This update is long past due and I apologize to KaliAnn, Leopurda, and my unspoken readers. School starting up always brings about chaos.

Enjoy! We're almost nearing an end!

...

She wasn't able to sleep much the night before the trial. Even so, once the sun was up, instead of having breakfast in her room, she told the servant, Molly, coming up with her breakfast that she'd be eating in the dining hall with her family. Molly shuffled uncomfortably, "Your Highness, the King, Queen, and Prince have taken up eating in their own rooms."

Halley was naturally confused at first. Her family always ate together when they could. Then shortly after that thought, it occurred to her that with all that's happened in the past 6 months, family meals might not be the best thing.

She thanked Molly, took her meal, and returned to her room. Halley noticed that her hands were shaking. Her nerves weren't exactly at ease. She began to take deep breaths in and out to stifle the fear she felt. Halley kept telling herself that she had to close this chapter in her life, or at least try to because maybe just maybe everything could go back to normal. They could all eat together again as a family and Halley could go through a day without a sense of fear.

She sighed. Nothing could ever be normal again. No, they couldn't eat as a family because their family was broken. No, she'd never not be afraid. A little part of her knew that the fear she felt at night and at anyone's touch would always be there. Halley shook her head, she had to at least try to be positive. A determined look set across her face. She would get through this so that things could get better and if not for her, then for her family. It had to be enough.

...

The trial.

She could practically hear her heart beating in her chest as they walked into the courtroom. Everyone had just about arrived. They were able to find Grandma Mellie a place in the back where she sat beside Grandpas Dave and River and Grandma Moon. Grandma and granddaughter exchanged shaky nods on the way. Her immediate family took their places front and center.

To everyone else, her parents were admired for being able to be so calm after all that happened but Halley knew her parents. They were barely keeping it together. Halley had to admire them for being able to hang on.

The princess stepped over to her side of the courtroom and took a seat, with Glossyrick at her side. She took the few minutes they had until they began to close her eyes and take deep breaths.

It's almost over. It's almost over, she repeated to herself.

Halley opened her eyes after she sensed movement in front of her. Angel and his parents were walking by. Their eyes met for a second and Halley saw the horror in his eyes. She was scared for a moment too. What if he knew that night wasn't a dream? Glossyrick sensed her worry and put a hand on her shoulder.

"It'll be fine, Princess."

Halley gave him a nod and turned to the sound of the gavel.

The trial was very straight forward from there. There were many witnesses on her behalf, Allison being one of them. Although Tucker would have been a key witness, he was nowhere to be seen. Angel actually didn't say anything about her visit that night and begrudgingly confessed. From the look on his parents' faces and the uncertainty fixed on his, Halley could tell he was having a hard time decided whether or not to do the right thing. Maybe with three monsters and four very powerful monarchs in the room, he was a little intimidated. The jury unanimously decided that Angel was guilty and Halley was a little surprised that the all Mewman jury wouldn't find some way to find him innocent. The court dispersed and Angel was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and his title as heir apparent was taken.

The Butterfly-Lucitors were quiet afterwards and Halley guessed that they were all going to go on to their separate rooms. That's when Halley spoke up.

"We should have a dinner."

Everyone turned around to look at her.

"What on Mewni could you mean, sweetheart?" Grandpa River asked. "You couldn't possibly want to do anything too extreme after today would you?"

"I mean...yeah. It's all finally over and all I really want a special dinner with all of you... to kind of commemorate it."

After a few exchanged glances Tom smiled, "If that's what you want then of course, honey."

They all dispersed but they were a notch livelier. That made certainly Halley feel a little better.

She went up to her room and changed into one of her new dresses her parents had gotten her. It wasn't her usual style of dress, however. There weren't any flowers to be seen. It was a simple but elegant yellow sundress. Now that she thought about it she didn't think she could have any more flora patterned dresses. It was just another trigger.

This would do, she thought with a firm nod. The dress was light and comfortable and for the first time in a while she felt like she could breathe a little easier. Halley slid on a pair of fuchsia flats and tied her hair back into a ponytail with a matching bow. As she stood back, looking over herself in the mirror, she noticed a single solitary tear running down her cheek.

