Wish Upon a Star Page 3

  On Monday morning, Rosie popped her head into the ballroom, where Cleo and Bruno were practicing a tango. Priscilla was watching the rehearsal, a rapt look on her face.

  “I’m going over to the theater to see how the set is coming along,” Rosie told Cleo.

  “See you later,” Cleo called as Bruno dipped her low.

  Outside the palace, a Shetland pony was hitched up to a carriage with Petrovia’s royal paw-print crest embossed in gold on its purple doors.

  “Can you take me to the theater, please, Chester?” Rosie asked the pony as she climbed into the carriage.

  “Sure thing, Your Highness,” neighed the pony, bobbing his head respectfully.

  Chester started trotting, and the carriage rolled forward.

  “Did you know that I won the talent show back when I was just a colt?” Chester said as he clip-clopped toward the theater.

  “Really?” said Rosie, intrigued. “What was your act?”

  “I tap-danced,” said Chester, doing some shuffle ball changes to demonstrate. TIPPETY-TAP TIPPETY-TAP went his metal horseshoes as he shuffled his hooves.

  “You’re still pretty good,” said Rosie. “You should enter the show this year.”

  Chester chuckled. “My dancing days are over, Princess Rosie.”

  The carriage wheeled up to a grand building with the words ROYAL THEATER carved into the stone facade. Bright, colorful posters advertising the talent show hung outside.

  “Oh good,” said Rosie. “The posters have gone up.” She ticked Posters off her list with a feeling of satisfaction.

  “I won’t be long,” she told Chester, jumping down from the carriage.

  The red velvet seats inside the theater were empty, but stagehands were working hard to get everything ready for the talent show. A yellow canary was fluttering overhead hanging up lights. A rabbit carpenter with a pencil tucked behind one of his long ears was hammering a piece of scenery, and a dog with paint-splattered fur was decorating a backdrop.

  “Princess Rosie!” cried a wrinkly bulldog, hurrying over to greet her. “I’m Max, the stage manager. What an honor!”

  “Nice to meet you,” Rosie said, shaking Max’s paw. “I just wanted to see how the set was coming along.”

  “Follow me,” said Max, leading Rosie up a short set of stairs onto the stage.

  “As you can see,” he explained, “the set features the natural beauty of our wonderful kingdom.” Wooden backdrops were painted with pretty scenes of Petrovia’s rolling hills and green, flower-filled meadows.

  “It’s lovely,” said Rosie, wagging her tail enthusiastically.

  SWISH! Her tail hit one of the backdrops. PLOP! It toppled over, knocking into another one, and then another. The freshly painted backdrops fell like a row of dominoes!

  “I’m so sorry,” cried Rosie, staring at the mess she’d just made.

  “No harm done,” said Max as the stagehands rushed to pick up the fallen backdrops. Rosie helped them, and soon all the scenery was back in position.

  “Keep up the good work,” said Rosie, waving good-bye and leaving before she could knock anything else over!

  * * *

  “My paws hurt,” moaned Rocky.

  “How much farther?” groaned Rollo.

  “We’re nearly there,” Rosie told her brothers.

  The princes were helping Rosie carry a table through the frosty palace grounds on Tuesday morning.

  “Set it down here,” Rosie said, just inside the main gates. Her brothers let go of the table with sighs of relief.

  Rosie spread a white tablecloth on top of the table and hung up a sign that read ROYAL TALENT SHOW TICKETS ON SALE HERE! Her ticket booth was officially open!

  “I hope I sell lots of tickets,” she said anxiously, looking down at the big stack of tickets. All the money raised by the talent show would go to help sick and needy animals.

  “Don’t worry,” said Rocky. “It will sell out once everyone hears that Rollo and I are performing again this year.”

  “Get your tickets for the hottest show in town!” hollered Rollo.

  Sure enough, customers started to arrive.

  “Two tickets, please,” said a squirrel with glasses perched on her nose. “My son Charlie is doing a juggling act. His dad and I wouldn’t miss the show for all the acorns in the world.”

  “Here you go,” said Rosie, handing Charlie’s mother her tickets.

  Next, Rosie sold a parakeet six tickets. “I’m taking my whole family,” he twittered as he paid Rosie for the tickets. “It will be a real tweet—I mean, treat!”

