Chapter 14-Invasion

Kuiper Village-Outer Mewni

Marco emerged through the portal with a small platoon of knights to support him. Tom was to command the main defences while he delt with the attack on Kuiper Village and Star went to go support the troops aiding equinox village. Marco scanned the scene of battle before him. The Mewnian knights were holding the line, barely, but they had certainly been caught off guard by the sudden assault.

"They came from the air?" Marco pondered as he muttered to himself. He looked up and his answers were revealed. A Helios airship was flying overhead, with troops jumping off of the lower platforms into the village below.

"Huh, so they found out about parachutes then?" Marco said aloud as he watched the descending troops. "So that whole bit about them being industrial geniuses was true after all". Marco pointed a finger towards the descending troops and began to launch thin, red beams of magic at each of the chutes, causing them to burn immediately and drop the troops from the sky.

The Helios troops on the ground saw this immediately and began drawing their fire onto Marco's position. Marco threw up a defensive shield in response and Marco's small force of knights formed up and began launching their own small blasts towards the enemy.

The fighting turned fierce for a while with neither side gaining, nor giving, any ground during the exchange. However the airship above soon began providing support to the Helios forces, launching dozens of blasts of flame downwards towards Marco's knights. The knights holding their positions in the village fell back to Marco's position on the Hillside, giving up the village in exchange for a better defensive position.

The Helios troops, now occupying the village fully, took up their own positions behind and inside the houses. They used the walls and buildings of the village as cover as they intensified their blasts against the hillside. The exchange once again continued for some time, Marco's knights however were being forced back bit by bit by the airship's blasts providing air support to the Helios troops below.

"Dammit, that fucking airship's gonna be the death of us all!" Yelled Marco as he called for his troops to pull back to the cover of a nearby cluster of large rocks. These provided some limited cover against the airships blasts, however with each blast of flame from the Helios troops the stones became hotter and hotter. After around 30 minutes of the intense fire between the two forces, both sides had taken multiple casualties. However Marco's forces were now surrounded by scalding rocks that glowed with the intense heat of the battle they had just gone through.

Through the smoke of battle, Marco got a glance into the village centre. The sight shocked him and he quickly shouted to his knights. "Retreat now! Get out of here, back to the city!". As he spoke these words the first shots rained across from the artillery that the Helios forces had landed in the village and set up in it's centre. Blasting the surrounding rocks and launching small pieces of glowing stone in all directions.

The shrapnel of the rocks buried themselves in the nearby troops, causing them to shriek with pain as the burning stone seared itself into their flesh. The knight's morale had now gone and the line broke into a panic as they streamed over the hill towards Mewni castle. The dreaded guns pounding at their positions the entire time, as did the blasts from the zepplin overhead.

Marco ran with his knights, fleeing towards his trenches in defeat. All the while over the noise of battle he could hear the exaltations of the victorious troops in the village carried along the wind like the haunting cry of death itself. "Praise Helios! Death to the Mewnian Scum!" The chant sounded, and no matter the distance Marco put between his knights and the village, the cry never seemed to fade in intensity.

Castle Butterfly

Star exhaustedly burst through the main doors of the castle, immediately turning to the waiting medical staff. "Quickly, take these knights to the hospital block, they're hurt bad!" She yelled as around 14 knights were carried past her on makeshift stretchers made from the coats of their comrades. Some were missing limbs, others were peppered with shrapnel and were screaming in pain the entire way as each movement brought fresh pain to their bodies.

Those brought in the back were limp and lifeless, trickling a small stream of blood behind them as they were carried towards the morgue, still dressed in their cracked armour and shredded uniforms. Star herself had only a few scrapes from the battle but it was clear that it had taken it's toll on her as well as he troops.

Queen Moon came and grasped her daughter's arm, assisting her across the castle up towards her room. "Star are you okay!? What happened out there!?" She asked in panic upon seeing the condition of Star and also her knights. Star, through gritted teeth and the beginnings of tears forming in her eyes responded "It was like walking into hell, the second we got there the village had been taken, every knight there was dead".

