Greetings, my beloved readers.

Firstly, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and now a Happy 2012!

I was hoping I'd post this chapter before Christmas, but I ran into a few complications. Anyways, thank you for your patience, and you'll be pleased to know that the progress for the next two chapters have been going along smoothly, so expect an update no more than next week. :)

Also, I'd like to thank Vic and Perry, my two fellow co-writers who had the privelege of taking a sneak peek and making changes as they saw fit. I couldn't have done it without them!

Happy reading! :D

Chapter 5: When Stars Cross Paths

Brittany was having a really bad hair day.

It wasn't something out of the ordinary; she'd always get it sorted with her arsenal of hair-care products. But tonight, the pink-clad chipette on the other side of the mirror appeared to prove otherwise.

The brush in her hair was like a kite in a tree; it tangled with her locks, sticking itself deep into the roots and never wanting to escape its grasp. And even if she'd use enough hairspray to burn a hole in the ozone layer, her hair still looked flat and lifeless, as Brittany herself had been for the past few months.

Instead, she saw a chipette who looked just like her. It stared back into her baby blue eyes. But it didn't have a soul.

Frustrated, Brittany threw down her brush, not wanting to look at the glass containing her warped reflection. Why was she so obsessed with her hair, least of all when it was almost time for bed? She always looked pretty, she knew that. Alvin would always be her guy, no matter what. And he loved her with all his heart and soul.

Still...

From the other side of the bedroom, Jeanette looked up from her science textbook. "You're still thinking about him, aren't you?" she asked, as if she could read her sister's thoughts.

"Every single day," said Brittany.

"That's really thoughtful of you," smiled Jeanette.

"Yeah, just goes to show how much you love him," said Eleanor as she pulled on her pyjamas. "Too bad Alvin needs to set his priorities straight. I mean, we're rock stars and all, but there are more important things than that," She was secretly relieved that her belly wasn't as round as it used to be when it jutted out from her shirt, but then again, the recent workouts with Theodore really paid off.

The pink-clad chipette raised a curled eyebrow. "Who said I was thinking about Alvin?"

Jeanette and Eleanor's mouths formed two perfect Os. "You mean you have another boyfriend?"

"Of course not! I was thinking about... about – well, you know who..."

Even as the words came out, Brittany felt like kicking herself. She never had so much trouble saying his name, but so much could change in nine months. Sure, her relationship with Alvin grew stronger than any flame, and nothing could tear them apart. Yet somewhere in her heart, there lurked the remnants of a shadow.

The shadow of a wolf-like chipmunk who knew his way around the darkness that once tainted him.

"Don't worry about Phelan," said Eleanor, attempting to cheer up her sister. "You remember why he left, right? He cares for all of us so much; he wanted to protect us by fighting the evils of this world."

"I know, but..." Brittany's voice trailed off. "What if this is his final journey? What if he never comes back at all?"

"Come on, Britt. Since when has Phelan backed down on a promise?" Jeanette said.

"I want to stop thinking about Phelan, but I can't."

"I guess it's true what they say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"Or forgetful."

And even if he'd been gone for a hundred years, Brittany could never forget. After all, she was the one who gave Phelan his first kiss, and first kisses always make lasting impressions. She was his first love, but would she be his last?

It has nothing to do with you. It's just me... it's always been about me, hasn't it?

The window parted with a distant creak as Brittany stared out longingly into the open night. Black velvet studded with stars. The sight of a child's midnight fantasy.

And if Alvin was sleeping under this sky tonight, then it would also be the same sky that both of them could share with Phelan. A wave of comfort washed over Brittany as she opened her heart with music, in the hopes that Phelan could hear her from miles away.

I can be tough
I can be strong
But with you, it's not like that at all

There's a girl
That gives a sh-
Behind this wall
You just walk through it

And I remember all those crazy things you said
You left them running through my head
You're always there, you're everywhere
But right now I wish you were here.
All those crazy things we did
Didn't think about it, just went with it
You're always there, you're everywhere
But right now I wish you were here

Damn, Damn, Damn,
What I'd do to have you
Here, here, here
I wish you were here.
Damn, Damn, Damn
What I'd do to have you
Near, near, near
I wish you were here.

