Young Wordsmiths- 4th issue 2021

YOUNG WORDSMITHS Young Wordsmiths is the online magazine of Lekha Writing Center.

It is dedicated to publishing writing BY and FOR children.

FOUNDER: JYOTI YELAGALAWADI

Text Copyright by Lekha students as noted in the Lekha Anthologies published by Lekha Publishers LLC. Material in this magazine are drawn from student writings’ from Lekha Anthologies published over the years as well as from current student writings’ from Lekha Writing Center classes and camps.

Images Used are Copyright Free and Royalty Free.

Shutterstock images have been used in this issue.

Fonts Used: Segoe Print

FOUNDER’S NOTE Dear Friends of Lekha, It is time to say goodbye to 2021 and to look forward to a new year.

2021 saw a few in-person writing classes, but most were online on Zoom. A lot of beautiful writing came out of the imaginative minds of our students. You have already read a few in the last issue.

This issue brings some more and our annual anthology will bring them all for you to see and enjoy. We had some outside submissions, which made our magazines colorful. This issue highlights a lot of poems. The stories that we have focused on have exceptional settings where the imagination of the writer takes the reader into totally new worlds. Yes, this issue is all about the grandeur of fiction.

We are entering our 5th year of publication this year. This year onwards, we will add two older issues to our regular quarterly issues. Our regular new issues will be published on March 15th, May 30th, September 30th, and December 15th.

The two older issues will be added in January 15th and July 15th. Please do submit your stories, poems, and scripts to us and let your friends know about Young Wordsmiths.

Wishing you all a safe and healthy 2022!

Love, Jyoti Yelagalawadi.

Founder of Lekha Ink, Corp.

YOUNG WORDSMITHS is a quarterly magazine.

ONLINE ISSN: 2691-7912 Vol 4. No 4 Price: $2.99 EDITOR: Radhika Rajesh Raikar

If you love to write and love telling stories, then please send your submissions to the following email address:

submissions@lekhaink.com

Inside this issue…..

Splotches Color, Acrostic, Story poems

...Page 7 ….Page 8-9

Couplets

…Page 10-11

Hide Hide

...Page 12-13

Someone different Inside

...Page 14-15

Word Games

…Page 16-17

Under the Sea

...Page 18-19

Mary

...Page 20-21

Queen of Faunamalia

…Page 22-25

Saving Deifa

…Page 26-29

Brave Airepell

...Page 30-31

Vizmote Attack

...Page 32-35

The Unisis and the Princess

...Page 36-37

The Boringest of the Boring Happy New Year

....Page 38 …..Page 39

Young wordsmiths love to write poems and some even design their own poetry.

SPLOTCHES—A CINQUAIN WRITTEN AND DESIGNED BY RADHIKA JHAVERI AGE 9, IN 2021 DESIGNED USING PROCREATE

ACROSTIC POEM STORY POEM

COLOR POEM

WRITTEN AND DESIGNED BY SWEEKRUTI KULKARNI AGE 10, IN 2021

DESIGNED USING GOOGLE SLIDES

COUPLETS

WRITTEN AND DESIGNED BY SWEEKRUTI KULKARNI AGE 10, IN 2021

DESIGNED USING GOOGLE SLIDES

COUPLETS THE HEART OF THE GREEN WRITTEN BY PAVEL DOGLOV AGE 11, IN 2010

The Heart of Green teems with Life In its veins there is no strife The animals of the ancient wood Have leaped and laughed and long have stood

The legend is bear foretold Not one of power or of gold The rungs by which a being holds These rungs are not of plastic molds This being is one of life Not able to wield a horn or knife Against its own

HIDE HIDE!

BY ARIA LELE, AGE 9, 2021 Hide Hide!

Let’s be camouflaged!

So that we aren’t a favorite snack!

For herons!

And we will survive!

Hide Hide!

Let’s be camouflaged!

So that we aren’t a favorite snack!

And we will survive.

But I am hungry.

Hide Hide!

Let’s be camouflaged!

So that we aren’t a favorite snack!

