The newest event before Chapter 5's launch! Enjoy!

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Part 1: A Handful of Wishes

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I was floating. In a galaxy of stars. It felt like something unreal...maybe I'm dreaming....but, that can't be. Or am I?

Once upon a time, in a small rural town lived an elderly toymaker who crafted a doll made of wood. The old man, who had no children of his own, loved his creation so dearly. When night came, he looked among the stars, that shone like diamonds, and wished.

'I wish for him to be a real boy' he whispered.

Wait, I know this story! The story of Pinocchio, the wooden boy who wishes to be real. And....a known fairytale from my mother's country....

Before long, the old man has fallen asleep. A while later he was awoken by a clatter. The noise was from the doll, who was alive and real. As much as he was shocked, the old man was also happy for his wish to be granted. And so, he cared for the doll as his own, who soon became a real child, and they lived happily ever after.

I smile as the story finished. Although the original wasn't as lighter than the film Walt Disney had made, it was still well known. And my mother always sang to me that familiar song, "When you Wish Upon a Star"....being a tear to my eye even at the thought....

But I wonder what that'll have to do with today.....

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{Class: Alchemy}

"And that is all for today's lesson." Crewel nodded. "Now, for a few announcements!" But elsewhere in class, a trio of misfits and one lone female were in their own circle of gossip.

"Class is done with....finally." Grim yawned. "It always work around the clock..."

"Yea, I'm sure you were napping just now...you're going too easy on yourself." Ace muttered to the grey-haired feline. But the female gave him a look.

"Oh. And YOU weren't napping just now?" She teased.

"Wait, were you?" Grim stares at the first year, who tensed up at being caught.

"Shhh, Charlie!! Don't run your tongue! I was And THAT ISN'T sleeping!" He tried shushing her (and correcting like the smart mouth he is).

But all Charlie did was give him an unimpressed glare. "Or maybe you were just looking at the inside of your eyelids like you had better things to do?"

The last of the trio sighed, "You two are just as bad as one another...." he muttered to his heart-symboled companion and Grim. "Just listen to what the teacher's got to say."

Ace smirked and turned to Deuce. "Always the goody two-shoes, I see."

"Yet his grades keep saying otherwise...." Grim throws in, making the spade boy throw them a glance to shut up.

"Will you shut up?!" He screamed, as a whip crack was sounded.

"Quiet! You pups are too rambunctious!" Crewel commanded.

The three hung their heads in shame. "Sorry...."

"Now then," Crewel got back on track. "Once class has been dismissed, there'll be a school assembly for all to attend. That's all for today! Now to the Lecture Hall!"

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The Main Lecture Hall was brimming with students whispering among themselves, minutes before the assembly would commence. Charlie and the guys were seated together somewhere off to the side.

"Okay, were here, but I still dunno WHY we are." Grim pointed out.

"It's something about 'Star-sending'...." was all Ace muttered, looking unimpressed. But the female and her companion were confused.

"What's that?"

"Don't tell me you guys are serious...." Ace gave them a pitiful look.

"No, we actually are, Mr. Mush-for-Brains." Charlie threw back, letting Ace glance at her unimpressed with the name-calling.

"Hey, cut her some slack." Deuce jumped in before things got worse. "She's from a different world, that's acceptable! But I still can't believe Grim's unaware of it...."

"Is it that well-known?" Grim piqued.

"It's actually traditional over the world. Our world, actually." Deuce regarded. "I can't believe not a single person knows about this....e-except for you, Charlie!"

"Give us the deets!" Charlie ushered.

"Oh, hang on; the headmaster's here..." Ace interrupted. And true to his word there was the (useless) man of the hour.

"Everyone, simmer down! It's time to start the assembly!" Crowley shushed the crowd in a commanding voice. The gall quieted in an instant. "Now, I know why all of you are here! It is time for the event of the 'star sendoff'. I will announce who this year's 'stargazers' are, then the distribution of 'the wishing stars'! By now, every single one of you has gone through this experience at least once, so I won't jump into much detail. I'm just ensuring that student motivation among you youngsters is kept up and alive." He smiled to himself, "I'm such a good decision maker...."

