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became entombed by the melting chest of treasure for which she cared nothing. Emily Jane was indeed doomed.She would have to live within this new star’s center and never leave it until it crashed.
    If only she had known her father thought her dead.
    If only she and her father had known the truth.
    Two hearts that had once been united at the center of the Golden Age would not have become hardened, embittered, and so very cruel. These wounded hearts would not have brought an end to the Age of Wonders.

C HAPTER T WELVE

    Stars Cross
    T his dream continued for all in Santoff Claussen, but the Guardians were taking particular note. They knew, even in this dream state, that they were learning a great deal about Pitch, which could be useful in fighting him. But they also began to feel the pity Katherine had felt. Pitch had not always been evil. His heart was once as strong and good as theirs. But for Nightlight, this was a feeling that confused him. He thought only in simple terms. He didn’t want to feel pity. He wanted only to save Katherine, and he could not see how pity could help him.
    Then Sanderson Mansnoozie appeared and became part of the story he had been telling. The dream had been so intense and dramatic that even in their deep sleep, the villagers and Guardians were glad to at last see him. Sandy had a manner both soothing and blissful. He smiled, sending a blanket of calm to one and all, and then continued the tale. . . .
    We in the League of Star Captains quickly became aware of this “new” star. I was born into a family of Star Captains. For generations we had steered stars to every corner of the universe, our primary duty to bestow the wishes made to our stars. But the stars we harnessed needed greater and greater speed, for the Dream Pirates were especially intent on capturing Wishing Stars. You see, in all the galaxies, there are few things with more dreams in them than a Wishing Star. These stars are concentrated dream matter, and their pilots are the key to unlockingthose dreams. When someone made a wish that was judged worthy, then a Star Captain would send back one of those dreams to help that person fulfill their wish.
    But within each star was stored tens of thousands of undreamed dreams that were made by our brethren since time began.
    And so when I heard of this wild new shooting star, I pursued it. I didn’t know its origins. I didn’t know Emily Jane was at its cursed core. But I saw that this star could outpace any Dream Pirate vessel. If I was to saddle it, I would need to be clever.
    Many other Star Captains were also after this star, but it had outrun them all. Shooting stars are generally very solitary. They live for speed and wildness. But I had noticed that this particular star would sometimes slow down for schools of StarFish. The Star Fish seemed to have a kinship with the star, which was most intriguing.
    My brother Star Captains tried to sneak up on the slowing star when it neared a school of Star Fish, but they failed. The star was no fool. It could sense a trap and would blast away, leaving any who chased it choking on its stardust.
    I don’t like to boast, but I was well liked among the creatures of the cosmos. Star horses and Star Fish have always been my friends. I have a soft spot for them and liked to feed them a star spice they find most delicious, much as you humans do with sugar for your horses. So one day I rode near a school of Star Fish. They were glad to see me and let me swim along. I’d brought supplies of that special spice, and soon they had completely surrounded me, each hovering beside me to have a taste, hiding me completely.
    In time the wild star came near.
    I waited till it was gliding right by me, keeping pace with us. Then I charged through the Star Fish and lassoed the star with my line. The stun of surprise lasted only a second. The star shot away with more speed than any I’d ever seen, but I held on.
    This is not uncommon in trying to catch a wild