The star fairy is a beautful creature, with hair of dirty blonde and eyes of sparkling stars that changed color with her moods. Most of the time they were blue, so blue that one could almost see through them into her soul.
She wore a crown of sparkling stardust and pale moonshine. She was clothed in twinkling blue stars with sashes and capes of moobeams. She wore slippers of shimmering blue night clouds.
Every morning, just before dawn, she would ride a falling star to the earth. When she was on the earth, she would wear ash blue gowns and silver slippers. Sometimes people would stop her and ask her name. "Ashton Starr" she would always reply. Many people looked at her stangely, because she had slightly pointed ears, as most fairies do. Every evening, Ashton would ride the rising moon back to her beloved stars. She would never stay on earth for more than one day, because she was the star fairy and had to make her stars shine.
On day, after riding her falling star to earth, Ashton decided to walk in the forest. She had never been in the forest before, so she enjoyed her walk very much. She saw so many new and wonderful things. She followed a narrow path through the trees. The path seemed to go on forever, but she was determined to find it's end. When she finally reached the end of the path, she was exhausted.
The path ended in a smal clearing. There were wild flowers everywhere. In the middle of the clearing was a small cottage. On either side of the cottage where wild cherry trees full of blossoms. A white fence surrounded the cottage and created a small yard. Ashton thought it was very beautiful.
Ashton was very tired and hungry from her walk so she decided to see if anyone was home. Sheopened the gate that hung between two young maple trees and stepped into the yard. She walked to the door and knocked. A young man answered and welcomed her in. He was a handsome young man, with brown hair and emerald green eyes. He was quite tall and had the friendliest smile.
Ashton walked inside. The cottage was small but lovable. There was a small fireplace in one corner and a stove in another. On the far side of the room, there was a door (probably to the bedroom). In front of the fireplace was a small table and two overstuffed chairs. A small kitten was curled up in one of the chairs. Near the stove was another table with benchlike chairs. Next to the stove were two small cabinets for dishes.
Ashton sat in the unoccupied chair by the fireplace and the young man sat in the other, shooing the cat out.
"You look tired," Remarked the young man. "I am" answered Ashton. "Would you like something to eat?"', asked the man. "Yes, Please. I'm so hungry. I've been walking all day!" The young man stood up and walked to the stove. Ashton followed him and sat down at the table."What is your name?" Ashton asked the man. "Paul Kent. What's yours?"
"Ashton Starr."
Paul got a plate from one of the cabinets. He put a hot biscuit drizzled with honey in the plate and handed it, a glass of water, and a fork to Ashton.
"this is very good!" said Ashton as she took a bite. "Thank-you." Replied Paul
They sat in silence for a few miutes with Paul watching Ashton the whole time.
"Do you live here all alone?" Ashton asked. "Unless you count Cheyene, yes."
"Who's Cheyene?"
"My kitten."
"Why do you live way out here?"
"Because it's one of the most beautiful places on earth!"
"You would like it where I live"
"Where do you live?"
"In a place far away!"
Ashton finished her biscuit and got up to leave. Paul picked up the empty plate and put it in the sink.
"You're leaving already?" He asked.
"Yes. I really must be going. It's getting dark and I'd like to be home before it gets dark."
"Okay, You can go, But only if yu promise to return soon." "I promise! I couldn't stay away too long! It's so beautiful!" "See ya soon then, Miss Starr."
Ashton walked out the door, with Paul behind her, and left. She walked out of the forest and to her waiting friend the moon. The next dawn Ashton rode her star to the forrest where she had walked the previous day. She then walked to the little cottage in the clearing. She knocked on the door and Paul answered.
"Good morning, Miss Starr!", He greeted "Good mornig, Mr.Kent" Ashton answered. "Would you like so breakfast?" HE asked as she followed him inside. "No thank you, I'm really not hungry," She answered.
"Okay, Then you can play with Cheyene while I eat." Ashton sat down in one of the chairs by the fireplace and started to play with the kitten, while Paul sat down to eat breakfast. After Paul finished his breakfast, he and Ashton went for a walk in the woods. Along the way, Paul picked flowers for Ashton. He picked daisies, black-eyed susans, queen ann's lace, and some morning glories. Paul and Ashton Walked most of the afternoon. When they returned to the cottage, They had lunch. After lunch, Ashton played with Cheyene while Paul cleaned up.
When Paul had finished, he sat down in a chair by the fireplace and watched Ashton. Cheyene was tangled in a ball of yarn and Ashton was trying to free her, without any luck. Paul watched with smiling eyes as Ashton tried to find the end of the yarn nad Cheyene kept getting tangled worse and worse.
"Stop squirming! and I'll get you untangled!" said Ashton holding the kitten in one hand and some of the yarn in the other. "I give up!" she said as she dropped the yarn for the third time.
"Don't give up, you'll get it! Besides, I was having fun watching you!" Paul commented Ashton tried again. When she finally got the kitten untangled, she threw the yarn at Paul then climbed up in the empty chair.
