by Ahmet Zappa
“Yes, Vega?”
“Because we don’t receive a firm indication of when a wish is identified, the way we do when the Wisher is first identified. It can be different for everyone. Starlings have to rely on their gut feeling because they have no indication they are on the right track at all.”
The professor nodded. Then someone caught her eye. “Ah, a new student,” the teacher said. “What is your name?”
“Ophelia,” the Starling answered, her cheeks flushed and sparkled.
“We’ll start off with an easy question for you, Ophelia. How do you know when you have identified the correct Wisher?”
Ophelia looked panicked. “I…um…uh…” Shamefaced, she stared down at her desk. “I…uh…can’t remember.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” said the tiny teacher. “This is the difference between a successful mission and coming back from Wishworld with an empty Wish Pendant.”
With a strangled sound, Leona stood up and ran out of the room.
Professor Lucretia Delphinus looked surprised. “Was it something I said?” she asked. She shrugged. “Vega, can you help Ophelia out?”
Vega could and did. She sat back in her seat, happy to have redeemed herself. After class, she got an approving nod from the professor, and she left the room with a bounce in her step. Cassie caught up with her, her cheeks pink from exertion. After surreptitiously glancing around to make sure that Ophelia was not in earshot, she spoke.
“Excuse me?” asked Vega. She bent down closer to Cassie to hear better.
“Did you see that?” Cassie asked in a hushed voice. “It’s so obvious that Ophelia shouldn’t be here. I wish we could find Scarlet and tell her that!”
Vega shook her head. “Just because she’s slow to catch on doesn’t necessarily mean she’s not Star Darlings material,” she said. “But it would be great to find Scarlet and see if she knows why she was kicked out. I’m sure there’s a perfectly rational explanation.”
“If you say so,” said Cassie. But to Vega, she did not look convinced one bit.
It was pretty clear that Cassie was not a morning person. Vega, on the other hand, was. She almost burst into laughter when she knocked softly on Cassie’s door (so as not to disturb the still-sleeping Sage) bright and early the next morning and the girl emerged from her room. Vega looked as crisp and neat as usual, wearing a blue tunic and footless tights, her usual serenely sophisticated style. Cassie, who tended to prefer dainty comfort in her outfits, walked out of the room with a scowl on her face, her pigtail buns askew, her dress tucked into her leggings, and two different silvery shoes on her feet. Vega untucked the girl’s dress for her and pointed to her feet. Cassie glanced down, groaned, and returned to the room to find a matching pair of shoes.
But Cassie’s grumpy expression began to relax as soon as they stepped outside into the early-morning starshine. They were headed to the botany lab to check on the flowers.
“Don’t you think it’s weird that we haven’t heard from them yet?” Cassie asked as they boarded the Cosmic Transporter. Vega shortened her step a bit to match Cassie’s stride.
“Maybe they’re busy,” suggested Vega. “Our flowers probably aren’t too high on their priority list.”
“Well, they should be,” said Cassie grumpily. They exited the Cosmic Transporter in front of Halo Hall and walked up the white marble stairs.
When they reached the warm, moist lab, Cassie lunged forward and gave the bell a single polite ding before Vega could get her hands on it. A vase of crimsonalias sat on the desk nearby. Cassie gave Vega a look. Don’t even think about ringing that bell, her expression seemed to say.
Gladiolus Rose strolled through a doorway, wiping her hands on her white lab coat. “Hello,” she said. “How can I help you?”
Cassie gave Vega a glance. Didn’t the assistant recognize them? It was almost as if she was meeting them for the first time.
“We, um, were just checking up on the flowers we dropped off the other day,” Vega explained.
The woman looked behind her and lowered her voice. “I haven’t shown them to anyone yet,” she said. “The person I wanted to show them to, Professor Peony, has been in a terrible mood lately, so I didn’t dare approach her.”
“Gladiolus!” someone called out in a peevish tone.
Gladiolus rolled her eyes and began rearranging the bright red crimsonalias. “That’s her,” she said. “Looks like today isn’t going to be any better.” She leaned forward. “Listen, I’ll try to show the flowers to her later today if I can. I promise!”
