It's been a long time since I've written a fic this long. This story is based heavily on the many different fan theories of season 3A (Festivia actually being Eclipsa's daughter, Toffee being her son, etc.). You don't need them all explained, you'll see them as you go. Though some time has passed, I thought it would still be fun to write about them.
I would also like to point out that romance is NOT a listed genre in my story. This story will not contain any shipping or romantic plots.
I think that's about it. Let's get started!
Summary: With her magical abilities growing stronger by the day, it was not long before the Magical High Commission saw Star Butterfly as a threat to their power. In order to save her daughter, Moon hands Star over to Eclipsa to start life anew, away from Mewni and away the commission's clutches. When the Mewman princess is found once more, Star must reconcile her two lives and families to finally put an end to the Monster-Mewman conflict that has plagued the land for generations.
Moon's heart began racing. Even as panic was spreading through every square inch of her, she maintained her cool demeanor, never letting slip her true thoughts. "What of Star?" she asked calmly as hundreds of possibilities ran through her mind. Though this was not the first time the commission had approached her about her daughter, this was the first time she had ever seen them do so with such seriousness. Something was wrong.
"She's becoming too powerful," Hekapoo swiftly and sharply responded. "She's been fraternizing with the Monsters. She read the forbidden chapter and has no doubt been tainted with dark magic. She's upsetting the balance of the magic in the universe. She's become...too much like Eclipsa."
"Eclipsa's trial will be coming soon. Star will see the error of Eclipsa's way and stop." Though she pleaded, Moon knew this was not true. She herself had been putting the evidence for Eclipsa's trial together and other than her cavorting into the night with a monster, she found it rather lacking. Documentation from three hundred years ago was hard to come by and no living witnesses remained; all she had was the testimonial evidence from the members of the commission. There was no way Star would be convinced Eclipsa was evil, regardless of whether she had turned her back to the kingdom. Being her stubborn, headstrong self, Star would continue to defend Eclipsa even as she was frozen once more and long after that. "And besides, Star has shown no signs of being corrupted by the forbidden chapter or dark magic."
"Eclipsa didn't show any signs at first either when she began experimenting with dark forces and look what happened to her," Omnitraxus responded this time. "Unfortunately, we can't take that chance. Star's already been using dark magic. We're sorry, Moon, but we can't have another Eclipsa. We can't have another Queen of Darkness. We can't have Monster love again. We have to get rid of her. We have to restore balance to the universe."
"So you want to freeze her then?" Moon continued wearing her diplomatic mask, hiding the sheer terror that was threatening to blow over from within her.
"No. As we've seen from Eclipsa, freezing is not a permanent solution," Hekapoo did not need to state her exact intentions for the young princess. She knew the Queen would be able to put two and two together. "We have to consider…other options."
"Very well. I understand," Moon lied through her teeth. Star may have been a little too friendly with the Monsters and Eclipsa, but she knew the girl was neither evil nor a threat. Even though, she could not openly fight the commission on this. If they took action without her present, it would blow her only opportunity to save her daughter.
"Good. Then we're all on the same page. Let's get going." Hekapoo sliced through the air with her scissors, opening a portal to Castle Butterfly.
Holding her head high, Moon stepped through the portal behind the others.
Brushing her hair as she hummed to herself, Star's eyes shifted to the blur that appeared above her reflection in the mirror. Turning around, she watched as her mother stepped out of the portal followed by the remainder of the Magical High Commission. "Hey, guys. What's going on?" she asked, noticing the strange look on her mother's face. She could not tell if her mother was worried, angry, or terrified. The fact the whole commission had come specifically to her bedroom was rather strange in itself.
As Hekapoo approached her, Star subconsciously reached for her wand laying on the vanity behind her, feeling a sudden need to defend herself. "Mom…" she looked to the silver-haired woman, her eyes giving a silent plea for help.
Before Moon could even reach out to Star, a strange dark glow suddenly enveloped her daughter.
"Oh no you don't!" Omnitraxus held his hand up, the appendage enveloped in the same dark glow that surrounded Star. He had seen Star attempting to grasp her wand and moved quickly, unwilling to give her the chance to fight back.
Moon watched in horror as Star seemed to abruptly disappear, leaving behind a rumpled pile of clothing in her place. Running over to the pile, she kneeled beside it and pulled the blue nightgown away, as if she would somehow find her daughter hiding under it. Much to her surprise, she did.
It was her daughter. Her daughter in infant form.