"Are you alright?" Glossyrick floated up and asked.

"Yeah..." She mumbled. Halley wiped the tear away. She didn't feel sad. Why was she crying?

Halley supposed it had to do with what Grandma Mellie said about closure. She had cried enough tears over the past few months. Maybe this was the last one. Maybe.

Deeming herself ready, she made her way down to the dining hall where preparations were being made for their family feast. It had been quite some time since she'd been down there. It was strange seeing all the servants again bustling about the room. This was the start of things going back to how they were— no, better. Better than things had been lately. Halley stepped out of their way and leaned against the wall, allowing herself to smile as everyone joined her.

The dinner was enjoyable, much more so than Halley initially thought. Conversation flowed among the Butterfly-Lucitors fairly easily. They even shared a couple of laughs. (Only a few. There was only so many laughs a family broken by tragedy, and shame even on Halley's part, could share.) Sure they all felt that the family wasn't complete. Regardless, they all tried their best to avoid the subject as much as possible.

Halley was seated in between Phil and her mother. She instantly noticed a different air about them as she actively joined in conversation. Phil looked less scared of her and Halley even caught him smiling at her from time to time. Her mother on the other hand, had a look of quiet relief. It wasn't perfect, no. Not at all, but it was a start. And starts were...good, she supposed.

...

Halley began to meditate a lot. Clearing her mind did some cleansing that she very much needed. It came to a point where Halley would go down to the chamber for hours at a time, coming out periodically then retreating once again.

It was one day that she was deep into meditation when she felt some sort of disturbance. She tried to shake it but it was always there in the edge of her mind.

It wasn't danger but... another feeling. It wasn't common and she couldn't place it.

Halley lowered herself from her position in the air and left the chamber to make sure all was well in the castle. She wandered around almost the entire castle and she couldn't find anything. The princess scratched her head. She did sense something.

Her nose twitched. Halley sniffed and lifted her sweatshirt up to her nose to sniff again. She cringed at the smell. That was probably the disturbance, strange as it was. Probably just her mind telling her to take a shower every once and a while.

Halley made her way to her room, going through the throne room. She paused as she saw her mother speaking to someone.

"...glad to see you," She was saying. Her mother's gaze flickered over to her. "Well here she is now."

The stranger turned and Halley staggered.

Tucker rubbed his neck and gave her a small smile, "Hi Halley..."

She was speechless. (In hindsight, it was funny that this sort of thing kept happening between them.)

"Well," Star grinned awkwardly. "I'll leave you two alone."

Her mother gave her a look signifying that she'd be close by, of course. Halley simply stared at Tucker, not knowing how to feel.

"It's...it's been a while," she managed.

"Um yeah..." Halley noticed he wasn't as easy with his words. "Can we...talk?"

She smelled pretty sweaty and she felt gross, but Tucker wasn't ever like this. It must've been important. "Sure," She said evenly. "We can go in the garden."

They walked in silence and Halley knew her mother was always a safe proximity away from them, but allowed them their privacy.

In the garden they strolled, not speaking. Halley was confused. He'd wanted to talk; now he wasn't saying anything. She took a seat on a bench next to the statue of Grandma Celena. Tucker quietly followed and sat next to her, still saying nothing.

So she waited. They sat for almost five minutes in absolute silence. A whole whirlwind of thoughts were stringing through her mind. Should she be angry? She hadn't seen him in ages. After everything that happened she didn't think that he'd up and avoid her for almost seven months. She wasn't mad really...she was confused. Halley took a deep breath and turned to him, "Tuck—"

Once again, Tucker had surprised her. When she turned to finally start a conversation, she saw him, hands clenching his thighs tightly, head lowered, shoulders shaking, tears flowing. Halley was too stunned to do anything but watch him.

"H-Halley...I'm so sorry. For e-everything. F-for not being able to..." Another round of sobbing.

She honestly had no idea what to do. She felt awkward and pretty useless, "Tuck, hey, don't be sorry. Really." Her words, unsurprisingly, weren't reassuring. He was hysterical. She couldn't see his face which was making this much harder to do. It was like talking to an actual stranger. Halley slid off the bench and kneeled in front of him.

