Libby and the Class Election (9 page)

The Star Darlings all understood that. Still, Libby knew that they all must feel exactly as she did. They wanted it to be theirs. (Except, perhaps, Cassie, who looked slightly miserable. She had
confessed to Libby as they sipped sparkle juice in the Lightning Lounge one evening that she wasn't in a rush to head down to Wishworld. She needed a little bit of time to get used to the
idea. It was pretty clear to Libby that she had not yet.)

“When do we get to go to the caves?” Scarlet asked impatiently.

Lady Stella smiled. “Things are going to happen a little differently this time,” she said. “I have been informed by our Wish-Watcher that we will not be going to the Star
Darlings Wish Cavern this evening.”

The girls began to murmur. Not going to the Wish Cavern! The last time, when Sage was chosen, Lady Stella had opened a hidden door in her office wall, and a secret staircase had been revealed.
The girls had headed underground into the secret caves beneath the school. Lady Stella had led them to a secret door. When it opened they found themselves in a beautiful Wish-House built just for
them.

“But, Lady Stella,” said Vega, “then how are we going to find out who the Wish Mission is intended for?”

“The Wish Orb will come to you this time,” Lady Stella said mysteriously. “Please take a seat so we can begin.” She gestured toward the large round silver table that sat
in her office.

Once everyone was settled, Lady Stella continued. “Now close your eyes,” she said. “When you open them, a Wish Orb will be floating in front of each of you. Everyone, that is,
but Sage, since she already went on her mission.” Sage nodded and smiled—a little sadly, Libby thought. Maybe she secretly hoped to be able to go back down again on another mission and
do it perfectly this time.

“But only one is the true Wish Orb. The rest are just illusions and will disappear before your eyes.”

Libby looked around the table. Everyone's eyes were already closed, so she quickly squeezed hers shut, too. Her stomach was dancing with flutterfocuses. What if she was chosen? Then again,
what if she wasn't? The wait seemed interminable. Finally, she heard Lady Stella say, “Open your eyes, Star Darlings!”

There was a collective gasp around the table. Eleven glowing Wish Orbs were floating in the air in front of them. Libby stared at her orb longingly. It looked quite real, pulsing with a gorgeous
golden light. But was it just an illusion?

She looked at her fellow Star Darlings. Each girl was staring at her Wish Orb, wondering if it was about to disappear. One by one, Scarlet's, Gemma's, Tessa's, Leona's,
and Vega's faces crumpled as their orbs disappeared. Cassie let out a gasp—perhaps of relief—as hers vanished. Libby stared at her orb, then stole a quick glance around the table.
All the others were gone. She started breathing again.

“It's Libby!” cried Sage. “Good for you!”

Lady Stella walked over and placed her hands on Libby's shoulders. “The Wish Orb has chosen.” She peered down at Libby, a gentle smile on her face. “And I think it has
chosen wisely. I have a good feeling about this, Libby.”

Libby's mouth felt dry. “Thank you,” she barely managed to whisper. She pushed her seat back from the table and stood up.

Lady Stella burst into laughter, pointing to Libby's feet. “I'm guessing you were in a big rush to get here?” she asked.

Libby nodded and looked down. She was wearing her fluffy bedroom slippers!

The Star Darlings roared with laughter. Was it because it was so funny to see ladylike Libby wearing silly slippers in public, or were they mostly letting off steam after the last tense few
starmins? Libby wasn't sure. But after a moment, she joined in on the laughter, too.

Long after the other girls had left to get ready for bed, Libby returned to the Little Dipper Dormitory, yawning a jaw-cracking yawn as she shuffled along in her slippers. She
had stayed behind for final lessons in outfit picking and shooting-star riding and had received some last-starmin Wisher identification tips.

The campus was still and empty, and she watched as lights began to turn off in the dorm, which loomed ahead of her. Libby looked up to see a clear sky full of stars. She bent her head back and
took it all in. It was so amazing that someone as small as she, in the grand scheme of the world, was about to embark on such a huge adventure. Her Star-Zap began to ring. She pulled it out of her
star-shaped pocket to see that it was her parents, again.

Her parents popped up in the darkness ahead of her, wearing silk bathrobes. Her mother's hands were placed in matching anti-aging pods, as they were every night before she went to
sleep.

“Hi,” Libby said.

“Hi, sweetheart,” they said in unison. Her mother peered at her. “What are you doing outside?” she asked. “Shouldn't you be getting ready for bed?” her
father added.

“I…um…was studying late,” Libby said. It was technically the truth.

“Well, it's time to get ready for bed,” said her mother. “Listen, we just wanted to see if you had changed your mind about the vacation. There's still
time.”

Libby sighed. “I'm sorry. I haven't.”

Her mother sighed, as well.

“All right, we'll figure it out somehow. So, anything exciting happen today, starsweetie?” her father asked.

Libby almost laughed. Anything exciting? Only the most thrilling thing in the history of Starland was all. She scoured her mind for some bit of information to share. “Well, I, um, tried
out for a rock band,” she said. “I played the keytar.”

“Oh, that's fun,” said her father. “Good luck.”

“I hope you make it,” her mother added. “All those years of classical piano lessons will finally pay off.”

“Thanks,” Libby said. She was suddenly seized with an odd feeling—a mixture of longing, excitement, and a little bit of fear. Part of her wanted to hop into a Starcar, head to
Radiant Hills, and have her parents tuck her into bed. The other was thrilled to be setting off on an unknown, mysterious, top secret adventure. “Mommy and Daddy?” she said.