“Gladiolus!” Professor Peony called again, a rising note of annoyance in her voice.
“Coming!” Gladiolus called back loudly. She looked down at her hands and realized she had snapped one of the crimsonalia branches in two. “My stars,” she said. “Look, I’ve got to go. Why don’t you come back in a couple of stardays, and I’ll hopefully have an answer for you by then.”
The two girls sighed. “Fine,” said Cassie. As soon as Gladiolus left the room, Cassie whirled around to face Vega. “Did you hear that? They’re arguing!”
Vega shook her head. “All I heard was one impatient professor. Hold your galliopes.”
“Fine,” said Cassie with a shrug. “We’ll find out soon enough.” She rubbed her hands together. “I can’t wait till I’m proven right.”
“Time will tell,” said Vega. “You might just be joining me for sixteen straight stardays of puzzles.”
“Oh, boy,” said Cassie, feigning excitement.
“That’s the spirit,” said Vega with a grin.
They walked to the Celestial Café. The light wasn’t flashing yet, so they settled themselves on the steps, which were cool, still holding a bit of the chill from the previous evening. Just then, Leona and Ophelia walked by, arm in arm. Cassie stiffened. Then she sighed. “I just miss my friend,” she said. “And I’m worried about Scarlet. I wish things could go back to the way they used to be.”
Vega laid a hand on Cassie’s arm. “Everything is going to be okay,” she said. She just hoped she was right.
The Star Darlings were quieter than usual that morning at breakfast. They all seemed to have a lot on their minds. But the air of melancholy didn’t do anything to affect Vega’s appetite. She quickly polished off her order of starcakes and was wiping her chin with her napkin, about to starscuse herself from the table, when there was a muted buzzing noise, like a swarm of happy glitterbees discovering a bluebeezel garden.
Twenty-four eyes widened and twelve hands reached out to grab their Star-Zaps in unison.
S.D. WISH ORB IDENTIFIED. PROCEED TO LADY STELLA’S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
From the other side of the table, there was an excited yelp, which was quickly hushed. Adrenaline coursed through Vega’s veins, and it took all her will to keep herself from jumping out of her seat and running as fast as her legs would carry her to Lady Stella’s office. That wasn’t allowed. She breathed in and out deeply several times to maintain her focus. The other Star Darlings were also admirably composed. Either alone or in pairs, the girls pushed out their chairs, stood, and strolled out of the cafeteria casually—chatting to one other, grabbing an extra astromuffin, looking like it was just another day. Vega glanced around at everyone, fully aware that behind their calm exteriors, they were all just as tense and excited as she was. We should join the acting club when this is all over, thought Vega. We’re naturals!
Vega arrived in Lady Stella’s office right after Leona and Ophelia and just before Clover. They filed in and took their usual seats. As Vega drummed her fingers impatiently on the table, Libby twirled a piece of her pink hair around her finger, Leona scowled, Ophelia looked positively terrified, and Adora hummed tunelessly. “Stop it,” snapped Tessa, and the two started to argue.
Then Lady Stella appeared in the doorway and everyone immediately hushed. Tall and regally beautiful, she wore a silver turban, and her lips were painted a brilliant shade of red. She spread her arms, her full sleeves ballooning out
at her sides. She looked down at them with a tender smile.
“I realize you’re all very excited and tense,” she said. “But Star Darlings must always be respectful of each other. I just want to remind you that you were chosen not for your singularities but because of the way the twelve of you fit together, like the pieces of a puzzle. You must support each other at all times, not tear each other down.” Vega looked around the table. Everyone was rapt. She marveled at how even when they were being scolded by Lady Stella, everyone still looked grateful to have her attention.
“We’re sorry, Lady Stella,” said Tessa. Everyone murmured agreement.
Lady Stella clasped her hands. “As you know, a Star Darlings’ Wish-Watcher has spotted a Wish Orb that has begun to glow,” she told them. “This means that a Wisher’s wish is ready to be granted, and one of you is the perfect Starling to fulfill that wish. One of you”—she paused—“will shortly be on your way to Wishworld to begin a journey that, if all goes well, will be beneficial to both you and your Wisher. And Starland itself, of course,” she added. “Now we will head to the Star Caves once more for the Wish Orb presentation.”