She placed her hands over his gently, "Tucker listen to me, okay? Don't be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for. You saved my life. Okay? Tuck, please don't cry." The view from down there wasn't much better. Long locks of his wavy hair covered his eyes as he held his head down. Hesitantly, she parted his hair and pushed it back.

"Tuck..." He was still miserably sobbing. Halley held the sides of his face trying to calm him down. Suddenly her hands started to glow a light blue and they felt cool. Tucker's temples started to glow as her fingers made contact with his skin. His crying almost instantly stopped and he just sat for a moment with his eyes clenched shut. He slowly opened them as if he were just waking up and Halley had to smile.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

He mumbled, averting her gaze, "I'm...better I guess."

"Tucker... It's important to me that you know that you saved my life. Really. Who knows what he would have done had you not been there. I owe you my life. You understand that don't you?"

"Don't say that," He muttered.

"But it's true," Halley quietly insisted. "You did—"

"Don't start with that bullshit, Halley!" His face was red and angry when he took her hands and shoved them off his face. "I didn't. I didn't save you."

She had involuntarily shrunk into herself at his tone, "Tuck—"

"You remember my mother?"

The question took her by surprise but yes she remembered him telling her about his mother. Halley timidly shook her head.

"Ah but you only remember the story I told you," He said bitterly. "Not the truth. Not what really happened."

"You lied? Why would you—"

"My father," He interrupted harshly. "Was a drunk bastard. He came and went and took as he pleased. My mother was going to leave him. 'For good,' she told me. One night he came home. Drunk as usual. I was waiting with my things packed in my mother's room. I thought we were finally free. Then I heard screaming and things crashing. The sounds came closer so I...I hid in the closet. He threw her on the bed and... I-I couldn't look. I couldn't do anything. I had to listen as my mother screamed and cried for mercy to no avail. I listened as my father beat her to death after he had...When he'd left, it was hours before I came out of the closet. She was long dead by the time I got to her. She was horribly broken and the bed was covered in her blood..." They had both begun to cry as Tucker told his story. Halley, in understanding and horror. Tucker, in pain and anguish. He started to dryly laugh as the tears streamed faster and faster down his cheeks, "I sat there and did nothing. I couldn't save her. I couldn't save you. I c-couldn't—" He was choking on his own tears by now.

"Tucker, I'm so sorry. This is my fault, I'm sorry,"

Tucker drew his head down towards his lap and grabbed fistfuls of his hair. "They're gone, they're gone, they're gone..." He repeated shakily.

He broke her heart. She had never seen him like this. So vulnerable. Halley worked her fingers back onto his temples. She rested their foreheads together and murmured, "I'm here, I'm fine. It's okay. I'm right here."

Gradually, he relaxed in her arms. The pale blue glow had returned to her fingertips and spread across Tucker's forehead.

"I'm sorry," He whispered into her shoulder, once his hysteria died down and he only held her firmly.

"Stop that," She sniffed. "I don't want you apologizing. Please."

She felt him nod and after a few moments she pulled away. Tucker sat, slumped over, hair still covering his face.

"Are you okay?" She asked again.

This time, he laughed, bright and bubbly, "I feel horrible."

"Uh..."

"I don't why I'm laughing...I feel like shit but I feel good too?" He laughed. "What's happening!?"

He raised his head and met her gaze. Halley let out a tiny gasp. His eyes were a powdery blue just like hers.

He noticed her shock, "What? What's wrong?"

"Your...your eyes. What did you do?"

"What do you mean?"

"They're blue!"

"What!?" He pulled out his mirror phone and took a look for himself. "What the hell?!"

Suddenly it hit Halley. "My spell..." She whispered.

"What spell?"

"I...To calm you down I just... I don't even know. I've never seen this type of spell before, it just worked."

Tucker's smile seemed to lose it's intensity, the effects of the spell inevitably wearing off. After silence ensued between the two, Halley sat back beside him on the bench.

"Do you want to talk now?"

He took a deep breath and nodded, "I know it's been a while. I know, but it was really hard for me... to you know, face you after all this. What happened with my mother has always haunted me and for it to happen to you..." He was fading again so Halley rested her hand on his. It seemed to give him the strength to continue, "It was...hard. I think it may have been even worse brooding about it all this time. My thoughts have been torturing me with the fact that I finally had a chance to redeem myself and to save you but I couldn't do it. I failed and you had to pay for it. I can't forgive myself for that."

