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Hooves splashed in the shallow water. Noelle gazed at the ceiling in childlike wonder, the scattered stones illuminating her wide eyes. They seemed to blink and shimmer above them, casting their glow into the sisters’ irises.
“Wow…” Noelle whispered. “There’s so many!”
Dess huffed, barely sparing a glance at the ceiling and instead weaved her way through the aquamarine flowers littering the reservoir.
Noelle darted ahead, craning her neck to take in the sheer vastness of the cave. She spun around to face her sister.
“Do you think real stars look like this too?”
Dess paused in thought. “...Probably not. I think… I think they’re better,” she replied, eyes flitting to the cavern’s roof.
“You think so?!” Noelle beamed, a wide smile plastered on her face.
Dess grinned back. “Yeah!” She took Noelle’s hoof, guiding her through the tranquil, winding passageways, the sound of rushing water filling the silence.
There was a beat. Dess stole a glance at her sister, who seemed enchanted by the fake universe above them.
“You know what Dad told me a long time ago?” Dess asked.
“What?”
Her voice softened as she remembered their late father. The nostalgic words filled her memory, a tale told through smiling eyes and a hearty laugh. “A long time ago, monsters would whisper their wishes to the stars in the sky. If you hoped with all your heart, your wish would come true.” She glanced down at Noelle, whose eyes sparkled anew. Dess smiled softly, but it didn’t match her eyes as the pair observed the artificial starlight dancing through the darkness. She looked away quickly, instead noting the soft blue glow from a nearby flower.
“But…” she sighed. “Now, all we have are these sparkling stones on the ceiling…”
Noelle’s gaze drifted to the water, lost in thought. Dess studied her in silence until Noelle finally spoke.
“What if… what if all the monsters in the Underground decided to make a wish?” Noelle asked, holding her hands in front of her chest. “And if everyone wished really hard, maybe we can all escape to the surface!”
Dess stared at Noelle wide-eyed, then held back a laugh. “Everyone in the Underground?”
Noelle nodded fervently, eager to prove her point. “ Thousands of people wishing together can’t be wrong! ” Her eyes gleamed with determination. “ The king will prove that.”
Her older sister placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair endearingly. “You really think so?”
“Of course! What, you don’t?” The younger sister tilted her head. “Do you have a different wish?”
Dess giggled. “Ah, I dunno...”
“C’mon, sis! Make a wish!”
“You first.”
Noelle pouted, but then thought for a moment. “Hmmm…”
She tilted her head back and peered at the shining pebbles, her eyelids shut, and clasped her hooves together.
“I wish my sister and I will see the real stars someday...” she whispered, the words floating off her tongue and into the sky of hopes and dreams.
Dess couldn’t help but smile at her sister’s wish. She held her hand as Noelle opened her eyes, leading her into the next empty cavern. The water itself seemed to glow, tiny water droplets illuminating the dim atmosphere.
The Holiday sisters were silent for a while, until Noelle spoke up again.
“So? Don’t you have any wishes to make?”
“... hmmm, just one, but... ” Dess hesitated, looking off to the side. “ It’s kind of stupid.”
Noelle grabbed her wrist, brows furrowed. “Don’t say that! ” She pulled on the arm she was holding. “ Come on, I promise I won’t laugh.”
Her older sister looked down on her, amused. “... hmmm... if I say my wish... You promise you won’t laugh at me?”
They continued walking, their steps echoing against the hardened stone floor. “Of course I won’t laugh!”
Dess bit her cheek. “Someday, I’d like to climb this mountain we’re all buried under. ” Her grip on Noelle tightened slightly. “ Standing under the sky, looking at the world all around... That’s my wish.”
The younger Holiday sister tried to stifle a giggle, but the small sound reverberated in the echoey chamber anyways. Red dusted Dess’ cheeks.
“... hey, you said you wouldn’t laugh at it!”
“Sorry, it’s just funny… ” Noelle gave Dess a toothy grin. “ That’s my wish, too.”