Chapter Two

From what Jim could see, it was a very beautiful girl, extremely if possible. Her silky straight hair was so light a shade of blond that it looked simply heavenly in contrast to her big, round eyes that were such a dark shade of cinnamon brown, they neared black. He observed her face from the side, glancing around the room. Her hair was cut at blunt ends, along with her bangs, also blunt, and a part over her left eye. Her fair skin looked absolutely untouched. She was nothing like he'd ever seen. Briefly he checked his own appearance in the mirror, making sure he was presentable. Jim adjusted his collar and ran his fingers through his own hair as he saw fit. Eyes finally noticing him, her pouty pink lips went into a smile.

"Hi." She said softly.

Jim made his way over to the doll of a girl, leaning on the wall. In his best voice of confidence and coolness, he said, "Hey." A smile creeping its way across his face. The situation was too perfect, she was beautiful and talking to him.

Almost seeming fascinated with him, she replied, her voice ever-gentle, "My name is Luna. What's yours?"

Although Luna didn't notice the now rather large and crooked smile on his face, he ran his fingers through his hair, replying, "The name's Jim. Jim Hawkins."

"Where am I?" Luna now stepped out of the blue crystal she was encased in. Her hair hung to her hips. She was shorter than him and very small built. And, "Y-y-you're…" Jim quickly turned his head, a hand covering his big blue eyes and half of his red cheeks, he went rapidly from peeking through the crack between his index and middle finger to looking away. A thick frost covered her body from the chest down, but that was a lame substitute for clothes.

"Is it that difficult for you to look at such a strange creature like me?" She asked.

Jim felt his cheeks start to sting with red, "N-no! Actually, you're making it hard to look away!" He started talking fast, " Wait no! That's not what I meant!" He turned his back to her totally, talking to himself, "I don't know what I meant…" Stumbling over words, it was obvious Jim never attempted to even make conversation with a girl up until that point. And, boy, was he having a time with it. Sure, he could be in high pressure situations with all odds against his winning, even put himself in near-death solar surfing stunts, but, give him a pretty girl and he is scared out of his mind. A thump sounded behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to find that she'd passed out.

"JIM!!" His Mother was now frustrated and walking to his room.

"Oh man…" He said to himself. Although, Jim likely would've enjoyed staring at her for awhile, he had no time to lose, he had to find a place to put her, and fast. He shuffled around his room searching.

"He had better have a good reason, Morph…" Sarah said, turning the door knob to his room, "For not coming down right away."



In almost an instant, the door whipped open, Morph floated over to Jim of whom was standing next to his bed and quickly flipped covers over Luna's face.

"James," His Mother's voice got a certain tone in it, "What are you doing?" Morph curiously gawked at him.

He turned, backing up against the bed, trying to cover over the obvious, "Nothing, Mom, nothing!"

In one swift motion, Sarah shoved Jim out of the way and flipped the blanket back, gasping and flipping them back over Luna, "James P. Hawkins! What is she doing in your bed?! And like that?!"

"Mom! I don't know!!" He shouted, unable to explain things clearly, "She was just here and, and she came outta THAT!!" He pointed to the broken crystal.

His Mother raised her eyebrow, to test his countenance.

"I'm serious!" He said in return.

"Okay, I'll believe you. The least you could've done was get her a –" Jim handed his Mother a shirt before she could finish the sentence.

She then moved the covers back from Luna's fair face, "What's her name?"

"Luna." Jim replied.

"Pretty girl." She complimented.

Jim leaned in, sort of helping his Mother grab the blanket off, his eyes wanting to continue where they left off, "Yeah…"

Then, Sarah gripped the blanket tightly, "No." She pointed her finger inches from his face towards the door, "Out."

Jim sighed, "Fine."

"Follow him." Sarah instructed Morph. Morph nodded sweetly and did as she said.

"Man Morph, there's a girl in my room with nothing but her hair on and Mom makes sure I don't get to see a thing. Figures." He looked over at Morph who mocked Sarah's scolding Jim, "All I wanted to do was look."

"Jim! She's awake!" Sarah called her son.

Jim was a little anxious as to how the girl was going to react to him after that fiasco. He looked at her, entering his room. She stood in a light blue robe next to his Mother, that was much too big on her.

"I thought a robe would be more appropriate than one of your old shirts." Sarah explained.