"How far away do you live?" Paul asked her. "It depends on where you are." Ashton answered. Paul got up and went into the other room. When he returned he was carrying a sketch pad and a pencil. He sat down and began to sketch Ashton.
"What are you doing?" Ashton asked curiously.
"Just drawing", Replied Paul.
They sat in silence for an hour, Paul drawing and Ashton watching the fire. The only noises were the crackling of the fire and Cheyene's purring as Ashton cuddled with her.
After a while, Paul put down his sketches and went to the kitchen to make dinner. "Are you hungry?" He asked.
"A little" replied Ashton
Paul finished making dinner and they both sat down to eat. After dinner, Ashton left. Again she promised to return. She walked back to the rising moon and went home.
The next morning she returned to the cottage. She walked through the gate and knocked on the door. No one answered. She knocked again and stil no one answered.
"Paul? Paul, It's me." She called. She knocked again, but still no answer. She sat down on the step and wondered why Paul wasn't answering the door. She stood up and went to the gate.
"Maybe if I go for a walk, He'll be here when I return." she said. She walked for two hours. She tried to enjoy her walk as much as possible, but she couldn't help wondering why Paul didn't answer the door. When she returned to the cottage, Paul was in the yard picking flowers. Ashton walked through the gate and went over to him.
"Why didn't you answer the door this morning?" She asked him.
"I'm sorry! I had to go into town to get some supplies. I knew yoou'd be here! I should have left a note." Paul answered. Paul finished picking flowers and they went inside. Paul opened on of the cabinets and took out a vase. He handed the vase and flowers to Ashton. Ashton arranged the flowers in the vase then set them on the table. Paul set the table then started making lunch. Ashton watched him for a while then went outside to the well to get some water. When she came back in, Paul had lunch on the table.
They ate in silence. After lunch, they went outside. Ashton sat on a large rock by the fence and let her mind wander through the woods around her. Paul set on the steps and sketched. After a while Ashton noticed it was getting dark and decided to go. She stood up and Paul looked at her.
"If you come back tomorrow, We'll go for a picnic." He smiled.
Ashton smiled back, "Sounds good to me."
She walked down the path to the place where she was to meet the moon. It wasn't quite time for the moon to rise yet, so she sat down and daydreamed. She dreamed of tomorrow, of the picnic and of being with Paul again. When the moon rose she went back to her stars. The next morning, Ashton returned to the cottage. She and Paul packed a basket full of sandwiches, cakes, biscuts and lemonade. When they finished packing they left. They walked for about an hour, until they came to a small lake. They spread the picnic blanket under a large oak tree by te water. Ashton unpacked the basket and they ate lunch. When the finished, Ashton walked around they lake while Paul repacked the leftovers.
Before joining Ashton, he took out his sketch book and pencil, that he packed earlier. They walked all the way around the lake and back to the blanket. They sat down. Ashton stared out over the lake as Paul sketched. After about an hour and a half, they went back to the cottage. When they arrived at the cottage, Ashton curled up in a chair by the fireplace and Paul put everything away.
"You're being too quiet ove there!" Paul said as he sat in his chair. He looked over at Ashton. She was fast asleep. Paul picked her up, took her to the bedroom and layed her down on the bed. He went back to the main room, closing the door behind him, and sat down in his chair. Soon, he too was asleep.
That night the stars did not shine or sparkle. Ashton Starr, The star fairy, had stayed on earth all night!
The next morning, Ashton wondered what happened. She got out of bed and went to the main room. Paul was already up and making breakfast. That day Paul and Ashton spent the day playing in the woods. They had lots of fun, and again, Ashton didn't go home. This went on for three more days before she remembered the stars. On the third day, Paul gave Ashton a silver locket, with a tiny star engraved on it and a small picture of him inside. That night, Ashton went home to the stars. The stars shone extra bright, that night. Ashton was truly, very happy. She loved Paul with all her heart.
The next day, Ashton returned and she and Paul went to town. They bought three new dresses for Ashton, some ribbon for her hair and some drawing paper for Paul. The next few weeks they spent every possible moment togetther.
One day as they were walking through the woods, they heard a gun shot. (hunters) They didn't think anything of it till Paul was hit. Ashton helped him back to cottage and into bed. She cleaned and bandaged his wound and stayed with him through the night. When he awoke, he asked for a glass of water. Ashton went and got it for him.
"Ashton, I love you!" He whispered as she helped him sip the water.
"I love you too." she said back, "Right now you need to rest if you want to get better!"
As the days went by, Paul got worse. Ashton knew it, and every night, she cried herself to sleep. One day, Paul looked up into Ashton's eyes, He told her he loved her one last time then died in her arms.
"NO! Paul? NO!" she cried as she laid him down on the bed. When she realized that Paul was dead, she ran to the lake and cried. That night, she returned to the stars, but they didn't shine. Everytime she thinks of Paul, She turns of her stars and cries in the darkness.
So now when you can't see the stars, You'll know that Ashton Starr is thinking of her beloved Paul Kent!
THE END!
