Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

FADE IN:

We begin with a single lantern illuminating a yellow curtain. Light guitar music is played as the curtain opens to reveal a book resting on a stand with a lit candle next to it and a lute leaning on the wall behind it. The book is a deep indigo color and covered with little yellow cartoon stars. Written on the book’s cover Is a single golden word written in a royal font: WISH.

The book opens to its first two pages: a double-spread depicting a starry-night sky. One star in the center of the pages shines brighter and bigger than the hundreds of other stars surrounding it. The only words written on the pages are on the top left corner, written in a white box in blue ink, that ever classic line: “Once upon a time.” The camera zooms into the book until the scene transitions into an actual starry night sky just like the one inside it.

EXT. THE SKY - NIGHT

The camera stays on this scene as the first two lines of the song are sung by someone offscreen.

??? (O.S)
♪Take it from this antique♪
♪When your hopes are in despair♪

The camera pans down as the song continues, until it shows an old man and a young girl in a purple dress hiking through the forest.

??? (O.S)
♪If your desires have strings♪
♪Free them, give them some air♪
♪Cause any wish that's got your heart♪
♪On the edge of breaking♪
♪Is a wish worth making♪

The camera cuts to a close-up of Sabino’s face as he plays his lute and sings. He walks with his eyes closed, as if he had trekked this path a million times.

SABINO
♪Yes, everybody dreams♪
♪To be something someday somewhere♪

The camera then cuts to the young girl looking up at the old man, completely captivated by his singing.

SABINO
♪Even kings and queens♪
♪Daydream to be free from their royal chairs♪

The camera then cuts behind the two as they approach their destination, a large tree overlooking a cliff with long multicolored strips of paper tied to its branches.

SABINO
♪Well, any dream that's got your heart♪
♪Even when you're not sleeping♪
♪Is a drеam worth dreaming♪
Here we are, Asha.

ASHA
What is this place, Sabino?

SABINO
What does it look like? It’s a Wishing Tree.

ASHA
What’s a Wishing Tree?

The two continue to talk as they climb up the tree.

SABINO
It’s kind of all in the name. You hang your wishes on the branches and the stars shine on them. Not just any wish of course, the one that drives your heart. That makes you who you are.

The camera cuts to show the wishing tree under a starry night sky before cutting back to Sabino and Asha.

SABINO
Your parents wanted to wait until your sixth birthday for you to come here. But I think four days from then is close enough, don’t you?

ASHA
You shouldn’t break the rules, Sabino.

SABINO
Certainly not all the time. But what’s life when you only ever do as you’re told?

Asha doesn’t answer. She’s distracted by what she sees in the distance, a great big city composed of magnificent white structures and a massive castle towering above them all. Sabino follows Asha’s line of sight and frowns.

ASHA
What’s that?

SABINO
That is the Kingdom of Rosas, ruled by King Magnifico and his wife, Queen Amaya. One hundred years ago, Magnifico arrived on this island and announced to the whole world that if people came to live here and give him their wishes, he would make them come true.

ASHA
Then why don’t we live over there instead of in the woods?

SABINO
Because wishes aren’t something to give to someone else. They are something to strive for. They are the most beautiful parts of all of us and must be cherished. I founded our hamlet so that I and others like me could hold on to our wishes. It is through hard work and the guidance of the stars that our wishes are meant to come true.

Sabino looks forlornly over a yellow strip of paper fluttering in the wind.

SABINO
And yet, I speak from experience that sometimes, not even that is enough. But that risk is better than the alternative of forgetting that which gives you hope in the faint chance that someone else will make your wish come true for you. Speaking of wishes…

Sabino pulls out three objects from his pocket: a strip of purple paper, a quill, and a bottle of ink. He dips the quill in the ink and presses it onto the paper.

SABINO
Now, why don’t you tell me your wish and we’ll tie it together?

Asha thought for a moment about what she should wish for before walking up to her grandfather and whispering it to his ear.

SABINO
(CHUCKLES) That is a very nice wish, Asha.

Sabino writes Asha’s wish onto the paper. When he’s done, the camera cuts to show that it reads “I wish to always be with my family.” Sabino gives the paper to Asha before picking her up and lifting her to the nearest branch. Asha ties her wish around the branch as tight as she can. Sabino then puts Asha down before groaning and straightening his back.

SABINO
If only someone would wish that I was a young man again.

The two of them laugh before gently holding each other’s hand.

SABINO
Come, let’s not keep your parents waiting.

The two walk off hand in hand. As they do, the camera zooms into one particular star, shining brighter than the others.

KING MAGNIFICO (O.S.)
I see you.

INT. MAGNIFICO’S CASTLE, STUDY – NIGHT

The camera then zooms out to King Magnifico's study at the top of his castle. Magnifico stares up longingly at the star through his skylight. Floating across his study are hundreds of glowing blue orbs, all of Rosas’ wishes left ungranted.

KING MAGNIFICO
I feel your pull. My heart rumbles with such…hunger.

Magnifico’s face drops in annoyance as he turns to his wife, mixing together some kind of potion.

KING MAGNIFICO
Amaya, darling! Did you hear me? I am impatient!

QUEEN AMAYA
I heard you. I’m coming.

Amaya drops a single speck of gold powder into a bottle, making it turn from bright blue into a sickly, glowing green.

QUEEN AMAYA
And luckily for you, I’m devilishly good with a pair of tweezers.

As Amaya walks up the steps to her and her husband’s thrones, her pet Sphynx cat, Charo follows her, purring softly.

KING MAGNIFICO
Is that a brag?

The two of them chuckle briefly.

KING MAGNIFICO
It’s rather weak but alright.

QUEEN AMAYA
Fifty grains. No more, no less.

Amaya hands Magnifico the potion and he looks at it more admirably.

KING MAGNIFICO
Oh, I take that back. You are impressive.

QUEEN AMAYA
As I shine in your light.

KING MAGNIFICO
Tonight’s the night, my dear Amaya! Glory will be mine!

Magnifico looks up to the star before walking towards a pedestal in the middle of his study. He places the bottle delicately on the pedestal’s center and rests his hand right next to it. He exhales briefly as he chants arcane words while magic swirls around him.

KING MAGNIFICO
(WHISPERS) Lucum. Noctis. Terrum.

The sigils on the pedestal and the floor of his study glow with green, ethereal energy. Charo lets out a low, panicking meow while Amaya looks to her in concern before staring at her husband confidently.

KING MAGNIFICO
(WHISPERS) Nefulio.

As he finishes, a beam of green energy shoots from the bottle and bursts out through the skylight until it hits the star Magnifico was talking to. As the bottle’s energy surges throughout the room, Charo panics and jumps on Amaya’s shoulder. Amaya, meanwhile, looks up at the night sky in awe and triumph.

KING MAGNIFICO
(SHOUTING) Aurereum Caelum! Astra perenta reum!

Surging with power, Magnifico grabs onto the beam, which is now working as a tether between our world and the star and using it to try and pull the star towards him. As Magnifico tugs, the star inches closer and closer. Amaya and Charo look on in amazement, almost as certain that absolute victory was in their hands as Magnifico was.

KING MAGNIFICO
Yes! YES!!! YE–

But just then, the tether breaks and the star returns to where it once was in the sky

KING MAGNIFICO
NO!

The surge of energy knocks Magnifico onto his back. When he gets back up, he sees that the bottle’s contents have turned pitch-black. Amaya gasps while Magnifico’s expression changes from shock to utter fury. He takes the bottle and throws it to the floor, yelling in rage. Charo leaps back and yowls in surprise. Amaya tries her best to calm her husband’s temper.

QUEEN AMAYA
Mi rey. Mi rey!

Magnifico ignores her as he runs around his study, knocking everything he can find onto the floor.

KING MAGNIFICO
No! No! No, I had it! I felt it!

QUEEN AMAYA
I-it’s okay. It’s okay-careful! Mi rey, you need those.

Magnifico throws another bottle of potion at the wall before taking deep breaths as his wife soothes him.

QUEEN AMAYA
Calm. Calm. Good boy.

Amaya places her hands on Magnifico’s chest approvingly before he turns and walks away.

KING MAGNIFICO
No! I can’t take this-this wanting that is never satisfied!

Magnifico looks up at the sky and notices all the wishes floating around him. He reaches out and pulls three of them towards him with a wave of his hand.

QUEEN AMAYA
W-What are you doing? Mi Rey! Mi Rey. Darling. Sweetheart. Baby. Pookie.

Magnifico ignores her as he grabs one of the wishes and almost pops it into his mouth. Amaya stops him, placing her hands on the wish and taking it away from him.

QUEEN AMAYA
Please, do not devour those wishes, darling.

KING MAGNIFICO
(EXASPERATED) Just three small wishes. Who would notice?

QUEEN AMAYA
The cook who prepares your favorite venison, for one. That’s his wish.

KING MAGNIFICO
There are other cooks.

Amaya plucks up the second wish Magnifico was about to eat.

QUEEN AMAYA
And your best guard.

She picks up the third

QUEEN AMAYA
And please, that one’s my mother’s.

KING MAGNIFICO
In that case.

QUEEN AMAYA
Be serious. Hmm, how would you like the wishes of an entire hamlet?

KING MAGNIFICO
You found the traitors?

QUEEN AMAYA
You may fortify yourself with as many of their wishes as you want. No one will notice.

The camera cuts to Amaya unfurling a map of Rosas’ island on one of the tables.

QUEEN AMAYA
There’s a young man who takes his horse every month to collect mushrooms.

Amaya takes a figurine of a man riding horseback and moves it across the map as visual aid. Charo walks across the map, following it.

QUEEN AMAYA
He goes to the uncharted forest all alone, riding through the night. It is said he always returns with a lighter load.

KiNG MAGNIFICO
So wicked. He’s taking supplies to the hidden hamlet.

QUEEN AMAYA
We’ll find them.

Charo meows before jumping onto Amaya’s shoulders. Amaya cuddles her as she moves around.

QUEEN AMAYA
And everyone knows that traitors deserve to lose their wishes entirely and forever.

KING MAGNIFICO
From the moment I met you and saw your wish, I knew you were the only woman worthy to be my queen.

Magnifico suddenly grabs Amaya and dips her.

QUEEN AMAYA
Oh! (GIGGLES) Mi Rey!

KING MAGNIFICO
Let’s go catch some traitors.

Magnifico dips Amaya again before laughing devilishly.

QUEEN AMAYA
You dip magnificently!

KING MAGNIFICO
Don’t I?

Magnifico continues to dip Amaya all around the study while Charo looks on and rolls her eyes.

QUEEN AMAYA
Oh! Such control!

KING MAGNIFICO
It’s all in the arm and the bent knee.

He dips her one more time.

KING MAGNIFICO
How’s that?

QUEEN AMAYA
Dizzying.

The two exchange one last loving smile before the camera cuts to the hamlet.

INT. ASHA’S FAMILY HOME, ASHA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Asha is being tucked into bed by her father, Tomas.

ASHA
What was that in the sky, Abba?

Tomas doesn’t know himself. But he wasn’t going to admit that and scare his little girl.

TOMAS
I-it was nothing, Asha. Just the stars playing a trick on us. Nothing to be concerned over. Now get some rest, sweetheart.

Asha does as requested and closes her eyes. As she does, the door to her bedroom opens to reveal Asha’s mother, Sakina. She looks worried, and seeing his wife wield such an expression makes Tomas even more concerned than before. Sakina walks up to Asha’s bed and gently nudges her awake. Asha opens her eyes, confused at the look on her mother’s face.

TOMAS
Sakina, what’s going on?

SAKINA
Asha, I need you to promise me something. No matter what happens tonight, or what you hear, you must not get out of bed. Not unless you have absolutely no choice, okay?

ASHA
Why?

SAKINA
Just promise me. Please.

Asha hesitates for a moment, confused and afraid. But in the end, she complies.

ASHA
Okay.

SAKINA
Thank you, sweetie. And remember, your father, your grandfather, and I all love you from the depths of our hearts.

Sakina kisses Asha on the forehead before grabbing her husband’s arm and leading him out through Asha’s bedroom door. As the door closes shut, Asha could faintly hear her parents speaking.

TOMAS
Sakina, will you please tell me what is going on?

SAKINA
We got word from the perimeter. They spotted–

Whatever it was that Sakina was going to say, Asha couldn’t hear it. Her parents had walked too far away from her room to be intelligible anymore. She could sneak out of her room and follow them, but she doesn’t. Instead, she stays in bed, just like she had promised her mother.

Even when she hears horses riding into the hamlet, she stays still. Even when she hears the first of the night’s screams, she stays still. And even as a warm glow from outside illuminates her room, a glow she could instinctively tell was not the sun, Asha remains in bed. Her only movements are her covering her blanket over her body so that she was completely hidden in the hopes that whatever was out there, it wouldn’t come for her.

Then, she hears a doorknob click and her door slowly creaking open. As footsteps slowly approach her, Asha removes her covers expecting to see her mother, her father, or maybe even Sabino. Instead, she sees a tall, handsome tan-skinned man with pale blue eyes and graying hair along with thick eyebrows, a goatee, and mustache. He’s wearing pristine, white robes with a white, blue, and light gray cape. A scabbard is attached to his hip, and his hand rests on the grip of the sword sheathed inside it. Behind him is a tan-skinned woman with hazel eyes and long dark brown hair, tied in a long braid and matching braided side buns, decorated with blue gems. A beauty mark rests on the right side of her face near her lips. She is wearing a cream and blue robe encrusted with gems that matches the man between them and a golden crown. In her arms is a hairless Sphynx cat, leering at Asha from just outside her room. Asha looks up at the man, visibly afraid until he lets go of his sword and kneels down in front of her, showing her that he means no harm.

ASHA
Wh-Who are you?

KING MAGNIFICO
I am Magnifico, your king.

He points behind him to his wife.

KING MAGNIFICO
And this is Amaya, your queen.

ASHA
Where’s my family?

Magnifico twists his expression to one that would show pain and regret. He hangs his head low, eyes darting away from Asha’s gaze.

KING MAGNIFICO
(IN A SHAKING, CHOKING VOICE) For…give me.

TWO DAYS LATER

EXT. ROSAS, OUTSIDE ROYAL CASTLE - AFTERNOON

Asha cried when Magnifico told her the news. Of course she would, what child wouldn’t? She cried as he took her out of bed. She cried on the entire horse ride to the royal castle. She cried as Amaya brought her to the guest room to sleep. And she cried the entire day after. Eventually she stopped crying, but not because she wasn’t sad, far from it. It was simply because she had already cried for so long her body and heart were exhausted from it.

So instead, she shifts to a steady numbness that allows her to listen to the King and Queen’s plan for a special announcement. Rather than giving her opinion on that announcement though, Asha says nothing. She says nothing when they bring her to the royal tailor to get her dress ready. She says nothing as they wash her hair and place the tiara on her head. And she says nothing as she is brought before the entire kingdom of Rosas and watches as the King and Queen tell them what they told her.

KING MAGNIFICO
Two nights ago, our intelligence had reported on a secret hamlet hiding in the uncharted forests. The people living in that hamlet were planning to steal all of your wishes from the royal castle that me and my lovely wife have guarded for years.

QUEEN AMAYA
I’m sure you all remember the beam of light that appeared that night. That light was the signal for these insurgents to enact their plot. Fortunately, we were able to stop it and locate where they were hiding.

KING MAGNIFICO
We implored these villagers to give up on this crusade, to come live in our beautiful kingdom and have their wishes protected until the time was right to grant them. But instead, they attacked us. They attacked us with such ferocity that we had no choice but to fight back without restraint. Many good soldiers were lost that day, but we managed to put an end to this would-be coup before it started.

QUEEN AMAYA
Tragically, there was only one survivor of this small hamlet: this young lady who stands alongside us today. And in honor of those who had fallen, your king and I have decided to take her in and raise her as our own.

KING MAGNIFICO
People of Rosas, I present to you our daughter and your future ruler, Princess Asha!

Asha steps in front of her new parents and watches as the kingdom of Rosas kneels before her. The King and Queen each place a hand on Asha’s shoulder and wave to the crowd with the other. Magnifico kneels down to Asha and whispers in her ear.

KING MAGNIFICO
(WHISPER) I know you feel bad now, but trust me, you’ll forget all about that feeling soon enough.

Asha’s expression doesn’t change at all. She just watches as a kingdom she had only known about two days prior bows before their reluctant princess.

TWELVE YEARS LATER

INT. ROSAS ROYAL CASTLE, ASHA’S BEDROOM - MORNING

Asha is sleeping peacefully inside her bedroom until she hears someone knock on her door. Against her wishes, she slowly gets out of bed. Next to her bed is a baby goat lying on his own bed with the name Valentino embroidered on the side of it. Just like Asha, Valentino’s rest was also ruined by Amaya’s knocking.

QUEEN AMAYA
(O.S., MUFFLED) Asha, are you awake yet?

ASHA
(STIFLING A YAWN) Yes, Mother.

VALENTINO
(YAWNING BLEAT)

QUEEN AMAYA
(O.S., MUFFLED) The boat will be here soon. All of Rosas’ new residents will want to see their princess.

ASHA
I know. I just need some time to get ready.

QUEEN AMAYA
(O.S., MUFFLED) Don’t take too long, sweetheart.

ASHA
I won’t.

As she says that, Asha is already getting out of bed. She bends over to pick up Valentino and carries him in her arms.

ASHA
Let’s go Valentino.

Asha and Valentino enter Asha’s closet. When the two of them step out, Asha has exchanged her nightgown for an ornate gold and white dress while Valentino is dressed in a little red sweater. Afterwards, Asha sits at her vanity mirror and places Valentino on top of her desk. Asha starts by carefully brushing Valentino’s fur. From there, the camera regularly cuts to show Asha doing her hair, carefully braiding it and decorating it with gold rings and ornate ribbons. Next she puts on her gold, oval earrings, followed by two different necklaces, and at last, her tiara. During each cut, Valentino is at different spots on the desk, bleating at his owner, trying to get her attention. When Asha’s done, Valentino is unusually silent, until Asha looks at him, expecting a response, and immediately gets one.

ASHA
(GIGGLES) Always have something to say, don’t you? If only I could understand you.

Valentino bleats disappointedly before he and Asha steps out of her room. Queen Amaya is waiting for Asha just outside, Charo resting on her shoulders. Asha curtsies gracefully even though Amaya does not return the gesture.

ASHA
Good morning, Mother.

QUEEN AMAYA
Good morning, Asha.

Amaya looks down to Asha’s feet and sees Valentino.

QUEEN AMAYA
I see you’re bringing the goat with you this time. Again.

Asha picks up Valentino and holds him in her arms.

ASHA
You know Valentino doesn’t like being in the castle by himself.

The camera cuts to focus on the two pets. Valentino is intimidated by Charo while the latter looks at him disdainfully.

ASHA
(O.S. WHISPERS TO AMAYA) Especially when Charo’s around.

Charo suddenly hisses and claws at Valentino, driving the goat to curl up tighter in Asha’s arms.

QUEEN AMAYA
Oh, alright. You know, I still question your tastes when you decided to take a goat as a pet. But you’ve done a wonderful job as Rosas’ princess so, I suppose it’s fair we let you keep it.

Amaya notices some of Valentino’s fur on various parts of Amaya’s dress. She takes Valentino from Asha’s arms and places him back on the floor. She then brushes different parts of Asha’s dress with her hand while admonishing the girl.

QUEEN AMAYA
But do try to keep yourself presentable, dear. Your father may be the reason why people come here, but you are still the face of Rosas. You are the one people see first, so that they know how happy everyone is here and that coming here was the best decision of their life.

ASHA
(UNDER HER BREATH) A mascot, you mean.

QUEEN AMAYA
What was that?

ASHA
(HURRIEDLY) Nothing!

Amaya finishes brushing off the hair from Asha’s dress.

QUEEN AMAYA
There, much better. Also, don’t forget about your interview with your father this afternoon. Don’t think he’ll just hand you everything just because you’re his little girl. Now, run along. You don’t want to be late.

ASHA
Yes, Mother.

Asha curtsies once again before hurrying down the hallway, Valentino following close behind.

EXT. ROSAS FRONT GATES, THE DOCKS - MORNING

A dozen people mill about the front gates, waiting for the doors to open so that they may see the great city of Rosas, and its princess, for themselves. Once the last of the city’s new citizens step off the boat they came on, the man and woman guarding the entrance puts their horns to their lips and plays their fanfare. When they’re done, they put the horns down and announce Asha’s arrival.

BOTH GUARDS
Presenting the heir apparent to the throne of Rosas, Princess Asha!

When the doors swing open, the crowd erupts in applause as Asha regally steps through the gate, Valentino walking beside her. Asha smiles warmly and curtsies to all of her new people and Valentino bows his head down, following her lead.

ASHA
Hello everyone! Hola, shalom, salam. We are very grateful to have you here in our wonderful city. I hope you are all excited for the tour. Now, if you please, follow me.

The crowd does as Asha suggests as upbeat guitar music plays in the background.

ASHA
♪Welcome to Rosas, A magical place♪
♪Where a million marvels are out on display♪

Asha turns to the new arrivals and walks backwards as she sings about how great Rosas is as the rest of the citizens go about their day.

ASHA
♪There's no other kingdom as full of surprise♪
♪It’s where all of your fantasies are realized♪

Valentino hops on several tables where people are eating, knocking various cups and food over, amusing everyone more than anything. The camera cuts back to Asha as a man pushing a cart full of flowers and an old woman pushing one full of chickens cross paths, covering up the screen.

ASHA
♪You wanna dance on beat?♪
♪Or to have hair touch down to your feet?♪
♪Go to outer space?♪
♪Well, hey, you've come to the perfect place♪

The scene transitions to Asha showing off two people dancing perfectly and a man who removes his hat to show off extremely long hair. Asha pushes a spring rider of a pirate ship with two kids occupying it and a blue background with stars and a crescent moon behind it. She then picks up one of the five-pointed pinwheels that surrounds the spring rider and hands it to a young newcomer.

The camera cuts again to Asha opening another gate leading further into the city. The newcomers look up at the castle in awe. As Asha leads them, they are surrounded by even more citizens selling, playing, and entertaining the masses.

ASHA & ENSEMBLE
♪'Cause here in the city of Rosas♪
♪You can turn all your wanting to wishing♪
♪No what-ifs, there’s just wonders♪
♪It’s clear in the city of Rosas♪
♪It's unlikely that you'll be unhappy♪
♪With so much to discover♪
♪A home for me (Me)♪
♪For you (You)♪
♪And all of us (Us)♪
♪The city of Rosas♪

As the verse wraps up, the camera cuts to several smiling Rosas citizens and ends at Asha among the group, smiling widely.

ASHA
Next stop!

Asha then takes the group to see a statue of Magnifico and Amaya staring lovingly at each other.

ASHA
♪All of the people love Magnifico♪
♪Yeah, he built this whole kingdom a long time ago♪
♪Here, he met Amaya, and made her his wife♪
♪You won’t find a more perfect pair in this life♪
♪He loves us all with his whole heart♪

The camera then zooms out to a woman who’s covering up Amaya’s statue and looking loving at the Magnifico statue.

WOMAN
♪Me and him would make beautiful art♪

The woman then mimes kissing the Magnifico statue. Asha covers up Valentino’s eyes and looks on in disgust.

ASHA
Ew!

The camera cuts to Asha and the group around a citizen drawing a picture of Magnifico on the ground with chalk.

ASHA
♪A magic swish♪
♪And poof, there you have it, there’s your wish!♪
(TO THE ARTIST) Great job!

The drawing winks at the audience before a light coming out of its eye covers the screen and changes the scene again, this time to Asha presenting a puppet show explaining how granting wishes works.

ASHA
♪Oh, did I mention after your eighteen♪
♪You’ll get to give your wish to our king and our queen?♪
♪Then they keep them safe, every wish they acquire♪
♪And once a month the king grants one's greatest desire♪

The camera cuts again to Asha leading the group to a flower cart. Valentino hops onto the cart and sniffs the flowers.

ASHA
♪It could be you someday♪
♪And soon I can grant it, Ooh, I can't wait!♪

NEWCOMER #1
♪Does it hurt?♪

NEWCOMER #2
♪Do you cry?♪

Asha picks up a dandelion and Valentino blows on it, scattering the seeds to the wind.

ASHA
♪No, you won’t feel a bit of regret with all your dreams alive♪

The camera cuts again to Asha standing on the top of some steps. A red carpet rolls from her feet down the steps and stops before the newcomers. She’s surrounded by citizens throwing rose petals over her as backup singers dance with her using castanets.

ASHA & ENSEMBLE
♪'Cause here in the city of Rosas♪
♪You can turn all your wanting to wishing♪
♪No what-ifs, there’s just wonders♪

Amaya and the rest of the group are now at the heart of the city. The newcomers join all the townspeople as they sing and dance along with Asha.

ASHA & ENSEMBLE
♪Three cheers for the city of Rosas♪
♪There’s no question you’ll praise your decision♪
♪This place is like no other♪
♪A home for me (me)♪
♪For you (you)♪
♪And all of us (us)♪
♪The city of Rosas♪

The audience cheers and thanks Asha as she and Valentino walk back into the castle.

ASHA
Thank you! Thank you! We’re so very grateful to have you here and you can expect to see the king very soon. Bye-bye now!

Asha shuts the doors to the castle close, leans back on it, and lets out a breath. The welcoming facade drops and now it’s just her and Valentino. The music picks up again but this time it’s slower and more melancholy. She walks through the empty great hall of the castle and sings how she really feels.

ASHA
♪Rosas is beautiful, I can’t deny♪
♪For as long as I’ve known there has been sunny skies♪
♪Everyone here has a smile on their face♪
♪I wonder if that will be me in a few days♪
♪Will I forget their names?♪
♪Will anything ever be the same?♪
♪I should want it too♪
♪Why have a wish you know just won’t come true♪

Asha looks up and sees a portrait of her and the king and queen back when she was small. She looks at it and her face tightens.

ASHA
♪“'Cause here in the city of Rosas”♪
♪“You can turn all your wanting to wishing”♪
♪“No what-ifs, there’s just wonders”♪
♪Twelve years in the city of Rosas♪
♪Will I finally say that honestly♪
♪When I’m truly your daughter?♪
♪A home for me♪
♪Or you?♪
♪Is there an us?♪
♪In the city of Rosas♪

Valentino bleats compassionately at Asha. She appreciates the gesture and pets him in gratitude.

ASHA
Thanks, Valentino. Hopefully, Father will be pleased enough to really listen to me. We still have some time left, let’s go check on Dahlia.

Valentino bleats excitedly at the idea, especially since it means he’ll get to visit the kitchen.