“Yes,” her parents perked up. Libby never called them Mommy and Daddy anymore.

“I miss you,” she said. She had a sudden idea. “I know—I'm going to try to find out a way to combine the vacations. Maybe I can do some volunteering on Glamora-ora.
And maybe Aunt Kit could come, too?”

Her parents smiled widely, looking both relieved and happy. “That would be lovely, Libby,” her mother said gently. “Really lovely,” her father added.

Libby stopped under a lamppost outside the Little Dipper Dormitory door. “Good night,” she said softly.

“Good night, starsweetie,” her parents said together.

It had been really difficult to talk to her parents and not share the exciting, world-changing thing she was about to do. But she still felt better just seeing them and hearing their voices.

The Cosmic Transporter dropped her off at her door, and she gently placed her hand on the scanner. “Good evening, Libby,” the voice said in hushed tones reserved for after-dark
hours. She walked into the unlit room. Gemma was already asleep, and the starry curtain that divided the room was drawn. Libby got undressed and rooted around in her drawers to find her favorite
old pair of pajamas. They were a little snug, and her ankles and wrists stuck out. But they were warm and cozy and reminded her of home. Vaguely comforted, she nestled between the covers and
drifted off to sleep.

Libby stepped off
the Flash Vertical Mover and walked toward the hidden door that opened onto the private Star Darlings section of the Wishworld
Surveillance Deck. She pushed down her safety starglasses, then walked onto the deck. She was pleased to notice that her fellow Star Darlings were bathed in a pretty rosy glow through her pink
lenses.

“Hey, Libby!”

“Over here!”

“Way to go, Libby!”

Libby was immediately mobbed by her fellow Star Darlings, all wearing different-colored safety starglasses that matched their outfits. Apparently, being chosen for the next mission had turned
her into a momentary celebrity. She grinned at everyone, pleased that they had come to see her off.

Astra pushed to the front of the crowd. “How can you stand it?” she practically shouted. “You're about to set off on the biggest adventure of your life, and you're
as cool as a calaka!”

“Are calakas really cool?” wondered Vega. “I've always wondered where that expression came from.”

Libby shrugged. While she might have looked calm on the outside, she certainly didn't feel that way. It felt like a bunch of flutterfocuses were having a dance party in her stomach. She
glanced at the far end of the deck and saw the Star Wranglers trying to spot a shooting star heading their way. They would use their lassos to grab it; then they would attach Libby to it, and she
would be on her way to Wishworld to start her adventure.
Gulp.

Leona walked up to her, a grin on her face. “Any last words?” she joked. She threw an arm around Libby's neck. “Hopefully by the time you get back, they'll have
posted the results from the band tryouts.” She let go of Libby and tapped her elbows together three times for luck.

The what?
thought Libby.
Oh, that's right, the band tryouts.
That seemed so long ago and so inconsequential to Libby at the moment. “Yes, I hope so,” she
said. “Good luck.”

“Star salutations,” said Leona. She patted Libby on the back.

One by one, Libby's fellow Star Darlings hugged her, tapped their elbows, and offered unsolicited last-starmin advice. Libby smiled and thanked them all politely, but her mind was
elsewhere. She had a moment of panic when she thought she had forgotten her Wish Pendant, but there it was, around her neck, where she had carefully put it that morning. Wait, where was
her—Oh, there, her Star-Zap was in her pocket.
Relax,
she told herself.
Everything is going to be okay.

Finally, she made it to the end of the platform, where Lady Stella was waiting.

The headmistress gave Libby a warm smile and embrace, and Libby could feel her tension begin to ebb. Lady Cordial pushed through the crowd to hand Libby a pink backpack with a stuffed glittery
pink star attached to the zipper so she would blend in on Wishworld. Libby put her arms through the straps. She made a face. It felt kind of uncomfortable.

Sage pushed forward. “No, silly, you wear it on your back,” she said kindly. She removed the backpack and helped Libby put it on correctly. That was much better.

“Star salutations, Sage,” said Libby gratefully.

“Everything is going to be fine,” said Sage, putting a comforting hand on Libby's arm.

“Now, Libby,” Lady Stella said, “you are going to do a great job.” She pointed to Libby's necklace. “Just remember to keep an eye on your Wish Pendant. It has
enough wish energy inside for you to use your secret power. Use it wisely.”

“I will,” Libby said.

“You also need to watch the Countdown Clock on your Star-Zap. If the wish is not granted before the clock runs out of time, the orb will fade and the mission will fail. And no wish energy
will be collected.”

Libby nodded. “I understand.”

“We'll be monitoring your levels from here. If we think you may be in trouble, we'll send down backup.”

“Okay,” said Libby. She was hoping she wouldn't have to rely on anyone's help, but it was nice to know it was there if she did need it.

“The ride down will be fast. Don't forget to change your appearance before you touch down on Wishworld,” Lady Stella reminded her.

“I won't,” said Libby solemnly.

“Shooting star spotted!” called the Star Wrangler.

Libby felt numb as she watched the wrangler toss out a silver lasso of wish energy and expertly nab a shooting star. Luckily, everyone had on their safety starglasses, because it was so bright
it was almost blinding, throwing off a shower of sparks. “You're on!” the wrangler called, struggling to hold the star in place. Her heart nearly thumping out of her chest, Libby
stepped forward to the edge of the Surveillance Deck, where she was attached to the star.