"Yea. I don't think he's gonna explain everything to us...." Grim glared at Ace, the latter sighing exasperatedly.

"Okay: here's the rundown. The 'Star Sending' is a yearly event that's based on the 'Wish Upon a Star' tale."

"Wait, Wishing on a Star?" Grim rose an eyebrow.

"Wha-don't tell me you're confused about that!"

"Actually, I've heard that story before...." Charlie inputs. "The lore of an old toymaker who created a wooden doll, and his love was strong for it, he wished for it to become real. And his wish was heard and granted." She smiled, recalling the story by heart. Until she noticed the dumbfounded looks the three gave her, making her recoil back. "What? I know my fairytales since childhood, sue me."

Deuce caught on before more questions could be asked. "Yea, me too. And it's done once a year. The same day that the toymaker made his wish, we do the same."

"And that's where the 'wishing stars' come in. They're magic gems of sorts that light up when a wish is heard. Then they're collected and taken to decorate a tree." Ace finished.

"It's actually like that old childhood fable in my homeworld: when you wish on a star it's bound to come true...." Charlie sighed, remembering when she was younger and used to constantly wish on stars for something great to happen in her life, or if she needed a small charm of good luck. She laughed at the memory fondly.

"Okay, now! Settle down!" The headmaster called her back to reality. "It is time to announce who this year's 'stargazers' are!"

But everyone looked less than thrilled.

"Uh, what's with the downers all of a sudden?" Grim looked around.

"As you remember: the 'stargazers' are responsible for collecting all of the wishing stars, and taking them to decorate the tree in the forest behind the Academy. I'm sure you're all brimming with excitement to see who they are!"

"We're not that thrilled actually...."

"I don't wanna be chosen. I don't wanna be chosen!!"

"Geez, not a lot of people are that voluntary...." Charlie sighed, hearing the whispers.

"Yea. Why's that?"

"I heard it a lot from my older bro. Only three students are chosen for the 'stargazers' positions." Ace whispered.

"Only three people collecting hundreds of stars?! That's back-breaking...." Charlie shook her head in surprise.

"We'll go by year, and using horoscopes to astrologically round up the selected birth date, and the student who is born on that day is one of the stargazers! Time to begin!" Crowley shouts.

Dotted around the hall, several students were muttering unimpressed at the act of flamboyance.

"Stop with the show-off and just say who they are already...." Leona growled.

"Is it really that necessary for every student to be gathered for this ridiculous event?" Vil scoffed, flipping his blond hair over his shoulder like a primadonna. "Asking a star to grant a wish, with zero effort....how naïve....."

"Another year of doing the exact same shtick....someone kill me now...." Idia sighed.

"Nii-San, please don't be so down!" Ortho tried to cheer up his older brother.

"There's nothing but negative feedback from every year group..." Trey shook his head.

"Even if you were chosen as one of the stargazers, you must carry out your duty as claimed. That's all there is!" Riddle shrugged. "No need for people to be so overdramatic!" The third year nodded to humor his lead.

"It's be so amazing to be one of the stargazers!!!" Kalim smiled.

"You can't be serious..." Jamil sighed, watching his master squirm like a five year-old in his seat. "It's basically extra work thrown in with stupid astrology. Who'd be dumb enough to actually believe horoscopes?"

"You know, now that I think about it better, this may be a good chance for me to find more business connections." Azul pondered. "If they see any volunteers, I would for sure want to put myself out there."

"You wish to take advantage of other's wishes?" Jade smirked, listening in. "Sounds scheming...."

"Yea, but it's a lotta trouble....to hell with that..." Floyd brushed off.

"Time to announce the chosen ones!" Crowley produced three black cards with star patterns decorating the back, concealing the names hidden on the other side. "The first! October 25th: Trey Clover!" Several eyes turn towards the third year, whom was shocked at his name being announced. But he smiled shyly.

"W-Wow...never thought I'd get picked..." he chuckled. Riddle patted his back in reassurance.

