A/N: The song that Emma is writing was actually composed by Andrew Creighton Dodd, Gannin Duane Arnold, Adam M. Watts, Ahmet Zappa, Shana Zappa. "Starlight" (Reservoir Media Music, Seven Peaks Music, Walt Disney Music Company, Dodd Music, Dying Ego Music, Ganologiks, Star Darlings Music LLC) was written for Disney's Star Darlings series. According to the wiki, it was first released on October 5, 2015 in the Star Darlings app. (Since this is Emma's first draft, I've altered some of the lines slightly, so that they can be revised later.) "Be Our Guest" parody lyrics written by Steven Cavanagh (1993-2005).
Chapter 16
Even a week ago, Emma would have shrugged her shoulders at the news. Upstairs, in the privacy of her room, she might have thrown a few things—if she'd thought the noise wouldn't bring people running—or disassembled her clock radio and tried putting it back together again. (She hadn't been able to do it successfully yet, but trying generally calmed her down, so long as she threw out the thing before she got too frustrated.)
Now, though, she shook her head. "No. No, we can still do this. I've been writing a song with Kimber all afternoon."
"That's great," Joellen said. "And I think we'd all love to hear it, but…"
"It's not fair," Emma said. "First Deirdre, now Ashley. I-I don't really know either of them well, but there are three other girls in the band and it's not fair to them!"
"I know," one of the three girls (Emma thought her name was Marla) agreed, "but what can we do? We're too new at this. We need strong singers and a great song before there's any chance of Jerrica saying 'yes'."
Emma took a deep breath. "I'll write the song," she said. "You guys rehearse. We've got this." And with that, she turned on her heel and marched out of the common room.
It wasn't until she was back in her own bedroom that she realized the enormity of what she'd stated. "What the hell have I just got myself into?" she whispered. "And how the hell do I get out of it?"
Phyllis held the phone away from her ear, but even at twelve inches distance, she had to wince at Roxy's shriek. "I can't believe you CUT me! And I had to hear about it on freaking KDWN! I'm a charter member of the Misfits! You can't do this to me!"
She waited for her former bandmate to pause for breath before interjecting coolly, "You said you wouldn't perform unless we met your price. Since nobody performing at the benefit is getting paid, that's not happening. So, since you're not going on, I found someone who will."
"Who? That Deedee Bratster, or whatever her name is?"
Professional, Phyllis thought to herself, tamping down her inner Pizzazz. Professional. She was a social worker, now. She'd learned to curb her temper, otherwise she wouldn't have lasted in the field for long. Right now, though, she wanted to screech back at her erstwhile bandmate. Instead, she replied calmly, "Deirdre Baxter, yes. She's a damned good guitarist."
"She out of diapers, yet?"
"Yes, she is," Phyllis retorted. And then, before she could think better of it, she added, "So is Hana May, for that matter."
"Don't you freaking dare!"
"She's your daughter, Roxy. You haven't seen her in over a year. Meanwhile, she's growing up and you're missing it. You can't get this time back."
There was a long pause. Then, Roxy said heavily, "Gotta tell you, Phyllis, I've had better times. But thanks for the guilt trip." The line went dead.
Phyllis stared at her cordless until a soft sound behind her made her turn. She stooped down to meet the steady gaze of the little girl before her. "How much of that did you hear?" she asked Hana May gently.
Hana May shrugged. "I dunno."
"Want to talk about it?"
The little girl shook her head.
"Want a hug?"
Hana May hesitated before giving Phyllis a cautious nod.
"Well, then," Phyllis spread her arms apart and let the phone fall to the floor, "come on over."
A moment later, she felt the weight of a four-year-old girl pressed tightly against her. "It's okay," she said softly. "It's okay."
"You gonna send me away?" Hana May asked, almost whispering.
Phyllis shook her head. "Only if your mother comes for you."
Hana May considered that. Then she hugged Phyllis harder. "Then I'm gonna stay with you forever."
Despite the rush of affection that engulfed her, Phyllis winced.
John stood on his balcony and waited. It was several minutes before he felt the familiar chill that told him he wasn't alone. Even so, it made him start when he saw the eyes that glowed in the shadows of the night.
"Well?" the voice rasped, and John swallowed.
"It's done. Saturday at noon. Griffith Park. You know it?"
The Shadow chortled. "Do you imagine there's a place in this realm I can't find when I wish? Or that you or your sister can evade my sight? I will be there at the appointed time. See that she is, as well."
A strong wind whipped John's hair about his face and when it faded, so had the malevolent presence. John lifted his spectacles and massaged the bridge of his nose. Then he went back indoors to coach Wendy on the part she was to play. For Michael's sake, they dared leave nothing to chance.
