#toastarlight2026

[soulsaligned]

(Comet) Never one to be outdone, a certain shrewd business woman takes advantage of the meteor shower to create comet candies! Delightful sweets that leave a fizzing sensation in your mouth. Panette approaches Chrom with a certain trepidation after the secrets game; how could she not after revealing something insane like that? Still, if there’s one thing she’s not gonna be, it’s a coward. So, she approaches, a small satchel of candy from a stand in her hand. “I know in terms of the game the intention is we are to keep hush about the secrets now that it is finished. That being said, I feel like I ought to apologize, I should have handled my last secret with more care.” She especially wouldn’t have shared it if she knew how close to the end of the game they were, how annoying of her to have lost track like that. “I brought over some comet shaped candy as an apology gift of sorts.” She gives Chrom a shy smile. “The emblems themselves did not eat anything, so I am unsure whether sweets like these are a good gift but… I suppose that just comes with the territory of getting to know people, does it not?”

   His student’s approach is unexpected, though it doesn’t come unwelcome. Frankly, Chrom should very well have seen this coming – Panette gave him quite the revelation just short moments ago, one that he still found himself pondering over even now, even if his thoughts were rather aimless. Yet her apology causes him to feel even more surprised. It wasn’t warranted, frankly. Chrom was far happier to know of the existence of another… him, than to feel confusion otherwise.

   So he laughs, waving off the apology. It isn’t dismissive, it is appreciation for the gesture, but acknowledgement of how unnecessary it is. “Please, you don’t need to apologize for sharing more about your homeworld, Panette.” After all, why should she? The unique nature of Elyos and how they fought alongside warriors of old wasn’t something worthy of apology.

   Then she offers a gift. Candy, to be exact, shaped to match the form of comets. It’s a gift that comes as a sort of invitation to branch further understanding. Of course though, if the Emblems didn’t eat, then Panette wouldn’t know that Chrom wasn’t the biggest fan of sweets. Perhaps Emblem Chrom didn’t divulge that information. Then, the living Chrom would – just with a kinder edge.

   “Then could we share these sweets together? I must admit, my younger sister bears more of a sweet tooth than I… but I wouldn’t want to waste a gift you sought for me.” He shares a laugh, though it isn’t shy, as he takes the candies from his student’s hands. Perhaps they tasted good. At the very least, that’s what he would say when they ate together; food was better in good company. “And please, if you don’t mind, tell me more about Elyos. I want to be a professor that gets to know his students better, and as a Black Eagle, I’d like to think no one qualifies better than you at this moment?”

   ‘After all, learning about this place may answer a lot of questions that remain… unanswered for me.’ He doesn’t say this out loud. It doesn’t need to be said, and is probably better left as such.

[landsbluod]

"Lachesis. Do you want this?" A few people passing by give him looks when he reaches her. Understandably. The bear he carries is almost as tall as he is and slumps over him as he carries it on his hip, something he hasn't done in quite some time.

He frowns. "I had this forced upon me. I don't really want it." And if this was the best he could do to give her the softer life she deserved, then it would have to do for now.

She saw the movement of the thing through the crowds first, the bob and slump and flop of it over the heads of those who milled about, and could not help but wonder at the pure dear heart who had won such a prize, and who enjoyed such a thing.

Upon seeing whose arms wrapped around it, Lachesis could not resist the laugh that came out of her, a single bark at first, shocked, and then melting into the warmer and more fond throaty giggles that she attempted to press behind her fingertips as her eyes crinkled to look at him.

“A-ha-haah…” She chucked a knuckle against the corner of one eye to brush the moisture there, and canted her head, a lock of hair trailing behind her as she took a step forward. “And what is the fair creature’s name?”

Finn almost certainly would not have given it one, but she flashed him a wicked smile anyway.

“Why, are you sure you won’t be lonely, to have such a sweetheart spend all of its time with me?” Tucking palms underneath its arms, she hefted it as one might a massively oversized babe.

Then, she tucked it against her in a thorough and enthusiastic embrace, glancing up at Finn through the flecks of its fur.

“I suppose my room had been looking rather sparse. Thank you.”

[urvanswrath]

(Lake) The stars and moon above reflect beautifully on the lake’s surface. The festival committee has provided delightful, duck-shaped two-person paddle boats for those wanting to enjoy the clear waters up close.

While there had been tents set up for the purpose, it seemed to Lachesis that a rather cleaner way to remove oneself from the hubub was to row out onto the lake, gliding serene and silent across the still water, reflecting the moon's face like a mirror. It had not been so difficult to convince the dock attendant that she was waiting for her beloved, and then to take the boat out on her own, rowing with great strokes that burned nicely in her shoulders.

The momentum built up had taken her far enough that she could scarce see the shoreline for the mist that settled along the surface as night fell and the chill made the evaporation swirl, cloudy. Slipping the oars from their nocks, the tucked them inside of the boat and curled in on herself, propping chin on both fists intertwined, losing herself in the silence of the night.

It could have been minutes or hours, as far as she was concerned, floating gently in sway with the subtle current, not enough to drift her in any particular direction, but certainly, if someone had been approaching, she would not have noticed -

WHAM - !!

"Augh - ?!" She lurched with the collision, a hand shooting out onto the duck's wing to steady herself, lest her panic tip the boat over, and her gaze snapped over to who the unfortunate sound of a bloop, and the sight of the other's oars fumbling into the water.

"What - Crusaders - !! Who - ah." She made a little exhalation, simultaneously unsurprise and nearly amusement, arching a brow as the other figure's shape came into clearer focus. "Ser Greil. I wish I could say that this is a surprise, but what foul luck appears to follow you."

Greil can't really remember the last time he went on a boat with another person, much less on his lonesome. And so, knowing how the opportunity doesn't come by often, he's compelled to try it the more he thinks about how beautiful the view must be from the comfort of a two-person boat. It would only be for a brief moment, he thinks. Just long enough for him to scope it out and admire the view.

The boat itself needed… some time to get used to, given the large, yellow head of the duck at its front. Upon spotting another boat in the distance, his first instinct was to pass by and say hello, yet as he rowed closer he must've overestimated the distance in which he pushed forward, hurrying to try correcting course when –

WHAM - !!

… the impact knocks his boat adrift, and before he knows it, the oars he'd been holding onto slip right into the waters.

"... Lady Lachesis?" Greil's eyes widen at the person he just bumped into, his mind still in disbelief by what just happened. "Sorry, I'm not usually this clumsy. It's good to meet you again. Just wish it wasn't at a time where I've gotten myself into trouble..."

With a small frown, he glances at the ripples in the water where he'd dropped his only tools to steer the boat. First the cape incident, and now this... It won't be too long until he has to ask her for help in returning to the docks. But for now, Greil's focus shifts to how the lake shines under the moonlight. It truly is as beautiful as described.

"The scenery does look wonderful from this spot, though. I can see why they set up these boats to get a better look."

[urvanswrath]

(Gachapon)

With a grating noise, the lever catches and refuses to turn. Ronan tries it again, then tries to turn it back the other way, but it's well and truly stuck now. The little capsules in the jar only jostle a little bit, but refuse to budge. Frowning, Ronan tries to shake it, but that doesn't accomplish much either except send curious glances in his direction from other tables with similar devices on them. Obviously, shaking the thing is against some sort of unspoken rule Ronan has never heard of. But it'd eaten his last coin, and even when he shoves his hands into both pockets to search for another, he can't find anything but a few bits of dirt. So he tries the lever one more time.

"Come on..." he groans. What a waste. He doesn't even really care about the prize anymore; it's his lost coin that makes him reluctant to give up. But give up he does, eventually, backing slowly from the table like a new idea to win his gold back might hit him before he gets too far away. Instead, he stumbles into something big and hard.

"!!"

Quickly he turns on his heel and glimpses a hardened face he doesn't recognize.

"S-sorry! I should have been paying attention to where I was going." With hands raised apologetically, he backs up from him quickly, almost stumbling back over the gachapon table.

The novelty of this trinket dispenser is what drawn him in. It’s only a gold coin away where you can get a random, concealed spherical container packed with a little surprise. But the more he thinks about it...

Isn’t this essentially gambling?

It’s a vice that’s common in some mercenary circles, with a good amount of those indulging being around Greil’s age, but the way this is presented is more… approachable. Easier for younger people to engage in. If they get something they don’t want, they either forget about it and try to give it away to someone else, or continue spending their coin until they get the item they want. It’s a little concerning if he had to be honest, though he’s not exactly fit to judge when he’s but one of these people who are just curious in trying out this contraption for the first time.

He watches over a boy having a go at it, trying to get a peek at what might be inside one of those capsules, observing the way he operates the mechanism… and how he grows increasingly desperate in getting the thing to work. Greil doesn’t know whether he should be amused or be disappointed as a form of solidarity. It was almost seconds away from him piping up to comment on his misfortune when—

“Ah-” He takes a step back, lifting a hand in an attempt to reassure the boy once they accidentally knock into each other. “Don’t sweat it. It’s a shame that box ate up your coin… You could try getting one of the festival committee to check it for you. It’ll have to be fixed eventually.”

[lunaestice]

STARLIGHT DREAMS - THE END

Some groups had already arrived at the depths of the cave, some needed a little bit longer. Either way, eventually everyone made it to the depths and was introduced to the spirit of the comet.

There, he recounted a very old tale.

A tale of a star, born in complete isolation. How for centuries the star cried, lonely, as he wished for a friend to call his own.

Until one day, in the far off distance, he noticed a small light. It was just a speck in vast nothingness, but it was the first light the star had ever seen. So he began to travel in search of that light.

And in his travels he came across a world, full of creatures called “people”. Beings that were capable of love, of friendship, of connection. The star witnessed it and grew enamored with “people”.

His feelings reached the surface of that world, which ended up being the magic that manifested their emotions.

The people of that world celebrated him, celebrated each other, holding festivals with food, song and dance. And despite not knowing he was alive, not knowing anything about him, the star, for the first time in his long life, felt… loved.

But the star was not strong enough to voice the feelings in his heart. Though they were bathed in his adoration, the people were unable to hear his voice.

So the star made a decision. He’d come back one day, when he was stronger, wiser. So that, when that day came, he could tell the people of that world the two words he’s always wanted to say.

“Thank you.”

—

“Hello? Are you okay? Um, wake up!“

A voice calls out to you. As you open your eyes, you spot the sun shining above you. Had you.. fallen asleep?

You look around, and spot three others in similar states of groggy awakening. It’s a little hard to tell, but you feel something strong between the four of you. Last night, you traveled together… but where?

Next, your surroundings. You apparently fell asleep on the grass by the lakeside, the waters pristine as ever, its surface like a clear sheet, reflecting the sun’s rays. (Wasn’t there.. something missing?)

Then, you look behind you. The committee was hard at work taking down the stalls for the star festival. Perhaps you’ve all partied a little too hard…

Then finally, you feel something in your pocket. It’s a little pink star-shaped crystal. It’s lost its luster, no longer glowing as it did yesterday. Yet a warm feeling envelops you, as if you’re looking at a memento of an old friend.

A memento.. full of gratitude.

The end

[pastbelow]

(Lake) The stars and moon above reflect beautifully on the lake’s surface. The festival committee has provided delightful, duck-shaped two-person paddle boats for those wanting to enjoy the clear waters up close.

Huh. What’re the odds she’d run into someone who looks so much like Azura out here in Fodlan? And at a place so similar to what she’d been told had been her favorite spot back in Hoshido, no less… 

She remembers Shigure, of course, to forget family would be impossible for her who carries so much of her heart with it — yet still, to see him now, somewhere like this… it brings a distinct sting to her heart when she looks at him. Familiar, but sad. Sadder than before might’ve been when it really was the sister she never really got to have, even, though it’s hard to remember it now. But the pull to know this distant member of family now is very much the same as it was then.

“Awww, look, look! They’re little duckies, hehe!” Elise rushes forward towards the water with a gasp, eyes wide in excitement as she grips onto his arm with gentle tugs in the direction she wants to lead them. “Come on, come on! Ride them with me! It’ll be so fun, pleeaaasseeee??”

“Wh—Princess Elise?” he stutters in surprise, letting himself be pulled along without putting up much of a fight. Blond pigtails, streaked with a vibrant violet, flounce about eagerly at the edges of his vision. An invitation in its own way, even without the words.

It’s good, reassuring, to simply be buoyed by her energy. A reminder of better days. In all the time he'd known her, this is how Princess Elise had carried herself—that bright smile, when they had first met as family; that skip in her step, when she hurries about camp with a staff or a tonic; that smile, still, even as the head of a Vallite soldier's axe swings unerringly towards her...

...But he's had enough of peering at ghosts tonight, hasn't he? He blinks back to himself. Elise, here, had asked him a question. Something about duckies...?

Oh, the boats! A quiet laugh escapes him. “You don't need to try so hard to convince me,” he replies, letting his eyes crinkle in a delighted smile of his own. “I’d love to! Wait a moment, let me fetch the oars…”

And when he returns with them, the happiness that rests on his face feels a little less foreign. It's good, he decides—even if, honestly, these duck boats look a little incongruent with the scenery. It's better than it was.

[magisolsmiles]

(Comet) Never one to be outdone, a certain shrewd business woman takes advantage of the meteor shower to create comet candies! Delightful sweets that leave a fizzing sensation in your mouth.

"You know, these were supposed to be a surprise." Innes held the bag of candies in his palm. It drooped, wilting. "But I'm starting to wonder if you should have them after all."

He paused, considering. After a moment, Innes sighed.

"Here. Take the candies and go." He spoke as if he didn't have some sort of fondness for Ewan, but if he listened carefully, he would hear the faint affection in Innes' tone.

“Ooh, thanks!” Ewan happily took the candies out of Innes’ hands. “Who knew, you have a heart after all~” the boy was quick to tease, even in a moment like this. Truthfully he knew the prince was a good person deep down. He just sucked at showing it! Like, really, really sucked at it. Like he’d be the king of suckage sucked at it.

But that never really bothered the boy. If anything it made every interaction between them interesting and entertaining. So the fondness was reciprocated really, in his own Ewan sort of way.

Tearing through the package easily, he was about to pop a candy in his mouth before stopping just as it was about to hit his tongue. Instead he held it out for Innes to take. “Here! You probably didn’t get any sweets from anyone else, right? I’d feel bad for you if nobody gave you anything, so we can share!”

…unfortunately for Prince Innes, Ewan was fond of him in a very bullyable manner.

[grxstnnefealltoir]

(Wish) With all the stars trailing across the sky, it’s hard to resist not making a wish. If a wish upon a star comes true, what happens when you wish upon hundreds of em?

"Do you see that?" Ryoma points up at the sky. "It's as if the stars are falling from the sky." He watches them for a moment, endless stars streaking through the night.

"They say if you wish upon these stars, it might come true. Come, Darios, let's make a wish together."

What would Ryoma wish for? He isn't sure. Perhaps he can wish that life will be gentler to them both; that's good enough for Ryoma.

“T-together?” Darios can’t quite hide his shock nor the way his eyes go wide.

“I couldn’t possibly. My wish...” Darios hesitates. “My wish… it’s not something I can wish for. I have to make it a reality myself. If I wish for it… then that’s as if I’m telling the gods I am not prepared to take care of it on my own. If I’m nor prepared to do that… then I’m not prepared to put in the work to make sure my wish lasts.”

“Besides… Ryoma I… any wish I should like to make with you is something I already am allowed to live.” Darios rests his hand over his heart and the words feels especially stupid in his throat now. “I… I- you… I am glad that I met you at all… that you are a presence within my life. Any wish I could make, nothing truly comes to mind.” 

For a man who knew so little love in his life, that Ryoma had stood up for him, acting in a way in which he had always wished his father would. 

“My wish would have been to see you again I believe, but there’s no need for that now. You are here and I am eternally grateful,” he says as he turns to look Ryoma in the eyes.