Above the Stars: Part Three

by with_baited_breath

Beneath-the-Stars was jarred from her deep sleep by a sudden, swift chilling breeze. The Faerie Poogle had been dreaming of Blue Blittzer, when she awoke with a shiver. She squeezed her eyes shut, snuggling further into her soft blanket, but the cold would not go away. With a great sigh, she opened her eyes.

Stars let out a terrible scream.

Within minutes every teacher and student at the Neopian School of Magic was standing around Stars' bed, clad in pajamas and rubbing their eyes. Normally the entire school couldn't fit inside Stars' small room, but something was very peculiar and quite frightening about this cold morning…Stars was sleeping-bed and all-outside in the courtyard.

"What in the world is going on??!!" Ms. Cranton, the cold headmistress, was positively screeching. Stars wanted only to hide beneath the blanket, but instead she began to cry softly. What was going on?

Edgarton, Stars' best friend, was already dressed and quite awake when he flew up to her side, perching on the post of her bed. "Hey, Stars, did you feel like making a scene this morning or does someone at this school really love you?"

And she knew. Stars knew that if one could see Invisible pets, she would see KadeyD, the invisible Grarrl, smirking at the back of the crowd. He had done this! How horrible, how cruel, how-

"Woah, Stars, who did this to you?" Blue Blittzer looked cuter than ever in the blueness of the morning. The Poogle's soft blue fur was nicely ruffled, and his eyes were a little puffy, but the school's best student couldn't have looked better to Beneath-the-Stars. "I bet it was KadeyD. All over rocks. What a problem that guy has."

Ms. Cranton had rushed to Stars' side, now more scared than angry. She was eager to get everyone back inside the school. Quite recently there had been sightings (or hearings, rather) of the Ghost Lion, and the stalwart headmistress was taking no chances.

Soon Stars was back in bed, beneath the covers, but within the warmth of her bedroom. She really wished that KadeyD would find someone else to pick on. Stars buried her head in her pillow. No, that wasn't nice either. At least she was taking the brunt of it instead of Edgarton. Stars lay there thinking about her rocks, and KadeyD, but mostly Blue Blittzer, when her roommate rushed in. Tannarammie the striped Wocky was flushed, a look of fright on her smallish face.

"Beneath-the-Stars, why aren't you down in the playroom?" she said in a whisper.

Stars sat up quickly. "Why should I be? What's wrong?"

Tannararammie shook her head, trying to catch her breath. "Edgarton and Clenching Fist…fight! You better go down there. Someone already went to get Ms. Cranton, but you know how slow she walks…better hurry, Stars."

Stars rushed down to the play room, wishing her wings weren't just for decoration. She could hear the cheers of the other pets, and felt a great rush of anger. As she turned the corner she collided with another pet.

Blue Blittzer stared at her, scowling. "Hey!" His face softened when he saw it was her. "Oh, sorry. I'm going to get Mrs. Cranton myself! That horrible old woman!"

And suddenly the crowd in the Playroom was moving, heading for the firmly closed double doors that led to the courtyard. Stars searched the huge group for Edgarton…was he flying low? She glanced at Blue Blittzer as he rushed down the hall, and quickly followed the crowd outside. Then she saw him.

Edgarton was at the center, hovering high in the air, above the heads of the other pets. Across from him, Clenching Fist had a menacing look on his face. Stars did not know what to do now!

"I'll crush you, rat!" the buzz shouted, and suddenly shot a green flame from his hand. He was using magic! Stars wanted to cry. Using magic against another pet was breaking school rules. How could she help now?

Edgarton rolled to the side in the air, missing the flame. He waved his hand and a bolt of lightning rushed down from the sky at Clenching Fist. The crowd gasped, but the buzz did a back flip, and the lightning hit the ground. He quickly shot another green flame at Edgarton, who rolled to the side too late. The flame caught him in his side, and there was a shout of pain. The crowd gasped, and suddenly turned serious. This wasn't just a little pets' fight.

Stars wanted to cry. She wished that she had a great power of flame or lightning, but she didn't. And there was nothing she could do. Suddenly there was an enormous roar, and the pets crouched to the ground as if they were under attack from the sky.

And from the shadows of the trees at the edge of the courtyard, padded the Ghost Lion.

To be continued...