Chapter Text
….
The following weeks bustled with life. The people worked away to repair the destruction from negative wishes and my uncle’s vengeful rampage. Alongside the others, proudly getting his hands dirty, was my father. It was nice to see him interacting with his people. He was longing to reconnect with everyone, to better understand them and be prepared for an uncertain future. A Rosas without wish granting had a lot of growing and change to accept. But somehow, the city had never felt so full. Filled with genuine joy, and a new sense of possibility.
We agreed the truth was the best road forward. And I was able to share my family’s story—curse and all. As the word spread, the people expressed their continued gratitude to King Magnifico. Despite his mistakes, he was always able to offer strangers a safe home and a happy life. And he was more committed to that goal now than ever.
Although neither of us had our magical abilities anymore, he still had a marvelous studio, and was seeking an apprentice to teach positive magic to. He’d burned the dangerous books, forever sentencing the book of forbidden magic to be forgotten and lost to time. He reopened the books on plentiful harvests, beneficial weather, luck, and medicine. He kept his memory fresh for the day a new gifted student appeared. Someone who could truly make Rosas a place unlike any other.
And the people were moving on. The drive they felt to pursue their dreams was still strong, and they were eager to get started. Living in a magical kingdom prepares you for anything, I suppose.
Star and I made our way across the courtyard to my father. Dahlia was speaking with the king, “I’m sorry your majesty, but I’m quitting the palace kitchens. I want to pursue my dream.” She braced herself for a disappointed reply.
But he smiled at her, “As you should. You have a wonderful dream.” Dahlia’s shoulders relaxed and she laughed gleefully. The king held out a hand to her, and she took it hesitantly, shocked by such a simple and tender display. “I wish you the best of luck pursuing it.”
Her eyes found mine as she thanked him profusely, then made her way over to us, a happy jump in her step. She hugged me with a squeal and looked to Star.
Dahlia smirked, “Sooooo, you’re the man from the market.” She held a hand to him to shake. “Hi, I’m Dahlia, doctor in training, hopefully. And you?”
He laughed. “Hi Dahlia, I’m…” Then he paused. “Well, I don’t know yet. But I’m open to suggestions.” She tilted her head at his answer but laughed.
“There’s no rush. I’m sure you’ll pick a good name.” I reassured him, bumping my hip against him.
Star scratched his chin, “I don’t even know where to start.” He turned to my father, “How did Asha get her name?”
The king smiled, as if looking back in time. Then he met my eyes. “We picked it. Depending on who you ask, it means life, riches, happiness, desire, and …wish.” He chuckled a little. “Perhaps that was too on the nose.” Then he left us, making his way to help another family repairing their shop.
….
“Come with me,” Star chuckled. “I want to show you something.” My breath caught as his fingers brushed against my hand. He intertwined his fingers in mine and guided me along the beach. The sun was beginning to set, and the light twinkled in his warm brown eyes. I was struck by how human they were now. Somehow, he had changed so much without changing at all. He wasn’t the glowing starboy anymore; he left no sparkles in his path, he couldn’t turn into a cat or a mouse, teleport of fly… but his touch was electrifying. He rubbed his thumb across my knuckles and I felt my heart flutter.
So much had happened since we first met. He’d already changed my life for the better. I found myself wondering how else he would change it. But that’s silly, isn’t it? We only just met. And he has a whole world to explore, why would he want to stay in Rosas? The place he lost his powers…
“It’s just up here!” He smiled, pointing around the curve of the beach line.
“Wait,” I stopped moving, planting my feet. He turned, his smile faltering when he caught my expression.
“Asha?” He turned his body to face me fully. “What is it?”
I stared at the sand between our feet. The waves gently sounding beside us. I’d been thinking about this all day; that Star was free to do as he pleased, even if that meant leaving Rosas, and me, behind.
I reached into the satchel at my side, “I have something for you.” I fumbled inside, my hands struggling to pull out the leather journal. I held it out to him, still avoiding his gaze. “You said you used to watch people living their lives, I can’t imagine how many stories you saw, how many adventures and lives lived.” I slowly lifted my eyes to meet his, and sighed when I met them. “Now, you get to live your own, and I thought you might like to write it down.”