Star paused as she was lowered by Moon onto her bed so she could rest a little better. "We tried to fight and take back the village but, they just blasted us with those cannons, I managed to stop some of the shells..but it was too much and...so many of them fell and I couldn't...I.." Star struggled to speak as tears streamed down her face. Moon hugged her daughter close and felt her shoulder dampen as Star's tears flowed uncontrollably onto her mother.

"Shhh, its okay Star, its okay" Moon whispered as she attempted to comfort her daughter. "It's not your fault, this is Helvete's fault, and we're gonna make him pay dearly for it okay?". Star nodded lightly, her face still buried in Moon's shoulder, Moon only hearing a muffled "uh huh" from her daughter through the sniffs and tears.

Holding Star at arm's length, Moon took on a serious face looked into her daughter's whimpering face before speaking "Star, I know this horrific, but you've gotta be strong and keep on fighting okay? Our people are looking to us to lead the charge, and if we can't do that we'll lose, so please...I need you to be strong for me and them okay?" She pleaded to her daughter. Star nodded and wiped the tears from her face.

"Okay...Okay mum I'll try, Helvete isn't gonna get away with this" Star said as she returned to her feet. Moon smiled, "You're right about that dear" she said before standing and walking with Star out of the room and off to the fight.

10 Miles Outside of Mewni

Smoke, Flames, Devastation. Eclipsa had seen plenty of each in her time, but never anything like the sight that greeted her now. The once beautiful and serene landscape of Mewni had now been tainted by the toils of war and it broke her heart to witness such a tragedy.

Her restraints cut into her skin as she attempted to look around for any signs of life, any small hope that the butterfly kingdom still drew breath. But try as she might she could find nothing but a land sown with death and ash. A confident chuckle sounded behind her as a harsh hand gripped the back of her neck tightly, causing even more strain on her bruised and battered body.

"I'm surprised you're not impressed Queen of Darkness, with that kind've title you would've thought you'd love a view like this? Is that not what you did to my homeland?" A sinister voice came as the owner of the hand gripping her neck came forward to meet her gaze.

"I already told you Helvete I didn't..." Helvete's hand gripped tighter, cutting off Eclipsa's ability to speak. His eyes revealing a look of fury and seriousness that after all this time in his company, if you could call torture company, she was all too used to seeing.

"I don't believe I told you to speak" He said with a fury in his voice, as if scolding a troublesome child. "Let's check shall we?" he said with a sadistic smirk, directing his eyes upwards and behind Eclipsa "Tell me general, my memory is getting fuzzy with age, did I tell this dog she could speak?" Helvete asked.

General Kahchi, who was positioned behind Eclipsa with a dagger drawn, his dagger's tip coated with a thin layer of blood from using it to 'motivate' Eclipsa to keep moving whenever she collapsed from exhaustion. "You know your imperial majesty, I don't think you did" He replied as he directed his glance to meet his emperor's gaze.

Helvete looked down towards Eclipsa, the sickening expression on his face never for a moment slackening. "Interesting, and tell me again general, what does one do with a misbehaving dog?" he said as he used his free hand to reach behind him.

"A misbehaving dog must be punished your imperial majesty, it is the only way they learn their lessons" Kahchi responded, his own smile forming as he knew what was coming. For the troops this was the entertainment before the battle and they looked on in glee to catch a glimpse of the suffering of their mortal enemy.

"Very astute general, well then, this dog has been very disobedient, so I think a lesson must be taught" Helvete's expression changed into one of sheer anger and venom. "Turn this ignorant bitch around and rip the shirt from her back" he said darkly as he released her neck and pulled out a small handle from his back pocket. Channelling his power through it, the handle generated a long whip formed from white-hot flames that seemed as though they were powered by Helvete's own rage and anger towards Eclipsa.

The men did as directed and dragged Eclipsa around to show her back to the emperor and then ripped the top of her dress to reveal her bare back to the menacing figure looming over her. As the troops stepped back, Helvete brought the whip crashing down into the centre of Eclipsa's back.

The strike forced Eclipsa to scream in agony as her flesh seared and burned with both the force of the strike as well as the pain of her flesh melting against the whip's flames. There was no time at all before the next blow landed on Eclipsa's spine, causing another bloodcurdling scream to be drawn from her.

