#alitc

Arron the Lythcol Mechanic sent me this. Apparently Sirius didn’t learn his lesson during St. Patrick’s day. I’ll have to do something about that pup...

Timeline: Easter 2k17

Time Frame: Day after St. Patrick’s day, 2k17

The lawn gnome courier roamed down the pathway of Village Greens on its way to the lawns gnome base with its most recent scribbles of symbols and shapes. The route it took way always the same: starting at the first mushroom post before passing the shrubbery garden, past flamingos and looping around the small cliff, clacking beneath the windmill blades before finally making it to the home base. None of the other Animated paid it any mind, and it paid them no mind. The courier's mission was an important one that could not be interrupted. When Gaians appeared, the others defended. If the others were defeated, the courier moved faster. But it always made it to its destination...mostly. Perhaps that is why it didn't pay any mind to the rustle in the grass at first. Nor did it hear it when it approached the second time, passing from one large stone to a tree. Only the third time, when the rustle shifted from the tree to another tree right next to the gnome did it stop, turning to see what made the sound. It saw nothing across the grassy plains other than a small bird and a few Animated though, and continued on its way to the base. Soon the massive putt-putt golf mushrooms came into view along with the largest catapult constructed Village Green gnome history. It was nearly complete. All it needed was a few more baskets of the foul eggs and it would be ready for launch. The gnome felt a bit of pride to be part of this, and not just because of how often the Gaians had attacked their kind. They would be making lawn gnome history. Soon they would own not just the greens, but Barton itself! No, not Barton, Gnometropolis! Gnometopia! Lawngnomia! The name was a work in progress. But they could come up with it later. First thing was first, before they could claim Barton as their own, they needed to clear it out of those pesky Gaians. That large white wall that kept them from invading was not going to be a problem anymore. The massive basket would launch the eggs clean over, and keep the smell inside for all Gaians to blanch over. They would flee from the terrible stink, which their own plastic noses were immune to, leaving their town behind for the taking. Then those walls would be the walls of the lawn gnomes, and no Gaians would be able to attack them in their new kingdom! The courier was so caught up in its thoughts of grandeur that it did not notice the dark blur streak across the path in front of it, nor the thing that it dropped. It wasn't until it was stopped in its tracks that it realized something was there. Trying to clatter forward, the lawn gnome found that it had stepped on a piece of gum. This was a problem, when it had two feet already glued together, the ways to move were considerably limited. Without being able to hop high enough up, or teeter to the side, the gnome's movements threw it off balance. It fell forward on it's plastic nose with a plop! A few lawn gnomes looked over, but they quickly turned back to what they were doing. That quickly changed. YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP YAP! The gnomes rattled in surprise, some dropping their egg-filled baskets as a dark furred puppy with silvery stardust sprinkled on his coat scampered out of tall grass. He zoomed towards the stuck and fallen courier, tail wagging furiously and a slight hop in his run with each yap. There was a thump, then a pop! The gnomes stared in disbelief at the pup. The pup gazed back with large innocent blue and shining teal eyes. He could no longer bark, not with the courier's hat in his mouth, at least. One gnome took a clattering step forward. Sirius scampered a couple steps back. Another took a step forward. He crouched his front paws playfully. The first took a few more steps forward. Sirius was off! It was like someone flipped a switch. The gnomes dropped what they were doing and followed after the star. When he looped around the mushroom, they looped around the mushroom. When he jumped over a log, so did they. When he went down the path to the cliff, all the gnomes in sight followed like the tail of a shooting star: always right behind yet never catching up as they attempted to retrieve their comrade's precious hat. The pup led them up the path then down, around the windmill twice, then up the path towards Bill's Ranch and out of sight. Lucky waited until the coast was clear before slipping out from behind a nearby tree. Phase one of the plan was complete. With those Animated around, she and Sirius would not have been able to do a single thing about their newest toy. They needed to get them away from the location somehow. She had noticed something during her ventures through the Animated infested areas though. While they attacked Gaians, there were koi in the ponds of Zen Gardens that were untouched. The lawn gnomes didn't bother the birds. The sand fluffs let the crabs and starfish be. They didn't have an issue with animals. Perhaps the same would go with a certain star puppy. Once he was close enough, he would steal the hat off of one of them and get the whole crew to chase him up and out of sight. That went off without a hitch, but neither of them knew how long Sirius would be able to distract them. Normally they only went do far, but he did have the hat, which should buy her a couple more minutes if they cared half as much about that hat as Arron did about his boots. Either way though, she needed to act fast. Reaching in her purse. the redhead pulled out one of the prizes from a pinball game: superduper glue. She crept over to the mushroom, careful not to be seen through the windows as she made her way to the door. Once she was there, she applied generous amounts of the quick drying substance to the door frame, gluing a rock in at the base to serve as a wedge. The more she could add to the door to keep the general and majors from coming out, the better. She inspected her handiwork. It wouldn't keep them inside forever, but it should hold long enough for her to do something about that catapult. Now, what exactly "something" was, was the question. She didn't get an up close look at the catapult the first time. She would have to improvise. She hurried over to the catapult and examined the structure. It was much larger up close, easily twice her height at max even while anchored down and ready to launch. There was no way she would be able to unload the eggs before they got back. Besides, even if she did manage, there was nothing really stopping them from just filling it up again. She looked to the base. The rock-well, boulder was more appropriate, was far too heavy for her to try to move. If it was able to keep a log under pressure down, she didn't even want to try to mess with it. The baskets crammed under the log didn't look like they would budge either, but they did look flammable... She heard a thump and quickly turned. A yellow hat within the mushroom bounced up and down at the window. The majors had spotted her. The baskets would have to do. She fished through her purse and pulled out her makeup compact. Flipping it open, she adjusted the angle of the mirror inside. The Sun's light bounced off of it and onto the very dry baskets. Hopefully it would be enough heat to get a small fire started. If those baskets burned, all the tension in the catapult would be gone, rendering it useless. If it wasn't enough, then... Lucky frowned. She was stalling again. This wasn't going to work, at least not in the time span they had. They needed something more effective, more destructive. Something that could light up these baskets and maybe this entire catapult in a matter of moments. Back as the Starlight Princess, she found her way around such things by stardusting star power over to whatever she needed. That wasn't an option anymore. Maybe this was what Sirius was getting at. She frowned, adjusting the mirror more as she heard the majors switch from the window to banging on the sealed door. It would be easy to take this catapult down. If she did, Gaians would not have to worry about the potential virus spreading. That alone should have been more than enough justification for getting the job done, so what was stopping her?? Sure Astraeus was working hard for her sake, but he never minded when she slipped in speech or mannerisms before. It didn't stop him from wanting her back, and not just because he needed a second Starlight Royal. The council wouldn't be able to do anything, not if she had the giant stars on her side. They had more sway than the council on elect Starlight Royals. The elect was to serve them, they had final say. But, what if they were not all of Sirius's mindset. He was unique in his thinking. They knew her past as well as he. What if they were not as forgiving and deemed her just as dangerous as the council had? That verdict would be permanent. Could she really risk that? Could she put the prince through that? Could she put herself through that? And there is was. Lucky sighed, running a hand through her long red bangs. Of course she worried about how the kingdom would be affected by this. They trusted her for a very important role and she blew it! Now they were down a caretaker, and given that was wasn't actually part of the star kingdom's people, possibly the one better suited for dealing with whatever the black dwarf's are doing. But she was fooling herself if she believed she didn't have anything to lose. The Star Kingdom kept her safe. She betrayed the Prophesy Forgoers. She betrayed her. It was likely they wouldn't touch her, at least not yet anyway. If Lucky knew anything from running with that band, it was that not even the most powerful kingdoms would keep them from their prize. Deter them maybe, but not keep them. No, it ran deeper than that. The Forgoers were known for many things, but above all they were known for betrayal. She had already betrayed them, her family, by getting involved with the Starlight Royals