Luz’s breaths came in bursts as she stood at the entrance of the esteemed ballroom. From this point of view, it was classical and magnificent. Chandeliers hung like subs from the domed ceiling, which was painted with ancient scribes of romance. Some were…quite vivid.
The room itself was breathtaking. Candles floated above the dancers, joining trays of drinks held by invisible hands. The outfits varied incredibly, from full length ball gowns to prom tuxedoes to summer frocks, and yet they blended together perfectly. All wore masks.
To her left, Willow squared her shoulders - to her right, Gus attempted to stand just a bit taller. Luz was eternally grateful they both had received their invitation to the same ball she had, because she had no idea how she would be able to face this alone.
She took a deep breath before linking her arms with her two best friends.
”Here we go, boys,” she said in an attempt to be humorous, before the three of them exchanged a glance and entered the ballroom.
Mist covered Luz’s eyes almost immediately, and she lost all visuals. Willow and Gus disappeared from her view, and she spun around, desperately trying the figure out what was happening. She could still hear the party, still hear Willow and Gus’ gasps beside her, but everything was white.
Until it wasn’t.
The room had completely transformed. Trees, not bricks, created the walls, and light was provided by floating orbs. The dancers remained the same, but their feet met mossy, forget-me-not dotted soil, and they rested at severed trunks and tables formed by fungi. As she surveyed the affair with her mouth agape, Luz caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror. She gasped so loud she almost choked - her clothes had been replaced by the exact replica of Azura’s party outfit in Book Three, down to the little critters scattering around her shoulders and the mint adorning her hair.
It was so perfect, she could cry.
Once she was done admiring her outfit, she set off finding Willow and Gus, who’d she lost in the mist. In the back of her mind, she was told to look at the other guests, but she’d be damned if she met her soulmate before she saw what her best friends looked like. So, and she was embarrassed to admit, she ended up pushing a few people out of her way.
She found Willow first. Well, they more crashed into each other in their haste to reconnect.
Willow’s outfit was, in short, stunning. She wore simple flats, sage dotted with tiny pink flowers. Her dress was the exact light green as her eyes, flowy and free. Her hair fell in frizzy waves over one ear, and her eyes were obscured with a mask of glittering pink.
When Luz's eyes found Willow's, they stared at each other for a few moments before bursting out in laughter.
Luz had to admit, the ball had been a point of stress for her for two reasons. One, obviously, was the fact that she would be meeting her soulmate here, but the second was Willow. The two of them had dated for almost a year prior to the ball, back when they were sixteen. Back then, Luz had felt like she’d struck gold by finding her soulmate before attending the ball. The two of them seemed perfect for each other, but eventually realized they were in a high school whirlwind, and much better off as friends. When she learnt Willow had been invited to the same ball as her, a nagging doubt that maybe Willow was her soulmate took a hold of Luz. She was terrified that she’d ruined her life’s chance at happiness by breaking up with her when she was sixteen.
But no, thank god, Luz was staring at Willow’s mask. If Willow really was her soulmate, Luz wouldn’t be able to see it. Apparently, Willow was having the same thoughts.
”God, I was worried about that,” she sighed, “I mean, there was always that chance, wasn’t there?”
Luz grinned, “Yeah. Well, now you have to be my maid in honor. Amazing fit, by the way.”
Willow blushed slightly, “You too - Good Witch Azura, by any chance?”
”You know it.”
”There you are!”
The two girls turned to see Gus rushing over to them. His blue suit was complimented by a Shakespearean-esque mask, and while there was never too much doubt in Luz's mind, it was good to set aside any notion of falling in love with her best friends.
Gus took a moment to survey the two of them, and from his expression, Luz could tell he wasn’t Willow’s soulmate, either.
”You two met anybody?” He asked, formalities officially set aside. They both shook their heads, and Luz began to survey the room properly for the first time.
People ranging from teens to pensioners milled about, dancing, laughing, talking. Some seemed not to worry too much about finding their soulmate, others peered nervously at everyone they saw. Luz knew it was ridiculous, but she was terrified of her soulmate leaving before they met.
Willow sighed, “We should mingle. Now is not the place to be a wallflower.”
Luz nodded, but Gus protested, “What if my soulmate’s a wallflower, though?”