  Soon customers crowded around the table. Even with Rocky and Rollo’s help, Rosie couldn’t keep up with the demand. There were growls of complaint as customers grew impatient, blowing on their paws to stay warm.

  “Hey, I was first,” grumbled a striped cat.

  “Stop pushing,” whined a little hamster.

  Hamish, who was sprinkling salt on the icy garden paths, called out, “Need a hand, Princess Rosie?”

  “Yes, please!” Rosie called back.

  “Form a line!” shouted Hamish. “And you’ll all be served quickly!”

  The customers obediently shuffled into a line. With Hamish helping to keep order, Rosie and her brothers sold tickets as fast as they could.

  “Enjoy the show!” Rosie said, handing the very last ticket to a rabbit wearing earmuffs.

  The Royal Talent Show was officially sold out!

  * * *

  On Wednesday, Rosie hardly had a chance to catch her breath. First, she helped Theodore polish the talent show trophy. Next, she designed the front cover for the program. Finally, she ordered the refreshments that would be sold during intermission.

  “Are there going to be juicy bones?” asked Rocky.

  “And doggy choc-o-drops?” asked Rollo.

  “Definitely,” said Rosie. Those were her favorite treats, too.

  She also made sure to order seedy snacks for the birds and the catnip cookies Cleo loved. She’d barely seen her friend over the past few days, because Cleo and Bruno had been rehearsing their dance nonstop. Rosie couldn’t wait to see it!

  * * *

  On Thursday, Rosie and Priscilla went to the ballroom for Cleo and Bruno’s costume fitting.

  “Ta da!” said Priscilla, unveiling two costumes made from brightly colored feathers.

  Priscilla helped Bruno try on his cape and mask.

  “SEN-SATIONAL,” Bruno said, preening in the mirror.

  Rosie helped Cleo put on her towering headdress. A fountain of feathers shot out of the kitten’s head.

  “It’s, er, very eye-catching,” Rosie said. She didn’t want to hurt Priscilla’s feelings, but the costumes made Cleo and Bruno look like tropical birds!

  Cleo and Bruno tried dancing in their costumes. Bruno’s mask slipped and covered up his eyes. Cleo’s headdress was so heavy she struggled to keep her balance. When Bruno dipped her backward, she toppled over.

  “Oh dear,” said Rosie. “This isn’t working.”

  “I can fix it,” said Priscilla. She got rid of Bruno’s mask and adjusted Cleo’s headdress, plucking feathers out until it was much shorter.

  Cleo and Bruno tried dancing again, and this time their tango went perfectly. As Priscilla watched the dancers, her feet copied Cleo’s moves.

  “That was great,” Rosie said. “You two are performing last, so the show will definitely end with a bang.”

  “Let’s get back to work,” Bruno said. “We only have two more days left to rehearse.”

  Rosie couldn’t help yelping with excitement. There were two more days until the show, but only one more day until Bella Fierce arrived!

  * * *

  “Today is the day, Theodore!” Rosie cried on Friday, running past the butler on her way to the kitchen. “Bella Fierce is coming!”

  “Can’t say I’ve ever heard of her,” said Theodore. The elderly butler wasn’t a fan of pop music.

  “She’s coming today!” R
osie told Petal as she burst into the kitchen.

  Petal didn’t need to be told who “she” was. The guinea pig cook was just as excited as Rosie!

  “Let’s go over the menu one more time, Princess Rosie,” Petal said.

  “Fish soup for an appetizer,” said Rosie.

  “Salmon for the main course,” said Petal.

  “And chocolate pudding for dessert,” said Rosie. She had read that Bella Fierce loved chocolate!

  “I’d better get started,” said Petal, pulling an enormous saucepan out of a cupboard.

  Satisfied that dinner preparations were under way, Rosie decided to inspect the Royal Blue Bedroom to make sure it was tidy.

  She opened the door and instantly spotted two things that definitely didn’t belong in there: Rocky and Rollo!

  “Get out of here,” Rosie ordered her brothers. “Bella Fierce will be here soon.”

  “We can’t,” said Rocky. The princes held up their paws, revealing that they were chained together!

  “What have you done?” Rosie cried, trying not to panic.