and agreeing to the contract. Now by violating the new contract, she was betraying her new family. And she was about to do it a second time. What if this was a pattern? What if she got out too late? Her chest tightened. Did this mean she was already beyond saving? Sudden barking in the distance yanked Lucky out of her thoughts. That wasn't Sirius's normal playful yap. Had he been caught? Colorful language flew from Lucky's lips as she looked at the baskets. They were warming, but hadn't caught fire yet. Sirius would be caught and possibly hurt long before that happened. That couldn't happen. The banging on the mushroom door was louder, and she could hear the slight crunch of some of the glue starting to give way, though the rock wedged in still held firm. This had to end. Now. Lucky closed the compact and stood, bringing two fingers to her mouth and whistling loudly. She heard two yaps in response, the sign that Sirius heard and would be running back. She likely had a minute...maybe less if that door didn't hold. Kneeling, she ripped up some grass and started stuffing it along the base of the catapult near the rock. She led it as a trail up and near the baskets. That would be enough. She listened as Sirius's barking got louder and louder. Then she heard the crunch of the door as the majors fell through and into the afternoon Gaia air. Now or never. Lucky turned to the catapult, focusing her attention inward into the very core of her being. There was a warmth there, and as she focused on it, it sprung to life, getting warmer and warmer until her external temperature began to heat up. She focused it to a single point, trailing from her chest to her right shoulder, then down her arm to her finger palm and fingers. She flicked her wrist and it released, catching the particles in the air and combusting into a jet of flames about the length of her forearm. As soon as it touched the grass, it roared to life, flames running up and down the log as it followed the grass trail. Lucky let it do its work, diving over the other side of the catapult just as one of the majors leaped at her. It bounced back, not willing to get too close to the burning contraption. At the same time, the dark fur of Sirius raced into view. The gnomes were still on his tail, though he seemed to get a lead. His eyes focused on her and the burning catapult, and Lucky nodded at the baskets-turned-tinder which were breaking down, causing the tension in the catapult to vanish. She held up four fingers. Time for the final step. The pup went from barking to yapping again as he raced for the majors. Seeing the new player, they stopped trying to get around the blaze and focused on him instead, clattering to meet him. Sirius scampered towards them faster and faster. Then, as the last possible moment, he jumped in the air. There was a loud commotion as the lawn gnomes and majors alike tried to stop, but wound up crashing into a huge pile. The pup landed safely on the top of the mushroom. As his paws his the surface, his form began to change. Fur became hair, paws hands and boot covered feet. Rather than the white shirt to go with his attire, the dog star chose to sport his blue coat with coattails and his matching top hat. He grinned wolfishly at the gnomes and tipped his hat, the fire rain ring charged with all the spirit orbs they found gleaming in the light. Fireballs fell like meteors on the pile of gnomes below, causing them to sway, teeter, then finally fall over before vanishing. Sirius used his vantage point to look over the burning catapult at the redhead that was on the other side. "I think it's safe to say this thing is useless now," he called over. "Any idea what we're going to do with this scrap heap?" "Didn't think that far," she called back. But he had a point. They couldn't just leave such a big burning thing in the middle of Village Greens. It could cause a serious disaster. Sirius nodded and hopped off the building, landing on his feet. "Right. I'm going to move it then." Lucky paused. "Wait-What?" Before she could get a full sentence out, the dog star flicked his wrist, splaying silver stardust over the catapult, eggs and all. In an instant, all of it was gone, leaving only a few scorch marks in the grass in its place. Sirius glanced across the marks to the dumbfounded redhead, the amusement at the situation evident on his face. "What?" "You mean to tell me you could have done that this whole time?" she burst out. "I am a star," he shrugged. "Stardusting kinda comes with the job." "Doing that in the first place might have made things a tad easier, don't you think?" "Maybe, but I wouldn't have gotten that test done for you if I did." She crossed her arms. "A test with very generalized results. You were busy being chased by lawn gnomes, which I had you do. What if I planned that intentionally to keep you out of sight so you couldn't see any problems?" "Then I'd say it's a good idea someone else was keeping an eye out for you," he replied. "I asked a friend to give me a second opinion." She stopped her next retort. There were no little ones in the area. "Who?" she asked, suddenly curious. The dog star smiled knowingly and pointed up. The Sun blazed brightly in the morning sky, still shining on Gaia as it had since that morning. The redhead was silent, stunned that she missed the parent star. "According to the Sun, you were trying alternatives at first to bring the catapult down. You could tell it wasn't working, but you were trying because you had time." "Yeah, but then-" She stopped, it suddenly clicked. She turned her full attention to the dog star, examining him. He seemed to understand what she was thinking and grinned, spinning slowly so that she could see he was completely unharmed, despite his distressed barking earlier. "You weren't in danger," she realized. "That's why the gnomes were still out of reach when you got back!" He faced her again and nodded. "Sorry for spooking you. I just wanted to see what you would do under pressure." "Break the contract?" "Well, yes. But you did so because you put a star before yourself. I'm the dog star, yet you were more concerned about my safety than some stupid contract, and so you went against it if it meant keeping me from getting hurt." "I could have had time to plan that," she remarked with a frown. While he had a point, something seemed off. Sirius was way more thorough than this. If he was trying to outsmart her, doing so with her own plan wasn't going to work. Unless... She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Sirius, where did you send that catapult?" He shrugged. "I wasn't really sure where to put it. Not sure any star would at that. So I sent it to someone who would." Someone who would? Well he wouldn't send it to just anyone. Lucky's eyes widened, all her other thoughts out the window. "Don't tell me you sent a flaming catapult filled with zombie diseased eggs to the Observatory?" She didn't give him time for an answer. She didn't want an answer. Instead, she raced over and yanked on his coat, causing the star to yelp in surprise and she wiped some of the power-filled stardust off his clothing and sent both of them to the Starlight Royals' floating palace. As her feet hit the familiar illuminating tile of the palace, she let go of Sirius and raced down the hall, ignoring the surprised and delighted flickering of the numerous smaller stars. All that was on her mind was locating the prince, and she had a good idea where he was. She burst through the doors of the ballroom and toward another set where the glittering Falls sparkled through the glass, mostly back at full strength after the attack last Halloween. A silver cloak contrasted against it as the owner walked along the catwalk, not knowing about the new arrival quite yet. That quickly changed as the redhead slammed the doors open. The prince whipped around in alarm, grey eyes wide and alert as he faced the unexpected arrival. He was not expecting a redhead with panicked red eyes to be darting towards him at full speed. "Astraeus, don't touch the-" she stopped mid-sentence and tried to skid to a halt, stumbling in the process. A pair of strong arms caught her as the startled prince regained enough of his composure to keep her from falling on the floor. "Lucky?" he asked as if not quite trusting his own eyes. She tried to respond, but was too winded from her adrenaline rush and sprint through the massive palace. He held her firmly. "Catch your breath dear. Then tell me, what is the matter?" Lucky did what she was told, eyes darting about for the blazing catapult. The Falls shined brightly, illuminating every portion of the room. Yet, the catapult was nowhere to be seen. There was, however, a certain dog star in the doorway. Sirius tried to lean casually against the door frame, but the biting of his lip and the shake of his shoulders gave away how amused he was at the situation. She glared at the star. The prince looked between the pair before deciding to settle his gaze on the star. "What is this about?" Sirius cleared his throat. "The Animated were acting out of sorts, so I sent their newest toy to the traveler Nomad. I believe the princess got the wrong impression?" He grinned at the princess. Lucky, still catching her breath, smiled sweetly in return. Then she grabbed something round and leafy out of her purse and chucked it at the star. Sirius caught the seed with ease, but before he could react, it opened, sucking the dog star inside before dropping to the floor. She huffed, pulling herself out of the prince's arms and turning to the seed, hands on her hips. "Close enough to a kennel!" The prince was quiet for a moment, then he glanced up at one of the stars flickering close by. "...I do not know what the pair of you have been doing, nor do I wish to know. However, according to this little one, Sirius has a message for you." Lucky glanced back at Astraeus curiously, though an bit of annoyance still in her eyes at the situation. He looked just as curious as she did at the answer he had to relay, and she had a feeling she owed him one very long explanation after this. 

