Hello everybody and welcome to the first chapter of my exciting new fanfiction series. But before we get started, there's a few things I'd like to go over. Firstly, although I called this a crossover in my epilogue of The Final Problem, I'd like to clarify that it's more of a spiritual crossover rather than a full one. What I mean is, I've mainly just introduced the concept of Stands into the Star vs. Universe, no characters from Jojo will actually appear in this series. Though I will make references whenever possible. Secondly, Star vs the Forced of Evil is owned by Disney and Stands are the creation of the brilliant and talented Hirohiko Araki. So with all that out of the way, enjoy.
Stand and Deliver: Prologue.
(Echo Creek, California: May 12, 2046)
It was very early in the afternoon, and the sky was colored a bleak a dreary grey.
Rain was coming down in a light drizzle and the cloud cover was so thick that it prevented even the tiniest sliver of sunlight from reaching the ground below.
In short, it was a downright miserable Saturday.
Which I suppose was all too appropriate, considering that a good man died on Monday.
In the shadow of a small, slightly rundown stone cathedral, three figures stood in silence.
The tallest and most notable of the trio was a woman who, by all appearances, did not belong in this day and age. Everything about her, from her soft, delicate features, to her exquisite black dress, to the elaborate upward style of her snow-white hair, seemed to evoke a sense of 17th Century French Baroque. In fact, the only thing that didn't follow this pattern was the pair of light pink hearts that adorned the strange woman's cheeks.
On either side of the white-haired beauty, stood a smaller child; a pair of twin girls, each looking about the age of thirteen. However, unlike their taller chaperone, their black dresses were not quite as fancy and their blonde hair flowed freely down past their shoulders. And although the two were nearly identical to each other, there was one slight difference; the one on the left had purple diamonds on her cheeks, while the one on the right had little pink teacups.
The three of them stood out in the rain without the protection of umbrellas and yet miraculously none of them got wet. For every time a single droplet got within a certain distance of any of them, it would instantly turn to snow and drift away.
An amazing sight to be sure, but nothing that unusual for Star the Snow Queen.
"This is your favorite dimension?" said the diamond cheeked girl, finally breaking the silence. "This place is a dump."
"Artemis, I've warned you about…"
"No, Mummy, she's got a point. This place is horrid." Said the other girl, her voice much more posh and refined. "Why are we here? And why do we have to wear these icky black dresses?"
"Marisol, how many times must I tell you; Princesses do not whine."
"There you go, changing the subject just like you always do. Classic Queen Butterfly."
"Artemis, I'm warning you. One more smart remark and I'll…"
"You'll what? Make one of the servants give me a spanking?"
"Don't think I won't."
"Oh, come on! First you wake us up at five in the morning to get fitted for these ugly dresses. Then you say you're finally letting us go to another dimension, only to take us to this dreary place. And now you expect us to just keep quiet and go along with this, even though you still haven't told us what the heck's going on. Well I've had it! I'm not moving one inch until you tell me what's up!"
"Young lady, I…"
"No, she's right, Mummy. I'm sorry, but we deserve an explanation."
"Yeah, so fess up, Mom!"
"Ugh… you two are just so infuriating!" the whitehaired queen said in complete exasperation, before calming herself with a quick cleansing breath. "Though I suppose that's partly my fault."
"What?" both girls said simultaneously; clearly thrown by this sudden shift in tone.
Building off this momentum, Queen Butterfly, in a rare lapse of her practiced, rigid facade, knelt down so that she was at eyelevel with her daughters and allowed them to see a side of herself that few had seen for quite some time.
"Oh, my dear children. I've kept you so sheltered all these years. Is it any wonder you've turned out the way you have?" She said in a somber, almost remorseful tone. "My poor, sweet Marisol. Your father and I have done you no favors by coddling you the way we have. And as for you, Artemis, my little rebel princess. So desperate to see the universe, and yet because of me, you've never stepped farther than the kingdom next door. I fear I've failed you both as a mother."
"Oh no, Mummy. Don't say that." Said young Marisol, clearly taken aback by her mother's rather shocking confession. "You're ever so wonderful. At least, I think you are."
"Way to put me on the spot, you spoiled little… Uh, I mean, yeah Mom. You're… the best."
"Yes, well, that's very sweet of you to say, girls." The Queen replied, half sarcastically. "But there's no need to spare my feelings. I know what I've done. I've kept you locked away in the castle like prisoners. I've denied you many of the liberties I enjoyed at your age. I've even lied to you about certain details regarding my past. And for all this I am deeply, deeply sorry."
Artemis opened her mouth to say something, but her mother quickly cut her off.
