Chapter Text
It was a quiet night in Mewni, the air rustled through the trees, creating a little melody that harmonized perfectly with the ambiental music playing downstairs. Star found her eyes in the mirror that stood before her, the image that looked back at her was one that her mother would be proud of. Her hair was curled in tight ringlets that fell to her elbows, a sparkling tiara sitting on her head and pinned with an excessive amount of hairpins to ensure it would not fall. The dress was one of many, but it went with the theme of the ball. Silky and drenched in sparkles, silver chiffon fell glamorously to her ankles. She wouldn't lie, she loved her dresses, each one of them was a gem and they all made her feel beautiful. But today was an important day, she had to show her mother that she was capable of behaving as heir to the throne of Mewni. Her fingers wrapped around her wand, holding it firmly, she gave it a shake and sprayed it around her, the sparkling pink mist dissolved, leaving a hint of wildflowers in her scent. She stood, taking one last look in the mirror, ensuring that she looked perfect, the earrings dangling in place, the necklace shiny and her smile rose, the hearts in her cheeks glimmering. She had a feeling today was going to be a great day.
The sliver bell ball commenced at 8 o'clock sharp, and there she was, standing behind her parents, waiting to do her entrance. Her mother looked at her, a soft smile forming at the corner of her mouth. The queen kissed her daughter's cheeks softly.
"How exciting, Star, your very first Silver bell ball." Star smiled back at her mother. "Have fun, will you?" She ended, walking back to her husband.
"Crush them all, darling!" Her father mouthed without turning completely. Then the trumpets began their announcement and the towering wooden doors parted. Star had played in the ballroom a few times before, but today it seemed like a whole new dimension. The giant windows had been thoroughly cleaned, letting in the moonlight and stars shine through. A few chairs had been arranged in the center of the room, leaving the adults sitting together. There were garlands of pearls and diamonds, a giant chandelier hanging from the ceiling and there was an empty chair. Besides the one she was meant to take, that is. Star tried her best to elegantly float to her chair as she had practiced so many times before. At least Ponyhead was there, Star's best friend since forever.
"Hey girl!" Her skirt sparkled as she floated in mid-air. "So what do you think of tonight's selection, hmm?" Ponyhead stared each boy through.
"I don't know Pony," Star herself began to look at the boys in front of her, she spotted her cousin and tried a wave, but he simply turned his head away. "Yeah, he hasn't changed." Forcing herself not to slump back into her chair she asked her friend, "hey, do you know who's missing?" Ponyhead squinted her eyes dramatically.
"The devil himself." Then she burst out laughing. "Okay, okay, for real, but you should've seen your face!" She continued laughing but was cut short as the floor began to shake. The diamonds in the chandelier rattled and the balcony on the opposite side of the room burst into flames. Star let out a grasp, as did the other girls and boys in the room. From that fire emerged three figures, a tall and broad one followed by two shorter and slimmer ones. "They're the Lucitors," Pony whispered in her ear.
The great shadows finally came into view and the fire died down as if it had never even been there.
"Oh wow." Star's eyes would've been shaped as little hearts if that were possible.
"Wow girl, drool much?" Ponyhead laughed but nudged her friend encouragingly. Right.
"Ladies and gentlemen, now that we're all here, I would like to thank you all for your presence. Today we celebrate our children's forest Silver Bell ball, which will commence shortly." Her mother was a natural at all these parties and speeches things that Star had to work double on. "Do enjoy yourselves, the dancing will commence as soon as the moon shines through the crystal bell." With that, the crystal bell was lowered right on top of the previously burnt balcony. They all stood, parents, catching on to their kingdom's latest gossip or whatever it was that adults did, and for them, well- Ponyhead for one was traumatizing all the young males along with some of the other girls, while some simply kept to themselves. Anyway, Star was left behind. She sighed profoundly, slouching her shoulders a little and not caring enough to straighten. Slowly, she left for the balcony, maybe some fresh air would do her good.
The cold breeze hit her hard, but she wouldn't admit she was freezing out there. Not when everyone seemed to be having a great time.
"Mind if I join you?" A lovely voice, warm and soft all at the same time. Star turned to face the beautiful boy that had walked through the burning flames. He was making his way toward her with determined long steps.
"Go ahead." She replied when he was almost next to her.
"You must be Star, right?" He inquired, resting his back on the railing, his hands in his pockets.
"Yup, that's me." She replied unamused.
"My name is Tom," he added, extending a hand toward her. She took it, a shot of warmth racing through their touch, not horrible or scary, but comforting. "Oh, sorry." He shook away the hand he was holding, taking it in his other hand as if he tried to hide it. "Still learning to control it, you know." He cowered away, turning his back on her.
"It's alright, Tom. You didn't hurt me." Star rested a hand on his shoulder. He relaxed a little under her touch. "You know, the first time I used my wand, I tried to make a rainbow and it caught on fire." She offered, trying to loosen the tension.
