Marco straightened his back as he stepped down the stairs of his home, anxious about how to approach his parents. He had intentionally woken up before Star to try and smooth things over with the two of them. He'd no idea what Star's plans for him were, but it would probably involve going to some other dimension. He stepped gingerly into the kitchen, where his mother was brewing a pot of coffee.
"Hey, Mom," Marco sheepishly said.
"Oh, Marco! You're up early," Angie responded, giving her son a warm smile. "How is my handsome son doing on this lovely morning?" Angie cooed, pouring herself a cup of coffee, searching for creamer and sugar.
"I'm uh, exhausted. The last two days have been hectic, heh," Marco replied awkwardly, unsure how to broach the subject. "Hey, uh, so, um… Me and Star, right?" Marco forced a laugh as he tried to coax his mother into starting the conversation.
"Yeah, you and Star, mijo," Angie amusingly said, trying to hide a growing smile on her face. "That was, what's the word… sensational of you Marco. In front of the King and Queen, no less." Angie let the smile break through to her face as she watched her son avoid her gaze. Angie sipped on the coffee, vying to add another sugar.
"Yeah, don't remind me, Mom," Marco groaned, casting his eyes aside and scratching his neck. "Not really how I wanted to break the news to her parents. I think we might have broken King River."
"Yeah, he wasn't looking too good, huh?" Angie giggled as her now perfect cup of coffee sat warm in her hands. "Marco, while we're talking about it… if you and Star and dating for real now, there's gonna be a strict open door policy enforced from now on. You're to both be in bed before midnight, and there'll be no interdimensional travel without asking me or your father first, okay? I can't stand sitting in this house without knowing if you'll come back, mijo." Angie sighed as she sipped on her coffee. "Queen Moon and I came to an agreement while your father and I were in Mewni. She told us that if we can't find you again to use something called a 'Traveler's Whistle', one of which she gave us. She said it would alert her and she would send her best guards after you, and forcefully bring you back here. Don't make me use it, okay?" Angie stared at her son from across the room, aware of how disappointing this must be for him. He'd had so much freedom before, but now she was taking that away from him.
"Yeah, Mom, I got it," Marco said, resolving to try to never make his parents worry about him again. "Speaking of which, I'm pretty sure Star wants me to go to Mewni today and tomorrow. I'm supposed to go to some thingy for the people, or… something. I don't really know." Marco shrugged as he recalled his agreement with Star last night.
"Alright, Marco. Let me know when you're leaving, and let me know when you get back, no matter what time." Angie waltzed over and pecked Marco on the cheek before placing a warm hand on his shoulder. "Don't make me worry about you, my precious, only son." Angie looked into Marco's eyes sadly, trying to cope with the fact that her baby boy was growing up a little too fast for her to be comfortable with.
"Of course, Mom," Marco reassured. "I promise I won't just leave again. Not like last time." Marco smiled as he left the kitchen, happy his mother at least wasn't upset at him for ruining their dinner with the Butterfly family. It wasn't every night that you got the opportunity to dine with royalty.
Marco resolved to prepare himself as much as he could for whatever Star had in store for him. It seemed really important that he be at this meeting thing with her, so he focused on sucking up any doubts he had about whatever he was going to do and tell himself it was for Star. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. In. Out. In. Hold. Hold. Out. Marco fell into a comfortable rhythm as he sat on his bed, hands on his knees. He had become accustomed to purging himself of negative thoughts in the morning. His sensei had told him beginning any day with cloudy thoughts only brings rain. Jackie's face crept into his mind more than once, but instead of pushing those thoughts away, he confronted them, replacing guilt and shame with happiness via his confidence about his feelings for Star. He didn't like to admit it, but Star was his anchor. His beautiful, wildly flailing constant in his life.
As if on command, Star knocked thrice on Marco's door. Star always knocked as if there were no one in the room, gentle as a summer's breeze. Marco broke out of his breathing rhythm and opened his eyes as he stood up to answer the door.
"Hey Star," Marco said before he even opened the door. She stood cutely at the door frame, hands behind her back, dressed in her normal outfit, hair loose. A small part of Marco had hoped she would still have that beautiful ball-gown on that she had yesterday, but no luck.
"Are you ready to learn the ways of Mewnian royalty Marcooo?" Star beamed, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.
"Wait what? I've gotta learn how to be royalty?" Marco groaned, annoyed. "Isn't it just a bunch of bowing, kissing hands and saying 'milord' and 'milady'?" Marco didn't know the first thing about being royalty, and he wasn't sure a 1-day crash course was going to help him much.