Lady Stella realized that one student was looking quite confused. She smiled at her kindly. “This is all new to you, Ophelia,” she said to the new Star Darling. “You see, underneath the school are secret caves known only to me, the Star Darlings, and a special few of my trusted advisors. That is where we have our own secret Wish-House, where special Wish Orbs are planted. When a Wish Orb begins to glow, we hold a secret ceremony to determine which of you is best suited for the mission based on your talents and the nature of the wish.”
Ophelia nodded mutely, her face drawn. She made Cassie, who (as usual) looked slightly ill at the possibility of going down to Wishworld, look starmendously excited in comparison.
Lady Stella walked to her desk, pulled open the top drawer, and reached inside. A hidden door in the back wall slid open and Ophelia gasped. A faint musty chill snuck into the room. Silently, the Star Darlings stood and made their way to the door in a calm and orderly fashion. There was no pushing or shoving or arguing as each girl patiently waited her turn to pass through the doorway and carefully made her way down the circular staircase, gripping the cold banister. Vega heard someone say, “After you, of course,” and someone else said, “No, you first,” and she grinned, knowing that the girls were going out of their way to show Lady Stella just how civilized and supportive they could be. The hard soles of Vega’s blue clogs made sharp ringing sounds on the metal stairs. She felt light-headed, and the hand not clutching the banister was all fluttery, like it was trying to escape from the end of her arm. I’ve never felt quite this nervous before, she thought, surprised by her reaction. Just before every other Wish Orb presentation, she had been as matter-of-fact as usual. She wasn’t sure what was going on with her this time.
At the bottom of the steps, she jumped when Cassie put a cold hand around hers and gave it a squeeze. She smiled at her friend’s thoughtfulness, especially since she knew how nervous Cassie must be.
“I’m sorry Scarlet isn’t here,” said Cassie in a low voice. “She loves these caves.”
Leona turned around and scowled at them both. Vega ignored her and looked around the gloomy space, not certain what Scarlet found so appealing about the caves. They were dank and drippy, and they smelled old and musty. Strange creatures inhabited the dark corners, and you never knew when one might dart out and run across your foot, its claws scrabbling over your instep. She shivered at the thought, then had a sudden realization: that was exactly why the dark and mysterious Scarlet liked the caves, actually!
They walked through the gloom single file as Lady Stella led them down several twisty hallways, then came to a stop in front of a nondescript door. Vega blinked. She was fairly certain they had come an entirely different way the time before. The headmistress pushed open the door and grinned as glorious sunshine poured into the dark hallway. Ophelia gasped. And just like that, the flutterfocuses that had been dancing around in Vega’s stomach vanished. That was exactly what was supposed to happen; she could feel it. She was suddenly, strangely, gloriously calm. She had this. She just knew it.
And as she would soon find out, she was right. She watched as Ophelia gaped at the room. They were standing in a special Wish-House that had been built just for them. Although they were deep underneath Halo Hall, they could still look up through the glass roof and see blue sky and puffy white clouds drifting by.
“But…but…but it’s impossible!” Ophelia said.
Leona shrugged. “Impossible…yet here we are,” she replied.
Lady Stella led them to the center of the room, and they all grouped around the raised platform, where the Wish Orb would appear.
Lady Stella cleared her throat and Vega turned her attention to the headmistress. “As you know, or don’t yet,” she said, indicating Ophelia, “the Wish Orb will choose which of you is the best match for its wish.” She clapped her hands and the room darkened. A beam of light shot down from above and illuminated the middle of the platform. It opened and a single Wish Orb appeared. There was a sharp intake of breath. Although they all (except Ophelia, of course) had seen this three times now, it was still a magical sight. The Wish Orb was round and looked like a beautiful iridescent bubble made of the finest spun glass. It glowed with remarkable intensity. There was a slight breeze, warm and refreshing at the same time, and the orb began to move around the platform, pausing for a moment in front of each girl. Adora held out her hand as if to touch it, and the look of sadness on her face when it moved away was heartbreaking. Leona looked away as it passed, as if it pained her too much to see the orb. Cassie let out a large sigh as it went by (of relief, Vega was sure of it). The orb paused in front of Vega, and she held her breath, steeling herself for the disappointment she would feel if it moved on to the next Star Darling. But that moment never came. Vega looked at Lady Stella questioningly. The headmistress beamed, leaned over, and took the orb carefully in her hands. It lit up her beautiful face, and she turned to Vega. Her eyes sparkled with pleasure as she said, “The orb has chosen. It’s yours, Vega.”
