Spring's Sparkle Sleepover

by Elise Allen

  All the Sparkles had kitchens that magically provided the girls’ favorite foods. Her kitchen’s lemon sugar cookies were particularly delicious, and she hoped they’d distract the Sparkles for a while.

  Spring hadn’t lied to them. She was going to get a jump on her room, but she wasn’t going to clean it. She was going to mess it up.

  The flowery chair grew all the way up to the high balcony outside her bedroom, then deposited her on her feet. “Thank you, sweet roses,” Spring said.

  “Our pleasure, Spring,” they answered.

  Spring raced into her bedroom, which she loved more than anyplace in the world. Its soft green carpet smelled like freshly cut grass. Live cherry trees grew out of the lavender-colored walls, their branches bursting with ever-blooming pink blossoms. Parasols painted with spring flowers dangled from the ceiling, as did a low swing that hung from leafy vines. In the middle of it all sat her snuggly bed, with the headboard shaped exactly like her pink castle.

  The only problem with the room was that it was clean, and she needed it to be messy so that she could back up her “messy room story” to her sisters. That, and get out of the Snowflake Slumber Party. She leaped onto her lilac lounging chair, pointed her scepter here and there, and quickly whispered:

  A cyclone of violet sparkles blew through Spring’s room. They swept over her pink-glass-topped crafting table, popping open drawers and exploding scraps of lace, feathers, and colored pencils everywhere. Spring’s blankets, sheets, and pillows jumped up when the sparkles hit them, then wrestled with one another until the bedclothes were in a knot and the pillows had burst their stuffing.

  Spring giggled. Already her room was shaping up into a fine catastrophe!

  But the magic wasn’t finished. Next, the sparkling twister blasted open the doors to Spring’s boudoir—a fancy Outworld name for a dressing room—and rocketed Spring’s taffeta dresses, silk slippers, and velvet ribbons through the air like a startled flock of birds. Spring squealed as a giant yellow bonnet smacked into her, knocked her off balance, and toppled her into a pile of gowns, gloves, and other clothing just as Summer knocked on the door.

  “Spring, it’s us!” she called. “We’re here to help you clean!”

  As Spring crawled out from the pile of clothes, she heard her sisters open the door and come in.

  “Wow, Spring,” Winter groaned. “This place is a disaster!”

  Spring blushed. She knew she’d messed up the room on purpose, but Winter didn’t. She felt Winter wasn’t being very nice. “You don’t have to be mean about it,” she said.

  Winter, Autumn, and Summer had been staring at the chaos, but now they turned to Spring … and burst out laughing! Spring’s face burned. “Now none of you are being nice!”

  “It’s not that,” Autumn assured her. “I’m sorry. It’s just … you have … things on you.”

  Spring glanced in the mirror. Somehow she’d emerged from the pile of clothes with several flowery undergarments static-stuck to her dress. And to her hair. Spring’s cheeks blushed even redder. She shook off the underwear and straightened her skirt.

  “You and this room.” Winter chuckled. “Are you sure you’re not going Weed on us?”

  This was too much. The Weeds were the Sparkles’ worst enemies. They were troublemaking boys who lived with their leader, Bluster Tempest, in the Barrens, the wild and chaotic land surrounding the Sparkledoms. They were always scheming to try and steal the sisters’ magical scepters and headbands. They also lived like filthy, disgusting slobs. How could Winter possibly compare her to them?

  Spring was about to tell her sisters how sparkling her room had been just moments ago, but then Summer added, “With your room like this, no wonder you haven’t packed for the sleepover yet.”

  The sleepover. That’s why Spring had to be patient and let her sisters criticize her. This was her way out of the sleepover. She bit her lip and shrugged apologetically. “I guess I let things get a little out of control. Sorry it’s messing up our plans.”

  “It won’t mess up our plans at all,” Autumn said.

  “It won’t?” Spring asked.

  “Absolutely not. The room is messy, but it’s nothing a little sisterly Sparkle Power can’t fix.” Autumn raised her scepter and called:

  Red and orange sparkles swirled into the air, and warm breezes blew in from all directions. SWISH! SWASH! SWOOSH! Spring’s garments and accessories flitted into the air, folded themselves neatly, and gently soared back to their proper spots. Her bedclothes detangled themselves and spread themselves neatly back into place. Even the dust whooshed out the window, leaving the floor spotless.

