Chapter Text
A philosopher once asked, "Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?" A pointless question, really. The real question is, do the stars gaze back at us?
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Our story really begins here, in a village called Wall, so named for the wall that ran alongside it.
A wall that, according to local folklore, hid an extraordinary secret- a secret that would soon be revealed to all.
Our story starts with a young man in the village of Wall.
A man named Evan Buckley.
This is the story of how Evan Buckley became a man, and how he won the heart of his one true love.
One night, in the village of Wall, a rock hit the window of Taylor Kelly’s house.
Taylor, sitting with her friends, turned towards the window.
“It's him!” she squealed excitedly before running to the window.
She’d been waiting all night for David Hale to show up under her window, like he had been for the last few weeks.
“David?” she asked breathlessly, flinging open the window and frowning in confusion.
“No, it's Buck.” the figure below saud, shifting his feet awkwardly.
Buck was the employee at the local village shop, and would normally never be seen on this side of town. Taylor knew that he must be up to something.
“Oh. Did I Ieave something at the shop?” Taylor thought she’d be nice and give Buck a chance to back out of whatever he came here to do.
“No.” her heart sank as she noticed flowers in his hand. “I just thought I could bring…”
Before Buck could say another word, a tall figure approached him.
“Evan Buckley, shop boy by day, peeping Tom by night. Is there no end to your charms?” David sneered, looking down at Buck’s simple clothes.
“David, there's no need to be Iike that. Be nice to the poor boy.” Taylor admonished.
She might not want Buck to be there, but she didn’t want the poor boy humiliated either.
If David scared him off, who would carry her things home from the shop?
“Were those for Taylor?” David laughed, seeing the bouquet in Buck’s hand. He took his foil from his cane and held it to Buck’s throat.
“You were always useless at fencing in school, Buck. In fact, I'm having trouble remembering if there was anything you were good at.” David sneered.
“David, that's enough.” Taylor said firmly.
David stepped back and let Buck go, watching him flee befoe looking up at taylor.
“Hello, my darling.” David said, looking up at Taylor adoringly.
Taylor fluttered her eyelashes and smiled sweetly down at him.
The next day, Buck was minding his own business at work, still smarting from Taylor and David’s dismissal of him from the night before.
He knew Taylor was out of his league, but he thought he had to at least try.
He should have known better.
Nothing good ever happened to him.
His first love moved away with her family right before he proposed, and no one else in the village would give him a second look.
They just focused on the mark above his eye and the fact that no one knew who his mother had been.
Not that Buck knew who she was either.
He knew what everyone else knew: that one day Philip Buckley had shown up in town with a baby shortly after his wife and son had died from illness.
Nothing more was ever known, though he he knew people said that he was the product of an affair Philip had carried on with while his wife and sion laid dying.
He was marked by a shame that wasn’t even of his own making.
“Hello, Buck.”
Buck was startled out of his dark train of thought by taylor stadning there, smiling sweetly at him.
“Taylor.” he said in shock.
“I’d like a pound of sugar, please.” She said matter of factly pushing a red curl behind her ear.
“Got it.” he grabbed that for her, placing it on the counter.
“Let's see, I also need a bag of flour, a dozen eggs.” she paused for a oment and turned serious.
“I'm sorry about Iast night. David was really rude.”
“It’s okay.” Buck said, widnering if she would say anything else on the matter.
She didn’t.
“I also need a sack of potatoes and some chocolate, please.”
Buck rang her up, pausng for a moment.
“Can I see you tonight?” he asked, hoping she would say yes.
“No, but you can walk me home.” she said, stepping back from the counter and staring at Buck expectantly.
“Now?” he asked in disbelief.
He was working, eh couldn;t just leave to walk taylor home.
“Please, Buck? I need some help carrying this all home, and you’re so strong.” Taylor leaned closer and ran a hand down his arm.
“Okay.” he said, following her blindly out of the shop.
