In response to Black Ninja because I can't message him for some reason: With pleasure and plenty more chapters to come.
Toffee blinked his eyes open as the late morning sun's rays drifted into the bedroom and he silently yawned. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes with one hand he looked around the cabin's bedroom and felt a soft warmth snuggled up against him with one of his arms still around it. He then remembered clearly what happened last night.
Moon had come into the cabin and basically spilled what she knew about what was going on too Toffee and told him why she left. She told him about the Rats, lower class Mewmans, and how her mother wanted to preserve the kingdom at the cost of the inhabitants. He was most disturbed by the fact that Moon mentioned something called the Shadow Clause and how it might be manipulating her mother into doing these things. Moon ranted for what seemed like hours before going silent and walking over to Toffee and sitting on his lap pulling his arms across her. It was then that she told him she loved him as well and wanted to get to know him better loving every aspect of him as well, even the areas she disliked she loved when she wasn't cursing them. They just sat like that for the longest time before Toffee said she should get cleaned up in the shower, it was not a good shower but it was a shower at least. Moon nodded and got up, turned around and kissed him. It was a soft sweet slow kiss that left him feeling dazed afterword as he got up and made ready for bed on his own as well.
As Toffee made ready the main room's couch for himself Moon came out in a light pink nightgown and asked if he could sleep with her tonight. There was an aspect of him that wanted to go further than that but he restrained it near effortlessly, it was only their first day as a couple after all. He got in with her in the small bed and she immediately went to be the inner spoon after kissing his cheek and saying good night. She fell asleep almost immediately and Toffee followed soon after.
Toffee smiled at the memory knowing he got perhaps the best night's sleep he had ever gotten and pulled down the cover to see Moon's face. She looked so adorable sleeping with her hair messed up and her mouth opened slightly. He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear waking her. She blinked her eyes opened and yawned in the most adorable fashion turning on her back and rubbing her eyes clean as well as some drool on the corner of her mouth. 'Why is she so adorable this morning, is it because we are a couple now?' Toffee thought to himself and chuckled. He then leaned down and kissed her on the lips quickly.
"Will that wake you up Moon?"
Moon's eyes immediately opened wide and she saw him not 10 cm from his face and blushed a beautiful crimson hiding her face under the covers.
"Don't look at me, I'm all messed up right now!"
"Moon" Toffee chuckled and gently lowered the covers "You're beautiful no matter what state you're in, another reason why I love you." He kissed her again this time with her returning the kiss.
"Alright, but please give me some warning I'm not used to this." Moon sat up and stretched with Toffee taking in her beauty as she did so, she had filled out rather nicely even after only a little over a year of knowing her.
"So am I, but I rather like the change and unpredictability as it compliments you rather nicely."
Moon looked back ready to reply but saw where his eyes were wondering and felt embarrassed again but in a more playful way for some reason.
"Just where are your eyes wondering perv." And shoved a pillow in his face with a muffled yelp from him following.
"Well if you are going to show off, why should I not look at my cute girlfriend?"
That caused both of them to feel giddy inside upon him saying that and Moon removed the pillow after a minute.
"We should probably get dressed for the day shouldn't we?"
"Yeah we should."
They small talked quietly during breakfast not worried about anyone finding them for a little while at least as they wanted to take a breath before finding another place to go. Before that they did get some problems with the current situation out of the way. Toffee claimed they would find this place eventually but he kept it secret specifically incase if his life was threatened in some way. When Moon asked if he could be killed he said it was possible to do so like the poison almost did, it was just difficult to do so. After they finished breakfast they packed what they had and stepped outside only to find King Odrick with Butler and several men standing outside with Warnicorn mounts.
"Well… that was fast." Toffee was so surprised the monotone he let down around Moon now was broken.
"Moon, I get you don't want to go to St. Olga's but this is ridiculous. You could be hurt or killed doing something reckless like this." Odrick was going off on a rant of his own. "Toffee, I get why you fled because my wife can get a bit judgmental when she views something as a threat to Moon and the kingdom but hosting Moon like this is just ridiculous."
"Moon came to me looking for support your majesty." He then noticed Butler signaling him to get Moon up front, fortunately he understood what was needed… hopefully. "But I think she has a few things she wishes to speak with you about."
He then pushed Moon to the forefront. Moon looked around for a second and saw 2 dozen soldiers looking pissed with her father looking concerned and angry at the same time with Butler trying to signal her to speak of… something. She gave him a "what should I do" look to which he seemed to reply with pointing to his own shadow. Moon blinked in confusion and shrugged towards him at which point some of the men were looking at each other muttering in confusion with Odrick looking more angry now as well as confused. Butler then tried a motion of clawing the air with his hands. 'Of course, the Shadow Clause!' Moon then looked her father in the eyes.
