Chapter 13
"Well, this is curious indeed!" River said, stroking his long, blonde beard, "never thought I'd see the day my old steed's horn would actually do something!"
"Warnicorn horns are strange, powerful, yet fickle things. Often, it's up to the beast's last wishes what might happen after they perish, if anything at all." Queen Moon added.
"I'm going to have to remember what those words were! In the meantime, how would you like to learn how to use that thing?" He offered.
Standing before the King and Queen of Mewni, Star and StarFan13 listened intently. A mixed sensation of awe and being freaked out had led them to seek out the royals for some advice on the matter. Turns out, they didn't know much about it either, except enough to say that it was safe. Probably.
The brunette shuffled nervously, "I-I'm not sure, sir. I'm not really much of a fighter..."
Figuring that her friend was too nervous meeting her parents to notice, Star got an idea. Leaning in, she said, "You knooooow... this is like those cartoons of yours. Coming across a magical artifact that chooses the hero..."
She watched the way her date's realization set in, the absolute wonderment and joy in her eyes was just too cute.
StarFan13 looked between the princess and the king a few times, before composing her excitement to avoid freaking out in front of royalty. Giving a small bow, she said, "I would be honoured, sir."
"Hah! Good on you, lad! Now, come on! Back to the armoury!" River shouted, raising his fists excitedly in the air.
Star was just about to follow the two excitable people when she felt a hand on her shoulder, "Star, I'd like a word."
The blonde shuddered; she knew that tone of voice. She turned around to meet her mother's gaze, "What is it?" She asked.
"I've heard talk from the palace staff that you've been rather close to this friend of yours. Walking through the market and the castle hand in hand. Rumours of a potential suitor are already floating about. What is the truth of the matter, Star? And why is she dressed like that?" Queen Moon asked sternly.
The princess rubbed her head with her hand. Of course her mother would have heard something by now, and of course she'd notice StarFan13's clothes. She started to explain, but found herself hesitant at the first words despite them being true, "It's not like that! This is just a practice date." Realizing what she said, she quickly added, "Wait! Let me explain. After..." she sighed, reeling her emotions in before continuing, "After I blurted out my feelings to Marco, while he was actively dating someone else, in front a whole lot of people, AND he turned me down, I was pretty bummed out."
The Queen's gaze softened. She quietly placed a comforting gloved hand on Star's shoulder and let her continue.
"All my Earth gal pals, and Pony Head, though she bailed on the idea pretty early on, got together to try and do something for me. They know that I don't know a lot about Earth stuff, and figured that the whole mess could have been avoided if I just knew more about Earth dating culture. I mean, I sure wasn't expecting it to be so complicated! So they went and set up a big thing to take me on typical Earth dates and try to give me lessons on how it all works.
"It's actually helped a lot. I haven't learned as much as they might have hoped, but it's... it's helped me feel a lot better. I've been able to hang around with my best friend again without feeling sad. I've even noticed that Marco and Jackie are avoiding mentioning what they do together around me, so I don't have to face it until they know I'm over it." She sniffed a little, wiping her eye, "They've all really come together for me."
"Oh Star..." Moon said, kneeling down and pulling her daughter into a hug, "I'm so glad to hear you have friends that can help you where I cannot. I was so worried for you, but with the kingdom in such a distressing state..." She sighed, guilt of her neglect weighing on her, "I know that's no excuse for pushing you to the side. I'm sorry, Star."
The princess wiped her eye and returned the hug warmly, "It's okay mom. I get it."
For a simple, quiet moment, the two simply hugged. It had felt like age since Star had just been able to hug her own mother and share a tender moment with her. For all the times they misunderstood one another, the times they disagreed, they were still family, and they loved each other.
Standing up with a serene smile, Moon went to a different subject, "I take it that your friend has been the subject of your dates?"
Star blushed a little, "Uh, yeah. Janna's been masterminding the whole thing. Jackie's been giving feedback and handling dress up. And StarFan13's - " the Queen's brow raised at the name, " - been the one to take me out and teach me things. This is the third one. A date about me and what I'm into."
"I see... but why is she dressed like a boy?"