”Do as you must, I’m starting conversations.”
Gus reluctantly followed followed the girls into the crowds.
Luz knew her siblings were at the ball as well, but they had left at a different time to her. So she kept her eyes peeled for Vee and Hunter as well as any de-masked individuals.
They struck up conversations with friends they met, and every person made Luz more and more nervous. A family friend of Willow’s was discussing how he was the last in his family to be invited to a ball before he caught the eye of a chubby man with a silken dress and went utterly silent, then running to meet his soulmate. Bo from school danced with the three of them for almost half an hour, before Gus waved over another classmate, Amelia, who proceeded to scream when she saw Bo’s apparently uncovered face. The three of them would meet people, only for their conversations to be cut short by a soulmate. Happily ever after for them.
Luz sighed, her fears coming back in full force. Gus smiled, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“You’ll meet someone,” he said reassuringly, “We all will.” Luz glanced thankfully at him, catching a glimpse of Vee and Hunter as she did.
”Jesus, there they are!” She exclaimed, waving excitedly at their group. Hunter’s suit was a dashing red, and Vee’s flowing blue skirt complimented her hair perfectly. They appeared to be talking to two brown-haired individuals, twins most likely, the woman with French braids running down her back and the man with spikey tufts obscuring his view, both with matching masks.
Gus nudged Luz, as if to say that’s a good song, right? but Willow had gone deathly silent.
”Holy. Shit.” She muttered, staring straight at the group. Luz glanced between her and the cluster of people, then back at her, then back at the cluster. Her heart beat faster.
”Is it them?!” She asked excitedly, grabbing Willow’s arm, “The brunettes? Is it the guy or the girl?”
Willow simply stared.
By now Vee had seen them. She grinned, nudging Hunter and pointing in their direction. Hunter turned and began to jog over to his sister.
”Luz!” He yellled, “You look incredible! And Gus! I love your outfit!” He directed his gaze to Willow, “And Willow, you-“
He fell silent too.
Willow and Hunter stared at each other. Gus stared at Luz. The same realization hit them at the exact same time.
”HUNTER?!” Luz shrieked, “IT’S HUNTER?!”
This snapped both out of their stupor, and their faces blushed profusely. Gus grinned from ear to ear, but dragged Luz away from the scene.
”Holy shit, Gus, Willow’s gonna be my sister in law!” Luz whisper-shrieked, not letting her eyes leave her brother and her friend.
”I know!” Gus responded, “Just think about it! My best friend and my best friend, my best friend’s brother, in love!”
”Sh-sh-sh-sh,” Luz said, throwing her hand vaguely in Gus’ direction, “They’re finally talking.”
”S-so, um, W-Willow…” Hunter had began, “You’re not…wearing a mask…?” He framed it like a question. Luz and Gus high-fived, like they had anything to do with it.
"I'm happy for them," Vee said, beaming as she joined her sister, and Luz had to agree. Sure, she hadn't expected Willow and Hunter to be each other's soulmates, but she loved it none the less. Both of them, friend and brother, had suffered from large self-esteem issues in high school, Luz knew, and both had worried they wouldn't get invitations to the ball. Which was ridiculous, anyone who wanted a soulmate got a soulmate, but teen age years and bullying will do that to a kid. They both deserved someone as cool and kind as each other.
"Holy shit! How did I forget?!" Vee gasped, seizing Luz and Gus by the arms and almost running over the dance floor. Gus scoffed - "Phrase of the night." - as Vee presented a character with black curly hair to them. They wore a long, intricate black gown with a feathery black mask to match. Vee squeezed their arm, the both of them smiling.
"This is my soulmate, Masha!" She said, hardly containing her excitement. Luz didn't even try - she swept Masha up into a monster hug, almost suffocating them with her grip. The strength at which Masha reciprocated told Luz that she'd love them.
"Welcome to the family!" Luz said, "You'll love Vee, she's the nicest person I know!"
Masha chuckled, finally free from Luz's grasp, "Yeah, I can already tell."
Gus crossed his arms, smiling, "Just know," he warned, "If you hurt her, she's got a big found family and we are protective."
Masha blanched ever so slightly, but laughed again, "I promise I'd never do anything to hurt Vee," they swore, raising a hand and placing another over her heart.