"I'm afraid the Shadow Clause set this up to manipulate Mom into doing all this."
Silence pervaded the clearing with the men either staring at her in confusion or looking around in fear and suspicion. Butler gave her thumbs up for a job well done and mouthed "Took you long enough". Her father… she saw something in his eyes she had never seen before, regret and an extreme exhaustion like he had been pulling a boulder for miles only to find he was carrying the wrong boulder the whole time.
"So it's come to this has it? I should have known they would not just keep their distance and protect Mewni."
He reached into a pocket and pulled out a locket Moon had seen before but had never seen him reach for. He opened it and he suddenly looked 20 years older than he was supposed to be even though he normally looked 10 years younger than his 42. He sighed and closed it taking the locket off and walking up to Moon, kneeling in front of her, and began speaking to her.
"There are many things in this kingdom you do not know about; much of it vile and cruel all for the sake of keeping this kingdom alive so we can protect ourselves. If you are willing to leave thinking the Shadow Clause is behind it and they actually are then I've been tricked as well because you are just the most recent in a long line who have been affected by them."
He then bowed his head low and Moon saw a tear come out of one of eyes dumbfounding her as Odrick never cried, she had seen him happy and angry and frustrated and soppy but never had she seen him cry. They were interrupted by a rider coming up out of the woods and saying that a patrol was approaching being led by Michelangelo. The soldier then commented,
"I thought he was supposed to go to the southwest, not follow us northeast."
"That's because he was supposed to go southwest." Now Odrick showed a grim anger on his face that scared Moon. "Butler, go with Moon and help Toffee ensure she is safe, that is a direct order."
"Yes my lord." Butler road up next to Moon and Toffee. "We have to leave now."
"What is going on dad I don't understand fully?" Odrick looked at his daughter with sadness and handed her his locket.
"Ask Butler to explain the meaning behind this picture and you will understand everything you need to know about the Shadow Clause. Now go while you have the chance before it's too late."
Moon looked at him confused and worried about him as Toffee pulled Moon to Red Star while the king lent his own Warnicorn, Storm Bringer, to Toffee which the Warnicorn was strangely ok with despite whining in worry and nuzzling the king as he sent her to Toffee. As Moon, Toffee, and Butler rode away Moon looked back and saw Odrick gather the men around him with a look of grim determination on his face. Before they turned a bend she heard him say something about buying Moon time to escape which made her realize with an icy chill, she might not see her father again.
"Lads, gather round. We've a monstrous task before us in delaying Michelangelo to allow Moon to escape." His men gathered around, the most loyal in the entire kingdom and those he could rely upon for any task to be accomplished.
"I have been betrayed by I group that I believed protected the kingdom when all they were doing was controlling me like a puppet and taking my daughter, my own flesh and blood, away from me to make her dance the puppet's dance." His men were of course pissed that their king had been betrayed for amongst those like themselves betrayal was inexcusable.
"I will not command you to follow me in this as what we are doing could be considered treason. Just know I would not ask anymore of you then I would give myself for this cause. Who is with me in this."
Silence pervaded for a few moments before one of his men stepped forward.
"You have never led us wrong in the past, difficult and nerve wracking paths perhaps but never a wrong direction. I will follow you to the end even if you don't want me to." With a brief laugh more men stepped forward and pledged their loyalty and to follow him to the end, some of them saying he had no choice in them following him. Finally only one was left, the youngest of the bunch and a newly anointed squire.
"Well I never was gonna get far in my own family, might as well follow this band and see if I get anywhere." He joined the group, many of them patting him on the back knowing this was always a tough decision, just as they heard horses coming.
Two Steps from Hell - Heart of Courage ( watch?v=LRLdhFVzqt4&index=1&list=PLC218B0A1A9DE508B)
"Be ready, if they do not buy it we will have to fight." There were some cheers and grim smiles as Odrick readied himself for battle.
Warnicorns pulled around the bend of a party twice as big as theirs with Michelangelo at their head looking around in confusion. Then saw the look on Odrick's face and his confusion turned towards suspicion.
"Where is Moon?"
"Why did you follow me? Shouldn't you be in the Southwest region searching for Moon?"
"Where is Moon?"
"*annoyed grunt* Answer my question Michelangelo." Odrick glowered at him threateningly. Those following Michelangelo looked around in concern. Michelangelo returned Odrick's stare unflinchingly.
"I followed you at Willow's request in case if you decided to do something foolish. Now where is Moon?"
"We have not seen her. Butler said he did have a led but it was a trick. He led us to this part of the forest and then left without us knowing where he went."