Time Frame: Easter 2k17

“The lawn gnomes are making what?” Sirius stared in disbelief at Lucky as she relayed what she had found at the Animated’s base. His expression was confusing, as if he was trying to figure out if he should groan or laugh. “Made, Sirius,” Lucky corrected. “There is a catapult prepped to send Diedrich’s eggs right over the town wall. The star shook his head, "Well that is one way to mess with your opponents.” “I think it might be more than that,” she replied. “In all honesty, I think they are trying to run Gaians out of Barton.” He paused, gazing at her searchingly. “That’s a pretty extreme conclusion? I mean, they’re just a bunch of bad eggs.” “They’re huge eggs. And they reek without the shell cracked. Just one normal egg gone bad can send a person running for the hills. These guys are collecting as many eggs as they can. It would take a long time to clean it up, and that’s even if its SAFE to clean up.” He still didn’t look convinced. “I didn’t say it was the smartest idea out there, but they learn from mimicking mankind. Catapults are meant to get dangerous things up and over walls. Big boulders and rotten eggs might not look all that different to a learning species.” “Alright, alright,” he conceded. “But why wouldn’t it be safe? Sure it stinks, but it’s nothing a little- ok a lot of soap won’t clean up.” Lucky shook her head, “Honestly, if it was just the smell, I think Gaia could handle it. They've handled gods, alien attacks, dragons, and just about everything else this world has thrown at them. If anything, I would feel sorry for the gnomes when the Gaians found out where the rotten eggs came from." She frowned, giving Sirius a moment to let this sink in before continuing. "But I don’t think the gnomes are considering another factor. Diedrich is a grunny.” She crossed her arms, thinking aloud, “Sure he’s annoying, but his kind originally were known for infecting Gaians with a virus that turned them into zombies. Diedrich has never bitten anyone to my knowledge, but there’s certainly a few things off with him. He’s got to be a carrier. What if he passed those down in his eggs? At the very least the ones hit will be infected.” Sirius nodded, “Right, so we don’t want that.” “Not at all.”  “And I suppose the guard is out of the question?” he mused. “Those gnomes will see them and either attack or launch the catapult.” “Taking on the guard I wouldn’t mind. I planned on telling them at first,” she replied. “It’s the chance of a launched catapult that’s the problem. With that in mind, they might do the same for any Gaian. Leon has sent quite a few locals over that way since they arrived.”

