Starlight Sisters
Part Nine- Rivalry’s End
Christie was not intimidated by
Nectra’s presence, but she was concerned about the strange, winged lobster-demons
that hovered over her sisters. She knew she would have to be clever if she
wanted to defeat Nectra and save Twinklette and Selene unharmed. Nectra’s new
demon form did not scare Christie, but she knew the demon that tormented her
would be a greater threat than the Ghost of Despair. Although the ghost was
older and therefore theoretically more powerful, Nectra was Christie’s personal
demon. Nectra having Christie’s sisters captive gave the demon a personal
advantage over the Dream Queen the Ghost of Despair lacked. Thus Nectra was
currently more powerful against Christie Starlight than the Ghost of Despair
had been.
Nectra was a personal demon to
Christie ever since the death of her sister Sunny, but now the Dream Queen was
ready to settle the score. She had come a long way since that tragic day; she
had inspired countless individuals throughout the Metroscapes with her music,
and she had made new friends and another adopted sister. Beyond this, she had
the Metal Giant’s suit and enhanced powers beyond any she had before. Christie
Starlight was more prepared than ever to face the demon.
“You have troubled me too long
Nectra,” Christie shouted back at the demon, “Now prepare to die!” The Dream
Queen then sent a blast of energy from her power wand at her foe. Nectra evaded
the attack by gliding into the air, but Christie expected this and glided up
after her using the powers her suit. Nectra was surprised by Christie’s ability
to do this, and Christie landed a powerful blow with her wand that sent Nectra
plummeting to the ground. Christie then swiftly flew down onto her opponent and
planted her feet into Nectra’s back. The demon let out a shout of pain and
surprise, but then sent Christie sailing backward with a wave of fierce hellish
energy. She then sent her two lobster-shaped demons to attack the Dream Queen.
Christie defended herself against these two foes easily, but when Nectra
attacked her as well she was steadily overcome. Though the Dream Queen’s power
was formidable with her new suit, a three-on-one battle against Nectra and her
demonic spirits was too much even for Christie Starlight. The conflict
ultimately led to the two lobster-demons holding Christie in their massive
claws while Nectra struck her repeatedly. Christie’s suit offered her much
defense against the attacks, but each successive blow from Nectra, and the grip
of her agents, slowly wore the defenses down and Christie grew weary. Nectra
pulled the wand from Christie’s hand and threw it aside, and then grabbed her
opponent by the throat and hovered in the air with her. Christie was now
helpless in Nectra’s grasp. The demon then threw Christie down into the ground
with a vicious choke-slam that left the Dream Queen lying prone. Nectra stood
above Christie and grinned broadly.
“It is clear which of us is greater
Christie Starlight; there is nothing you can do,” Nectra said with the smugness
that demons always had after defeating a victim. “Now surrender to me. Let me
take possession of you. I am impressed with your new abilities. Together we
will be an unstoppable power. Not only that, your sisters will be set free. I
have no need to trouble or harm them once I have you under my control. Come now;
let this misery of yours end once and for all. It will be well worth your while
in the long run.”
With much effort, Christie managed
so sit up. Though she was in great pain, she propped herself onto her knees.
She would have tried to stand up, but she was still wearied by Nectra’s
attacks. The Dream Queen fell forward onto her hands and knees in front of the
demon. Nectra stood tall and stretched out her wings. Christie crawled forward
to Nectra.
“It looks like you have won
Nectra,” said the Dream Queen. “I don’t think I can fight you anymore. But just
promise me that if I do what you ask my sisters will be safe. That’s all I want
or care about. Do whatever you will to me just don’t harm them. In fact, if you
could protect them I will be very grateful. I cannot stand to see them harmed.
At least this way I will know that I did what I could for them. Please do this
for me.” At this point the Dream Queen’s eyes watered and tears fell from her
face onto the feet of the demon she was bowing in front of. Nectra’s feeling of
triumph was exhilarating to her. Of course she needed to gloat over her
victory.
“You should have known you had no
chance of resisting me Christie Starlight,” said Nectra, “I said I would
release your sisters after your surrender and I will do so. Beyond that I don’t
care about them. I will not go out of my way to defend or help them after I
have you. But if you refuse to surrender your soul to me I will kill you and
them too. Declare that your soul is now mine so we can get this over with. I
want those new powers of yours. Give me your soul, do it now!”