But I am hungry And there is a fly flying above me!

Hide Hide!

Let’s be camouflaged!

So that we aren’t a favorite snack!

And there is a fly flying above me!

But there is a heron near me!

Hide Hide!

Let’s be camouflaged!

So that we aren’t a favorite snack!

But there is a heron near me!

What will I do?

Hide Hide!

Let’s be camouflaged!

So that we aren’t a favorite snack!

What will I do?

I will trick the heron!

Hide Hide!

Let’s be camouflaged!

So that we aren’t a favorite snack!

I will trick the heron!

I will talk to a little frog and the heron will go there!

Hide Hide!

Let’s be camouflaged!

So that we aren’t a favorite snack!

I will talk to a little frog and the heron will go there!

That will let me eat the flies!

Hide Hide!

Let’s be camouflaged!

So that we aren’t a favorite snack!

I ate my lunch, And I will remain camouflaged once again!

Hide Hide!

REPETITION Using the same word, sound, or phrase over and over again is a very effective tool in poetry.

SOMEONE DIFFERENT INSIDE

BY KAVYA MUNNANGI, AGE 10, 2007 Feels like I have no voice in the crowd Feels like no one cares about me They say to be strong and proud But how can I be Everyone seems to be special Though they’re all just the same To be truthful I got much more of an aim They all act so happy But are they really inside I want to know because Maybe I’m just not fine Will I ever be known for who I am Will I ever quit acting like everything is just right Why can’t I just pull off my cover My life is in a knot so tight I should just express my feelings I should just tell them how I feel Hopefully they will understand me And then I can be real Will they understand me That’s the only question Will they stand beside me Should I make my confession Will they still support me As they have done for many years What if I am afraid I guess I’ll forget my fears Will I still have an identity Should I alert my peers I hope they don’t humiliate me Or I might unleash my tears

I Feel

Will I still have friends

Will my life still matter Will I have to change again For the worse or better Will I be misguided

I Think

Will I have another chance Will there still be light In the future like in the past

Once I get through this Will there be more pain Will I feel enlightened Or be alone in the rain All these questions are popping up Should I ask or should I refrain Should I share them out loud Or should I hide them in my brain I will still be good at things Just like before Writing, soccer and baseball And much, much more Hope is going to guide me Through the dark days and nights I will still be happy Though it takes some tries I wonder if I belong here Will I still be free Will my friends understand This is who I’m going to be I want them to get my message That as long as I’m alive I will be who I am And I’ll go ahead and strive

Under the Sea UNDER THE SEA WRITTEN BY KAIVALYA TALLAM, AGE 11 IN 2013 CRASH! The door slammed.

“ANGEL, WHAT IS THIS PUPPY DOING IN THE PALACE! YOU KNOW HE IS NOT ALLOWED INSIDE!” the king bellowed.

Angel swam in slowly, with her head bowed down.

“I am very sorry father, but he is lost, he needs either a loving family, or his previous owners.”

The king looked at Angel’s hopeful face. He realized how well she had been taking care of the puppy, so he gave her a choice.

“Angelica Underwater, you may keep the puppy on one condition, you must find his previous owners, if not, he can stay in the Palace.”

Angel agreed, and looked around the kingdom for the puppy’s owners.

Nobody had lost a puppy. Angel was excited! She knew that her puppy was a stray and had no owners.

“I’ll name you Starlight,” Angel said to the puppy.

At that moment, Angel was washed in darkness. Her turquoise tail was still, as two mermen covered in black, stood behind her.

Starlight ran to the king as the mermen were talking to each other. He tried to tell the king that Angel was being taken away, but the king couldn’t understand him. He decided to take a few guards with him and follow Starlight. Starlight ran fast, and the king and his guards struggled to keep up. They reached Angel’s room and found the black mermen just about to escape with the poor, tied up Angel.

Just as Angel started to see light, Starlight bit one of the mermen. The guards took hold of the mermen and took them away.

Angel went to Starlight and hugged him.

“Starlight is the one who saved you, so it is his choice whether he wants to stay,” decided the king.