I love the way you are
It's who I am, don't have to try hard
We always say, say it like it is
And the truth, is that I really mi-i-iss

All those crazy things you said
You left them running through my head
You're always there, you're everywhere
But right now I wish you were here.
All those crazy things we did
Didn't think about it, just went with it
You're always there, you're everywhere
But right now I wish you were here

Damn, Damn, Damn,
What I'd do to have you
Here, here, here
I wish you were here.
Damn, Damn, Damn
What I'd do to have you
Near, near, near
I wish you were here.

No, I don't wanna let go
I just wanna let you know
That I never wanna let go

(Let go, let go, let go, let go...)

No, I don't wanna let go
I just wanna let you know
That I never wanna let go

(Let go, let go, let go, let go, let go, let go, let go...)

Damn, Damn, Damn,
What I'd do to have you
Here, here, here
I wish you were here (I wish you were)
Damn, Damn, Damn
What I'd do to have you
Near, near, near
I wish you were here.

Damn, Damn, Damn,
What I'd do to have you
Here, here, here
I wish you were here.
Damn, Damn, Damn
What I'd do to have you
Near, near, near
I wish you were here.

"Let's all make a wish," Jeanette suggested.

They closed their eyes and crossed their paws, each of them wishing for her heart's desire when the silence was broken once more by Jeanette.

"Is it just me, or does that star look like it's getting bigger and bigger?"

Brittany and Eleanor looked in the direction of Jeanette's paw. Indeed, there was a star much bigger than the others, but unless the street lights were playing tricks with their eyes, the star kept growing, until its beauty was enough to rival that of the moon's.

"I think... why yes!" Eleanor clutched Brittany's paw excitedly. "It's a shooting star! How beautiful!"

They watched in awe as the star soared through the skies in streaks of purple, orange and gold, leaving behind a glittering trail of stardust.

"And look! It's flying right past our house!" Brittany could barely contain her squeals, the excitement over her hair long forgotten.

Eleanor didn't say anything, but noticed the worry in Jeanette's now bug-like eyes. "What's wrong, Jeanette?"

"I don't know. Something's not right – I think... I think that star's going to crash any minute now!"

It happened within a heartbeat.

The star sailed over the Chipettes' heads with a high-pitched roar of fire, blinding them with an unearthly light as it vanished over the house.

Then – bang!

A thunderous explosion rocked the girls' bedroom, shaking them to their rodent-like teeth. In their panic, they could hardly hear themselves screaming over the tremors; the lights flashing madly with every quake.

And then, it was over as soon as it began.

"Is everyone alright?" asked Eleanor, trembling.

Both Jeanette and Brittany nodded. They were a little shaken, but thankfully unharmed.

"It sounded like it fell right behind our yard," Jeanette said as she straightened her glasses.

"How can you tell?" asked Brittany.

"Didn't you hear the impact? It hit the ground louder than the tremors we felt. There was a split second where-"

Brittany waved a paw impatiently. "We get the picture, Jeanette. Now come on. We've got work to do."

She was about to head for the door when Eleanor called out. "Where are you going?"

"To investigate, of course!"

Miss Miller's bedroom door was still shut tight. No sounds could be heard on the other side as the Chipettes walked past, so Jeanette gathered up the courage to knock.

"Miss Miller? Miss Miller, it's Jeanette! Can you hear me?"

Nothing. Jeanette moved aside as Brittany pounded on the door.

"Miss-" Her words were drowned out by a series of suddenly loud snores.

Jeanette pointed at the door with a dumbfounded look. "She can sleep through an explosion like that?"

Eleanor found it hard not to giggle at a situation like this.

"Oh please! The only thing that'll get Miss Miller out of bed is if I yell 'bingo marathon' and invite her friends!" snapped the pink-clad chipette.