"Oh, sweet, sweet Marco…" Star put a hand on Marco's shoulder, offering him sorrowful eyes. "Manfred is going to teach you just how wrong you are. I bet you don't even know how to shake hands with a noble, do you?" Star mused, taking joy in having the upper hand on Marco for once.
"Oh, that's where you're wrong princess," Marco gloated, surprised that Clarence's lesson would come in handy so quickly. "Let me show you the, *ahem* 'Mewman's Arm-Pact'." Marco used the official name to try and impress Star. She cocked an eyebrow as Marco spoke, intrigued as how he even knew that name, much more so at how he seemed to know what he was doing. Star held out an arm as Marco slowly performed the handshake, clearly having a little trouble remembering the steps. Eventually, he found his way through it, much to Star's surprise. However, she giggled after Marco turned his head up and adopted a cocky smile.
"That's how you shake hands with a noble, is it Marco?" Star said, grinning wide. She was impressed, but he had gotten it totally wrong.
"Isn't it?" Marco replied, less sure now that Star pressed him.
"The anchor-arm is used between two men, first off. Second off, it's seen as a sign of mutual respect, which nobles do not like. Nobles don't want equal footing, especially from non-royalty. They want and crave vanity and respect. Third off, I bet you heard that the taller guy rotates on top first, right? That's only if it's two men of battle. If you're using it in a social situation, it's courtesy for the initiator to rotate on bottom and hold." Star spat out the knowledge which had been drilled into her from a young age. She wasn't amazed anymore at how easily she remembered these little things. "But, I'm still impressed that you knew what you were doing at all. Bravo, Marco." Star offered a sincere finish, hoping to soften the blow to Marco's ego.
"Oh…" Marco said, hanging his head a bit. "Guess I've got a lot to learn still, then." Marco didn't let his blunder affect him too much, resolving to have to learn at least how to behave properly around important people. Well, besides Star.
"Probably, but you're good at learning quickly, Marco. You'll be fiiiine." Star dragged at the last words as she made a show of checking him out. He didn't need to know she was imagining him in a tailor-made suit.
"Contain yourself, princess," said Marco. He put a hand up to Star, palm out as he spoke. "I'm gonna keep the boyfriend stuff down to a minimum in front of your parents, just so you know. I think they got the message yesterday, and I really don't want to be snapped in half by your dad after dating you for a day. It'd be the worst tragedy since Romeo and Juliet."
"What's a 'Romeo and Juliet'?" Star responded, wondering if she should be worried.
"You didn't pay attention in English literature, did you? Romeo and Juliet were star-crossed lovers that loved each other too much, but then they sort accidentally killed themselves because they were from different families. Big deal." Marco tried to instill the wonders of Shakespeare to Star, but she just shrugged.
"Here you thought Earth and Mewni were so different! We've got a ton of children's tales like that there!" Star excitedly responded, wanting to tell Marco the story of 'The 100 Princess Royale'.
"It isn't a children's story Star, it's like a super important play by one of the best authors of all… You know what, let's just get to Mewni." Marco sighed as he accepted the fact that Star didn't care the least bit about Shakespeare.
"Sounds like a good idea Marco, let's go! Cut the portal and let's get you started!" Star jumped up and down, clearly more excited than Marco was. She knew it was going to be hard for him, but after so much integration into the Diaz family, Star was ready to bring Marco into the Butterfly fold, at least a little bit.
"Sure, let me just go tell Mom," Marco said somewhat strangely. He was going to have to get used to this for sure.
"Tell your Mom? You never did that before," Star remarked curiously.
"Yeah, well I kinda have to. I left without telling her once and I was gone for 4 days. I can handle myself, she knows that but…" Marco bit his lip, reminding himself that she was his Mom. "I made her worry. Like, I was gone to her. Just like you were to me, Star."
Star didn't know what it felt like to have someone be… gone like that. But as she looked at Marco, somehow, she could feel it. The way his heart ached, spreading pain like a virus, slowly expanding outwards from his chest. Tears falling effortlessly from his eyes, clenching his fists and hitting the space where her room used to be. Feeling the cold wood bruise his knuckles, his shoulders struggling to keep their shape, threatening to collapse in on his body, desiring to coil up into his legs. She felt his legs give out beneath him as sank to his knees, letting out sobs of anguish. She felt his hand reach up to his chest, clutching at his heart, begging it to stop, telling himself it was inevitable. He clutched at the void inside himself, pleading with himself to just give up on her. She felt his resolve as he burst into his room, tears stopping themselves as he found a goal, a purpose to drive his hurt towards. He's done it before, and he'll do it a thousand times to save her. She felt his pain as he looked at his parents in his room before hysterically explaining that she was really gone.