Starlight barked and looked into Angel’s eyes.

“He will stay with me father.” Angel said and they both lived happily together after that.

MARY WRITTEN BY NEHA RAVIKUMAR, AGE 7 IN 2013

Fairyland Elementary

Hi, my name is Mary, and I’m seven. I am a fairy, and I go to Fairyland Elementary. I’m getting ready for my big math test on Monday. Come with me to Fairyland Elementary. We are going to have so much fun! Oh look, there’s my teacher, Mrs. Bluebell.

“Hello, Mary,” she says.

I sit in the front of the class.

“Today, we are going to learn about how use math, magic fairies,” Mrs. Bluebell says.

“I only know how to do math by writing, not by useless magic,” someone in the back of the room whispers.

“That sounds like fun!” says Jacob.

Mrs. Bluebell continues. “So first, you take out your books and turn to page thirty-eight, please.”

“I can’t wait, because math is my favorite subject,” I say.

“It’s my favorite, too,” says Sparkle.

“I hate math,” says Sam. “Well, let’s move on and learn, fairies,” says Mrs. Bluebell.

“Take out a piece of paper and your training wand. Wave your wand in circles and say a math problem twice, and after that, say the answer softly. Good job, fairies! Now, practice it a few times and then go on to Mrs. Twinkle’s class. Bye bye!”

Mrs. Twinkle is our singing teacher. Come on, let’s go to music class!

“Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do!” Mrs. Twinkle sings. “I love singing, don’t you, fairies?”

“Yes, we do!” we chorus back.

“Okay, so fairies, let’s mix it up like this. Do-la-so-fa-re-mi!” The whole class practices. “Well, we are done for the day. Go home.” I go home and I am so excited because tomorrow is the big test. I can’t wait.

I can hardly sleep at night.

Rise and shine! Today is the big test. Okay, so you wait here and I’ll take the test, and I’ll tell you the score, okay?

Two hours later…

“I got an A! Yippee! Well, it was good meeting you, bye bye!”

OF FAUNAMALIA WRITTEN BY SELINA LI, AGE 11 IN 2021 Pearl was twelve years old and a bit short for her age. She was a human, but she was also a shape shifter who could change herself into different animals. She had hair as black as coal, skin that glowed like the sun, and eyes a rich chocolate brown. All of her friends described her as gentle, caring, determined, and kind, but not vulnerable.

She was wary of her surroundings and sensitive to any changes in the environment. She was not afraid to take on any challenger or opponent and had good fighting strategies. Her only weakness was any animal. Yes, any animal. Especially gentle, friendly animals, such as sea turtles, sea horses, dolphins, fish, bubble babies (a type of dragon), and more. At the sight of one of her wonderful friends she would go weak in the knees, but would stand up to any aggressive or cruel creature with courage.

She was separated from her parents before she woke up after birth, and lived with her grandparents before they too disappeared when she was a young child. Before they left her, her grandmother gave her a bracelet of purest gold and told her that it contained special abilities. But, no one knew what powers it contained.

This treasure was pursued by many villains, hoping to obtain this special bracelet. One villain had trapped her in his marine kingdom hoping to take her bracelet someday by weakening her powers.

Pearl’s goal was to escape his grasp and return to a normal life on land.

It was 1934, and Pearl was trapped underwater by a sorcerer named Sintar. His magical kingdom was surrounded by a protective bubble. No one could enter and exit as they pleased.

The palace was decorated with intricate designs of waves and swirls and seahorses. There was a golden statue of a mermaid in the center of the room and a throne in the front, facing the door.

Pearl was given a beautiful room with a cozy bed and a closet filled with expensive-looking clothing and accessories. Pearl had been trapped here since she was two and a half years old, meaning that she had lived in the palace for nine and a half years.

Pearl looked out the circular window in her bedroom and sighed. Such a pretty sight! It was a sunny day above the water, and the ocean was still and clear. There was a coral reef outside her window, and schools of fish darted here and there. Pink, orange, blue and green creatures of every kind hid among the branches of treelike coral and floating kelp.