  “Done!” Autumn said. “And good as new.”

  “So now we can get you packed!” Summer added.

  “And finally start your very first sleepover!” Winter crowed.

  “How … wonderful!” Spring tried to sound enthusiastic, but inside she was devastated. She wished she could just tell her sisters she wanted to stay home, but she liked that they thought she was ready for a slumber party, even if she really wasn’t. She reluctantly pulled out her favorite tote bag—the one topped with hot-pink finch feathers—and numbly placed items inside as a million questions tumbled through her head. What would it be like to sleep in another bedroom? Wouldn’t she miss her fluffy purple comforter? What if it was too dark in Winter’s Sparkledom? What if she couldn’t see the moon, her natural night-light?

  “Spring, why are you packing your rain boots?” asked Autumn.

  Spring was surprised to see them in her hands. She really had been distracted. “Um … in case I dream about rain?”

  “Makes sense to me,” Winter said with a shrug. Summer nodded as well.

  “Then all you need now is something to sleep with that makes you feel safe and cozy,” Autumn said. “I packed my stuffed elephant, which looks exactly like Whisper. I call her Beatrice.”

  “I always pack my first beach blanket, from when I was little,” said Summer.

  “And I have special fuzzy socks I bring to every sleepover,” Winter added. “But, since tonight’s sleepover is at my house, I may not need them.”

  Spring looked around the room. Could she pack everything in her tote bag? Maybe just her Daisy Dolly. But if she brought Daisy Dolly, wouldn’t Rose Petal Bear be lonely?

  Then she saw it—her favorite pillow. It was embroidered with unicorns, so it would remind her of her room and of Dewdrop. This might be exactly what she needed to fall asleep in a new place. “I have it!” she cried, hugging her pillow to her heart. “My pillow will be safe and cozy!”

  “It’s perfect,” Autumn agreed.

  “Good!” Winter exclaimed. “Then we can finally go!”

  She led the way out to the balcony. Spring held her pillow and grabbed the tote bag and the small purple pouch of seeds she always wore around her neck when she left her Sparkledom. It was a habit she’d started after she and her sisters had gotten trapped in the Barrens. Spring had wanted to use her Sparkle Power, but with no living plants around, she couldn’t make things grow. With the pouch around her neck, she always had a smattering of seeds to grow into all kinds of useful items.

  Spring joined her sisters on the balcony and took a deep breath.

  I can do this, she told herself. I can ride the rainbow to Winter’s and start the sleepover. I’m ready. I even have my unicorn pillow!

  She and her sisters pulled out their scepters and called in unison:

  Like synchronized ballerinas, each Sparkle gracefully touched her scepter orb to her headband gem. Rainbow light soared from the gems and joined together to make a colorful pathway to the sky.

  “Hooray for Spring’s first sleepover!” called Summer as she cartwheeled up the rainbow.

  “And a last night of winter to remember!” added Winter, somersaulting into the sky.

  “After you, Spring,” Autumn offered. “It’s your special night.”

  Spring wanted to obey. She wanted to dive up the rainbow as eagerly as he
r sisters. She wanted to giggle and drink hot chocolate in Hullabaloo Hot Springs. She wanted to enjoy all Winter’s surprises. She wanted her sisters to see her as grown-up as they were.

  But she didn’t want to say good-bye to her room.

  “Spring?” asked Autumn.

  “I just remembered one last thing I need to do,” Spring said. “I’ll be quick as a hummingbird and meet you there.”

  “Are you sure?” Autumn asked. “I’m happy to wait.”

  “Positive,” Spring said. “You can tell Winter and Summer I’ll be right over.”

  “If you’re sure. See you soon!” Autumn majestically raised her arms and soared into the rainbow.

  Spring felt small as she watched her sisters disappear into the distance. Now I know what the last baby bird to leave the nest feels like. She hiccuped a little sob … then stepped away from the rainbow’s glow. She would ride it soon, but not to Winter’s Sparkledom. Before she could even think about sleeping away from home, she needed extra help.