INT. ROSAS’ CASTLE, KITCHEN - AFTERNOON

Dahlia, the castle baker, is currently mixing a bowl of cake batter. Dahlia appears similar to a cardinal bird, dressed in a dark red skirt, vest, and apron with a jacquard trim and wool stitching. She has sparkling brown eyes behind small oval spectacles perched on her nose and gets around with the aid of a crutch tucked under her left arm. As she scrapes a bit of batter off her wooden spoon with her pinkie and tastes it, Asha steps into the scene from the left.

ASHA
Excuse me, Dahlia?

Dahlia, briefly surprised before regaining her composure, puts the spoon down and turns towards Asha. Behind her, Valentino climbs onto a barrel and then onto one of the kitchen shelves, bleating happily.

ASHA
I was hoping you could give me some advice. (PANICKED) My interview with Father’s in an hour and it feels like my heart is going to explode!

DAHLIA
(TEASINGLY) Interview? What interview?

ASHA
(MOANING) Dahlia!

DAHLIA
(CHUCKLING) Oh! You mean the interview with our velvety sweet buttercream of a king.

ASHA
UGH! Would people please stop drooling over my father in front of me? It’s very weird.

DAHLIA
Ah, my best friend. Not just the princess, but the king’s apprentice! I’ll be famous.

Asha is too focused on her own worries to hear what Dahlia said.

ASHA
I think I’m gonna be sick.

DAHLIA
Okay.

Dahlia puts the spoon down and reaches for a boiling kettle and a worn, stoneware mug. She pours the kettle’s contents into the mug and hands it to Asha.

DAHLIA
Drink this. It’s rose and lavender. Good for the nerves.

Asha tries to take a sip but her hands are shaking so much, it’s impossible.

ASHA
I can’t! Could you please ask me another interview question?

Dahlia sighs, indicating that Asha had asked this from her a lot.

DAHLIA
Okay. What’s your weakness?

ASHA
My weakness? I-uh-I get nervous easily?

DAHLIA
No.

Dahlia places a reassuring hand on Asha’s shoulder.

DAHLIA
It’s that you care too much.

ASHA
I do? Is that even a weakness?

DAHLIA
No, but it’s something every interviewer likes to hear. Just relax. You’re surrounded by friends.

As she says that last part, she pulls a cloth off of her work table to reveal a tray of freshly baked cookies all made to resemble King Magnifico’s face. Right on cue, the smell wafting through the air causes Simon, whose large build was slumbering on several bags of flour, to immediately wake up as soon as the scent hits his nostrils.

SIMON
Cookies!?

The camera pulls back to show four other teenagers doing various things as well as Valentino having somehow gotten onto the kitchen pot rack.

HAL, GABO, SAFI
Cookies!

The first four drop what they were doing and run towards the cookies, bumping into Dario, the most quiet of the teens, causing him to literally drop a bunch of pans onto the floor. They surround the cookies while Dario runs past them, apparently not seeing where they were. The other teens watch him leave the room in silence before they start grabbing at the cookies.

Simon takes one cookie and puts it in his mouth before falling asleep again, sucking on it like a pacifier. Hal grabs six of them, three in each hand, and takes a bite out of three at once, savoring their sweetness as she does. Gabo, whose short stature had made him unable to grab a cookie before everyone else did, manages to get his hand on one, holding it in triumph.

GABO
Yes!

This triumph was short-lived however when Safi sniffs his cookie, finding out too late what the secret ingredient was.

DAHLIA
Safi, they’re lemon!

SAFI
Oh, no.

Safi then sneezes all over the cookies on the tray and the one in Gabo’s hand. Gabo throws the cookie back onto the tray in frustration before wiping his hand on his clothes.

GABO
Yeah, that figures.

BAZEEMA
You can have mine, Gabo.

Gabo shrieks in surprise as Bazeema, the last of Asha’s friends, seemingly appears out of nowhere to offer her cookie to him.

GABO
Gah! Uh, thanks Bazeema but, uh, where did you come from?

BAZEEMA
I’ve been here the whole time.

Bazeema walks back next to Hal while Gabo proceeds to take a bite out of the cookie she gave him, snapping the king’s face in half. Asha, in turn, offers her cookie to Bazeema.

ASHA
Here, Bazeema, take my cookie. I can’t eat anyway.

GABO
Oh, right, your interview with the king. Don’t worry, you’re a shoe-in.

ASHA
You really think so?

HAL
Well, duh. You are the princess. What kinda dad turns down his daughter for a job?

GABO
Nah, that’s not what I meant.

ASHA
Then, what did-

Before Asha could finish, Dario returns to the kitchen, having finally found where the cookies are. He reaches out his hand and grabs one.

DAHLIA
Dario, no! Safi sneezed on those!

Dario looks at the cookie with his eyebrow raised before shrugging his shoulders and popping it into his mouth, much to everyone’s disgust.

GABO
Anyway, I’m talking about how you do anything anyone tells you to do.

Asha turns to Dahlia.

ASHA
Do I really?

DAHLIA
Of course not. Gabo’s just being…Gabo.

GABO
Sure am. Hey, these cookies are kinda on the dry side.

Dahlia looks at him as if he said something unspeakably insulting.

GABO
Give me that tea you got there.

ASHA
Oh, sure.

Asha hands over the tea to Gabo while Dahlia could only watch in frustration.

GABO
Thanks. Both for the tea and for proving my point.

Gabo dips the cookie in the tea before throwing it into his mouth. He continues talking while his mouth is full.

GABO
(MOUTH FULL) You’re the perfect princess pushover. (SWALLOWS) Who wouldn’t want that in an apprentice?

Asha hangs her head in embarrassment, realizing that Gabo might be right about her. Dahlia places a reassuring hand on Asha’s arm while staring daggers at Gabo. Gabo gives no indication that he noticed.

GABO
But, hey, I don’t blame you for being nervous. After all, the next wish festival, aka, your 18th birthday, is in just a couple days.

BAZEEMA
It must be nice to have such a special event coincide with your birthday. It’s like you’re having two parties at once!

GABO
Or that your folks wanted to save on decorations.

The others, sans Simon who was still asleep and Dario who was still eating cookies, stare at Gabo less than impressed.

GABO
What? Party flags aren’t cheap.

HAL
He’s right. Trust me, I would know. Which reminds me, purple’s still your favorite color, right?

Asha nods her head.

HAL
Then we’re good to go!

GABO
Not quite. There’s still the matter of you having to hand over the King and Queen your wish. You get the gig, then you won’t have to do that and end up like Simon over here.

Hearing Gabo say his name prompts Simon to wake up again, his cookie falling from his mouth absentmindedly.

SIMON
What’s wrong with Simon over here?

GABO
It’s not your fault. Everyone becomes boring after they lose their wish.

SIMON
I’m boring? You guys think I’m boring?

Everyone just stares away awkwardly, except for Dario who's smiling as if he has no idea what’s going on.

ASHA
(INSINCERELY) Not boring, no, just…

DAHLIA
Different.

SIMON
Different how?

BAZEEMA
You don’t remember? You used to go horseback riding all the time when you had your wish.

GABO
You also used to drag us out in the woods to get lost or “have adventures” as you liked to call it.

HAL
Yeah! That’s when you taught us how to start a fire with sticks like this.

Hal grabs a wooden spoon and presses the bottom of it to the table. She then begins spinning it aggressively as fast as she can until Dahlia takes the spoon away from her.

DAHLIA
Please don’t start a fire on my work surface.

SAFI
But now you’re ah-ahh-AHHH-CHOOO!! (SNIFF) Calmer.

SIMON
Oh.

Simon looks forlorn. He rubs his arm as if to check if he was still whole.

ASHA
Simon, don’t worry. You’re still you and I bet you’ll get your wish granted very soon.

GABO
We certainly know you will. Such a shame the king and queen didn’t also adopt you, huh, Simon?

Having had thoroughly enough of Gabo, Dahlia takes a handful of flour out of a bowl on her work table and blows it into his face. The air becomes hazy with the white powder as Gabo coughs and splutters.

???
(O.S.) Asha?

The cloud of flour dissipates, revealing that the queen has entered the kitchen, Charo still in her arms as she usually is.

ASHA
Mother.

She and everyone else forms a line to bow before their queen. Even Valentino, who has climbed to an even higher shelf over the kitchen’s cauldron, lowers his head in respect.

HAL
(WHISPER) This is so exciting!

GABO
(WHISPER) We’re so embarrassing!

SAFI
(WHISPER) Don’t sneeze. Don’t sneeze.

If Queen Amaya heard these comments, she did not let on. Bazeema looks up just slightly enough to get a good look at Charo, smiling affectionately at her despite the ever-present look of scorn plastered on the cat’s face. Dario offers the Queen a sneeze-covered cookie but Dahlia puts her hand on top of his, trying to lower his offering.

QUEEN AMAYA
No, thank you. Asha, the King is ready for you.

ASHA
Now? I thought I had more time.

QUEEN AMAYA
Yes but, seeing as you’ve clearly finished your duties early today, I’d thought it best if you arrived in advance. You know your father appreciates being early more than being on time. Shall we?

ASHA
Of course, Mother. I’m ready.

Queen Amaya walks out the door. Asha turns to Dahlia.

ASHA
I am so not ready!

DAHLIA
You’re fine. Just don’t touch anything, don’t forget to curtsy and tell him I love him.

ASHA
What?

DAHLIA
I’m kidding. Do not tell him that.

ASHA
Thank you. Thank you so much.

Asha nods, turns, and –still wide-eyed-- follows Amaya out the door.

GABO
Bye! And if it doesn’t work out, the castle could always use another doormat!

Suddenly, something falls from the ceiling and lands on Gabo’s head. Gabo catches it and finds that it’s Valentino, who bleats at him disapprovingly.

INT. ROSAS’ CASTLE, STEPS TO THE KING’S STUDY - AFTERNOON

As Asha walks up the steps to her father’s study, she could feel her heart beating out of her chest. It’s not that she dislikes the King, no one does.

But there was a stark difference between Magnifico the ruler and Magnifico the parent. His standards were not just high, they were absolutely towering. As she grew up, the king brought in the best instructors in the land to teach her everything he felt she’d need to know if she’d hope to succeed him one day. And while Asha was assured that she had met, and oftentimes surpassed, every expectation, his praise was hard to come by, which made Asha crave it all the more.

There was just one subject left for her to learn: magic. But before she could start, she’d have to prove King Magnifico that she was worthy to learn under him directly. These thoughts swam through Asha’s mind while Amaya instructed her on what to do.

QUEEN AMAYA
The apprentice should always keep the fire going, because the king likes his tea hot.

ASHA
Yes, Mother.

QUEEN AMAYA
He also likes to talk. Quite a bit, actually. It’s in your best interest to simply listen.

ASHA
Yes, Mother.

QUEEN AMAYA
Some items might seem strange to you, but why a sorcerer needs what a sorcerer needs is not your concern.

ASHA
Yes, Mother.

QUEEN AMAYA
And, above all, do not expect to see the wishes. Don’t even ask.

ASHA
Yes, mother. I mean, no mother. I mean, (INHALES) I won’t even consider it.

The two arrive just outside the king’s study, standing in front of the double doors embroidered with Magnifico’s sigil, a white letter M over a blue sixteen-pointed star.

QUEEN AMAYA
Asha, I can tell you’re nervous, but you have nothing to worry about.

ASHA
I don’t? How are you so sure?

QUEEN AMAYA
Because you have successfully passed every other lesson we’ve given you, every step you’ve taken to ensure that you would be the ruler that Rosas deserves. Now, there is just one last step to take. And I know you are ready to take it.

ASHA
Thank you, Mother.

Charo jumps onto Amaya’s shoulders as she pulls open the doors for Asha. Asha steps through and her breath is taken away by the sight before her, a pristine laboratory filled with potions, flasks, and all sorts of equipment and ingredients a wizard would need. Lining the walls were shelves filled to the brim with books on magic, and models of the solar system dangled from the ceiling.

ASHA
Wow.

QUEEN AMAYA
He’ll be right with you. Do your best.

ASHA
I will. Goodbye, Mother.

Queen Amaya closes the doors, leaving Asha in Magnifico’s study alone. Asha wanders through the room, still entranced by everything she sees. She walks up to a shelf and reads the titles of the king’s books.

ASHA
“Fire Magic.” “History of Spells.” Wow.

Her eyes rest on one very ornate book locked behind glass. The book had many symbols on it, the most notable one being that of a serpent devouring its own tail. The glass’ borders were etched with designs of bees and honeycombs. Asha leans closer to the book, trying to take in every detail.

KING MAGNIFICO
(O.S.) Don’t touch that.

Asha jumps back and turns to see that the King has arrived, standing in front of an obsidian wall on the left side of the room.

KING MAGNIFICO
That book is what allowed me to be able to build Rosas into what it is today. I’d greatly appreciate it if you stayed away from it.

Asha curtsies while assuring him that she didn’t touch it.

ASHA
Father, your Majesty, I promise I didn’t lay a finger on it. I was just merely inspecting it.

As Asha stands back up straight, her elbow bumps the glass, causing the bees on the etching to come to life and attack her. Asha panics as she tries to swat away the bees.

ASHA
What’s happening?!

KING MAGNIFICO
I put a spell on the glass. It’s to keep away thieves.

ASHA
Make them stop, please!

Magnifico rushes over to Asha.

KING MAGNIFICO
Hold still. Hold still!

He puts his hands up and the bees fly towards him. He then throws the bees back onto the glass, turning them back into simple etchings.

KING MAGNIFICO
Wasn’t expecting that but I suppose it’s good to get some exercise.

Asha catches her breath before bowing again to the King.

ASHA
I am so sorry! I didn’t intend to–

KING MAGNIFICO
Relax. Accidents happen. And now you know better. Now, let’s begin the interview.

ASHA
Yes, Father. What is it that you need me to do?

KING MAGNIFICO
I just want you to tell me why you think you should be my apprentice.

ASHA
Well, I care too much.

BEAT.
KING MAGNIFICO
Okay…

ASHA
I mean–!

Asha clears her throat.

ASHA
Father, I’ve always been grateful to you and to mother for taking me in when I had no one left. I recognize that all the lessons, and the teachers, and the exercises; they were to prepare me to someday take your place on Rosas’ throne. I love this city, I love its people. You’ve built a, and I hope you pardon the pun, magnificent legacy with this nation and my wish…

Asha has a flash of memory back to the wishing tree. When her Saba was writing her wish down and they tied it together. Asha shakes this memory out of her head before doing what everyone does at a job interview: lie.

ASHA
…my wish is to carry on that legacy in a way that you and Mother and all the people of Rosas deserve. But I cannot do that without you to teach me magic. So, I ask of you, please, take me under your wing, so that I can finally be the leader you always knew I could be.

KING MAGNIFICO
…Follow me.

King Magnifico leads Asha to the obsidian wall from the other side of the room. He waves his hand and the wall splits open like a door, revealing the King’s true secret study. Asha takes it all in in amazement.

KING MAGNIFICO
You and your mother are the only people to have ever been invited here. But if I’m to trust you, I need to know you understand just how important they are.

ASHA
“They?”

KING MAGNIFICO
The wishes of Rosas.

Magnifico raises his hand and Asha looks up to see thousands of blue wish orbs floating above her. Asha gasps as she marvels at their beauty. If it weren’t for the skylight showing the purple, orange, and blue hues of the setting sun, she’d have mistaken them for the stars themselves. But not even looking up at a starry sky could compare to how she felt at that moment.

KING MAGNIFICO
You can feel them already, can’t you?

The King gestures for several of them to come down and they do, floating gently towards him.

ASHA
(IN AWE) They are everything. (NORMAL) I-I’m sorry, I don’t know why I said that.

KING MAGNIFICO
No. No, you’re right. They are everything.

Multiple wishes hover in front of Magnifico, revealing the faces of the people they belonged to.

ASHA
I didn’t expect them to be so…alive.

KING MAGNIFICO
Yes! You see, people think wishes are just ideas. But that’s not true.

Magnifico holds up one of the wishes and it changes to show the woman it belongs to, taking to the skies and flying like a bird.

KING MAGNIFICO
They are a part of your heart, the very best part.

As Magnifico speaks he shows wish after wish of what the townsfolk want most. Asha sees people wanting to play the violin, sow dresses, go dancing, sail ships, climb mountains, etc.

KING MAGNIFICO
They are the most precious thing in this entire city. Happiness given tangible form. Before I can teach you anything, you need to promise me that you will keep them safe, no matter what happens. Can you do that, Asha?

The last wish Asha sees is of a man being with his family. It’s at this point that tears begin to leak from her eyes.

ASHA
I can. I will! I-I’m sorry, I just feel so overwhelmed right now.

KING MAGNIFICO
I wouldn’t expect anything else.

ASHA
Does this mean you’ve accepted me as your apprentice?

KING MAGNIFICO
Sure does, kiddo.

King Magnifico gently places his hand on Asha’s shoulder, smiling proudly at her.

KING MAGNIFICO
I knew you could do it.

Unable to contain her joy, Asha leaps forward and hugs her father tightly. Not expecting this, or knowing what to do now, he less returns the hug and more awkwardly wraps his arms around her and pulls her in lightly. When Asha steps away, he is noticeably relieved.

ASHA
Sorry for my impropriety.

KING MAGNIFICO
It’s fine. Now, I bet I know which spell you want to learn first. I’ll go get the book.

King Magnifico goes to return to the other study but stops when Asha speaks.

ASHA
Actually, Father. There was something I was hoping to ask you. And it concerns the wishes.

KING MAGNIFICO
Oh? Well what is it?

ASHA
You see, I was wondering if maybe we could increase the number of wishes we grant.

KING MAGNIFICO
Increase? By how much?

ASHA
Not too much. I just thought instead of once per month, we’d do it once…per day?

King Magnifico bursts out laughing, positive that Asha just told a funny joke.

KING MAGNIFICO
(LAUGHING) Once a day? You expect us to throw the wish-granting festival once a day? The city would grind to a halt!

ASHA
Well, maybe we don’t need a whole festival. We could just grant the wish then be done with it.

Magnifico’s demeanor becomes much more serious. He’s not laughing anymore.

KING MAGNIFICO
What brought this on?

ASHA
It’s just, well, there are thousands of people living in Rosas and hundreds more come here every other week! I’ve done the math and, at this rate, many of Rosas’ citizens will die of old age
before their wish is granted.

KING MAGNIFICO
I see those math tutors I brought you have done their job well.

ASHA
W-What?

Magnifico picks up the wish from earlier, the one of the woman flying through the sky.

KING MAGNIFICO
Look at this. See this woman flying? Do you know how dangerous that is? What if she gets distracted and flies into a mountain? Speaking of mountains…

Magnifico pulls up the wish of the man who wanted to be a mountain climber.

KING MAGNIFICO
Do you have any idea what could happen to you on a mountain? This guy could fall into a ravine or freeze right there at the top. And those are just the kind of wishes where people could hurt
themselves. What about the ones that could hurt others?

ASHA
Well, yes, those things could happen, but wouldn’t they have considered that if that’s really what they wanted to do? And if they did want to hurt people, couldn’t you just, you know, stop them?

BEAT.

KING MAGNIFICO
Well, you’re young. You don’t know anything, not really. My responsibility, and soon, your responsibility, is to not only protect the wishes of Rosas, but to protect Rosas from its own wishes. And
that is why I only grant wishes that will directly benefit Rosas.

ASHA
So most of these wishes will never be granted?

KING MAGNIFICO
Yet I still protect them like all the others.

ASHA
Can’t you just give them back?

KING MAGNIFICO
Excuse me?

ASHA
If you’re not going to grant these wishes, why even have them? If they’re dangerous you could just explain it to them and, I don’t know, maybe they can pursue it themselves in a way that
doesn’t hurt anybody. Maybe you could even convince them to find a new wish if their current one really is that bad.

KING MAGNIFICO
Do you really think the people here would pursue their own wishes? The reason they come here is because they know they can’t do it themselves. The journey’s too hard. It’s too unfair. They
give their wishes to me, willingly, and I make it so they forget without regret.

ASHA
You make it so that they forget the most beautiful part of themselves. The part that makes them who they are! This-this isn’t right. The people gave you their wishes because they trust you.
They deserve better than–

KING MAGNIFICO
(VOICE RAISED) My answer is no!

Asha stands down after that.

BEAT.

ASHA
Can I at least choose who’s wish will be granted in the next ceremony?

KING MAGNIFICO
(SIGHS) Alright, I guess you only turn eighteen once. So, who’s the lucky winner?

ASHA
Simon O'Donohue.

KING MAGNIFICO
Simon. Simon. I know he’s one of your friends but remind me, is he the sleepy one or the sneezy one?

ASHA
The sleepy one but he wasn’t always like that. Shortly after he gave you his wish, he started acting like a different person.

KING MAGNIFICO
Is that so?

ASHA
Yes. And I was hoping that granting his wish or even just returning it might change him back to normal.

KING MAGNIFICO
Alright, simple enough. Let me just…

Magnifico waves his hand at the wishes but nothing happens.

KING MAGNIFICO
Huh…

He waves his other hand. Still nothing

KING MAGNIFICO
Hmm…

ASHA
What’s wrong?

KING MAGNIFICO
Hm? Oh, uh, on second thought Asha, I’m afraid I can’t do that.

ASHA
What? Why not?

KING MAGNIFICO
His wish is…too dangerous. Too destructive. It’s best for everyone if he doesn’t have it.

ASHA
Destructive? What on Earth did he wish for?

KING MAGNIFICO
That’s not your concern.

ASHA
Simon’s my friend. Of course his well-being is my concern. If you’re not going to grant his wish, at least tell me why!

KING MAGNIFICO
(YELLING) THAT’S ENOUGH, ASHA!

Asha jumps back in response. She had never seen the King so angry before. Magnifico takes a deep breath then lets it out through his mouth.

KING MAGNIFICO
I had really thought that after all these years of teaching you everything you needed to know, the time was right to make you my apprentice. But I was wrong. Hopefully, after your eighteenth
birthday, things will be different. Now come along, the sun is setting. We have new citizens to greet and new wishes to collect.

Magnifico walks towards the exit but Asha stays behind, lost in thought.

KING MAGNIFICO
(O.S.) Asha.

Asha turns towards the King’s direction.

KING MAGNIFICO
I said “come along.”

ASHA
…Yes, Father.

Asha follows her father out of the study and down the stairs without complaint, her heart heavier than it’s been in a long, long time.

EXT. ROSAS, IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE - SUNSET

The people whoop and cheer inside the enormous amphitheater right outside of the castle’s front door as Magnifico summons a massive light show on stage. Magnifico runs out in front of the lights and manipulates them to swerve and dance above the audience, absolutely drinking in the adulation of his subjects.

KING MAGNIFICO
Are you ready, Rosas!?

The audience screams their approval. Behind Magnifico, Amaya and Asha sit on both sides of the stage. Usually, Asha would be smiling and waving at all the people who came to see Rosas’ newest adults be welcomed by the King. Especially after noticing all her friends and Valentino, who was nestled in Bazeema’s arms, smiling and waving at her from the audience. But all she could do was meekly raise her hand towards them before putting it down.

KING MAGNIFICO
Another beautiful night in my beautiful kingdom! So good to see you. Good to be seen. And it’s especially good to see all the new faces line up to officially become part of us.

Magnifico points down to the line of newcomers and people who had just turned eighteen that day ready to give him their wishes.

KING MAGNIFICO
Up first, we have Helena and Esteban!

The couple walk up onto the stage and bow before their new king.

KING MAGNIFICO
You two are going to be very happy here, I promise you. Now make a wish.

Asha watches as the couple place their hands over Magnifico’s and close their eyes. Their hearts glow yellow as they focus on what they want most in the world. As the light in their chests shine brighter, their palms begin to shine as well, until their wishes manifest right in front of them. Magnifico then seals their wishes inside blue orbs, just like all the others.

Asha used to love these daily ceremonies as much as everyone else. But now, knowing the truth, it was undeniably tainted and she could see things that she was too blind to see earlier. Like the newcomers’ smiling faces shifting to regret, the light in their eyes becoming more dull and the reluctance that they’ve accepted this decision after hearing the audience scream “Whoo!” and “Forget without regret!”

KING MAGNIFICO
It’s a real weight off, isn’t it?

And Asha has no choice but to sit down and witness all of that happen again, and again, and again, and again. The camera zooms in on Asha’s disheartened expression while the background changes, transitioning to the royal dining hall.

INT. ROSAS CASTLE, ROYAL DINING HALL - EVENING

The royal family ate in silence. Their dinner was steak with mashed potatoes and a side of steamed asparagus. A simple meal, but as they were the royal family, it was prepared with only the freshest and rarest of ingredients and seasonings. But despite that, Asha just doesn’t have it in herself to eat. She turns to the left and watches Valentino nervously eat his food while Charo looks at him with a death glare, not even touching her food in favor of scaring the poor goat.

ASHA
May I please be excused?

QUEEN AMAYA
Is something wrong? You haven’t even touched your dinner.

ASHA
I’m just not feeling hungry. Is it okay if I turn in early for the evening?

KING MAGNIFICO
I don’t see anything wrong with it.

Magnifico doesn’t even look at Asha. The queen also agrees by nodding her head. Asha stands up from her seat before tucking it back in.

ASHA
Thank you. Come, Valentino!

Valentino does not need to be told twice. He runs towards Asha just as Charo raises her claws to swipe at him, just missing him by a hair. Charo then proceeds to flip Valentino’s food bowl over before licking her milk bowl. Asha and her pet leave the dining hall, leaving the king and queen to talk in peace.

QUEEN AMAYA
I take it the interview didn’t go well.

KING MAGNIFICO
It was going great, until she had the gall to talk back to me.

QUEEN AMAYA
No!

KING MAGNIFICO
Me! Her King! Who gave her everything she could’ve wanted. Who turned her from some no-name brat living in the forest into an honest-to-goodness princess!

QUEEN AMAYA
I told you raising children would be difficult. Even for us.

KING MAGNIFICO
And yet, it was still the best idea I ever had. Like you said, some hamlet in the middle of nowhere? Nobody would miss it, nobody would care about it.

QUEEN AMAYA
But if that hamlet turned out to be a threat to the kingdom’s wishes…

KING MAGNIFICO
…And we were forced to stop them in order to protect ourselves…

QUEEN AMAYA
…And we decided to take in the last of them and raise them as our own…

KING MAGNIFICO
Then we’d look like strong, capable, and compassionate leaders that anyone would want to follow. Having someone to mold into the perfect mascot for our kingdom turned out to be a nice little
bonus. With Asha welcoming in new citizens every day, we’ve had more people coming to Rosas than we ever did without her. Everybody loves princesses, after all.

