CHAPTER 10: A BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE
Jill could barely sleep that night, and she had a hard time focusing during the day. All her thoughts were riveted on tonight—the Starsending Ceremony. Every now and then, she looked at the sky. It was clear at first, but it slowly became cloudier and murkier by the time the sun had set. Jill could only hope that the Shrouds' plan would be enough to dispel the clouds. As for her, she'd just have to do her best.
At sundown, Jill left Grim and Ace one last time to fulfill her duties. She got suited up in her Starsending Robes and went into the main building, then all the way into the back of the castle. Trey and Deuce were standing by the exit doors, almost looking identical in their Starsending Robes.
"We have to wait until the headmage calls us out," Trey said. "He's making a speech for the reporters outside. He hasn't announced us yet."
"It's been a long speech," Deuce said tiredly. "Mostly talking about himself."
"Where's Idia?" Jill demanded. "He said he'd be here, and we're just about to start!"
"Here we are!" Ortho said from behind, and the group turned at once. Ortho and Idia were standing side-by-side, and they looked… amazing.
Jill had never seen Idia Shroud in the flesh before. He was tall and pale, with yellow eyes and blue lips. His hair was blue and fiery like Ortho's, but longer and flowing down to his waist. Wearing his sparkling Starsending Robes, he looked like a handsome fairy coming down from the heavens to bring goodwill. Jill couldn't understand why Idia hid himself away all the time when he was so beautiful.
Idia avoided eye contact with Jill once he noticed her ogling. "So, uh… hey, I'm Idia. What's up?" he muttered. He didn't have any of the one-liners or snappiness that he would say behind his tablet.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Jill Bones," the girl said. She moved her hand to shake his, but Idia just pocketed both his hands and shook his head. Then Idia took out his phone and held it in front of his mouth.
"Sorry, I'm not much of a handshake guy." The voice was his, but with a slight filter. Jill was finally starting to get it—Idia had crippling social anxiety. She suddenly felt terrible for all the times she got frustrated with him.
"It's good to see you, Idia," Trey said. "And Ortho, I like your new body."
Jill looked again at Ortho. His body armor was now dark-blue with star insignias, and his boots seemed bulkier. He blended in with the night sky, and his fiery hair shimmered like a comet's tail.
"Thank you! Idia designed this Stargazer Gear himself for the ceremony!" Ortho said proudly.
"Does this have anything to do with your plan about the weather?" Deuce asked.
"You'll see!" Ortho teased, giving a mechanical giggle.
Finally, the large doors opened.
"And here are our Stargazers for this year! Come on out!" Crowley called.
Jill gulped. "That's our cue."
"Let's get this over with," Idia said reluctantly.
The group walked single-file to the tree full of Wishing Stars, and a crowd full of students and reporters were waiting for them. There were also several tents lining the premises, with other students giving out star-themed snacks for guests. Star-shaped cookies, little spiky sugar candies, even pretzels that were somehow curled into the form of stars… it gave Jill an odd sense of nostalgia.
There were some whispers among the reporters, and quite a few camera flashes in Jill's direction. Jill remembered that she was the only female student in Night Raven, and this was her first encounter with someone outside the school; she hoped that she wasn't making too much of a splash. Idia hunched down, almost trying to hide behind Trey until the four got into position.
"Now before we perform the ceremony… we must address the weather," Crowley said before the crowd.
Much to Jill's horror, the sky was gray and murky. The Wishing Stars couldn't be sent up to a sky like this! She looked between Idia and Ortho, but neither of them acknowledged her worry.
"Mr. Shroud… Ortho?" Crowley called. "We're ready for you."
"Leave it to me!" Ortho said. The bottoms of his boots lit up, and he suddenly took off into the air like a silent jet. He cut a straight line through the clouds, and zipped around to cut more lines. He was cutting through the cloud like scissors through paper, leaving blue light in his wake. Within minutes, the cloud was completely gone!
The crowd oohed and ahhed at the sight. A wave of applause spilled out, and Ortho waved happily at everyone.
"Thank you all very much!" Ortho said. "And without further ado, let's start the Starsending!"
"Guys, it's time to start!" Trey whispered. "Are you ready?"
Crowley handed Jill a microphone and then stepped back into the fray. It was time for everyone's hard work to pay off. Jill looked out to the front, and as she heard Idia's drumming from behind, she started the song. "When You Wish Upon a Star", in a fast-paced and jaunty tune.
As she sung into the mic, she tried desperately to steady her heart, to ignore the cameras and reporters staring right at her. She averted her eyes to see Ace holding Grim, the both of them waving at her. She could see her teachers, Mr. Sam, the other housewardens… somehow, their gazes were comforting.