"I have no idea! They've been talking about traditional stuff and modern stuff and it's kind of confusing so I've just been rolling with it. I haven't really said anything about it because it's been kind of funny playing tricks on people with it during the dates."
"Earth is rather strange, isn't it?"
The princess giggled, "Yeah. And I wouldn't change it for the world."
"Well, how about we see what nonsense and... I'm sorry, her name is so... silly." The Queen said, scrunching up her face as the pair began walking towards the armory.
Star laughed, "You get used to it. Apparently everyone on the internet is named something like that."
"Internet?"
"Another long story."
They finished conversing just in time to see the spectacle. River and StarFan13 each wielded a hammer, a maul and warnicorn hammer, respectively. Raising each high above their heads, they charged at one another, all the while screaming war cries that made them sound like lunatics.
What proceeded could be generously interpreted as combat, but mostly boiled down to both parties swinging weapons too big to handle gracefully, while flailing out of the way of each other's ponderous attacks.
It was amazing. And hilarious.
Still, Star found it impressive that the brunette was able to swing it around as she was. She could barely lift the thing when it first appeared.
The princess clapped excitedly as she watched them finished, her mother opting to simply smile in reserved amusement. StarFan13 turned to the sound, and flushed a little, both at the embarrassment of an audience and from exertion. River was barely breathing hard, activities like this commonplace for him, and as such, was the first to speak.
"Ah! Moon and Star, my two favorite girls. This one's got talent!" He proclaimed, thumbing towards the brunette.
"So I saw! You did good." Star said, giving her date a thumbs up, earning her some cute flustering from the girl. "Worked up an appetite?" She then asked.
StarFan13's only response was a nod, too out of breath from the exercise to say much else.
"Oooh! I could use a bite to eat myself!" The King chimed in.
"Sorry dad!" The princess said as she walked over to grab the brunette's hand, "Private lunch!"
"Oh bother." River replied, watching as the two walked off. Now standing next to his queen, he slammed his fist into his palm, "Ah! Now I remember! He said that his horn was to go to someone who would help protect my line. Hadn't the foggiest clue what he meant at the time, but maybe he meant Star?"
"Perhaps, dear." Moon said with a knowing smile.
"He must have been getting senile in his age though. He said it was a maiden that'd make it work!" He said, scratching his head in confusion.
The Queen facepalmed.
After an extremely corn filled lunch to top themselves off until they returned to Earth, Star had proclaimed that they were to go into the woods on a little adventure. After all, what was more 'Star' than seeking out thrills?
"You know, I'm pretty glad you found that hammer thingy. I was actually planning on getting you to pick something to use for this trip, to keep yourself safe. Unless you have some secret fighting skill I don't know about?" The princess asked, receiving a negative head shake in response, "Okay, good, I didn't offend your warrior then." She added.
"Well, just because I have this hammer now, doesn't mean I'll be able to use it to hit something." She looked down at the hammer in her hands, "I've never really hurt... anything, before." She loved everything about Star, but the violent aspect of the princess wasn't something she was comfortable engaging in herself just yet.
"Hmm... well, hopefully you don't have too. Just kinda, like, lift it up high and growl a bit to scare things off."
"Like this?" StarFan13 asked, proceeding to do just that, though her growl was more akin to a mewl.
The princess immediately had to balance herself against a tree to avoid toppling over from laughter. She wasn't trying to be mean, but it struck her as hilarious.
After a moment, she did notice that her date was shuffling uncomfortably. Taking a few gasping breaths to calm herself down, Star managed between giggles to say, "Sorry! Hee-hee! Sorry just... that was so cute oh my god." She could barely contain another giggle fit.
The 'cute' remark had at least eased StarFan13's embarrassment, and brought a little color to the girl's face.
A sudden noise in the forest alerted them that something was nearby. The brunette clutched her hammer close to her chest protectively, though it wouldn't do much good for her like that. Star was used to such events, and sprang into action immediately.
Pointing her wand towards, the two waited in a tense silence for a moment. The princess broke it first, "Who's there?" She called out.
Before either of them could react, a blinding flash made the two shout in pain as the light stung their eyes. Taking advantage of the distraction, their assailant fled.