QUEEN AMAYA
Mmmm, and I love the way your mind works.

KING MAGNIFICO
Normally, hearing you say that would brighten my mood, but I still have a bad taste in my mouth listening to Asha go on and on about “granting wishes once a day” and “returning them if you’re
not gonna grant them.” It’s like she wants me to starve! Ugh, I need some real food.

QUEEN AMAYA
Not yet, mi rey. You must wait until the people are asleep like you always do.

KING MAGNIFICO
I know, I know. Any suggestions?

QUEEN AMAYA
I happened to have noticed the gardener taking a nap when he was supposed to be doing his duties. I’ve already prepared everything in advance for you to eat his wish.

King Magnifico reaches over and holds his wife’s hand.

KING MAGNIFICO
You just get me. I couldn’t have found a more perfect queen if I tried.

QUEEN AMAYA
Nor I, a more perfect king.

The two lean closer and kiss passionately while Charo rolls her eyes again and goes back to her food.

INT. ROSAS’ CASTLE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

For the second time that day, Asha approached Dahlia while she was at work, this time preparing the royal family’s dessert, to ask her a question.

ASHA
Dahlia, do you know where Simon is?

DAHLIA
Where he usually is.

Dahlia points to the same pile of flour bags that Simon was resting on that afternoon. If he was barely awake during the day, it should be no surprise that he was fully knocked out when the sun came down.

DAHLIA
Is everything okay?

It was impossible for Dahlia not to see that Asha wasn’t doing well. Even her pet goat was unusually still and looked worried.

ASHA
I just need to talk to him.

DAHLIA
Well, take this.

Dahlia puts one of the King Magnifico cookies from earlier into Asha’s hand.

DAHLIA
Trust me, you’re gonna need it.

ASHA
Thank you, Dahlia.

Asha and Valentino walk towards Simon and try to shake him awake.

ASHA
Simon? Simon?

Asha then waves the cookie Dahlia gave her in front of Simon’s nose, jolting him out of his slumber.

SIMON
Cookie? Oh, hey Asha, what are you doing here?

ASHA
Can we talk in private? I need to tell you something.

SIMON
Okay, sure.

Simon was confused but complied with Asha’s request. He followed her and Valentino out of the kitchen and shut the door behind them.

SIMON
What’s up?

ASHA
Simon, when I was having my interview with my father, I tried to convince him to grant your wish in the next ceremony.

SIMON
(EXCITED) You did? What’d he say?

ASHA
He-he won’t do it.

Simon’s face shifts from joy and anticipation to confusion and heartbreak.

ASHA
Not at the next ceremony, not ever! He said your wish was dangerous but he wouldn’t tell me what it was! And not just yours but thousands of Rosas’ wishes will never come true! I’m so sorry.

SIMON
No. No, no. You’re lying. You have to be lying.

ASHA
Simon, I wouldn’t lie about th–

SIMON
Stop it! You-you expect me to believe that the king lied to me? That, I’ll never even know what my wish is? That I’ll just be boring and-and empty for the rest of my life? No, I can’t-I won’t! I don’t know what kind of sick joke you think you’re playing here, but it isn’t funny. Now go away!

ASHA
Simon–

SIMON
I SAID GO AWAY!!!

Simon turns and walks back into the kitchen, slamming the door shut behind him. Asha, visibly hurt by her friend’s accusation, does as he says and runs out of the castle.

EXT. ROSAS - NIGHT

Asha runs through the city with Valentino hot on her heels. She stops at the bridge that leads into the uncharted forest. She considers turning back but instead decides to step forward. Valentino bleats his concern and Asha turns to look at him.

ASHA
I know people go missing in the uncharted forest but I need a break. From father, from mother, this whole city. I just need to spend some time somewhere where I can clear my thoughts. I’ll
understand if you don’t want to go. I’m not forcing you to come with me. But I need this.

Valentino looks up at Asha and then walks in front of her to the uncharted forest.

ASHA
You’re too sweet, Valentino.

Valentino bleats in a way that sounds like “I know.” The two of them go off into the uncharted forest.

EXT. UNCHARTED FOREST - NIGHT

Despite her attempts to clear her thoughts, Asha just couldn’t take her mind off of all the wishes that’ll never come true. Of all the people whose dreams and aspirations were taken from them and who’ll never see them again or even know what they were, what they could’ve been.

She looks up and sees birds flying and imagines the woman flying with them. She looks to the mountains in the far off distance and imagines a man planting a flag on it. She looks at the water far past the cliffs below, and envisions the woman sailing on it on her own ship. But more than that, she imagines Simon’s words playing back at her, how he really feels without his wish.

(FLASHBACK) SIMON
I’ll just be boring and-and empty for the rest of my life?

ASHA
(THINKING OUT LOUD) Is that what my father has done to thousands of people? Condemned them to a lifetime of pointless waiting where you’ll always feel incomplete and unfulfilled?

It was all just too much for her to bear. So, Asha does what every Disney protagonist who feels overwhelmed does. As she and Valentino continue to wander through the forest, Asha sings.

ASHA
♪If the truth’s supposed to set you free,♪
♪Why do I feel weighed down by it?♪
♪If I could show them what I've seen♪
♪Open their eyes to all the lies, then♪
♪Would their minds change like mine did?♪
♪But when I speak, they tell me, "Go Away"♪
♪Maybe I should, because I know we can’t stay!♪
♪Oh, this is where we are, but it's not where we belong♪
♪I may be young, but I know I'm not wrong♪

♪So I look up at the stars to guide me♪
♪I took caution, now I’ll throw it to the wind♪
♪If knowing what it could be is what drives me♪
♪Then I’m done being the pushover I’ve been♪
♪So I make this wish♪
♪To have something more for us than this♪
♪So I make this wish♪
♪To have something more for us than this♪

♪Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah♪
♪Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, Ah-ah♪
♪More than this, Oh-ah-ah-ah♪

♪I never knew I needed room to grow♪
♪Yeah, I did what I was told, stopped when they said "no"♪
♪Now I've got all of this passion in my soul♪
♪But I've still got the lid on, so it’s still under control♪
♪'Cause I've got reservations and hesitations♪
♪On where I should even begin♪
♪Too scared to dip my toes in♪
♪But now I’ve got to dive, it’s time to swim♪
♪If I could just be pointed in any given direction♪
♪On where to go and what to do♪
♪My legs are shaking, but my head's held high♪
♪The way you always taught me to♪

At this point, Asha has wandered so far that she accidentally returned to the Wishing Tree from her childhood. She briefly sees her younger self and her Sabino sitting on it before they disappear. Asha continues to sing as she runs towards it and climbs its branches.

ASHA
♪So I look up at the stars to guide me♪
♪I took caution, now I’ll throw it to the wind♪
♪I'm sure there will be challenges that find me♪
♪But I’ll still take them on and I will win♪

♪So I make this wish♪
♪To have something more for us than this♪
♪So I make this wish♪
♪To have something more for us than this♪

♪Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (So I make this wish)♪
♪Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, ah, ah (To have something more)♪
♪More than this, oh, ah, ah, ah♪

Asha stands on a branch directly over the cliff. She looks up at the brightest star in the sky, closes her eyes, and makes a wish.

ASHA
♪So I make this wish♪
♪To have something more for us than this♪

Suddenly, the light begins to shine brighter than ever. So bright that its light covers Rosas’ entire sky. It shines through the uncharted forest and the city, washing everyone in its comforting glow. Everyone looks at the light in awe and joy.

Everyone, that is, except the king and queen. While Charo bathes in the light’s warmth, Amaya looks at the sky from the castle’s curtain wall with confusion, appearing to remember something. Magnifico, who is up in his true study, also sees the light from outside his window but doesn’t have the chance to pay much attention to it. A noise comes from the wishes and he looks up to see all of them shaking with great intensity. He runs to his other study to find something.

The camera cuts to show that the light is no longer coming from the sky, but within the uncharted forest before it disappears completely. Amaya opens the doors to the king’s study, her heavy panting showing that she ran there.

QUEEN AMAYA
Mi rey, mi rey, did you see that? That thing in the sky!

Magnifico is shown reading the book that he had forbidden Asha from touching earlier, smiling wickedly.

KING MAGNIFICO
Indeed I have, my dear Amaya.

Magnifico shows Amaya the pages he was looking at, which showed a bottle of potion, a light beaming into the sky, and a star shining its light over the entire page.

QUEEN AMAYA
The spell worked? But it’s been twelve years, what happened?

KING MAGNIFICO
Not “what”, “who”. Somebody brought that star down here, and they’ll have the star with them.

QUEEN AMAYA
Do you have any idea who it could be?

KING MAGNIFICO
No, but I’m going to find out.

EXT. UNCHARTED FOREST - NIGHT

The camera cuts back to Asha, in the middle of a panic attack, walking back towards Rosas.

ASHA
WhatdidIdo?WhatdidIdo?WhatdidIdo?WhatdidIdo?WhatdidIdo?WhatdidIdo? I just made a wish, one tiny little wish, and then whatever that was just happened! I mean, it felt good. Electric, even. It
was like, like joy and hope and possibility and wonder inside the most loving light. Can light be loving? I’m rambling, aren’t I?

Valentino just looks up at her and nods his head. The two of them are then sidetracked by a loud groan coming from deeper in the woods.

ASHA
It sounds like someone’s hurt. Let’s check on them, Valentino.

The goat bleats in agreement before following Asha through the trees to wherever that voice came from. The groaning continues, growing louder as the two get closer.

The two stop in their tracks as they see a crater in the middle of a clearing. And in the center of that crater was the source of the groaning. To Asha, it looks familiar and yet like nothing she had ever seen before. It is round and small, about the size of her fist and glowing yellow. It has tiny, stubby limbs and a single point on its head. The mysterious creature stands up and rubs its head.

STAR
Oww…What happened?

The creature then looks at its own arm in surprise.

STAR
Hey, the green stuff’s gone!

After this, it appears to have noticed where it landed. It gets up, floating off of the ground, and taking in its surroundings.

STAR
This place…Could it really be?

It then turns around to Asha, showing a light yellow, heart-shaped face with two dark yellow eyes and a thin line for a mouth. Asha waves and smiles awkwardly at the creature before backing into a tree behind her as it flies directly towards her face, stopping a mere inch from it. Asha barely suppresses her panic as it raises one stubby arm and pokes her nose.

STAR
You’re…human?

Asha nods her head.

STAR
Then that means…

Its little line mouth stretches into a wide grin and it takes off zooming around the trees like an out of control firework. Asha and Valentino stay completely still, hoping not to get hit.

STAR
Woo! I’m here! I’m finally here!

ASHA
“Here” where?

STAR
I can’t believe it’s finally happened! I’ve been trying to get here for years! Maybe that green stuff had something to do with it? Hey, what’s that?

It points at Valentino. It then flies to him and grabs his ears, lifting them up and making Valentino stand on his hind legs.

ASHA
What are you?

The creature doesn’t answer. Instead, it becomes distracted by a butterfly and starts following it around.

ASHA
You kind of look like a…

Asha places a hand on the creature’s path and it turns to face her.

ASHA
I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’ve got to ask, are you a star?

STAR
Sure am! In fact, you can just call me Star. We don’t really do names where I’m from.

ASHA
You mean…the sky?

STAR
Yep.

ASHA
Okay. This is a lot to take in. First, I made a wish on a star and now I’m talking to a star?

STAR
What? You’d rather be talking to a human?

ASHA
No. No, that’s not what I–

STAR
‘Cause I can be a human. Watch.

In a flash of light, Star instantly transforms into his human form. He has tan skin, thick black eyebrows, brown eyes, and short hair that glows an ethereal yellow. His outfit consists of a black long-sleeved tunic with a yellow, star-shaped emblem over his chest, black tights, black shoes, and a long black cape with gold trim. Asha just stares at him, completely at a loss for words.

STAR
No? How about this?

Star proceeds to rapidly transform into a variety of glowing animals including a seagull, a monkey, a lion, and a gorilla.

ASHA
Stopstopstop! Go back to Boy!Star! Boy!Star was fine.

Star returns to his human form.

STAR
As you wish. Ha! Get it?

ASHA
What else can you do?

STAR
Well, there’s this.

Star turns around towards some mushrooms and blows some stardust on them. The mushrooms proceed to grow eyes and mouths and yawn like they just woke up from a deep sleep. Asha, Valentino, and Star walk up to and kneel around the mushrooms.

ASHA
This is crazy.

MUSHROOMS
We love crazy!

ASHA
I’m dreaming. I have to be dreaming.

While Asha lightly freaks out, Star and Valentino run off. Valentino bleats at Star to get his attention. He thumps on his chest and appears to wait patiently for something.

STAR
So that’s what you wish for, huh? No problem.

Star proceeds to sprinkle stardust onto Valentino’s head. This catches Asha’s attention.

ASHA
Woah! What are you doing?

She runs up and tries to get rid of the stardust while Valentino sticks out his tongue and eats it like snow. Valentino swallows then lets out a baa. He appears disappointed then baas again. Then Star pokes the top of his head with his finger.

Valentino sits down and looks up at Star.

VALENTINO
It didn’t wowk. When does the magic happen?

Asha reels back while Valentino covers his mouth, both speechless in two different ways, and Star couldn’t help but giggle at their reactions.

VALENTINO
I’m tawking! I’m tawking! And my voice is adowable!

Star flies off and sprinkles more stardust on some flowers, animating them as well. The stardust gets in the mouths of several nearby woodland creatures who gobble it up happily.

PORCUPINE
Delicious!

RABBIT
Magic is chewy.

SQUIRREL
Sparkly and spicy.

ASHA
Okay, I have a few thousand questions, starting with, “How did I manage to connect with a star all the way across the sky?” and ending with, “How is any of this possible?”

RABBIT
Just relax. To all your questions, there is one very simple answer.

ASHA
Which is…?

SQUIRREL
Well, think about it. We’re no different, you and me. We are all…

ASHA
Confused?

RABBIT
And we are all made of the very same, very special thing, which is…

ASHA
…Atoms?

Star and the squirrel both look disappointed by Asha’s answer. The squirrel jumps onto Asha’s shoulder.

SQUIRREL
Let’s just try this another way.
♪Have you ever wondered why you look up at the sky for answers?♪
♪Or why flowers in the wind are effortless and elegant dancers?♪
♪Or what forms the rings in the trees, grows a pine from a seed?♪

As the squirrel sings, Star brings other parts of the forest to life, who then proceed to join in, starting with the trees behind her.

GRANDMOTHER TREE
♪What's passed down generationally♪
♪To him?♪

MALE TREE
♪To her?♪

FEMALE TREE
♪To you?♪

BABY TREE
♪And to me?♪

OWL
♪And why our eyes all look like microscopic galaxies?♪
♪Have you ever wondered why you look up at the sky for answers?♪

Several bluebirds fly by and the camera follows them before resting on a shot of the starry night sky. Asha and Valentino stare up at it while Star flies towards it and releases his own fireworks display. Asha looks up in amazement before the forest drags her into dancing with them.

CHORUS
♪You don't have to look too hard♪
♪Though you may think it sounds bizarre♪
♪If you're try'na figure out just who you are♪

CHIPMUNK
♪Don't look far♪

CHORUS
♪From the sky to your front yard♪
♪To your friends and in your heart♪
♪If you really wanna know just who you are♪

Star pokes her where her heart is, causing her to glow. He then spins her around, making her dizzy, causing her to fall just for him to catch her and say:

STAR
♪You're a star♪

BEAT.

ASHA
...What?

Star stands Asha back up as hundreds of butterflies fly around behind her. A talking rabbit also appears on top of her head.

MALE RABBIT
♪Boom! Did we just blow your mind?♪

BABY RABBIT
♪Uh-huh!♪

Valentino hops into Asha’s arms

VALENTINO
♪Weww, I've known the entiwe time♪

FEMALE RABBIT
♪Look inside, you’ll see our parents of the night sky♪

RABBITS
♪Why else raise your questions♪

MALE RABBIT
♪Up high?♪

Camera cuts to a turtle floating down a stream on its back.

TURTLE
♪We're born from nebulae, they’re our nursery♪
♪From supernovas, we've grown into our history♪
♪Their essence makes you and me. Wishing,♪
♪We all do it ‘cause♪

TURTLE AND RABBITS
♪We’re all siblings!♪

Camera cuts again to a couple of mice talking to Star who tries to brush off their words like he’s modest.

MICE
♪We thank the stars, and we thank the sun♪

Star’s eyes go wide in panic before the scene is covered up largely by Valentino’s butt.

VALENTINO
♪See, it’s those bawws of gas whewe we come fwom♪

MUSHROOMS
♪You still look like you're hangin' on by a strand♪

Just then, the squirrel appears and starts banging sticks on the mushrooms like their drums.

MUSHROOMS AND SQUIRREL
♪Just look at the stardust then you'll understand♪

Star waves his arm and stardust falls over Asha and Valentino.

VALENTINO
So your dust, is my dust? Amazing!

MUSHROOMS AND SQUIRREL
Woohoo!

Suddenly, a stampede of singing deer appears behind Asha and Valentino. Star, riding on one of the deer, grabs them and sits them behind him.

DEER
♪You don't have to look too hard♪
♪Though you may think it sounds bizarre♪
♪If you're try'na figure out just who you are♪

Valentino turns behind him to see the turtle from earlier riding one of the deer. The turtle’s heart glows yellow.

A DEER
♪You're a star!♪

The deer split up while Star jumps off and flies over Asha and Valentino.

DEER
♪Don’t you know you're a work of art?♪
♪Even in the deepest dark♪
♪If you really wanna know just who you are♪

Valentino climbs onto Asha’s head just before the deer they're riding on jumps off a cliff. As it does, Valentino jumps and Star pokes him in the chest, making his heart glow.

VALENTINO
♪I'm a star!♪

Asha catches Valentino and Star makes the grass around them glow a variety of colors as more trees and animals sing.

GRANDFATHER TREE
♪Though some folks get all the glory♪

GRANDMOTHER TREE
♪And others never see morning♪

A trio of raccoons appear along with their kits. All of them also have glowing hearts.

MOTHER RACOONS
♪They’re no different to you or me♪

MOTHER RACOONS AND BABY RACOONS
♪We share the same origin story♪

A bunch of quails, also with glowing hearts, then run around Asha and one of them splits off to sing directly to her.

GRANDMOTHER QUAIL
♪If I'm explaining this poorly♪
♪Well, I'll let Star do it for me♪

Star is seen floating next to a quail nest with a dancing quail mother and three eggs.

STAR
♪It's all so simple it bores me♪

Star sprinkles stardust on the eggs, making them hatch one by one and join in.

BABY QUAILS
♪We share the same origin story♪

CHORUS
♪You don't have to look too hard♪
♪Though you may think it sounds bizarre♪
♪If you’re try'na figure out just who you are♪

Asha notices the glowing hearts of all the forest creatures and realizes what they meant.

ASHA
♪You're a star!♪

All of the animals and Asha are dancing now.

CHORUS
♪No matter where you end or start♪
♪We're all each other's counterparts♪
♪If you really wanna know just who you are♪

Star then pokes Asha’s heart, making it glow too.

ASHA
♪I'm a star!♪

CHORUS
♪Whoo!♪

BABY RABBIT
♪Ooh, I'm a star!♪

DEER
♪Watch out world here we are!♪

CHORUS
♪Hey, hey!♪

PORCUPINE
♪You know who's lookin' sharp?♪

OWLS
♪Who?♪

TURTLE
♪Me! I'm a star!♪

CHORUS
♪Whoo!♪

MOTHER DEER AND FATHER DEER
♪Ooh, you're a star!♪

CHORUS
♪Watch out world, here you are!♪
♪Hey, hey♪

BEAR
♪You know who's lookin' sharp?♪

OWLS
♪Who?♪

CHORUS
♪You! You're a star!♪

Everybody laughs and cheers as the song ends, the ground beneath them glowing yellow in the shape of a star. The sun has started to rise.

SQUIRREL
That was nuts!

RABBIT
I’ve never felt so connected.

QUAIL
We should do this more often.

PORCUPINE
It’s a shame we don’t get along better.

DEER
Hey, thanks for not eating me John.

BEAR (JOHN)
Don’t mention it, Bambi. It’s all good.

The animals all go their separate ways, leaving Asha, Star, and Valentino on their own.

STAR
Bye, everyone! Have fun speaking!

ASHA
This is extraordinary! My abba told me that we were connected to the stars but I never imagined it’d be like this. That’s why you’re here, my wish brought you.

STAR
That and the green stuff. I think.

ASHA
Green stuff?

STAR
Had it since I was a kid. Somebody down here tried to pull me to your world but I managed to get away. The spell they used stuck to me like glue but now it’s gone.

ASHA
Weird. Do you know who did it?

STAR
Not a clue. But that’s in the past. Let’s talk about what’s going on now, like your wish.

ASHA
Oh, my wish! You grant wishes, right?

STAR
Ehhhhh, yes and no. Y’see my job is to help guide humans grant their own wishes. I can show you the path, maybe even throw you a bone or two but you still gotta do the hard part yourself.

ASHA
Oh, yeah, that makes sense. My Saba Sabino said something similar back…

Asha’s mind starts to drift back but she shakes herself back into the present.

ASHA
Never mind.

STAR
Okaayyy…But, seeing as I’m here now, I suppose I could walk the path with you, so to speak. So tell me, what’s your wish?

ASHA
Well, that’s kind of complicated. First, let me introduce myself. I’m Asha and the goat over there is Valentino.

Valentino waves at Star from atop a tree branch

VALENTINO
Thanks fow the speech. I’ve been twying to get them to wisten to me fowevew.

ASHA
You see, I wished for more for us. “Us” being my friends and all the people of Rosas. I’m the princess and my father is the king.

STAR
That’s typically how princesses work.

ASHA
Right, of course. Don’t know why I said that. Um…

Star floats upside down and throws a little stardust at Asha’s chin, making eyes and a curly mustache appear under her bottom lip.

ASHA
My father. He grants wishes. And he promised everyone that if they moved to Rosas, he’d make their wish come true.

STAR
Sounds like a sweet deal. Don’t know what you need me for.

The stardust on Asha’s chin disappears as she continues talking.

ASHA
Well, that’s the thing. He’s not keeping his word. He refuses to grant the vast majority of Rosas’ wishes and he won’t give them back to their owners. He just keeps all the wishes in his study for–

STAR
Hold up. Your dad steals wishes from people?

ASHA
No! No, he doesn’t steal them. The people give their wishes to him willingly.

STAR
Because he told them that he’d make them come true, right?

ASHA
Yes.

STAR
But he actively chooses not to do that and keeps the wishes for himself?

ASHA
…Yes.

STAR
Right. And what would you call that again?

ASHA
…Stealing.

STAR
There we are. So…

Star floats over to the direction of Rosas.

STAR
I take it your dad and all the wishes are in that big castle over there?

ASHA
Yes, but—

STAR
Perfect, let’s go.

Star attempts to head off but is stopped by Asha.

ASHA
Wait! Where are you going?

STAR
To take the wishes back. That’s what you wanted my help for, right?

ASHA
No, I don’t want to steal from my father!

STAR
Is it still stealing if they don’t belong to him?

ASHA
Yes.

Star looks at her deadpan.

STAR
Okay, let’s try this again. Your dad is stealing wishes from the poor, innocent townsfolk who came here for a better life, right?

ASHA
I can’t exactly deny that.

STAR
We’d be stealing the wishes too, but, so that we can return them to their owners. We’d be stealing from the greedy, rich king to return to the poor, passion-deprived citizens. Can you really say
that those two things are just as bad as each other?

ASHA
Well, when you put it that way…

STAR
I’ll take that as a yes! Let’s go!

Star takes off again.

ASHA
Wait!

STAR
Too late, already flying!

ASHA
Slow down! We need a plan!

Asha chases after Star. Behind them Valentino falls off a tree branch in front of the talking mushrooms.

VALENTINO
Meant to do that. Wait fow me!

SMALLEST MUSHROOM
Bye-bye!

EXT. ROSAS - MORNING

Star and Valentino stick to Rosas’ back alleys, trying to keep as close to Asha as they could without being seen. Asha keeps everyone’s attention on her just by virtue of being the princess.

RANDOM CITIZEN #1
Morning, Princess!

ASHA
Good morning!

RANDOM CITIZEN #2
Princess, I didn’t see you give the tour today.

ASHA
I wasn’t feeling well, so I had to skip it. Tell our new citizens I’ll be happy to give them the tour tomorrow.

RANDOM CITIZEN #3
Princess! Can you sign my dolly of you?

ASHA
Of course. Do you have something I could write with?

Star is getting tired just watching Asha interact with them all.

STAR
(WHISPER) I’m pretty sure this would go a lot faster if she just ignored them.

VALENTINO
(WHISPER) Asha’s awways been a peopwe pweaser. That’s just how she is.

STAR
(WHISPER) Sounds exhausting. I don't know how she stands it.

VALENTINO
(WHISPER) Who says she does?

Star couldn’t help but feel sympathetic for Asha at that moment. Eventually, they manage to get into the castle. They had just managed to sneak in without Simon noticing them. He stops and turns when he hears their footsteps, only to let out a big yawn and walk away. Asha peaks around the corner to look at him sadly before grabbing Star’s arm and taking him into the chicken room.

ASHA
Whew! Okay, we finally made it.

STAR
Someone is certainly popular.

ASHA
I’m the princess. I have to be.

STAR
Y’know, I’m a royal myself.

ASHA
(GRUMBLE) A royal pain, more like.

STAR
That’s Prince Royal Pain to you.

ASHA
(SIGH) Okay, focus. I need to talk to Dahlia. There has to be a way to sneak into Father’s study.

Asha hears something clatter onto the floor and turns to see Star knocking several baskets off a shelf like a cat.

ASHA
Without anyone seeing you.

Valentino manages to catch every basket and their contents, keeping them from making any loud noise.

VALENTINO
Way ahead of you. Staw wouwd pwobabwy awawm the masses.

ASHA
As would a talking goat. Which is why you’re both staying here.

VALENTINO
You’we weaving me hewe with the chickens? Did you see what just came out of that one’s–

Asha had just stepped outside the door.

ASHA
I’ll be right back. Just stay inconspicuous, okay?

STAR
Got it.

Asha nods her head before closing the door.

VALENTINO
You don’t know what that word means eithew, do you?

STAR
Nope!

Back in the kitchen, Asha turns to see most of her friends talking about Star’s light last night. The camera cuts to show Dario, Hal, Gabo, Simon, and Safi around a table.