"I guess it's up to us then," he mused. She nodded.

Timeframe: Easter 2k17

It didn’t take long for Lucky and Sirius to catch up with the lawn gnomes. Once they made it out of town, the animated had slowed their pace. Passing through a set of gates that separated town from the Animated filled lands, the pair were greeted by green fields that looked nearly artificial with how well they were kept up. Long stretches of green grass were perfectly cut, with occasional designs accenting the fields. Trees dotted the landscape, tall ones strategically placed on the bordering areas so as not to get in the way of the tall poles with flags that signaled where a golfing hole was placed. In the distance, unusual structures in the shape of miniature windmills and giant mushrooms showed the final holes in the Village Greens golf course. It was also the home base of the Animated, and as Lucky and Sirius took up their hiding spot near the bordering trees, they discovered a number of lawn gnomes marching along the path leading to their headquarters. As they passed more of their kind, baskets filled with stolen Diedrich eggs balanced upon their pointed hats, the viewing gnomes began to hop and clack in some sort of cheering frenzy.

“Are you seeing this?” Lucky whispered to the star standing next to her.

Sirius nodded. “It reminds me of a victory parade. See how riled up the other gnomes are?”

“If they wanted something worth celebrating, they should have tried stealing from the prince. Or Nefiriam. Stealing eggs from Gaians doing a little Easter hunt in the park hardly sounds like something to pass down to the kids.”

“That doesn’t explain why they wanted them in the first place though?” Lucky glanced at the star questioningly. He waited. She kept silent. "I know you have at least some idea of what they might be up to.”

“Only a few theories, none of which I intend to share. And if you keep this up, I might just make you turn back into a puppy and stick you in a kennel.” She frowned, turning her attention back to the gnome parade. “Honestly, the gun reference now this? What’s with you today?”

“Call it a rebellion against my punishment,” he replied with a smirk. “Though you have to admit, a little getting into an opponents head might be helpful right about now?”

She heard, but did not reply. The gnomes had disappeared from view. If she remember from the last time the Animated arrived, the large mushroom near the windmill was where the general and his henchmen hid out. So Sirius was right- this was a victory for them. Perhaps a mission of sorts? She would have to get closer to find out. Lucky tore her eyes away from the gnomes, scanning the area for other things in the area. Fluffs, flamingos, a couple rocks, wayward golf balls…perfect. Sirius kept a curious eye on her as she quickly snagged a handful of golf balls.

“See those fluffs?” she asked.

“They’re a little hard to miss,” he replied.

“Good!” she smiled, placing the golf balls in his hand. “Because you need to hit them.”

“What?” he started.

“As I pointed out earlier, I don’t have rings. If we are going to do anything about those gnomes, we need something to defend ourselves. Fluffs pick up everything, including dropped rings.”

Sirius nodded, selecting a golf ball from the pile. He took aim and threw it at a nearby fluff. The ball whizzed through the air, becoming a blur as it struck the unsuspecting fluff. The fluff puffed its cheeks, then poofed, leaving a purple orb behind. Lucky went out and picked it up. “Good, keep that up until you find a ring.”

“What about you?” he asked, taking aim and throwing a golfball at another.

“I’m going to get a better look. I know more or less where the Animated hang out, so I can get away if they start chasing me.”

“That sounds rather dangerous for a princess-"

"I'm not a princess anymore," she interrupted.

"I might just get in trouble with his majesty if something were to happen to you when I’m playing target practice,” he mused, but the knowing glint in his eye told her that he really didn’t mind. “Don’t get caught.”

Lucky nodded then slipped off, leaving the star to try to collect rings. As she slipped through the fields, keeping out of view of the roaming gnomes and flamingos, she let her mind wander to what the reason might be for the stolen eggs. This wasn’t likely a prize thing if she had to guess. The gnomes were packrats, but they preferred rings, charge orbs, and things found around the village like leaves and sticks. Besides, they had enough issues with Gaians even without setting them off. Stealing the eggs which they had worked so hard to get would do just that. There had to be something special about those eggs. But what? Sure they were Diedrich easter eggs, but as far as she could tell, the only thing special about them was that they stunk. Very badly. She wasn't want to be near one if it actually managed to break open. But maybe...

Luckyt stopped and shook her head fiercely, trying to clear her mind.  She didn't need to be get into the mindset of a lawn gnome. She did not need to think of some silly master plan that they may be up to, despite what Sirius suggested. She got what the pup was getting at, but that in itself made her uneasy. She had told Nefiriam during Christmas about the Forgoer’s contract. It was her directly violating it that got her stripped of her title in the first place. What she was, what she had done before taking up the mantle as the younger sister and assistant to the Starlight Prince was strictly forbidden, and for very good reason. Critical thinking was one thing. Outsmarting an adversary by getting in their head before they actually knew she was a threat was something completely different. That was why she was taking whatever she found out straight to a guard, maybe even Leon himself, once she found out what the deal was with those eggs. Sirius could just deal with that choice. He was the dog star, the brightest star in the sky. Yet he of all stars was the one suggesting she violate the contract again? And for a bunch of silly Animated? She huffed. What was the purpose of that anyway? It’s not like it was her problem if a bunch of lawn gnomes were into some smelly grunny eggs-

She stopped short. Grunny eggs. She had been focused on the smell and inconvenience of the eggs. Maybe that was all the gnomes were focused on too. After all, even though they had noses, gnomes were made of plastic. Did they even have a sense of smell? But just because they hadn't taken in that other factor did not mean that it wasn't there. Grunnie were originally contagious and spread a zombiefying disease. What if those eggs could also? Taking precautions to still not get caught, she picked up the pace, checking her purse for anything of use in the process. Just some of the normal necessities: her wallet, a pack of gum, some makeup, a few prizes from some games, and the star seeds she had gotten from Arron, including the one that managed to catch Odanodan. That might work. She pulled that one out of her purse, deciding it was best to keep it in hand before coming up on the mushrooms.