The words weren't coming. Emma sat at her desk and tried to forget that it was less than half an hour to lights-out. She'd rushed through her homework—it was probably full of mistakes, but it was done—on fire to write the new song, only to find that the words that had been buzzing in her head all day at school were gone.
"Come on," she muttered. "Come on…" Deep breath, she told herself. Relax. Don't force it. It's okay. C'mon, you've got this.
No, she didn't. She'd had it, but now everything had faded.
…Faded away. Emma frowned. The words she'd had earlier, there had been something about… something fading away.
She picked up the pen.
It's okay. You'll be okay.
Look at the ground. Let it fade away.
Well, it rhymed. It also made no sense. The ground couldn't fade away, and if it did, you'd fall!
…Unless you could fly.
We can fly. In the sky.
And look down on life.
She pushed back her chair, walked to the window and looked out. There was a full moon tonight, and with the street lamps below, the night didn't seem at all spooky. She squinted at the sky. While the moon was visible, she wasn't positive she could make out any stars. Between the moon and the city lights, it just wasn't dark enough to be sure.
Emma's eyes opened wide. She rushed back to the desk.
Between the moon and the city lights, we're the Starlights. We're Starlights.
"Emma?" There was a knock on the door, and Mrs. Bailey opened it and poked her head in. "Light's out, dear. School tomorrow."
Emma nodded. "Okay. Just a minute."
"One," Mrs. Bailey nodded, and though her voice was firm, there was a twinkle in her eye. Hastily, Emma looked at what she'd written. It wasn't enough and it didn't feel quite right, but it was more than she'd had a minute ago.
Another knock. "Emma, now!"
Emma gulped and turned out the light. Then she turned it back on again, grabbed her toothbrush and toothpaste, and stepped out into the hall. Mrs. Bailey, already further down the hallway, turned at the sound and sighed. "Next time, don't leave it for the last minute," she admonished, and pointed toward the bathroom, as though Emma didn't already know where it was.
"Sorry," Emma mumbled. "I just got caught up in…"
"It doesn't matter," Mrs. Bailey told her, smiling just a bit to soften her words. "But don't let it happen again."
"Yes, Mrs. Bailey," Emma nodded. "Thanks."
"Good night, Emma."
Saturday dawned bright and sunny, and Wendy awakened with a smile to feel the sun on her face. She yawned and stretched. Then her smile froze and faded. Today, she and Tamara were going to Griffith Park. She wasn't looking forward to it. She should be; she adored both birds and greenery, and it would be good to get out of this city that seemed taller than it was wide, even if John kept telling her that it was quite the reverse.
Funny, really. After a century in Neverland or more, one might think she'd had her fill of the great outdoors, but she had always loved birds and parks, as opposed to the wild overgrown Neverland jungle, were tidy, well-kept, civilized places. She'd warrant that the birds here wouldn't be carrying tales back to Pan, either.
But she knew that this would be no pleasant excursion. Pan's reach was as long as the game he was playing and, according to the Shadow, a day would come when he would make use of her.
"Your concern," the Shadow had rasped, "is to ensure that when that day comes, she's been predisposed both to the belief in magic and the fear of it. That is all you need to know."
Wendy had frowned. "But how am I to…?"
"Bring her to the park as she suggested, and the rest will fall into place. Peter Pan never fails."
"Well then, what does he need me for?" Wendy demanded.
The Shadow laughed cruelly. "Need? Don't put so much stock in your own importance, girl. Pan has chosen to use you, but he certainly doesn't need to. Of course, if you force him to choose another method, he won't need to see to your brother's safety either. It's all a matter of incentive."
For a moment, Wendy had glared defiance. Then her shoulders slumped and she nodded, defeated.
The Shadow floated smugly overhead. "Play your part properly, little pawn, and it shall be well with all of you." Then it was gone.
Wendy's hands were trembling as she started to dress. She had to do this. For Michael's sake, she had to lead a girl she liked, a girl who was fast becoming a friend, into a trap. For Michael's sake, she would do her best to succeed. Even as she hoped that her best efforts might somehow meet with failure.
Tamara came for her at half-past ten. "You set?" she asked.
Wendy nodded. "I've never been on a motorbus before," she said.
The older girl laughed. "Well, my grandma drives, but she's holding down a job down in the valley, so she can't take me places and I can't afford a car of my own, so here we go. You got everything?"
Wendy nodded. "I think so," she said, starting to feel a bit nervous about what was to come.