HAL
Come on, Gabo. Even you have to admit that light last night felt amazing! (CHUCKLES)

GABO
It was probably a curse.

Dahlia walks in holding a tray of more King Magnifico cookies. This grabs everybody’s attention and they all try to grab the cookies. Including Simon, who raises his arm to grab them even in his sleep.

GABO, HAL, SAFI
Cookies!

DAHLIA
No! This batch is for the king!

Everyone groans in disappointment before sitting back down. Asha gets ready to approach them but then hears a loud noise coming from the chicken room. Everybody sans Simon turns towards her direction to where the noise came from. Asha kicks a nearby pile of pots and pans over. The resulting crash is enough to slowly wake up Simon.

ASHA
(UNCONVINCINGLY) Oh, no! I really have to watch where I’m going!

GABO
You touch ‘em, you wash ‘em!

BAZEEMA
It was an accident, Gabo.

Once again, Bazeema has seemingly materialized out of thin air. Her sudden appearance surprises all of the other teens. All of them except Simon, who just stares angrily at Asha before going back to sleep, his head now facing the other direction away from her.

GABO
Where did you—how are you doing that?!

Bazeema just chuckles coyly and shrugs her shoulders. Dahlia walks up to Asha as she picks up and re-stacks the pots.

DAHLIA
Hey, can we talk about last night? I heard a lot of yelling and Simon’s been acting weird ever since.

ASHA
It’s a long story. By the way, you wouldn’t happen to know how the kitchen gets food up to the King, do you?

DAHLIA
Oh, um, the formal servers bring his meals to the dining room.

ASHA
I know tha–!

Another loud noise from the chicken room followed by high-pitch laughter from Valentino.

ASHA
AHAHAHAHAHAHA! I’m talking about when he eats in his study.

DAHLIA
What?

ASHA
Who brings it then?

DAHLIA
Well, the study is off-limits. (WHISPERS) Details are known only by a select few.

ASHA
Including you?

DAHLIA
No comment.

ASHA
(WHISPER) Yes!

VALENTINO
(O.S) Wadies, wadies, one at a time!

DAHLIA
Who is in there?

ASHA
(HURRIEDLY) I don’t hear anything. (NORMAL) Dahlia, if you know a secret way into Father’s study, you have to tell me.

DAHLIA
Why? What is going on with you?

Out of the corner of her eye, Asha sees Bazeema holding a basket and approaching the chicken room. She runs to block the door and tries to act like it's perfectly natural, chuckling at Bazeema nervously.

ASHA
What are you doing?

BAZEEMA
I’m…going to collect the eggs?

ASHA
No! I mean, let me do that for you.

Asha tries to take the basket out of Bazeema’s hands but she won’t let go.

BAZEEMA
No, that’s okay, Asha.

ASHA
No, really. I insist.

BAZEEMA
Asha, what are you doing? Are you trying to take the chickens from me?

Tears form in Bazeema’s eyes. Hal approaches Bazeema to hold her comfortingly.

HAL
(GASP) Asha, you know Bazeema loves those chickens.

BAZEEMA
I do.

All of her friends, except Simon, join in on questioning Asha. Even Dario was looking at her confused with his head tilted.

DAHLIA
Are you okay, Asha?

SAFI
AH-CHOO! What’s up with you?

GABO
You’re hiding something.

ASHA
What?! No, I’m not. I’m not hiding anything.

STAR
(O.S) Ah-hah! That’s it! Life is to be lived!

ASHA
Or anybody!

DAHLIA
What is going on in there?

BAZEEMA
Are they hurting the chickens!?

SAFI
Why are you protecting them?

HAL
We’re your friends. You can tell us anything.

GABO
Move or we’ll break the door down!

ASHA
No, no, no, no! (SIGH) Fine. Last night, I made a wish upon a star.

GABO
What are you, five?

ASHA
And the star answered.

Asha opens the door and what her friends see blows their minds. Valentino is waving a stick around and the chickens are dancing and clucking in tune to his swings, like he was conducting an orchestra.

VALENTINO
That’s it, wadies. Your wings can’t fwy, but youw voices can!

The seven teenagers step inside, utterly baffled by everything going on around them, except for Dario who nods his head to the rhythm with a big smile on his face.

VALENTINO
Okay, wadies. Big finish!

At that moment, Star appears in his star form from behind Valentino and approaches the teens. In a flash of light, he changes back to his human form just as the chickens finish their performance.

STAR
Hiya!

Asha’s friends gasp. Safi was about to sneeze but Dahlia put her finger under his nose to stop it.

STAR
I take it these are the friends you told me about on the way here?

Asha nods her head. Star takes Dahlia’s spectacles and puts them on before putting them back on her nose, tapping it as he does.

STAR
You must be Dahlia.

DAHLIA
This is objectively impossible. My whole understanding of the natural world is completely turned upside down. And yet, I’m fine with it.

He then pokes the noses of the other teens while identifying them.

STAR
You’re Hal.

HAL
I’ve never felt so happy in all my life! And coming from me, that’s saying something.

STAR
Safi.

SAFI
AH-CHOO!

STAR
Woah!

Star pulls out a golden handkerchief made of stardust from his sleeve and hands it to Safi.

STAR
Here.

SAFI
Oh, this is much nicer than my sleeve. Thank you.

STAR
Dario.

Dario wiggles his ear as Star then turns to Bazeema, who was hiding behind Hal.

HAL
Don’t take it personally. Bazeema’s just bashful, especially around new people. And you’re probably the newest person she’s ever met.

STAR
It’s the hair, isn’t it? I can fix that, watch.

Star closes his eyes and the light in his hair slowly fades away until it looks like perfectly normal, blonde hair. He also stops floating, putting his feet delicately on the ground.

ASHA
You could do that the whole time? I could’ve just walked you to the castle and said you were some guy I met.

STAR
Well that sounds less fun than sneaking around.

Star turns to Bazeema and extends his hand.

STAR
Hi, I’m Star.

Bazeema cautiously takes Star’s hand and shakes it.

BAZEEMA
I’m Bazeema. It’s nice to meet you.

STAR
Likewise. Now, that just leaves–

Star turns to see Gabo hiding behind some hay bales. Gabo panics and tries to run out of the room with Star chasing after him.

GABO
No! Nonono, I can tell just by looking at you that you’re gonna be trouble.

STAR
Aww. You just haven’t gotten to know me, yet. Come here Mr. Grumpybritches and I’ll give you a big ol’ hug!

Gabo runs out of the chicken room and into the kitchen, Star right after him. Star stops in his tracks as soon as a certain someone catches his eye.

STAR
Oh. Oh no.

Star slowly approaches the sleeping form of Simon. He places one hand on his shoulder, waking him up.

SIMON
Uh, what’s happening. Wh-who are you?

STAR
I’m so sorry.

SIMON
What are you—

At that point, the other teens appear from the chicken room, including Asha. Simon takes one look at her, gets angry, then leaves the kitchen in a huff.

GABO
Yeesh, and I thought I was grumpy.

BAZEEMA
Is something the matter with Simon?

SAFI
Yeah, he never acted like that before.

Asha’s guilty face was noticed only by Dahlia. She quickly puts it away and turns to face the others.

ASHA
Everyone, I need you to promise me you’ll keep quiet about Star. You should probably explain him to Simon, but no one else can know about him.

GABO
Magic is expressly forbidden to anyone but the king.

STAR
Says who?

SAFI
Um, the king?

STAR
Well, that’s stupid.

HAL
Wait, can Star grant wishes?

ASHA & STAR
Yes and no.

They both look at each other surprised before Asha continues talking.

ASHA
Star is here to help me pursue my wish.

HAL
Like a fairy godmother?

GABO
Life isn’t a fairytale. What did you even wish for? You know what, don’t tell us. I don’t want any part of this!

Royal fanfare is heard playing from far away.

BAZEEMA
That’s the King’s call to assemble.

ASHA
Please, Mother and Father can’t know about Star. I promise, my wish won’t harm you or anyone in Rosas.

STAR
I actually know what her wish is and, trust me, it’s for all your own good.

SAFI
Knowing Asha, it’d be more surprising if it wasn’t.

HAL
We trust you. Don’t we Bazee-Bazeema?

Bazeema has seemingly vanished when everyone wasn’t looking.

GABO
How does she do that?

HAL
Anyway, we’ll let Simon in on what’s going on, but we promise that this never leaves the group. Right, Gabo?

Gabo rolls his eyes.

GABO
I can tell this is all gonna end in disaster, but I don’t squeal.

ASHA
Thanks, you guys.

All of Asha’s friends leave the kitchen, except for Dahlia.

DAHLIA
Okay, what aren’t you telling me?

Asha takes a breath.

ASHA
Last night, I told Simon that his wish was never going to be granted.

DAHLIA
Why would you tell him that?

ASHA
Because Father told me so himself. I thought Simon deserved to know but he didn’t believe me.

DAHLIA
Honestly, Asha, I can hardly believe it myself.

ASHA
I should have considered that. This is my fault, but I’m going to fix it.

DAHLIA
How?

ASHA
I’m going to take Simon’s wish back. So I can give it to him and he can pursue it himself.

DAHLIA
You’re here to steal from the King?!

STAR
Yep. And frankly, we should be taking a lot more than just one wish.

ASHA
I told you, we’re only taking one so we can show Father how much happier people will be if they have their wishes back. Then he’ll give the rest back himself.

Star doesn’t seem to believe this plan will work but says nothing.

DAHLIA
Are you sure you can’t just ask your Father to return Simon’s wish?

ASHA
I wouldn’t even be considering this if I thought I could.

Dahlia looks at Asha thoughtfully. The camera cuts to Dahlia opening a dumbwaiter for Star, Asha, and Valentino.

DAHLIA
This is how we get food to the King’s study.

ASHA
(CHUCKLES) It’s perfect!

Asha hugs Dahlia. She climbs into the dumbwaiter and Valentino hops in after her.

VALENTINO
Ooh! A new way to cwimb!

STAR
That looks cozy.

Star begins to climb in himself, much to Asha’s protest.

ASHA
Wait, no! We can’t fit.

By the time Star manages to squeeze himself inside, his and Asha’s foreheads are pressing into each other and Valentino is being crushed between the both of them.

ASHA
Could you try making some room, Star?

STAR
Got it.

Star transforms into his true form, giving Asha and Valentino much more room. Valentino, now no longer squeezed between them both, takes in a deep breath.

DAHLIA
Are you sure about this? King Magnifico or Queen Amaya could come back at any moment.

ASHA
And that’s why you’re gonna stall them.

DAHLIA
Stall them? How do I do that?

ASHA
You’ll think of something.

Asha slams the dumbwaiter closed and continues talking behind the door.

ASHA
(O.S., MUFFLED) You’re a genius! Ooh. To the left.

VALENTINO
(O.S., MUFFLED) And up we go!

ASHA
(O.S., MUFFLED) I have to reach the pulley-thing.

VALENTINO
(O.S., MUFFLED) And we wide!

STAR
(O.S., MUFFLED) Aaah!

VALENTINO
(O.S., MUFFLED) Sowwy, that was wight in youw eaw. Wait, do you even have eaws when you’we wike this?

Anything else they’d say fades from Dahlia’s earshot as she looks at the dumbwaiter, mouth agape from the realization of what her friend had just asked of her.

EXT. ROSAS - OUTSIDE ROYAL CASTLE - NOON

All of Rosas chatter as their King and Queen approaches them on their stage. Mostly, they were talking about the light last night, certain that it was Magnifico’s doing. As usual, Amaya prefers to stroke her cat, Charo, while she lets her husband do the talking.

KING MAGNIFICO
Quiet, quiet, quiet! As you can see, our daughter isn’t present for reasons that need not concern you. What I really want to discuss with you all is that little light last night.

The crowd bursts into applause at the mention of the light.

KING MAGNIFICO
A light I did not command or condone!

The applause dies down as the citizens now realize that they have no clue what that light was.

KING MAGNIFICO
It was magic, though quite clumsy and amateurish. It was also completely forbidden. There is a traitor amongst us who defied the law. They used magic to put you all at risk!

The crowd gasps in shock.

KING MAGNIFICO
But don’t worry, they are no match for me. And I assure you, when caught, they will be punished severely.

As Magnifico talks, Dahlia looks up to the top of the castle.

DAHLIA
(SOFTLY) Asha.

INT. ROSAS ROYAL CASTLE, THE KING’S STUDY - NOON

The camera cuts to show the dumbwaiter in the King’s study.

STAR
(MUFFLED) This is taking forever!

The bell outside the dumbwaiter rings.

ASHA
(MUFFLED) Shhh. I think we’re here.

STAR
(MUFFLED) Finally!

VALENTINO
(MUFFLED) Adventuwe awaits just outside this doow!

The door nudges slightly open but it’s not enough, the lock on it keeping the trio from escaping.

ASHA
(MUFFLED) Oh no.

Asha tries to open it a few more times, but nothing.

ASHA
(MUFFLED) Of course it’s locked!

VALENTINO
(MUFFLED) I’ww wam it!

A loud thud is heard and the door shakes but is otherwise unchanged.

VALENTINO
(MUFFLED) Oww! It weawwy huwts when you don’t have howns.

Star stuck out his tiny arm from under the door.

ASHA
What are you doing?

STAR
Seeing if I can’t get this lock open.

He fires a ball of stardust which hits a quill, bringing it to life and causing it to draw on some nearby paper. Star fires another ball, this time hitting the scissors which also brings it to life to chase the quill. This pattern continues several times before Asha has had enough.

ASHA
Stop! Look, you can turn into anything, right?

STAR
Pretty much, yeah.

ASHA
Then turn into a piece of paper. I’ll slide you under the door and you can just open it normally.

STAR
Huh, not a bad plan.

Asha cracks open the door and a golden piece of paper falls out. The piece of paper turns into Star’s human self, glowing hair and all, who then opens the door to let Asha and Valentino out.

ASHA
Thank yoaAAahhh!

Asha, Valentino, and Star see the King’s desk completely covered in flames right before it explodes.

EXT. ROSAS - OUTSIDE ROYAL CASTLE - NOON

Dahlia was the only one to notice the explosion in the King’s study. She looks back down to Magnifico, who was still continuing his speech.

KING MAGNIFICO
Rosas needs you. Any information would be most helpful. And I know you will never, ever let me down. Thank you.

The crowd applauds as Magnifico and Amaya turn to walk away. Seeing that Asha needs more time, Dahlia does her best to distract them.

DAHLIA
Your Majesty, wait! Please!

All eyes are now on Dahlia.

KING MAGNIFICO
Yes, go on.

Dahlia clears her throat as she tries to think of something.

DAHLIA
Hi, I’m Dahlia. Goodness, your eyes are sparkly. Objectively.

Dahlia cringes at herself for saying that, Amaya and Charo look at her baffled, and Magnifico just rolls his objectively sparkly eyes.

KING MAGNIFICO
(GROANS) What can I do for you, Dahlia?

DAHLIA
Oh. Thank you for asking. You said any information would be helpful. But pragmatically speaking, what qualifies? Evidentiary? How about circumstantial? First hand? Ooh, second hand?

RANDOM CITIZEN #1
What about hunches?

DAHLIA
Oh. Sure. How about hunches?

KING MAGNIFICO
Yes, any. Any information about who or what caused the light would be helpful. So, yes, hunch. Hunch away.

RANDOM CITIZEN #2
You said it was amateur magic, but how come you don't know how they did it?

KING MAGNIFICO
What?!

DAHLIA
Perhaps you could define “amateur”?

QUEEN AMAYA
Your King is perfectly aware of what kind of spell it was. He just needs your help tracking down whoever is responsible.

KING MAGNIFICO
This is about what you know. (INHALES) This is about your safety, and most importantly, the safety of your wishes.

SIMON
You mean our wishes aren’t safe?

DAHLIA
Of course they’re safe!

Dahlia chuckles nervously, now beginning to regret what she had started.

INT. ROSAS ROYAL CASTLE, THE KING’S STUDY - NOON

Asha manages to put out the last of the fire using a vase full of water. She scoops up everything that was burnt and hides it in the dumbwaiter.

VALENTINO
Wike nothing evew even happened.

ASHA
Whoo. Hopefully, none of those were important.

STAR
Sorry about that.

ASHA
We’ll talk about this later. Right now, let’s get to the wishes.

Asha, Star, and Valentino run up to the obsidian wall that hides the king’s real study.

STAR
I can feel the wishes just through here.

ASHA
That’s actually a door. My father opened it using magic but that’s not an option for me.

Asha turns towards her father’s forbidden spellbook.

ASHA
Maybe that book can help us—

Star immediately blocks Asha’s path towards the book.

STAR
No, no, no! Trust me, you do not want to go near that book! I can feel the evil magic coming off from that thing.

ASHA
Evil? That book is how my father was able to build Rosas in the first place.

STAR
Regardless, you absolutely will get cursed if you use any of the spells in it.

ASHA
What kind of curse?

STAR
That, I don’t know. But still, you don’t need that book.

Star waves his hand and the obsidian doors open.

STAR
See?

ASHA
I really need to learn how to do that someday. But first, Simon’s wish.

The trio run into the room and look up to where all the wishes are floating. Star flies up to them and delicately touches them one-by-one, watching as they show the desires of the townspeople.

STAR
All these wishes. The hopes and dreams of so many people left here to gather dust. It’s-it’s maddening to see them treated like this!

ASHA
Star, are you alright?

STAR
(CALMING DOWN) I’m fine. Let’s just hurry and get these wishes out of here.

ASHA
You mean get Simon’s wish out of here. Remember, we’re only after one. Just to show Father that people would be happier holding on to their wish so they can pursue it themselves.

STAR
I still say we may as well bust them all out of here. You’ve already committed to asking for forgiveness instead of permission.

ASHA
Now isn’t the time. Just please, help me find Simon’s wish as fast as you can.

STAR
Alright. Now that I know what he looks like, it shouldn’t be too—Oh, dangit.

Star turns around and realizes there are far, far more wishes to sift through than he anticipated.

EXT. ROSAS, OUTSIDE ROYAL CASTLE - NOON

What was supposed to be a simple decree meant to persuade the people into helping him find the star turned into an impromptu Q&A session that King Magnifico and Queen Amaya did not appreciate.

RANDOM CITIZEN #3
How do we know our wishes are safe? We never see them.

RANDOM CITIZEN #4
Why can’t we see them? Why is that a rule?

RANDOM CITIZEN #5
And why can’t we remember them?

DAHLIA
One question at a time.

RANDOM CITIZEN #6
Since we’re asking, what if we want to change our wish?

RANDOM CITIZEN #7
Good point, wishes can change.

DAHLIA
Let’s form a line, everyone will get a turn.

RANDOM CITIZEN #8
You know what would comfort us? Another wish ceremony.

That suggestion sends a tidal wave across the audience. Nearly every citizen in Rosas is now practically begging King Magnifico to grant another wish ceremony. Magnifico looks like he’s about to explode, but Queen Amaya places a gentle hand on his shoulder and whispers into his ear.

QUEEN AMAYA
(WHISPER) At ease, mi rey. Let me handle this.

The queen steps forward and raises one arm, silencing the entire crowd.

QUEEN AMAYA
Whoever identifies the traitor will have their wish granted in tomorrow’s Wish Granting Ceremony!

SIMON
What?

The rest of the audience cheers while Asha’s friends look concerned and dumbstruck. The queen has just assured that everybody in the city will be looking for Asha.

QUEEN AMAYA
But hear this, anyone who helps the traitor, anyone who feels it is in their best interest to let down your king, your wish will never be granted!

The king and queen turn away and walk back into the castle.

DAHLIA
(O.S.) Wait! Your majesty!

Magnifico doesn’t even bother to stop or look at her.

KING MAGNIFICO
ENOUGH!

INT. ROSAS ROYAL CASTLE, THE GREAT HALL - NOON

The King and Queen shut the great doors behind them and make their way up the stairs to the study.

KING MAGNIFICO
How brazenly they question me!

QUEEN AMAYA
The utter gall.

KING MAGNIFICO
Of all the ungrateful–! I let them live here rent-free, I keep the skies perfect, I grant their wishes! And it’s never enough for them! I swear if I didn’t need their wishes I’d-I’d-!

QUEEN AMAYA
Easy, mi rey. You just need to focus on the bigger picture.

Amaya turns Magnifico to one of the many wall length mirrors that surround the stairs.

QUEEN AMAYA
Now, what do you see?

KING MAGNIFICO
A handsome king?

QUEEN AMAYA
The handsomest king who is now one step closer to never needing another wish again.

KING MAGNIFICO
And one step closer to granting your wish. The entire world…

QUEEN AMAYA
…in the palm of our hands. And I found something in the book that would be just perfect to commemorate this occasion.

KING MAGNIFICO
Oh?

Amaya drops Charo and the cat walks away. The king and queen dance with each other up the stairs.

QUEEN AMAYA
♪Soon, much to our delight♪
♪Tonight may be the night♪
♪We truly rule this kingdom♪
♪With that star, our dreams will ignite♪

KING MAGNIFICO
♪Those foolish people have no clue♪
♪Their wishes never will come true♪
♪Mine already has cause I have you♪
♪My beautiful♪

Magnifico dips Amaya and tries to kiss her but she stops him, wanting him to stay focused.

QUEEN AMAYA
Not yet, my love.

KING MAGNIFICO
Of course my queen.

QUEEN AMAYA
♪With every page we turn♪
♪Dark spells and magic we'll learn,♪
♪To fulfill our evil fantasies♪

AMAYA & MAGNIFICO
♪We will seal their fates together♪
♪With this ancient forbidden power♪
♪Reign supreme♪
♪Our royal regime♪
♪They'll never expect it from their king and queen♪

The camera cuts to Asha, Star, and Valentino still looking for Simon’s wish only to hear someone come into Magnifico’s study. The camera cuts again to Magnifico and Amaya opening the door.

AMAYA & MAGNIFICO
♪This is our message to the people♪

Reflections of them appear on the obsidian wall and join in on the song.

CHORUS
♪We'll take them down♪

KING MAGNIFICO
♪I wanna see them bow in humility♪

Magnifico waves his hand and the glass case containing the book opens. The book flies from where it was resting to Amaya’s hands.

CHORUS
♪We'll make them bow♪

Amaya opens the book to show a picture of a staff topped with several green mirrors.

QUEEN AMAYA
♪Their dreams will never see the light of day♪

CHORUS
♪The time is now♪

Magnifico opens the door to his secret study and he and Amaya step inside. Asha, Star, and Valentino hide behind one of the work tables, peaking their heads just enough to see what they are doing.

MAGNIFICO & AMAYA
♪We'll watch them as they squirm and plead♪
♪This is our message to♪

Magnifico pulls the cauldron towards them and begins plucking wishes from above their heads. Specifically, the wishes of the people who questioned him earlier. He then begins crushing the wishes and placing them in the cauldron as Amaya gathers ingredients from around the room.

KING MAGNIFICO
♪Everyone who has given up their wish♪
♪Crushed♪
♪Destroyed♪
♪Sent into a dark abyss♪

Asha, Star, and Valentino get on their hands and knees to try to sneak to the dumbwaiter while they aren’t looking. Asha had to almost drag Star with them to keep him from attacking the pair over their treatment of the wishes.

QUEEN AMAYA
♪Now it's fuelling our wicked ambitions♪
♪To send the city into submission♪

Amaya drops the majority of the ingredients she has in her hands into the cauldron, turning the blue concoction inside sickly green. She then dips a long piece of wood into the cauldron, turning it into the staff from the book. She hands the staff to Magnifico who takes it gleefully, his eyes turning green as he does so.

QUEEN AMAYA
♪With this staff we make a vow♪
♪We'll use the power it endows♪

Magnifico slams the bottom of the staff onto the ground, creating a green map of the globe that stretches across the floor of both studies.

KING MAGNIFICO
♪To build an army that follows our command♪

Asha, Star, and Valentino, who have made it to the dumbwaiter at this point, sees the map under their feet and are distracted long enough to notice the Magnifico’s and Amaya’s shadows appear back in the room. They duck down and hide under the King’s desk.

QUEEN AMAYA
♪Then take our forces overseas♪
♪And rule the world for eternity♪

The parts of the map that represent land become blacked out as Magnifico and Amaya walk back into the other study, representing the expansion of their conquest. The King and Queen’s feet appear in front of the trio as the two of them put the book back where it was. Star tries to lunge at them but Asha holds him back.

KING MAGNIFICO
♪We'll step on anyone who gets in our way♪

QUEEN AMAYA
♪No one will dare defy♪

KING MAGNIFICO
♪Death to those who don't comply♪

MAGNIFICO & AMAYA
♪They'll worship and adore us like Gods!♪

Magnifico conjures glowing green projections of several of the townsfolk, enough that they fill the room, all with their backs turned towards them.

MAGNIFICO & AMAYA
♪This is our message to the people♪

CHORUS
♪We'll take them down♪

KING MAGNIFICO
♪I wanna see them bow in humility♪

CHORUS
♪We'll make them bow♪

QUEEN AMAYA
♪Their dreams will never see the light of day♪

CHORUS
♪The time is now♪

MAGNIFICO & AMAYA
♪We'll watch them as they squirm and plead♪
♪This is our message to♪

The both of them split up and walk around the room. The trio take this chance to open the dumbwaiter and crawl inside, leaving the door just open enough for them to observe the King and Queen.

QUEEN AMAYA
♪In time, we’ll bless our subjects and show them who we are♪

KING MAGNIFICO
♪They may try to escape but well they can't go very far♪

Magnifico and Amaya walk all the way around to the other side of the room. There, it’s shown that there’s a projection of Asha facing all of the other projections the King created.

QUEEN AMAYA
♪They think we're here to help them♪
♪Oh how sad♪

MAGNIFICO & AMAYA
♪Next time try wishing on a star!♪

They both place a hand on the Asha projection’s shoulders. It raises its arms and casts green strands of energy that wraps around the other projections’ wrists and legs, forcing them to kneel before Magnifico and Amaya.

MAGNIFICO & AMAYA
♪This is our message to the people♪

CHORUS
♪We'll take them down♪

KING MAGNIFICO
♪I wanna see them bow in humility♪

CHORUS
♪We'll make them bow♪

QUEEN AMAYA
♪Their dreams will never see the light of day♪

CHORUS
♪The time is now♪

MAGNIFICO & AMAYA
♪We'll watch them as they squirm and plead♪
♪This is our message to♪

The two of them then kiss passionately. Asha is too horrified by the sight before her to close the door and Star is too enraged, leaving Valentino to slide it shut with his hooves. There’s a knock on the front door, followed by another one, causing Magnifico to dispel the projections.

KING MAGNIFICO
(ANGRILY) What is it?

