By: Nina Huang

Welcome to the 8th chapter of the Star Kingdom! There is no new character, but there is a lot of drama. Just keep on reading!

“Yeah, they said that they are coming for you. Their master, the Master Scout is the most powerful, intelligent star-scout in the kingdom. We need to protect you,” Davina spoke.

“I guess, but I’m old enough to protect myself now—I don’t want you guys getting hurt,” Astra argued.

“You sound like Harry Potter,” Leah mentioned.

“Well, he’s not wrong—ugh fine, whatever,” Astra sighed.

The girls made their way to the café, and discussed what King Night had told Davina. It seemed as though the most powerful star-scout, the Master Scout, was out to get Astra because she had caused so many of his minions to be arrested and thrown into star-prison.

“Order?” a waitress asked the girls.

“Star-dust Latte.” Astra replied.

“Same,” Leah answered.

“I’ll take a Planet Coffee,” Arella responded.

“I’ll have a croissant, and an espresso with Asteroid Cream,” Davina said with a smile.

“Alright, it should be done in a few minutes,” The waitress assured them.

“So, the scouts are after me? They’re stupid if they think I’ll give up,” Astra laughed.

“Master Scout,” Leah corrected Astra.

“Yeah, whatever, but my point is, we don’t know what they are up to. They probably changed their hideout after we figured out where they host their meetings,” Astra speculated.

“Number 150,” a loud-speaker announced.

“That’s our drinks—we should get them,” Arella said.

After sipping delightedly on their drinks, they decided to just go to the Star Tower and relax. After entering the tower, the girls made their way to the living room where they saw Esmaray lying lazily on the couch.

“Ugh, why are you back so early? I wish you’d disappear already,” Esmaray sighed as she rolled her eyes.

“Excuse me, I am the one giving you free rent, and all you do is lay on the couch watching your crappy videos, and listening to sickening music. I’m not your mom, and yet here I am telling you to change your diapers. You’d probably even fail at a simple job like a food taster,” Astra criticized her cousin.

“Oh my god, like I care,” Esmaray said in an I-couldn’t-care-less tone.

Esmaray stood up and strutted away, swearing under her breath. Astra glared at her irritating cousin the whole way.

“How dare she!” Leah exclaimed.

“I agree—it’s not a good trait to swear at people, especially your own family members,” Arella agreed.

“I’d rather she was a stranger,” Astra sighed.

“Let’s watch a movie,” Davina suggested.

“Oh come on! We always spend an hour fighting over what to watch,” Leah protested.

“Let’s take a vote. I vote for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” Arella proposed.

“Harry Potter,” Astra agreed.

“I vote for Avengers,” Davina voted.

“Well, Harry Potter wins; I was going to vote for Aristocats,” Leah announced.

“OK, I’ll put on the movie,” Astra said as she stood up.

The girls were sipping on the last drops of their drinks from the café, when suddenly the room went dark.

“I think the power is out!” Arella shouted.

“Aaaah!” Davina screamed as many pairs of arms grabbed all the girls.

“Esmaray! Help us!” Leah yelled.

“She’s probably been knocked unconscious,” Astra suggested as she struggled.

Someone pulled black bags over the girls’ heads, and a few unseen men carried them off somewhere. When they stopped, someone grabbed their arms and knocked them out.

“Ow!” Astra heard Leah yell before she fell to the ground.

The girls woke up to find themselves bound and gagged in a dark, scary room. The other girls panicked, but one person stayed calm, and that was Arella. Arella nudged Astra and with a determined look, she nodded. Arella and Astra scooted closer to each other until their backs met. Arella used her bound hands and pulled on Astra’s ropes until Astra’s hands were free. Astra freed her legs and mouth, and untied everyone else.

“Nice work, but we need to find a way to escape before—”

“HEY!” a scout shouted.

Davina kicked the scout, felling him, and took advantage of that moment to kick the door open and escape. Everyone followed and more scouts chased after them. More and more kept joining the chase until the girls reached a dead end.

“Ha, nowhere to escape!” a scout sneered.

“Master, we caught them!” another scout yelled.

The scouts scattered to make an aisle for the Master Scout. He strutted casually down the aisle of scouts and glared at the girls.

“You stupid girls, you can’t outsmart me! I am the Master Scout!” he cackled.

“Oh yeah? And why should I care?” Astra retorted.

“Excuse me?” the Master Scout asked.

“Oh yeah, you’re excused—please leave.” Leah smugly said.

“Don’t you know who I am?” the Master Scout asked, seeming as if he were about to burst with fury.

“Oh yes, I know who you are,” a deep voice responded from behind the Master.

“King Night!” the Master Scout shouted with shock.

“Yes, and you are coming with us,” said a voice that Astra suddenly recognized as Esmaray’s.

“Esmaray!” Astra yelled as the Master Scout and many of his men were being dragged away by star-shooters.

“Astra, I saw a scout before they could knock me out, so I went to call King Night. You were right; I should have been more considerate to you. Please forgive me,” Esmaray explained in an apologetic tone that sounded most un-Esmaray-like.

“Sure, but on one condition. You can’t just lay on the couch all day, and I want you to consider finding a job,” Astra answered.

“Of course,” Esmaray agreed docilely.

“Ladies, I am proud of you, and now that the Master Scout is gone, it will be easier to catch the rest of the scouts. I invite you to a party tonight in the castle to thank you for your excellent work,” King Night congratulated the girls.

“We shall be there!” Arella said excitedly.

So yeah, the girls partied all night, and all their parents were beyond proud. All the scouts were caught and Astra was even offered a job as a star-shooter! She happily accepted and everyone was super happy for her. Esmaray made up with everyone and she got a job as a waitress. So, yeah, I guess Astra did get her fairytale ending.