Star didn't even realize she was crying when Marco pulled her into a hug. She felt the tears roll off her cheeks as she lightly returned the hug, overwhelmed at the burst of emotion. Does Marco always carry around that kinda weight? Star wondered to herself incredulously, rubbing into Marco's hoodie.
"Yeah, sorry you had to see... uh, feel that Star," Marco muttered, feeling vulnerable. "And before you ask, no I don't know how that just happened." Marco tried to distract Star from asking him if he was feeling alright because he wasn't really, but he was good at pretending.
"Anyways, let's get to Mewni, ok? I'll be right back." Marco left in a hurry, trying to avoid Star's gaze as he rushed downstairs, nearly tripping on the last step.
"Hey, Mom!" Marco yelled to the kitchen. "Star and I are leaving for Mewni! I'll be back in time for dinner!" Marco waited a moment for a response.
"Okay honey! Have fun!" Angie yelled from the kitchen. Marco trotted upstairs to a tear-free, gently smiling Star. He could feel her smile was somewhat fake, but he didn't bother asking her. He grabbed his scissors from his room and cut a portal in the hallway. Marco jumped through the portal first, hoping Star wouldn't ask if he was feeling alright.
As Marco and Star exited the portal, they arrived at the foot of the castle, on the stone steps before the gate, which had two guards on the ground, and 2 more sentries with oversized crossbows in the watchtowers above. It was colder than Marco expected for this time of year, but the cooler air was a welcome change from the sweltering heat of a California summer. Star took the lead as she walked up to the guard on the left, adopting an aura of royalty.
"Reddington! How good to see you again," Star smiled as she recognized the guard, one of her few confidants in her chase after Toffee.
"I'm humbled you remember me, my liege," Reddington spoke with a soft, low voice as he bowed, halberd still in hand. "Shall I let you through?"
"Yes, as well as this man," Star said confidently as she gestured to Marco. Marco offered an awkward wave to the scrupulous guard, who was narrowing his eyes at him.
"I would without hesitation normally, princess," Reddington spoke suspiciously of the young boy clad in a red garb with some sort of extra linen on the back. "But I must ask, who is this boy? The Queen gets very cross when I let in people in I don't know." Star offered an aloof chuckle as she dropped her smile and stared intensely at the guard, who cowered away slightly.
"Reddington, memorize the face of this man. This is Marco Diaz. If he ever comes in alone, you let him in without asking a single question, okay?" Star spoke calmly but with purpose as she stared the man who was a foot taller than her down.
"I'm terribly sorry, Princess Butterfly," Reddington apologized as he offered a deep bow. "I wasn't aware this was the Marco Diaz. I'll open the gate for you two immediately." Reddington stood upright and signaled to the sentry on top of the right tower. The gate opened slowly, revealing the outer courtyard of the castle. Marco had only been through here once while they were rushing through the night, but now that he had a chance to really observe it, it was gorgeous. It looked like something out of a children's picture-book, with multi-colored flowerbeds placed with care all over the base of the castle. He could see people tending to the pathways, watering the flowers, and various people of some import talking with other such people.
"Hey, Star, I've been kinda wondering for a while," Marco started as Star led him through the winding pathways to the castle proper. "Why does everyone here call me the Marco Diaz? I mean, even that guard knew who I was. I've never met him before in my life."
"Oh, yeah…" Star responded, now realizing how the guard immediately changed his tone when she identified Marco. "I dunno, really. I mean the first time anyone had even heard of you was at Song Day." Star cringed as she remembered the disaster that was song Day.
"Right… I guess it's kinda why I'm here in the first place, right?" Marco hazarded a laugh to which Star responded with a small smile. Eventually, they wound through enough corridors and staircases to approach the throne room. It was even more impressive in the daylight, the giant wooden door sitting imposingly closed. Star pulled out her wand and waved it at the door, where it opened effortlessly. King River and Queen Moon barely registered their entry, as they were currently talking to a group of people, clad in ridiculous looking poofed out pants and shirts.
"…and that's why we need more money for the next performance, your grace." The man in the middle bowed. He was about as tall as Marco and had a high-pitched, nasally voice.
"Darien," Queen Moon spoke, addressing the man in a bored tone. "I simply cannot offer any more money to you. Our royal quartermaster indicated that instead of purchasing a new lute with the last donation, you instead bought your troupe 3 rounds of the finest High-Mountain ale the tavern in town could offer. Perhaps next time you'll be more discreet and responsible with royal funds." Queen Moon scolded the songstrel with an air of indifference, clearly indicating it's been a long day already. "Your current equipment and outfits will suffice. Perhaps some noble would be willing to donate money?" Queen Moon laced her words with hidden venom, which clearly went over the head of the middle-aged man.