  She needed her mother.

  Chapter 4

  Spring counted to ten by water lilies after her sisters left (one water lily, two water lily, three water lily …), then conjured the rainbow again and asked it to take her directly to Mother Nature. As she soared down to Mother’s Sparkledom, the perfect blend of all the seasons, every plant and animal greeted her in its own language. Spring answered each and every one of them.

  She touched down in the tropical Choral Cloud Forest. Next to her was a strangler fig tree whose ropy trunk Mother Nature had coaxed into the shape of an enormous, spiraling aviary. Spring raced inside, and marveled at all the different creatures. Pink fluorescent cockatoos mingled with acorn woodpeckers, and flocks of sparrows danced with jewel-colored hummingbirds.

  What she didn’t see was Mother Nature. Had the rainbow delivered her to the wrong part of the Sparkledom?

  “Mother! Where are you?” cried Spring. “I need you!”

  “So I understand,” said a comforting voice. “But what could possibly have my dear Spring in such a tangle the night before her favorite day of the year?”

  The voice sounded like Mother’s, but when Spring turned to face it, all she saw was a large rainbow-plumed bird.

  “Mother?” Spring asked.

  The bird turned. It was Mother. She wore a beautiful gown with a long skirt and train of green-and-blue peacock plumes, and a bodice of small blue and pink feathers. Long yellow feathers draped from her arms like wings, and perched amid her black curls, eyepoppingly green quetzal feathers framed her ever-present headpiece and gem. “You called, my dear?”

  Spring ran into her arms and breathed in her scent of salty oceans and cedarwood. “Mother, I thought you were a rare bird!”

  “It’s not the first time I’ve been called that,” Mother admitted with a wink. “Now tell me. What’s muddling you up this lovely last day of winter?”

  “It’s Winter’s Snowflake Slumber Party,” Spring said, twiddling her skirt. “My sisters decided I’m old enough to go this year … but I don’t know if I want to. I mean, I want to, but …”

  “But you’re not sure you’re ready?”

  Relief flooded through Spring. Mother always knew exactly how she felt. She nodded.

  “Did you tell your sisters?” Mother asked.

  “I couldn’t,” Spring admitted. “We’ve been planning this so long, they’d be disappointed. And …”

  She looked up at Mother, whose eyes were so filled with love and understanding that Spring knew she could reveal even her deepest fears.

  “… and I was afraid they’d think I was a baby.”

  “That was very brave of you to admit,” Mother said. “I can tell it weighed on you.”

  Mother was right. Spring hadn’t even realized how hard it had been to keep everything in until she’d confessed her true feelings. She suddenly felt as light as a bit of dandelion fluff.

  “Hello, Mother! And welcome, Spring!” cooed a giant blue dove as she swooped into the aviary. It was Serenity, Mother’s most trusted advisor. She spoke in her own bird language, which Mother could understand as well as Spring. “I’ve come to check on Game Night preparations. Shall I see to the food and drink?”

  “That would be very helpful, Serenity,” said Mother Nature. “Black sesame cakes and silver green tea, if you will. And please make sure the tea is extra bitter. You know how my guest likes it.”

  “Will do! Cooo-COOOOOO!” Serenity called as she flew out the aviary skylight, instantly blending into the blue sky.

  “Now back to you and your dilemma,” Mother said. “I find it’s often easier to think when you’re doing. Will you help me finish feeding the birds?”

  “I’d love to,” Spring said.

  “Good.” Mother Nature pointed her scepter at Spring, and a smattering of barley seeds appeared on Spring’s shoulders. Almost instantly, a dozen finches swooped down and perched on her to enjoy the feast. The feel of their tiny feet and lightly pecking beaks made Spring giggle.

  “Your laughter is a sound I love,” said Mother Nature. “Now tell me, what is it about the sleepover that concerns you?”

  “Well, I’ve never slept anywhere else but my bed. And I’m afraid I won’t fall asleep. That’s why I brought my pillow from home.” Slipping the tote bag off her shoulder, she pulled out her special unicorn pillow.

  “That was clever thinking,” remarked Mother Nature.

  “Autumn suggested it. But I’m not sure it’ll be enough to help.”