  “We were practicing our escape trick in here where nobody would see us,” said Rollo.

  “But we lost the key,” said Rocky.

  Rosie hunted around the room on her belly, desperately searching for the key. A glint of metal underneath the bed caught her eye. Rosie stretched out a paw and slid the key out, then quickly unlocked her brothers.

  “Phew!” said Rocky, untangling himself from the chains.

  “That trick still needs a bit of work,” admitted Rollo, stretching.

  The boys were free—and not a moment too soon. A loud blast of trumpet fanfare came from downstairs. Bella Fierce had arrived!

  “I’m coming!” shouted Rosie. She grabbed a tiara from her bedroom and ran down the stairs, her ears flapping. She wanted to make sure she was there to greet Bella. Whoops! Rosie’s paw slipped, and she rolled down the last three steps, landing in a heap of curly fur at the bottom of the staircase.

  “And this is Princess Rosie,” said King Charles.

  Queen Fifi, who looked immaculate as usual, did not look impressed by Rosie’s dramatic entrance.

  “Hi!” said Rosie, shoving her tiara on her head. “I’m your biggest fan, Ms. Fierce.”

  “That’s very sweet of you to say, Princess Rosie,” purred Bella Fierce. Her eyes were even more striking in person than in pictures. She lowered them shyly as she bowed to Rosie.

  “It’s true,” said Rocky. “She even sings your songs in the bathtub.”

  “When she can be bothered to take a bath,” said Rollo, giggling.

  Rosie glared at Rocky and Rollo. Little brothers could be SO embarrassing!

  “As you may have guessed,” said King Charles, “these are the princes.”

  Bella smiled at Rocky and Rollo. Then she winked at Rosie. “I know all about little brothers—I have one, too.”

  “I know!” said Rosie, remembering something she’d read. “His name is Toby.”

  “That’s right,” said Bella, surprised.

  “Rosie,” said Queen Fifi, “why don’t you give Ms. Fierce a tour of the palace before dinner?”

  “Should we start with the throne room, Ms. Fierce?” Rosie asked eagerly.

  “You can call me Bella, Princess Rosie,” said the pop star.

  “Only if you call me Rosie,” said Rosie, smiling.

  “It’s a deal,” said Bella, smiling back.

  Rosie led Bella into the throne room. Banners with purple paw prints on them hung from the ceiling. Two gold thrones with feet shaped like paws stood on a raised platform covered with a canopy of purple silk.

  “Oh wow,” said Bella. “I can’t believe I’m actually at Pawstone Palace.”

  “I can’t believe you’re really here, either,” said Rosie, laughing.

  Bella padded over to the platform and gazed up at the thrones in awe.

  “Do you want to sit on one of them?” asked Rosie.

  “For real?” said Bella.

  “Sure,” said Rosie. “Hop on!” Rosie climbed onto King Charles’s throne while Bella leaped gracefully onto Queen Fifi’s throne and settled herself on the purple velvet cushion.

  “All I need now is a tiara,” joked Bella.

  “Here,” said Rosie. “Try this on.” She tossed Bella her diamond tiara.

  “This is so cool!” said Bella, putting the tiara on her head.

  It’s funny, Rosie thought. Bella seems as excited about meeting a princess as I am about meeting a pop star!

  Rosie showed Bella the dining room and the parlor next, and then they went into the drawing room.

  “Do you do drawing in here?” Bella asked, puzzled.

  “Nope,” said Rosie. “It’s just a fancy name for a living room.”

  A bunny maid hopped up to Bella, holding an album. “Excuse me, Ms. Fierce,” she said. “Can I please have your autograph?”

  “Of course,” Bella said graciously, signing her name.

  Soon, a whole crowd of maids had gathered around Bella to get her signature!

  When Bella had finished signing autographs, Rosie continued the tour. They peeped into the ballroom, where Cleo and Bruno were practicing their dance.

  “That’s Cleo, my best friend,” said Rosie. “She’s rehearsing for the talent show.”

  “They look really good,” said Bella. “I can’t wait to see all the acts tomorrow.”

  Rosie suddenly realized something. “I haven’t shown you where you’re going to sleep!”