"O-of course my queen," Darien said, shaken at his 'secret' purchases being discovered. "Your grace," he bowed quickly before funneling out his band of miscreants, all looking particularly sad. Marco and Star took the troupe's place, standing side by side at the bottom of the steps.
"Ah, Star," Queen Moon said with an air of renewed vigor. "Lovely of you to come so early with Marco." Queen Moon turned to address Marco. "Has Star told you what you'll be doing today, Marco?" If Queen Moon held any ill will towards him, she was masking it well.
"I'm gonna learn how to shake hands with nobles?" Marco jokingly said, offering an awkward laugh.
Queen Moon smiled as she giggled warmly. "Yes, I suppose Manfred will teach you many things you do not yet know Marco. The assembly is tomorrow, so we had better get you started." Queen Moon gestured some hidden language at the guards lining the walls, who all began filtering out the remaining people in the throne room. "But first, we have a moment or two to spare for us all to talk." Marco suddenly felt a cold air overtake him as he noticed King River's intense stare. He was leering at Marco, his blue marbles for eyes focused on Marco's features, watching for any erroneous movements.
"Star," Queen Moon said, "Marco Diaz is now your boyfriend, correct?" King River's eye began twitching ever so slightly.
"He is, Mom," Star responded confidently. "We talked about it yesterday."
"Then at the assembly tomorrow, you two will make an official Proclamation of Love." Queen Moon said suddenly, realizing that Star wasn't going to be ready for this.
"What!?" Star shouted, gaping at her mother. "We've been dating for like 12 hours, Mom!"
"Then shall I ask Marco if he will do it?" Queen Moon challenged her daughter, knowing that Marco Diaz couldn't possibly-
"Do what, Moon? I mean, uh, Queen Moon," Marco Diaz stammered, offering a poor excuse for a bow, his back not nearly straight enough.
"She basically wants us to tell everyone in the kingdom we're dating now," Star angrily said, glowering at her mother.
"What's the big deal about that?" Marco responded, not sure why Star would even be worried about people knowing they are dating. He had to admit he was a little hurt.
"Oh no, no, no, Marco, it's not like that, it's just…" Star replied quickly, aware of how Marco took what she just said.
"Except it's more of a pledge of protection, as well as a public declaration of your feelings for my daughter," Queen Moon jutted in. "After your bold display last night, that shouldn't be an issue, right? Although if you choose not to, you'll have to contend with the other hundreds of suitors asking for the princess' hand." Queen Moon couldn't be happier with herself, as she saw Marco's eyes shift from an uncertain look to the determined gaze her husband had when she told him about this. King River clenched his teeth together as he looked away to the side.
"Marco, you really don't have to, you know I'd never go for any of those other princes." Star tried to coax Marco out of it, knowing that this was a magically binding ritual. But as she stared at him from the side, she surrendered nearly all hope of her talking him out of it.
"I'll do it," Marco said intensely as he stared gently at Queen Moon, "Your grace." If Marco Diaz weren't so charming, and the now boyfriend of her beloved daughter, she would call him out on his defiance. However, seeing the innocent commoner from Earth so willingly pledge his life for her daughter made her heart swell ever so slightly.
"Lovely, Marco," Queen Moon happily replied, giving a genuine smile. "I should warn you that it is no simple declaration. It is a magically binding ritual, simple as it may be." Queen Moon paused, taking in any changes in Marco's expression. He stared stone-faced at her, giving her a cue to continue. "All you must do is grab Star's hand, look into her eyes and say the following phrase: 'I do declare to the heavens above and all their eyes upon us that I love (you say her name here), and my oath to protect you will waver only in death or dishonor.' Star finishes the words of power, and then you then seal the ritual with a kiss." Queen Moon paused again, waiting for Marco to soak up the knowledge. "You needn't worry about anything changing though, as all it really does is confirm your feelings with a magical display. It's quite grand, really. Lots of beautiful colors usually spring out after the kiss. It's said that the size of the magical light show afterward is a sign of your feelings towards one another, but I doubt that."
"Okay, well I guess since you two already know, what's the difference between 2 people and a kingdom of strangers, right?" Marco laughed as he scratched the back of his head. Star rolled her eyes at her mother, who she noted was getting quite chummy with Marco.
"Okay, great mom. Can we get Marco started on his lessons? I have a feeling he'll explode if he doesn't get it perfect by tomorrow." Star said, annoyed at her mother for pushing them so much.
