It was a quiet night in stargazing meadow. The only sounds of life present were the sounds of nature, crickets, fireflies and the occasional shouts of John when his instructor wacks his stick at the back of his head.
"Again!!" Wrinkler shouted and immediately John seized his shouting, muffled his cries and with a shaky voice started the chant.
"Star Light, Star Bright, the first star I see tonight- Aaagh!!" The stick landed on his head again.
"Oh come on!! You make it seem like I enjoy doing this." Wrinkler said, not even trying to hide his laugh.
"What did I even do wrong?" John asked, forgetting all courtesy speaking to his supervisor and superior.
"I kept calm, my voice was sombre, I said the line correctly, what did I do?"
"It's what you didn't do that was the problem." Wrinkler said laughing.
"Your heart wasn't sincere. You were trying to force the process, you weren't at peace."
"It's hard to be at peace when your head is aching from being hit."
"That's in the past." Wrinkler said, waving off the excuse nonchalantly.
"It still hurts!"
"Ah yes, the past can hurt.. but you can either run from it, or embrace it."
Immediately, the wrinkler swung the stick aiming for his head but John dodged out of the way, straight into the direction of the other hidden stick that was swung with his other hand.
"Actually, I am enjoying this a bit." Wrinkler said laughing as John held his head in his arms.
That was the last straw, John stood up, rage and embarrassment clouded his vision and he attacked the wrinkler.
Wrinkler was not perturbed though, he dropped the sticks he had used to torment John and stood waiting for the challenge.
The battle was over in the blink of an eye.
John, with the better build and height was on the floor, Wrinkler's foot on his windpipe. He was glowing faintly, a white misty outline surrounded his skin.
"Had enough fun?" His voice echoed with a deep bass that couldn't be coming out from his small body.
Wrinkler let up his foot a little bit to allow John speak
"I yield."
"Good. I'll leave you for now. I'll be back in an hour." He left, walking in the direction of the hut near the edge of the meadow.
John didn't stand up, his mind tried to understand what had happened.
"It is quite unbelievable." John started at the voice.
He sat up, looking around for its source.
"That has to be the most embarrassing fight I have ever seen." The voice said again.
"He's just a baby star though, what made you think he'll be able to beat Wrinkly?" Another voice asked.
"That didn't stop you from accepting the bet and taking the winnings Helga." Another voice joined the conversation.
"Chrome, he had a chance to win. Look at his size and all." The first voice told the third.
"Oh come off it Dip, you just gave away your years to Helga. He's light years from beating Wrinkler like this." The third voice replied back, laughing.
John was confused at this conversation. He stood up and looked around, he was the only one here for as far as he could see. Nothing else was on this meadow, only him and the stars.
He looked up again, there were three stars that seemed brighter than usual.
"Are you talking about me?" John shouted to the sky.
Silence. He looked at the stars and began to fear if the numerous hits on the head by Wrinkler had started to take their toll.
"You heard that. It seems he can hear us." The first voice said again.
"I heard nothing."
"Oh common Chrome, he clearly heard us and spoke back."
John heard them and spoke again.
"Erm.. Chrome?!"
"Ahh ahh. He called your name."
"This is a surprise." A white humanoid form was sitting on the grass looking at John. He had no face or details but yet John could feel the gaze of this figure.
"Are you Chrome?" John asked, afraid that what he was witnessing was all in his head.
"Yes, I am." His voice boomed, sounding more imposing and heavenly.
"And those are Dip and Helga." He said pointing to the blinking stars.
John looked at them, instead of the three he had counted before now they were two.
"Dip and Helga?" John called out and to his shock those two stars vanished.
"Y'see, I knew he was special!" Another voice came from the ground.
John was surrounded by three humanoid figures.
One looked roughly feminine, yet still masculine. Dip, he was distinguishable because he shined the brightest and seemed most full of energy. Then Chrome, he just sat there, looking.
"You guys are stars!" John exclaimed.
"Seems a bit slow this one." Helga spoke, her voice a sweet sound like a harp.
"He heard and summoned three stars in one night. Even your precious wrinkly couldn't stay on his feet after summoning you. Cut the kid some slack."
I decided I liked Dip, Helga clearly had a preference for Wrinkler, Chrome seemed stoic.
"So what next?" Chrome asked. They all turned to me.
"What next?" I asked back.
"If you can't do it, it'll be even harder to summon us next time."
"I for one wouldn't answer." Helga said.
"How can you even answer after being bonded with another?" Dip asked her.
"How can a young star summon three of us at once." He's an anomaly Chrome said, his voice sounding more dangerous.
"I tend to like anomalies, they're more fun." Dip replied.
"You both can go. I'll take him." He declared.
"So quick after losing your third bond?" Helga asked, her voice condescending.
"He was weak, and to be honest quite annoying. I like this one."
"It's your cross to carry." Chrome said before dissolving into fine mist.
Helga left with nothing but a humph to help voice out her discontent.
It was only me and Dip.
"What just happened?" I asked worriedly.
"I just claimed you as mine, the same way Helga claimed wrinkles as hers."
"Why?" I asked
"I couldn't even say the stargazing phrase."
"I don't care for such." He said immediately.
"I've seen a stargazer who was a stammerer, and one who couldn't even speak. Both excellent kids, wonderful fighters and a sense of humor to die for."
"I chose you because I feel you'd be able to keep me amused before you eventually die in battle, or in sleep or whatever way the cold hands of death decides to claim you."
He raised up my arms, inspecting me.
The more we talked, I realized more details of his being came to light.
I could now see his mouth moving, smiling and frowning while inspecting different areas of my body.
"You seem more or less average in size and muscles."
"Yet muscles don't necessarily make a good fighter." He said, hitting my back.
It felt weird as to how mist could be solid.
I looked down and I saw my hands were glowing.
"I just infused you with some Star Light. Your first test starts now."
He pointed at the direction of the hut.
The starlight aided my vision and I could see Wrinkler running out.
"What do you say to another round on more equal grounds?" Dip smiled as he pushed me towards the approaching Star Master.
He shouted as he was dissolving back.
"Remember Kid, amuse me."
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