Vega set three separate alarms on her Star-Zap that night, but she didn’t need any of them, for Piper woke her up at the crack of dawn, talking in her sleep. Or to be more specific, yelling.
It was mostly gibberish and made no sense to Vega, but a couple of the words were clear: help, stop, and was that thief? Rubbing sleep from her eyes, Vega swung her legs out of bed, crossed the room, and shook Piper’s shoulder, perhaps a bit more roughly than she intended. “Wake up!” Vega said. “You’re dreaming!”
The sparkle of the morning stars was just starting to peek over the horizon, and the room was still deep in shadows. Vega switched on a light. She saw that Piper’s eyes were open, but she was staring at Vega confusedly, like she didn’t recognize her. Her cheeks were flushed and she had a terrified look on her face, her eyes darting around the room. “She stole my Wish Pendant! Where is my Wish Pendant?” she cried, looking around wildly. Vega still wasn’t sure Piper knew where she was or even who Vega was. It was a little scary.
Vega’s arm shot out and she began frantically rummaging around on Piper’s nightstand, knocking over a glass of water. (It instantly dried, as spills always did on Starland.) Where was her Wish Pendant? Finally, her fingers closed on the cool metal of the bracelet. She held it aloft. “Here it is,” she said soothingly. “Piper, it was only a dream.” She slipped it onto Piper’s wrist, which seemed to calm her immediately.
An expression of great relief flooded Piper’s face. But then she looked up at Vega reproachfully. “Only a dream? Really? You know how important dreams are!” she said coldly. “Especially to me!”
Vega shrugged. “Sorry,” she said. “I…I wasn’t thinking.”
Piper sat up in bed, her fingers tightly wrapped around her Wish Pendant, as if the dream villain was going to reappear and try to wrest it away from her.
“Hand me my
dream diary!” Piper demanded. This was very unlike her, and Vega stared for a moment. Piper corrected herself immediately. “Um, would you mind getting me my dream diary?” she asked sheepishly.
“Sure,” said Vega. She hurried across the room and grabbed the top holo-diary in the basket. She handed it to Piper, who grasped it in her hands and closed her eyes, clearly trying hard to recall the dream. She finally tossed down the diary in frustration. “I can’t remember!” she said sadly. “It’s slipping away. All I can recall is that someone was chasing me, trying to take my Wish Pendant. I stopped to rest and they grabbed it.” She thought hard. “I can’t remember the face. Or even if it was a man or a woman. But it seemed so real….” Her voice trailed off.
Vega shivered. Piper was usually all relaxation and sleeping masks but at times could get quite creepy without warning. This was one of those times.
Vega looked at Piper for a moment, trying to return her to reality. “Well, I guess it’s time to get ready for my Wish Mission,” she said. No reaction. “My Wish Mission to Wishworld,” she said loudly. Piper still sat up in bed, staring into space. All this drama over a silly dream! Vega thought. She was the one who should be anxious this morning, not Piper!
But it didn’t register with Piper. She slowly stood up and walked to the sparkle shower room. “I’ll take a sparkle shower now,” she said. “Maybe that will help calm me down.”
Vega shook her head. She had assumed it would go without saying that she would get to take the first sparkle shower of the day. She laughed. It wasn’t like she had big plans or anything. She was just going to hitch herself to a blazing shooting star and hurtle down to a distant world. No big deal.
While she waited her turn, she neatened the already spotless room, returning Piper’s holo-diary to the basket and making both of their beds. Piper’s soft seafoam green sheets were so tangled up Vega wondered if she had actually been running in her sleep. She accessed the Wishworld Outfit Selector but, after flipping through various options, decided she was happy with the choice she had made the previous night.