Luz was...well, she was filled with the indescribably glee that one feels for someone else. Both her siblings had found people she trusted, people that would be perfect for them. She couldn't have been happier, despite her not finding her own soulmate just yet. To celebrate, she reached over to a floating platter of mini sandwiches in an attempt to swipe a couple, but the tray darted across the room at her touch. Honestly, Luz really shouldn't have been surprised. The room was molded after GWA, after all. She grinned and gave chase, hitching her skirt above her knees and darting through the crowd. But when she finally wrangled the plate to find the sandwiches were cheese - gross - she realized that, in pique Luz Noceda fashion, she had lost Gus and Vee. Groaning, she began to weave back the way she came.
The scene played out in slow motion.
A guest tripped over a table leg.
His hands flailed for a surface to save him.
He jolted into Luz.
Luz, in turn, hit another stranger and the two fell down together.
Luz was mortified. Here she was, on the floor, limbs entangled with a woman's. Her shoes had fallen off, for god's sake! She hastily scrambled to her feet, blurting apologies as she did, yanked her shoes back on and offered a helping hand to the woman still on the floor. To Luz's horror, the stranger's mask had fallen off, exposing her face.
"Oh my god I am so sorry!" Luz practically yelled, slapping a palm against her eyes, "I swear I didn't see anything!"
Oh god, what if she ruined everything? What if, by seeing the woman's face without a mask, she'd ruined her chances of finding a soulmate? What if it ruined Luz's chances? She felt pressure on her shoulder as the woman steadied herself, then heard a question mark-shaped noise.
"I didn't see your face!" Luz assured her without looking, "So you can pick your mask up and we can pretend this didn't happen and you can still find your soulmate!"
The woman made another sound - this one was the auditory reincarnation of a confused frown - before gasping quietly. Luz felt delicate hands prying her fingers away from her face, and she caught a glimpse of pale skin and amber eyes. She needed to look away before she destroyed the poor woman's chances of love even further, but she was lost in the sunlit rays, outlined by perfect eyeliner. The woman's breath caught in her throat.
"What's your name?" Her voice was quiet.
"Luz Noceda..."
"Hi," she said, never leaving Luz's gaze, "My name is Amity Blight. A-and I think I'm your soulmate."
Luz's eyes widened further, "Oh. Oh. Oh my god!" Amity winced at the change in volume and opened her mouth to say something else, but Luz pulled her into an embrace at least as tight as her hug with Masha before she could say anything.
"I-I'm sorry, is this okay?" She asked.
Amity laughed, "It's great." Luz smiled.
"I'm sorry for getting louder," she said.
"It's fine, really."
Amity pulled out of the hug and Luz was granted her first proper look at her soulmate. And what she saw was breathtaking.
Amity was slender and tall with wide hips. Her eyes were pointed and sharp, reminiscent of a cat, with a yellow hue that almost glowed in the shining light of the candles. A scar stretched across the bridge of her pointed nose, reminding Luz of her own scar sliding down her left eyebrow, which was accompanied with a smattering of freckles that almost reached her ears. Her lilac hair fell in waves down her back and was pulled in such a fashion that Luz could catch a glimpse of a brown undercut. Her blue dress hung loosely on the tips of her shoulders, pulled in at the waist with a gold strap and brushing her pointed boots. In fact, she reminded Luz an awful lot of-
"ARE YOU AZURA FROM BOOK THREE?!"
"IS THAT HECATE'S PARTY OUTFIT?!"
The yells had startled the party-goers beside the pair, but Luz and Amity simply burst out laughing.
"Holy shit, you read Good Witch Azura?!" Amity gasped between draws of breath.
"Yeah, I've never met another fan!" Luz, quite honestly, thought she would explode with all the positive emotions racing through her veins like sugar. She hoped the feeling would never end. And for a split second, she caught a glimpse of a future where her and Amity would make each other laugh like this forever, and she would always be able to see the light pink coloring that touched Amity's cheeks when she smiled. And that only made the feeling increase.
"I guess it's no surprise we're soulmates, huh?"
This made Luz fall quiet, and a look of terror befell Amity, "Oh, god, I'm sorry, I didn't think I'd be able to say the wrong thing here but if-"
"No, no, no, no!" Luz hurried, "You didn't say anything bad! It's just...I never thought I'd get a soulmate. Or at least, no one as stunning as you."