"Congrats, Trey. No need to be bashful. As Vice of Heartslabyul, set an example towards your peers."

"Right." Trey nods. "And since I'm chosen, I'll do everything to get this task done."

"The second," Crowley plucks the second card from his hand. "December 18th: Idia Shroud!"

"What...?" If anyone could picture Idia, he was about ready to pass out. "Ortho....please tell me my name WASN'T just called...." his voice shook even from behind the tablet.

"Nope, it was! You're chosen as one of the Stargazers this year, that's amazing!" Ortho cheered.

"No....n-n-n-no!!!! I REFUSE!!!" Ortho looked over at the tablet, already imagining his brother shaking in his seat back at Ignihyde.

"Huh? But why?"

"You know what the Stargazers are in charge of right?! Collecting all those Stars like a dogsbody....being the center of attention for an entire day, public humiliation....dancing around like an idiot, being watched by others....that's just punishment!! Why me of all people!!!" Idia was shaking. "This is even worse than losing at a stream at Fall Guys!!"

"Well, you can at least take part in the collecting segment! It's easy through the tablet! Let me handle carrying them!" Ortho offers with a smile.

"But then the workload falls on you. I shouldn't call myself your brother..."

"It's no biggie! I'm just glad you're apart of the events for once! And i'll support you every step of the way!"

"B-But-"

"Please, Nii-san?" Ortho begged cutely.

The older Shroud brother sighed in defeat at his brother's kind attitude. "I don't see why not..."

"Awesome!" Ortho cheers.

"And the third: June 3rd: Deuce Spade!" Crowley finishes.

The bluenette was taken back. "ME?!"

"Pfft. Congrats, dude." Ace and Grim snickered. "Yea, lucky duck!"

"Stop teasing me!" Deuce buffed.

"Don't listen to them." Charlie pats his shoulder with a smile. "Be happy you got chosen for this thing!"

"Right, I am happy!" Deuce smiled. "As representer for the first year class, I wont let you down!"

"Yea, he's a pretty worth candidate..." Ace nods.

"Now that the Stargazers have been chosen, it's time to hand out the wishing stars! Give to your Stargazer when the task is complete. The wish must be said in front of the representor or it won't work. A star with no light, will be alone if hung onto the tree. Also, be aware that reporters will be at school soon. So today's event shall be broadcasted! I hope for the best with your cooperation. Assembly dismissed!"

The students got up and stretched after the long meeting, and make their way to gather their stars.

"Sweet! Let's go get our stars!" Grim jumped onto Charlie's shoulder.

"Well, someone's pretty eager! Even if you did make fun of it..."

"Well, I still don't get the concept, but it's a magic stone right? It'll be a waste if we don't obtain it..." Grim smirked.

Charlotte sighed. She already had a feeling where this was going...

The two approached the Headmaster.

"Alright, Beaky! Let's get our wishing star!" Grim smiled.

"Of course! The Ranshackle duo! How could I forget?" Crowley smiles and hands Charlotte their desired object.

"Huh? We only have one?"

"It is custom to give one star per person. And miss Luchessi, although you may have magic, you are still bound under the 2-for-1 deal." Crowley reminds.

The female sighed. She knew she had a feeling he'd use that in this case.....

"Charlie! Any idea?" She looked at Grim, and despite her desire to use it for herself, she decided someone else would need it.

"I think you deserve this one. I'm content with what I've got." She smiled wistfully.

"You sure?" But all she did was nod, ignoring the lingering sadness pitted in her chest. "Alright! It's your go!" The duo started walking through the crowd, searching for their friend. "Hey, Deuce! Wait up!!"

The bluenette turned at the sound of their voices. "What's up?"

"We got our Wishing Star. So how do we light this bad boy up?"

"Just hold onto the star and say the wish aloud!" He explained.

"Then...I wish to become the greats magician!" Grim shouts.

"Whoa! It's all lit up!" Charlie stared at the blue and yellow star burning brightly in her hands.

"That means your wish has been heard by the star." Deuce smiled.

"Well, that's mysterious...." grim tilted his head.

