ACT I
SCENE 2
SETTING: Farthest Reach. Night Sky. Prominence 2.
AT RISE: Astiara, regal as ever, hasn't moved from the solar throne which is subtly closer to the audience. The star dusts are gathered before the pink monarch, piling on each other to get a glimpse of the world below.
STAR DUSTS (singing excitedly.)
(THE DUSTS TURN TOWARD THE THRONE. GLITTERING WITH CURIOSITY.)
Astiara, Ah, Astiara!
Astiara our Monarch in Pink! Astiara kindest among the stars!
Astiara who comes for the Lover, Astiara who draws in the Lover!
Who will you choose, oh who will you choose to receive your light?(chattering.)
Archeus the Ever-Young? Shaprishka the Unbelieving? Lexal the August? The Progeny of Arkhun?ASTIARA (fierce and imposing.)
"Neither."(THE STAR UTTERS A RESOUNDING WORD. THE DUSTS SHUDDER AND ALL IS SILENT, PETRIFIED BY AWE AND TERROR. ALL SAVE FOR A LONE DUST, BRAVE AND FOOL. LITTLE AND YOUNG.)
THE BRAVE AND FOOL LITTLEST STAR DUST (quivering.)
Who then, will our Highness choose?(All dusts turn toward the fool, flabbergasted at its foolishness.)
ASTIARA (sighing.)
"What is a shine for those blessed to live in Light? A mundane breath, a forgotten scent. Name not those who living in light were showered in light, for aren't their eyes clouded? See to those who live in Dark, those who know and fear the Light. Those will understand our Love."STAR DUSTS (praising and cursing.)
Astiara, Ah, Astiara!
Astiara Who Lights the Path! Astiara the Ever-Wise!
How short-sighted we were, oh how short-sighted!(The uproar rises and peak, until it dies down.)
Pink to kindle care
(The brave dust speaks again.)
THE BRAVE AND FOOL LITTLEST STAR DUST (starry eyed.)
What of the prayer of the Unbelieving?(All dusts turn toward the fool, again, their shock and anger undiminished.)
ASTIARA (scornful.)
"Love, littlest dust, love. But do not give your love to those who ask but do not long. Hollow are their hearts, and lacking longing they will squander your precious love. They are as gourmets without a tongue, perfumers without a nose, musicians without an ear."ASTIARA (confident, and eager.)
"To you who were scorned. To you who fear the stars. Fear not the light-in-pink, embrace our Love."(The Star plucks a jewelled petal from the throne, and gently blows upon it. The petal flies toward the world, heading for the deep forests...)
(BLACKOUT)(END OF SCENE)----------
ASTIARA points at the deep forest crone.
Vision (Prominence 1): The crone is given a glimpse of the Solar Throne and the endless love of the Pink Star, followed by the sight of a life blessed-in-pink: bliss and love and laugh and song along her soulmate and their progeny, and their friends.
Blessing (Prominence 2): The deep forest crone is blessed with aphrodisiac youth and beauty as her hair becomes a radiant solar pink, which shall be passed to her descendants. With the blessing of the Pink Star, she is bound to find her fated soulmate soon.