“Please let me at least say goodbye
to them first,” sobbed Christie, “Let me look at them one last time. Please let
me have that much.”
“You’re trying my patience Dream
Queen!” barked Nectra, “As much as I enjoy your groveling I want to have your
soul as I deserve. I hate seeing that type of sentimental nonsense of you
humans!”
Christie dropped at Nectra’s feet
and kissed them in supplication before crawling off to her sisters. Although
Nectra’s power was great and Christie was wearied by the struggle, the Dream
Queen’s power was not entirely spent. One thing Nectra did not quite understand
was that because Christie was an entertainer, she was also a very convincing
actress when she wanted to be. Although the study of demons was outlawed in
Mertoscape regions, most people found ways to obtain information on them
anyway. Christie knew demons had massive egos that could be exploited by a
clever individual. Christie knew her power was evenly matched with Nectra’s,
and so she used a strategy of flattery to get the demon off her guard. It
worked well for the Dream Queen. As Christie was placating Nectra with her
pleas she was also steadily recovering energy (her suit helped with this).
Christie observed where her power
wand had fallen. In a sudden dash she leapt from the ground and knocked Nectra
back with a powerful kick. She then grabbed her power wand and blasted Nectra
with an intense ray of energy that weakened the demon severely. The
lobster-demons attacked the Dream Queen, but she dealt them both a lethal
strike with the star at the end of her wand. The two creatures fell lifeless
after Christie’s attack.
Now Christie made her final effort
to defeat Nectra. Using the star at the top of her wand as a blade she cut the
wings off the demon and gabbed Nectra by her hair. Pulling the demon to her
knees while still gripping her by the hair, Christie said to Nectra, “Be gone
at last you wretched fiend!” She then swung her wand and severed the head from
the demon with the star tip. She threw Nectra’s head onto the ground and
stomped on it, crushing it into a pile of dust. Nectra’s body burst into flames
where it laid. Christie went to Twinklette and Selene, who were starting to wake
because the demon’s spell wore off. Christie had a heartfelt reunion with her
sisters. She had saved them at last.
“Thank you so much Christie, you
saved us!” exclaimed Twinklette as she hugged Christie tightly. “You are the
greatest sister ever, I love you so much!” Tears lined the Dream Queen’s eyes
as she heard this. An overwhelming feeling of joy filled Christie. She felt
happier in that instant than she had ever since the passing of Sunny. In fact,
the feeling was so strong that a shining bright light seemed to surround the
three Starlight sisters. Christie noticed this, and from the light she saw a
small figure rise up into the air. To her it looked like a little child who had
a happy face. The glowing figure looked at Christie and waved before it
disappeared. Christie wasn’t sure what it was. She wondered if it was the
spirit of her sister Sunny appearing to her one last time, or if it was some kind
of protective angel that helped her in her struggle against the demon. She was unsure,
but at that moment she did not care. She was reunited with her sisters and that
was all that mattered.
Christie, Selene, and Twinklette
celebrated as Geb Growth joined them, now with his grey rabbit suit and several
Bitties from the Vegetable Patch. “I was looking for you Christie,” said Geb, “We
were very worried about you! I saw some strange ray of light appear that led us
here. Are you okay?”
“Thank you Geb,” answered Christie,
“I couldn’t be better!”
“Oh this is wonderful!” shouted one
of the Bitties who had the shape of a potato; “We’re going to have lobster for
dinner tonight!” This caused everyone to laugh as the Bitties began dissecting
and taking meat from the fallen giant lobsters of Nectra. Christie defeated her
demon at last. She was now a very powerful entity. But with this new power
would also come new challenges, for the authorities of Main City did not like
powerful people emerging in their Metroscapes. But for time being, Christie
happily celebrated with her sisters and their friends.