"Well you're gonna have to."

"What?" Tucker whipped around to look at her.

"You're going to have to forgive yourself," Halley repeated. "Tucker these past few months, I've been through so much. Emotionally and mentally. My journey has been riddled with so much pain and I've hard worked to overcome it. My brother is gone, my home will never be the same again, I will never be the same again..." She inhaled slowly, "What I need now is you. I've missed you so much. I've hated you," She shook her head and laughed at his bewilderment. "I've cried over you, I've never wanted to see you again but in the end... I still need you."

Tucker finally smiled at her, "I missed you too."

Halley gazed into his eyes, just savoring that moment. Everything felt right. In some spur of the moment decision, Tucker embraced her again. It was a firm yet caring hug. She practically melted into it.

"Squirt?"

"Yeah?"

"What exactly was that spell? I won't grow an extra pair of legs or something will I?

"I don't think so. I've never seen anything like it before. I just thought it, I guess. You really seemed to need something and I... don't know."

"You," He sighed. "Are amazing."

She pulled away and gave him her brightest smile.

"Hey, your eyes. They're changing back." Halley said.

"Really? That's a relief. No one can pull off the blue like you do, Hal." He said with a wink.

Halley rolled her eyes and shook her head. He was back. Her Tuck was back by her side like he was supposed to be. And she had to admit it:

She did like his hazel eyes better.

...

Normal.

Her life had been twisted around so many times in the past year that she didn't really know what "normal" was anymore. So she went with, "back to routine" instead, though even that had been altered.

Before she went "back to routine", Halley went out into the kingdom for the first time in months on an errand. She strolled off to the side, trying to stay out of everyone's way as best she could. Unfortunately though, it was hard not to stick out with two horns and three eyes. Not to mention the very visible flowers on her cheeks.

As she walked, Halley noticed that there weren't any biting comments or hushed whisperings being aimed towards her. There was staring of course. More than usual she could say. When the princess looked up to meet their gaze, they didn't avert their eyes or glare back. She was often fixed with a hard stare. Not friendly but no animosity was present either. There was... a proud look in their eyes. A few bystanders would give her a firm nod as she went on her way.

Was it possible that they actually admired her for what she endured?

It was very, very odd.

School the next day wasn't much different.

It was her first day back in what felt like forever. She was in a brand new grade (not to mentioned terribly behind). This time, though, she got no more nasty glares from her peers. No more notes in her locker. Students were somewhat nice to her.

"It's so weird," Halley whispered to Allison her first day back.

"It's not just you," Allison joined. "They've been treating all of us better... maybe seeing their princess defiled put them on our side for a change..."

"Still..." She mumbled. "It's weird."

"You know what else is weird? Not a single flower on your outfit." Allison said, eying her blue dress.

Halley shrugged, "I...needed a change. A new hobby. So I guess now, it's sailboats*."

"I like it," Allison smiled supportively. "Very 'new you' and princessly all at the same time."

Indeed it was. A sky blue off-shoulder dress with an ocean on the skirt. A sailboat floated gently on the waves. Gold earrings adorned her ears while her hands were graced with short white gloves. And to complete the look, a pair of simple white flats. She felt comfortable. That was it. Whatever she might have said didn't mean that she didn't feel like the look was her. She felt like she was wearing someone else's clothes. Her mother's maybe. Being someone else was helping though. With the pain.

She shook her head and turned her attention to Allison, who was speaking.

"...talk to Tucker?"

"Huh? Oh yeah," she nodded. "A while ago."

A peculiar look set across her features. Before Halley could ask what was wrong, something caught her eye.

Tuck. (Of course. It was always Tuck who caught her eye.) And, Halley frowned, Celine.

They were laughing and talking quietly beside the lockers. When the bell rang, they hugged each other. Five seconds, Halley counted.

"Hey, um," Allison led her away from the scene. "You alright?"

"I'm fine," She somehow responded easily.

Allison obviously didn't seem to believe her. "I think I need to go to the bathroom," She so generously said.