GUARD
(O.S.) Sir, there’s someone here who wishes to speak with you. They say they have important news regarding the traitor.

Magnifico’s eyes turn back to their normal blue. He and his wife smile wickedly at the news.

KING MAGNIFICO
Is that so?

INT. ROSAS’ CASTLE, KITCHEN - AFTERNOON

Asha, Star, and Valentino have made it back to the kitchen. As soon as they open the dumbwaiter door, Star rushes out of it in a rage, Valentino hops out and looks sadly up at Asha who just sits at the dumbwaiter with her legs hanging out.

STAR
Those are the people your kingdom gave their wishes to? That is the king you were so sure would change his mind?

ASHA
This is a mistake. This has to be some kind of mistake.

STAR
We saw them destroy wishes, Asha! We saw how they really feel about this kingdom, about you, with our own eyes!

ASHA
I’m sure there’s an explanation for this. You said that book was cursed, right? Maybe that’s what’s making them act like that.

STAR
It’s not that kind of curse.

ASHA
(YELLING) Well, how would you know!? (MUTTERING) That just can’t be how they are. It just can’t. They looked after Rosas for years. They took me in when my family was gone. How could they?

Star notices how distressed Asha is and tries to be more gentle.

STAR
Look, whatever’s going on with your parents, I don’t think we’ll be able to talk them into giving the wishes up. We may have to rethink our plan here. But first, let’s just take a break and relax a
little, okay?

ASHA
Yeah. Yeah, that’s probably for the best.

Asha notices a burlap sack and takes it.

ASHA
We can discuss this more in my room. For now, hide in here.

STAR
Sure.

Star turns into his star form and jumps in the bag. Asha takes a deep breath and heads towards the exit with Valentino right behind her. But suddenly, her path is halted by two royal guards who step into the kitchen, blocking the exit.

ASHA
What’s going on?

GUARD #1
Princess Asha, by order of King Magnifico you are under arrest on suspicion of crimes against Rosas. For your own sake, we suggest that you come quietly.

Asha takes a step back as the guards approach her. Star begins to shake inside the burlap bag in Asha’s hands.

GUARD #2
What’s that?

ASHA
Nothing! It’s nothing.

The guard snatches the bag from Asha’s hands. They both look inside it only for a flash of light to momentarily blind them. When they regain their sight, they see a massive glowing elephant right in front of them.

GUARD #1
What is that!?

The elephant knocks the two guards aside with its trunk before transforming into a glowing horse.

STAR
Get on!

Asha didn’t need to be told twice. She scoops up Valentino and hops onto Star. Star runs through the kitchen door and down the hallway towards the main hall.

ASHA
I don’t understand! Why would Father want to arrest me?

STAR
Maybe he saw us, after all?

ASHA
Why didn’t he say anything then?

VALENTINO
Mowe guawds!

Up ahead, four armored guards raise their shields, ready to stop Star. Star transforms into a rhinoceros and charges right through them.

VALENTINO
Stwike! I think we’we gonna make it!

ASHA
What’s that?

Asha points to the door that leads to the great hall. Lying on the floor in front of it was something long, brown, and thick. The camera cuts to the other side of the door, which shows four guards holding a long rope and a fifth guard acting as the lookout.

GUARD #5
Now!

The four guards pull the rope taut and Star trips over it, making him fall to the ground and slide into the middle of the great hall. More guards appear and throw weighted ropes over the trio, keeping them from escaping. Star tries to get up but can’t. Asha pulls at and Valentino bites into the ropes but to no avail.

Star closes his eyes and his body changes yet again, this time into the form of a massive, golden dragon. Star roars and breathes fire at the guards, making them drop their ropes and run away.

Star shakes and pulls the ropes off of him before unfurling his wings, beating them once, twice, three times before getting off of the ground. He smashes through the stained glass window above the front door, and soars over the city of Rosas with Asha and Valentino holding on to his back as tight as they can.

STAR
I don’t think hiding in your room’s an option anymore. Can you think of anywhere else we can lay low?

Asha thinks for a moment and realizes there is only one place they could go to hide.

ASHA
I have an idea. Go into the forest and get under the trees. We’ll know the place when we see it.

STAR
Gotcha.

Star heads towards the uncharted forest. Back at the castle, the captain of the guard watches them before turning back. The camera cuts to the door of Magnifico’s study being knocked three times before Magnifico himself opens it, revealing that very same guard captain.

KING MAGNIFICO
Well?

GUARD CAPTAIN
She got away, sir. Ran into the forest. But she definitely wasn’t working alone. She was assisted by what I can only describe as some glowing, shape-changing thing.

KING MAGNIFICO
Interesting. Stay at your post until further notice.

GUARD CAPTAIN
Yes, your Highness.

Magnifico shuts the door, turning to someone sitting at his desk. Amaya is right beside him, Charo resting in her arms.

KING MAGNIFICO
It’s exactly as you said. The person who brought the star to Rosas is none other than my own daughter.

The camera turns to the desk, revealing that the person who gave Magnifico this information is none other than Simon, who is trying his best to stay awake.

SIMON
Does this mean I get my wish now?

QUEEN AMAYA
Just one question. Are you sure no one but you knew about this?

SIMON
Y-yes, I am. Asha didn’t tell anyone but me.

KING MAGNIFICO
Hmmm.

It is hard to tell if they fully believe Simon.

SIMON
Excuse me, Your Majesties. It must be annoying for me to frequently ask this of you but, my wish?

KING MAGNIFICO
Right, your wish. Do you mind if I describe it to you before we do anything?

SIMON
That’s alright, I’d really rather just—

KING MAGNIFICO
You wanted to be a knight…

SIMON
Okay.

KING MAGNIFICO
…serving directly under me. You would’ve been my most valiant, courageous, and loyal soldier, deftly defeating this nation’s enemies and protecting its people and your friends from any threat.
Ah, truly it was a noble wish. Tasty too.

SIMON
What do you mean by “tasty?”

KING MAGNIFICO
Hmm? Not getting it? Well, let me spell it out for you. I. Ate. Your. Wish. Nom. Poof. Gone. Forever!

SIMON
Wh-what are you saying?

KING MAGNIFICO
Well, right now, I’m saying this: guards!

At that moment, four guards pour into the king’s study and stand side by side behind him.

KING MAGNIFICO
Escort Mr. O'Donohue to the dungeon, por favor.

The guards wordlessly obey his commands and wrap their arms around Simon’s beefy ones.

SIMON
You-you betrayed me!

KING MAGNIFICO
Hey now, it’s not my fault I can’t give you something that doesn’t exist anymore. And besides, last I checked, Asha’s one of your friends, right? And yet, here you are, selling her out to me for
absolutely nothing. So who’s the real traitor here?

Simon’s face falls as the true extent of what he has done hits him like a ton of bricks. King Magnifico walks in close and leans into Simon’s face.

KING MAGNIFICO
And everyone knows that traitors deserve to lose their wishes entirely and forever. Take him away, men.

Simon doesn’t resist as the guards forcefully drag him out of the study and into the dungeon.

QUEEN AMAYA
My, you are wicked.

KING MAGNIFICO
I love it when you flatter me.

Charo jumps off of Amaya’s arms as the evil King and Queen embrace each other.

QUEEN AMAYA
Mmmm. I’ll lead the guards into the forest. They won’t get a moment’s rest until they find that star.

KING MAGNIFICO
And I’ll go “warn” the citizens about our traitorous daughter threatening their wishes. Which reminds me, what are you going to do if you find her first?

QUEEN AMAYA
If she complies, we’ll bring her back home and straighten her out. If not, well, people go missing all the time in those woods, don’t they?

EXT. ROSAS - OUTSIDE ROYAL CASTLE - AFTERNOON

The crowd around the royal castle wonders what could possibly be going on that would lead to two calls to assemble in just one day. At least they would have, were it not for all the people sobbing in chairs on the stage in front of them. The King approaches them, wielding his new staff, and does his best to sound broken-hearted.

KING MAGNIFICO
People of Rosas, it is with a heavy heart that I have discovered the traitor to be none other than my own daughter, Princess Asha. I want nothing more than to say that it is untrue, but I cannot
deny the damage she has already done. Behold these poor people in front of you who have all had their wishes destroyed by her and are now left in this sorry state. It appears that, despite my
and my wife’s best efforts, we could not undo all of the brainwashing that hamlet inflicted on her so many years ago. As King of Rosas, I am left with no choice but to declare Princess Asha
public enemy number one. If anyone catches sight of her, they are to alert the guards and have her apprehended at once.

The crowd speaks amongst each other, trying to absorb all of the new information that Magnifico has told them. The camera focuses on six of Asha’s seven friends speaking amongst themselves.

BAZEEMA
Do you guys think Asha’s really a traitor?

GABO
Don’t be an idiot, we already have one of those.

Gabo points at Dario with his thumb, who is scanning the crowd looking for something.

SAFI
AH-CHOO! I thought you were the cynical one.

GABO
I’m not a cynic, I’m a realist. And realistically, Asha would never hurt anybody.

HAL
He’s right. I mean, since when does Asha ever break the rules?

SAFI
But look at those people. If Asha didn’t do that to them, who did?

Dahlia looks lost in thought in response to that question. Bazeema turns towards Dario.

BAZEEMA
What’s wrong, Dario?

Dario puffs up his chest, straightens his back, and stretches his arms out wide. Bazeema has no idea what he means but Hal was able to catch on.

HAL
Hey, you’re right. Where is Simon, anyway?

DAHLIA
(SOFTLY, TO HERSELF) This whole thing feels wrong. Asha, where are you?

EXT. ASHA’S OLD HAMLET – DUSK

Asha, Valentino, and Star, now transformed into a horse, arrive at the burnt up remains of Asha’s old home.

ASHA
Stop. We’re here.

STAR
Yeesh! What a dump!

ASHA
I used to live here.

STAR
Now that I think about it, ash and soot are in style this season.

Asha rolls her eyes as she helps Valentino off of Star’s back.

ASHA
No one has been here for many years. They won’t think to check this place.

Star transforms back into a human and the three of them go into one of the few houses that hasn’t been burnt. Asha’s house.

STAR
Well, not as flashy as a castle but it’s actually pretty nice here.

VALENTINO
What do we do now, Asha? Asha?

Asha doesn’t respond. Rather, she takes in everything around her. The candles surrounding the fireplace. The cabinet where they kept all their dishes, the little table where she and her family would sit and talk and laugh and just be happy. And now, all of it was covered in dust and ashes. No one would laugh in this room ever again. Asha turns around and walks towards the door.

STAR
Whoa, Asha, where are you–

ASHA
I just–It’s been a really, really long day and I just need some time to myself. To just think and process it all.

STAR
A-alright. Well, we’ll be here when you’re done.

ASHA
Thank you.

Asha leaves the house and wanders off into the forest. She wanders for so long that the sun has fully set and night has come. Once again, she finds herself stumbling on the old wishing tree.

EXT. WISHING TREE – NIGHT
She walks towards it, climbs up and sees her wish. Carefully, she unwraps it, sits down, and looks at it. “I wish to always be with my family.” Asha looks at it as tears build in her eyes. Then she hears somebody clear their throat, wipes her eyes with her sleeve and turns around to see that Star had followed her.

STAR
Sorry. Sorry, I know you said you wanted some alone time but I thought you’d be better off with someone to talk to.

Star floats up and sits next to Asha.

STAR
What’s that?

Star points at the strip of paper in Asha’s hands.

ASHA
It’s…my wish.

BEAT.

STAR
Earlier, you said something about your mom and dad taking you in. They…weren’t always your mom and dad, were they?

Asha says nothing.

STAR
You know what? Let’s talk about something else. Uhh, oh! I bet you want to know where stars come from, right?

ASHA
I’m mildly curious, I guess.

STAR
Well, sometimes, when a person here dies and their wish goes ungranted, that wish becomes a star so that they can help other wishes come true.

ASHA
And other times?

STAR
Other times there are stars like me who come from our mom, the Queen of Stars.

ASHA
I didn’t know the stars had a queen.

STAR
Yep, and she loooves making rules. There are so many restrictions on what stars can do and how they can do their jobs even she has to jump through hoops just to get anything done. Probably
why she hasn’t dragged me back home yet. Y’know, I’ve tried to get to your world for years because I knew I could help people so much more down here than I could up there. Of course, Mom
would stop me every time. Says that as a royal star, I need to set an example. Well, what if that’s not the example I want to live by? It’s not like I ever asked to be royalty.

ASHA
Yeah…me neither.

Asha takes off her tiara and looks at it thoughtfully.

STAR
Oh! Oh man, we ended up talking about your family drama again! Sorry! Uh, maybe there’s something else to talk about!

ASHA
No, it’s fine. I appreciate you sharing with me.

Asha smiles at Star despite herself.

ASHA
That hamlet was founded by my Saba Sabino. There he met his wife and they had my Abba. Then my Abba met my Imma and they had me. We lived together for almost six years. It was humble
and quiet, much more than in Rosas, but we were happy. Then it turns out that the hamlet was planning to steal all the wishes from Rosas. The king and queen arrived to convince them to stop
but they attacked them. They fought to defend themselves and, when the fighting was over, I was the only one left. They took me in after that and, well, now I’m a princess. Lucky me.

STAR
Who told you that the hamlet was planning to take the wishes?

ASHA
Mother and Father.

STAR
And you still believe them after all this?

ASHA
I…I don’t know. I don’t want to, but what’s the alternative? That my family were good people who were killed for no good reason and I spent the past twelve years being raised by their
murderers?

STAR
Yeah, I can see how that’d be tough to swallow.

ASHA
All my life I tried to be the perfect daughter, the perfect princess pushover, as a way to thank them for adopting me. I did everything they asked with no complaint whatsoever. But when I found
out that Father was intentionally preventing people from ever seeing their dreams come true, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I know what it’s like to have an impossible wish. I’d never want to
make anyone else’s wish impossible for them.

BEAT.

ASHA
You know, I was supposed to give Father my wish tomorrow, on my 18th birthday. Part of me was actually looking forward to it. After all, why have a wish you know can’t come true no matter
what?

STAR
That’s not actually correct.

ASHA
What do you mean?

STAR
There are actually two ways to grant your wish: a good way and a bad way.

ASHA
What’s the bad way?

STAR
There’s a spell, probably in the King’s book, that could bring the dead back to life. But magic like that comes at a cost. In order to bring your family back, a lot of people would have to lose
theirs. It’s just not a price any decent person would pay.

ASHA
What’s the good way then?

Star looks up to the stars in the sky.

STAR
Remember them. Remember them for who they were and live your life in a way that honors that memory. You do that, and they will always be with you.

ASHA
(SNARKILY) Since when did you become so wise?

STAR
I’m a star, remember? Helping people make their wishes come true is my job. Now, what about them do you remember?

ASHA
Well, I remember the taste of my Imma’s fufu and bobotie and how she’d stop what she was doing to sew back my clothes and my toys when I asked. I remember my Abba’s hugs every single
time he came home from work and him tucking me in at night and telling me stories. (voice cracking) I remember Sabino practicing with his lute and coming up with songs. And him taking me
to this tree to tie my wish. And saying that wishes aren’t something to give to someone else. They’re something to strive for. They’re what gives us hope and must be cherished and–and–

At this point, Asha begins full-on sobbing. Star sits closer to Asha and offers her a hug. She leaps to him and squeezes tightly. Star says nothing, he simply allows Asha to let out what must have been building up for a long, long time.

EXT. ASHA’S OLD HAMLET – NIGHT

Valentino had just finished dusting off all of the furniture with his tail when Asha and Star came back.

VALENTINO
Thewe you awe! I was getting wowwied sick!

STAR
Sorry, Valentino. Asha…had some stuff to work through.

ASHA
I’m pretty sure I still have some stuff left. But right now, I just want to go to bed.

Valentino let out a deep yawn.

VALENTINO
I’m pwetty pooped mysewf. I wondew if Simon feews wike this aww the time.

STAR
You two go get some sleep. I’ll keep watch and make sure no guards come by.

ASHA
Are you sure that’s okay?

STAR
It’s fine. Stars don’t have to sleep. We only come out at night, remember?

ASHA
In that case, thank you, Star. Good night.

STAR
Good night, Asha.

Valentino looks at the two of them suspiciously as he follows Asha up the stairs.

VALENTINO
Did something happen between you two?

ASHA
I’ll tell you all about it in the morning.

Their voices disappear as they walk upstairs. Star steps outside and flies to the roof of the house. For a while, he keeps an eye out for any threats, but time passes and he gets so bored that he’s on the verge of actually falling asleep himself.

Until he hears someone crying. He floats over to a window that had been opened just a crack and sees Asha, lying on her childhood bed with Valentino curled up in front of her. Even though she is otherwise sound asleep, Asha is still crying.

Star transforms into a snake and slithers into Asha’s room through the window. He then turns into his star self and sits on Asha’s pillow next to her face. He gently places one of his hands on Asha’s forehead and it glows gold. Asha stops crying and her lips curl up in a gentle smile. Star smiles now that Asha at least has some respite in her dreams. He closes his eyes and falls asleep right next to her.

INT. ASHA’S FAMILY HOME, ASHA’S CHILDHOOD BEDROOM - MORNING

Asha wakes up and Star and Valentino are nowhere to be found.

ASHA
Valentino? Huh, I guess Star came and picked him up. I must’ve been more tired than I thought. Feel great now, though.

She gets out of bed and stretches before walking out of her old bedroom. As she does, she finds herself facing the door to her Saba Sabino’s room. After hesitating for a moment, she turns the knob and steps inside. The decor in there would best be described as sparse. The only object there that could be considered a luxury was a single lute. Asha looks at it sadly before her expression shifts to a more determined one. She grabs it before stepping out of Sabino’s room and turning to her right, to her parent’s bedroom.

She goes in there and sees their bed, a single nightstand with an unlit candle, a dresser and mirror, and a shared closet. She goes to the closet and rummages through their clothes before finding an outfit she likes, a simple purple kirtle and surcoat. She then goes to the mirror and gets to work on her hair. When she was done, her hip-length, dark chocolate-brown hair was woven into tight braids that swooped to her right side, with the left part of her scalp possessing cornrows. She finishes her new look with a coral necklace and a pair of matching earrings. Satisfied, she steps out of the camera.

INT. ASHA’S FAMILY HOME, KITCHEN - MORNING

Asha goes downstairs, lute in hand, to see Star and Valentino arguing about something.

STAR
Are you sure this is right? It looks nothing like the picture.

VALENTINO
We fowwowed aww the instwuctions. At weast, I think we did? You’we the one who can wead.

ASHA
Good morning, guys.

The two of them quickly turn around and hide something behind their backs.

STAR
Asha! You’re up! You-you…Wow.

ASHA
I wanted to try a new look. Find something that felt more me. What do you think?

VALENTINO
I wike it! You don’t wook wike you’we mass-produced and sowd on a shewf anymowe.

STAR
It…really does look good on you Asha.

ASHA
Thanks.

Star points at Asha’s lute.

STAR
What’s that thing?

ASHA
It’s my Saba’s lute. He used to play this all the time. You pluck the strings like this and…

Asha attempts to play the lute but what comes out is very discordant and unpleasant to the ears.

ASHA
I’ll work on that. Mother and Father wouldn’t let me practice any instrument that didn’t require a bow.

Asha sniffs the air and her face scrunches. She covers her nose and almost gags.

ASHA
What is that!?

STAR
Nothing! It’s nothing!

VALENTINO
I don’t smeww anything! Especiawwy not behind us!

Asha walks forward to investigate the source of the smell. Star attempts to stop her by turning into a brick wall, smiling the way-too-wide smile of a person that has something to hide. Asha just glares at him, unimpressed, and holds up the lute again. She smiles coyly as she gets ready to play it in a manner that’s absolutely intended to be a threat. Star relents and backs away, showing Asha something that nearly makes her vomit.

ASHA
What is that?!

STAR
You said today was your birthday so I asked Valentino what humans do for each other on their birthdays and he said you make cakes. I would’ve done it with magic but he insisted that you’d like
it more if it was handmade.

VALENTINO
So we wooked awound fow some books on how to bake a cake and found this one.

Valentino grabs a recipe book and shows it to Asha. On it was a picture of a large ring-shaped cake topped with powdered sugar as well as orange slices and raspberries arranged to look like a smiling face.

STAR
We followed the recipe the best we could but…

The book goes down, revealing that the “cake” they made looked more like a puddle of puke filling a ring-shaped bowl with clumps of sugar, dead flowers, and the aforementioned fruit floating in it. Coincidentally, the fruit did manage to be arranged in a face, but it was a frowning one.

STAR
Just a reminder, this was all Valentino’s idea. All of it.

Valentino is shocked by how brazenly Star threw him under the bus.

ASHA
Oh, really? Well, in that case…

Asha leans down and kisses Valentino on the forehead.

ASHA
Thanks, Valentino. I’m definitely not eating this but I do appreciate the thought and the effort behind it.

VALENTINO
Aw, shucks. It was nothing.

Asha turns to Star.

ASHA
Speaking of thought, I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said, about honoring my family’s memory.

STAR
Yeah?

ASHA
I think you had it right the first time. Saba absolutely would’ve wanted to return everyone’s wishes, especially after learning what Father is doing with them. So let’s get them. Tonight. While the
both of them are distracted by the wish-granting ceremony, we’ll sneak into the study again and free all of them.

STAR
Yes!

VALENTINO
That’s a big pwan, Asha. We might need some hewp.

ASHA
You’re right. Luckily, I know the seven best people for the job.

GUARD #1
(O.S.) I think I heard someone over here.

The trio look out the window and see several guards walk into the hamlet.

GUARD #2
You better have. I’m sick of looking for this girl.

ASHA
They found us!

VALENTINO
What do we do?

???
(O.S.) Don’t worry, everybody.

The three of them look to the left and see a squirrel standing on the dining room table.

SQUIRREL
We’ve got your back.

The squirrel turns to the window where an owl is perched outside looking in.

SQUIRREL
Now, Christopher!

The owl’s head turns 180 degrees, facing his front. He takes off and lands on a tree branch overlooking a large bush right next to the guards.

OWL
Hoo. Hoo-Hoo!

The noise catches the guards attention.

GUARD #3
Hey, what’s an owl doing up so early?

The guard’s question would go unanswered as the bush in front of them began to shake. And coming out of it stood a large grizzly bear. It roars loudly at them, forcing the men to draw their weapons. The bear stops roaring and smiles mischievously at them.

JOHN
Oh, it’s not me you should be afraid of.

John points behind the soldiers and they turn around to see rabbits. Hundreds of rabbits. The camera cuts to the leader’s face as he realizes that one of them got on his shoulder.

RABBIT
Boo!

SOLDIER #1
Aaaahhh!

The camera cuts back to where the trio are hiding, looking at the kerfuffle going on outside.

VALENTINO
Wow, bunnies awe angwiew than I thought.

SQUIRREL
Those guys have been popping up all over the forest. We’ll keep them busy while you all get to Rosas.

ASHA
Thank you all so much.

SQUIRREL
Anytime, Asha.

ASHA
Let’s go, everybody.

The three of them sneak out of the house while the guards are distracted, leaving the lute behind. Star turns back into a horse and Asha and Valentino hop on and ride away.

EXT. UNCHARTED FOREST - NOON

After running through the woods for several hours, the trio stop at a bridge over a dry riverbed in front of a sign shaped like Magnifico pointing to the right. The sign reads “TO ROSAS. Where all your wishes will come true.”

ASHA
We’re almost at Rosas. Star, we’ll need to be very discreet.

STAR
Discreet? Got it. Sounds like another plan. I’m getting pretty good at this planning stuff.

ASHA
Um, you know what might help that plan? If you weren’t so bright?

STAR
Ohh, thank you. Oh wait, you meant—

VALENTINO
Shiny, gwowing, way too much wight.

ASHA
In other words the opposite of discreet. Tone it down, will ya?

STAR
Oh, sure.

Star concentrates and the light from his body slowly fades until he looks like a regular white horse.

STAR
Better?

ASHA
Much better, thank you.

Before they could cross the bridge, they are stopped by a hooded figure riding a black horse. Star tries to pretend to be a normal horse by neighing.

STAR
Neiigghh.

The black horse neighs back and much more aggressively. The hooded figure stops in front of them and reveals herself to be Queen Amaya.

QUEEN AMAYA
I knew you’d pass through here eventually.

Seated behind her, Charo licks her paw before showing her claws, smiling and hissing viciously at the trio. Valentino panics and tries to hide inside Asha.

ASHA
Mother.

QUEEN AMAYA
Asha, we’ve been looking everywhere for you. Be a good girl and hand over the star.

As she talks, guards on horseback appear from behind the trees to surround Asha on both sides.

ASHA
(WHISPER) Star, remember the thing I just told you not to do? I’m going to need you to do it. Now.

Star becomes so bright that everyone around them has to recover from the sudden flash, giving the heroes enough time to jump from the bridge and run down the riverbed. Amaya quickly recovers and orders the guards to chase after them.

QUEEN AMAYA
Don’t let them get away!

Star jumps out of the dry riverbed and into the forest.

STAR
W-h-hoa! Look at me go! I had no idea horses could move this fast! I mean their eyesight is trippy but…

Star moves his eyes from the side of his head to the front.

STAR
Ah yeah, that’s better. I wonder if I could go even faster!

Star spontaneously grows four more legs, making him faster but also wobblier. Asha’s pleas to be more careful go completely ignored as Star revels in his newfound burst of speed.

STAR
Why would humans ever walk on two legs? This is so much easie–

Star trips and falls and Asha and Valentino tumble over him.

ASHA
Ah! Get up! Run!

Asha and Valentino run for their lives as Amaya’s guards catch up with them. Star shapeshifts into a squirrel and runs towards Valentino, hopping on and riding him.

STAR
Up we go!

Amaya and her guards chase Asha into a bunch of trees, where she manages to lose them. Amaya then appears right in front of Asha.

QUEEN AMAYA
I got her!

Instead of stopping, Asha slides right under her horse, making it stand up and throw the queen and her cat off of it. Amaya glares at her runaway daughter and Asha glares back as she keeps running.

Star and Valentino jump over Amaya and try to reach Asha. Star turns to look at Amaya before changing his head to a horse’s head and neighing at her. Amaya growls in frustration before Charo proceeds to give chase to Valentino.

She tries to scratch him only to nab at his sweater, causing it to be pulled apart by the string until it turns into a ball of yarn. A ball of yarn Charo becomes immediately fascinated by and plays with. Star laughs at this before turning to see two of Amaya’s guards closing in on Asha.

STAR
Valentino!

Star conjures an acorn shell and wears it like a helmet. Star jumps off of Valentino as the goat turns around and kicks him as hard as he can.