"But I hope you can understand, that I only did these things because I know from experience how dangerous the universe can be. And because, from the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew I would do anything, anything, to keep you safe and alive. Even if it meant you'd grow up hating me."
"But we don't…"
"I know, dear. And for that I am most grateful." Queen Butterfly interrupted once again. "But still, the damage has been done. And that is why I've brought you here. In the hopes that it can be undone before it's too late."
"Too late?" Artemis parroted as a certain, unpleasant thought suddenly forced its way to the forefront of her brain. "Mom… are you… dying?"
Fortunately, the Queen's response to this question was a short bit of dry, yet oddly reassuring laughter.
"No dear, I assure you, I'm quite well." She said with a strange sort of half smile. "Actually, my reasons for bringing you here are a bit more… complicated. Though I shall try my best to simplify."
The Queen paused for a moment, most likely to collect her thoughts, before she continued.
"Girls, you're… growing up, and as much as I might like to, I can't stop that from happening. But what I can do, what I should've done from the beginning, is help prepare you for what's to come."
Both princesses felt a chill run down their spines as their mother went on.
"As you already know, your birthday's just a few months away. Pretty soon you'll both be fourteen. And when that day comes, it will be my responsibility to pick which one of you will take my place and become the next Queen of Mewni."
Marisol opened her mouth to say something, but Queen Star quickly beat her to the punch.
"However, as it stands, bequeathing my Wand to either of you would be a disaster. You're both too insulated, too… ignorant of what the universe is really like. But I intend to change that. That's why I've made arrangements for you to live with some of my old friends over the next few months."
"You're sending us away?" asked Marisol nervously.
"Yes, but only until your birthday. I've learned from personal experience that some time spent in unfamiliar surroundings can give you a new perspective on things. And I'm hoping my friends can do a better job of preparing you for the future than I have." The snow-haired Queen said as her expression suddenly fell. "That's why I've brought you here. Earlier this week, one of my old friends from Earth died in his sleep, but thanks to your Father forgetting to pay the mirror bill this month, I only learned of this late last night. That's why I didn't tell you about any of this beforehand, and that's why I had to rush you this morning. Because I saw this as an opportunity to introduce you to some of the people you'll be living with."
"So… you're taking us to a funeral?" asked Artemis confusedly.
"Yes, dear. And that's why I had to get you fitted for those dresses. Black is the traditional color for mourning in this dimension."
"EWWW!" cried Marisol immaturely. "Mummy, I don't want to go to a funeral. Dead things are so gross and creepy."
"Like you've ever seen a dead body."
"I don't need to see one to know that they're icky."
"You think everything's icky."
"Oh yeah, well, your friends are all monsters!"
"Don't shout factual statements like they're insults!"
"I will if I want to!"
"Shut up!"
"No, you shut up!"
"No, you shut up!"
"Shut up! Shut up!"
"GIRLS!" said the snow-haired Queen in a stern, commanding voice; instantly silencing the both of them. "Now that will be quite enough of that. We are about to enter a funeral, not a birthday party. So there will be no more of your foolishness. Is that clear?"
"Yes ma'am." The two princesses answered in unison.
"Good."
"But listen, Mom, about the whole Queen thing. You can just give the Wand to Marisol. I don't even want that ugly old thing. I wanna be a Stand User."
At this, the Snow Queen stiffened ever so slightly.
"Artemis, that's… that's just not possible."
"Oh, come on! Don't give me that whole 'it's too dangerous' speech again! I thought you were gonna…"
"Artemis. Be quiet." The older woman said sternly; once again, instantly silencing her petulant daughter. "Now, as I was attempting to explain to you. It is highly unlikely that you or your sister will ever develop Stands. Stands are an incredibly rare ability that occur naturally only in this dimension, and only on this planet. As far as I know, Mewmans lack even the potential to develop Stands."
"But… all my friends have Stands. You have a Stand."
"Yes dear, I know. But your friends are monsters, and monsters are… complicated. And as for myself, well… I was something of a freak accident."
"What do you mean?"
"Well… I'm afraid that's a rather long story." The snow-haired Queen said, before letting out a soft, almost reluctant sigh. "But, I suppose it's better you hear it from me, rather than one of the others."
Then, with a sort of dreamy look in her eyes, Queen Butterfly stood back up, and turned her gaze toward the ash colored heavens; as if doing so would suddenly open up a window to the past.
"It all began on the day I died."
End Notes:
Sorry if this Prologue was a bit dull, I promise the rest of the story will be funnier. Until then, thanks for reading and I'll you all in the next one. Peace.