these grow dark and warped and are quickly sent to the Negative Energy Facility.
Band shell: A covered stage located in the Star Quad.
Bitterball: This fruit is inedible straight off the vine, but can be made into tasty preserves by adding sweetener.
Bloombug: Purple-and-pink-spotted bug that goes wild during the full moon in warm weather.
Blushbelle: A pink flower with a sweetly spicy scent. Libby’s favorite flower.
Bot-Bot: A Starland robot. There are Bot-Bot guards, waiters, deliverers, and guides on Starland.
Bright Day: The date a Starling is born, celebrated each year like Wishling birthdays.
Calaka: A round yellow vegetable often used in salads or on sandwiches.
Celestial Café: Starling Academy’s outstanding cafeteria.
Chatterburst: An orange flower that smells like orange-and-vanilla ice pops. Gemma’s favorite flower.
Cocomoon: A sweet and creamy fruit with an iridescent glow.
Cosmic Transporter: The moving sidewalk system that transports students through dorms and across the Starling Academy campus.
Countdown Clock: A timing device on a Starling’s Star-Zap, it lets them know how much time is left on a Wish Mission, which coincides with when the Wish Orb will fade.
Crystal Mountains: The most beautiful mountains on Starland, they are located across the lake from Starling Academy.
Cyber Journal: Where the Star Darlings record their Wishworld observations.
Cycle of Life: A Starling’s lifespan. When a Starling dies, they are said to have “completed their Cycle of Life.”
First stars: Starlings often call “first stars” when they want to go first at something. Akin to the Wishling expression “I call first dibs.”
Flash Vertical Mover: A mode of transportation similar to a Wishling elevator, only superfast.
Flutterfocus: A Starland creature similar to a Wishworld butterfly with illuminated wings.
Galliope: A Starland creature similar to a sparkly Wishworld horse.
Glamora-ora: A luxury vacation destination with crystal pink waters and soft purple sands.
Glimmerchips: A popular snack food, they are thin, crispy, and salty. Similar to Wishworld potato chips, but sparkly and even more delicious.
Glion: A gentle Starland creature similar in appearance to a Wishworld lion, but with a multicolored glowing mane.
Glorange: A glowing orange fruit, its juice is often enjoyed at breakfast time.
Goldenella tree: Its flowers bloom nonstop for a week and pop off the branches like popcorn.
Good Wish Orbs: Orbs that are the result of positive wishes made on Wishworld. They are planted in Wish-Houses.
Googlehorn: An unwieldy silver instrument with three separate horns, it has a deep bass sound.
Go Supernova: When a Starling is said to “go supernova,” they get really angry.
Halo Hall: The building where Starling Academy classes are held.
Holo–announcement board: An announcement board that projects announcements into the air. There are also holo-billboards, holo-books, holo-cards, holo-communications, holo-flyers, and holo-pictures—anything that would be made of paper on Wishworld is a hologram on Starland.
Hydrong: Equivalent of a Wishworld hundred.
Illumination Library: The impressive library at Starling Academy.
Impossible Wish Orbs: Orbs that are a result of wishes made on Wishworld that are beyond the power of Starlings to grant.
Isle of Misera: A barren, rocky island off the coast of New Prism.
Jellyjooble: A small, round pink candy that is very sweet.
Lightfall: The time of day when the sun begins to set and everything on Starland glows its brightest.
Light Leader: The head of student government at Starling Academy.
Lightning Lounge: The place where students relax and socialize.
Little Dipper Dormitory: Where first- and second-year students live.
Lolofruit: A large round fruit with a thick skin and juicy, aromatic flesh.
Melodeon: A Starling instrument similar to a tiny accordion that produces a very high-pitched sound.
Mirror Mantra: A saying specific to each Star Darling that when recited gives her (and her Wisher) reassurance and strength. When a Starling recites her Mirror Mantra while looking in a mirror, she will see her true appearance reflected.
New Prism: This casual and easygoing port city is Scarlet’s hometown.
