"I see, a comet..." the wise old star nodded after having listened to Miyuki's story. "Don't worry, some stars living here in Star Haven know one or two things about technics... they'll fix your vehicle in no time."
"You'd do that?" the excited girl asked.
"No problem, girl," the young, bluish star with the sailor hat smirked. "I'll call the boys, and we'll have it fixed in a jiffy."
"Please, Miyuki... give the board to Muskular! He'll take good care of it!"
Miyuki nodded and Muskular floated down from his pillar, grabbed the damaged board and left the building.
Stella stepped forward and bowed her head. "We appreciate your help, but forgive me my question... what is this place? I never seen anything like it before."
"No, I didn't think you would," another star who was holding a book chuckled. "Star Haven and the world below it are situated in a well-hidden corner of the galaxy. It's very difficult to find."
"And what's that shiny rod up there?" Miyuki asked and gestured at the Star Rod.
The purple star with the glasses, who was called Skolar, smiled. "Well, it is certainly eye-catching, is it? This, my dear, is the most powerful artifact of Star Haven: The Star Rod!"
"You know," the gentle star called Mamar said. "Whenever the residents of the world below us have a wish, they wish upon a star... and that's when we step in action."
"The Star Rod has the power to grant any wish to its holder," the cute pink Misstar explained. "And it is the job of us Seven Star Spirits to make sure that only the wishes of good-hearted, honest people are being granted... we would never grant any selfish, greedy or cruel wishes. Never!"
"Wooow..." Miyuki said in awe. "That's one powerful rod..."
"Oh yes, it is," the mustached Kalmar nodded. "And it is a bliss that Star Haven is so well hidden. Not many people can reach it at all. Imagine how many evil ruffians would have come here to claim it as their own."
"The repairs will certainly take some time, so why don't you take a look at the town while you're waiting?" Mamar asked.
"That would be great, thanks!"
Eldstar floated a bit higher on his pillar. "Twink! Could you come here for a moment, please?"
A small, glittering spark zipped through the air and turned out to be a smaller star, with the curious face of a child.
"You called, honored Star Spirits?" he asked in a high voice.
Eldstar smiled. "Miyuki, this is Twink. He has just risen to Star Haven as a full-fledged star. You know, the young stars reside within Star Valley until their time has come to become true stars that may grant people's wishes. And Twink has just reached the age when star children start living here among the adult stars."
"Please, Twink, show her around town," Mamar asked. "She's a special guest and completely new to everything. She will stay until her board is being repaired... that means, she can stay longer, of course, if she wishes."
"No problem!" the young star flitted down to Miyuki and Stella. "Hi, I'm Twink! Nice to meet you! Please, come this way!"
----
After having left the sanctuary, the tall building the Star Spirits are residing in, the little Twink showed Miyuki and her advisor around town. The two of them were impressed by the glittering fountains, the shiny trees and the flower-covered ground. All around them, friendly stars were floating and attending to their daily work.
The whole town seemed to be situated on a big, floating platform that was surrounded by the vastness of space... and deep, deep below them, Miyuki could see a world that seemed to be of very bright colors.
"We get very few visitors from below," Twink explained. "But we're prepared for such an occasion. We have an inn, a shop and various other establishments for their needs. We stars do not really have to sleep or eat, you know? We just feed on sunlight or moonlight, that keeps us healthy."
"And what about the granting of wishes?" Miyuki asked. "Could just anyone who sees a shooting star make a wish, and it would come true?"
"Not exactly... you know, us stars can feel immediately if there is someone who's wishing upon a star. If it is a big and important wish, then the honored Star Spirits will discuss if that wish is going to be granted or not. If they decide to grant it, they will use the power of the Star Rod. However, if it is just a small wish that wouldn't need any magical powers, one of us smaller stars is being sent down to the lower world. Like, when a small child wishes for a nice mushroom cake for it's birthday... then a star would provide a cake, go down and offer that cake to the child as a birthday present. Understand?"
"I think so," Miyuki nodded. "The Star Rod is only being used for wishes that are difficult to grant without any magical powers..."
"That's exactly it! Of course, we would only grant the wish to this child if it has been good... similar to Santa Claus, you know?"
"This is all so amazing..." Stella murmured. "I have to tell Princess Kakyuu about this when we get back home. Perhaps she will be interested in developing diplomatic connections to your world."
Twink just wanted to reply, when suddenly, a blue blur zipped past them. It was Muskular.
"Princess Miyuki, I came to inform you that your vessel is ready."
"Already?" Miyuki asked. "Wow, that was fast."
"Well, the boys and I are hard workers," the blue star smirked. He turned around to face Twink. "Hey Twink, how's it going?"
"Ho-honored star..." the child stuttered and bowed.
Muskular laughed. "Hey kid, I already told ya: Stop the formalities! We're all one big family! All right, still have some jobs to do... see you two later, okay?" And then he was gone.
Twink shook his head. "I guess we should go... We'll stop at the workshop to get your board, then we'll get back to the sanctuary. Do you want to leave already, by the way?"
Miyuki nodded. "Yeah, I've still got a long way ahead of me, and my parent's friends are waiting. Still, it has been a nice stop, and perhaps I'll come for a visit again."
"That would be nice!"
----
Shortly after, the threesome was back in the sanctuary. Miyuki was carrying her repaired board under her arm.
"Hello?" They looked around the empty room. "Huh, where are they?"
"I believe they're on the top floor," Twink pondered. "They're always up there when they're discussing if they should grant a wish."
"Um, would they mind if we go up to them so I can say goodbye?"
"I don't think so. Come, I'll show you the way upstairs."
"I think I'll just wait down here," Stella said. "Come down when you're ready to leave, okay?"
"Sure! Be right back!"
Miyuki followed Twink to the stairs that were leading to the top floor.
Stella sat down on the smooth marble floor next to the impressive monument, on whose top the Star Rod was resting.
For a few seconds, she just listened to the calm rippling of the water that was flowing around the sanctuary.
STELLA...
Stella looked around. "Huh? Did anyone call my name?"
STELLA... UP HERE...
Stella looked up to where the mysterious voice was coming from... and looked right at the Star Rod, which was surrounded by an aura of light.
STELLA... IT'S NOT SAFE HERE ANYMORE... YOU HAVE TO TAKE ME WITH YOU!
Suddenly, the kitten's eyes started to glaze. "I understand... I will do as you wish," she murmured in an unemotional voice.
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(Posted Sat, 30 Dec 2006 22:23)
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