Halley followed her to the bathroom, wondering why she actually did feel fine. Yes, she felt her heart crumble, but it wasn't the first time it happened now was it?

Inside the bathroom, Allison occupied herself by fixing her hair, giving Halley the time she needed to sulk. But she felt fine. No different than she had before. It was terribly strange seeing as she knew she'd ordinarily be very angry or sad or something. Not fine.

She removed her gloves and started to wash her hands.

"I trust Tucker." She said out loud. "If he believes that Celine is a worthy...companion then I trust him."

"'Trust him?'" She snorted offhandedly. "Halley, you sound like you guys are in a relationship or something." Allison glanced at her. "You're not right?"

"No," Was her clipped response. Suddenly, all in one wave, she felt a rush of her missing emotions, above all anger. She watched the water run over her hands as she scrubbed viscously at her arms. Halley barely noticed the tint of her skin changing. Her eyes flashed green in the mirror and she backed away with a flinch.

"Halley what is it?"

She ignored her best friend and ran into a stall. Her hand was almost completely red and it was traveling fast up her arm. Halley clasped her wrist in a desperate attention to stop her transformation.

"No, no, no... Not now." There was no way she could transform into that bloodthirsty beast at school of all places.

"Halley what's going on?"

She slammed herself against a wall when she felt the pain of sprouting wings and growing horns. Her will power was sorely losing this fight.

"Halley!" Allison almost screamed.

"Go," She bit out. "Go away."

"I'm not leaving! Halley what's happening!?"

Halley doubled over when her skin turned completely red and seemed to set her ablaze. She was sweating heavily now. The princess wasn't sure how long she could hold her back.

Allison kicked the door in and was soon at her side. Now Halley's hair was turning that bright green, the braid that hung over her shoulder began to levitate.

"Go Allison. Please. I might kill you."

"You're fine," Allison said shakily. "You're fine. Is this about Tucker? If what I said bothered you—"

"No! It's...I-It's..." She burst into tears then. She realized this must've been how her body processed heartbreak in some crazy twisted way. Even though she was supposedly fine not two minutes ago, she felt like garbage now.

Allison wrapped her arms around her and just rubbed her back comfortingly. Eventually her wings stopped trying to tear their way through the back of her dress and her skin slowly returned to its normal hue.

"I know it hurts, Hal. Guys... are jerks. Mewmans are jerks."

"I thought he was different," she mumbled weakly.

"I know, I know, but I'm here."

The situation reminded her so much of she and Tuck's heart to heart that it made her sick.

"Halley, no matter what, I'll always be there for you. You can't lock yourself away. I'm here. Whether it's a hair malfunction or boy troubles, I'm here. You can't deny me, as your best friend in the whole wide world, that right."

Halley smiled a little. She still felt like crap.

"You know what? School's almost over. 7th is our free period anyway. What do you say we finally go and get that ice cream?"

Halley wiped her tear tracks away and grinned, "Sounds amazing."

Allison helped her off the ground. Halley looked in the mirror. It was hard to believe she almost turned into a ruthless demon aside from a single strand of bright green hair that seemed to remind her that she in fact was not okay and that her form would always loom close by.

She cast a spell that gave her a cheery disposition, so no one would see what a mess she was. She only intended to keep it up until she was outside of school.

Upon her arrival at home, her family was very caring and understanding that it just wasn't her day, and left it at that. When Phil returned home from his day of school, he sensed his sister's mood and declared that they have a movie night, strategically leaving out the word "family" as the Butterflys had been doing all too often now. They all curled up in one of the TV rooms and had a movie marathon. Specifically of the Mackie Hand genre per her father's quite excited request. Halley, Phil, and Allison didn't quite understand Earth's strange customs but found enjoyment in the King and Queen eagerness and, most importantly, five pints of ice cream.

She felt...good. It was moments like these that reminded her that she was loved and that made her feel content even as the strand of green hair hadn't vanished and sprouted prominently in the center of her head. This moment was nice.

Two days later, the ground started to shake and Halley had to say goodbye to happy moments for a while.

...

*Design belongs to the remarkable thestarfan18 on Tumblr

R&R!