STAR
Get me to Ash-aaAA!

Star soars through the air, taking on a variety of forms, from a rhino to a chicken to a snowman until finally turning into a turtle. Star goes inside his shell and spins around, smacking the guards on their helmets. The guards stop to reorient themselves while Star flies towards Asha.

STAR
Asha! I’m coming for you!

Star lands on Asha facefirst, making them tumble around for a few seconds until Asha was awkwardly sitting on Star’s shell while Star tried to run away from the guards while still a turtle.

STAR
(GROANING) I really thought these would be faster.

Star turns back into a horse just as Valentino catches up with them. Asha grabs Valentino and holds onto him as Star continues running. Asha lets out a laugh, thinking they’re finally safe, only to see Amaya and the guards gaining on them. She turns around to Star’s front only to see that they’re rapidly approaching a cliff.

ASHA
Careful! The cliff!

STAR
Oh, yes! I love that idea!

ASHA
Wait, no! Bad idea! Terrible idea!

STAR
For real horses, but not for me!

Star leaps off the cliff with Asha and Valentino in tow. The two of them scream while Star yells in exhilaration.

STAR
Ya-hoo-hoo-hooey!

Asha and Valentino continue screaming as Star grows a pair of wings and wraps them around the two, cushioning their impact when Star hits the ocean below.

Once under the water, Asha and Valentino open their eyes to see Star in the middle of transforming. Right now, he is a swirling mist of glowing energy surrounding them. In spite of the tense situation they’re in, Asha can’t help but feel calm and happy at that moment. She sees Star offer her his hand and she takes it. She looks at his smiling face within the sphere and could just tell that everything is going to be okay. Valentino is less happy about the situation and tries to say something only for air bubbles to fall out of his mouth and up towards the surface.

Back at the cliff, Amaya and her guards stop just in time before falling over the edge. They look over and don’t see even a trace of our heroes.

GUARD #1
They’re gone!

Amaya raises a hand to silence him. Still observing where they fell to see if anything would change. Sure enough, a golden glow shines from under the water and a shining dolphin leaps out with Asha and Valentino riding on top of it.

ASHA
Woah!

Amaya looks at the scene baffled while Star swims the heroes to safety. Asha is smiling and laughing now that they’re safe.

VALENTINO
Whew! Gwad that’s ovew!

Valentino looks down and sees that Star is releasing more stardust into the ocean. He touches the water only for two real dolphins to appear beside and swim alongside them.

DOLPHIN #1
Happy…!

DOLPHIN #2
…Birthday!

At the ocean floor, all kinds of sea life from fish to crabs become covered in stardust and swim up towards them. They also begin jumping out of the water and wishing Asha a happy birthday. Asha laughs and smiles at the whole scene.

She looks down and sees that all of the sea creatures are giving her her own show, taking on the formation of a fish as they swim underneath her.

She then hears a low, loud noise and turns to her right to see a whale appear right beside her. The whale shoots water out of his blowhole, soaking the trio more to their delight. Asha looks directly into the whale’s eye.

WHALE
Happy birthday!

The whale and all the other sea creatures dive back into the ocean. As its tail fully descends, Rosas becomes visible in the distance. Asha smiles at the sight, they finally made it!

ASHA
Thanks, Star.

STAR
No problem, Asha.

Asha looks up at the king’s study, a heavy reminder of what they must do.

ASHA
Dive and go over to the shore next to the entrance. The guards can’t see us like this.

STAR
Right.

Star follows Asha’s instructions and the three shore up just out of sight of the guards blocking their only way into the city. Star changes back to his human disguise, minus glowing hair, and uses his magic to dry everyone up.

ASHA
A simple outfit change won’t keep people from recognizing me. I need a disguise.

STAR
I hear some parties have costumes. Can we use a costume?

ASHA
It’s not that kind of party. Though some people do wear masks.

STAR
Oh, I got the perfect one!

Star waves his finger over Asha’s face and a mask appears over her eyes. She takes it off and sees that it is a golden domino mask with five points around it, resembling a star. Asha gives Star a skeptical look.

STAR
It was just the first thing that came to mind. Nothing more than that.

Asha smiles before putting the mask back on.

ASHA
It’s perfect. Now what are we gonna do about the guards?

VALENTINO
Weave that to me.

EXT. ROSAS FRONT GATES, THE DOCKS - NOON

Even though that morning’s new citizens have already arrived, the guards stationed at the city entrance dutifully perform their jobs. That is, until they hear what sounds like singing coming from their left.

GUARD #1
Do you hear that?

GUARD #2
Yeah, is that supposed to be singing or crying?

That guard’s question is answered when they see Valentino skipping along and singing to himself. Valentino opens his eyes, sees the guards, and pretends to be shocked.

VALENTINO
Oh, no! Somebody found me, the magicaw tawking goat! Oh, I suwe hope they don’t make me gwant aww their wishes!

GUARDS
(EXCITEDLY) Wishes?

VALENTINO
You’we gonna have to catch me fiwst!

Valentino runs off and the two guards abandon their posts to chase after him. Asha and Star run to the front entrance. Asha looks to the forest where Valentino has run off to while Star unlocks the door.

ASHA
Be careful, Valentino.

The doors open and Star and Asha rush inside and close them before anyone spots them. The city is abuzz with festivity. Purple and gold confetti covers the ground and white and purple party flags hang from the corner of every building. All of the people are exploring, playing games, dancing, and singing along.

ASHA
You’ve really outdone yourself this time, Hal.

Asha turns to Star.

ASHA
We have to find Dahlia and the others.

STAR
We also can’t stand out too much. I say we blend in and enjoy some of the festivities.

ASHA
You just want to get in on the fun. But yeah, blending in’s not a bad idea. You really are getting better at this planning stuff.

STAR
Why, thank you. So, birthday girl, what do you want to do first?

MONTAGE - ASHA AND STAR ENJOY THE WISH GRANTING FESTIVAL

A - Ash and Star duck and hide from the guards while enjoying some meat stuffed in a tortilla.

B - Star excitedly runs through the streets trying to talk with each merchant and check out their stalls while dragging Asha with him.

C - Star and Asha come across a wanted poster of her. Asha looks sad realizing that she’s now considered a criminal by the people of Rosas. Star notices and takes her to a stall featuring a portrait of the king and queen.

D - At the stall, the merchant bends down to look for something. Star takes the opportunity to use his magic to change the portrait so now Magnifico’s ears are bigger than his head and Amaya’s nose grew two feet from her face. Asha covers up her mouth to try to keep herself from laughing before grabbing Star’s hand and running away before the merchant can stand back up and see what happened to his portrait.

E - Asha investigates a group of seven people, thinking that they’re her friends, only to find out they're just similar-looking strangers. Asha apologizes before turning to see Star dancing with some children. His dancing is quite bad, very frantic and poorly choreographed. Asha sees this and chuckles. Star sees Asha and drags her into dancing with him. She tries to resist but ultimately relents and begins copying his moves. And yeah, it’s chaotic, messy, and ridiculous. But more than that, it’s fun. Asha enjoys herself as the music swells. Star becomes mesmerized as she lets the music take over, before ending her dance with a final flourish. The crowd around her applauds while Star looks at her awestruck.

The camera cuts to them sitting under Magnifico and Amaya’s statue, enjoying some cake while they chat. The sun is setting.

STAR
So, I’ve gotta ask. What was it like being raised by those two?

He points his thumb at the statues above them.

ASHA
Mostly a lot of studying. They wanted to ensure that I knew everything I would need to know when I one day succeeded them.

STAR
(MOUTH FULL OF FOOD) Like what?

ASHA
Oh, let’s see. Poise, posture, public speaking, etiquette, singing, several bow instruments.

STAR
Sounds simple enough.

ASHA
Dancing, long-distance running, gymnastics, swordplay, horseback riding, swimming.

STAR
Okay, that’s a bit more than–

ASHA
World history, magic history, internal affairs, military strategy, naval strategy, trade.

BEAT.

STAR
You’re not done, are you–?

ASHA
First aid, interior decorating, accounting, ciphering, polearm combat, falconry–

STAR
Alright, I get it! Geez, and I thought my mom was strict! What were they like besides all that?

ASHA
Mother typically liked to make sure I finished my studies and performed my duties as princess. And as for Father, well, I always had the impression he’d rather be talking to his own reflection
than to me.

STAR
That doesn’t sound easy.

ASHA
Yeah. But, on the plus side, I got to meet Dahlia and everyone else. I hope we find them soon.

STAR
Hey, Rosas isn’t that big a place. I’m sure we’ll come across them in no time.

The music being played by the nearby band becomes much more slow-paced. People pair up and begin to waltz with each other.

STAR
What’s going on?

ASHA
It’s a slow dance. It means that the festival’s coming to an end. Soon everyone’s gonna gather at the castle for the wish-granting ceremony.

STAR
Sounds like we don’t have a lot of time. We should probably go look for those guys.

Asha takes Star’s hands and leads him to the dance floor.

STAR
What are you—

ASHA
If things go wrong, I am not letting you go to the dungeon thinking whatever you had us doing back there was dancing.

Asha takes Star’s left arm and wraps it around her. She places her right hand on his shoulder while gripping his right hand with her left.

ASHA
Follow my lead.

Slowly, Asha teaches Star how to waltz.

ASHA
Backwards. Forwards. Backwards. Forwards. Forward. Back. Forward. Back.

Star manages to complete the steps.

ASHA
Good. Now, you lead.

STAR
Okay.

Star looks down at his feet as he tentatively mimics Asha’s instructions.

STAR
How’d I do?

ASHA
Very well. Now this time, do it without looking at your feet. Just at my face.

Star does as Asha instructs. After a few flubs, he manages to waltz perfectly without looking at his feet once.

ASHA
You’re a fast learner.

STAR
I had a great teacher.

The two smile warmly at each other as another slow song begins. The two dance again and at that moment, it feels as if everyone else in the city has disappeared and it’s just them. The music, the atmosphere, the kindness in Asha’s eyes, the warmth of her hand in his. It’s no wonder that Star would be swept away by it all. It’s at this moment he fully realizes how special Asha really is to him. And he wastes no time in letting her know.

STAR
♪If happiness was a tangible thing♪
♪It would be you♪

Asha seems taken aback by what Star just said.

STAR
♪If you'd have told me the feeling you'd bring♪
♪I'd think it untrue♪
♪And people search for a wonder like you♪
♪All of their lives♪
♪You still amaze me after all this time♪

♪You pull me in like gravity♪
♪Was in the dark but now I can see♪
♪Leave you here, I don't wanna♪
♪I wanna♪

♪Love you as one does♪
♪I, I will protect you at all costs♪
♪Keep you safe here in my arms♪
♪I, I will protect you at all costs♪
♪At all costs♪

ASHA
Wow.

Asha lets go of Star. Disappointment flashes on his face before Asha wraps her arms around him and holds him close. Star smiles, closes his eyes, and does the same.

ASHA
♪What's pain when I look at you?♪
♪No way I could explain you♪
♪Even if I tried to, I'll never dream like I used to do♪
♪If someone tried to hurt you♪
♪I don't even want to imagine♪
♪I'll fight for you if anything should happen♪
♪Felt this? No, I haven’t♪
♪I hope♪
♪It would be all right to stay right here beside you♪

ASHA & STAR
♪And love you as one does♪
♪I, I will protect you at all costs♪

The camera cuts to Valentino walking out of a back alley, having managed to successfully escape the guards and sneak back into Rosas. He catches Asha and Star singing and dancing and smiles widely, elated that his friends have found happiness with each other.

ASHA & STAR
♪Keep you safe here in my arms♪
♪I, I will protect you at all costs♪
♪At all costs♪

The camera then cuts back to the couple.

ASHA & STAR
♪If you're ever feeling like you're lost♪
♪I’ll come find you♪
♪Man all fronts, there's no ocean I won't swim across♪
♪To be right by you♪
♪And not just once, here and now I swear on my response♪
♪I'll remind you♪

♪And love you as one does♪
♪I, I will protect you at all costs♪
♪Keep you safe here in my arms♪
♪I, I will protect you at all costs♪
♪At all costs♪

It is now nighttime. The two close their eyes and lean closer to each other. It looks like they’re about to kiss until the now familiar sound of the king’s call to assemble plays out, snapping them out of it.

CITIZEN
It’s time for the wish-granting ceremony!

The two pull back from each other.

ASHA
Oh no, we ran out of time! We’re gonna have to search for them through the crowd!

STAR
Relax. Between my magic and your wits, it’ll be a breeze. We’ll find them Asha, I know we will.

ASHA
Thanks.

The camera cuts back to Valentino, probably more upset that Asha and Star’s moment was ruined than they are.

VALENTINO
You’ve gotta be kidding me!

He kicks a nearby stall in frustration, shaking it.

STALL OWNER
Hey, who did that?

The stall owner looks down and sees a visibly startled Valentino.

STALL OWNER
Who’s goat is this!?

Valentino runs away towards Asha and Star.

ASHA
Valentino, you’re safe!

VALENTINO
Suwe am. But maybe we should go to the castle now. Wight now!

Asha and Star look at each other confused before following Valentino to the castle.

EXT. ROSAS, IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE - NIGHT

Despite the recent string of bad news, the crowd was still brimming with excitement at seeing another wish granting ceremony. Everybody in the city was milling inside the amphitheater. Everybody except, of course, Asha, Star, and Valentino, who were hiding right behind one of the columns surrounding the amphitheater.

VALENTINO
You know, aww of this is just a bump in the woad. A giganticawwy, humongous bump.

ASHA
How are we going to find Dahlia and the others through all this?

Just then, Asha hears the squeaking of several mice sniffing at a discarded piece of cheese.

STAR
You thinking what I’m thinking?

ASHA
I think I am. Just do it discreetly.

Star gives Asha a thumbs up before shrinking down to his star form. He looks around his surroundings before rolling over to the next column, checking the corner, and then tiptoeing to the mice.

Just then, green magic shoots out across the stage. The ominous light contorts itself until it resembles a pair of humongous clawed hands. The hands lunge at the audience, terrifying them before disappearing into the air. Laughter is heard coming from the stage and the audience opens their eyes to see that it is their king laughing at them.

KING MAGNIFICO
(LAUGHING) Your faces!

Amaya walks up beside him, Charo resting on her shoulders and her hand covering her mouth in an attempt to keep people from seeing her chuckling.

KING MAGNIFICO
(LAUGHING) It’s okay! You’re okay! It’s just a play on light. You know I love you, Rosas!

The majority of the crowd reluctantly laughs along with their ruler, all too eager to pass what just happened off as a harmless joke and nothing else. However, six young people standing together didn’t laugh at Magnifico’s tasteless joke. Hal attempts to comfort Bazeema and Dario, who are both clinging to her and shaking after the king’s display of magic.

HAL
(COMFORTINGLY) It’s okay. It’s okay, guys. The creepy, evil, magic light show’s over now.

SAFI
I don’t know what was so funny about that.

GABO
I’ll tell you what was so funny about that: absolutely nothing! What’s wrong with those guys?

DAHLIA
Have they always been like this?

KING MAGNIFICO
Now, I know what you’re all here for so who’s ready to have their wish granted?!

The audience applauds again, this time much more enthusiastically.

KING MAGNIFICO
This month’s lucky winner is…Sania Osman! Where is Sania? There she is!

The camera cuts to Sania, who can’t believe her luck that she got selected.

SANIA
He said Sania Osman! It’s me. It’s me!

The people around her cheer as she makes her way to the stage.

SANIA
Coming through, thank you. It’s just so exciting!

Sania steps up on stage and can barely contain her anticipation.

KING MAGNIFICO
Sania Osman…I mean it when I say it’s truly my great pleasure to grant your heart’s desire…

Magnifico takes Sania’s wish out from his robes. It floats in the air between them before magic bubbles break the blue orb the wish is contained in. A transparent bolt of pink fabric surrounds Sania as a pair of scissors cuts through it down the middle before both objects disappear.

KING MAGNIFICO
…to sew the most beautiful dresses in all the land!

SANIA
My wish has come true.

The audience applauds again.

KING MAGNIFICO
Now, under normal circumstances we’d spend the next hour of the festival celebrating lucky Sania but I’m afraid we find ourselves in dark times.

Magnifico turns to Sania.

KING MAGNIFICO
Do you mind going back to where you were, please?

SANIA
Oh, sure.

Sania walks back to her spot while Magnifico keeps talking.

KING MAGNIFICO
Yes, there’s a savage teenager running around with a star, destroying wishes.

GABO
(GRUMBLES) Father of the year, ladies and gentlemen.

BAZEEMA
How could he say such awful things about her so casually?

SAFI
AH-CHOO! AH-CHOO! AH-CHOO!

GABO
Watch where you’re aiming that thing!

SAFI
I can’t help it! I think there’s a cat or a koala or something around here.

Dahlia looks down to their feet and spots a little mouse. She places her hand in front of it and the mouse climbs on. Dahlia lifts the mouse for everyone to see.

DAHLIA
How about this?

BAZEEMA
Aw! It’s a cute little mouse.

MOUSE
Thanks!

BAZEEMA
And she talks!

GABO
We saw a talking goat and a talking star. I don’t get why you’re surprised.

MOUSE
I couldn’t always talk but Asha really wanted to find you guys. She said that she, Star, and all of Rosas need your help right away.

DAHLIA
You know where Asha is?

MOUSE
Mm-hmm! I can take you to her if you want.

DAHLIA
Show us.

Dahlia sets the mouse back on the ground. The mouse leads the teens through the crowd back to Asha while Magnifico continues talking.

KING MAGNIFICO
I assure you that there’s nothing to fear, because I have identified six collaborators working with the rogue princess. Their names are…My beloved, do you mind?

Queen Amaya whispers into Magnifico’s ear.

KING MAGNIFICO
Dahlia, Gabo, Dario, Safi, Hal, and Bazeema.

Dahlia stops in her tracks and turns to look at the king and queen.

DAHLIA
What?

GABO
(WHISPER) Keep moving!

The teens continue to follow the mouse.

KING MAGNIFICO
All I ask of you is to stay still while my men search for them amongst you.

About a dozen soldiers step down from the stage and make their way through the audience, inspecting every person they come across.

KING MAGNIFICO
If you see anyone behaving suspiciously, you’ll notify me at once! We will find them, we will find Asha, and we will find that Star! And once we do, all of your worries will finally be over!

The crowd cheers once more. Dahlia and the others manage to reunite with Asha, Star, and Valentino. Asha removes her mask, showing them it’s really her.

ASHA
It’s good to see you all. Wait, where’s Simon?

DAHLIA
We don’t know. Nobody’s seen him since yesterday.

Asha’s deeply concerned but recognizes that they can’t stay there.

ASHA
We’ll look for him later. Right now, we need to hide.

MOUSE
We know just the place.

Everyone looks down to see the mouse with two other mice. They follow them into the city and watch as they drop through a nearby sewer grate.

GABO
And how exactly are we supposed to get down there?

STAR
What is it that humans say? “Lift with your legs?”

Everyone grabs the grate and pulls it up with all their strength. Together they manage to lift it and slide it over. They all enter the sewers through the hole then work together again to pull the grate back over it.

Everyone continues to follow the mice, complaining as they do so.

GABO
Ugh, it stinks in here!

SAFI
I’m really glad I can’t smell.

BAZEEMA
You don’t think anyone saw us, do you?

HAL
There better be a happy ending after all this.

DAHLIA
Gross. Gross. Gross. Gross. Gross.

The mice lead everyone to a small tunnel covered up by criss-crossing bars.

MOUSE
This is it, through here. A little mice advice: keep your ears open, don’t linger, and be smart. Don’t leave any droppings behind.

The mice scamper away while the group looks at each other, wondering how they’re going to get through. Asha, Star, and Valentino press their bodies against the bars to try and see if there was some way they could get through. But then, everybody else starts pressing their bodies to the bars as well, much to Asha’s protest.

ASHA
Stop pushing! Stop pushing!

The bars and everybody falls and slides down the tunnel. Gabo was the first one to land on the other end. As he tries to get back up, everybody else appears and lands on top of him.

GABO
(GROANING) How did I end up at the bottom?

ASHA
Is anyone seriously hurt?

HAL
We’ll live. What is this place, anyway?

Everybody gets up and sees that they’re in a hallway lined with doors.

ASHA
I think we’re in the dungeons.

GABO
(SNARKILY) Oh, the perfect place to hide from the king: under his own house!

DAHLIA
Quiet, does anyone else hear that?

The group stays silent and listens. Quiet sobbing is heard all throughout the dungeon.

SAFI
Uh, Asha? You wouldn’t happen to know if the dungeon’s haunted, do you?

BAZEEMA
I’m really, really starting to hate this place.

Asha investigates one of the doors closest to her. She looks through the bars on it and sees someone lying on a bed and crying. Asha recognizes who the person is.

ASHA
Everyone, come here.

They all go to her and peer inside.

ASHA
I think that’s Mr. Flazino. Didn’t he disappear in the uncharted forest a long time ago?

The others split up and look through the other doors.

SAFI
Hey, there’s another missing person here.

BAZEEMA
Here too.

HAL
Same.

GABO
Wait, did your mom and dad just take everyone who went missing?

ASHA
What?

GABO
I mean, why else would they all be here? They’re the ones who told us they disappeared into the woods but it’s not like anyone ever saw them go in there in the first place, right?

ASHA
Why would they do that?

GABO
I don’t know.

DAHLIA
Hey guys. Does anyone else feel something off about them?

HAL
Well, they’re all crying. I wouldn’t exactly call that a good sign.

DAHLIA
It’s not just that. I’m not a doctor but I feel like there’s something wrong with all of them. Something…missing.

STAR
I know what it is. I saw it with Simon but I was hoping I was wrong.

The whole time this conversation went on, Dario had been vigorously pointing at his door for everyone to check out. Bazeema walks up to him to investigate.

BAZEEMA
What is it, Dario?

She looks inside and what she sees shocks her even more than the missing people.

BAZEEMA
Guys, come quick! I found Simon!

Everyone immediately runs towards that door. Asha looks inside and, sure enough, there is Simon laying on the bed with his eyes half-shut.

GABO
What did they do to him?

Gabo tries to pull the door open but it’s locked. Star steps in front of Gabo to examine the lock. After shapeshifting his finger into a key, he opens it, allowing everyone to rush inside.

Asha tries to shake Simon awake, but to no avail. Dahlia even uses the King Magnifico cookie in her pocket to get him to wake up, but nothing. After that, Star places his hand on Simon’s chest and they both begin to glow yellow. With that, Simon wakes up, surprised by all his friends being in the dungeon with him.

SIMON
Guys? What are you–

Before he could finish his question, everyone hugs Simon, relieved that they finally found him.

ASHA
Don’t worry, Simon. We’re going to get you out of here.

SIMON
Asha…

Tears begin to build in Simon’s eyes and he finds himself unable to look in hers.

ASHA
Simon, what’s wrong?

SIMON
Asha…Everyone…I’m so sorry.

Everyone is confused by what Simon is saying. But it didn’t take Gabo long to put two and two together and to lunge at Simon because of it.

GABO
You dirty double-crosser!

Gabo throws punch after punch at Simon, who does nothing other than instinctively raise his arms to defend himself. Everyone else grabs Gabo’s arms and pulls him off Simon.

DAHLIA
What is wrong with you?

GABO
He’s the one who ratted out Asha and Star to Magnifico! All of this is his fault!

Everybody is stunned by Gabo’s accusation but Simon doesn’t say anything to defend himself.

ASHA
Simon, that isn’t true, is it?

Simon still says nothing. It’s all the answer Asha needs.

ASHA
Why?

SIMON
I thought…I thought if I could have my wish back, then this emptiness inside me would finally go away. But it didn’t matter. Magnifico said he already ate it.

DAHLIA
Ate it?

STAR
So that’s the curse.

GABO
I knew there was a curse.

DAHLIA
What curse are you talking about?

STAR
In the king’s study, there’s a very powerful spellbook with a very evil curse attached to it. I didn’t know what it was then, but I do know. The king used the spells in the book and now needs to feed on wishes to maintain his power.

SIMON
Looking back on it, I think he may have eaten it almost as soon as he got it.

SAFI
How do you know?

BEAT.

SIMON
After I gave my wish away, it wasn’t so bad. I still did the things I always did, but I only did them because I was already doing them. I couldn’t remember why I did them in the first place. Nothing
felt the same. Life was just going through the motions. I couldn’t remember my wish but there was this inescapable feeling that I wanted something more than anything. But I had no idea what
that something was. It wasn’t great but it was bearable so I didn’t bring it up. Then, one night, I woke up with a sharp pain in my chest and I couldn’t stop crying. There was this inexplicable
sadness that was like nothing I had ever felt before. It was as if I was grieving somebody I had never met. I think that was the moment Magnifico ate my wish. And the sadness never went away
after that, I just got better at hiding it.

It was hard for anyone in that room to stay mad at Simon after hearing that. Anyone except Gabo of course.

GABO
Great sob story, Sleepyhead. It went on for so long, the guards are coming. Listen!

He was right. Faintly, three footsteps and four rolling wheels could be heard coming closer.

GABO
So Asha, what say you and all your real friends get out of here?

SIMON
Asha. I also want to apologize for being so awful to you the past few days. I should’ve known you’d never do anything to hurt me. It was just so much easier to believe in a horrible lie than–

ASHA
Than an even more horrible truth.

Asha sticks out her hand for Simon to take.

ASHA
Come with us.

GABO
Are you serious?

SIMON
I-I don’t deserve this.

ASHA
Then be someone who does. Which won’t happen if you just sit here.

Simon thinks for a moment before grabbing Asha’s hand and getting off of the bed.

SIMON
Thank you.

GABO
How sweet. Now can we please get out of here?

Everyone rushes out the door. Just as they’re about to head back to the tunnel they came in from, three guards pushing a cart full of food appear at the mouth of the tunnel.

GUARD #1
Hey!

SAFI
Quick! Run!

GUARD #1
I-It’s her!

GUARD #2
Stop her!

The guards push the cart aside to chase after the teens. As they’re all running away, Star blasts his magic at the cart, causing the bowl of food and the tablecloth on it to fly straight for the heads of the two closest guards and bringing the cart itself to life to attack the third one. As the last guard standing defends himself, he looks at the teens and sees all of them squeezing inside the little tunnel they came in through.

GUARD #3
Hey, stop! You traitors!

Asha’s the last one left in the dungeon. She turns to everyone who has been unfairly locked down there.

ASHA
I promise, we’ll come back to free all of you! Just wait a little longer!

She climbs into the hole with help from Star. Everyone reappears back in the sewer.