Idia was drumming in-person now, using a pair of gold-painted drumsticks and a large drum lined with star insignias. It sounded so much better than just playing a recording, regardless of what Idia might say.
Then Jill heard gasps and shouts of excitement from the crowd. She looked up to see the Wishing Stars float away into the night. One by one, the blue gems defied gravity and rose up like balloons until she could no longer see them. Ortho floated up alongside the Wishing Stars, beckoning them along and even carrying some of them in his hands. Then he ascended higher with the final Star, until he too disappeared into the night.
It was the most miraculous sight she'd ever witnessed. She could've watched the stars forever, except she was still performing. Trey and Deuce danced perfectly at either side, stepping in and out, their wands almost shining in the dark.
Jill finished the cheerful rendition, then blushed when the crowd gave a thunderous applause. She risked a glance back at her fellow Stargazers, who were looking up into the sky.
"Where did Ortho go?" Trey asked Idia.
"He went to carry the Wishing Stars into the sky, in case anything else disrupted them," Idia answered through his phone. "Though personally, I think he just wanted to see the Stars dissolve."
"He's earned that right," Deuce said warmly. "He worked so hard to make sure this was a success. We all did."
"Thanks for coming to drum for us, Idia," Trey seconded.
"Ugh, don't rub it in. I only did it for Ortho," Idia griped through his filter.
"LOOK!" someone cried, and then Jill saw it. Another bluish light was coming down from above, and another, and another… she thought it was Ortho at first, or maybe a Wishing Star, but it was something even more amazing. A shooting star coming down to the earth, with many identical lights following suit.
"A meteor shower!" Trey said. "Was this part of the plan?"
"Uh, no!" Idia was alarmed. "Maybe it's Ortho?"
"Or maybe a meteor shower just happened to start… like fate," Deuce said thoughtfully.
Ortho appeared from the cosmos like a descending rocket. He fell gracefully to the ground, and hugged Idia tightly.
"I did it, Idia! I finally went to space, like I've always wanted!" Ortho gushed. "I saw the meteor shower from up there! And I also saw the Wishing Stars dissolve! It was the coolest!"
"Well, you deserve it, Ortho," Idia said. "You're the hero of this ceremony." And he hugged Ortho back.
"…By the way, did you set up a signal jammer?" Ortho asked quietly. "Because I'm sensing an electronic disruption that's interfering with phone cameras…"
"What? No!" Idia said a bit too loudly. "See, my phone works fine! Let me show you…" He pulled out his phone, and his golden eyes widened. "No way…"
"Is something wrong?" Trey asked.
"STAR ROGUE'S DEVELOPERS JUST ANNOUNCED A SEQUEL!" Idia cried.
"Really?! REALLY?!" Ortho asked excitedly. The Shrouds hunched over their phone, scrolling at an article and commenting on it. Jill didn't know what "Star Rogue" was, but she was glad they were happy.
Deuce checked his own phone and held it up to his ear. "Hello?" He paused. "Yeah, I see it, Mom… really? You really think so?" Deuce cried. He turned to Jill and whispered, "It's my mom! She says that she's seeing the shower, and that she's proud of me!"
"Of course. Why wouldn't she be proud?" Jill asked, but Deuce went back to talking to his mom. Trey had wandered off to talk with the other Heartslabyuls, and the Shrouds had disappeared into the crowd. Jill suddenly felt all alone…
"Jill!" Ace greeted, stepping forward. "Good job! And by the way, you owe me for babysitting Grim again while you were doing Stargazer stuff."
"I ain't a baby!" Grim scoffed in his grasp. He then smirked at Jill. "You did a great job, minion! Makes me proud! What do you say we hit up all the tents with those yummy snacks?"
"Huh? Oh… sure…" Jill's enthusiasm deflated.
"What's wrong?" Ace asked.
"I… I wish my family was here," Jill confessed quietly. "I think my parents would be proud of me, too…" She willed herself not to tear up.
"Jill… I know they'll be proud of you," Ace said. "Because you did something really cool—and when you go home soon, you can tell them all about it. Right?" He smiled warmly.
Jill found the strength to smile. "…Right. Thank you."
"Well, while we're still here, we got a ceremony to enjoy!" Grim urged. "C'mon, that food's callin' my name!"
And so Jill Bones enjoyed the Starsending Ceremony, and didn't shed a single tear. Because just like Pinocchio, who had to go through many adventures to see his father again… Jill would reunite with her family one day.
END
Author's Note: This was a fun little breather event to tide things over, and it was satisfying to polish. As always, I hope you enjoyed, and stay spooky! -BoneyFide13
