#starlign

Prologue

On the magical fantasy planet of Starland, whimsical alien-like creatures known as starikles live in harmony. Among them is a young heroine who has saved both the universe and her world countless times, Starilign Lightness, or just Star to everyone. At only six years old, this caring and kind starikle cat holds a special destiny. Born with a pink star on her forehead, she is one of the rare Star Gem Masters, the first pink star, granting her the ability to summon the Star Key of Light. Her role goes far beyond battle; she protects Mochi, the mysterious being known as the Universe’s Source Itself, from the darkness that threatens all existence.

But what would happen… if something were to go wrong… something that opened a rift to another world?

It’s a beautiful day in the Shooting Star Kingdom, in the peaceful Shooting Star Town, where starikles laugh, play, and live together in harmony.

On a flower-covered hillside, Star and her friends are enjoying the sunshine. Spread out on the grass with paper and colored pencils, they’re all drawing together, surrounded by blooming star flowers swaying gently in the breeze.

Star beams with joy. “I love drawing! It’s so much fun when I do it with all of my friends!”

Rose Ivy, the elegant 7-year-old rabbit with a passion for plants and fashion, adjusts her handmade flower crown. “Mine’s going to be lovely! A perfect nature-themed masterpiece, just like these crowns I made.”

Mia Minerva, ever the 8-year-old logical lioness, sketches precise diagrams and doodles with a calculating eye.

Meanwhile, Katie Kandie, the silly, ever-curious squirrel, leans close to a flower and whispers suspiciously: “Okay, but… what if flowers had eyes? And could judge us?”

Mia stops mid-line, deadpan. “Katie, that’s scientifically impossible… and also deeply unsettling.”

Rose tightens her flower crown, carefully to not break it, visibly disturbed. "Please don’t give me new things to be afraid of today.”

Ariana Rainbow, Star’s best friend and adopted big sister, giggles. “Katie, you're so weird… but you always manage to make things up”

Star twirls in delight, holding up her drawing. “Well, if they’re judging us, I hope they think we’re super kind!”

Nearby, Mochi, the little dragon-rabbit hybrid and the Universe’s Source Itself, floats around playfully. Her extremely long tail sways gracefully, and her large floppy ears flow like ribbons in the breeze. She giggles in her cute baby voice,

“Kuwa bwu~!”

Star looks up at her with a big smile.

“Awwww, Mochi! You're so adorable when you play like that!”

But not too far away, hidden behind the bushes…

Lurks the troublemaking duo: Emily Darkness, a starikle bat and Star’s arch-enemy, with a black star on her forehead, and her loyal (if slightly clueless) starikle rat sidekick, Zero Ouelette.

Emily glares at Star with intense hatred, her fists clenched. “What is that furball and her lame friends doing now? Except for my brother of course”

Zero peeks through the leaves.

“Uhh… looks like they're drawing, Emily. See?”

WHAP! Emily smacks him on the head with her trusty harisen (paper fan).

“OW!!” Zero yelped. “It was figurative, you dense rat!”

Suddenly, her eyes widen with rage as a memory surfaces. A red anger mark appears on her forehead, like in anime. “Grrrr… Wait… drawing… That reminds me!!”

She yanks a purple notebook from underneath her cardigan, flips through the pages, and slams it open.

“Entry No. 1233: The time we did art projects.”

Flashback – Entry No. 1233

It was a warm, sunny day. Afternoon rays beamed into the classroom as everyone worked on their personal art projects.

Young Emily sits at her desk, calm and focused.

“…Just a few more stars…”

he was painting a picture of herself, Star, and Ariana, standing together, holding hands under a starry sky. Her strokes were careful, her colors perfectly picked. It wasn’t just a drawing. It was a memory she wanted to feel real.

She smiles softly, proud of her work, and places it carefully on the table to dry.

Young Star skips over, placing her half-unwrapped chocolate bar down on the shared table.

“I’ll save my chocolate bar for later! Heehee~!”

The two girls head off to clean their pencils.

Time passes. The sun moves slightly. The desk grows hotter. The chocolate begins to melt… and slide… and seep…

Moments later…

Young Emily returns, reaching proudly for her artwork.