  “Is there anything else that would help you a little more?” Mother asked as she held out a handful of seeds to several hungry flamingos.

  Spring closed her eyes and concentrated hard until the answer hit her. “A night-light! In my Sparkledom there’s a beautiful full moon every night. I can see it from my bed, and it always makes me feel happy and safe before I fall asleep.”

  “Moongazing before bed makes me feel happy and safe too,” Mother Nature said.

  “Really?” Spring gaped. She couldn’t imagine Mother ever feeling anything but happy and safe.

  “Of course,” Mother said. “The moon is very comforting. In fact … what if you could bring the moon with you to Winter’s Snowflake Slumber Party?”

  “Woodchips and whip-poor-wills!” Spring cried. “I can’t fit the moon into my tote bag!”

  “Can’t you?” Mother asked mysteriously. “Come with me, Spring. I have something I want to give you. We need to hurry, though. My Game Night with Bluster Tempest is starting soon, and I hate to keep him waiting. It makes him very angry, and he enjoys that far too much.”

  Mother quickly strode out of the aviary along a suspension bridge made of vines, and Spring hurried after her. “Your Game Night is with Bluster Tempest?” Spring squeaked.

  Bluster Tempest was, without a doubt, the scariest person Spring had ever known. With his terrible magic, the man could conjure up the fiercest sandstorm or crack open mountains with a mighty earthquake. Had Mother really invited him to her Sparkledom?

  “Oh, Bluster’s all bluster,” Mother said, “and I do love to watch him go into hysterics when he loses. After all, as I’ve told you, I consider him a dear friend.”

  Mother had told Spring and the Sparkles that before, but it was so hard to believe. Spring wanted to ask Mother more about it, but their path was suddenly blocked by a thick wall of mist. Mother waved her arm and the mists parted to reveal a gigantic cave opening. It looked like a cracked geode with glowing crystals inside.

  “Sparkles and surprises!” gasped Spring. “Is this … your Jeweled Cave?”

  “Indeed it is, Spring. You are as clever as a spider spinning a web. Would you like to come inside?”

  Spring was speechless. She and her sisters had heard about this magical place where Mother kept her most precious treasures, but none of them had ever seen it. Spring tried to look in every direction at once as she followed Mother into the cave. Giant yellow, pink, and white crystals jutted out from every wall
in a wild spiked kaleidoscope. Spring felt tiny as an ant as she and Mother turned down a hallway where indigo crystals grew large and smooth like oversized birch leaves, passed a cavern of frozen crystal waterfalls, skirted glowing pools swimming with diamond koi fish, and finally emerged into an underground gem garden.

  Mother Nature glided to a patch of shimmering amethyst flowers. Cuddled around the blossoms were tiny boxes and large chests made of glass, shells, geodes, porcelain, and precious woods. Mother picked up a blue lapis box inlaid with a silver sun, moon, and stars. She handed it to Spring.

  “Open it,” Mother suggested.

  Trembling with excitement, Spring lifted the lid. Inside nestled a silver necklace threaded through with a moonstone pendant as big as a cherry. The stone glowed with radiant blue fire.

  “Moonstones and magic!” shouted Spring gleefully. “Is this really for me?”

  “It is,” explained Mother Nature. She clasped the bauble around Spring’s neck, being careful not to tangle it with the seed pouch already hanging there. “Whenever you need a little light this evening, just hold the moonstone in the palm of your hand and whisper: Little moon, shine bright. Give me comfort in the night.”

  Spring held the moonstone in her palm. It felt cool to the touch.

  “Go ahead,” Mother urged. “Try it.”

  Spring whispered the magic phrase. As she finished, the moonstone glowed in a luminous sphere that burst out of the necklace and hovered over her hand. Spring was delighted!

  “When you want the light to return to the moonstone,” instructed Mother Nature, “cup the little moon in your hands and whisper: Good night, sweet light.”

  Spring did, and with a flash of blue sparkle, the necklace returned to normal.

  “Thank you, Mother!” cried a jubilant Spring as she hugged her mom tight. “With a magical night-light like this, I know I can sleep at Winter’s Snowflake Slumber Party! You are the best mother in all the Sparkledoms, the Outworld, and Outer Space!”