He stared at me, taking the journal and fluttering the pages. The silence was too much for me and I began to sputter, “That’s..it’s…it’s something people do! They document their travels and adventures. So, they never forget and so they can look back one day and revisit the memories again.” He smiled at the thought. As he held the book, I flipped the pages to the inside cover. Illustrated there was an artist’s rendition of the Rosas skyline, a bright star above the castle tower. I continued, “Now that you’re human, you can see the world, I wanted to give you a gift, something to take with you to remind you of Rosas, and me… when you leave.”
“When I leave?” He lifted his head in surprise. He glanced towards the sea, his eyes flickering with confusion and then understanding. He tilted his head at me, and for a moment I was reminded of a tomcat curled in my bed. “Asha, I’ve already seen the world. I’ve had a front row seat for as long as I can remember.”
“Right.” I said, then teased, “And how long was that exactly?”
He laughed a little at that. “Same as you.” Well, he got me there. We were both fallen stars. And while I was undeniably curious, with probably a zillion questions, I knew he’d answer them all in time.
He tucked the book under his arm and took both my hands in his. “I’m ready to have a front row seat of life. I want to have a place to call home.” He squeezed my hands a little tighter when he said ‘home’. “Speaking of home...” He tugged me around the corner of the dune and pointed to a small cottage atop a hill. It gazed out over the sea to the islands beyond.
I stepped forward in awe. It was quaint and humble, peaceful in the setting sunlight. Star spoke behind me, “It was a surprise from your parents.” He stepped up beside me. “They’ve granted me full citizenship, and a home. No rent! For now, anyway.” I laughed at that. He lifted the book to our eye level, wiggling it in delight. “Thank you for the journal. I will be writing my adventures in it. I have so much to learn! How to be human. How to live!” I felt his hand slip into mine. “I don’t want you to think any adventure is too small.”
“So, you’re not leaving Rosas?” I asked softly.
He shook his head, a big smile growing on his face. “Not anytime soon. And I’m hoping you’ll help guide me,” His eyes briefly flickered down to my lips and his ears turned pink, “You’know as one fallen star to another.”
He scratched the back of his neck a bit timidly, “So, do you want to come see my place?” I watched him flinch at his own words, the warmth spreading across his cheekbones. It reminded me of how he used to glow when we got close. “I mean, my house? I want you to see it! Just see it!” I felt my smile growing, he was so adorable. In all his years of watching people fall in love, he had no idea what he was doing.
I giggled a little and cupped his face, lifting myself to brush my lips against his cheek. He froze as I pressed myself into him. It felt like he was blushing harder. I held it there for a moment before slowly dropping my tiptoe. He turned his face to me, eyes flickering between mine.
“I’m glad you’re staying.” I whispered. I felt his breath dance in the space between us.
His eyes flickered to my lips, a new kind of curiosity and longing within them. He tried to speak. “I’ve…Asha I’ve never…”
“Never kissed anyone?” I teased playfully, “It’s too small of an adventure huh?” I pulled myself a few inches away, before his hands reached for me. He lifted his hand to brush my cheekbone, his fingers following the curve of my jaw, his thumb tracing the bottom of my lip.
His words were so quiet I could hardly hear them, “You are the greatest adventure of my life.” And he brought me to him. His lips pressed gently against mine, and he tasted like the sea. I leaned into him, lifting my hands to his chest. He was so tender, but I felt the rush cascading across my skin. Even without his magic, he felt magical.
He pulled away gently, his eyelashes flickering against my skin. There was a moment of sweet excitement between us, our smiles flashing briefly as we kissed again and again. He scooped me into his arms and spun us around. I couldn’t stop myself from laughing as I clung to him. For a moment it felt like we were flying. We didn’t need our magic anymore to feel alive, not as long as we had each other.
Our adventure had only just begun. And I couldn’t wait to get started.