Above the Stars: Part Two

by with_baited_breath

The small, dark gray rock bounced high into the air then dropped down again. As soon as it hit the honey-coloured wooden floor, it bounced back up. It was wearing a little blue dress and had a grand, magic-marker smile on its face. The bouncing rock looked happier than any other person in the cafeteria.

Everyone else had a look of horror plastered to their faces.

Beneath-the-Stars was no different. The Poogle's jaw had dropped, and she had completely forgotten about her little bouncing rock with the blue dress. No! It couldn't be true! But, as she stared at the tall, spectacled woman in front of her, and listened as her words were repeated, she was forced to believe it.

"The Ghost Lion has been heard near the school grounds…we have dispatched a group of Lupe Hunters, and several faeries are on their way, but until further notice, no student is allowed outdoors. All classes will be held inside, and recess will take place in the gymnasium. I know this is a blow," Ms. Cranton did not look at all sympathetic, with her slicked black hair and cold gray eyes, "with the spring in full bloom now, but we must be wary with Neopia's evil creatures."

"I can take 'im on!" the shout came from the front of the cafeteria, and as Stars strained her neck to see who had called out, a big blue Poogle leapt into the air with a sharp bark. "Ghost Lion watch out! My magic will zap you all the way to Mystery Island!"

Blue Blittzer was the most talented pet in the Neopian School of Magic. Stars felt a soft blush warm her lavender cheeks, but she forced her eyes back to the headmistress. She had learned about the Ghost Lion in her very first Magical History class. It was one of the most frightening creatures…

"An ill-fated omen sent to scare youngsters, the Ghost Lion usually appears just before tragedy occurs. He is also the hunter of lost spirits and wayward young pets. You will hear a Ghost Lion long before you see one. Know them by the sound of their deadly quiet growl. To protect your pets from the Ghost Lion be sure to lavish them with lots of love."

Stars' left ear twitched a bit. Was she lavished with love? Hmm…not really…was she safe? She suddenly remembered the rock that was bouncing freely around her, and reached out quickly with a paw. Too late, the rock had bounced away from her. She groaned. Not now. Of all times, not now!

The happy little rock bounced through the cafeteria, careful not to hit a single pet. It sang through the open air, it's little dress ruffling, until it made contact with something solid but unseen in the air, and went crashing back to the floor, never to bounce again. Stars gasped. Was it…the Ghost Lion?

A deep roar issued through the room. Stars shivered. It was worse than the Ghost Lion. It was KadeyD, the invisible Grarrl. The headmistress scowled at her.

"Beneath-the-Stars, put your…your…toys away this instant! Now is not the time to be playing!" Ms. Cranton was fuming, her pale hollowed cheeks tinged with purplish-red. She gave one last bark of "Remember-do not go outside! And behave!" before pivoting on her high heel and stomping out of the cafeteria.

Stars was almost sad to see her go. Now, with the pets unsupervised, she would have to deal with the wrath of KadeyD. She glanced over at her best friend, Edgarton. The tiny striped Korbat was shaking his head, lost in deep thought. He didn't even seem to notice the events that had transpired. Stars sighed and dropped her sparkling Faerie wings around her. If only she could disappear as well as KadeyD.

"You and your stupid rocks!!!" The Grarrl was shouting as loud as he could, directly into Stars' ear. She cringed and slid sideways on the bench, trying to get away from him. She could feel his horrible breath on her furry head. "You shouldn't be here! You can't do a single magical thing! You must be Blue Blather's worst nightmare! You're awful! You never learn anything! You just spend everyday playing with your stupid, silly rocks!! Rocks!! That's all you can do! You can make rocks bounce!! That's it! Maybe the Ghost Lion is here to eat you up! I hear he loves failures!"

And with that, KadeyD pounded out of the cafeteria. As soon as he'd gone, the room exploded with talk and laughter. Stars began to cry, and buried her head in her paws. KadeyD was right. He was completely right! She was horrible at magic! She was a failure! She shuddered softly with her tears, when she felt a light touch on her shoulder.

"Leave me alone, Edgarton. You don't understand. I can't be strong like you." She shrugged away from the touch and sobbed even louder.

"You're not my worst nightmare."

Stars fell utterly silent. She could almost feel her heart stop. Slowly, cautiously, she lifted her head and her sparkling wings. The touch on her shoulder was not the crooked wing of Edgarton, but the strong paw of Blue Blittzer. She nearly choked on her surprise. "I…I…I'm not?" she asked tentatively, hiccuping.

Blittzer grinned, shrugging. "Of course not. My worst nightmare is Ms. Cranton wearing a purple and orange polka-dot bathing-suit." Stars tried to hide a giggle, and his grin widened. "Don't let that bully upset you. I think your magic is cool. It's not bubble gum or whatever he calls it. It's different. You could do a lot with rocks, you know. A lot."

Edgarton was sputtering beside her, his wings flapping weirdly. "You…you're…wow."

Stars jabbed an elbow into the Korbat's ribs, giving him a menacing look. She didn't want anyone to ruin this perfect moment. She turned back to Blittzer, smiling gratefully. "Thanks. That's really the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me. Thanks."

The blue Poogle winked at her and backed away. "Hey, if he ever bothers you again, just let me know, and I'll show him something to bubblegum about." Blittzer smiled and walked back to his place at the front of the cafeteria, leaving one very astonished Faerie Poogle and one incredibly nervous striped Korbat staring after him.

"Wow! Blue Blittzer…the best student in the school…just talked to me!" Edgarton had begun sputtering again. He was looking around anxiously and one wing had begun twitching.

Stars scowled at him. "He was talking to me, Edgarton! And you're lucky you didn't ruin it! I would've thrown a rock at you!" She sighed, settling down into her seat and truly enjoying the Earth Faerie Brownies in front of her. Life had never been so kind before now. Perhaps things were turning around.

And with the taste of Faerie chocolate in her mouth, and the words of Blue Blittzer humming through her mind, Beneath-the-Stars didn't feel the piercing stare or hear the silent growl of the ghostly creature crouching outside the cafeteria window.

To be continued...