The most horrible day in her life was when she was taken from her home and stuck inside this room for the rest of her life, just so Sintar, that old sorcerer, could steal her bracelet.

At least she had her beloved leather-back sea turtle, Seastar. She could say anything to Seastar. She could rant on and on about her problems.

Seastar would just keep listening intently without uttering a single word of annoyance. Seastar was Pearl’s best friend for life.

What Pearl didn’t understand was why Sintar was so awfully nice to her even though he was known for being a ruthless villain. She got such a nice room, delicious meals of seaweed and magic clam soup. It just didn’t fit with all the rumors she heard.

A few weeks later, Pearl was once again looking out the window with Seastar when she heard a knock on the door and then the door creaked open. Sintar walked in.

He said, “I want to talk to you, Pearl.”

He let the door close with a slam.

“Well, Pearl, I have given you good food to eat and a nice room to live in. So, I believe you shall give me something in return now, hmm?” the crafty Sintar asked with a sickly, sweet smile.

“What do you want?” Pearl asked, arching her eyebrows.

“Well, let’s just say I want a little favor from you. Give me your bracelet.

Now!” Sintar’s voice turned as sour as an unripe plum.

Pearl shouted, “Never in my life, you old, miserable man!” and clutched her beloved bracelet tightly.

Sintar announced, “Well, then I will have to show no mercy!”

He pulled out a golden sword which gleamed like thousands of sparkly shiny diamonds. Shocked by his challenge to a fight, Pearl slowly slid out her wooden spear with a carved stone tip.

“Let’s fight.”

Now it was Sintar’s turn to be taken by surprise. He did not know that Pearl knew how to duel too!

“Well, well,” he muttered through gritted teeth, “looks like little Pearly thinks she can defeat me, huh? Well, just see what I can do.”

Then he charged at Pearl and they began a heated battle.

At first, it seemed like Sintar was winning, but Pearl was secretly saving her energy for the end. Suddenly, she lunged forward and clonked her spear onto his head, making her opponent howl in horrible pain.

While he was clutching his head and moaning in agony, she grabbed his magic sword, which also happened to be a magical wand, and yelled, “Abracadabra alakazam!”

A giant puff of blue smoke appeared, clouding the room with dust.

“Achoo! Achoo!” Pearl sneezed and fanned the smoke away from her face.

When the smoke disappeared, Sintar was gone. Then, she saw a tiny piece of delicious seaweed on a small plate set on the floor, and she shrugged and ate it. Little did she know that she had turned Sintar into the piece of seaweed that she had just eaten.

The next day was a beautiful morning under the sea. The water glistened like the sun and rippled softly. Pearl was sure glad Sintar was gone! Now she could live in the palace in peace and happiness.

The moment she walked out the bedroom door she was greeted by shouts of joy, thunderous applause, and cheers. She looked around and noticed that all of the kingdom’s citizens, subjects, and sea creatures were outside her room screaming and yelling, for her. The former king’s advisor walked up to her and handed her a golden crown decorated with gems and jewels.

Pearl wondered in surprise, “For me?”

Her jaw dropped open. Sintar’s old advisor, now her advisor, nodded and smiled. He took the crown from her hand and placed it gently on her heard and pronounced loudly, “I now crown Pearl the rightful queen of Kingdom Faunamalia!”

Then everybody started shouting and congratulating Pearl, who was blushing and saying modestly, “Oh, no, no, I can’t take the honor. Oh no.”

Someone started to chant, “Hip hip hooray!” and soon everybody joined in.

Pearl looked so happy she could burst with joy!

That night, Pearl lay in bed and thought to herself, What a turn in luck!

Now I can be free to rule my own wonderful kingdom! She knew that she would live happily ever after.

SAVING DEIFA WRITTEN BY HANNAH YANG, AGE 12, 2012 Meet Zelia, a kind, quiet and shy Unipeganny. She was only one year old.