Luna smiled, but shyly this time, "Hello again, Jim… I apologize for what happened. I wasn't in my right mind. That's usually what happens after such a long ride in a crystal pod." She looked over at Sarah, "Oh! Forgive me. I have not introduced myself properly. My name is Luna Blackstar. I am glad to meet you Mrs. Hawkins."

"Thank you." Sarah said, "But, it's Ms."

Luna's face dropped at that, "You mean, your husband he, died?"

"No no… he left." Sarah explained.

"Left?" It didn't seem to register with Luna.

"Yeah," Jim cut in, "It's just Mom and I, no Dad. He left us a long time ago."

"I am so sorry to hear that." She said, a great sadness setting in.

"Well, don't think on it too much, we're glad you're okay." Sarah changed the subject, "So, where are you from?"

"Planet Utopia." Luna replied.

"Corin's spear!!" Jim shouted loudly, "Uh, sorry… " His face began to flare again, realizing that he'd been so open in front of this girl, this beautiful girl he hardly knew, "I didn't mean to…"

"It is alright." Luna said, "If you would be so kind to take me back to my home, I could show you where the spear is."

"YES!!" Jim was horribly enthralled, "I'll get my crew together tomorrow then we can leave." Then, something hit him again for a third time, "Oh man, Mom! Inventory."

"Again, I am sorry for being such an inconvenience." Luna said.

Sarah shrugged it off, "You know what, I don't even know why I do inventory in advance. I think that'll be a habit that I get rid of tonight."

With that said, there was a knock at the door. Delbert and Amelia had decided to come that evening for a visit.

"Where are the kids?" Sarah asked.

"Being babysat." Amelia was not amused with the idea of it, "We can't stay long, but, Delbert insisted we stop by."

"Who is that young girl?" Delbert asked, stepping in, "Is she with James?"

Jim's face was becoming like a neon sign, flashing red on and off.



"Sort-of." Sarah explained, "She came in a crystal that fell from the sky, actually. Jim found it yesterday."

"I am Luna Blackstar." She said, nodding her head to them. Jim hadn't noticed it until then that Luna had a very formal way of speaking. He certainly didn't mind it. In all honesty it made her that much more elegant.

"Nice to meet you, Luna." Amelia said.

"Likewise." Delbert added, "I'm jealous, Jim. I've been looking for Utopian facts, and here you've stumbled upon one of the greatest discoveries to support my theory!" Delbert pushed his way in, completely looking Luna over to make sure she was real. Amelia gave him a look that he'd better stop, which caused him to yield in his amusment.

Amelia came in and had a seat. The three girls sat down in a group and Delbert made his way over to Jim shortly after making mental notes on Luna's existence.

"So, found yourself a Utopian girl, have you?" He started off the conversation. Jim was getting tired of the, in his mind, cruel puns.

"No, I'm taking her home tomorrow." Jim said, "She can show me where the spear of Corin is."

Delbert wasn't one to mince words, especially to Jim, so, he called out exactly what he saw, "You're going to get attached to her."

"What?!" Jim raised his voice, causing the three ladies to look over at the two of them. Jim's cheeks and nose stained red again. And if his face literally was a neon sign right now, it would probably say "slap me" for having yelled in front of, well, all of them… but mainly Luna. Calming his voice, he continued, "I am not."

"Oh yes you are." Delbert pressed the issue, "You'll see."

"No you'll see." Jim said, "I'm in it for the spear. She just so happens to be…" He glanced at her, "A very p-pre…" He couldn't say it, "Pleasant girl."

Delbert shrugged, but still thought otherwise, observing Jim as he'd watch Luna fiddle with the hem of her garment.

Amelia pointed out, "You really should get her something to wear."

"Well I –" Sarah began.

"It is alright." Luna said, "She gave me what she could, it would be wrong to ask for anything else."

"I know, go and get her a dress or something tomorrow, before you depart." Amelia said, rising up from her chair, "It's time for us to go. It's been a wonderful visit Sarah."

"Very well," Delbert said, following his wife, "Nice having that little chat with you, James."



"Yeah." Jim rolled his eyes, but to his own fault he did so only to glance at Luna again, which only frustrated him. He only remembered what Delbert said, "You're going to get attached to her."

"Is there something wrong, Jim?" Luna asked, curiously.

"N-no! Not at all. Absolutely not." He huffed heavily at his own reaction, he'd just said no three times. Morph turned into two big pretty eyes after Luna walked away, blinking annoyingly at Jim.

"Stop it." He said, growing all the more weary with it. This was going to be one interesting adventure. A girl he had issues talking to, and the search for yet another planet.