"Brittany!" Jeanette hissed, but she stifled her laughter alongside her sisters. Even Jeanette had to admit it was true: the elderly Miss Miller always slept like the dead.

"Looks like it's just the three of us now," said Brittany, trying to sound brave.

A flashlight came to life in Jeanette's trembling paw. "Come on, we'd better go outside," she said.

Jeanette's theory was confirmed by the billowing clouds of smoke – the star had indeed fallen inside their own backyard. Though the street lights were still out, the moon cast a faint beam of light over the odd shape cowering in the grass.

Brittany led the investigation procession while her sisters cautiously approached her from behind. Despite being the eldest, a gnawing sense of panic brought Brittany's fur standing on its ends. "What do you suppose that is?"

Jeanette aimed her flashlight into the darkness, but the rising smoke still made it impossible to see anything.

"Don't know. Let's get closer."

As the smoke died down, the chipettes could see that the scorched yard had left behind a crater wide enough for all of them to squeeze into and call it home. They inched closer, hoping to see perhaps a lump of fallen rock. But nothing had prepared them for what lay inside. And the world stopped turning for a second.

A gasp escaped their lips, leaving them speechless before Eleanor could speak up.

"That's – definitely not a star..."

Huddled on the ground, curled up in a foetal position, was a chipette. From the crown of her head to bushy tail-tip, she was clad in luscious creamy-white fur – darker than the first fall of snow, yet lighter than a fawn's pelt. Only her paws were tinged in an alluring shade of gold, as if she'd dipped them in honey.

Her dress, a simple white toga, shimmered in the moonlight, along with her golden hair tied up neatly in a ponytail. She was a petite and delicate thing, her lithe figure further enhancing the look of fear upon her face as she pulled herself to her knees and stared at the strangers who had come to gawk at her.

And that's when they saw her eyes.

In the moonlit shadows, the girls could have been forgiven for mistaking the grass and its reflection to catch this strange chipette's left eye. It wasn't until they came closer that the sight of those eyes were enough to take anyone's breath away.

Her right eye was calm and endearing, and as blue as the morning sky. But the grass was never in the chipette's left eye – it was already there; a dark and rich shade of emerald green.

Two opposite poles, yet they complimented each other in perfect harmony.

"W-where am I?" Her voice was little more than a squeak, completing her mysterious package. "W-wait! Aren't you the famous Chipettes band? I can't believe it – it's an honour to meet you!"

"I think the real question is 'What are you doing in our backyard?'" Brittany scowled, folding her arms.

Instantly the mysterious chipette's different-coloured eyes were aglow with terror. She held up her golden-tinged paws in fear. "P-please don't hurt me... I didn't mean to disrespect any of you! I- I'll just go now if you won't mind..."

Eleanor nudged Brittany in the ribs before turning to face their strange guest with a smile.

"It's okay. We're not going to harm you. My sister's just a little surprised, that's all."

Brittany's cheeks flushed deeper than the colour of her nightgown. "I'm sorry. It's just that fallen stars aren't furry and don't usually talk back like us."

To her relief, the creamy-white chipette didn't seem to take her earlier comments to heart.

"I see your point there." When she laughed, it was friendly and warm, the tone making her friendlier by the second.

"I'm Brittany. And these are my sisters, Jeanette and Eleanor."

The creamy-white chipette seemed a little less tense as she found the strength to stand on her own.

"M-Maia. My name's Maia."

Ten sneaky minutes later, they were all back in the chipettes' bedroom. Miraculously, they made it without so much of a wink to alert their still-sleeping caretaker. Maia, basking in the warmth of a blanket now wrapped around her, was sitting on Brittany's bed as a sign of the latter's apology. She had refused to wear any of the countless dresses from the girls' wardrobes, despite the chills she could feel ruffling through her toga.

"You still haven't told us what you were doing in our backyard," said Brittany, this time a lot more gently.

"I was travelling by starlight. It's really fast and hassle-free, but I haven't gotten around to mastering it completely. One slip up, and well... you end up like this," Maia pointed at herself.