GABO
Well, we definitely can’t stay here now.

SAFI
Where are we gonna hide?

BAZEEMA
Follow me.

Bazeema doesn’t even explain herself. Instantly, she takes charge and runs down the sewers. The others have no choice but to do as she said or else they’d risk losing her.

EXT. ROSAS, IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE - NIGHT

Back at the castle, the guards stand on stage alongside Magnifico and Amaya. The captain of the guard steps forth and salutes him. Magnifico doesn’t seem pleased with any of them.

KING MAGNIFICO
Captain, why don’t I see any treacherous teenagers in front of me?

CAPTAIN
Your Majesty, me and my men searched the entire crowd but we could not find them. I believe that they have left, sir.

KING MAGNIFICO
Left?

CAPTAIN
Or were never in the crowd in the first place.

KING MAGNIFICO
Interesting. And did you search again to make sure they’re not in the crowd?

CAPTAIN
With all due respect Your Highness, I don’t see how there’d be much point in doing tha–

The captain stops talking as soon as he sees Magnifico pull out another wish. He becomes completely transfixed by the sight of it.

KING MAGNIFICO
Do you remember this?

CAPTAIN
(ENRAPTURED) It’s my wish.

KING MAGNIFICO
It was.

CAPTAIN
Was?

Magnifico silently places the wish inside his mouth and bites down on it. The crowd reacts in shock and horror as the captain of the guard collapses onto the stage and weeps uncontrollably. Rosas’ citizens try to run out of the amphitheater only for Magnifico to slam the butt of his staff onto the ground, producing a wave of green energy that speeds past the crowd and covers the exits, trapping them all inside. Several of them bang their hands and fists against the wall of green magic but to no avail.

KING MAGNIFICO
DID I SAY YOU COULD LEAVE?

The crowd stops after that. They turn to Magnifico, clearly afraid of him. Magnifico looks at them disdainfully before turning to the rest of his men.

KING MAGNIFICO
Which one of you is the second-in-command?

None of them say anything. The last thing they want is to be the next target of Magnifico’s wrath.

KING MAGNIFICO
(VOICE RAISED) Well?!

One of the guards pushes the one right next to him forward. He stumbles before standing himself upright. Magnifico points his staff to the guard’s neck and the guard stays stone still, hoping not to anger him.

KING MAGNIFICO
Congratulations. You just got promoted. Your first order is to take these men and search the crowd again. Do not stop until you find the traitors. And in case this…

Magnifico gestures to the still crying heap that is the previous captain.

KING MAGNIFICO
…isn’t enough motivation for you…

He pulls back his cape and more wishes come out, at least a dozen of them. The guards look at them in shock and horror.

KING MAGNIFICO
Don’t worry, not all of these are yours. I mixed in a few of your parents, a couple of your spouses and, oh, is that a child or two I see? Now, move it!

NEW CAPTAIN
Y-Yes, Your Highness! You heard him men, go, go, go!

The guards rush off back down the stage and into the crowd. Magnifico and Amaya watch the display gleefully, relishing the freedom of showing their subjects who they really are.

EXT. ROSAS, AN EMPTY STREET - NIGHT

The camera cuts to a manhole on a dark, empty road. The manhole is lifted and put aside by a golden elephant trunk. The trunk transforms into Star and Bazeema crawls out of the hole with the rest of the group in tow.

BAZEEMA
This way.

Everyone follows Bazeema down a narrow passageway barely wide enough for one person. Bazeema turns a corner and they all stop as a white stone wall blocks their path.

ASHA
It’s a dead end.

Bazeema walks to a small pile of wooden planks leaning on a wall. She pulls the planks down and reveals a secret passageway. Everyone crawls through and finds themselves in a series of cramped tunnels crisscrossing in different directions between the stone walls. After covering up the entrance, Bazeema takes them through the one in the middle and they all appear inside a long forgotten storage room decorated to match Bazeema’s exact taste.

GABO
So this is where you disappear to.

HAL
What is this place, Bazeema?

BAZEEMA
It’s my quiet place. I come here when life becomes just a bit too much for me.

GABO
Oh, so from Monday to Sunday?

SAFI
AH-CHOO! Ah, it’s so dusty!

DAHLIA
Dust is good. It means no one’s been here which means we’re safe.

GABO
Are we safe? ‘Cause last I checked, we brought someone with us who’s pretty good at stabbing people in the back.

Simon hangs his head in shame as Asha stands up for him.

ASHA
That’s enough Gabo. Magnifico and Amaya manipulated him just like they manipulated all of us.

Everyone becomes quiet as the realization of the rulers’ actions sink in. Dahlia pulls out the Magnifico cookie in her pocket and looks at it, distressed.

DAHLIA
They were the ones who destroyed the wishes of those people yesterday.

VALENTINO
Mm-hmm. We aww saw them do it with ouw own eyes.

STAR
And from the looks of it, they’ve been doing so for years.

ASHA
Not only that. I think…I don’t think they ever came to my hamlet in peace. They intended to destroy us from the start.

SIMON
What?

DAHLIA
Asha, are you sure?

ASHA
Yes. My Saba, my parents, no one there would’ve harmed the wishes. Deep down, I think I knew it for a long time. But I kept lying to myself to hide from the awful truth: that Magnifico and
Amaya don’t care about anyone but themselves.

BEAT.

GABO
So, that’s it. The super generous and amazing king and queen of Rosas are actually super evil and won’t stop until they find us.

SAFI
We’re doomed!

ASHA
Not if we fight.

Star and Valentino shut the room’s windows while a heavy drumbeat is played in the background.

ASHA
♪We've been deceived♪
♪The King and Queen are not who we believed♪
♪They’re more vicious than we could have comprehended♪
♪When I made a wish and Star came down♪
♪This was not what I expected or intended♪
♪But now that he’s here, I don't regret it♪

Together, Star and Asha use the colorful lanterns and objects around the room to play with the light and create different shadows. They form a shadow of Magnifico and Amaya, their kind, loving faces twisted with greed and cruelty

ASHA
♪And now we've seen♪
♪Them show their true colors, their shades of green♪
♪Saying you’re not safe because of me when♪
♪All they ever do is lie♪
♪But still, I know I can't do this without you♪

♪If not us now, then who and when?♪
♪If we don’t fight, then they both win♪
♪Won’t allow♪
♪Knowing what I know now♪

♪The depths they’ll sink, there is no end♪
♪I won’t obey, I won’t pretend♪
♪This I vow♪
♪Knowing what I know now♪

Dahlia apprehensively looks at the Magnifico cookie she kept in her pocket. Hearing the earnest pleas of her best friend convinces her to walk up next to her and rally the others alongside her.

DAHLIA & ENSEMBLE
♪Get up, yeah!♪
♪I know I'm not the only one that's fed up (Yeah)♪

Dahlia shows them the cookie then throws it to the ground. Simon takes her place.

SIMON & ENSEMBLE
♪We can’t ignore the truth, it’s time to step up (Yeah)♪

Simon crushes the cookie under his foot twice as emphasis.

HAL
♪I don't think they’re prepared for what's coming♪

Gabo climbs up a ladder and bellows before jumping off.

GABO & ENSEMBLE
♪A revolution hit the ground running♪

The group picks up various objects around the room and sets them up on a table.

ASHA & ENSEMBLE:
♪I’ll tell you what they can't keep down♪
♪(Uh-huh)♪

DAHLIA, ASHA & ENSEMBLE:
♪That’s us and the voice we've found♪
♪It's too loud♪
♪(Loud)♪

ASHA
♪Knowing what we know now♪

ENSEMBLE
♪Knowing what we know now♪

SAFI & ENSEMBLE
♪And we don’t know if we'll succeed♪
♪(But we—)♪

HAL & ENSEMBLE
♪Won't stop and we won't retreat or turn round♪
♪(Round)♪

ASHA
♪Knowing what we know now♪

Star lights a lantern behind the objects and the shadow they cast looks exactly like Rosas.

ASHA & ENSEMBLE
♪Knowing what we know now♪

Dario begins banging on some barrels with a pair of sticks, using them like makeshift drums. Several of the other teens join in. Star, in his original form, pops out of a model of the castle dressed like Magnifico and everyone else proceeds to chase him around the room.

SAFI
♪Can they tell what we're becomin'?♪

SIMON
♪Hear it in the way we're drummin'♪

BAZEEMA
♪I may be sweet, but I know I’m not weak♪

ENSEMBLE
♪Yah, yah, yah, yah!♪

GABO
♪Pushed us, now we’re on the attack♪

HAL
♪Our dreams are ours; we’ll take them back♪

STAR
♪They want a fight let’s♪

ASHA
♪Give them what they seek!♪

ENSEMBLE
♪Yah!♪

The activity is interrupted by what sounds like a loud gong. The majority of the group turns around to see that Dario was the one responsible, having found a gong and hitting it with a large stick. He then proceeds to do something none of them expected.

DARIO & ENSEMBLE
♪We bit our tongues and we paid the price♪
♪They think we’re done? They best think twice♪
♪Take them down (Down)♪
♪Knowing what I know now♪

ENSEMBLE
♪Knowing what I know now♪

DARIO & ENSEMBLE
♪The good in them was all a lie♪
♪I won’t sit back, lay down and die♪
♪I won’t bow (Ahhh)♪
♪Knowing what I know♪

ASHA
♪I know♪

DAHLIA
♪I know♪

THE OTHERS
♪We know now♪

ALL
♪Knowing what we know now♪

BEAT.

SIMON
So, uh, why did you wait until now to finally talk to us?

DARIO
I like to listen.

GABO
Putting that aside, all of us are committed to stopping Magnifico and Amaya. But how are we going to do that?

ASHA
The wishes. They’re how those two control Rosas’ citizens.

STAR
They’re also how Magnifico sustains his power. We free them…

ASHA
…we free Rosas.

VALENTINO
Aww! Wook at you two. Finishing each othew’s sentences awweady.

DAHLIA
Wait! Are you two…?

ASHA
(HURRIEDLY) That’s not important right now.

HAL
You are!

ASHA
(EMBARRASSED) Not important! (CLEARS THROAT) What matters is that we get Star to the wishes so he can free them.

SAFI
How are we going to get to the castle from here?

Light suddenly pours into the room and everyone turns to see Bazeema opening a door they hadn’t noticed earlier.

BAZEEMA
Did I not mention that this room connects directly to the castle?

DAHLIA
That’s one problem solved. But we still need to make sure that those two don’t notice and try to stop us. I take it you have a plan for that?

Star and Asha look at each other.

ASHA
Of course we have a plan.

EXT. ROSAS, IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE - NIGHT

The guards continue to roam through the crowd searching for Asha’s friends. Soon enough, Magnifico gets sick of waiting.

KING MAGNIFICO
I’m growing impatient!

NEW CAPTAIN
Sire, we’ve looked everywhere but-but we just can’t find them!

QUEEN AMAYA
Mi rey, maybe we need to accept that they’re not here.

KING MAGNIFICO
Well then, my love, where are they?

HAL
(O.S., YELLING) Oh boy, it sure was great to see Asha again, right guys?

Everyone turns to see Hal, Bazeema, Gabo, Dario, and Safi standing just outside the amphitheater. Dario is distracted by the shield blocking the exits and taps on it like a kid in an aquarium.

GABO
(YELLING) Yep! And it sure was nice of her to tell us exactly where she and Star are!

BAZEEMA
(VOICE RAISED) I sure hope there are no bad guys around who’d really like to know that!

SAFI
AH-CHOO! (YELLING) Yeah, ‘cause then they would find those two for sure!

Magnifico points his staff and fires a bolt of green energy in their direction, They run away as the shield in the amphitheater disappears.

KING MAGNIFICO
Get them!

The guards make their way through the crowd as fast as they can. They get out of the amphitheater and into the city, where they see each of the five teens split up and enter a different building, The guards proceed to split up themselves to chase after them.

Three of them open a door only to see that the entire first floor is waist high in confetti. They stare in confusion before Hal pops out of the other side of the room.

HAL
Surprise! I always order extra confetti whenever I plan the festival, and now I get to put it to good use. They’re absolutely great at lifting any person’s mood.

The guards ignore her and try to wade through the confetti after her, only for the one in front to fall into it.

HAL
Another thing they’re great for? Covering up traps.

The guard lies in the basement of the house groaning as pieces of confetti fall on top of him.

The camera cuts to other guards climbing up a flight of stairs. Bazeema appears at the foot of the staircase behind them.

BAZEEMA
Sorry.

The guards rush over and climb another set of stairs, only for Bazeema to appear at the one behind them again.

BAZEEMA
Not quite.

The guards chase after and climb up the stairs again but…

BAZEEMA
Almost there.

After this, there are no more steps to climb and nowhere for Bazeema to run.

GUARD #1
Surrender quietly, miss. One way or another, you’re coming with us.

BAZEEMA
My friends really aren’t going to like that.

GUARD #1
Your friends will be joining you soon enough.

The guards then hear a lot of growling and turn around to see dozens of stray dogs, cats, and rats glaring angrily at them.

BAZEEMA
Those aren’t the friends I’m talking about.

The animals lunge at the guards and they desperately try to shake them off.

At the top floor of another building, Gabo stands in front of a window as a lone guard bursts into the room he’s hiding in.

GUARD #2
Got you now, runt!

GABO
(GROANS) Of course they’d send their dumpiest goon after me.

GUARD #2
Dumpy? Why you little–!

The guard runs after Gabo only for him to find out too late that the floor has been made slick with some kind of oil. He flails his arms in panic as Gabo steps out of the way and lets him fall out the window. Gabo sticks his head out the window and looks down at the guard lying and moaning in pain on a collapsed fruit stand.

GABO
Looks like Dumpy had a great fall!

At another building, Safi is cornered by five other guards. They charge after him but then Safi sneezes into his own palms. He turns them around to show the guards his sneeze covered hands and they all stop dead in their tracks and express their disgust. With a devious grin on his face, Safi approaches the guards with his palms facing forward.

SAFI
What’s the matter? Aren’t you gonna turn me in?

The guards run away in terror from Safi’s hands, pushing each other out of the way to get through the front door first.

A trio of guards approach a house and sees Dario staring absentmindedly through the window.

GUARD #3
Open this door at once!

Dario turns to the guards and smiles at them.

GUARD #3
Did you hear me? Open this door now!

Instead of doing that, Dario just waves at them.

GUARD #3
Okay, that’s it.

The guard opens the door and steps inside, only to step on a rope that causes a log to swing into all three of them, knocking them back outside. Dario sticks his head out and waves again.

EXT. UNCHARTED FOREST - NIGHT

Asha and Valentino stare out into the city by the forest’s entrance, worry etched on Asha’s face.

ASHA
I really hope they’re okay.

VALENTINO
They’we fine. Wemembew the pwan. They keep them busy and then we keep them busy. That way Staw, Simon, and Dahwia have mowe than enough time to save the wishes.

ASHA
I know, but I still can’t help but worry about them. I sure hope those three get to the wishes quickly.

INT. ROSAS ROYAL CASTLE, THE GREAT HALL - NIGHT

Star pokes his head out of a door to see that the stairs to the king’s study are crawling with guards.

STAR
(WHISPER) This is gonna be tougher than we’d hoped, right Simon? Simon?

Simon, holding onto Dahlia’s crutch, is on the verge of passing out while standing up.

STAR
(WHISPER) Simon!

Simon wakes up with a jolt.

SIMON
(WHISPER) Sorry! You’d think with all this excitement it’d be easier to stay awake.

STAR
I have an idea.

Star turns back to his star form and swirls around Simon, lifting him into the air. As he does, stardust covers his body and takes the shape of a suit of armor complete with cape. A shield appears strapped to his right arm while Dahlia’s crutch in his left changes into a sword. Star then flies into Simon, turning the stardust into a real suit of golden armor. Simon looks at his body in awe and amazement as several of the guards come to investigate the strange lights that came from the hallway they were hiding in.

STAR
Come on, Sir Sleepyhead!

Simon looks down to see Star’s face on the inside of his shield.

STAR
Let’s show these guys how a real knight in shining armor does things.

Simon smiles and looks at the guards with a steely determination. He raises his sword and charges right at them, yelling at the top of his lungs.

SIMON
FOR ROSAS!

EXT. ROSAS - NIGHT

The teens continue to successfully outmaneuver the royal guard through the aid of booby traps, wild animals, and terrifying them with germs. But eventually, their luck runs out and one by one they are captured. They are taken onstage to face Magnifico and Amaya. Each of their arms are restrained by a guard right behind them as the teens look on at their formerly beloved rulers with contempt.

KING MAGNIFICO
It’s about time! Now, you lot, tell me where the star is now.

GABO
He’s probably with Asha but uh… (CLICKS TONGUE) I can’t seem to remember where she went. Any of you guys?

Dario shakes his head.

SAFI
Nope.

BAZEEMA
Sorry.

HAL
It’s on the top of my tongue but…

The king slams the bottom of his staff again and green electricity dances around the top part. He points the electrified tip of his staff at Gabo, mere inches from his face.

KING MAGNIFICO
Eenie…

He then points it at Hal.

KING MAGNIFICO
Meenie…

Safi.

KING MAGNIFICO
Miney…

Finally, Bazeema.

KING MAGNIFICO
Ah…

He pulls his staff back and is about to thrust it into her. Bazeema shuts her eyes so she wouldn’t have to see what comes next.

HAL
She’s in the woods!

Magnifico stops just before his staff makes contact and the electricity disappears. Bazeema opens her eyes and turns to look at Hal hanging her head in shame.

HAL
I’m sorry everybody.

KING MAGNIFICO
The woods, huh?

QUEEN AMAYA
Interesting…

The king and queen proceed to…do nothing. They don’t order the guards. They don’t get on horseback to pursue Asha. They just stand there.

DARIO
So, uh…aren’t you gonna, you know, go after her now?

QUEEN AMAYA
Now why would we need to do that?

EXT. UNCHARTED FOREST - NIGHT

ASHA
Something’s not right, I can feel it. Let’s go now, Valentino.

VALENTINO
Okay.

Asha runs into the uncharted forest but as soon as she passes the first tree, she trips and falls. Asha looks at her legs and sees that they’re tied up by a bola.

ASHA
What in the-?

But just then, another bola appears and hogties Valentino. He struggles as he tries to get the ropes off but it’s too late.

GUARD
(O.S) The Queen was right.

The two of them look up in horror as royal guards appear from behind the trees to apprehend them.

GUARD
All we had to do was wait and the princess would come right back to us.

ASHA
No.

INT. ROSAS ROYAL CASTLE - THE KING’S STUDY - NIGHT

STAR & SIMON
Yeah!

Simon kicks the last of the guards through the double doors to the king’s study, leaving him unconscious. Star separates from Simon, turning back to his human form and making the armor disappear. Simon’s briefly disappointed before turning and running towards the dumbwaiter. He opens it, revealing Dahlia cramped inside it. He goes to hand her her crutch only to realize it’s still a sword. Star changes it back and then Simon hands it to her.

DAHLIA
Thank you. Now let’s hurry, there’s no telling if Asha and the others managed to pull it off.

STAR
Way ahead of you.

Star flicks his wrist and the obsidian walls open. He flies towards the wishes and then magically makes them spin around him.

STAR
Don’t worry guys, we’ll get you back to your owners in no time. Come on, everybody. Here we go!

Star takes off to the open skylight above, the wishes following closely behind him, only for him to crash into it and all the wishes to pelt him from behind. Star falls from the skylight onto the floor. Dahlia and Simon wince as he does and walks up to check on him as the wishes descend closer to them.

SIMON
Do you think he’s okay?

DAHLIA
He may have a concussion. Do stars get concussions?

STAR
(GROANING) No, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I was the first. What was that?!

Dahlia grabs a wish and tries to walk out of the study with it. She ends up bumping into a wall of green energy. She lets go of the wish and is able to walk into the other study no problem.

DAHLIA
Magnifico must’ve cast a spell so no one but him could take the wishes out of here.

SIMON
Well how do we get rid of it?

DAHLIA
I don’t know. Maybe one of the spellbooks here can help?

On Star’s face, one could tell that he has an idea. But one could also tell he doesn’t like it. He flies past Dahlia to the spellbook locked behind enchanted glass. He goes to open the case, only for the bees to come to life and attack him. Star turns into a golden frog and eats all the bees with one flick of his tongue. After he burps, Star turns human again, opens the case, grabs the book and gives it to Dahlia.

STAR
Do NOT use any of the spells here. Just potions and rituals. If you use the spells you’ll be cursed just like Magnifico.

DAHLIA
Right.

Dahlia sets the book on one of the work tables and opens it. She searches through it until she finds something that seems useful.

DAHLIA
“Dispel barrier.” I think this might be it.

SIMON
Great! I’ll fire up the cauldron and—

DAHLIA
Wait! It doesn’t use a cauldron. It says here that “all the ingredients must be added into a vortex”. But how are we going to do that?

STAR
Leave that to me.

Star takes on his original form and flies to the center of the room. He spins around at high speeds, generating a wind storm that swirls the wishes around him and makes Simon and Dahlia’s hair and clothes billow in their direction. Simon tries to hold onto his hat but the wind is too much and it's taken away. Star shouts over the heavy winds he’s creating.

STAR
Well, what’s step two?!

DAHLIA
Step two…Step two. It says to “add cricket legs and red dragon scales simultaneously.”

SIMON
On it!

Simon runs towards several jars on the table and pulls out two holding what he was looking for. He pops them open and spills their contents, which fly into the wind storm and surround Star before Simon drops the now empty jars onto the ground, shattering them.

STAR
What else?

DAHLIA
“Now add hair from a black lion’s mane while chanting ‘Atatam Anukah.’”

Simon does exactly as Dahlia instructs.

DAHLIA
Now…

EXT. ROSAS, IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE - NIGHT

The crowd parts as Asha is taken before the King and Queen. She and Valentino are forced to walk side by side as the guards watch them with their weapons drawn. Soon enough, she stops in front of the stage. Her friends are still held in place by the guards. They look at her with worry, apologizing for not being able to stall long enough. Magnifico and Amaya look at her condescendingly, assured that victory is finally in their grasp.

KING MAGNIFICO
There she is! Daddy’s little girl! Now, I’m an understanding guy. I know that every teen has their rebellious phase. You don’t really mean to betray your country, do you? So why don’t you just
give me the star and we’ll act like none of this ever happened? I’ll even make you my apprentice just like you wanted. What do ya say?

Asha doesn’t respond. She looks around her. At the terrified faces of the citizens trying to avoid Magnifico’s and Amaya’s gaze. At the guard captain still on the stage crying, being treated as if he were an afterthought. At her friends being held hostage right in front of her.

ASHA
I see you’ve given up on the wise and kind king and queen act. So why don’t you tell them everything? About how this isn’t the first time you’ve destroyed people’s wishes? About how everytime you
did, you’d lock the person away and say they went missing so no one would notice something was wrong with them? About how you came to my hamlet with the intention to destroy us all? And how
you care about no one but yourselves and your obsession with power!?

The citizens of Rosas listen to Asha’s revelations with shock and horror. They turn to their leaders, hoping that they’d refute such vile accusations. Even after everything they’ve done that night, they still cling to hope that they were the generous and thoughtful protectors that they’ve come to know and love.

But instead, Magnifico just laughs. He laughs so hard he shuts his eyes and clutches his stomach. Amaya smiles right beside him as she strokes Charo. Eventually, Magnifico stops laughing and opens his eyes, revealing that they’ve once again taken a sickly green hue.

KING MAGNIFICO
Ahhhh. Thank you. Thank you so much, Asha. Having to pretend to care. Having to snack at only my most desperate moments has been quite annoying.

He then turns and walks towards Dario.

KING MAGNIFICO
And waiting for you to hand over the star…

GABO
You stay away from hi–Ahh!

The guard holding Gabo’s arms twists them in order to silence him.

KING MAGNIFICO
…is making me unexpectedly hungry. Luckily, your friends were kind enough to volunteer their wishes to me. Hmm, perhaps I’ll start with the dopey one’s.

Magnifico raises his staff and green lightning shoots out of it and into Dario’s chest. His screams of agony quickly make way for screams of terror as he watches his wish being pulled out of him against his will.

ASHA
(O.S.) Stop! Okay! Okay! I’ll give you the star!

In what may go down in Rosas’ history as the single greatest example of desperate times calling for desperate measures, Asha raises Valentino over her head and presents him as the star. Magnifico and the crowd look at Valentino in astonishment and understandable disbelief.

ROSAS CITIZEN #1
Is this a joke?

VALENTINO
(WHISPER TO HIMSELF) I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. No! Thewe’s no way I can do this! (SHOUTING) People of Wosas!

ROSAS CITIZEN #2
The goat talks!

VALENTINO
Hewwo! I come fwom the sky! I am hewe fow you!

Asha’s friends could tell that the crowd still needs convincing so they decide to join in.

HAL
Oh my goodness! It is the most beautiful star I’ve ever seen!

BAZEEMA
It’s a miracle!

SAFI
Oh, this is amazing!

KING MAGNIFICO
What game is this!?

VALENTINO
Magnifico! If you want me, fiwst you have to fwee evewyone’s wishes!

Magnifico doesn’t believe that Valentino is a star.

MAGNIFICO
That’s just the goat!

To convince the crowd of his power, Valentino calls to the animals.

VALENTINO
WEEE!!!

And the animals answer. All over Rosas and even from the uncharted forest, dogs, mice, birds, fireflies, horses, goats, and all types of creatures from around the island stampede to assure the crowd of Valentino’s power. An eagle lifts Valentino from Asha’s arms as fireflies form into a star behind him. The audience marvels at Valentino’s glory, fully convinced.

VALENTINO
It’s ovew Magnifico! You have no choice but to suwwendew!

Magnifico smiles indignantly.

KING MAGNIFICO
I have no choice?

Magnifico raises his staff and all the wishes he held hostage spin around before diving into his open mouth. The crowd watches in horror as several of them collapse from the desolation in their hearts.

ASHA
Wha-! No!

The surge of power Magnifico receives from eating all those wishes at once begins to transform him. He grows larger, so large that the staff, which was once more than a foot taller than him now only had the head poking out of his closed fist. Shaggy, light brown hair covers his body as his shirt and shoes tear away as a result of his new size. The bottom of his jaw extends into an underbite with large canines jutting out of it. His legs bend and contort in a way that made them resemble a wolf’s rather than a person’s. Sharp, black horns grow from the top of his head and his eyes become entirely green. Even Amaya and Charo are horrified by Magnifico’s transformation but Magnifico himself relishes his new body and laughs in triumph over the power it grants him.

The guards see this and as they try to comfort those of them who have had their wishes destroyed, they realize that this has gone too far.