All the structures looked the same as when she had last been to the greens. The windmill still rotated slowly, mechanized rather than actually wind powered. Flamingos still flocked around designs in the grassy fields. A small cliff made it impossible to trek easily to the large mushroom where the gnome leaders waited to ambush any unsuspecting Gaian. Next to the base, however, was a new structure. It was about the size of the windmill in height, but much longer. It took a moment for Lucky to realize what she was seeing. It was composed out of sticks for the most part, with some string that might have come from the stolen baskets. The baskets in question were wedged under a decent sized log which has been anchored under a decent sized rock. At the edge was another basket, tied firmly to the log which had multiple strings tying it down near the mushrooms base.

“You have got to be kidding me.” Lucky deadpanned aloud. The catapult looked like it had a lot of power, and as she followed its set angle, she realized it was aiming towards the closest wall to town. Lawn gnomes clacked about, more baskets with eggs balanced on their heads as they added to the payload.

Time Frame: Easter 2k17

“Why are we even…?” That was about as much as the navy haired young man was able to get out of his mouth. It was clear to anyone that might have passed by that this was not how he expected to spend his day. His dark pants, normally sporting a silver sheen from magical stardust, and a once pristine white button up shirt that he had worn for the Easter holiday, were now covered in brown and green stains from crawling on his hands and knees in the fields of Barton park. He had long since removed his tie, which now dangled from his right back pocket like a lopsided tail. The designs and color of his boots were a mystery after he stepped in a puddle of mud that sank him up to his knees. Now he was on his hands and knees once more, looking under a park bench while a basket full of foul smelling eggs sat innocently beside him. The only thing keeping him from crawling away into his hiding spot at the small lake hidden in the park’s grove was the fact that there were a handful of others doing the exact same thing he was.

Included in this  handful was a redhead, currently examining some low lying branches on a tree just a few steps away. Her ruby eyes never left her task, yet she responded as smoothly as if he had her undivided attention. “Because Diedrich laid some eggs and Gaia doesn’t need another fiasco with his children running rampant.” Lucky might not have been around Gaia her entire life, but the former Starlight Princess had witnessed enough to understand the trouble surrounding that grunny, especially when he multiplied. The prince was still wary around even normal rabbits after being chased down by a hoard of his children a few years back. She giggled at the thought. Ok, maybe that was a little fun to watch.

“I understand that Gaia really can’t afford to have so many grunnies running about, and given my experience catching them, I am more than happy to help,” he replied slowly, rising with the basket in hand once he deemed there was no egg hidden beneath the bench.

“So what is the problem?”

The man’s eyes, a vivid blue with shades of teal that almost seemed to emit their own light when shaded by wild bangs, locked on hers when she finally turned her amused and knowing gaze on him. “Why am I searching for them like this when my other form is better suited for the job?”

“Because, Sirius,” she spoke, “You have been having far too many kleptomaniac tendencies lately. If you can’t keep your paws and jaws off Arron’s boots while in puppy form, then you are going to be in human or star form until the self restraint you practice in those once again becomes second nature.”

He groaned at the thought, “The star form might be better for that. At the very least I have more experience and sway in that form.”

Lucky raised an eyebrow, “Well I gave it as an option?”

Sirius nodded and shrugged, “True, but if I followed at your heels as a full sized star, a few missing boots would be the least of Gaia’s problems.”

“You know, for something that shines so bright, sometimes you have a dark sense of humor.”

“And you love me for it.”

Lucky responded with a sweet smile. Then she tossed the egg she found in the tree at him without warning. Sirius yelped in surprise, but still caught the egg and set it in the basket with the others. “I could have dropped that.”

“You’re a star. And a dog,” Lucky giggled. “I couldn’t keep you from catching something if I tried.”

He started to respond, but then paused. At first Lucky thought he needed a chance to thank of a retort. But as he began examining the area, she knew it was something different. “Did you hear that?” he asked, partially answering her own unasked question in the process.

“Your hearing is still better than mine.”

He frowned. “It sounded like tapping, or maybe clacking?”

She resisted the urge to respond with a rhyme and listened. She could hear many things floating throughout the rolling fields of Barton park. The wind rustled through green, flower-budding trees, a soft backdrop to the subtle peeping of young chicks in nests. A murmur of talking and laughter from Gaians on their Easter egg hunting adventure came from all directions. In the distance a church bell rang, while late morning brunch calls came from another. These were sounds she expected to hear. As far as she could tell, none of this was out of the ordinary.

She did, however, hear a rustle. She focused on the sound. It was quiet in the tall grass; an untrained ear might have even mistaken it for the wind. But it was faster. Something unseen was racing about, though not towards the pair-

“Hey! My eggs!”

Lucky and Sirius snapped their attention towards the Gaian who has shouted. She was staring bewildered at the grass where an indent in the shape of a basket’s base was all she had left to show of her pursuit of Diedrich’s eggs. She had been there for hours, almost as long as they had. Last time they crossed paths, her basket had been filled to the brim. The pair exchanged a glance before Lucky took a step forward.

“What the- mine are gone too!” This time the voice belonged to a Gaian standing next to a drinking fountain. Like the first, his basket was nowhere in sight. Soon the voices of others joined in, surprised and bewildered with a hint of anger and dismay that all their hard work had just vanished. In a matter of moments, the entire park was filled with these upset Gaians and a serious lack of eggs.

“Did you see anything?” Sirius asked incredulously as he scanned the area for any sign of the culprit.