"Yes, Star," Queen Moon replied, dropping the smile from her face. "You have work to do as well. You've been away from the kingdom, so your father and I need to give you the rundown on what's been occurring." Star groaned as she folded her arms across her chest.
"Marco, Manfred will be here shortly. You're to follow him and get started. Give him some time, as he's an excellent teacher, just a little… impatient." Queen Moon said gently, remembering how Star's etiquette lessons had nearly made Manfred quit his job.
Soon enough Manfred did arrive. He was dressed in some purple and white ensemble, with a poofed hat and short leggings. He bowed to Marco as he began explaining precisely what they were going to do today, speaking with an air of indifference and disinterest. Manfred led Marco to some corner of the castle, near the kitchen. Manfred began with a short outline of what they were to learn today. There was… quite a lot. 7 different ways to greet a noble, how to address nobles according to classical and modern interpretations, 13 different physical greetings for nobles, how to address commoners while maintaining an air of aloofness, how to speak to commoners… Marco's head spun as he realized he would need to learn all of this in less than 30 hours. And still sleep. He never had to cram for tests before, so this was going to be a new experience on many accounts.
Ludo's brow oozed sweat as he returned to the familiar fishing spot he'd found the day before. Survival was no longer a task for Ludo, it was in his blood. This being the second time he started with nothing, he was getting quite used to it. The past few days have been arduous, dealing with the sweltering heat of the surprisingly small valley and with the unclimbable stone bowl behind him, its features too smooth to allow for any progress to be made height wise. Even where the bowl met the jungle was too high for Ludo to climb to. He missed the feeling of the air flowing over and through his wings. Toffee had granted him that power, but now he was gone. He hadn't even made any effort to reveal himself after they had been forced through the portal. However, Ludo's middle finger on his right hand was still gone, which meant Toffee was in there somewhere. But he couldn't worry about the problems of the mind when he needed to eat, to cool himself off and to work towards escaping this valley.
Ludo fished for a while, hanging a piece of fruit by a string into the water gently, waiting for a moment to strike. Eventually one such fish investigated the curious piece of food floating on the water. Ludo had patience here; too many times had a meal slipped out from his grasp because he was too eager or hungry. It killed him to wait as his next meal was so close, but a patient hunter is a well-fed hunter. The fish swam around the fruit, to and fro, as if deciding whether or not to eat. Eventually it decided the piece was safe. It was wrong. With practiced speed, Ludo dashed his hand into the water in front of the fish, as it panicked and tried to escape, only to wind up in the clutches of Ludo's hands. Ludo smiled devilishly as the fish squirmed in his hands, watching it's betrayed, panicked eyes search desperately for a means of escape. It would find none, as Ludo smashed the fish's head against a nearby rock until it stopped moving. One fish is enough, today, Ludo thought aimlessly. He had spent most of his effort yesterday working on a ladder, trying to scale the bowl, but it failed at the last instant. He decided today would be a day of leisure. Relatively speaking anyways.
Ludo trudged back to his camp, nestled into that hollowed-out tree he'd slept in the first night. Ludo stuck to the shadows of the trees, mostly, not keen on burning himself like he did the second day. He saw his camp through the breaks in the vine-groves, somewhat decorated with fish bones and flowers. He'd made a crude fire circle earlier that morning, as the nights here were too cold to avoid fire. He had remembered from his previous expedition how to make fire and sought about gathering what he needed. Wood was in no short supply, but tinder was more difficult to find. After searching for roughly an hour, Ludo found enough tinder to get at least a few fires started. He made quick work, letting himself fall into a routine of fire making. Warm the tinder, grab a stick and start twirling. Use a wrapped string to make it better. Twirl. Twirl. Twirl. Blow onto the tinder. Smoke, good. Twirl. Twirl. Wipe the sweat away. Twirl. A small flame, let it grow, let it grow… big enough, blow some air onto it, lay the log on top. Make sure it didn't smother the flame… fire.
Ludo sat on a rock as he removed all of the gross parts of the fish. He didn't like the eyes, or most of the guts, especially the stomach. It was usually too rancid for even him to eat. He tossed the skin over to the pile he had created, and poked through the remainder of the meat with his cooking stick. He held it over the open flame, occasionally turning it. He tried to focus on relaxing, but he couldn't. Every spare moment he spent in this place was another moment of torture. He recalled chasing through the cave after that cursed princess and her wand. The boy was there too, he guessed. He was less angry now, though. Survival had taken its fair toll on Ludo, stripping his will to spend unnecessary energy. This time he wasn't even sure he was on Mewni. Getting back to any relevant dimension was going to be impossible at this rate. He wasn't sure if this place had any people on it, but someone must have built the bowl. That thought kept him alive, kept him surviving. He hadn't seen anything that had intelligence move, however. It had been a lonely few days in the valley, but then again Ludo always was alone. Whether he heard the voices of others or not, it was always just Ludo. His parents always hated him growing up, and most of his brothers just kicked him around and picked on him. He was the runt, never able to soar above the trees. He felt inferior because of that. Ludo closed his eyes as he remembered the assault on his parents' castle. It was underwhelming, as they were out on holiday. Most of the guards simply left when they saw Ludo's small army approach. They left their weapons, beds, food. It had been too easy, and when his parents arrived to try and talk Ludo out of the castle, he tossed them their crowns from the top of the wall-walk, not even looking at them as the crowns fell. He smiled that day, and he smiled now. It was the beginning of a Ludo who was where he should be: on top.