“I finally finished-”

She picks it up…

Squish.

She freezes.

She turns it over—and gasps.

She turns it over. The back is soaked in sticky, half-melted chocolate. The lines have bled through. Her masterpiece, ruined.

The part with Star’s face is completely smudged, melted into a brown mess. Ariana’s arm is half gone. Emily’s figure is barely visible.Young Star returns, tilting her head in confusion.

“Hweh? What happened to my chocolate bar?”

Young Emily, trembling, replies flatly:

“…It. Was. On. My. Drawing.”

Young Star’s eyes widen in panic.

“Omigoshie! I’m sorry! I didn’t know your paper was that close!”

Emily doesn’t respond. She lowers the chocolate-soaked drawing onto her desk, looking away. Her hands are sticky.

Back to present

Emily huffs, her teeth clenched.

“Grrrr… What does she think she’s doing—putting her dumb snacks near my art project like that?! Curse you, Star! She always ruins everything for me. She gets all the attention, all the luck, and ruined my life!”

Zero, rubbing his head from earlier, tilts his head.

“Honestly… hearing that story, your drawing sounded… kinda deep.”

Emily crosses her arms proudly.

“Of course it was deep! It was personal! I’ll never forgive her! And I will get my revenge!”

Zero shrugs.

“Haven’t we, like… been doing that for a while now?”

WHACK! Emily punches is head.

“OW!!”

Emily growls, “It’s called never giving up, you dolt! She’s nothing but bad luck to me!”

Her eyes narrow, locking onto the floating Mochi.

“And that dragon rabbit… I’ll capture her. I’ll show the world what I’m really made of. Then they’ll all learn not to mess with me!”

Zero throws his hands in the air, cheering.

“You’re the best, Emily!”

Emily smirks but keeps her voice low.

“But first… we have to get past them without being noticed.”

Mochi lands softly in the bed of flowers, giggling as her long ears sway behind her. She rolls over in delight, until one of the petals brushes against her tiny nose.

“Kyu…? Mmmmmm… a… a… aaa… AAA-”

Star and her friends freeze in horror, eyes wide.

“SHE’S GONNA SNEEZE!” Mia yells, “TAKE COVER!!”

In a flurry of panic, they all dive behind the hills along with their drawings, flower crowns, or what they have brought with them.

“AWHOOOOO!!”

A powerful, glowing beam of energy blasts from the pink heart-shaped mark on Mochi’s forehead, shooting straight into the sky. It shakes the clouds and echoes through the kingdom. Then… silence.

Everyone slowly peeks up from behind their hiding spots.

Mochi rubs her nose, sniffling softly. “Puwi… me sowwy…”

Star gets up and walks gently toward her.

“It’s okay, Mochi. It was just an accident.”

Mia dusts herself off, is still a bit shocked.

“This is the fifth time this week. We really need to work on covering her nose before she sneezes.”

Rose, adjusting her slightly ruffled hair, sighs dramatically.

“For being a powerful cosmic being… she could’ve vaporized someone! Or worse, ruined my hairstyle!” She says it without any ill intention; she is just worried.

Kai steps beside Star, brushing off his kerchief around his neck.

“B-but… maybe we can still cover her nose faster next time? If we just stay alert?”

Star nods and smiles at him warmly.

“Yeah, Kai. And thank you… for worrying about us.”

Kai blushes, looking away.

“Y-you’re welcome… Star.”

Ariana stretches her arms and sighs.

“Still, what if something worse happens? What if more evil forces come after Mochi and-”

She pauses, her eyes narrowing.

“…Huh? What’s that?”

Star looks up.

“Hweh?”

The others follow her gaze.

Floating high above in the sky, nearly invisible against the blue… is a strange, small pink crack, glowing faintly. It flickers like lightning, unusual, eerie, and out of place.

“Kuwa?” Mochi blinks in confusion, staring at it too.

But while everyone is distracted…

Emily Darkness and Zero are crawling underneath the tall star flowers, trying to get closer to Mochi without being seen. Their ears, tails, and even Emily’s wings are sticking out comically from the petals.

