Star wakes up. It's a rainy day, Saturday, so there's no school today. Star gets up and feels her head, finding her horns to be where they belong, leading her to smile as she realizes she won't have to feel the pain again today like she had been all week. That is, until, she notices something missing. Her tail is gone.

She begins to force the flicker, causing an intense, shooting pain in her lower back, burning like fire up her spine. She tries not to scream as the burning pain spreads, as if consuming her to fuel itself until she accidentally cries out, immediately covering her mouth as tears begin to stream down her face.

Marco hears something and rushes upstairs, worried about Star. She's been acting off lately, late in the night he's heard her crying out in pain, and had tried asking her about it once, only for her to say she suffers from night terrors, but he knows something's off about it as she refuses to say what about.

"Star?" he asks, knocking in her door, "are you OK?"

"I'm fine," Star lies as her tail returns, "I'll be right out."

Star wipes her tears, but the streams of tear stains still show on her face as she exits the room.

"Were you crying?" Marco asks, concern in his voice.

"I'm fine," Star forces a smile, "just a really bad dream."

"What about?" Marco asks with suspicion.

"Oh nothing important," Star smiles, "anyways, I'm going out. I'll be back later."

"Wait," Marco asks, "where are you even going?"

"I'm going out with my demon boyfriend Tom," Star elaborates, "we're hanging out in the Bounce Lounge."

"Bounce Lounge?"

"Have I not told you about that place?" Star asks, "it's awesome. Come with me, it'll be fun."

"Won't I be a third wheel?"

"Oh no, it'll be fine. Come on, Tom should be arriving right about now."

There's a knock on the door and the duo head outside where they are greeted by Tom.

"Hey Star," he smiles, "ready to go?"

"Sure," Star smiles, "is it OK if Marco tags along?"

"Who's Marco?" Tom asks.

"Hey," Marco offers a handshake, "nice to meet you."

Tom glares at Marco with an unspoken threat before replying, "sure. That's just peachy."

The trio get in Tom's carriage and head to the Bounce Lounge. Star messes around with a snack station on the back wall, seeming to have the arrangement memorized. Tom sits next to Marco, glaring.

"You got a problem with me?" Marco asks.

Star has decided on some frozen yogurt, mixing many diffrent flavors.

"It's not you," Tom explains, "it's Earth."

"Earth?" Marco asks.

"Yes," Tom explains, "she shouldn't be there. If she flickers to much..."

"What are you talking about?" Marco demands as Tom trails off.

"Her condition..." Tom explains with a sigh, "there's this group, call themselves the Magical High Commision. They suspect that she may take the traits of an evil Star... they'll kill her. She needs to leave Earth. If she stays there, she may flicker to much. I can't let that happen. I need a favor. I need to to upset her so she will leave."

"I'm not doing that! She's fine, trust me."

"Alright," Tom shrugs as the carriage stops and the trio arrive. Star and Tom head out to the dance floor while Marco sits alone, thinking about the High Commission. They want to kill Star? Just who are these people?

Star notices Marco is upset by something. She looks up at the front of the club and realized it's open mic. She gets an idea.

"I gotta use the restroom," she lies, "I'll be back."

Star goes into the restroom and forced a flicker until her singing voice returns. The pain is unbearable, burning her with every moment as she weeps, but she manages to pull it together to go up to the mic.

"This one goes out to my best freind! Marco!" She exclaims as she starts singing Just Friends. The club seems impressed, feeling proud of herself, she begins to flicker. She changes again...

Star stops suddenly. She walks to Tom.

"Are you OK?" Tom asks.

"Tom," she laughs, "that's what you look like."

"What are you talking about?" Marco asks.

"I can see," she smiles, "I can finally see. Come on, I wanna enjoy this."

After enjoying the rest of the day with Tom and Marco, the trio return to Earth. Star admires the planet with glee, she admires the beautiful trees and sky as if it's the best thing she's ever seen.

So far, it is.

"I don't like this," Tom whispers.

"What do you mean?" Marco asks.

"She got that voice like that," Tom explains, "and I didn't see her flicker. She went into the restroom, came out, and could sing."

"What are you saying?"

"Could she be... forcing it?"

"She was crying this morning. Said it was nightmares but..."

"She doesn't have nightmares. Look, I need you to keep an eye on her. OK?"

"Sure."

"Thanks. I gotta go."

Tom gets in his carriage and drives off. Marco begins to worry about Star while Star enjoys her sight.

Later that night, as they brush their teeth, Marco asks, "Star? Can you force the flicker?"

"Me?" Star asks, before lying, "of course not."

"Then why were you able to sing?" Marco asks.

"I had that this morning," Star lies.

Marco sighs, knowing he's not getting a strait answer.

"Alright," he shrugs, "I'm going to sleep."

"Good night Marco."

"Good night Star."

Star goes to sleep, so happy to be able to see, but the next morning, when she opens her eyes...

There is only darkness once more...

To be continued.