After all, Ghillie was just a spy. Not to mention attacking them now would be breaking Lord Ludo's agreement.
"What was that!?" The brunette exclaimed, blinking repeatedly to get the spots to go away.
"I have no idea, but whatever it was, it doesn't belong here. Come on, let's go after it!" Star said, the excitement dripping from her voice.
StarFan13 finally got a clear look at the princess' face. She always seemed so alive, but somehow, she was even moreso now. This was the blonde in her favoured element, and it showed.
Grabbing onto the human's hand, Star rushed off after the fleeing whatever it was. Her companion's feet barely touched the ground as they charged through the brush. Each passing moment a blur of colors filled StarFan13's vision while the princess kept her eyes out for signs of her quarry.
What she wasn't keeping an eye out for, however, was whether or not the ground they were running across was sound.
Her eyes turned upwards as she caught sight of Ghillie swinging through the trees. She didn't see the admittedly small cliff just in front of her through the brush. With a yelp of surprise, both girls went tumbling down the three foot drop. Bushes thankfully broke their fall, leaving them only slightly disheveled and earning a few scrapes.
"Oww..." StarFan13 complain as she pulled a twig out of her hair, "What happened."
"Sorry! I looked up when I should have been looking down." Star said as she got up. After a moment of dusting herself off, she held out her hand to pick up her date.
Taking the offered hand, the brunette rose to her feet and looked around. "Where are we?" She asked.
"I'm not sure. I've never been to this part of the woods before. After a while it all kind of blends together so I never bothered exploring everywhere. Still, we'll be fine. I got my scissors." She said, smiling as she went to reach for her dimensional tool.
Just as she was about to grab it, StarFan13 spotted something behind her and shouted, "Duck!"
Instinctively, the princess ducked down at the word. Her eyes turned up again just in time to see the Warnicorn Hammer sail over her head. A familiar sounding thud told her it had hit something.
Quickly turning around with her wand out, she spotted the threat. A group of small, furry green monsters were surrounding them, all growling with foam in their mouths. The one that the hammer had struck was nursing a bump on its head.
"What do we do?" StarFan13 nervously asked.
"Just follow my lead..." The princess raised up her wand. Magical energies began to coalesce. "Cotton Candy Storm!"
With a flourish of her wand, a sea of rainbow colored cotton candy flowed from her and out towards the little beasts that surrounded them. Not only did this serve to startle them, they found themselves trapped in a prison of sugary delight.
"Hey! It worked! Now, run!" Star shouted, laughing as she grabbed onto her friend's hand and made a break for it.
Together, they ran off towards the first break in the brush. Footfalls and breaking branches echoed in their movements. Twigs and leaves sticking in their hair and scratching their skin. Adrenaline pumped through them, garnering excitement in the blonde and mild panic in the brunette.
"See anything!?" Star asked, keeping her eyes ahead to avoid falling down another cliff.
"I-I think s-so!" StarFan13 said, voice shaking from the running. Then she spotted something, "Uh oh!"
Swinging her hammer - which was a pain with just one arm - she knocked a cotton candy covered beastie out of the air, sending it flying into a tree.
The princess had managed a quick glance back just in time to see it happen, "Nice shot!"
The human continued to swing around her hammer, putting her arm to its limits as she tried to shoo away their pursuers. With Star acting as the guide, the brunette simply had to keep them at bay. She just hoped they could get away in time before her limb gave out.
"Ah! This way!" The princess shouted.
Sliding to her knees, adding a few more scrapes - nothing she wasn't used too - she began to crawl into a rocky tunnel. It was a tight fit, but she squeezed in and yelled, "Hurry!"
Looking around in a panic for the beasts, StarFan13 dropped down to her knees, and looked between her hammer and the cramped tunnel. "How am I going to fit you?"
As if responding to her command, which is exactly what it was doing, the once hammer retreated back to its compact warnicorn horn shape. "Oh... I was wondering what I was going to do with you when I got back home."
"StarFan13! Hurry!"
Snapping out of it, the human stowed away the horn, "Right!"
Crouching low into the tunnel, she set off wiggling through. The sensation of nibbling on her boots made her kick out violently, sending another of the things whimpering away.