Emily, whispering, growls:

“Zero… on 3… 2… 1…”

Emily and Zero crouch low, ready to pounce-

But suddenly, the faint pink crack in the sky begins to splinter.

Crk… crk-crk-crrk!

The crack spreads wider and wider, glowing brighter with each pulse until it looks like the sky itself is being torn apart.

Ariana gasps. “It’s… getting bigger!”

Mia’s eyes widen, her calm demeanor breaking.

“Impossible, That’s not a natural tear in the atmosphere… It’s a rift! The fabric of reality is collapsing!!”

Rose clutches her ears against the shrill sound. “Make it stop, make it stop! My hair can’t survive this wind!!”

A deafening shatter rings out as the crack bursts open, forming a massive, swirling rift in the sky.

A violent wind erupts, swirling downward with incredible force. Grass and flowers rip from the ground, paper drawings are torn away, and petals spiral into the air.

Star clings to her sketch, her ears flapping in the wind.

“Everyone, hold on tight!!”

Mochi squeaks in fright as her long tail whips around in the current.

“Kuwaaa~!!”

Kai grabs Star’s arm, holding her steady, while Ariana holds onto Rose, and Mia clings stubbornly to her notebook of calculations and Katie.

Even Emily and Zero, caught off guard, tumble out of the star flowers, holding onto the grass, their tails and ears flapping wildly.

Zero yells, panicked: “W-wait, this wasn’t in the plan!!”

Emily, thrashing against the pull, snarls: “Grrrr, don’t just float there, Zero, DO SOMETHING!”

Zero calls out, "What should I do? What if we get pulled in!"

But the suction grows stronger. The rift spins like a cosmic whirlpool, pulling everything closer.

Star looks up at it, her eyes wide.

“That rift… It’s trying to suck us in!!”

The wind howls louder, until, with one final surge.

WHOOSH!!

The entire group, Star, Ariana, Rose, Katie, Mia, Kai, Emily, Zero, and even Mochi, is ripped off their feet and pulled into the swirling rift of light.

The wind roars louder than thunder as everyone is dragged upward.

All of them scream as the force of the rift tears them away from the ground.

Mochi cries out in panic, her voice trembling: “STAW!!”

Star reaches out desperately, tears stinging her eyes. “MOCHI!!”

Her mitten-shaped stretches toward Mochi’s paw hand. For a brief, shining moment, their hands almost touch - but the pull of the rift is too strong. They slip apart, spinning further and further away from each other.

Mochi wails, her cry echoing through the void.

“ABWUUUUU!!”

In the chaos, the group is violently torn apart, each one flung into different streams of light. Star, Ariana, Rose, Katie, Mia, Kai, and Mochi vanish in separate directions, their voices fading into the storm.

Only Emily and Zero remain together, tumbling side by side as the rift swallows them whole.

Zero shrieks: “NGAHHHHHHH!!”

Zero yells, clutching onto her arm with wide, terrified eyes, and Emily, her wings flailing, yelling “YOU’RE LIKE A JINX TO MEEEeeeeee-!!”

Their screams echo into the endless void.

Until…

FWOOOSH!

The rift snaps shut. The sky above Shooting Star Kingdom is quiet again. Only the torn petals and scattered drawings remain, drifting gently back to the grass.

Meanwhile… In the World of Cookies, Earthbread (Let us say it took Place after the second dark flour war)

The skies above the Vanilla Kingdom were calm that day. The gentle bells of the castle chimed as Cookies walked peacefully through the cobblestone streets. Merchants called out their wares, children laughed and played, and the air smelled faintly of sugar and warm bread. The Crow's Nest Inn bustled with warmth and laughter.

High in the grand castle, Pure Vanilla Cookie stood upon the balcony, gazing fondly at the kingdom he had worked so hard to restore. His orchid staff rested lightly in his hand.

“At last… peace is blooming again,” he murmured with a gentle smile.

But then-

CRRRAAACK!