Lucky shook her head. “You still hear that clacking?”

He listened again, eyes narrowing in concentration. She could guess it was not an easy task, trying to hear a soft sound above all the confusion going on. Before he showed any sign of hearing anything, though, Lucky saw some tall grass shift. “Watch out!”

Sirius whipped around, then ducked as something green and red flew over his head. It was quickly followed by another, then a yellow and blue one. The last came lower, knocking the basket of eggs out of Sirius’s hands before speeding away, the basket balanced on the point of his hat.

Lucky and Sirius were silent. They needed to process what just happened.

“Did we just get robbed by garden gnomes?” he asked in disbelief.

“I think they’re Animated,” Lucky replied. “But what are they doing in town?”

“Maybe you should ask later? If they’re Animated, you can shoot them, right?”

“I wasn’t expecting to run into any. My rings are back at home,” she answered, eyes locked on the retreating gnomes.

“I was actually referring to-”

“Absolutely not,” she interrupted sharply.

Sirius nodded and let the suggestion drop. “Alright, so now what?”

Time Frame: Valentine’s Day 2k17

Time frame: New Year’s Eve 2k16

The night over Barton was clear and cool. Despite the late hour, voices and music could be heard all about, and in the town center a lively party was already well underway. The small visitor flew overhead, mistaken as a firefly, or even a wayward firework by those who managed to catch a glimpse of it. Though, there were a few who recognized it for what it was: a star. The tiny ball of light zipped across the sky, a golden trail of stardust following it as it went about its journey. Silently it listened, only the occasional flicker reaching out to find what it was looking for.

 Starlight. Starbright…

First star I see tonight…

 The star followed the distance voice to a park where families and friends were already beginning to gather for the midnight firework display. It drifted in between the branches of some evergreen trees where the foliage and snow could still hide its shine fairly well. There they were, a person -a teen actually- wishing upon a star along with some friends. Perhaps they didn’t believe that it would come true, but the little star did not mind. If they wished, it would listen. And if it were within its power….

 "Gotcha!" The star flashed rapidly in alarm as a large piece of fabric suddenly encircled its small form. Its power could not teleport through the fabric, and it rushed to and fro, attempting to break free but to no avail.

 "Calm down little one," a familiar voice giggled. It slowed its movements. It knew that voice. A few moments passed before the other deemed it safe to remove the star's trappings. Once she had, the star burst forward, buzzing around the former Starlight Princess excitedly.

 "It is good to see you too," Lucky smiled, then tapped the star as it came to pause in front of her face, "but you know better than to be here on New Year’s Eve."

 With a quick beckon of her hand, she slipped from the tree branch where she had finally managed to catch up with the star and back to solid ground. Brushing her red hair back into place and removing a dead leaf from her jacket sleeve, Lucky took an assessment of her surroundings. The person who had drawn the star's attention did not seem to notice the pair at this distance and had returned to their group, likely on their way to one of the many New Year's Eve gatherings. She had been at one herself before she got the unexpected phone call about a group of young stars visiting Gaia on the one day they should not. Now, she was leading the stars to a single gathering place. It was a familiar one, and thankfully not far. Through the evergreen trees of the park where the town lights no longer shined and paths faded out of sight, the pair found the hidden grove with a small lake in the center. The snow-covered ground glowed under the light of about a dozen glittering stars, all being corralled by the yapping star puppy, Sirius. Watching over all of them and delivering another of the stars was the Starlight Prince. The shimmering stardust floated about his being and clung to his grey travelling cloak and clothes, illuminating him as if the light were his own.

 Lucky released her star to join the others. "That's fourteen?" she checked.

 Astraeus nodded. "One would think not being allowed on a planet during its Sun Promise is a new tradition."

 "Well, considering how old stars are compared to Gaia's civilization..." Lucky mused, smiling innocently when the prince raised an eyebrow at her. “Though I guess that doesn’t excuse this little visit,” she relented. "So one more?"

 He nodded, looking up at the sky. It was still pitch black, and a quick glance at Lucky's watch told her it was around 11pm. Plenty of time to catch the star before dawn. This was a big day, after all, the day when the wish and luck granting stars all left Gaia and let the sun shine on its world as the brightest entity. Traditionally, this was the only time that the solar planets spoke to their child-worlds, and the day they reminded the world of their promise. Most stars knew on their own to steer clear of life bearing planets during the Sun’s Promise, but there were always a few that managed to cause some trouble. This time brought over a dozen though, and with a replacement Starlight Princess to fill the now vacant role still not chosen, Lucky agreed to give her former partner a hand. The council might not have approved of it, considering she was not allowed any contact with stars after her dismissal, but hey, what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.

 "Think Sirius is enough to keep the stars here at bay?" she asked, looking at the scene. Despite the pup clearly not being able to reach them, the stars flittered about in a sort of makeshift train with a yapping caboose. Sirius did not seem to mind, bouncing after them with his front paws missing them by far. One accidentally dipped too low, and Sirius was covered in golden stardust. He sneezed and vanished, only to reappear in a deep snow drift a few yards away. The snow shifted before his head popped back out, his dark fur now sporting more white than before. He shook it off and dug back out of the pile before scampering off to catch up with the stars again.

 "He will be fine," Astraeus assured her, turning his attention back in the direction of town. “The other stars were not far. I do not see why the last one would leave Barton either.”

 Lucky nodded, “Well, if I were a star and the other wishing spots were taken, I would go to Town  Square. Big end of the year party.”

 “It certainly would not hurt to look.”

 The pair cast one more glance at the stars before slipping back through the trees and towards town. As they approached, the sound of base rich music could be heard beating against the night and long strings of lights began to connect homes and businesses alike. Small crowds were beginning to form, and Lucky noticed familiar faces among them. Ian and Rufus were having a Dancey Dancey contest with some of the locals. Rina chatted up some customers while giving out samples of her newest cakes and pies. Leon stood guard and tried not to be too conspicuous as he tapped his armor clad boot to the music.  It seemed like everyone was about and having a great time, with the numbers growing the further they went into town. By the time they made it to the thick of the crowd, it was close to midnight.