Michelangelo looked at him squarely "Where is Moon?" Odrick sighed in a dramatic fashion.
"You don't' get it. I have not seen her. If I had I would be binging her ba… they sent you to kill me didn't they?" That got Michelangelo to break his demeanor and for those following Michelangelo to look at him in shock.
"Beg a pardon my lord." Michelangelo did attempt to sound confused but Odrick knew better.
"The Shadow Clause wants me out of the way so they can do whatever they wish to my daughter. Well then…" he drew his sword "… let's see if you have what it takes to bring this old Lion down!"
Odrick's men gave a shout and clustered around him ready to fight for him while the men following Michelangelo were looking around nervously.
"If you do not stand down I will have to assume you are hiding Moon and in the process are betraying Queen Willow and Mewni." He was not looking confident about this fight considering his men might not be the most supportive.
Odrick decided to take the initiative and with a shout charged at Michelangelo with his men close behind him. Caught in their indecisiveness the soldiers with Michelangelo didn't stand a chance as they bowled into them even thought they were on foot and Michelangelo's men were mounted. What followed was a scene Odrick remembered all too well from past memories of combat with men leaping at each other and screams of pain. He led his men through combat encountering his first opponent who had his helmet over his head so he couldn't see his opponent's face. The knight took a swing at him and he parried with his shield and stabbed the man in the armpit causing his sword arm to hang uselessly at his side and finished him off by smashing him with his shield hard enough to spin him around to stab him in the armor chink between the head and back plate. The next one to step up appeared to be slightly younger than him and hesitated in striking the king; big mistake, if he wanted to not die he should have run the minute they charged. Odrick smashed his shield against the man's face dazing him and stabbed through his head with his sword making him drop.
He saw a blade come from the corner of his eye and blocked Michelangelo's blade as it went to strike his unprotected head. The two locked eyes for minute locking blades as well as they shoved against each other like bulls pushing for dominance.
"Odrick you are a traitor to the realm by doing this. Stop this and the queen will likely forgive you."
"Aye, but the shadow clause won't me boy." And went for a head but that should have knock Michelangelo back but he missed and was thrown off by a hard shove.
They clashed blades for a minute, Odrick marveling how well this boy fought, before what felt like a mace slammed into his back knocking the wind out of him and onto his knees. Michelangelo didn't waste any time using his height advantage to bowl Odrick over onto his back and smashed his shield into Odrick's neck. As Odrick struggled to breath he heard Michelangelo call for his men to fall back and regroup, 'guess this old Lion did what he needed to do.' He thought to himself as his men clustered around him trying to apply first aid. He felt a painful shift in his throat as the world went black and thought 'You won't take Moon from me as well.' And passed out.
(End music)
Moon rode through the forest pushed along by Butler and led by Toffee to their next safe spot, this time hopefully no one would follow them. They eventually made it to a small clearing in the forest where Moon could clearly see they were now in the foot hills when Butler called for a stop saying they were far enough along they could rest for a moment. Moon got down with Red star and Chauncey nuzzling her in concern because of the fact that they were out farther then Moon had ever gone from the castle and just the innate sense animals seemed to have when people were distressed. Moon rubbed behind both of their ears until remembering the locket and took it out to look at what was inside of it. She saw a picture of what seemed to be her dad when he was younger with a woman who was slightly darker of skin color with the same hair color as Moon with blue butterflies on her cheeks kissing his cheek.
"Butler."
"Yes Moon." Butler came over seeing she had opened the locket.
"Who is this?" She pointed to the woman.
"*Heavy sad sigh*That my dear Moon, is who your mother once was."
"… his men were too powerful and even if Moon was there she was long gone by the time we arr…"
"NO EXCUSES MICHELANGELO!"
Michelangelo shuddered not just because of the tone used by the second figure who possessed an old man's voice, but because he used his name. Whenever they used names in conversations like this it meant the names owners were expendable. And the tone of the others made it clear they also thought this about Michelangelo now.
"I know that… she was involved in Moon's escape but you should could have prevented all this by simply staying awake at your post!" The fifth figure with a whispery voice said.
"No excuses this time, you were handed victory on a silver platter by the Monster confessing and you dropped it at the banquet table. This is not only pathetic it's just stupid how badly you messed up." The first figure in an older woman's voice spoke.
"What must I do then, we can blame myself for everything but that's not going to change a thing." He knew he was speaking out of turn but they were not focusing on the appropriate topic here.
After a long silence the third figure with a gravelly voice spoke,
"You are going to lead the hunt for Moon, you are going to find her, and when you do you will bring her back or die trying is that clear boy."
"Crystal."
The Plot thickens. What did the Shadow Clause do to Willow? Is Odrick Alive? Will Moon be able to evade capture?