"Really?" He laughed a little and that just stirred something inside her. She nodded, a smile forming on her face. Tom felt it then, a warmth that wasn't caused by anger and a stomach-wrenching feeling that didn't feel like burning pebbles in an oven, but more like butterflies in his stomach. "I would've loved to see that." He smiled. Star looked at him, as her hand tightened around the wand she took his hand and shot a ray of yellow through her wand, forming a small rainbow right on the railing before their eyes, it lasted a few seconds, beautiful and sparkling then it began to burn. Soon it was gone. "Wow, that was-" Tom began.
"Terrible, yeah, I know. I still have to get the hang of it." Star returned the wand to her pocket, letting her hands fall to her sides. Tom took one in his hand, mesmerized by the softness of it, their eyes locked.
"I thought it was beautiful." He offered. "Looks like I'm not the only one with horns then." He smiled, knowing that he wasn't alone in this world, that Star was just another teenager that had a lot going on just like he did, it helped ease the pressure within him. She smiled in return. Tom offered his hand, which was taken by Star almost immediately. The moon had fallen, shining through the crystal bell and drowning everything in a silver cloud. Star and Tom were both submerged under the silver light of Mewni, it was like a thousand fireworks setting off inside of them, but they didn't falter, their eyes still locked with one another's. Guests made their way back to their chairs. Silence fell when all of them had sat, it was a few uncomfortable seconds of quiet and nothing. Star knew someone had to stand and make the first move, take another to dance. Her eyes still met Tom's both amazed and entranced by their meeting. As if she had no control over her legs she stood, the eyes of everyone fell on her like a ton of bricks, but as she looked at Tom everything fell away. She made her way toward him, determined. A short bow and she extended her hand.
"What do you say? Let's show them what a real party looks like." Her voice was smooth, playfulness dripping from it. Tom's face was a mixture of surprise and glee, his three eyes shining as they met Star's. He took her hand and stood, making a low courtesy.
"It would be my honor, princess Star." He replied, and as the melodies began their rhythm, Star and Tom swayed through the room. For a few minutes, it felt as if the room was empty, only the two of them looking into each other. Star's ringlets of butter-yellow hair bounced with each step, as Tom's twirls and footsteps left a trail of flames behind them. The music ceased and they came to a halt. Both smiling sweetly at each other, their chests rising and falling swiftly. They were so entranced that it took them a few minutes to hear the bell ringing.
They stepped away from each other hesitating, Star's eyes kept locked with Tom's as she courtesied low, bowing her head. Tom did the same, slipping her hand on his to lay a soft kiss on it. Star's cheeks blushed pink as his lips brushed her hand. Tom raised, a gentle smirk raising on the corner of his mouth.
"Princess" He bowed again and retreated to his chair. Both of them sat quietly and danced with everyone that was left in the room until Star's feet would no longer keep her up. The party was getting to an end and Stat escorted all her friends to her families and followed the formalities. Only when everyone had already gone did Star got her shoes off and carried them in one hand, the other picking at the hairpins that kept the tiara in place.
"I'm so proud of you Star." Was what her mother told her as she hugged her close. Her father was already asleep on his throne, drooling all over the armrests. Moon simply clicked her fingers and he began floating in a blue bubble that retreated to their room. With both of them gone she laced on the floor, her hair completely loose and only a few hints of the curls that had once been there.
"That's more like the Star I met on the balcony." A husky voice mused. Tom's voice. Her legs, as much as they ached sprung her Bach forward, her hands wrapped around her wand. There he was, still in his impeccable suit, the fiery red hair falling messily over his forehead. His eyes, all three of them, flickered with joy and amusement as if ignoring the darker purple circles forming in his beautiful lilac skin.
"Tom? What are you doing here?" The wand lowered, and Tom's mind was racing, What was he doing here? It was a good question. He couldn't even answer it himself.
"I-" he searched for an answer unsuccessfully, his cheeks now burning red and the fire that erupted underneath his feet. Unconsciously, Star reached for his hand, holding it firmly, despite the swimming heat that radiated from it. With a deep breath, Tom got to calm down. "I couldn't leave without knowing if we would see each other again." His voice trembled, his eyes looking down at his feet. Star blushed deeply, her free hand sweeping hair behind her ear.
"Do you want to see me again?" She perused.
"Of course I do." He replied in a heartbeat. No hesitation, truthful deep confessions.
"Well, kings are always giving balls for any small event." Star's eyes kept moving, from the room to her hand, intertwined with Tom's, to his face, to her feet, to his feet... her heart raced like a thousand waricorns. "I'll see you in the next ball?" She inquired, her eyes steady now, searching his face.
"If you'll be there so will I." He replied, and after a few silent seconds he stepped back, bursting into flames, "Until then, starship." He winked at her new nickname, disappearing into thin air.
Star was still perplexed when she got to her room, she paced and replayed the whole evening on her head. When her bed dipped with her weight as she slipped under the covers, just above her a fire erupted, dropping something on her and then vanishing, just like-
Tom.
A letter from Tom.