This sickening and horrifying display continued for another 30 cracks of the whip, each peel receiving another resounding cheer from the men, however even with the cheers of the thousands of men echoing through the landscape, each of Eclipsa's screams still drowned them out.

After the final lashing, Helvete dissipated the whip's flame and placed the handle back into his pocket. "Pick her up and face her towards me" he directed towards his troops, two of which obeyed and faced Eclipsa towards Helvete. She was exposed, her face streaming with tears and her back now a red mass of angry scars and cauterised wounds. Helvete gripped her chin tightly and dragged her up to meet his gaze. She winced with the movement as her back screamed with pain with every breath.

"Now then, have we learned our lesson? Are you going to obey me like a good dog?" Helvete threatened "Because honestly I don't think anyone here would mind if I kept this up all day". Through the tears, all Eclipsa could manage was a weak nod before she was thrown to the ground by Helvete. "Get some rags and cover her shame, then we're moving on" Helvete ordered as two more men came forward and quickly threw a worn and tattered shirt over Eclipsa, finally covering her up. The men then gathered their weapons and continued their march towards the battle.

Butterfly Castle-Entrance Hall

Marco and his knights had returned in much the same way as Star's, with most having to be carried in on makeshift stretchers, many of them being injured in various ways. Marco staggered in just behind his knights, leaning against the castle walls for support. "Make sure those men get taken care of, the attack is coming soon and I want every able bodied man ready to fight" he commanded to the medical staff.

The medics nodded and took the injured knights off for treatment as quickly as they could manage. Marco staggered up to one of the castle guards, few remained now as most had been called up to serve in the front lines. "Did Star get back?" he asked the guard with a worried tone. The guard nodded "Yes sir, a little while before you, the Princess and Queen Moon are in the war room" the guard said as Marco thanks him and gives a salute before making his way up the stairs.

Star and Moon were in the middle of planning the final defence when Marco staggered through the door. "Marco!" Yelled Star, running up and hugging the knight tightly, an action which Marco eagerly returned. Moon strolled closer to the couple "What happened Marco, is Kuiper village safe? she asked, fearful that she might already know the answer.

"I'm sorry Queen Moon" Marco said despondently as he shook his head. "We fought hard but Helios had air support, we retreated to take the pressure off but once they brought in the artillery it was over". Marco looked down and sniffed as he continued to speak "Current count says we took 22 casualties, 10 of which are deaths".

Star held Marco close to her "Marco don't blame yourself...please, it's not your fault, Helvete did this, and he'll pay for it" she said as she ran her fingers through Marco's hair, soothing him. Moon stepped forwards and placed a hand on the knight's shoulder "She's right Marco, you've gotta pick yourself up, the men are counting on you to lead them to victory...no matter the cost" She said, drawing a hopeful look from the knight, who nodded before getting up and walking over to the map table.

"In that case, we're gonna need a plan".

5 Miles outside of Mewni

"Hmm, you know it's kind've disappointing" Helvete smugly remarked to his prisoner, who was collapsed on her knees and struggling to catch her breath through the pain. Exhaustedly she strained a response "What's disappointing?". Helvete looked down and mocked an expression of sympathy "Oh poor dog, these long walks really do wear out your animals don't they general" He remarked to the general standing behind, who's dagger tip was now dripping with blood from all the 'motivation' he'd been giving Eclipsa as they forced marched her to the battlefield.

"Yes your imperial majesty, I do believe most beg for water at this point" Kahchi said with a smirk plastered across his face. Helvete smiled approvingly "Well yes they do, such a shame we don't have any to spare". Helvete then turned back to look at the towers of Butterfly castle on the horizon.

"What's disappointing my dear Eclipsa is that I remember the great spires of Mewni as being one of the most majestic and awe inspiring sights in all the kingdoms" He spoke as he looked on at the horizon before turning back to Eclipsa and mockingly laying an arm around her, beckoning her to look upwards at the towers. "But now that I see them, all I see is a kingdom on her last legs, coated with ash and molested by the cruel march of time".

Eclipsa spat some blood onto the ground beside her before speaking "They were majestic, this is your doing you evil bastard" she exhaustedly spat out through the pain that still burned into her back. Helvete laughed as she finished talking, before gripping her throat with his free hand and turning to face her.