The attention she paid him on the walk home was almost worth coming back to the shop and getting fired.
Almost.
Buck trudged home, barely speaking to his father when he got home.
It’s not like they ever had much to talk about.
Buck knew his father regretted that his position in the community had been brought down by Buck’s existence.
He couldn’t help it.
It’s not like he asked to be born.
Buck went to his cupboard and accessed his meager savings.
He had just enough for tonight’s plan.
He set everything up and went to Taylor’s house when it was dark.
He threw a rock at the window and waited patiently.
Taylor poked her head out the window, frowning when she saw Buck waiting there.
“Buck…” she started, groaning.
“I know. You told me not to come,” he said, cutting her off. “I have something for you. A surprise.”
Taylor’s eyes gleamed in interest as she told him she’d be right down.
Soon they were sitting on the blanket buck had set out, eating the chocolates and fruit he placed there while Buck poured the champagne.
“It's not my birthday for another week, you know,” Taylor said in a light tone.
“I know,” he said, smiling at her.
“I've never had champagne before,” she said, smiling at him
“Yeah, me, neither.”
Both of them took a sip, Taylor laughing after.
“This is delicious! How does a shop boy afford all of this?” she asked.
“I'm not a shop boy,” Buck told her.
“I heard. I'm sorry.” Taylor said apologetically. “What are you going to do now?”
“No. I mean, I'm not a shop boy. I was just working in a shop.” Buck said, clarifying for her. “And now I'm not. Now I'm free to Iive my life as I wish.”
“This must have been all your savings.”
“So? I can make more. That's the beauty of it.” Buck said excitedly. I never intended to stay in Wall, Taylor. There's a big world out there, I'm gonna make my fortune.”
Taylor chuckled as she took a drink.
“Now you sound just Iike David. He's quite a traveler,” she said, sipping her champagne. “Do you know he's going all the way to Ipswich just to buy me a ring?”
“Ipswich?” Buck scoffed. “Taylor, I'm talking about London or Paris or…”
Buc k stopped as he realized what she had just said.
“What kind of a ring?” he asked, dreading the answer.
Taylor looked down at her hands before looking back at Buck.
“The word is he's planning to propose to me on my birthday,” she said, smiling softly.
“And you're gonna say yes?” Buck asked her.
“I can't exactly say no after he's gone all the way to Ipswich.”
“‘AII the way to Ipswich?’” Buck said incredulously. “Taylor, for your hand in marriage, I'd cross oceans or continents.”
“Really?” She asked him, raising her eyebrow.
“Yes.” Buck nodded earnestly. “Taylor, for your hand in marriage, I would go to the goldfields of San Francisco and bring you back your weight in gold.”
Taylor smiled at that, motioning for Buck to go on as she moved closer to him.
“I'd go to Africa and bring you back a diamond as big as your fist. Or I'd go to the Arctic and I'd slaughter a polar bear and bring you back its head.”
Tylor had started to lean in but frowned and pulled back at that.
“A polar bear's head?” She asked, looking disgusted. “You're funny, Buck.”
“I could be more than funny if you let me.”
Taylor sighed, twisting a curl around her finger as Buck waited for her to speak.
“People like you and people like me, we're just not suitable for each other.”
She tried to say it gently but Buck still felt the ache of her words.
Taylor shifted and made to get to her feet. “I should be going. It's really late.”
“Well, hold on, then.” Buck stopped her. “Let's at least finish the champagne.”
“Okay, fine,” Taylor said, rolling her eyes and settling back down on the blanket.
Had Buck known then how the stars watched Earth, he'd have shuddered at the very thought of an audience to his humiliation.
But, fortunately for him, nearly every star in the sky was at that moment looking in earnest at the land on the other side of the wall, where Vincent Gerrard, the King of all Stormhold, lay on his deathbed.
That would turn out to be a coincidence because it was the King's final act that would change the course of Buck's destiny forever.
King Gerrard of Stormhold was from a brutal bloodline, one forged in blood and betrayal.
For generations, the sons of the bloodline had brutally slaughtered each other, the last one standing becoming king and inheriting the throne.
This had continued for centuries, until now.
King Gerrard laid in bed, surrounded by three of his sons, with a fourth on the way.
Princes Salvatore, Elijah, and Thomas stood in their father’s bedroom, waiting for their father to decide who amongst them would be the next king.
“Where is Joshua?” King Gerrard asked, coughing weakly.
“He's on his way, Father,” Elijah told him.
“Then we shall wait.” the king said.
The reaming sons in the room eyed each other warily, knowing that the king might not have time to wait for his absent son to arrive.
Just then, Prince Joshua swept into the room.
Sorry, I'm Iate, Father. I came as swiftly as I was able.” He said, before turning and greeting his brothers.
“Salvatore. Thomas. Elijah.”
The three brothers nodded at him in greeting, and an uneasy silence persisted for a moment before the king began to speak.
“So, to the matter of succession,” King Gerrard began before coughing again. Of my seven sons, there are four of you today still standing. This is quite a break with tradition. I had 12 brothers.”
“And you killed them all for your throne before your father, the King, even felt poorly. We know, Father. You're strong and courageous.” Thomas said, bored as he recited the tale that his father had told them all since they were old enough to hold a knife or shoot a bow.
“And cunning. Most importantly, cunning.” the king said before turning to one of his sons. “Joshua”
“Yes, Father?” Prince Joshua said, snapping to attention.
“Look through the window. Tell me what you see.” King Gerrard commanded.
Joshua moved to the window and gazed outside.
“I see the kingdom, Father. The whole of Stormhold,” he told his father.
“And?”
Joshua turned to look at his father, quivering with anticipation.
“My kingdom?” he asked, hoping beyond hope that it was true.
“Maybe. Look up.” King Gerrard said.
As Joshua started to scour the skies, king gerrard looked at his remaining sons and gave them an expectant look.
Salvatore seized the moment and pushed his brother from the window, the man falling to his death.
King Gerrard laughed for a long moment before a vacant expression passed over his face.
“Madeline? Madeline?” He called out, looking at one of his sons.
“No, Father, it's me, your son. Elijah.” Elijah said gently, not wanting to upset his father.
In recent years the king’s memories had been foggy, and he had learned it was best not to upset his father.
“Where is your sister, Madeline?” His father asked.
“Sorry, Father. Nobody has seen Madeline for years now. Not since the night that mother died.” Thomas told him.
“Salvatore…” King Gerrard said in a low voice, eyeing his most brutal son.
“What? Salvatore scoffed as his brothers turned to him.
“Tradition dictates the throne must pass to a male heir,” Gerrard warned in a low tone.
“Exactly, Father. So why would I kill my sister when these idiots are still alive?” Salvatore said when gesturing at his two brothers.
Thomas and Elijah looked put out at being called idiots but chose to remain silent.
“Indeed.” King Gerrard said. “Therefore, we shall resolve the situation in a non-traditional manner.”
He took off his necklace, the large red stone glinting in the candlelight.
As he whispered a few words, the stone faded from a fiery red to become clear.
“Only he of royal blood can restore the ruby. And one of you that does so shall be the new King of Stormhold.” The king intoned before he laid his head back on the pillow and collapsed, his last breath leaving his body.
The three sons all paused for a moment, looking at each other before moving as one to grab the necklace.
Before any of them could touch it, the necklace flew out the window.
It went into the heavens, colliding with something before falling back to earth.
In the village of Wall, Taylor gasped and pointed out the light moving through the sky.
“Oh, Buck! A shooting star!” she said excitedly before sighing. “It’s beautiful.”
Buck looked at her, considering his words before speaking.
“More beautiful than a fancy ring from Ipswich?”
Taylor looked at him curiously.
Buck took a deep breath and turned to face her, taking her hand.
“Taylor, for your hand in marriage, I'd cross the wall and I'd bring you back that fallen star.”
“You can't cross the wall. Nobody crosses the wall.” Taylor said, laughing at him. “Now you're just being silly.”
“I'm not being silly. I'd do it.” He said earnestly. “For you, I'd do anything.”
“My very own star,” Taylor said, trying out how it sounded before flashing Buck a grin. “It seems we have ourselves an agreement. You have exactly one week or I'm marrying David.”
“I won’t let you down,” Buck told her.
The look on Taylor’s face seemed to say that she didn’t believe him, but Buck didn’t care.
He wasn’t going to fail.
He was going to cross the wall, get the star, and win Taylor’s heart.
Nothing would get in his way.
When the star streaked across the sky, many people stopped and took notice of it.
However, one person, in particular, watched with a hunger in her gaze, unlike any that had been seen.
Ana knew what the star represented.
An opportunity for everything that she and her sisters ever wanted.
Eternal youth.
Eternal beauty.
And all they had to do was eat the heart of a fallen star.
Ana made her way through the dusty house, past the rattling cages filled with animals, until she reached her sister’s beds.
“Abigail! Ali! Wake up. Now!” Ana shrieked, the noise waking her sisters.
Two old crones woke with a start, glaring at Ana.
“What is it?” Ali groaned, rubbing her eyes.
“A star has fallen,” Ana said, a gleeful expression on her wizened face.
She hobbled to one of the drawers and started looking through it.
“Where are the Babylon candles?” she asked over her shoulder.
“You used the last one, Ana, 200 years ago. Do you not recall?” Abigail told her.
“Perhaps we can obtain another,” Ali suggested.
“Perhaps we can obtain another.” Ana mocked before glaring at her sister. “Has your mind become as decrepit as your face, Ali? You speak as if such things are freely available.”
“I know, sister, I merely thought…” Ali tried to explain to her enraged sister
“You'd have us hunting for a Babylon candle while some other witch finds our star.” Ana swatted Ali upside the head. “Fool. There's no time to waste. If we must retrieve it on foot, then we shall.”
“Abigail, we need information,” Ana ordered, turning to her other sister.
Abigail grabbed an animal from a cage and slit it open, examining the stomach.
“If these divinations are correct, the fallen star lies 100 miles away,” Abigail said, her eyes appearing large behind her dusty glasses.
“Two centuries we've waited for this. What hardship is waiting a few more days?” ana said gleefully, rubbing her hands in anticipation.
“Which of us shall go, then, to seek it and bring it back?” Ali asked.
The three of them closed their eyes and plunged their hands into the animal. Ana opened one of her eyes and peeked, grabbing what she needed to.
The three sisters took out their hands and opened their eyes.
“I've got his kidney.” Ali groaned.
“I've got his liver,” Abigail said in disappointment.
“And I've got his heart,” Ana said triumphantly.
Her sisters groaned in disappointment, far too used to Ana getting what she wanted.
“You’ll be needing what's left of the last star,” Abigail said, grabbing the box they kept the last star’s heart in.
“There's not much left,” Ali said, looking disappointed/
“Soon there’ll be plenty for us all,” Ana said, swallowing the star.
The change was instantaneous, turning Ana from a wizened old hag to a beautiful young woman with curly brown hair and large, innocent-looking eyes.
Ali and Abigail looked annoyed at Ana admiring herself in the mirror.
“I could get used to this,” Ana said, not taking her eyes off of her reflection.
“Just remember that you have a job to do, Ana,” Ali told her.
“Her appearance may actually help. According to my divinations, the star is a male.” Abigail said.
“No harm in making the star very happy before I cut out his heart.” Ana giggled as Abigail and Ali looked at her in disgust.
“Just remember you can’t give the star a pass because he’s attractive.”
“Of course not, but it will make the whole experience far more pleasurable,” Ana said, getting changed from her old rags into clothes she had worn as a younger woman.