The heavens split with a deafening crack. A jagged rift of glowing pink light ripped across the sky, stretching wider with every pulse. The ground trembled beneath the Cookies’ feet.

From the streets below, citizens gasped and pointed upward, fear rising in their voices.

“What is that?!”

“The sky, it’s breaking apart!!”

The rift tore open further, a swirling vortex spilling cosmic light into the kingdom’s skies.

And then-

FWOOOOOOM!!

Nine radiant streaks of light burst outward like falling stars, scattering across the world. Each streak split into a different direction, over forests, mountains, oceans, and valleys, vanishing in flashes of thunder and brilliance.

Pure Vanilla Cookie shielded his eyes, his calm smile fading into grim concern. His orchid staff glowed, ready for the unknown.

One of the falling stars was coming straight for the castle.

The light roared downward, cutting through the clouds like a meteor. At the last second, it slowed, its fierce blaze dimming into a soft, white glow, before colliding into the marble courtyard below the balcony.

BOOOOM!

Dust, petals, and shards of stone erupted into the air.

Guards rushed in, spears raised. Pure Vanilla descended swiftly. Citizens crowded the gates, murmuring in panic.

As the dust began to settle…

They saw was not a Cookie.

But a child, small and delicate, was lying in the center of the cracked courtyard stones. A cat-like creature with big fluffy tail, a pink star on her forehead, and her little body trembling but alive.

Star(ilign) Lightness.

Her clothes were scuffed, her tail covered in dust, but her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.

Pure Vanilla’s eyes softened. He lowered his staff, stepping forward slowly.

“…A child? But… not made of dough…”

Kneeling beside her, he gently extended his hand, the healing glow of his staff wrapping around her like a protective veil.

The starikle stirred faintly, her lips moving in a weak whisper.

“…M…Mochi…E…Everyone…”

Then she fell silent, unconscious once more.

Where everyone else landed

Far across the frozen peaks, another streak, this one orange, pierced through a storm of snow. It descended near the great fortress of Dark Cacao Cookie, shaking the icy cliffs with its landing.

From the crater stumbled Ariana Rainbow, her antlers dusted with frost, shivering as she gazed at the colossal black walls. The harsh winds bit against her fur, but her spirit remained firm.

“…Where am I?” she whispered, eyes wide at the kingdom carved into ice and stone.

The sentinels of Dark Cacao’s army spotted her silhouette against the snow, their voices sharp against the howling wind.

A radiant red streak split the desert skies, crashing down amidst shimmering dunes. Sand whirled upward like golden waves until the light dimmed, revealing Rose Ivy, brushing sand from her ears, hair, and clothes in a huff.

“Ugh… sand. Why sand of all places?”

Her eyes widened as she looked upon the kingdom in the distance, towers of pure cheese-gold rising like monuments to the sun.

There, Golden Cheese Cookie’s kingdom loomed, rich, resplendent, and blinding beneath the desert light.

Another streak, a yellow comet, blazed across the skies before crashing in the middle of a bustling plaza. Stalls shook, bread flew into the air, and one unlucky merchant wailed: “MY CART!!”

From the pile of trinkets, Katie Kandie popped out, dizzy but giggling, a toy dragon lying on her head from the cart.

“Hehe… whoopsie! Did I… uh… crash the festival?”

The citizens blinked in shock, murmuring in confusion. Within moments, the figure of Hollyberry Cookie herself appeared, shield up, asking for answers as she looked at the strange child who had fallen from the sky, which she had never seen of any kind before.

High above, in a land hidden by enchantments, a blue streak descended through the glowing canopy of ancient trees. It struck the center of the faerie kingdom, scattering sparks of starlight.

There lay Mia Minerva, brushing dust from her scythe-shaped hair, already jotting notes into her damp little notebook despite the crash.

“Ow… where am I?”

From the shimmering shadows of the woods, dozens of curious eyes peeked out. Faerie Cookies hovered just beyond the flowers, whispering in awe at the sight of the strange visitor.

Far across the sea, a brown streak tore across the skies, descending toward the glittering harbors of the Crème Republic. The light plummeted near the coastline, shaking the marble docks with its impact.