Part Ten- The Burden of Success
After celebrating Christie’s
victory, the three Starlight sisters went to the Vegetable Patch and thanked
Cyber Wurko and Geb Growth for their help. The Metal Giant made Twinklette a
suit with small butterfly wings on the back, which would allow her to glide
through the air if she wished. He also made her a small power wand for her own
defense if she and Christie ever got separated again. Selene was very wary of
using power wands or firearms of any kind, but the Metal Giant still made her a
silver dress that would protect her from any attacks from enemies or monsters.
After this reunion the Starlight sisters decided to go back to Christie’s home
in Main City. If the Dream Queen stayed away much longer her absence would be
noticed. They parted ways with Geb and Cyber Wurko and went back to their home
in the Metroscape.
It was a very short time after
Christie returned to her entertainment profession that she received a message
from the Protectorate Society. They had gotten news of her impressive victory
over the demon Nectra and wanted her to be a Protectorate, which were a class
of skilled defenders who guarded the regions known as Bastions. The
Protectorate Society had an uneasy agreement with the Caretaking Body that they
would only look out for the secluded Bastions, and not interfere with
activities in the Metroscapes. Christie admired the work of the Protectorates,
and she knew that the Bastions had been encountering trouble in recent times.
Many of those protected places were vanishing. Christie replied to the message
and stated that she did not wish to leave her profession as a musical
performer, but that she would help the Protectorate Society as a part-time
agent if that were acceptable to them. The Society agreed and Christie
Starlight became one of the much-valued Protectorates. She was one of the most
effective they ever had. One of her assignments for the Society involved
helping a group of small duckling-children escape from a bastion that was
invaded by Grandies and set on fire. Christie felt very badly for the children,
but was happy she could help bring them to safety. To complete this assignment
she collaborated with a famous arms dealer known as Mr. One, who was greatly
disliked by the Caretaking Body. Nevertheless Christie and Mr. One managed to
bring the endangered children to safety, but Christie’s troubles in Main City
were not over. Nectra was defeated, but there were other persons who had their
eyes set on the Dream Queen and resented her continued success.
The Caretaking Body observed
Christie’s growing influence and success in Main City, but the most powerful
members of that governmental group did not view the Dream Queen as a threat.
Rather, they liked having her as an entertainer in Main City because her
popularity and performances would help keep the populace of Main City docile
and minimally content, thus making their own control of the Metroscape easier.
However, Mr. Spiderhat hated the Dream Queen and her immense popularity.
The Grandie spider was the
unofficial agent of the Caretaking Body in Main City and had the most popular
show on the Teleweb known as The Grand
Coliseum. This show was broadcast from Mr. Spiderhat’s arena of the same
name in which opponents fought one another in extreme combat. The major
competitor to the show’s popularity was the Dream Queen’s performances. Mr.
Spiderhat knew he could draw high ratings for his show if he could get Christie
Starlight to compete in his Grand Coliseum, and if he could cause her to be defeated
it would be even better for him. Mr. Spiderhat wanted nothing more than to
break the Dream Queen, destroy her popularity, and thus secure his role as
primary entertainer in Main City.
Mr. Spiderhat’s opportunity to undo
the Dream Queen came one day as a result of a final act from the Ghost of
Despair before he fled from the Dream Queen. The ghost had slipped some of Geb
Growth’s counterfeit Cabbage into the pockets of the unconscious Twinklette
before he fled the scene and left Christie to Nectra. Twinklette eventually
found these Cabbage leaves and wanted to use them to buy her beloved sisters
each a present in Main City. However, when the little girl tried to use the
leaves and the fraud was discovered, Twinklette was arrested by the Main
Patrol. Christie rushed to her sister’s defense at once. By that time Mr.
Spiderhat received permission from the Caretaking Body to strike a deal with
anyone caught breaking the law. Twinklette was brought to the Grand Coliseum
not to compete in one of the brutal contests, but as a hostage and bait for the
Grandie spider to take advantage of Christie Starlight at last.
The Main Patrol told Christie she
must report to the Grand Coliseum and meet with Mr. Spiderhat to discuss a deal
for Twinklette’s release. Selene wanted to go with her, but the Main Patrol
stated that only the Dream Queen would be granted access to the office of the
Coliseum’s owner. Selene wished Christie good luck and told her to be careful.