She had soft and fluffy bunny ears that were pale pink. Zelia also had a fluffy bunny tail and was quite short for her age. Her mane was soft and smooth with light shades of pink, blue and white. Her unicorn horn was striped blue and white, and was smooth to the touch. Zelia’s pegasi wings were still stubby, as she was young; but they were the purest white, whiter than the cleanest snow. Her body shimmered pink, blue, and white when she moved. Her hooves were pearly, pale blue and often glistened in the sunlight. Zelia was not the best athlete. She was never ever mean to anyone and was secretly an incredible poet.

Zelia lived in the barren lands of the once beautiful Enchanted Forest, where horses of all kinds lived. Unfortunately, the forest was cursed by a witch, unknown to the world of Deifa, so that the grass would shrivel and wither, and never turn green again.

The ponies of the forest were starving and Zelia wanted to bring back the once beautiful nature. Zelia’s best friend was Fluttershy, an older and wiser Unipeganny. Zelia was an only child to two loving parents. The land of Deifa was in trouble. Daggers of lightning crashed through the sky and rain poured. Zelia grew frightened and snuggled against Fluttershy, her friend, and wearily fell asleep.

When Zelia woke up, all she remembered was black. Why was everything still black? Zelia didn’t understand. She remembered green a year ago, when she was born.

“I’ll bring nature back,” Zelia finally decided.

So, Zelia packed all her belongings and the leftover foods and set off on her journey with Fluttershy, who had agreed to come with her.

“We’ve been walking for hours!” Zelia complained. “Let my hooves rest for ten minutes.”

Fluttershy looked back, her face showing annoyance. But she consented, insisting on only five minutes.

“We’ve got a long journey and we’ve yet to spot the Leaf of Life! You can’t keep complaining or we’ll never save Deifa,” Fluttershy added, tossing her silky fuchsia mane. Zelia grumbled unhappily but moved on, muttering something about aching knees and ouchy hooves.

Fluttershy flew up ahead, and landed. “Well, Zelia, if your flight wings would grow sooner, maybe we could fly,” she said softly.

Zelia nodded in agreement. “I wish,” she murmured.

After about another hour and a half, they spotted a color they had not seen in a full year.

“Green! Grass! Food!” Zelia cheered. “And rest,” she added softly.

Fluttershy shot a warning look at Zelia.

“No eating yet. Look for a glittering green leaf first,” Fluttershy said. “We may find that Leaf of Life.”

Zelia looked around, then abruptly turned and asked, “But are you sure that leaf will save Deifa?” Fluttershy nodded.

“I don’t see any, Fluttershy,” Zelia muttered and galloped off to graze on the grass. Fluttershy did the same.

As soon as both ponies had started eating, the meadow began to close up, revealing an invisible cage that was keeping both ponies firmly shut inside.

“Help!” Zelia and Fluttershy screamed at the same time. And everything went black.

Sleepily, both ponies opened their eyes, surprised to find themselves in a dark room in some sort of castle or a dungeon.

“Where are we?” Zelia asked. The door suddenly swung open and a thing in a sweeping black cloak with a red dress appeared.

“You, my dears,” it said with a nasty bit of sarcasm, “are in the dungeons.

Where else would you be after you tried to mess up my curse?”

Zelia cowered in a far corner. Fluttershy, who had been sprawled on the floor, suddenly stood up.

“Your curse? The one that kept us starving for so long, forcing us to eat leftovers of withered plants, and made the ponies worry day and night about what to eat the next day?” she questioned angrily. “Why would you do that if you’re a pony yourself?”

The evil pony angrily kicked the air with her hooves, whinnying. “My mother,” she spat coldly, “never cared for me. I was mistreated as a baby.

She got her revenge on all her people that Celestia.”

Fluttershy and Zelia were silent.

Suddenly Zelia peeped, “Queen Celestia? You mean, you’re a princess? The missing Princess Lunara?” Lunara turned to them and nodded.

“By that yellow pony’s description I sound like a criminal. I thought I’d teach them a lesson, not starve the ponies!” the devastated pony wailed.

Fluttershy walked up and soothed Lunara calmly, telling her it was okay. “I can’t undo the spell without the Leaf of Life,” Lunara whispered. “I don’t know where it is. I’m sorry about you all starving. Can I ask a question?”