From the glowing crater rose Kai Darkness, brushing dust of himself, his ears twitching at the unfamiliar sounds of bustling ships and trade bells.

“This… isn’t Starland…” he murmured, his voice soft but trembling.

Merchants and sailors gawked at him, pointing with wide eyes. The boy stared out across the place, uncertainty written all over his face.

The stormy sky ripped apart with twin streaks of light, one blue, one purple, spiraling downward like lightning bolts.

They slammed into the Melting Choco Tree with a thunderous crash, sending sprays of molten chocolate raining across the place. The air sizzled with steam and the stench of bittersweet syrup.

Zero landed first, face-first “MMMPHH!!”

Beside him, Emily Darkness staggered upright, her wings dripping with chocolate, her fur matted and sticky.

“Grrr! First getting sucked into some freak rift… and now THIS?!” She stomped the ground, chocolate splattering everywhere. “ARGHHHH!!”

Zero scrambled to his feet, wiping chocolate from his face.

“W-well… at least it’s soft? Kinda…”

WHAP! Emily smacked him over the head with her harisen, sending more chocolate flying. "OW!"

“Do you ever stop saying things?!”

But neither of them noticed the slow, deliberate movement in the shadows.

Shapes began to surround them. Red eyes flickered in the gloom. The ground shook with heavy footsteps.

Cake Monsters.

They emerged, one by one, surrounding the duo in a tightening ring. Zero froze.

“…Emily? Please tell me you’ve got a plan this time.”

Emily’s glare hardened.

“Oh, I’ve got a plan.” She summons her Star Key. “It’s called FIGHT.”

A delicate pink streak drifted down through the clouds, slower than all the others. Unlike the comets that had slammed violently into the kingdoms, this one floated gently, shimmering like scattered stardust.

It descended into the heart of the Tainted Forest. At last, the light dimmed, and Mochi landed softly among the twisted roots and glowing fungi. Her long ears drooped, tears brimming in her wide eyes as she looked around the unfamiliar woods.

“…Staw… whewe…?” she whimpered, her tiny voice trembling.

The forest reacted to her presence. The leaves shivered, their veins pulsing with eerie light, as though her aura unsettled the very magic woven into this cursed land.

But not all that stirred was kind.

From deeper within the shadowed trees, two robed figures emerged, Priestess Cookie A and Priestess Cookie B. They froze mid-step, their gazes locked on the small creature before them.

Not fear… but awe.

“The being from the rift…” one whispered, clutching her staff. “It carries a power unlike any Cookie has ever seen…”

Mochi whimpered again (not screaming this time, which is good because of summoning sonic waves by that), curling her long tail protectively around her body. The pink heart on her forehead glowed faintly, reacting to her distress.

Suddenly, pebbles, twigs, and even chunks of mossy bark lifted into the air around her, glowing pink, telekinesis unleashed without thought, swirling in a faint orbit like a defensive barrier.

The priestesses flinched, watching in reverence and unease.

“And… mysterious,” the second murmured, tightening her grip on her staff.

Then, Mochi’s watery eyes blinked toward them. She noticed the strangers watching.

The glow on her forehead flickered, and the objects around her dropped to the ground with a soft clatter.

Silence.

Emily and Zero have a chaotic but oddly close dynamic. Emily is the tough, short-tempered, and emotionally scarred leader who holds a powerful grudge against Star. She’s the mastermind behind all their schemes, causing mischief, mayhem, capturing Mochi, and plotting revenge.

Zero Ouelette is her loyal sidekick who follows her everywhere, no matter how often Emily kicks, slaps, or smacks him with her harisen (giant paper fan). He’s soft and hard-working, definitely not evil, more like neutral evil at best, since he can be kind even to Emily’s enemies when she’s not looking.

Despite all the scolding and hits, Emily does care about Zero deep down. He’s the one who stood by her during her darkest times (like when it comes to her trauma), and she values him so much that she wouldn’t ever let him die, not on her watch. Zero, in turn, absolutely admires Emily. To him, she’s cool, inspiring, and worth following, even if he doesn’t always fully understand her plans.