“You saved our sister once before Christie,” said Selene, “I know you’ll find a
way to do it again. I have faith in you. Twinklette and I both love you so
much. Let your love for Twinklette empower you to fight against this Grandie
like you fought against Nectra and her demons for us. But
please be careful Christie. Whatever you do, don’t agree to fight in one of
those obscene contests that spider holds. He finds ways to hurt or even kill
people in that Coliseum. Promise me you won’t compete in there!”
“Selene you know I’ll do whatever
it takes to set Twinklette free,” answered Christie, “I know getting me to
fight in his arena is what the spider is going to try to do. If I have to do
that for Twinklette I will. She must be so scared. Her parents were taken into
that dreadful arena by that disgusting arachnid, and now she is there too. I
can’t bear the thought of it.”
Christie went to the Grand Coliseum
and was taken into a large room that was Mr. Spiderhat’s office. The Grandie
spider spoke with a deep hissing voice in person that was different from the
bombastic announcer voice he used while broadcasting his show. “At last we meet
Christie Starlight,” said the Grandie spider, “I have been waiting to meet with
you.”
“Where is Twinklette?” said
Christie, “I want to see my sister.”
Mr. Spiderhat had Twinklette
brought into the office, where she ran to Christie and embraced her tightly.
The girl began weeping instantly. “My parents are gone Christie!” sobbed
Twinklette, “Just like Sparklette they’re gone. I lost them all. Christie I
can’t lose you too! They didn’t hurt me in here; I’ll be fine, just save
yourself and Selene. Don’t worry about me!”
“Listen to me Twinklette,” said
Christie softly but with conviction, “I will get you out of here. Whatever it
takes I will bring you back home. This is only temporary. Someone tricked us
with those fake Cabbage leaves, but I will settle the score. I saved you once
before sweetheart, and I will do it again.”
“That’s the spirit!” said Mr.
Spiderhat, “You will certainly have a chance to win the freedom of your sister.
I was given permission from the Caretaking Body to generously offer anyone
convicted of a crime to win a pardon by competing here in the Grand Coliseum.
Of course, Twinklette is too young to compete, but you can compete on her
behalf as her representative Ms. Starlight! Now, wouldn’t the Dream Queen
competing in the Grand Coliseum be a spectacular event! I’m sure all your fans
would love it!”
Christie had to exert a great deal
of self-control to keep her anger toward the great spider in check. If she
wanted to, she could have attacked and possibly even destroyed the Grandie
right then and there. But she knew that if she did such a thing the Caretaking
Body would retaliate in a brutal fashion and the result would endanger
Twinklette and Selene as well as herself.
“Very well spider,” replied
Christie, “I will fight someone in your arena for Twinklette’s safety and
freedom, but I insist that it be a one-on-one competition, and not a fight to
the death.”
“That sounds splendid!” said Mr.
Spiderhat, “I am so glad you have agreed to this. I am sure you will do great
Ms. Starlight. Best of luck to you in your competition!”
Before Twinklette was escorted from
the office she hugged Christie one more time, “Just stay strong my dear,” said
Christie, “I will save you I promise.” A teary-eyed Twinklette was taken from
the room, the image of which broke Christie’s heart and haunted her until the
time of her competition arrived. That night as Christie left the Grand Coliseum
and her competition was being arranged, she thought back on her treasured
moments with Twinklette and all they had been through together; how they helped
each other cope with their losses, and how Twinklette inspired Christie to
defeat the demon that had plagued her for many years. Now the Dream Queen was
about to enter another type of fight, one much different than her conflict with
Nectra. She did not know who her opponent would be, but she did not care. Her
determination to win for Twinklette was indomitable. She thought back on the
glowing figure she saw hover in the air for a brief moment after she had
defeated Nectra and recalled the comforting feeling its glow produced. She
thought of this image again and sent out a silent wish that she could overcome
whatever challenges she needed to in order to save Twinklette. “I’ll save you
my precious sister,” Christie said to herself, “Whatever it takes I will save
you. By all that is good, I promise.”
To discover the remainder of
Christie Starlight and Twinklette’s story, and the result of Christie’s
competition in the Grand Coliseum, be sure to read the novel The Rabbit-Man, available later this
year!
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| Cover art for The Rabbit-Man by David N. Corrado |