Fluttershy nodded. “Of course! What do you want to know?”

Lunara lowered her head. “How is… my mom?”

Fluttershy and Zelia looked at each other. Zelia muttered something.

“What did you say?” Lunara asked, her eyes wide with panic.

Zelia nearly cried. “No one knows! She disappeared… I forget when.”

Lunara told Fluttershy and Zelia that she didn’t know how to help them.

Zelia became angry. “You have to help your people! Don’t you want to keep them alive? Please help us save Deifa.”

Fluttershy nodded forcefully. Lunara sighed and nodded.

“I know where the Leaf of Life is,” Lunara said, “Celestia’s palace.”

Zelia stopped.

“You just said you didn’t know where it was!” she asked suspiciously.

Lunara said, “I just remembered. When I was young, Mother made me read a safety scroll. It said all the valuables of Deifa were kept there, which included the Leaf of Life, Flower of Freedom, and the Diamond of Deifa.”

Fluttershy and Zelia were speechless. They knew those three items were the most important valuables of Deifa. So, the trio set off Lunara’s old home.

After two long days, they arrived. “Come in, daughter,” said a pony on a jeweled throne.

“Mother,” Lunara gasped.

“I am ashamed of you, yet so very proud of your decision to let your people live.” Queen Celestia said softly.

“Will you undo your past for the people and yourself?” Lunara nodded humbly; no longer arrogant and angry.

The ponies lived happily forever, with Lunara as the new queen, and Zelia and Fluttershy as happy lady royals.

BRAVE AIREPELL WRITTEN BY RENA NGUYEN, AGE 11, 2012

LAND OF OLIM

It was just another day in the land of Olim. Airepell fluttered her wings. The sun rose in the early morning. Airepell started out the door. She walked across the land bridge to the castle, where she tended the gardens. The sun sparkled upon the glass castle walls. She walked through the castle door and went to the inner garden.

Airepell sat down and started tending to the moonstone trees and the starflowers. As she sprinkled a special growing formula onto the plants. She noticed a tiny seedling growing in the meteor vine patch.

It had a silver stem and golden leaves. On top of it was a tiny bud made of curled up diamond petals. It was beautiful. She inched her way closer to it.

For a moment, Airepell sat there staring at the curious plant, and then she grabbed a shovel, dug it out, and put it in a tiny pot so she could take it home. At home, she placed the little seedling pot by the window. It sparkled and shone in the light of the setting sun. It was just another day in the land of Olim. Or was it?

Airepell awoke to the sound of glass crashing in the kitchen. She ran over to the kitchen to where the sound was coming from and to her horror, she saw that there was a huge monster towering ten feet above her. Her fishy tail flipped in shock. The monster had a silver body with golden arms and a diamond head. Airepell realized that it had grown from the tiny seedling she had gotten yesterday. The monster growled at her, raised a fist, then Airepell’s world turned black.

While Airepell lay unconscious on the ground the monster paraded through the kingdom crushing buildings and homes. Its golden fists seemed to smash the buildings with ease. Olimnites were fleeing in terror, running this way and that. Others jumped into the lake.

Some flew away.

Airepell woke up and saw the monster crushing everything in its path. She figured that the only way that she could kill the horrid creature was to cut off its head. However, the monster’s head was made of diamond, the hardest material known. The only thing that could cut a diamond was another diamond.

Then she remembered the diamond sword in the museum. She flapped her wings and flew there at the speed of light.

Once Airepell reached the museum, which was now half crushed, half tumbling down, she flew through the wreck trying to find the sword. Finally she spotted it. It was lying in the middle of a pile of broken glass. Airepell grabbed it and flew in the direction of the monster.

Airepell flew up to the monster. “Stop!” she commanded.

“You think you can defeat me?” the monster yelled. Its lips didn’t move, it was like the sound echoed from every part of its body.

