Piper's Perfect Dream by Ahmet Zappa Read Free Book Online Page B

Being upside down would bring a new angle, a different way of looking at the world.
    But those thoughts were fleeting, too. Piper’s focus narrowed to one vision: riding a shooting star to Wishworld.
    In the Star Darlings’ Wish-Cavern, a deeply magical place underground, the glass ceiling looked out on the dazzling night sky. Piper could make out the planet Trilight, its three circling moons casting yellow, blue, and red light.
    Everyone was silent as they gathered around the grassy platform. Each time, the ceremony happened a little differently.
How will it be for me?
Piper wondered.
    Trilight’s moons beamed three different-colored rays directly into the cavern. They joined together just above the platform to create one startlingly white light. The platform opened silently and a Wish Orb floated into the spotlight.
    To Piper, it seemed the orb glowed brighter than any she’d seen before. It reflected all the colors of the rainbow as it spun around the Star Darlings, swooping in front of each one. Piper closed her eyes, its image burned in her mind. She knew when her eyes opened, the orb would be directly in front of her, waiting.
    And it was.
    â€œThe Wish Orb has chosen,” Lady Stella announced. “Congratulations, Piper.”

Piper slept a deep dreamless sleep that night. She woke up late, feeling refreshed. She had special permission to skip classes. So she took her time choosing Wishling clothes from her Wishworld Outfit Selector. Then she went for a long, leisurely hover-canoe ride around the Serenity Islands. While she leaned back in her seat and let the boat drift, her Star-Zap buzzed. A picture flashed on-screen: her mother. She always knew when something big was happening in Piper’s life.
    Piper wished she could confide in her mother, tell her everything about the Star Darlings and their missions. For now, though, she had to keep it all inside.
    â€œHello, Mom,” Piper said as a hologram of her mother appeared. She wore loose, flowing clothes and sat with her legs crossed on a colorful starmat.
    â€œHello, Pippy,” her mom replied. “I had a starmazing dream about you last night….” Her mother spoke about travel and journeys, and Piper nodded at every sentence. By the time she finished the holo-call, lights were flashing in Halo Hall, indicating regular classes were over. Star Darlings class wasn’t being held. Instead, everyone was meeting on the Wishworld Surveillance Deck—the takeoff spot for Wishworld—to wish her well.
    â€œHi, Piper,” Astra said in a low voice as she and Piper arrived at the Flash Vertical Mover at the same time. “It’s a big—”
    â€œStarday for me, isn’t it? Yes!” Piper nodded quickly as more Star Darlings joined them.
    Lady Stella, along with Lady Cordial, was already waiting on the deck. She beckoned Piper closer. “The Star Wranglers are still monitoring the skies,” she explained. She smiled warmly at Piper. “You’ll be on the first star they—”
    â€œCatch,” finished Piper.
    Lady Stella gave her a funny look. “Is everything okay, Piper? It seems—”
    â€œI’ve been interrupting a lot lately.” Piper nodded. “Everything’s fine,” said Piper. She smiled at the headmistress. “Any last-minute advice?”
    Piper managed to hold her tongue while Lady Stella ticked off some items: “Keep checking energy levels on your Wish Pendant. While you should be aware of time passing, don’t rush through wish identification. Use your emotions. And be careful not to lose anything.”
    With that, Lady Cordial passed Piper her special backpack and dangling keychain. “Y-y-y-y-yes,” she added. “Keep these items close by at all t-t-t-times.”
    That reminded Piper: she wanted to place some special things of her own in the backpack: two sleep masks and her serenity stone. Who knew what would happen to