 Lucky looked about the area, standing on her toes to try to see above the heads of taller people, only to be blocked by a rather large green and white striped top hat. She frowned at the prince as she caught a glimpse of amusement in his eyes, being tall enough himself that the sea of people was not much of a problem. She huffed, “Well? Can you see anything up there?”

 Astraeus shook his head, “There are far too many electric lights. It is difficult to catch a star’s shine between them.”

 She knew that feeling, recalling how long it had taken her to get used to the Christmas lights herself. Astraeus still was a part of the star kingdom, and did not have the time to properly adjust his vision to the artificial light source. “Take off your cloak,” she said, suddenly getting an idea.

 “My cloak?” he blinked in surprise. “Are you cold?”

 “Yes, but that’s not the reason.”

 He eyed her suspiciously but relented, unclasping the silver pin which held his cloak in place before holding the thick grey fabric out to her. Lucky pushed it back into his arms and walked around him. A moment later, he was readjusting his balance as she climbed on his back.

 “Might I ask why I am suddenly your personal jungle gym?” he asked, gazing at the girl who was pushing down on his shoulders to lift herself even higher.

 “Because I can tell the difference between a light bulb and a sentient rock,” she answered, now looking over the crowd with ease.

 "At this age I am fairly certain there is no solid matter in their form."

 "Oh hush," she smirked, scanning the area for their little friend. Having lived on Gaia for a few months, she had begun to adjust to the reflective glow of light bulbs and neon strips, and could now tell the difference between that and a star’s shine. Bulbs had a distinct solid consistency. Stars shimmered and flickered as they constantly chatted and communicated with their own kind. Not at all unlike the one blinking light far in the distance, over near a rather tall building for Barton.

 She hopped off Astraeus’s back. “Found it. Meet me at the news station.”

 She could hear the prince say something behind her, but what exactly was quickly drowned by the sound of the crowd as she slipped between people, her smaller frame making it easier to get through the crowd. A few people called hello, and she recognized a few more that did not notice her, but she would talk to them later. Right now, she had a little trouble maker to get her hands, on, preferably before it-

 "This is Cindy Donovinh, Channel 5 news coming to you from Barton where New Year’s celebrations are well underway. I am here with some locals ready to bring in the New Year with their resolutions."

 ...Well preferably before it listened to those.

 “Excuse me, sir, what is your goal for 2017?”

 She saw a microphone pushed in to the face of a person coming out of a coffee shop, each of them with a steaming latte in hand. He shrugged, glancing at his friends. “Plan’s to cut back on coffee." A few friends in the group laughed. He joined in, "Wishful thinking though.” Lucky cringed as she saw a ball of light overhead flicker and pulse. For a brief moment, its light touched the person and the latte cup. Then the latte vanished.

 “Hey, where’d it go?” the guy looked at his now empty hand, baffled.

 “Oookay. Let’s move on.” The reporter turned her microphone to a girl wearing a winged headband, “Ma’am, how about you?”

 "This year I'm planning to-" The rest was drowned out but sudden loud thumping music. Lucky looked about, startled. The small star, which was getting close to the person, flickered and buzzed away. She watched it go and saw the prince dash after it, moving away from the speaker he had just tampered with. Well that was one way to keep a wish from being heard. She hurried after the pair. Despite the loud music, she managed to catch a few tidbits of conversation here and there.

 "Got any plans for next year?"

 "Yeah! I want to lose weight. Like, alot of it."

 Lucky pulled out her cell phone and started tapping away, her screen soon spelling out:

 Watch the gym.

  She saw a glow of Astraeus’s phone screen as he got the message. The star was speeding towards a building with an arm and a weight for the logo. As it approached, a small pulse of light came from it, ready to grant the wish of the other person. However, before it could get to the building, Astraeus thrust his hand outward. The pulse was stopped as if it hit an invisible wall, its power to grant the person's wish blocked by the prince.

 "Sparkles, stop!" Lucky shouted towards the star. It flickered, then buzzed away again. She caught up to the prince and huffed, "Were the stars always this disobedient?"

 “Yes,” he chuckled.

 She raised an eyebrow. “You’re rather amused, considering how angry the Sun will be if those little ones make a mess of its day.”

 “I am well aware,” he replied. “It is just that you asked me that before.”

 “I have no idea what you are talking about,” she lied, trying to not recall mishaps and outbursts from her early Starlight training. She hesitated for a moment, "Though...the Sun. Have you ever heard it?"

 "The promise, you mean?" Astraeus clarified. She nodded. "No," he admitted, "Even though it is not a technical wish or luck grant, the Sun's promise is something special to the planet. It is the responsibility of the acting Starlight prince and Princess to keep the other stars away during this time. We cannot do so properly-"

 "If we are on the planet," Lucky finished for him. It was what she had been told during her training, but hearing it from Astraeus of all people really made it hit home. That was really a shame, knowing about something special, being one of the few who could actually understand the star speak to hear the promise, yet not being able to listen to it. She shook her head, “Come on, we have to catch that star.”

 “As you wish,” he replied. He followed as she began maneuvering through a less crowded section of the town party. The star was still in her sight, though further ahead thanks to being able to fly over the crowds. Away from the speakers, the voices of others could be heard much clearer. Astraeus motioned to get her attention before tossing her a small pouch. She caught it, checking inside and finding pure white stardust. She glanced at him questioningly, but he pressed a finger to his lips. Lucky made a note to scold the prince for giving her a bag full of star power later. But for now, it would come in handy. She raced on ahead, listening intently to others.

 “So what’s in store for the new year?”

 “Gonna win the lottery.”

 “Ha! Really?”

 “Pfft, yeah I wish!”

