In The Star's Light

In The Stars' Light
Chapter Two: When Time Moves On





The wind gently blew across the blue grass that covered the rounded bouncing hills of the Starlight Kingdom, kissed gently by the light of the stars above. The wind was cool and refreshing, it carried on it the sweet scent of the fruit growing on the trees that decorated the dirt road that lay at the gate of the castle town. Yards from the gate, a small black and purple dot floated up from nowhere carrying with it a thicker than normal air. The lone dot was met by another then another and soon there were several of them swirling in a circle; the circle began to gain its own glow and twisted itself about until it formed a sort of door made of the strange glowing black and purple substance. From the door stepped a man unlike any of the knights of Starlight Castle. Slowly, deep crimson eyes opened and slowly shifted toward the gate and the sign just below. A white gloved hand rose to adjust a monocle, the black sleeve where the gloved hand ended shifted just slightly revealing the soft pale skin of what appeared to be a human beneath it. Though as the hand returned to his side, it did lightly bump a thick ring over the mouth and nose of the man, hiding his other facial features so only his eyes stood out. The hand rested at the man's side where the ring connected into a very odd black jacket. It was closed only from his sternum up, created the ring with its collar, but the rest was pulled back as a sort of cape. With ease, the man began to move along the grass toward the sign, he was inches off the ground! He floated easily towards the sign and stopped once more to read it carefully. “The kingdom of Starlight...” He spoke in a deeper baritone, velvet and soft but so deep and powerful.
“I only hope I am not too late.” His voice carried urgency, worry, and concern. More than anything, however, it carried fate.
The man flew quickly into the castle town and was surprised to see a more varied mix than many other Kingdoms, he saw humans yes, but there were the tundra dwelling elven folk known as the Sigiglyphs as well. He could see those who had turned their backs on him and the other spirits, the mutated horned people known as Ogres. He could see the dwellers of the under known as Shades at the markets and streets. Slowly the crimson, well lit eyes of the man shifted along the ground until he found yet another oddity, the dwarven people from the mountains, the short and powerful men who had helped rebuild the Asprocella Kingdom, were in the Starlight Kingdom as well, purchasing tools for their work. “Much has changed since my last visit...” The man spoke again, this time to himself.
He soon found himself being noticed when he started to pass the market himself. “Hello strange one! Come, see my wares! We have many things! Many unique and mysterious things!”
“No, come check dis out! We gots the sweetest deals mistah!! Like honey sweet!” Came another vendor.
“Na'h hol' on Sugah! Ya'll should bring that pretty little blue head of ya'lls over he'a! Why not get ya'll self a nice big hug from Lil' Miss Beverly and find ya'lls self some souvenirs!”
The floating man politely declined their offers, how unusual for these people to call to him. Perhaps he was not recognized due to images of him being paintings and never photos? Or perhaps they didn't know who he was at all. He took no time to debate the query. He flew quickly to the gate of the castle where several knights stood guard. “Hault. This is the Castle of Princess Starlette D'Tierre! State your name stranger, For I have never seen you in town nor visit here before. Slowly the man looked up, his red eyes piercing the knight's tough exterior in a simple stare. The knightly suddenly bowed, his fellow knights confused by his actions.
“P-Please, my lord! A thousand pardons! I-I didn't recognize you great one!” The other knights stared at their fellow soldier confused.
“What are you doing? My lord? Begging his pardon? Have you gone daft? You're as bonkers as-” e was suddenly silent as his eyes fell on the strnge man's own.
“O-Open the gate! The Spirit of the Stars has arrived! Open the gate for The Spirit of Reality, for The Count!” Another yelled. They had finally figured it out. He was indeed The Count, The Spirit of the stars who ruled over time and space.