“Try me!” said Airepell, jumping up and cutting off one of the monster’s arms. It howled in pain. Then, Airepell skillfully cut off one of its legs. The monster yelped and fell down. Airepell raised the sword in the air and drove straight down into the monster’s head. The beast twitched, then was still. The hiding Olimnites came out and cheered.

Brave Airepell had saved them all!

VIZMOTE ATTACK WRIITEN BY SAIMA YUNUS, AGE 11, 2012

Once there was a creature called a Birumalien. It had the torso, arms, and wings of an alien, legs and feet of a human, and the head of a bird.

The Birumalien species lived on the planet Peacera. There were many Birumaliens, but one was doing something particularly important.

Birdwing flew through the starry orange sky, her long brown hair flying in the wind, slapping against her bird-like face. From this height, she could see all of Peacera, including the cotton candy trees. However, Birdwing was not flying around to admire the sights on her planet. She had an important message to deliver, and fast! She soared until she saw a house-shaped constellation. She flew there, and settled down in the starry yard.

“Kellie!” she called out softly. No response.

“Kellie!” she chirped again.

Finally, someone groaned, “What is it now, Birdwing?”

The door opened and a brunette, blue-eyed head popped out.

“Kellie!” Birdwing exclaimed.

“Can’t a star rider get a wink of sleep around here?” Kellie complained.

She was very sleepy after riding. “This had better be good.”

“It is, I promise. Actually, no it isn’t. It’s bad. Really bad!” Birdwing chirped worriedly.

“Just say it,” Kellie muttered.

“Okay. While you were asleep, I went on a midnight flying spree, when I saw Vizmo! I got a bird’s-eye view, but it wasn’t good. The Vizmotes are going to attack Peacera and steal our cotton candy trees!” Birdwing screeched.

“What?” Kellie exclaimed, now wide awake. “It can’t be true!”

“What are we going to do?” Birdwing wailed.

“I know what to do. Don’t worry,” Kellie assured her, suddenly calmer and more confident. “For now, get some sleep. I’ll tell you in the morning.”

As Birdwing lay curled up in her nest, she wished she could share Kellie’s confidence.

The next day, Birdwing woke up and couldn’t believe her eyes. The chief star rider and queen of Peacera, Queen Hope, stood there.

“Wow!” she exclaimed, and flapped over to join the others.

Birdwing saw Kellie and ran to her. “Kellie, what’s going on?”

“Oh, hi, Birdwing!” Kellie sounded excited. How can she be excited when our trees are going to be stolen? Birdwing thought.

“Queen Hope is going to get back at the king of the Vizmotes! I can’t wait!”

“It’s about time she told him that the Peacera food is ours, and ours only,” Birdwing agreed.

Queen Hope’s clear voice silenced them. “Star riders and Birumaliens of Peacera” she began, “Kellie has relayed the news to me, that the the king of the Vizmotes, Michael, wants our trees.”

Her voice was nearly drowned out by shouts of anger. She raised a hand for silence.

“Anyway,” she continued, “we must get back at Michael. We will set up a fighting force and teach the Vizmotes a lesson they won’t soon forget!”

“Yes! Yes! Save Peacera! Save Peacera!” the Peacerians called out.

“Birdwing, Kellie says you told her this. Thank you.” Queen Hope praised.

Birdwing shyly bowed her head as the people called out her name.

“Let’s get started. Thank you Birdwing, for giving us such valuable piece of information. You will observe the Vizmotes’ battle moves and teach all the other Birumaliens. Kellie, you shall do the same, but with the star riders. No more playing on your star at night!”

Hope hinted playfully, her eyes glinting. Kellie giggled.

“Let’s start!” Hope said commandingly. Everyone split up into groups and learned fighting moves.

Before Birdwing and Kellie knew it, it was the eve of the battle. Birdwing was proud of the Birumaliens, and Kellie was proud of her star riders.

They were quick learners, and the two friends were glad they weren’t facing the formidable creatures in battle.

“Good night, Kellie. Good luck,” Birdwing murmured.

“Good luck to you, too, Birdwing. Remember, we’re in this together.”

Kellie whispered, and the two went to sleep, curled up beside each other.