Panic and fear overwhelmed the Queen as Omnitraxus approached. She did not need any verbal warning of what the master of space-time intended to do. He was going to end her daughter. She could not let that happen.
Before Moon could even reach down to scoop the infant Star into her arms, a flash of light suddenly filled the room, momentarily blinding her.
"What's going on?!" Rhombulus cried out as dark smoke began permeating through the room.
"Eclipsa!" Moon shouted, catching a glimpse of the former Queen between the smokescreen. She had no idea why the woman was out and about in the castle when she should have been locked in the rose tower, but at that moment, she did not care. Star was her number one priority. Attempting to grab her daughter once more amid the chaos, she glanced down only to find the infant girl gone. She looked back up in horror, already having an inkling of where her beloved child would be.
Eclipsa held the young Star in her arms, smiling gently at the child as she playfully cooed to her. She paid no attention to the other occupants in the room, refusing to so much as even greet them or give them an acknowledging look.
"No!" Moon sprung forward, ready to snatch Star from the dark Queen's arms, but she was too late.
With another flash, Eclipsa was gone.
That night, all Moon could do was mourn and replay the day's events in her mind as she wandered the castle halls like a ghost, her long hair down and billowing about her. It had all happened in mere seconds. If only she had moved a little faster. If only she had fought back. If only she had done something, anything, she could have been holding Star in her arms right now.
But what good would that have done, really? Even if she had stopped Eclipsa, she never had a plan for saving Star from the Magical High Commission. She was not strong enough to fight the three other members on her own and it was clear there would be no compromising with them.
Immediately after Eclipsa's disappearance with Star, the entire kingdom had been put on alert in search of the fugitive former Queen. Even if Eclipsa and Star had been found, Moon would have been in the same predicament: What could she have done to save Star? She had not felt this helpless since the day her mother died.
With the council gone and herself finally alone, Moon allowed the tears to flow freely as she walked down the halls of the castle. Lost and without direction, she headed to Star's room. Opening the door, she froze at the sight before her.
Sitting on Star's bed was Eclipsa with the bundled princess sound asleep in her arms.
Moon could only stand motionless in the doorway as she tried to process the scene in front of her, unsure if it were real or if her grief-stricken mind were merely trying to comfort her with false images.
"Don't just stand there!" Eclipsa practically ordered, snapping the other woman out of her shock. "Come hold your daughter!"
Moon did not need to be told twice. She immediately rushed over and scooped Star out of Eclipsa's arms as she wiped the tears from her face. She brought the infant close to her, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Oh, my goodness," she spoke to no one in particular, "what have they done to you?"
It was clear what Omnitraxus Prime had done. He had used his space-time abilities to revert Star back to a much younger version of herself. Perhaps the better question she should have been asking was 'why?' Why would anyone see her innocent girl as evil? Why would anyone want to harm her sweet, selfless daughter? Especially now, looking at her unable to even stand on her own. How could the Magical High Commission believe she would ever be a threat to Mewni or the universal balance?
Moon suddenly grabbed Eclipsa and pulled her into a tight embrace with one arm, using the other to hold Star close to her chest. "Thank you." She held the green-haired woman for several minutes before pulling away to look down at her daughter's round face.
Moon was overjoyed as she held Star to her chest and gently rocked her back and forth, but her happiness was short-lived. Though she was delighted to be reunited with her daughter, she knew it was only temporary. She could not keep her here. She would not be able to hide Star in the castle forever. The Magical High Commission was still out looking for her and the moment word slipped to them Star was found, it would be all over.
Feeling as though she were ripping her own actual heart out, Moon pulled Star away from her chest and held her out to Eclipsa. "Take her."
Though Eclipsa knew her taking Star would be the only way to save the princess, she still could not bear to see Moon so distraught over it. It took her back to her first meeting with the woman, in which Moon had approached her as nothing more than a child grieving for her lost mother. Now she stood before her a mother grieving for the child she was about to lose. "Moon..." Eclipsa placed a hand on her shoulder as if she could somehow comfort the Queen in this time of grief.
"I can't keep her here, she will be killed," the heartbreak was evident in both Moon's voice and eyes as she spoke. "Take her...and raise her as your own. Away from the kingdom, away from the Magical High Commission's grasp, and...away from me." Though she was not too fond of Eclipsa, Moon found herself left with no choice in the matter. There was no one else she could turn to. At least with Eclipsa, Star stood a chance of surviving. With her, she was doomed.
Moon's love for her daughter greatly surpassed her dislike and distrust of Eclipsa as she allowed the former Queen to take Star from her outstretched arms. In that moment, she felt nothing but gratitude and joy towards Eclipsa.