At least it was supposed to be. For a time, Ludo enjoyed his new position, enjoying the days with his monster army. Until a small girl wandered into the swamp, a Mewman girl. One of his best monsters, Buff Frog identified her as the newest Butterfly princess. Ludo saw an opportunity to ransom the young girl off to her parents, making a pretty penny and securing his future as the new king of the swamps. But the princess wiped the floor with him, leaving him stuck in the mud for hours, after delivering a powerful punch and kick combo. He was never that fit, but it was just one little girl, right? So, he tried, again and again. Countless times, various schemes to lure her into the castle, trap her in some nefarious device, all foiled by the girl's ingenuity and quick reflexes. Ludo stopped after a time, saying to his monsters she wasn't worth the trouble. But then he heard about the wand. A magical artifact that could bend to the user's will, and bring about any number of magical wonders. Or terrors, in Ludo's case. He made it his mission to get the wand, planning a grand heist on her 14th birthday. However, she had been sent to some other dimension, causing him to think on the fly. He hadn't enjoyed losing, but he kept on trying. Her new sidekick was more formidable than he expected, and the two of them admittedly wiped the floor with him and his monsters. He was going to get that wand, even if it meant the death of him. He had trusted Toffee too easily the first time, and now he was inside of Ludo's head. Ludo didn't know what Toffee knew, and Toffee knew quite a bit. For now, Ludo couldn't worry about Toffee if he wasn't going to show himself.
The sun slowly set on the jungle as Ludo ate his somewhat cooked fish, enjoying the additional flavor added by the campfire. It was just good enough to make him miss properly cooked food on Mewni. He hadn't realized the simplest things could make you recall even the most mundane things about previous lives. He lay down by the fire, praying it wasn't going to rain that night. It was too dark to do much of anything else, so he closed his eyes and imagined what it would be like to hold the wand in his hand, feeling its magic coursing through his hands, his will imposed on all those around him, bowing before him. He drifted off to sleep happily, snuggling into the earth beneath him.
Perhaps he hadn't done this right. Toffee sighed out loud as he sat in pitch blackness. He was sure that he had planned for this eventuality, but Ludo's obsession over the wand was upsetting and really throwing a wrench into his plans now. Toffee had used that obsession expertly to drive Ludo towards willful possession, no, that part of the plan went nearly flawlessly. The way Ludo just trusted him as he spoke through the wand was amusing and far too easy. But Toffee had lost control in the cave; he underestimated Ludo's fervor for what Toffee now realized might be Ludo's life goal. He scolded himself silently, wondering why he hadn't learned from the many other times he had tried to enact revenge on the Butterfly line. Moon had been the last straw. Shafting the monsters at the Monster-Mewman Accord would be the last mistake those cursed magic-wielding Valkyries would ever make.
Yet at every turn, Star Butterfly dodged his every attempt to destroy or steal the wand. When he heard about Ludo and Marco in a run-down tavern, he saw his opportunity. He was once a reasonable monster, willing to give every chance the Mewmans thought they deserved to them to fix their relationship with monsters. He had seen four queens grow up, dominate, and retire. Each one was worse than the last. He had met Moon in a field when she was little, and guided her back to the edge of town, where the less savory types threw rotten food and cheap beer at him. She seemed genuinely sorry for what had happened. He had hope back then. Hope that things would be different for them, but they weren't. He asked for council with the Queen. When he was denied, he brought several monsters in peace to the castle, hoping to talk out their grievances. All of them were slaughtered. They hadn't even brought weapons to defend themselves. He saw future King River for the first time that day, dripping with blood. And smiling. Toffee knew that day that there was no peace for the monsters, at least no equivalent peace. If it was slaughter they sought, then he would lead his friends and himself to become the monsters the Mewmans feared.