Elsewhere, the Shrouds were talking by themselves.

Idia muttered to himself, seeing and hearing everything going down around him, "Why am I hearing so much chatter through the screen? This is such a big fuss over something menial.....all it is is just a small stone that light up when in contact by human warmth and body temperature...."

"Nii-San? Did you say something?" Ortho looked over.

"No! Nothing at all!" Idia tensed, then muttered to himself, "I'm not sure why, but...Ortho's pretty excited for the event this year.... if I say something out of line, he'll be sad....."

And back to the first group.

"I leave my wishing star in your care!" Grim snarked as Charlie hands it to him.

"Don't worry, I've got it...." Deuce claimed, but his face looked elsewhere.

"Deuce? You okay?" Charlie looked at him worriedly.

"Yea, why the serious face all the sudden?" Grim adds. "Were you moved to tears by my wish~?"

"Don't be stupid." Deuce brushed off. "I just had memories of my own with the same event..." he looked down, recalling the memory by heart. "Back in middle school, my mom made a wish of her own. I fought with a kid at school the day before, and she worried over me. She said, 'I wish my son would stop fighting with other students and be the best he can be in the future...'."

"Right, you were still in your delinquent phase...." Charlie nodded sadly, remembering what he told her her first week here as a student.

"Exactly... and ever since that day when I first saw her cry, I swore to start living my life honestly. I do my best both academically and socially, and show her that my past is dead." Deuce smiled.

"And you're doing that as you swore you did back then." Charlie patted his cheek, mirroring his smile. Deuce kept up his smile while trying to hide the pink that dusted his face at the close proximity between him and Charlotte.

"Wow, you got the first one already!" Trey walked up to the three, as Charlie quickly moved away from Deuce, to the latter's disappointment, and greet the newcomer. "I assume this one yours?" Charlie nods to answer the question.

"And I'll keep collecting stars in this condition!" Deuce smiled wider.

"Well, someone's pretty motivated..." Trey chuckled.

"I just want to give it my all for today!"

Something suddenly hit Charlie from the back, a small body hung to her hip, it's small arms wrapped around her.

"CHARLIE-SAN!" She looked down to see Ortho.

"Hey, Ortho!" She smiles.

"It's so nice to see you again! And with newcomers!" The younger sibling moves away after the surprise hug and greets the others. "We want to give it our all as well!"

"Glad we're in the same boat, Shroud!"

"Uh, Yea....." Idia nodded. "Note to self: don't get involved with him...."

"Let's get the last of those stars!"

"No, wait a second! Deuce-And he's gone...." Trey sighed at the first year's enthusiasm while the former running off. "I'll go after should anything occur."

"Can't you just let him do his own thing? He's just collecting stars, nothing to worry about that..." Grim asked.

"Well, Yea.... but he's still technically a newcomer. He's unaware of what lies ahead if he goes on without knowing what'll occur."

"So, you mean that there's too many stars to collect and he needs an extra set of hands?"

"Besides that. I need to make sure nothing bad goes down."

"What the-Trey, Wait!!" Charlie tries to stop him, but the third year has already left.

"This could end badly! Nii-San! Let's go after!" Ortho replies and takes off without looking back.

"Ortho, no!!!" Idia's tablet flew off as well.

"They all left in a frenzy!"

"Let's go, too. I've got a bad feeling about this...." Charlie mutters, grabbing her bag and runs off.

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Out in the hallway, Deuce started searching frantically for any students who still had a star on them, a smile on his face. "Hey! Excuse me!" he called out to one student.

"Eh? And who're you?" the student mocked.

"I'm one of the Stargazers! I can take your wish for you!"

"Give me one good reason why I should." the student narrowed his eyes, keeping ahold on his star.

"Well...isn't it how it works?"

"Yea, no way in hell." the student spat. "You're so damn annoying. And like I'm taking part in this shitty-ass event. You're such a child." The bluenette froze at the insult and his eyes grew angered.

"Say that to my face!"

"Deuce, no!" Trey stood in front of the freshman, trying to calm him down.

"Can I leave?" the student asked, annoyed.