NEW CAPTAIN
We have to do something!

The remaining guards charge at Magnifico who just swats them aside like flies. He turns to Asha with a massive grin on his face. His voice reverberates as he speaks.

KING MAGNIFICO
You think I’m an idiot? I have the power! I have your wishes! I will have the star! Now where is it?

Asha is so terrified by what has just transpired that she can’t help but look at the lights coming from the top of the royal castle. Magnifico follows her gaze as realization dawns on him.

INT. ROSAS ROYAL CASTLE, THE KING’S STUDY - NIGHT

Back inside the King’s study, all of the wishes and a myriad of seemingly random objects swirl around Star as he looks onto Dahlia and Simon.

STAR
I think it’s working! Maybe? Almost?

DAHLIA
We’re close! We’re so close! We just need to add one more ingredient: “fire born from natural means.” Simon, run to the kitchen and–

The entire castle suddenly shakes, nearly knocking Simon and Dahlia off their feet.

DAHLIA
What was that?

Simon runs to the window and looks down. His eyes go wide in terror.

SIMON
Uh, Dahlia? I don’t think we have that kind of time.

Down below, Simon sees the newly transformed King Magnifico with Queen Amaya on his head holding onto his hair. Magnifico climbs the castle by digging the claws on his feet and left hand into the stone before leaping upwards every few seconds. When the guards try to stop him by throwing their spears at them, Magnifico turns around and fires a blast of green energy from the staff in his right hand. The guards jump out of the way, as do the citizens when the beam travels upwards and cuts a line straight through Rosas.

INT. ROSAS’ CASTLE, STEPS TO THE KING’S STUDY - NIGHT

Asha and Valentino run up the stairs as fast as they can. Magnifico jumps again and his claws pierce through the wall, the windows shattering from their force. Asha sees their heads poking out of a window she’s passing by. She takes off her shoes, the only piece of clothing from her original outfit and throws them at them while still running. One of them bounces harmlessly off of Magnifico’s face while the other nearly hits the Queen in the head.

QUEEN AMAYA
You are in big trouble, young lady!

ASHA
Eat me!

KING MAGNIFICO
Don’t talk that way to your mother!

QUEEN AMAYA
Honestly, we raised you better than this!

Valentino blows a raspberry at them, making them gasp in shock.

INT. ROSAS ROYAL CASTLE, THE KING’S STUDY - NIGHT

STAR
What are we gonna do!?

SIMON
There’s plenty of spellbooks here! Surely one of them–

DAHLIA
That won’t work! It has to be by natural means!

SIMON
Then how are we gonna start a fire befo–

Simon notices Dahlia’s crutch and has an idea. He picks Dahlia up and sits her on a nearby chair before taking her crutch from her.

DAHLIA
Hey!

SIMON
Sorry, Dahlia!

Simon takes the crutch and smashes it against the desk, shattering it. He throws the book onto the ground behind the desk, safe from the wind, and presses the tip of the sharpest, longest piece he can find against it. He presses his hands at the top of the stick and rubs them vigorously, spinning the stick while adding pressure downwards, making his hands go down. When they reach all the way down, he places his hands to the top again and spins faster. He does his best to continue this pattern while being knocked around by the castle’s shaking.

Eventually, smoke starts to appear from the book. Simon’s sense of accomplishment is quickly wiped away when Magnifico and Amaya appear just outside the study. The two of them look directly at Star and smile evilly. Absolute victory had never been so close before.

Simon shakes off the shock and gently blows into the smoke. Rather than starting a small ember, both pages burst into a roaring green inferno.

KING MAGNIFICO
My book!

Enraged, Magnifico leaps one more time and starts to climb onto the roof.

DAHLIA
Throw it! Throw it now!

Simon does as she says, grabbing the book by the cover and tossing it into the vortex. Magnifico and Amaya look down from the skylight as all of the ingredients and the wishes coalesce around Star until he releases a blast of golden energy into the sky that shatters the shield and knocks Magnifico near the edge.

He digs his claws into the roof, keeping him from falling over, but the blast makes Amaya lose her grip. She falls down screaming in panic, which catches the attention of her husband.

KING MAGNIFICO
Amaya? Amaya!

Instinctively, he reaches out for her with his right hand, but that’s the one gripping the staff. He could’ve saved her if he would just let go. But he doesn’t. Magnifico watches silently, tears streaking down his face, as the woman he loves falls to the trees below and to her demise.

STAR
(O.S.) I…

Magnifico turns around to see Star surrounded by all the wishes. All of his plans were put on halt when he saw Magnifico cry over his wife. After all, despite everything they’ve done, no one deserves to lose their loved one in such a way.

STAR
I’m so sorry for your loss.

Unfortunately, this was the worst time for Star to be sympathetic. Rather than saying anything, Magnifico opens his mouth and a blast of green magic shoots forth. Instead of blasting away Star and the wishes, it starts to pull them into this mouth. Star turns human again to save at least some of them but it’s no use. He tries to save himself but Magnifico’s pull is too strong.

ASHA
(O.S.) Star!

Star looks down to see that Asha and Valentino have made it to the study. She looks up at Star in shock and horror, desperately hoping for any way he can escape. Instead, Star looks down apologetically as he slowly transforms into his true self.

STAR
I’m sorry.

Star is then pulled into Magnifico’s mouth and he snaps it shut.

ASHA
NO!

Magnifico transforms once again as the floor under Asha’s, Valentino’s, Dahlia’s, and Simon’s feet glows green and rises into the skylight.

KING MAGNIFICO
(O.S) A hundred and twelve years!

The four stop above the castle and look on in horror as Magnifico approaches them. He has become absolutely massive. His horns grew even larger, curving inwards before jutting out back outwards. The brown hair he had grown turned pitch black. Thick, leathery wings sprouted from underneath his arms. His jaw extended far out from his face, looking more like the muzzle of a crocodile and he had grown a long reptilian tale to match. At long last, the hideous beast hiding behind the handsome king had made itself known to the world.

KING MAGNIFICO
For a hundred and twelve years everything in Rosas went according to my design!

Magnifico flicks Valentino away, making him crash into Dahlia and Simon, knocking them all down. He then grabs Asha with his free hand and lifts her up to his face.

KING MAGNIFICO
But you just had to go and be a rebellious little brat! All you needed to do was as you were told! Just like you’ve always done! And now your mother is gone! And it’s all your fault!

ASHA
She was not my mother.

KING MAGNIFICO
What?

ASHA
You two took me from my home after destroying everything else. You never saw me as anything more than an extension of yourselves! Amaya was not my mother! And you are not my father!

KING MAGNIFICO
Hmph. Whatever.

Magnifico walks towards the edge of the castle roof facing the amphitheater. Everyone in Rosas is still there, looking up at the roof wondering what’s going to happen next.

KING MAGNIFICO
Honestly, I should be thanking you, Asha. Without you, it probably would have taken another hundred years to capture that star. And now, all of its power belongs to me. Why did I ever think I
would need an army? No, the only thing you and the rest of Rosas are good for now is bringing my wife back to me.

Magnifico slams Asha onto the roof, her head poking out just over the edge. Magnifico lifts his hand to reveal that Asha’s body is encased in a cocoon of green energy. Vine-like images spread from the cocoon across the floor and the walls of the castle until they cover the entirety of Rosas. As they spread, magic juts out of the vines to wrap around the wrists of everybody underneath them, forcing them to kneel. The people try to get away but there’s nowhere they can go, and in almost no time at all, everybody, even the animals, have been captured. Asha witnesses all of this happen in horror before the king leans down over her.

KING MAGNIFICO
I almost forgot! It’s your eighteenth birthday today! Let’s take a look at that wish.

Asha silently pleads for him not to but Magnifico still painfully rips Asha’s wish out of her. Asha looks distraught as she can no longer remember what her wish was. Magnifico looks at the wish and chuckles.

KING MAGNIFICO
I was wrong, Asha. You’ve always been a rebellious, ungrateful brat. Because even after all these years of telling you to forget about them…

Magnifico shows Asha her wish. Tears start to flood her eyes even though she can no longer remember the people she’s looking at.

KING MAGNIFICO
…they’re still your wish.

Magnifico pops Asha’s wish into his mouth like a tic tac. Asha feels a sharp pain in her chest followed by an all too familiar feeling of grief. She begins to sob as Magnifico continues to gloat.

KING MAGNIFICO
But don’t worry, I’ll still grant your wish. You’ll be with them soon enough. You and everyone else!

The people and animals of Rosas are racked with pain as Magnifico uses the vines to slowly drain the life out of them. He raises his head and opens his mouth. A beam of green energy shoots from it into the sky, bringing with it dark clouds that cover the entirety of Rosas’ skies. As Asha sees the last of the stars disappear, she remembers what the forest creatures told her two nights ago.

ASHA
We…are…stars.

She turns her head to see the people of Rosas down below and fights through the pain to plead with them to join her.

ASHA
♪So I look out at the stars just like me♪
♪And I'm begging you to please look within♪
♪'Cause I know that if you choose to stand beside me♪

Everyone is too scared to listen to Asha. It all seems hopeless until…

DAHLIA
♪There’s no way that this monster can win♪
♪So I make this wish♪

Simon and Valentino work together to help Dahlia stand up.

DAHLIA, SIMON & VALENTINO
♪So I make this wish♪

The camera then cuts to the other teenagers in the amphitheater.

THE OTHER TEENS
♪So I make this wish♪
♪So I make this wish♪
♪To have something more for us than this♪

Their hearts glow just like Asha’s did back in the forest. The beam disappears and the clouds start to part.

KING MAGNIFICO
What?!

Magnifico looks down on himself and sees a blue light glowing under his chest.

KING MAGNIFICO
What is this? You wretched brat! What did you do now!?

Asha tells him nothing. She just looks happily at all her friends.

SIMON
♪Wasted generations on expectations♪
♪Wondering why, wondering when♪

More of Rosas’ citizens join in and as the chorus of voices grow, so too does the number of blue lights glowing within Magnifico.

ENSEMBLE
♪Too scared to dip our toes in♪
♪Now it’s do or die, it's sink or swim♪
♪We were all confusing your promises for protection♪
♪But we know what we've gotta do♪
♪Hope unchanging, with our wish held high♪
♪The way you've always taught us to♪

Magnifico looks down at his body in horror, at all of the wishes glowing inside him, yearning to break free.

KING MAGNIFICO
(SCREAMING) SHUT UP! SHUT UP! I AM YOUR KING! MY WISH IS ALL THAT MATTERS! NOW, YOU WILL STO–

Just then blue light begins to emanate from the inside of Magnifico’s mouth. He closes his maw shut with both hands but more light manages to leak out through his mouth.

KING MAGNIFICO
(MUFFLED) Stop! Stop it!

The light grows even stronger. Magnifico’s muzzle shakes violently until a bright yellow light comes out of his mouth and forces it to open wide. As he does, every wish Magnifico has absorbed flies out of his mouth and into the sky. They all go back to where they belong as the clouds fade and the people of Rosas continue singing.

ENSEMBLE
♪So, I look out at the stars just like me♪
♪We took caution, now we’ll throw it to the wind♪

The cocoon Asha was trapped in disappears, as do all the vines holding the townspeople prisoner. Her wish appears before her. She looks at it with tears of joy in her eyes before putting it back in her chest.

ASHA & ENSEMBLE
♪Our paths may be uncertain, success unlikely♪
♪But this moment is when our lives begin♪

Asha turns to the citizens of Rosas and sings her heart out.

ASHA
♪So I make this wish♪

ASHA & ENSEMBLE
♪To have something more for us than this♪

Magnifico, now back to normal and using his staff to help stand up, looks at Asha with absolute hatred. Green magic builds in his staff before firing it right at her while her back is turned. But right before it makes contact, something appears from the sky to stop it.

ASHA & ENSEMBLE
♪So I make this wish♪
♪To have something more for us than this♪

Asha sees the green light behind her and turns around to see Star alive and well, blocking Magnifico’s attack with one hand. He looks at Magnifico angrily. Magnifico’s attack stops and Star fires one of his own much like it, only golden in color and at least twenty times more powerful. Magnifico casts a shield to protect himself, but it’s for naught. He’s quickly overwhelmed then swallowed by the beam. When it disappears, Magnifico’s staff falls onto the ground, the head breaking off on impact. Magnifico himself is nowhere to be found.

Star puts his hand down and smiles at Asha who immediately hugs him without a word. Star returns the embrace and they both just enjoy the moment, happy that the other is safe.

Asha opens her eyes and looks at the wishes.

ASHA
Some of the wishes are going into the sky.

STAR
Well, yeah. I told you when someone dies and their wish is ungranted, that wish becomes a star.

ASHA
What about those wishes?

Asha points at three wishes floating next to each other that aren’t going to the sky or to anybody in Rosas. They’re just floating in the air. Star flies up to investigate them and what he sees convinces him to bring them to Asha.

Star hands two of the wishes to Asha and they show the faces of a man and a woman that Asha hadn’t seen in a long time. Tears build in Asha’s eyes as she says their names.

ASHA
Abba. Imma.

Both wishes change to show Asha’s parents looking proudly at their daughter shining brighter than any star in the sky ever could. The wishes begIn to glow a golden color before they both disappear.

ASHA
Wha-what happened?

STAR
Isn’t it obvious? You made their wishes come true.

He then shows Asha Saba Sabino’s wish. It shows him playing his lute and singing in front of a crowd of young people.

ASHA
Saba. He always wanted to inspire the next generation.

STAR
I’d say those people look pretty inspired.

Star points down to the amphitheater where all of Rosas’ citizens cheer and laugh as their wishes return to them. As Asha watches them, Saba’s wish disappears as well.

ASHA
They’re really gone now.

STAR
Of course they’re not. You honored their memory today bigger than anyone could even imagine. There’s no way they won’t be with you anymore now.

Asha smiles tearfully and hugs Star again.

ASHA
Thank you. Thank you for everything.

STAR
I should be thanking you. Being in that guy’s stomach was not fun.

Asha laughs in spite of herself as the two continue to hug.

EXT. ROSAS, IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE - NIGHT

Everyone would have cheered as Asha, Star, Dahlia, Simon and Valentino descends from the castle’s rooftop to the amphitheater below. But right now, many of them are too enamored by their wishes finally being returned to them, expressing their excitement at making them come true with their own two hands.

Hal, Bazeema, and Safi run over to them.

BAZEEMA
Is it really over?

ASHA
Yep, it sure is.

BAZEEMA
Oh, thank goodness.

HAL
I told you there’d be a happy ending after all this.

SAFI
AH-CHOO! But what about Magnifico?

MAGNIFICO
(O.S) Release me! Release me at once!

The three friends look around, wondering where that voice is coming from before Star reaches behind his back and pulls out the reflective finial of Magnifico’s staff. Inside it was Magnifico himself, shrunken down and trapped.

MAGNIFICO
Your king demands that you free him now!

BAZEEMA
You put him in a mirror?

STAR
Asha told me how much he loves his reflection. Now the two will never be apart.

Star hands Asha the mirror.

MAGNIFICO
Oh, Asha! Sweetie, darling, babygirl, princess! You know I didn’t mean all that stuff back up there. I was just going through a lot of emotions. It's only natural after losing your–

Magnifico stops when he sees the expression on Asha’s face. There was anger in it, sure, but mostly she was just unimpressed by this last, pitiful attempt at manipulation.

MAGNIFICO
(CLEARS THROAT) Let’s say we put this all behind us, get me out of here, and we can work things out like a fami–

ASHA
Whoops.

Asha drops the mirror. Instead of glass breaking, a cat’s meow was heard. Everyone looks down to see that Charo has caught Magnifico’s new prison.

MAGNIFICO
Ah-hah! Great job, Charo. Now, get me out of–Hey! Hey wait!

Hal picks Charo up and the cat yowls and scratches violently, dropping Magnifico.

HAL
Yeesh! This is one nasty cat! I wonder if the dungeons have a litter box.

Bazeema gasps and takes Charo away from Hal.

BAZEEMA
Hal! You can’t put a kitty in jail.

Bazeema then scratches the spot behind Charo’s ears, making her calm down and purr gently. She curls up in Bazeema’s arms with a content smile on her face.

BAZEEMA
See? She just needed the right owner.

HAL
Huh.

Hal bends down and picks up Magnifico.

HAL
Well, what about this guy?

BAZEEMA
Oh, lock him up and throw away the key!

SAFI
Allow me to do the honors, ladies.

Safi takes Magnifico and walks towards the castle dungeon.

SAFI
I’m sure everyone you wrongfully locked away will be happy to see you.

MAGNIFICO
Come on, not the dungeon! It smells really bad down there!

SAFI
Oh, that’s the least of your problems. See, I have allergies and that cat of yours kicked them up something awful.

MAGNIFICO
What’s that supposed to mean?

Magnifico got his answer when Safi started to build his biggest sneeze yet.

SAFI
AH-AHH-AHHHH-

MAGNIFICO
No, nononono. No!

SAFI
AHHHHH-

The camera cuts to Asha and the others looking satisfied at the whole display.

SAFI
(O.S) -CHOOOO!!!!

Just then, Gabo and Dario walk into the scene with Dario holding something behind his back.

ASHA
Where were you two?

GABO
Oh, just looking around for something. Simon, you’re looking lively.

It’s true, the bags under Simon’s eyes had disappeared. There isn’t a trace of his typical tiredness.

SIMON
I finally feel alive! I got my wish back and it’s exactly like Magnifico said. Only this time, I’m gonna be loyal to you guys, not him.

GABO
Really?

SIMON
Really. But, I understand if you still don’t forgive me.

GABO
Eh, now we’ve both done something stupid for the sake of a wish. How about you give me your cookies for the next year, and we’ll call it even?

DAHLIA
Same if you promise to buy me a new crutch.

SIMON
(CHUCKLES) It’s a deal!

DAHLIA
Now will you tell us where you’ve been?

GABO
Show her, Dario.

Dario reveals what he was hiding: Amaya’s royal crown.

ASHA
Is this Amaya’s crown? Where did you–

GABO
Don’t ask.

Dario shakes his head to reaffirm the notion that Asha didn’t want to know.

ASHA
What am I supposed to do with it?

GABO
What do ya think? Wear it, Princess Pushov– Sorry, that was wrong of me. Queen Pushover.

ASHA
You want me to be queen?

DAHLIA
You are eighteen now and with Magnifico and Amaya gone, someone has to lead us.

STAR
You said that those two have been training you your entire life for this. Now you can put that training to good use.

Asha looks at the crown, uncertainly. She had been trained for this and for years. But she was never sure if being queen was really what she wanted to do. But then she remembers what Star said about honoring her family’s memory. She feels that they wouldn’t let this opportunity to build a new Rosas, one where everybody can pursue their wish and make it come true with their own hands, slip away. She then looks up to all the people of Rosas looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to make a decision. Now, more than ever, they truly felt like her people and Rosas felt like her home.

She puts the crown on. And when she does, everybody bursts into applause.

ROSAS
Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen!

INT. ROSAS ROYAL CASTLE, ASHA’S BEDROOM - MORNING

The next morning, Valentino is jumping on Asha’s bed trying to get her attention.

VALENTINO
Asha! Wake up! You’ve gotta see this!

Asha groggily wakes up, spellbooks litter her bed.

ASHA
What is it, Valentino?

VALENTINO
Outside! Wook outside!

Asha gets out of bed and looks out her window only to find that it’s raining.

ASHA
Rain? Oh that’s right, Magnifico kept Rosas sunny all year long.

Asha sticks her arm out and feels the droplets hit her palm.

ASHA
Huh. Actually feels kind of nice.

Asha runs downstairs and into Rosas, Star and Valentino following close behind. In the city, she sees all the people out in the rain. Some are shocked by it while most are amazed to see rain for the first time in years.

DAHLIA
(O.S) Good morning, Your Highness.

Asha turns around and sees her seven friends approach her.

ASHA
That’s still going to take some getting used to.

Asha sees a man in a green short-sleeved tunic with a collar and a long V-cut neckline down to his heart, olive tights, and sienna-colored moccasin shoes with a bycocket with a red feather situated on the left-hand side on his head and a brown belt around his waist. He’s carrying several sheets of metal under his arms and a toolbox in his hand. He trips and falls down, scattering them all in front of them. The teens help him pick them all up.

ASHA
Are you alright, sir?

MAN
I’m fine, Your Highness. I just remembered these plans I had for a flying machine and I am not going to let them go to waste this time.

DAHLIA
Shouldn’t you be more careful? What with all the rain?

MAN
Are you kidding me? For years, I didn’t even know I wanted to build a flying machine. I am not going to let a little water stop me now. Coming Wendy?

At that moment, the woman whose wish was to fly runs up to the man carrying her own toolbox and piles of metal.

WENDY
Right behind you, Peter.

The two of them run off to make their flying machine.

ASHA
Huh. Looks like the rain isn’t as bad as Magnifico and Amaya made it out to be.

GABO
(O.S.) Speak for yourself.

The camera shows Gabo with his hair soaking wet while covering his eyes. Safi’s nose is even redder now.

SAFI
AH-CHOO! Think you can hurry up and learn that perfect weather spell so you can put a stop to this?

At that exact moment, the rain just stops.

SAFI
Oh, that’s much better, thank you.

ASHA
I didn’t do anything.

SIMON
Look!

Everyone stares up as a glowing ball of light parts the clouds and descends from the sky. It’s so bright that everyone has to shut their eyes and turn away from it. Everyone but Star, who stares at the light with a look of sheer panic.

STAR
Oh, no.

Star turns back to his star form and hides behind Asha.

The light stops right in front of them and shines even brighter. The light then dissipates and in its place is a towering woman easily twice as tall as anyone in Rosas. Her skin is the color of the richest chocolate and her eyes shimmer in red, orange, and yellow hues. Her radiant white dress matches her glowing white hair which falls to the floor behind her. And on her chest is a yellow, sun-shaped crest. Everybody looks at the woman in awe.

BAZEEMA
Wow!

HAL
She’s beautiful!

DARIO
Uh, guys? Where’s the sun?

Sure enough, everyone looks up to see that the sun has disappeared from the sky. The camera then pans down to the woman as she starts talking.

MYSTERY WOMAN
I’m right here. Now would you please be so kind as to step aside so I may speak with my son?

ASHA
Your son? You mean…

Asha steps aside to show Star cowering behind her. He turns around to face this woman.

STAR
(NERVOUSLY) Heheheh. Hey, mom.

SIMON
"Mom"? Your mom’s the sun?

STAR
She’s also the queen. Of all the stars.

Star turns to his mother and changes into a human again.

STAR
You’re not mad, are you?

SUN
Am I mad? You violated our most sacred rule, directly meddled in the lives of humans, gave speech to a menagerie of creatures that were never meant to have it, had nearly gotten yourself and
thousands of humans killed and…you saved countless more.

Star looks up at his mother in shock. She’s beaming from ear to ear.

SUN
I couldn’t be more proud of you. And maybe you were right. We could be a tad less stringent on the rules. Just a tad.

Star chuckles softly as he and his mother hug.

SUN
Now, let’s go home.

STAR
Home? You mean, to the sky?

Star breaks the hug.

SUN
Why, of course. We have a lot of new stars and all of them want to thank you personally. Now come along.

Sun starts to float back to the sky but Star doesn’t move. He just floats in the same spot, looking conflicted.

SUN
Son?

STAR
Mom, you know I love you and everyone else back home but I was able to help people so much more up close than I ever did a million miles away from them. I also made a lot of really great
friends and…

Star then turns to Asha.

STAR
…and there’s someone here I don’t want to say goodbye to. Ever.

Star turns back to his mother.

STAR
What I’m trying to say is-

SUN
You want to stay here.

Star nods his head.

SUN
Are you sure? Because once this decision is made, there is no going back.

Asha places a hand on Star’s shoulder and he turns to look at her.

ASHA
Is this really what you want, Star?

Any doubt Star had immediately disappeared when he looked into Asha’s kind, loving eyes.

STAR
Yes. I want to stay. At all costs, I want to stay.

Sun hovers back down and approaches Star.

SUN
I was wrong earlier. Now, I couldn’t be more proud of you.

She bends down and kisses Star on the forehead. As she does, Star’s hair loses its glow and he gently floats to the ground. Once it’s done, Star has become completely human.

SUN
Goodbye, my son.

Sun floats back into the sky. A single golden tear falls from her eye as she shines brighter again. There’s a great flash of light that everyone had to protect their eyes from. And once it’s over, the sun has returned to its original place in the sky.

ASHA
Star, are you okay?

STAR
I’m good. Just gonna have to get used to walking from now on.

Star feels his chest and smiles.

STAR
Huh. I think I just got my own wish.

ASHA
Well, what is it?

Star grabs Asha’s hand and places it on his chest.

STAR
What do you think?

The two smile lovingly at each other and begin to pull closer together.

VALENTINO
Come on! Come on! Come on!

HAL
Come on! Come on! Come on!

GABO
Come on! Come on! Come o-

Everyone looks at Gabo, surprised to see how enthusiastic he is about this moment.

GABO
Shut up.

And then Star and Asha kiss, passionately. Offscreen, their friends cheer at this affirmation of their love but the two don’t even notice. They just try to make this moment with each other last as long as it can.

The scene transitions into a storybook picture of it. The camera pulls back to show the book from the beginning of the movie now on its last two pages. On the left is the very illustration of Asha and Star’s kiss. And on the right are six simple yet iconic words written in blue ink: And they lived happily ever after.

The pages flip back until the book’s cover is once again shown. The lute in the back is gone, having finally found a new owner after all these years. The candle has now completely melted and the little flame responsible for it finally goes out and the screen goes black.

(POST-CREDITS)

Asha and Star sit on the wishing tree, now covered in more wishes than ever. Star looks up at the night sky while Asha practices with her grandfather’s lute.

STAR
Hey, you’re getting kinda almost good with that.

ASHA
(GIGGLING) Shut up.

STAR
What song are you playing, anyway?

ASHA
Just something my Saba came up with.
♪When you wish upon a star♪
♪Make no difference who you are♪
♪Anything your heart desires♪
♪Will come to you♪

Star wraps his arm around Asha and pulls her close. Asha rests her head on Star’s shoulder as she continues the song. The credits roll once more while Asha sings.

ASHA
♪If your heart is in your dream♪
♪No request is too extreme♪
♪When you wish upon a star♪
♪As dreamers do♪

♪Fate is kind♪
♪She brings to those who love♪
♪The sweet fulfillment of♪
♪Their secret longing♪

♪Like a bolt out of the blue♪
♪Fate steps in and sees you through♪
♪When you wish upon a star♪
♪Your dreams come true♪