Finding support for the revolt was simple enough. A few well-timed speeches here, an under-the-table bribe to the town crier there, some out-of-the-way outposts raided, nothing was terribly difficult. Toffee still didn't know if that were a testament to his strength as a leader, or a true indicator of how most monsters felt about the Butterfly line that ruled over them. Toffee however did know that going into the battle was a losing fight. He suspected his followers knew as much as well. But it wasn't about winning at that point. The chosen battlefield was a popular merchant crossroads. Toffee knew that some merchants traded with monsters on the side, and perhaps seeing a massacre firsthand would change some opinions within the empire. He didn't like playing with lives like toys; that was what had gotten all the monsters here in the first place. But he couldn't find any way out. His friends cried out night after night, hunger invading their stomachs while the upper class ignored their pleas because they were monsters. There was no recourse but violence. As their armies approached each other, Toffee realized the graveness of his mistake. Not only was the Mewman army better equipped than the rebel monsters, but they had Moon at their helm. That was something he wasn't prepared for. When he saw her at the forefront, she stepped towards his army willingly. He met her halfway, his simple leather armor feeling vastly inferior to her hand-crafted primaterium and white-steel assembly. He recalled the conversation clearly, reliving the memory that haunted him to this day.
"Is there no other way, Toffee?" Moon said coldly, her frown plastered on her face. She hated that it was Toffee. He was the one monster that had always confused her; why hadn't he tried to hurt her so many years ago in that field? She wanted to offer him a choice, a surrender, anything but the bloodbath that was about to occur.
"I have tried the other ways," Toffee responded solemnly, his heart aching for what was about to come. "I have peacefully asked for an audience with you, to even be allowed entry on the condition that I be shackled, like some slave." Toffee stared angrily into Moon's eyes. "My friends were slaughtered in front of me when we came as a group. We had no weapons, and barely any clothes. I gave you a chance for peaceful resolution, and you spat it at my feet."
Moon tensed up as she recalled the incidents Toffee spoke of. She knew that something was not right when her guards reported that monsters had tried attacking the town, but here were only 4 bodies.
"That was not by my orders," Queen Moon defended. "Were those words to get to me, I would have let you walk freely in and out of the throne room." She hated not having control even over her own guards.
"Moon, do you know why we're here?" Toffee gestured to the ragtag army of monsters behind him, all of varying sizes, colors and armament. "We are not here to air our grievances, Moon. You and I both know how this battle ends. 10 monster deaths to 1 Mewman death, and that's if we're well-organized. And you know what?" Toffee choked back the tears that begged to fall. "They're ok with that. Those monsters are so blinded by rage and hate for how they've been treated, they'll walk into this deathtrap just to prove a point. Just like me, Moon. If you wanted this to end any other way, we wouldn't be here." Toffee looked down on Moon as she took his words harder than he expected her to. For a brief moment, Toffee saw the lost girl in the woods, scared by his hand. But she reached out then. He had only wished she had extended the same hand to them now. Every Butterfly was doomed to be the same, it seemed.
Toffee turned on his heel as he left Moon in the center of the battlefield. Even now he trusted her, as she could easily incapacitate him with magic. He walked with his head low towards his army, trying to not let the hurt show on his face. As he reached the front line, he offered one last speech to the brave monsters who showed up today.
"They sit there, mocking us from afar," Toffee lied. Anything to give them a better chance at not dying. "Even now, on the 'honored' field of battle, they mock!" Toffee began shouting, adrenaline coursing through his veins. "Queen Moon is here to witness our suffering firsthand. There is no better time to show her that we are not small, we are not weak, and we are MONSTERS!" He thrust his sickle in the air as the monsters followed him, yelling. "WE FIGHT 'TIL THE LAST, BROTHERS AND SISTERS! THIS IS THE TURNING POINT, FOR ALL OF US!" Toffee lied though his maw, resigning his brethren to a bloody death. There was no saving them now, not with Toffee at the helm. He was no leader; just a scared lizard with a big voice.
Toffee turned around and summoned all the hate within him, as he walked towards the shadow cast by the enemy army, leading all his friends down with him. He picked up the pace as he saw the frontline approach with Queen Moon. He tightened his grip on his sickle as he began sprinting, feeling the pounding of footsteps behind him. He was a soldier once, and he felt the rush of battle return as he cracked a wicked smile. If there was any way to die, covered in Mewman blood was probably the best way.