The next day, Birdwing yawned and was about to ask Kellie why she wasn’t at home, then remembered. She shot up out of bed, wide awake, and started prodding Kellie. Kellie shot out of bed too, and smiled at Birdwing. The two flew over to the middle of Peacera.

The people of Peacera were already battling with the Vizmotes. A filthy male Vizmote was writhing under Birdwing’s mother’s grasp. A female Vizmote had leaped onto Kellie’s brother!

“Let him go!” Kellie screeched, and leaped into the battle. Birdwing dove in after her. All around Peacera, Peacerians were battling with Vizmotes.

Birdwing dove in after her. She felt the sheer joy of battle as the Peacerians defended their trees. After a while, as much as Birdwing wanted to defend her home planet, she was getting exhausted.

Then she heard a shout, “LEAVE! LEAVE!” She looked up from a female Vizmote she was holding.

Birdwing almost wanted to scream in joy. The Peacerians had grabbed sticks, stones, you name it, and were beginning to drive out the Vizmotes.

“Retreat! Retreat!” Michael screamed. As his people charged out and boarded a spaceship home, the Peacerians watched.

Then, a sound gradually swelled from their throats, a yell of victory.

“WE DID IT!” The Peacerians had won. Their trees would be their trees forever.

THE UNISIS AND THE PRINCESS WRITTEN BY NADIA MCGRATH, AGE 8, 2013

Once upon a time there was a princess named Melisa who lived in a castle. Across the park there was a forest. There was a legend about the forest and a creature that lived within it, called a Unisis.

It was a mix of a unicorn and a pegasus.

A princess lived in the same castle as Melisa. Her name was Isabel.

They say that she was the first princess to ever see a Unisis. They say she saw it on her birthday (but they never said which birthday it was). Melisa always wanted to see a Unisis, so every year on her birthday she would look outside for a Unisis but she never spotted one.

Nobody believed Isabel anymore and everybody tried to convince her that it was not true. She tried to convince everybody that it was real but nobody believed her so she grew sad.

She spent many weeks and days waiting, painting, and drawing pictures of what she thought the Unisis looked like. On her third birthday, she looked outside for the Unisis and she saw something that looked like a horse tail. On her sixth birthday she saw the same horse tail but this time she saw hooves too. They were sparkly purple. The tail had purple stripes, so she started drawing pictures of horses that had sparkly purple hooves, and purple-striped tails.

When she turned eight, she looked outside and saw the same stripy purple tail, sparkly purple hooves, and this time she also saw stripy purple wings.

She started drawing pictures of pegasi with purple sparkly hooves and stripy purple manes and tails.

On her tenth birthday, she looked outside and she saw the same kind of Pegasus. Except this time it had purple stripes on its body and it looked more like a unicorn. It had a horn on its head and it was purple and white.

Then she knew why it was called a Unisis. She put on a fancy dress and went outside. She went on a ride on the Unisis. It was so fun. She went high in the sky and then she brought it into the castle and showed everyone. Her mother and father let her keep it and use it as her horse. She named it Crystal and now she rides it every day.

THE (NOT SO) BORINGEST OF THE BORING LUCIA WILDER, AGE 8, 2013 Boring Polly and her pet ghost Transparent were sitting on a mountain, having a very boring day. It was just like every other day. Then, Polly had an idea. She decided that they would move to her Uncle Sue’s house.

Polly and Transparent were packing their bags when Transparent asked, “Are you sure that moving to Uncle Sue’s place will stop our boring days?”

“Yes, I’m sure. And if for some reason it doesn’t, then we’ll just have to use Plan B.” So off they went to Uncle Sue’s.

When Polly and Transparent arrived at Uncle Sue’s, Polly told Uncle Sue why she was there.

Uncle Sue said, “Well, my place is just as boring as yours.”

Polly was glad that she and Transparent had made a Plan B. She whispered it to Uncle Sue and they all went off to Hollywood. In Hollywood, Uncle Sue, Transparent, and Polly all became movie stars and their lives were never boring again.