The Count floated gently over the castle grounds, his boots never touching a single blade of the perfectly kept cobalt blue grass. He the  flew past servants who watered glorious Gold Bells, and past bushes of multicolored roses. In flew The Count, entering the grand front doors of the castle, the great care taken into it showing in the doors red paint and gloss. The Count was met by knights and advisers of the Princess. They greeted him with bows and How do you do's. Some were even bold enough to greet him face to face, with smiles and extended hands as though they were long time friends. The Count did not ignore them, he bowed in return and greeted them with his eyes, not his hands. At last he met the final adviser, a crass man who merely scoffed and crossed his arms. The Count was not offended, however. He was a Spirit of the Stars, many praised his kind as gods, other prayed to them for help and wishes, and of course some hated some member of the Spirits and loved others.
The Count entered a large room where a set of tables were set with candles. Knights stood, ready and able for combat, and along the red carpet a path was made to a set of steps. Three in total. The red rug over the steps flowed like a river of hearts to the throne, where the one he sought awaited him. In her throne, sitting quietly was the princess, the current ruler of the Starlight Kingdom. Her eyes opened slowly to reveal a pair of soft blue eyes that changed slowly into bright green then again in a pastel yellow. Her eyes flashed every color imaginable from light brown to a stone gray. Her bright beautiful red hair seemed to go on forever, it only stopped at her knees, but the natural springy curls meant it was even longer than that! She stood slowly and revealed her magnificent dress. It was a blue like no other and within it was something none could explain. Her royal dress was a moving, living even, view of the cosmos. Stars sparkled, celestial objects flew and the universe itself appeared on the dress of her royal highness. The Count bowed, but did not kneel as the princess approached him. He was met with a curtsey and a smile of pearly white teeth that matched perfectly with the soft pale skin of the girl before him.
“Oh Count, what brings you here to S-Starlight?” Her soft, sweet voice was shy, unsure, naïve. It was the voice of innocence.
“Starlette D'Tierre. It has been a long time...” He spoke calmly, genuinely. “I am afraid my arrival has purpose this day, I am not here for a mere visit.”
“I s-see,” the shy princess managed to look up to the spirit. “Come, let us go to the conference hall.” Star was ready to show him the way, but the man she called her friend shook his head.
“We must go to the library. It is there I can deliver my message and make sense of it for you.” The Count rose slowly off the ground and held his hand up with his middle finger over his thumb.
Snap! With a single sound, the world around Star shifted and rotated slowly, blending throne room with library first, then dividing again until the library was all that was left. She stared quietly before falling into a chair, placed by The Count himself. He knew his form of teleportation was unique. Some he had teleported had died simply because of shock. But those who were warned usually just had a small jolt and needed a seat. Star sighed as air once more shot into her lungs and her eyes relaxed again. Still, The Count could remember others who took the teleportation easily. It did remind im how strong Starlette had become since his early visits. With an unseen force, Starlette was brought to a table where a few books sat. The Count flew to the other side of the table and waved a hand over the books, springing them up with a purple aura. He flipped the pages in each book quickly until they displayed a strange message. As Star recovered, she stared into the books, reading passages as The Count tunred the page. How marvelous his power over ether was, it was so perfect, but what could you expect from one of the Spirits of The Stars? Of those who served the creator directly? Of the servants of Chronoctos himself?
“Count... I-I'm afraid...” Star muttered as she read.
“Do not be. I have seen what is to come.” He landed with a soft click of his boots. “Starlette, the  Lord High Lord of The Phantoms will come for you. But heroes will stand against him. Two are on our world. Two, however, you must find.”
Find? The Count explained to Star of another world. He told her of buildings, cars, and crime. Of world wars, hope, and religion. He told her the story of earth.
“So in that world, I will find them?” Star asked shakily, “I-I see... I'll begin right away.”
The Count nodded to her before placing a hand on her head gently. Star's eyes suddenly went blank and her mouth gaped slightly, she was in a trance it seemed but The Count remained quiet. As she sat there, her eyes seemed to flash extremely slow, her colors now obvious when they changed color. He pulled his hand from her and watched as the princess' senses came to her again. “I have given you a start... But the rest is up to you.”