After nearly a minute of panicked crawling, Star whispered, "I think I see a way out! Are they following us?"
StarFan13 braved a look behind her, and sighed in relief. Nothing obstructed her view of the other end of the tunnel. "I think we're safe."
A few moments later, the two emerged from the exit, into a small clearing. Both took the chance to catch their breaths, using each other for support. The brunette far more winded than the adventurous princess.
"T-that was..." StarFan13 began between gasps.
"Amazing!" Star exclaimed.
"I don't know... If I would... Call that... Amazing." The Brunette replied between gasps of air.
"Don't be modest, you were awesome!" Praised the blonde.
The human flushed a little, "W-what?"
"The way you smashed that thing! It was coming right for the back of my neck, ngah ngah!" The princess added in a few teeth gnashing sound effects, "and then you were all woosh! Slam!" Then she added quietly, "And you said you weren't much of a warrior."
Fidgeting shyly, the brunette managed to get out, "Well... you were in trouble. I had to do something."
Not it was Star's turn to flush a little. "Aww! Thanks!" She said, wrapping up her friend in a big hug.
The hug was returned warmly, and the two stood like that for a solid minute. Quietly, Star grabbed StarFan13's hand, and started leading her again. Far more gently than before. Both wore quiet smiles on their face, neither wanting to break the moment. Picking up on the position of Mewni's weird moons, the princess had an inkling as to where they had ended up. She was thankful to be right.
"Wow..." StarFan13 gasped, the air leaving her lungs at the sight.
"I thought this place looked familiar. I could always see this part of the forest from my room, but I could never find it."
Mewni's sun was cresting over the horizon, bathing the entire kingdom in a beautiful glow. From atop the cliffside, the moat that surrounded Castle Butterfly and the peasantry sparkled like nothing she had ever seen. Strange creatures of all sorts traveled by water, land, and air. The townspeople and castle servants took the time to start lighting nighttime candles and torches, creating a brilliant display of flickering lights over the wondrous construction.
It was truly magical.
To Star, however, the look of wonderment on StarFan13's face was even better.
Dropping to the ground, the princess let her legs relax. She let out a heavy breath, "Phoo... this has been quite the day, huh?" She asked.
The brunette took another moment to properly drink in the view before responding, "Y-Yeah..." She sat down a moment later.
Letting out a yawn, the blonde leaned in against her date, and closed her eyes. "After all that, I could use a nap."
StarFan13 sputtered silently at the sudden closeness. "I-I-"
"Shh... Nap time." The princess whispered.
Obeying, the human remained silent. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears as she felt Star's head on her shoulder. The brunette choked down the lump in her throat as she tried not to freak out. If she didn't stay calm, she would ruin the moment.
Getting brave, she reached out and placed her hand atop the blonde's, causing her to stir. StarFan13 almost shied away, but before she could, Star's fingers threaded through her own, locking her in place.
In the whole of this new, wonderful land, it was this, the princess of it all, that was far above the rest.
Closing her eyes, Starfan13 found sleep came to her all too soon.
A flash came from the bushes, unknown to either girl. Mechanical whirring could be heard over the stillness of the forest. A moment later, a monster emerged from the bushes and approached them. Gently setting something down, Ghillie made his leave.
Stirring awake, StarFan13 looked around the area. She didn't feel in danger - she felt quite safe, in fact - despite the strange surroundings. Star's warmth against her provided all the security she needed.
As she stretched out her leg, the brunette felt something pointy poke into her. Frowning, she made a grab for the offending object. Taking a look at it, she gasped.
It was a picture of her and Star, napping together in the clearing, twigs in their hair, scrapes on their hands and knees.
A tear traveled down her cheek, and to the air, she said, "Thank you."
A/N: This is by and far the longest chapter I've written for this story. It got away from me, but I like it. This marks Chapter 13 of the series, and StarFan13 gets herself a win.
I added in the Warnicorn Hammer because Star vs. The Forces of Evil is an action show, and the main characters are action oriented. I plan on ending this by wrapping it back up into the show itself, so I wanted StarFan13 to have a way to be a main character. In my headcannon at least.
Thanks for reading, and once again, thanks to cindermane for the beta reading! See y'all in two weeks.