  She led Bella upstairs. “This is the Haunted Tower,” said Rosie, passing the entrance to one of the castle’s many towers.

  Bella shivered. “Is it really haunted?”

  Rosie laughed. “People say it’s haunted by the ghost of King Grizzlebone III, but that’s just a silly story.” She and Cleo had once gone up to the top of the tower late at night on a dare. They hadn’t found a ghost—just King Charles having a midnight snack!

  Finally, Rosie and Bella arrived at the Royal Blue Bedroom. “This is where you’ll stay,” Rosie said, flinging the door open.

  Bella padded in and looked around the room.

  “It’s gorgeous,” she purred happily. “Blue is my—”

  “Favorite color!” Rosie finished Bella’s sentence for her.

  Leaving Bella to unpack, Rosie got ready for dinner. She brushed her fur, put on a pretty sapphire-studded collar, and went downstairs.

  “What’s she like?” Cleo asked, rushing over to Rosie. “Is she fierce like her name?”

  “She’s not fierce at all,” said Rosie. “She’s really nice.”

  Rosie and Cleo made their way into the dining room, which Theodore had set with the palace’s best china and silver.

  King Charles and Queen Fifi sat at either end of the long wooden dining table. Rosie and Cleo were on either side of Bella, with the princes opposite them.

  “This is delicious,” said Bella, tasting Petal’s fish soup.

  Petal beamed proudly and ladled another helping into Bella’s bowl.

  “Your dance looked great,” Bella told Cleo when they had moved on to the salmon main course.

  “Thanks,” said Cleo. “I’m feeling really nervous about doing it in front of an audience.”

  “Can I tell you a secret?” Bella whispered.

  Rosie and Cleo nodded.

  “I get stage fright every time I perform,” Bella confided.

  “Really?” said Cleo. “But you seem so cool and confident.”

  “Bella Fierce isn’t my real name,” Bella said. “I’m really Bella Smith, but I created a bold, fearless character called Bella Fierce to help me onstage. Maybe you should do the same, Cleo.”

  “That’s a great idea,” exclaimed Rosie.

  “It might work,” said Cleo. She playfully swiped her paw at Bella and growled. “Call me Cleo Savage!”

  “We’re in the talent show, too,” Rocky told Bella.

  “What type of act are you doing?” ask
ed Bella.

  “A magic show,” said Rollo. “Want to see one of our tricks?”

  “Sure,” said Bella.

  “We can make this dessert float in the air,” announced Rocky, picking up a huge crystal bowl full of chocolate pudding.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea …” said Rosie, but her brothers ignored her.

  Pointing his fork like a wand, Rollo commanded, “Chockity rockity boo! Make this pudding float!”

  “Hey presto!” shouted Rocky, letting go of the crystal bowl. CRASH! The bowl fell onto the dining table. SPLASH! Chocolate pudding flew everywhere, including all over Bella Fierce’s face!

  “Oops!” said Rocky. “That wasn’t supposed to happen.”

  “Go to your room!” Queen Fifi ordered the princes, who slunk off with their tails between their legs.

  “I’m so sorry,” King Charles apologized to Bella. “The princes are such rascals.”

  “It was actually pretty funny,” Bella said, chuckling as she licked chocolate off her paws. “And this pudding is so yummy!” Luckily, Petal had more pudding in the kitchen, so everyone—except for Rocky and Rollo—could still have dessert.

  After dinner, Rosie said, “There’s a room I want you to see.” She and Cleo took Bella into the music room, which had a grand piano and many other musical instruments.

  “What a beautiful piano,” Bella said, gently running her paws over the ivory keys.

  “Will you play us something?” Cleo asked shyly.

  “I’ll play you my new song,” said Bella. “But you’ve got to do something for me in return.”

  “What’s that?” Rosie asked.

  “Dance along!” said Bella, tucking her tail underneath her and sitting down at the piano.

  “Today’s gonna be a big success,” sang Bella. “Yeah, I feel like a real princess.”

  Rosie and Cleo danced around the room to the uplifting pop tune.

  “What do you think?” Bella asked them when she’d finished playing.

  “I loved it!” Rosie cried.

  “Good,” said Bella, smiling. “Because you inspired me to write it!”

  “Bathtime,” said Queen Fifi, entering the music room.