Chapter one: Memories

[mood music]( /89dGC8de0CA)

"Look at you, you're cold," she said as she placed a jacket around her son's trembling form.

"Aren't... you... c-cold mother?" said the young lad looking up at his mother.

Each breath he took felt dry and came out white as smoke.

"I am but I'm used to it," she smiled, "Though, I suppose it's a lot different from your father's homeland."

"I miss home," said the young boy looking down at his trembling hands. The grey skin around them were beginning to turn white and he started rubbing them together to keep them warm.

"I know sweetheart - I know, but this is our home now, and we have to take what is ours," she said waving her wand once more and making a pair of thick winter gloves appear. She snatched them from out the air before blowing into them and placing them over her son's leathery hands. The warmness inside made them feel cozy, and he began to smile.

His mother giggled, "Better?"

"Yes!" He replied, "But mother, I don't get why we have to be fighting, aren't they your family?"

"Yes - they are, but they don't care about those who look different from they do," she said.

"Different'? Different how?"

"Well... different... like your father... like you - people they assume are... monsters."

"But I'm not a monster, am I mom?" He said wiping his nose.

"Oh of course not honey," she said clutching his face with both arms, "And do you know why?"

"Why!" He replied.

Eclipsa raised an eyebrow and smiled before squishing his cheeks together,

"Becauseeeee you're. my. sweetest little Toffee that's why!" she said in a silly voice as she rubbed her nose against his.

The young Toffee and his mother began to laugh and giggle until they were interrupted by a very large and muscular, red-skinned demon that walked into their tent.

"Your Eminence," he said placing his right hand over his chest. His voice was very deep and raspy like he had something in his mouth, "The barrier has been breached; our forces are ready to invade. We await your orders my queen."

"Do you see that son? Demons usually place their left hand over their right bosom, because a demon's heart belongs to no one, however, he and the rest of my army do the opposite when addressing me. Do you know why?" Eclipsa asked.

The young Toffee replied by shaking his head and looking bright-eyed.

Eclipsa chuckled, "Power - Demons respect power. Also, if you show respect you will gain power, remember that," she said staring intently into her son's innocent and nervous looking eyes.

She gave him one final kiss before pulling over her hood and walking out with the demon. The young Toffee knew that there was something in his mother's eyes that seemed off, and he couldn't shake the worrying feeling that was rising up from the pit of his stomach.

Quickly he ran outside the tent and was blasted by howling winds and biting cold.

Inside the tent he was protected from the harshness by his mother's barrier spell, but outside was a different story.

All around him was white, and on top of that, he was the only one left in the camp. She had only stepped outside for a few moments before he had ran after her, and yet her and her entire army had already moved out. The product of transportation magic no doubt.

He could barely stand still or keep his eyes wide open as the icy wind blew against him, and yet he could still make out the fire blazing over the Mewnian city. He watched as towers fell and fire rained down from the sky. Further above the city he could see the giant green eye of the Queen of Darkness - his mother. As long as that eye remained opened he knew she was safe. Suddenly the tent being kept intact by her magic became battered and destroyed and part of its metal supports flew towards him, luckily he was able to sense it in time and teleport away to safety. His teleportation skill was a trick he developed with his mother by utilizing his camouflage ability and quick reflexes. It was nothing compared to his mother's but it would serve him well in times of trouble.

Seeing the sight of the torn down tent made him wonder if perhaps the magic had simply worn off around it but then he remembered that his mother's spell could last as long as she remained. He began to panick and as he slowly turned around to look up at the sky, his worst fears became a reality. His mother's eye had closed.

Suddenly he saw hoards of demons flying back towards the campgrounds with monsters or 'Native Mewnians,' as his mother referred to them, running in tow. He was now terrified and slowly he began finding it harder and harder to breath.

The demons that flew overhead did so in great urgency. One flew by screaming, "Get to the portal!"

Another shouted, "Grab the young prince!"

With all the commotion happening all he could think about was whether he was ever going to see his mother again, and with each moment the reality of what was happening began to painfully sink in, till the young lad erupted in a fit of tears, screaming out his mother's name against the wind. Unfortunately his voice could not be heard, not be her - not by anyone- no matter how hard he cried. He could only watch the fires out in the distance and witness the last moments of his mother's fading eye.

He tried his best to run towards the chaos but his little feet could do nothing against the mighty wind. Then amidst the commotion he felt something take hold of him and lift him up off the ground. He kicked and scratched as he fought to be let back down but the demon's grip was not loosened.

"I'm sorry young prince," a deep raspy voice said, "Our queen is gone."

It was the voice of the big red demon that had visited him and his mother earlier inside their tent, and hearing the words he spoke silenced the young prince. And he remained frozen in shock looking out towards the smoke and fire until he passed through the portal.

That dark day was many years ago though, and he had long grown into a man since then. He was no longer that weak little child that watched helplessly as his mother was taken from him. Now he was a great warrior that had rose up in the ranks of his demon brethren to become their leader and chief, as birth alone did not determine this - only power, and he had his mother to thank for reminding him of this. It was her words that he carried with him, throughout every battle, that gave him strength to survive till the day arrived when he was ready to avenge his mother. And now that day had finally arrived.

Toffee sat on his desk looking through his glass window at the Mewnian landscape. It had been so long since he'd been back to Mewni. He looked down at his hand with it's dark grey skin and smiled as he thought about how innocent and naive he was back then, it was almost nostalgic.

He was then interrupted by a knock on his door. Toffee quickly folded his arms and composed himself, "Come!" he said.

In walked his general clad in silver armour and wearing a red cape. Toffee's nose twitched, "Rasticore" he said.

"Yes," replied Rasticore, "How did you-"

"Everyone has a unique scent," said Toffee, turning around to look at him before tapping the side of one of his nostrils.

Rasticore laughed, "You never cease to amaze me," he said before relating the urgent news to Toffee, "The barrier has come down."

Toffee stood silent for a while before giving a smile.