Amity's flush increased, and Luz smiled at the prospect of making her blush like that more.
"No, I get that..." she said, "The not-thinking-you'd-get-a-soulmate thing. It's stupid, of course it is, but that was one of my biggest fears as a kid..." Amity bit her lip, staring down, "I mean, I know there's more to life than girls, but that's...not exactly true in my family's eyes." She gestured vaguely to the side, where the two brown-haired twins chatted by a tree, "Edric and Emira. They got their invites years ago, but they insisted on coming today anyway." She glared bitterly at the two, so Luz took her hand in hers.
"Hey," she said, "Let's ditch this place. Get some boba, see a movie, I don't know. The ball is amazing, but it all feels a bit..."
"Formal?" Amity smiled, "Bet. Let's go."
They wove through the crowd, hand in hand, making their way to an exit. As they steps back across the threshold, the mist returned and Luz felt Amity's grip increase. She squeezed back, and soon the white had cleared.
Her Azura outfit had dissipated, morphed back into the clothes she arrived in. Luz had been warned of this, and so she'd worn her most stylish outfit. Well, this wasn't saying much - she had on her favorite cat hoodie, fingerless gloves to her elbows, with shorts layered over stripped leggings and purple converse. Her hair returned to its usual frizzy state, and she rubbed it with a free hand self-consciously.
Amity...well, Amity without the ball's do-over just looked like a girl. Her hair was still down, but less wavey and more untamed. Her t-shirt, coincidentally, was quite similar to her dress, a light blue long-sleeved with an off-the-shoulder neckline, followed by simple jeans and flats. She didn't have any makeup on, and her necklace fell backwards over her collarbone.
Luz had never seen anyone look so beautiful.
"Shall we?" Luz asked, extending an arm in an overly-formal manner that made Amity giggle. She curtsied and took her hand in her elbow.
"Certainly."
~~~~~~~~~~
The pair ended up talking for hours. Besides a love of Good Witch Azura, the two of them could bond over all feline creatures known and unknown, being neurodivergent and sapphic, having older siblings and having a mutual crush on Samira Wiley and King Princess. They ended up in a park, messing around on the swings under the midnight sky.
"Okay, ten bucks says I can get higher than you," Luz said, grinning, and Amity fake-gasped.
"Oh, you're on!" She said, before pushing her legs and flying into the air. Luz laughed and followed suit.
The feeling of soaring on the swings was really the only way she could describe her current emotion. She had always assumed that if she would ever meet her soulmate, it would be awkward and nerve-wracking. But this just felt...normal. Better than normal. It felt perfect. She felt like she knew Amity her whole life, and the swooping feeling in her stomach could be acclimated to giddy happiness or her current activity. Probably both.
Until Luz, stereotypically, got her leg caught in Amity's and they both came tumbling of the swings.
Luz was flat on her back, hands thankfully protecting her head from the tarmac. Amity was on top of her, her hair tickling Luz's nose. She squeaked, and pressed her body closer to Luz's to avoid the swings swiping precariously over her head.
The two stayed that way for a few moments before the swings finally stopped spinning, then laughed again. That seemed to be all they were doing that night - laughing.
But then it changed. Luz caught Amity's eye, and they both...froze. Amity's mouth was slightly open, and her eyes were sparkling and perfect.
Amity kissed her.
Then sprung her head back in surprise.
"I just fucking kissed you," she whispered.
"You just fucking kissed me," Luz replied.
Then Luz kissed her.
The tarmac bit into Luz's legs and back. The night had turned cold and she was starting to get goosebumps. Her ankle hurt badly from the fall. But the kiss was the greatest thing she'd ever felt. Amity's hands cupped her cheeks, her hair brushed her ears. Luz reached up to wrap her arms around Amity's waist, responding to the kiss with glee. Amity's lips tasted of sugar and mint, chocolate and clouds, love and happiness.
When they parted once more, Luz's eyes fluttered open to catch Amity's still shut. Her mouth remained open, but there was a smile playing at her lips as her pupils came back into view.
"Can we do that again some time?" She asked, her smile growing wider.
"You bet, Amity."
They arose to rejoin the party, arm in arm.