 The redhead picked up the pace, noticing the star begin to pulse. Dabbing her fingers into the pouch, Lucky felt the tingling sensation against her skin and course through her body. Voices of the crowd were mixed with another chatter, lighter, whimsical, and currently narrating the chase as it was viewed from above. She never thought she would miss being on the same wavelength as the stars. She could see the silver aura surrounding the golden star now, invisible until she touched the star power herself. She flicked some of the dust in the star’s direction, focusing, willing it to take the shape of a barrier much like the one Astraeus had cast earlier. And just like earlier, the star’s power was blocked, this time keeping it from touching a lottery machine. She sighed in relief, only to pick up on another conversation.

 “Next year? I’m getting a new job.”

 Lucky’s phone flashed a quick “Got it.” as Astraeus blocked the star from the nearest employment office.

 “I definitely want a new car for 2017!”

 She whipped around and blocked a car lot. The star flashed in frustration before it flew off again. The ones above flickered in amusement.

 “This is going to take all night,” she heard Astraeus’s voice cut clearly through the star chatter. She glanced back and saw that he too now had a white aura around him, having connected into the star wavelength.

 “What is up with this one?” she crossed her arms as he caught up. “I’ve never seen a star so adamant about granting wishes before.”

 “It must be their first time,” Astraeus mused. "Gaia has so many unique beings, all with their own dreams and wishes."

 “So it’s going to want to go all out." She finished his thought with a groan. "And it just so happened to come here on New Years eve. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind letting it grant a wish, but it’s too young and inexperienced, and some of those wishes and resolutions sound a lot like-”

 “Next year I totally want to get a pet. A bird- no a dragon, wait! A dragon-bird!”

 “Like that,” she stated as Astraeus prevented another would be granted wish. She watched as the star buzzed further out of view, away from the crowds for now. “You know, this would be so much easier if we could just wish it over here.”

 Astraeus stopped short. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

 She shrugged, “Starlights are forbidden from wishing on stars ourselves. You know this.”

 “Perhaps a little too well…” he trailed off.

 Lucky gazed at the prince quizzically. She could see the wheels turning in his mind, and slowly she came to realize she knew exactly what he was thinking. She slapped her forehead. “We’re idiots.”

- * - * - * - 

 The star drifted back and forth in a quieter part of Barton. Far behind lights danced in the distance as the sound of music mixed with laughter floated in the air. It had been fun at the town center. There had been many people, all with wishes and goals, and it could help them along with that! It wanted to grant their wishes, even just one more wish! More than anything. That was what wishing stars did, after all. But of course the prince and princess would have none of it, stopping its power from reaching its target. Sometimes they were just big party poopers.

 Starlight. Starbright…

 It paused. Was that…?

 First star I see tonight.

 It flickered excitedly. It was! The wish rhyme!

 Wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.

 It zoomed towards the voice, the stardust behind streaming like a comet’s tail. It was going to grant this wish, and no prince, princess, or other star was going to stop him! It came to a stop in a snow covered field. There was a figure looking upward, cast completely in darkness thanks to the new moon. It floated over.

 I wish…for you to follow my command.

 The star flickered in surprise, bobbing back and forth. The figure turned and held out her hand, palm open patiently, expectantly. “Well?” Lucky asked. “Can you grant this wish?”

 The star flickered, floated for a moment, then landed in her hand in defeat. “Does that mean you will behave now?” The star flickered yes, settling down even as she handed the star over the prince as he came out of hiding.

 “Never thought you would suggest abusing a loophole,” she said.

 “The council took your title. Until they reinstate it, I do not see why you cannot wish upon a star yourself.”

 “Apparently the stars think the same way,” she checked her watch. “You might want to get moving. The sun will be rising in an hour…”

 “I apologize for making you miss the festivities,” the prince bowed.

 She waved it off, “I think this was more important.”

 He did not reply, turning in the direction where Sirius was keeping the rest of the stars at bay. Then he paused, glancing back. “It is my responsibility to see that the stars remain off Gaia for now. Would you mind…?”

 Lucky smiled and nodded. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

 He returned the gesture, then he was gone. Despite the chill in the air, Lucky decided to stay on the hill slope, pulling her coat tighter around her as she looked eastward. In the distance, she could still hear an occasional firework from the party goers that refused to go to sleep. She sat down in the snow, pulling out her phone and checking the messages sent throughout the night.

 As she flipped through each one, she smiled, deciding which one belonged to who without looking at the contact names. As she did, she recalled a wish that the queen had taught her during her first new year as a Starlight Princess. It was one that they were never allowed to speak in the presence of a star, yet they all knew. Now, with the title of princess gone, she let the words flow from her lips, quietly, yet aloud so that they may drift in the pre-dawn air.

 “I wish to never stray from the light,

and for warm summers and cool winters.

I wish for life to have the power to thrive,

and for safety from things beyond my reach

I wish sun may always rise

and welcome a bright tomorrow.”

 She sent a quick reply to her friends, figuring most were long asleep by now, then turned her attention back to the sky.

 She waited.

 Slowly, the sky began to change color. Lucky reached into the pouch and dipped her fingers into the power again. The sun’s rays came over the horizon, bathing the world in the first dawn of the new year. As the parent star of Gaia came into view, a voice, calm and rich, and regal, filtered through the star wave and rays.

 I hear your wishes, your resolutions, your dreams for this next journey,

and I wish them all the best.

I cannot grant them for you,

but I can make this promise as my light touches your land.

I promise to hold you firm,

so that you never stray too far from the light.

I promise to warm your summers

and let the snows flurry in the winter.

I promise to share the power within my rays,

so that life can continue to thrive.

I promise to keep order within my reach,

so that your little world is safe from its large brethren.

So now I ask of you, please strive make your wishes, your resolutions, and your dreams a reality.

For I promise to always bring tomorrow and shine as bright as today.

 Lucky listened, remembering every detail to share with Astraeus later. When she was first banished from the kingdom, she had not thought of the good that came with it. The ability to wish upon a star again. Able to hear the promise of the sun. What else could she do now? What else would this year bring? She stood, cupping her hands around her mouth and shouted out the last part of the promise: