A/N: I actually wrote this a while ago but never published it because posting stuff makes me so nervous. But I really hope you guys enjoy it. I'll try to be more frequent with new chapters but it's going to be difficult throughout the school year because university life is killing me. I can literally feel my life shortening whenever I step into a classroom. It's horrid.

"From which stars have we fallen to meet each other here?"

Friedrich Nietzche

Starfire awoke to the pitter-patter of rain outside and the soft padding of footsteps. Her eyes flicked open. A gray cat sat on the rug staring, blinking its large, pink eyes at her. Seeing that the star was awake, the cat meowed and Starfire's eyes widened in awe as she watched the cat's body stretch and transform into the sorceress that had offered Starfire assistance. She had seen Raven transform from her bird form into her true form plenty of times, but this was the first time she had seen anyone else perform the same sort of magic.

Yawning, Jinx covered her mouth and glanced at the star from the corner of her eye. "Well, I hope you had a good sleep, Starfire," she said, stretching. Even her movements reminded Starfire of a cat despite the fact that the witch was no longer in her feline form. "We have a lot of work to do in the next couple of days."

"Where were you just now?" Starfire asked.

Jinx shrugged and turned her back on the star. "Getting everything ready," she replied. The sorceress snapped her fingers and a blue flame lit up in the fireplace. It crackled pleasantly, giving off a warm glow, and Jinx gave a satisfied hum. "You'll need to eat now. You're probably feeling hungry. Stars never have to eat but humans do."

"Hungry," Starfire repeated, sitting up to watch the witch work her magic. There was rather a hollow feeling in her belly. A low rumble came from her belly and she squeaked in surprise, her hands flying to her stomach.

Jinx looked back and smirked. "Yep, you're definitely hungry." She snapped her fingers and a fish dropped onto the sizzling pan. The sorceress jumped back a bit, trying to avoid the hot oil that splashed up. She grumbled something about hating cooking but then erased her frown when she saw Starfire's startled look. "Sorry, I don't normally cook, so this isn't going to be especially great or anything."

"Do not apologize!" Starfire said, rising up to walk over and put a hand on her new friend's shoulder. "You are kind for offering to help me at all. Housing me, feeding me, being my friend. You are doing so much more than I deserve."

Jinx blinked, mouth slightly open, and her cheeks were turning the slightest hint of pink. She quickly shrugged and turned her attention to the fish frying in the pan. "It's not that big of a deal," she mumbled. "Just a little favor I owe Raven." She sprinkled some herbs, salt, and pepper onto the fish and nodded when she heard a satisfied hiss.

Starfire thought about the gloomy Sky Witch, someone she had always considered a friend, and wondered if she should ask her new acquaintance the question that was looming in the back of her mind. Deciding that she had nothing to lose, she went for it. "Jinx, why did Raven not tell me of the time limit I had herself?"

Jinx gave a low whistle and the flame in the stove flickered out. "Because she didn't want to," she answered simply. The whole time she didn't meet Starfire's gaze. The sorceress took out a plate from a cupboard and tentatively slid the fish onto it. She gave a sigh of relief when it was done and went on to cut a lemon into quarters, placing one on the side of the fish. Starfire noticed that she did all of this by hand and wondered for a brief second if it was because cooking and magic didn't mix very well or if Jinx was more confident in her cooking when she did everything manually. "If I know Raven, she probably tried to convince you not to go through with it."

A memory of Raven flashed in Starfire's mind. She remembered Raven's red eyes, burning like hot and angry embers, and the smoky black tentacles creeping out from under her cloak. "She was very…angered by my request," Starfire said. She sat down at the table where Jinx had placed the meal. The witch hadn't set a place for herself so Starfire assumed that witches probably didn't need to eat like humans did. The star picked up the fork and knife and, mimicking the same actions she saw humans make whenever she watched them eat dinner, successfully speared a chunk of meat on her fork and daintily placed it in her mouth.

Jinx took a seat across from the star, a twisted smile on her face. "Angry is a light way to put it. She was probably livid. I don't blame her. I'd be pretty mad myself if I couldn't stop a friend from making a wish with such high risks." She tapped her slender fingers on the table and observed Starfire chew and swallow. Jinx nodded at the fish that Starfire was busy eating and asked, "How is it?"

"Oh! It is…" Starfire wracked her brain in an attempt to find a suitable word to describe the taste of the dish without offending the witch. It was, truthfully, quite plain despite the seasoning Jinx had put in and, while the exterior was crunchy, just turned into bland mush after chewing it for a while.

Jinx must have read the look on Starfire's face and shrugged, laughing it off. "Not that good? That's fine. My magic skills are far better, so you needn't worry. That's what's important anyway." In the blink of an eye her smile disappeared and she appeared serious once more. "I doubt I'll be able to get a hold of Raven anytime soon, but if I do I'll tell her to talk to you." She was about to excuse herself when the star spoke up.

"Wait. I do not want to force Raven to speak with me if she does not wish it," Starfire said, putting down her fork. "However, will you please tell her that I do not blame her for anything? It is my wish and I fully accept all of the consequences that come with it, however bad they may be. Tell her…tell her that it is not her fault. And that I thank her for being my dearest friend."

Jinx opened her mouth as if she was about to protest but paused and gave the star a small smile. "Alright. I'll be sure to tell her that." She stood up from the table and stretched. "I need to check a few things before we head out to the castle, but there's a change of clothes that you should change into after you're done eating." She pointed to a pile of folded clothes sitting on the arm of the couch. "Make sure to change into those once you're done. We're leaving soon. I hope you don't mind walking."

xxxxx

Walking, as it turned out, was really tiring. It was gravity, Jinx explained later, that kept humans tethered to the ground. Back in space, Starfire – no, it was Koriand'r – could float along as she pleased and traveling was effortless. Now her feet were aching and she was feeling a little breathless. To make matters worse, the ground was muddy, and she was soaked because the rain that was coming down. Well, sprinkling actually. Jinx had warned Starfire about the gloomy weather (aftereffects of a storm that she had conjured the night before) as well as the long road she'd have to travel just to get to the Prince's castle. She wouldn't complain though. Why would she when her friends had done so much for her? She could endure a little pain and drizzling for a bit.

She smiled at the cat in her arms and held her closer, hunching over so that the furry animal wouldn't get wet. The cat, which was snoozing quite heavily in her arms, was actually Jinx's feline form. After Starfire had changed into the gown Jinx had laid out on the couch (a dress that had once been gorgeous but was now ragged and torn, as if it had been washed up on the beach after a storm), Jinx had insisted upon accompanying Starfire on her journey to the castle. Funnily enough, the witch pretty much knocked out after giving Starfire the necessary information, leaving the star to carry the dozing cat barefoot in the rain to the castle. It was the least she could do for the sorceress and it wasn't like she was very heavy as a cat anyway.

Starfire thought of perhaps thanking the witch when she woke up but wondered if it would be necessary. She tried to thank the witch for her services before – for the food, the clothes, being a guide in the human world – but the witch wouldn't hear any of it. Jinx would only wave her hand, telling her that she was only paying off a favor to the Sky Witch and that the thanks, although appreciated, wasn't needed. Besides, she'd probably give Starfire a strange look if the star thanked her for forcing her to walk all the way to the castle in this weather. But this whole experience was exhilarating to the star. She loved the way the raindrops felt on her face, all cold and wet. It was refreshing. Back when she was a star, there was no change in weather. Water falling from the sky? This world got more amazing the longer she stayed. She wasn't even cold despite her worn dress. Jinx had drowsily explained that Starfire would probably never feel cold until she was able to stabilize her human form. Because she was still part star, her body would run hotter than normal humans. Oh, how she couldn't wait to be truly human…

Strangely enough, she even liked the squish of the mud beneath her feet. Perhaps she'd be tired of it later once it stopped raining and she found it caked between her toes. For now, she enjoyed how soft and cold it was. She found it much nicer than the sand, which was grainy and stuck to her toes even after she had thought she washed it all out.

Starfire was now at the foot of the hill and gazed at the top where the castle sat. Despite the rain, she could make it out quite easily. It was gargantuan, with spiraling towers that made her head spin and the tallest walls she had ever seen. The castle was pure white and looked like it was glowing even though there was hardly any sunlight because of the dark clouds that covered the sky. She imagined her prince roaming through the halls, looking as gallant as ever, and bit her lip. Was it too soon to think about seeing him? She was getting so giddy. She had half a mind to wake Jinx up just so she could see the castle too but decided against it lest she come off as rude for disturbing the witch's slumber. Starfire took a few more minutes to admire the castle before resuming her journey.

She had only walked for about ten minutes, thinking wistfully about how the route she had taken hadn't allowed her to go through the village (because it would take too long, Jinx said while ignoring Starfire's begging, and the star needed every minute she could get), when she heard heavy clomping behind her and, being the curious star she was, turned around to see what it was.

Coming up the hill towards her was a hooded stranger atop a horse. She wondered if he was a guard or an important castle worker but he dressed quite plainly. He stopped his horse, a chocolate-brown mare with an inky black mane, right next to Starfire. The stranger pulled his hood down, revealing a freckled face and hair that was just as red as hers. She'd never seen a human with red hair before and, after assuming her current form, just immediately assumed that her own hair was scarlet because of her origins as a star. She opened her mouth to ask him if he, too, was a star at first but he spoke before she could. "May I ask what a pretty lady like you is doing in such miserable weather, m'lady?" he inquired.

Starfire studied his face. His face was pale with freckles sprinkled across his nose and cheeks like stars across a night sky. His face was thin and pointed, but he had a friendly smile. A bit toothy, maybe, but it was nice nonetheless. Ultimately it was his eyes that got her to trust him. They were blue, a light blue like the ocean on a calm day, and crinkled at the edges when he smiled at her. They were friendly.

"I am Princess Starfire of Tamaran," she said, raising her voice so it could be heard above the rain. She hoped she had remembered everything Jinx had told her to say if anyone dare ask her who she was. "The storm last night, the ship I was traveling on got caught in it and it started sinking. I washed up on the beach – my cat and I, that is - and thought I might be able to seek help if I could reach the castle."

"Tamaran?" he repeated. His brow furrowed in confusion. "I'm sorry, m'lday, but I don't seem to recall a kingdom by the name."

Starfire tensed up and bit her lip. It was true that Tamaran was a kingdom, but that was the name of the galaxy that she had once been a part of when she was a star. Jinx had told her a delusion charm would make everyone think Tamaran was an actual kingdom on earth, but perhaps she had forgotten? "I…"

The cat in her arms yawned and, after taking a look at the stranger before them, meowed.

The boy looked as if he was in a daze for a bit before a wide smile spread across his face. "Ah, Tamaran! Of course!" he exclaimed, sliding off of his horse. Now that he was standing before her, Starfire could see he was quite tall, although only a few inches taller than her. "Sorry, Princess Starfire. It must have slipped my mind for a bit."

"It is quite alright," she assured him, feeling relieved that Jinx's enchantment had worked. She smiled down at the cat in her arms happily, making a mental note to thank the witch later.

"If you will have me, I will gladly accompany you and your lovely cat to the castle," he said, bowing. He straightened up and gave her another bright grin. "I'm Wallace West, by the way. Most just call me Wally though. I'm the royal messenger."

Starfire gave him a smile of her own. "It is very nice meeting you, Sir Wally. I think you for your assistance. You are very kind."

His eyes widened in surprise. "Just Wally, Your Royal Highness. I'm not a knight or anyone of importance so there's no need for a title in front of my name." The boy's face was flushed now, his cheeks a bright red that almost matched his hair.

"Oh, then you must call me Starfire!" she said cheerfully, delighted to have found another kind soul.

His eyes widened and he seemed to struggle between calling her by her proper title or following her orders. Finally, he gulped and said, "It would be an honor to accompany you to the castle…Starfire."

He didn't say anything else and Starfire, not knowing what else to do, tentatively walked towards his horse. "This…horse of yours," she said, struggling to remember what the creature was called. She had seen this animal around a handful of times but was more familiar with cats and dogs that roamed the villages. "It is quite lovely."

Wally seemed to snap out of his shock at being treated so familiarly by a person of royal blood and, straightening up, he cleared his throat "Ay, yes," he said. "She's a beauty and a smooth, fast ride to boot." Wally stroked his horse with one hand and offered his other one to Starfire.

Instead of giving him her hand, she gently transferred Jinx into his arms. He was surprised but still took the sleeping feline from her, trying his best not to wake her. "Thank you," she mouthed. Getting on the horse was much easier than she thought it would be. All she had to do was hook her foot into the loops hanging from the side of the saddle and hoist herself up. Her height probably had something to do with how easily she was able to mount the horse. She was quite pleased with herself for being able to do all of that, even if it might be considered simple in the human world.

Wally quickly followed suit, first giving Jinx back to Starfire before he began to mount, and took his seat right in front of Starfire. "Hang on tight, m'lady," he said, giving her a cheeky grin. "It's best we get out of this rain as quick as we can. Wouldn't want you to get sick now."

Despite his initial reluctance to be anything less than formal when speaking with the princess, the messenger warmed up to her fairly quickly. He answered all of her curious questions, raising his voice so he could be heard above the rain. Jinx was probably annoyed at the additional noise, but Starfire was grateful for such friendly company. He told her all about the kingdom ("Gotham weather isn't usually like this. It's actually, er, well I'll admit that it's pretty dreary most of the time in terms of weather, but the king is very just and we're more prosperous each year. The citizens are very civil as well. Just imagine how excited everyone'll be when they hear a princess has come visit from another kingdom! You'll be welcomed with open arms, Starfire, I can assure you."), the king and queen ("We actually only have a king right now, King Bruce, and he's a bit of a tough guy but he's not all that bad. I'm sure he'll be understanding of your situation and try to get you back home as soon as possible."), and, of course, the prince ("Prince Grayson's not actually Gotham's prince. He's from Bludhaven, but his uncle Bruce is taking him under his wing to show him how to be a proper ruler. I'm actually the prince's best mate, but don't let anyone tell you that. They don't want people knowing he's friends with a royal servant. He's a great mate though, that guy."). She hadn't even noticed the time passing at all and was surprised by how seemingly quick the trip to the castle was.

"I'll see to it that an appointment is made with the king as soon as possible, Starfire," Wally said, already comfortable with addressing the star by her desired name. He gave her a hand and helped her off of his horse.

"Thank you," she said, gracing him with a smile. "I am most grateful, Wally."

He laughed as he led his horse back into the pen. "It is the very least I can do for you, Princess." Wally gave his horse a quick pat on the snout, fed it a carrot stick from his pocket, and shut door of the pen behind him as he left. He offered an arm to the star and she reached out to take it when a loud voice startled her.

"Wallace West!" a man boomed.

Wally grimaced and turned around to face a very angry but polished-looking man in a black suit. "Ah, Gerard, how are you doing on this fine day?" Wally said, stepping in front of Starfire. His tone was as cheerful as ever but she could tell from his body language that he was tense.

"Smuggling another girl into the castle are you, West?" Gerard sneered, eyeing the star with disgust. "We have enough riffraff without you dragging every pretty girl you see into the castle!"

"She's not just any girl!" Wally protested. "She's Princess Starfire of the kingdom Tamaran. Her ship got wrecked in the storm and she washed ashore here. I'm bringing her to the king so he can provide her the aid she needs to get back."

Gerard snorted. "Your lies are getting creative, West, I'll give you that. You expect me to believe this girl is a princess?" He sniffed disdainfully at Starfire, clearly noting her ruined dress which, truthfully, barely resembled a dress and looked more like rags at this point despite Jinx's claims earlier that morning that it would be more believable garb for a princes. "Can you even tell me where this 'Tamaran' kingdom lies?"

"I…" Wally furrowed his brow, trying to wrack his brain for the kingdom's location. He turned to Starfire, a look of complete confusion on his face. "Starfire, where's Tamaran?"

Starfire took a step back, not sure of what she should say. She looked down at the cat in her arms and shook her awake. "Jinx! Jinx!" she hissed. "I am in dire need of your assistance."

The witch was only barely waking when Gerard shoved Wally aside, reaching for Starfire's arm. "Let me take her to the king, West, so I can finally prove you're smuggling commoners into the kingdom for fun. Perhaps now he'll finally fire you and actually get someone competent to deliver royal messages."

"Aaargh!" Wally pulled Gerard away with such force that the man fell to the ground. Grabbing Jinx from Starfire's arms and threw the cat at Gerard's face. Startled, Jinx screeched and immediately latched onto Gerard's face with her claws. Before Starfire could run to Jinx's help, Wally grabbed her by the wrist and sprinted with her outside of the stables, leading her to the back entrance of the castle.

"Where are we going?" she shouted.

"Into the castle," he panted as he thrust the door open. "I'm very sorry about your cat but I will make sure I'll find her again. I'm excellent with animals."

"Is he going to hurt her?" Starfire asked worriedly, the angry face of Gerard flashing through her mind.

Wally gave a forced laugh. "He's more interested in hurting me. He couldn't give half a damn about your cat. She's probably safe and sound although a bit startled but she'll hate me forever now." He slowed his pace a bit, taking note of Starfire's more ragged breathing and her long skirts, and led her up the stairs. Some servants paused whatever they were doing to spare them an amused glance, but they must have been used to Wally getting into scrapes because none of them did very much aside from stare. "I can't apologize enough for this, Princess."

"I'm just very worried about Jinx," Starfire said, letting out a small yelp when Wally pulled her around a corner. "Wally, where are we going?"

"Trying to remember a room that's fairly empty most of the time," he muttered.

"Hey, Wally!" a voice hissed. The two redheads turned to see a raven-haired boy gesturing for them to follow him into a room.

Grinning, Wally pulls Starfire into the room, shutting the door behind them. From what Starfire could tell from the dark, it was a bedchamber of some sort. It doesn't look like it was used very much because the dresser she happened to cower against was covered in dust. It was probably one of many chambers reserved for guests if they ever came about.

The messenger leaned against the door, breathing a sigh of relief. "Dick, you are a savior."

Wally's friend smirked. "Anger Gerard again, did you?"

"Excuse me," Starfire said, interrupting their banter. "Who is this, Wally?"

"That's my best mate," Wally beamed.

After properly giving her full attention to Wally's friend, Starfire realized that she knew his name. He appeared to have aged since the last time she saw him, just as Raven had predicted before Starfire's transformation, but there was no forgetting those eyes – beautiful, deep, and the same blue she remembered from that night that had only been only a few days ago for her. "Prince Grayson," the boy said, holding out a hand for Starfire to shake. "Happy to be of service, my lady."

A/N: Thanks for all of the support so far! You can always check my fanfic tumblr out and shoot questions at me if you want to know how progress is going. It's: pickalilywrites tumblr com (with periods between the spaces). Please try to not send me asks or reviews that say "please update." I will most likely already be trying to do that and it just stresses me out even more.

Aiming for another chapter to be out during my winter break at the very latest so cross your fingers for that!