Quickly scanning the room, Moon's eyes landed on the wand resting on Star's dresser. Picking up the priceless Butterfly heirloom, she walked it over to Eclipsa, holding it out to her. "Take this. Use it to keep Star safe. Give it to her when it comes time again."
"I will." Adjusting the infant princess in her arms so she could carry her with only one, Eclipsa accepted the wand. She watched as the wand morphed in her grasp from Star's short scepter into her parasol.
"And this." Moon handed over her pair of dimensional scissors next. If Eclipsa ever found herself cornered or caught with Star, she would at least stand some chance of escaping if she could portal her way out.
Eclipsa accepted the pair as well, tucking it away into the back of her dress.
Standing in silence, Moon gazed wistfully at Star. This was really good-bye. She tried to hold it back, but a sob escaped her lips as she collapsed to her knees in grief. She did not care about anything anymore. Not her appearance as Queen, not her familial birthright, not her throne, not her kingdom, and certainly not her role as head of the Magical High Commission. She would trade it all away in a heartbeat if it meant being able to keep her beloved daughter with her.
Eclipsa sympathetically knelt to the ground beside Moon, gently reassuring her of her decision. "Don't worry, Moon. It's going to be alright. I will keep her safe. Star will be okay. This is the right decision."
Her pale hair flew all about as Moon threw her arms around Eclipsa once more. The two shared in another embrace for several more minutes as Eclipsa stroked Moon's hair, soothing her as if she were a young child approaching her for help once more.
Suddenly pulling away, Moon firmly grabbed both of Eclipsa's shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. "I need you to hit me."
"...what?"
"The commission will wonder where the wand and my scissors went. I need you to strike me. I need you to make them believe we fought and that I did not simply hand them over."
Eclipsa nodded in understanding. "Allow me to apologize for this beforehand." She twirled her parasol wand in her hand as she readied a magic blast.
Moon shut her eyes and placed her hands in her lap, bracing for the impact.
Moon lay on the floor, unconscious. She was in a nasty condition as bruises covered her body and a swollen black eye limited her vision. Star's bedroom was completely destroyed. The furniture was smashed into unrecognizable pieces, strewn all about the room and the room itself had taken structural damage as holes and cracks could be found in various places on the walls. A breeze was flowing into the room from the shattered window.
Having passed out after Eclipsa's first attack, Moon did not see or feel the Queen of Darkness continue her barrage.
When she woke up, she found a horrified River and shocked Magical High Commission standing above her. "Eclipsa…" she spoke through the pain she was glad to be feeling, "she came for the wand. She took it. I couldn't stop her."
The commission kept their search for Star and Eclipsa going for a week before making their decision: They would announce to the world Star Butterfly was dead. There was no doubt in their mind the Queen of Darkness held a grudge against them and the royal family for being frozen for three centuries. They figured if they had not found her at this point, the young princess was unlikely to still be alive, having been killed by Eclipsa or the Monsters in an act of revenge against the royal family. Not that that was a problem for the commission. Star's death was just another item they could cross off their to-do list.
Moon was more than ready to make the announcement; regardless of the fact she knew it was not true. The more people who thought Star was dead, the better. It would mean less people pursuing her and compromising her safety. The search for Eclipsa was still alive and well, but Moon had faith the former Queen would be able to remain hidden, or at the very least be able to stand her ground against the Magical High Commission if found.
River was absolutely devastated to hear of Star's death. His usual jolly spirit was crushed. For the past few days, he could often be found wandering the kingdom with a sullen look on his face and tears running down his cheeks.
Though Moon wanted so desperately to ease her husband's grief, she knew she could not. She could not tell anyone of what had actually become of Star. All it took was one accidental leak, one whisper, and Star could be found. She loved her husband, but she had to allow him to believe Star was truly dead in order to save their daughter. She knew that he would have made the same decision had he been in her shoes. He would have done anything to protect his child. All she could do was comfort him and give him the time he needed to come to terms with the news.
That evening as Moon prepared to lock herself in her study for the night, she found something amiss. The top drawer in her desk had been left slightly open. Being the perfectionist she was, she would never have left it like that.
Someone had been through her study.
Rushing over to see if anything had been taken, Moon was rather surprised to find the opposite. At the very top of the papers in the drawer was a folded note with her name, written in crisp, smooth calligraphy on it. Opening the paper, Moon found not a written note, but a well-drawn map.