"Tut tut Eclipsa, did we not learn our lesson earlier, because I'd be happy to teach you again" he threatened as he twirled the whip handle casually in front of Eclipsa's gaze. She drew back from the sight and shook her head vigorously, panic and fear clear and present in her eyes.

Helvete smiled and stood back up "Good, because to be honest I'd rather be fresh for the upcoming battle" he then pondered to himself for a moment "I do hope that Queen Moon is an actual threat, otherwise this is going to be horribly boring".

Please be okay Star' thought Eclipsa as she looked towards the kingdom 'Please beat this monster into the ground'

Kahchi once again sunk his dagger into Eclipsa's back, drawing a wince of pain as she was snapped out of her thoughts. "Get moving dog, it's almost time for the show" Kahchi ordered as Eclipsa struggled to her feet.

"War rig's forward, Formation Alpha" Kahchi commanded as the great engines of the mechanised war machines roared as they surged forward of the marching troops towards Mewni. "Destroy the outer defences, and bring Mewni crashing to the ground".

Butterfly Castle-Outer Defences

The bombardment started without warning, the overrun outer villages had been fully fitted with over a hundred artillery pieces that now launched the largest and most destructive attack Mewni had ever seen. Thousands of shells raining down upon the carefully constructed defences, as well as the city itself. Churning the landscape until it was unrecognisable.

Inside the bunkers the troops were relatively safe, though the bunkers shook constantly as the landscape was hammered so heavily that noone could even tell the separate blasts apart anymore as they blurred into a single melody of warfare which rang across the lines of battle.

However just as soon as the bombardment started, the guns fell silent. The knights, who were stunned at the sudden silence of the frontlines, crawled out of their bunkers slowly and peaked over at the now annihilated land that they called home.

But they were also greeted with another sight that shook them to their core. They appeared to be metal boxes on wheels, producing a trail of chocking black smoke behind them as they steamed across the landscape. After a few moments a set of black doors swung open on the front of each of the boxes, revelling a Helios soldier inside of each.

When the doors had fully opened the soldiers launched beams of flame from each of the dreadful machines. Striking the ruined trenches and snapping the soldiers out of their trances as they realised that this was simply a new weapon.

The knights began launching blasts towards the machines, but each one resisted the attacks and powered ever closer towards the Mewnian positions. The knights were losing hope but pressed on with their attacks in sheer desperation as more and more of them were hit by the returned fire of the thunderous tools of war.

Marco was the first to act, he'd seen enough of this slaughter and leaped out of the trench, charging towards the war machines. Immediately he fired a huge red blast from the palm of his hand which exploded with the force of cannon fire when it hit the lead machine.

The war rig exploded and was scattered across the battlefeild as shards of debris were blown across the lines. The knights rejoiced and watched as Princess Star, Queen Moon and Prince Tom all took up Marco's bravery and also charged the war rigs from their positions.

The four between them began to shatter the line of mechanised war machines that led the assault on their homeland and before too long had managed to break the first line before spotting the charging Helios ground forces who had been hidden behind the mechanised line.

The four called back to the knights simultaneously, yelling at the top of their lungs together with passion and ferociousness in their voices. "Charge, For Mewni!". The knights cheered and roared the rallying cries of war as they surged forward in a great mass from their trenches. Launching themselves towards the lines and crashing headlong into the Helios forces.

"Thus begins the battle for Mewni" Helvete spoke as he watched the first clash of armies with a growing excitement. Turning finally to Eclipsa, he gripped her once again by the chin and dragged her up to meet his glowing, red eyes.

"You're going to watch this" He said darkly as he directed her eyes towards the battle. "You're going to watch as I kill them all, because it'll be the last thing you'll ever see" before throwing her to the ground and walking with General Kahchi towards the front.

"Come general, let's have some fun".

A/N: The battle of Mewni has finally begun in earnest. Now comes the real test of courage, loyalty and strength of Mewni's forces. Can the Butterfly Kingdom hold? Or will they fall under the tyranny of Helvete? Until next time guys :)

A/N: Unfortunately due to work circumstances I wont be able to update until around the 1st of July. Don't wanna leave you guys hanging but no choice on this one, I'll update as soon as possible though :) Thanks for all the feedback and support guys, it means alot :)