The Night Sky Speaks

First Chapter

A Star, the brightest one in the sky that night, shined helplessly against the dark blanket of sky. It called to the darkening Moon who simply ignored. The Star reached out, trying desperately to get towards the Moon. The Moon did nothing but turn away. The Moon soon gave a sudden change of emotion when the Star cried out.

“Moon, please answer me! Please don’t go!”

The Moon turned to stare at the Star. “I’m sorry. It must be this way…” She breathed helplessly. 

As the last sliver of light passed off of the Moon, it closed its eyes and let the darkness of a New Moon blanket over it. 

“No! Moon!”

The Star used all its might to reach the Moon, but failed as the sky shifted him further. The Star began to cry. He turned away miserably, hoping the New Moon wouldn’t last long.

The Moon let out a sinister chuckle as a line of Sunlight gave her a slim smiling shape. The Sun gazed at her sleepily before turning away to finish setting over the horizon. He let out a quiet and deep-voiced yawn, unaware of what the brightest Star and New Moon were up to above him. 

Star tried not to look in Moon’s direction. He curled into a ball and sobbed, worrying for the other stars. They twinkled on their own for a minute before one spotted Star sobbing. It signalled to the others to follow as it approached Star. It gave an encouraging sparkle to cheer Star up. He tried to seem like he was ignoring. The rest of the following stars huddled around him comfortably to squeeze him in a group hug. Star finally spoke up. “I miss Full Moon already…”

He watched Moon lower slowly and before he knew it, he was in a deep sleep.

When he awoke, his surroundings were shadowing with a dim light emitting from Sun. Star was the only one that could wake while Sun was too. That is except for Moon. He smiled to Sun who waved dreamily back. He rubbed his eyes and gazed at the navy blue sky. He heard a quiet cackle from nearby. It was New Moon. He glanced around frantically, trying to find the other Stars that had slept with him. He barred his teeth and hissed.

“Where are they!?” He demanded answer.

New Moon refused. She simply grinned mischievously and pretended not to know what Bright Star meant. “Oh, I have no idea what you mean, Starry!”

“Don’t call me that! You know who I want!”

“You mean these?” New Moon giggled, grasping a small, terrified Star in her hand. The Star struggled and cried. Bright Star narrowed his eyes.

“Yes… them…” He whispered.

“Oh, I’ll hand ‘em over! If that’s what you want.”

“Hang on, what? You’re just gonna give the Stars back?”

“For a price.”

“Of course.” Bright Star rolled his eyes. “What do you want?”

New Moon grinned and her pupils shrank. She remained silent. 

Bright Star raised a brow. “So…?”

New Moon didn’t say a word. Her grin widened.

Bright Star became agitated. “Hurry up and tell me! What do you want?”

Nothing.

Bright Star squinted. He wished to yell, but remained silent.

They stared at each other before New Moon said in an unexpectedly deep growl.

“You.”

Second Chapter

Bright Star wasn’t thinking straight when she had said that, he was focused on how she had made such a voice.

“How’d you…”

“Use that voice?” New Moon interrupted. “The Dark Side of the Moon is eternal!” She roared using the demonic expression again.

Star froze. For as long as he had lived in the sky, he had never heard New Moon use that voice. New Moon leaned in on him.

“So? Is it a deal then…?” She snickered.

Bright Star pondered. “Depends on what you mean by ‘me’.” He replied.

“What else could I possibly mean, Starry?”

“Again, don’t call me that.” Bright Star looked New Moon dead in the eyes.

New Moon rolled her eyes. “Ugh, I can’t have any fun, can I?”

Bright Star glanced to the rest of the worried Stars. He nodded determinedly. He held out his hand, weary of what may come next. New Moon let out a small chuckle as she reached for Bright Star’s hand. Her scarlet eyes flashed with triumph as her sharp grin spread wider. 

Bright Star lowered his arm casually and stared. He blinked slowly without making a sound. New Moon frowned.

“What?” She hissed.

Bright Star remained quiet.

“What’s the hold up? Just shake my hand!”

Nothing.

“Speak up!” New Moon used her deep voice again.

He refused to answer. Their eyes were locked together, unable to break contact.

New Moon became frustrated, then she paused. “You little…” She snarled, having enough of her own medicine. “Don’t gimme that look!” She roared as Bright Star smirked. 

She lurched forward and gripped Bright Star’s hand, pulling it forward forcefully. Bright Star was shocked. The glowing star shape on his chest began to flicker. New Moon squeezed his hand as she shook it aggressively. Bright Star felt drowsy and weak. When New Moon finally let go, Bright Star looked at his hand. It was a duller yellow than it usually was. He stared at New Moon.

“What in the solar system did you do to me!?” He cried.

“Here. You can have your kids back.” New Moon ignored Star.

“They’re not-!” Bright Star paused as tears began to build up in his eyes. “Why do you keep teasing me like this…? What have you done?”

New Moon raised a brow as she set the small Stars free. “What have I done…?” She pretended to think for a moment. “What I’ve been wanting to do since the dawn of time!” She snarled in her deep voice.

There was silence.

“So you got what you want…” Bright Star sulked. “Now leave me alone!” He demanded, his eyes flashing with anger. He began to feel light-headed and tired. He rubbed his eyes and groaned. “What… the…?”

The other Stars immediately came to him. They whimpered and twinkled worriedly. New Moon scoffed and turned away, smirking as she left.

Bright Star ran his duller hand over one of the Little Stars. It was completely numb. He would be scared, but he was too drowsy to care at all. He grumbled as he lay down with the Little Stars. He wished desperately to fall asleep and wake the next night, but dawn was far away. He was confused, tired, worried and hopeless all at the same time. 

As time passed, Star didn’t feel any better. The Little Stars had had to leave as they needed to light up their own part of the sky. Without them Bright Star felt worthless and lost. He was about to close his eyes and think for a moment about what could possibly be happening, when he noticed a dim light from the East. The Sun was beginning to rise. Star was deeply relieved. He could finally rest. He checked his hand once more and looked at sun before drifting off into a deep sleep.

Bright Star was awoken by a tap on his shoulder and an anxious hiss.

“Star! Wake up, you’re late!”

“Late to what…?” Star answered drowsily as his eyes slowly but surely blinked open.

“Your shift…! Have you forgotten? It’s night already!”

It was Moon speaking to him.

“Moon…? Oh, right!” Star had just realised that he had slept in too long and was late to shine. “Do you think Earth would notice…?”

Moon smiled. “Probably not. What’s one Star gonna change? They’ve got a whole sky of ‘em…!”

“But I’m the brightest. Or… I was…” Star tilted his head as he noticed that something was off.

“Yeah but-“ Moon saw that Bright Star looked confused. “Star…? You okay?”

“Moon, weren’t you New just last night…? How are you Crescent already? You should be a sliver.” He asked groggily.

“Hang on-! Wasn’t I?” Crescent Moon looked at herself. “I was! How in the Solar System am I Crescent now?”

Both were now extremely baffled.