The map clearly detailed a path between Castle Butterfly and the main walking route of the Forest of Certain Death before veering off into the more unexplored parts of the forest.
Moon did not know what waited for her where the path stopped, but if someone went out of their way to leave the map where she could find it, they must have really wanted her to go.
Leaving her study and quickly making her way over to her room, Moon removed her black mourning dress and let her hair down into a single braid. Donning her cloak, she pulled the hood over her head and headed out.
Moon pulled her cloak from yet another tangle of bushes as she followed along the path laid out by the map. While she had been through the forest multiple times, she had never ventured off the main path before. Very few people were bold or strong enough to do so. The forest did not get its name for no reason. Thankfully, she had not yet run into any dangerous creatures or plants, but she was not about to let her guard down.
With the foliage being as thick as it was, she found herself having to dismount from her warnicorn once the path was no longer of any use to her. After nearly an hour's worth of walking, assuming she had been reading the map properly, she would be at her destination very shortly.
She knew she had arrived when she finally stepped into a small clearing and found herself greeted by quite a strange sight. Before her, hidden away in the dark forest, was a small cottage. It seemed so out of place but so welcoming at the same time. The soil near the entrance looked freshly turned, as if someone had only recently planted a garden there. A light coming from the window let Moon know someone was home.
Approaching the structure cautiously, Moon knocked on the door.
The door immediately flung open, revealing a delighted Eclipsa carrying an infant Star. "Moon, you came!" The short woman greeted the surprised Queen with a hug before grabbing her arm and pulling her into the house.
Shocked at this revelation and still trying to process what was going on, Moon took in her surroundings. The inside of the cottage was just as cozy and welcoming as the outside. There was only a small kitchen and living room area on the first floor with a staircase that must have led to the bedrooms upstairs.
Eclipsa ushered Moon over into the living area and all but pushed her into the couch before placing Star in her arms. She could not hide the smile on her face as she watched Moon gently lift Star to her face and held her forehead to hers. Being a parent herself, Eclipsa knew how strong the love a mother held for her daughter could be. She was delighted to see the woman smile and play with the little girl.
Moon was bursting with joy as she played with Star, who looked healthy and well taken care of. Her smile soon faded as she cooed to her daughter, knowing very well she should not be here. "Eclipsa…" she began somberly, "I appreciate this, but...I think it would be best if I stayed away from Star."
"What makes you say that?" Eclipsa frowned at the thought. Moon may not have been the perfect parent, but she knew she loved Star and would do anything for the girl. Keeping the two apart would only lead to heartbreak for the Queen.
"I think it would be best for Star's safety. I wouldn't want anything to happen to her because someone might one day follow me. Star was very fond of you. I think she will be much better off here with you as her mother, rather than me."
Eclipsa took a seat beside Moon, placing her hand on the other woman's in understanding and assurance. "Moon, you can still be a part of her life. It's understandable you're worried and frightened for her, but I promise you, as long as Star is in our care, no harm will come to her. Don't you want to see Star grow up...again?"
Moon chuckled lightly. If Star was going to be stuck like this, she would at least want to have the chance to watch her grow up once more. The light smile on her face slowly faded once more as another thought crossed her mind. "You say 'our' care. Are your other children…?"
"Yes, Toffee and Meteora do reside with me here. We built this place together while you were preparing for my trial. We've been here for some weeks now. It's no Monster Temple or Castle Butterfly, but I still love it." Eclipsa could see the worry that spread across Moon's face when she had mentioned Toffee. Toffee had detailed his rather unpleasant past with both Moon and Star to her. It was understandable Moon would fear him being near the girl. "We have no interest in the affairs of Mewni," she tried to reassure the woman. "We built this place here in the forest, away from everything else because all we wanted was to be a family and to be left alone. Meteora and Toffee have been helping me with Star. They absolutely adore her."
While Moon was still not entirely comfortable with the idea of Toffee and Meteora, two people who had tried to come after her daughter before, hanging around the girl, she felt Eclipsa's words held some kernel of truth. The fact Star was still around after a week was at least proof to her the two were at the very least willing to tolerate the princess' presence. Giving her daughter one more kiss, Moon handed her over to Eclipsa. "I should be going. If I am not back before dawn, people will begin wondering where I am."
Eclipsa accepted the bundled girl who was just about ready to fall asleep once more. "You know where to find us. She's your daughter, Moon. Come visit her every now and then."
"I will. Thank you."
I'm really excited to be writing again. I hope you all liked it will be here with me for the next chapter soon.
Review please!