"Then grab your gear and let's get a move on. The bus is usually okay, but it can get held up in traffic sometimes. Oh, and grab some water if you didn't already. If you're not used to LA's heat, you're gonna need it more than I will."
Wendy nodded again. She'd already stuffed two bottles into her backpack, but she grabbed a third.
"Have fun," John said, waving them on. He gave his sister a meaningful look. "And be certain to act appropriately."
"Don't be stodgy," Tamara laughed. "Nothing wrong with being a little inappropriate sometimes."
Wendy smiled weakly at that. John chuckled.
"Have you got a minute?" Emma asked hesitantly, when Kimber looked up at a commercial break.
The red-haired woman smiled. "Sure. I wasn't really watching this anyway. What's up, Emma?"
A bit shamefacedly, Emma passed her the sheet of paper she'd been writing on last night. "It's… it's not how I want it to be. I thought it sounded great in my head, but…" She rushed headlong past whatever Kimber had been about to interject. "I know you told me that the music can make the lyrics sound so much better, but I just feel like… like they're almost right, but I don't know what's wrong with them!"
"Hey," Kimber said. "Hey. Relax. It'll come. Is this your first song?"
"Kinda," Emma said. "I-I mean, sometimes when I hear a song, I sort of make up my own verses. Or I change a line to make it funnier.
"Oh?" Kimber said, grinning. She reached for her keytar. "Uh… you've seen Star Wars and Beauty and the Beast, right?"
Emma blinked, but she nodded cautiously, not sure where Kimber was going with this. "Sure."
"Just wondering if you're saying you've ever done stuff like this?" she asked, playing a tune that Emma recognized at once. Then Kimber started singing and Emma broke into a startled smile.
Be. Our. Guest-
Be our guest
Now it's time to feel depressed
For we stormed aboard your starship
and put you under arrest.
There's a nice
Room for free
In block AA-23
Just a shorter term solution
While we wait your execution
You ran off
With the plans
But you fell into my hands
Now I'll push you back and onto Vader's chest!
Because I'm on your case-
where is the Rebel base?
You'll be our guest!
Be our guest!
Be our guest!
By that point, Emma was giggling, and Kimber stopped. "So, like that?"
"Not as good!" Emma managed to say through her laughter. "But yeah."
Kimber set down the keytar. "Honestly," she said, looking at the page, "I like this. You're right. It's not quite there, yet, but put it aside for a little, and then look it over again." Her eyes crinkled a bit as her smile widened. "Bet you'll see how to fine-tune something if you check it over after supper."
"You think?" Emma asked.
"Usually works for me."
"And if I'm really stuck, can I ask you?"
"If you're really stuck?" Kimber picked up her keytar again. "Be my guest, be my guest…"
Emma swiped up her paper from the sofa and went back to her room smiling.
Griffith Park was huge, Wendy realized. It might take days or even weeks to explore. In London, she'd thought Kensington Gardens to be vast, but this park might be larger than Neverland!
"I have a map," Tamara said. "It looks like the sanctuary's past the Greek theater and the tennis courts."
Wendy shook her head. "Could we… Would it be possible to walk about a bit afterwards?"
"I thought you'd like it here!" Tamara grinned. "Sure. Matter of fact, there's a trail that loops around the sanctuary. We can do that first, then see the birds, and then… as long as we're home by dark, we can check out more." She hesitated. "Unless you've changed your mind about the bird sanctuary, and you'd rather just explore?"
It was on the tip of Wendy's tongue to agree, but she thought better of it in time. For all her bravado last night, she wasn't risking Michael's life. Yes, he was grown now and older than she in years, if not by actual birth date, but he was still her baby brother and Pan's captive. She had to see this bit through. "No," she said, forcing herself to smile broadly. "No, I think I should like to see the birds first."
Tamara unfolded her map, checked her bearings, and gestured to the path. "Then come on," she said, with a slight laugh. "It's this way!"
They'd reached the public toilets when they saw a young man approaching them with a perplexed expression. "Hi!" said. "You girls know anything about a craft show on today?"
Tamara and Wendy looked at each other. "Craft show?" Tamara repeated. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know there was one."
"I was invited," the man said. "By some guy," he fumbled in his pocket, "Here. He gave me his card and told me to be here by noon. I'm about a half hour early, but you'd think there'd be some signage or other vendors or…"
Tamara was reaching for the card when the sky suddenly turned dark overhead. Three sets of eyes turned upwards as one. And then three voices shrieked in terror—two genuine, one feigned—as the darkness streaked headlong toward them blotting out the daylight in its wake, a vast inky shadow with two malevolent glowing eyes.