Pluckalong: A small three-stringed instrument, it is played with the fingers. It has a round wooden body and a short neck.
Radiant Hills: An exclusive community in Starland City, where Libby’s family lives.
Radiant Recreation Center: Starling Academy’s state-of-the-art fitness and sports center.
Ranker: A small machine that judges competitions and picks the winners. Its unbiased program eliminates favoritism.
Safety starglasses: Worn by Starlings to protect their eyes when in close proximity to a shooting star.
Shooting stars: Speeding stars that Starlings can latch on to and ride to Wishworld.
Sparkle juice: An effervescent and refreshing beverage, often enjoyed over ice.
Solar Springs: A hilly small town in the countryside where Tessa and Gemma are from.
Starberry: Large bright-red fruits that grow in clusters.
Starcake: A Starling breakfast item, similar to a star-shaped Wishworld pancake.
Starcar: The primary mode of transportation for most Starlings. These ultrasafe vehicles drive themselves on cushions of wish energy.
Star Caves: The secret caverns underneath Starling Academy where the Star Darlings’ secret Wish-Cavern is located.
Starf!: A Starling expression of dismay.
Starflooty: A wind instrument with star-shaped holes.
Starkin: The Starling word for siblings.
Starkudos: A Starling expression of praise.
Starland: The irregularly shaped world where Starlings live, veiled by a bright yellow glow that, from a distance, makes it look like a star.
Starland City: The largest city on Starland, also its capital. Sage, Libby, and Adora’s hometown.
Starlight: When all eyes are on a Starling, they are said to be “in the starlight.”
Starling Academy: The most prestigious all-girl four-year boarding school for wish granting on Starland.
Starlings: The glowing beings with sparkly skin that live on Starland.
Starling’s Surprise, The: A classic children’s book, beloved by many. It tells the tale of a young female Starling and her adventures with a talking glion.
Starmin: Sixty starsecs (or seconds) on Starland, the equivalent of a Wishworld minute.
Star Preparatory: Similar to Starling Academy, this is the all-b
oys school located across Luminous Lake.
Star Quad: The central outdoor part of the Starling Academy campus.
Star salutations: A Starling expression of thanks.
Starsec: Brief period of time, similar to a Wishworld second.
Star shakers: Clear star-shaped musical instruments with handles, filled with crystals that produce a delicate tinkling sound when shaken.
Star Wranglers: Starlings whose job is to lasso a shooting star, to transport Starlings to Wishworld.
Star-Zap: The ultimate smartphone that Starlings use for all communications. It has myriad features.
Student Manual: A holo-book that contains all the rules and regulations of Starling Academy.
Supernova Island: An exclusive vacation destination with fine restaurants, fancy shops, and stunning views from its mountainous peaks.
Time of Letting Go: One of the four seasons on Starland. It falls between the warmest season and the coldest, similar to fall on Wishworld.
Time of Lumiere: The warmest season on Starland, similar to summer on Wishworld.
Time of Shadows: The coldest season of the year on Starland, similar to winter on Wishworld.
Timpanpipe: An ancient brass instrument, it makes a scratchy, whistly sound.
Tinsel toast: Bread heated and sprinkled with ground tinsel, a sweet, aromatic, glittery plant.
Toothlight: A high-tech gadget that Starlings use to clean their teeth.
Wish Blossom: The bloom that appears from a Wish Orb after its wish is granted.
Wish energy: The positive energy that is released when a wish is granted. Wish energy powers everything on Starland.
Wish energy manipulation: The ability to mentally harness wish energy to perform physical acts like turning off lights, closing doors, etc.
Wisher: The Wishling who has made the wish that is being granted.
Wish-House: The place where Wish Orbs are planted and cared for until they sparkle. Once the orb’s wish is granted, it becomes a Wish Blossom.
Wishlings: The inhabitants of Wishworld.
Wish Mission: The task Starlings undertake when they travel to Wishworld to help grant a wish.