"But – how can you do it if you're not a star?" asked Jeanette.

"It's something I was born with, I guess. To tell you the truth, I didn't know I had this special ability until last year. I just looked at the stars, told them where I wanted to go. And... I was there."

"Couldn't you go back home if you wanted to?" Eleanor said.

Maia turned her head sadly at a slight angle, watching the clouds pass through the night. "I can't find my way back. I've been away from home for so long, I don't know where to go."

"How would you like to stay with us for a while?"

There was a momentary pause. Brittany and Jeanette were more shocked at the fact that their little sister called the shots, almost as if Alvin himself had dressed up in Eleanor's clothing and pigtails.

"Give us a second," Brittany said. The three chipettes immediately piled into a group talk.

"Eleanor, you're not serious, are you?" whispered Brittany.

"Of course I am."

"We're talking about adopting a fallen star that landed in our backyard!"

By now, Eleanor was just as agitated as Brittany. "She's not a fallen star, can't you see that? She's a living, breathing chipette just like us! We can't just kick her out!"

"I'm with Eleanor on this one," said Jeanette, earning her a smile of approval from the green-clad chipette. "But a new girl in the house isn't going to go unnoticed by Miss Miller. And what do we tell the boys?"

It didn't take long for Jeanette to rack her brains. "I've got it! We'll just mention that she's our... our – long lost cousin who's come to pay us a visit!"

"I could always say I'm from Greece," Maia piped up from the back.

"See? No one would suspect anything."

Brittany rolled her eyes as she laughed humourlessly. "Miss Miller's so old, she won't even bother checking for Maia's name in the phone book!"

Jeanette and Eleanor both looked at their older sister with pleading eyes.

"Oh come on, Brittany! Have a heart! Even Phelan was an outcast, but look at what he's achieved now – what we've achieved with him! Can't you give Maia a chance?"

At the slightest mention of the wolf-like chipmunk's name, Brittany grew silent. Perhaps this was how Alvin must've felt when he chose to adopt Phelan as his brother. Even the one she looked up to must have feelings of his own – and now she felt a twang of guilt for putting Maia in Phelan's former position.

The truth was, the sight of Maia reminded Brittany too much about him. But nobody deserved to be left out in the cold, empty world of darkness.

The creamy-white chipette felt her heart skip a beat as Brittany looked at her with a warm smile.

"Girls, pull up some extra space for one more. Maia, welcome to our sisterhood."

Maia looked just as confused as ever. Eleanor gave her a reassuring pat on the back.

"It means you're one of us now. Welcome to our family, Maia!"

The smile on Maia's face said it all as the four chipettes gathered and hugged each other, giggling excitedly like best friends at a sleepover.

Maia cuddled up snugly under the covers, yet even in the dark, she felt it impossible to let her guard down. The faint breathing of the sleeping Chipettes did little to calm her frayed nerves. The realization that she had been accepted into the Miller family sent fresh shivers down her spine.

Would they still take her in with open paws if they knew about her secret?

No doubt the girls were pop stars, but unlike the countless celebrities she read about in the news, nothing about the Chipettes tonight seemed fake.

The friendly conversation they made, the jokes they cracked and the laughter they shared. All of those actions were sincere because it came from the bottom of their hearts.

And they had nothing to hide.

Unlike herself.

But every family had their own rules. Maia's was no exception; in fact, they taught her the golden rule that she learned to recite along with every young apprentice.

Never compromise the Order, no matter the cost.

And if she was lucky enough, the punishment for breaking that rule would have been exile instead of death.

Maia shut her eyes, trying to block out all further doubts and let sleep overcome her. Step one of the mission was complete. Now it was time to lure in the bigger bait.

Phelan, where are you?

To Be Continued...

The song that Brittany sings is Avril Lavigne's Wish You Were Here. It was a risk, but that's the only song I could think of that suited the moment.

So, what d'you think? Is Maia to be trusted? What will happen once she bumps into Phelan?

You'll have to wait 'til the next chapter to find out!

~ Wind