The battle was indeed bloody. The monsters fared better than anyone had expected, using their unique anatomies to decimate a few waves of pikemen before the Royal Swordsmen began tearing through the untrained savages like paper. Toffee had become locked in a close-range duel with Moon at first, but the chaos of battle had caused them to get separated. He resolved to instead focus on cleaving through the Swordsmen who were eating through his army. Toffee felt the clangs of metal as he raged through the battlefield, feeding his long stowed-away desire for killing. At some point, Moon had found him again, who was expectedly calm as she blasted Toffee with magic. She had summoned some ugly pig-goat thing for her to ride on. It made her hard to strike, as the ugly thing was surprisingly agile. Toffee held off Moon's assault for a time, but it was like she wasn't really trying to kill him. He hated that, but she had magic, and he didn't. He could only back up and defend.
Soon he wasn't able to back up anymore, his back feeling the cold wind rush past him. He looked back for a second, realizing he was standing at the edge of a cliff. He turned back to Moon, admitting that he couldn't beat her. Not here. She stood above him, her frame outlined by the dark purple night sky around them. Had the battle lasted that long? Toffee thought, but he just remembered killing many before being cornered by Moon. Toffee seethed as he gripped his sickle with both hands.
"Finally going to end this, Moon? You know I won't die here. I can't. I'll lead another revolt on your precious daughter." Toffee growled, interspersed with maniacal fits of laughter. Moon stared intensely from atop her mount.
"Toffee, I should have you imprisoned and tried for your crimes," Queen Moon responded, sneering at the blood-crazed monster beneath her. "But I think instead I'll give you one last opportunity: stop this now, and I'll let you skulk off to where you came from. Or I will…" Queen Moon struggled to say the last word. She hated that it had to be Toffee.
"KILL ME?" Toffee yelled, startling Moon somewhat. Toffee dropped his arm with his sickle to the side and stood tall. "Moon, even if you could end my life, you wouldn't. You know that if you did kill me, the rest of the monsters would revolt again and again. I'd be a symbol; I'm undying, you're undaunted. The rest of your reign would be marred with the stain of being unable to suppress a monster uprising. You can't risk it." Toffee had no idea if any of this was true. But based on her reaction, there was some real value in his words.
Queen Moon snarled as her arm muscles tensed up. She didn't want to kill Toffee here, he was right about that much. But she closed her eyes for a moment and remembered as she saw her River battered and bruised, three bull-monsters standing over him, continuing to beat him. She had killed them all without a second thought. Monsters are evil, no matter what. She tried reassuring herself as she opened her eyes to a still defiant Toffee. She stared into his eyes, seeing the hate and malice that he now felt. She had to end this here.
Queen Moon reached inside of her and summoned all of her feelings for monsters, as well as River's feelings. She had come to love him deeply and shared in his hate for monsters. She felt the wand pulse with magical energy as she felt a rush of warm air pass over her. She stared into Toffee's eyes and felt her anger rise, peaking as she let loose a primal yell, pushing her magic through as she yelled. Toffee was caught off guard and tripped backwards. She felt the magic flow from her body in a tight purple line outward from her wand. As her yell peaked, her magic spell shot out faster than a lightning bolt, a shield blasting outwards from her wand as her hair was blown backwards. She watched as Toffee careened off the cliff, some other part of him separated. She let out a sigh as Toffee fell down the cliff. She hadn't hit him in the heart, where she should've. Even in her moment of anger, she hadn't been able to land the killing strike. Why did it have to be Toffee?
Toffee pulled himself out of the memory, before he got too upset. He learned from that battle that fighting a Butterfly fairly was no way to win. When they have magic, and you've got steel, there's no victory to be had. He also learned that hate and rage and passion caused him to act irrationally. Going forward, he would refocus himself to work in the shadows. He needed to wait until the next princess gained control of the wand. Moon wouldn't tell her daughter about him, she would be too embarrassed that she hadn't killed him. And how his plan had worked almost too well. Ludo was supposed to be a perfect host. Not much will of his own to exert, and with Ludo bending to Toffee's wishes via the wand, it almost was perfect. Except clearly the soul-possession magic was not as strong as he had thought. He had no idea when Ludo would be available to take control of again. He admittedly was only able to take control at first because of the location, a place seeped in magic in a dimension full of magic. This place had very little magic to speak of, and based on what Ludo saw, there really wasn't much of a way to escape the valley. And they couldn't fly unless Toffee took control for Ludo. His next move would have to be well-timed, as he wasn't quite ready to reveal himself to Ludo yet. He was confident he could manage, but he needed to find the right method. Getting back to Mewni would be no simple task without scissors. He knew the dimensional portal spell, but trying to do that without some large reserve of magic nearby would just result in him getting put into Ludo's subconscious again. He hated it here, watching Ludo just survive without any drive, where Toffee could at least have found a way to sail down the cliff face. Toffee waited, plotting the whole while. He'd find the best way soon. It was only a matter of time.