Hoshi no Kirifuda
Episode 09 - Chapter 01

Disclaimer:
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this written work are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. These written works are not-for-profit, and are protected under Fair Use laws. I do not own these characters, all credit and rights belongs to Disney, Daron Nefcy, and Toei.

Content is only suitable for mature adults. May contain explicit language and adult themes.

Author's Notes:

If you're wondering what my random updates were for several past episodes, what happened was I noticed that in story I had the episodes and chapters mislabeled. If you were reading in release order, don't worry. Nothing was changed, all I did was correct my mistake. The story read as it was published. The episode and chapter list was correct, it was just that on paper it was wrong. I'm surprised no one pointed it out. I generally just copy and paste the beginning portions of my chapters along with the disclaimer, and then change the numbers. Apparently I missed it that one time, and the entire episode was mislabeled. I'll keep an eye out for that.

Reviewer's Response:

I am glad you are all enjoying my story. And I look forward to the dance also.

Also, I would like to respond to your reviews properly, so if you could leave names behind that would be great. But if you don't -shrugs- I can't really do anything about it.

Please keep the reviews coming, especially if it is constructive.

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"Good day Star," politely waved Crescenta. "Or is it good evening? Oh-ho-ho! Oh-ho-ho!"

Star scratched her head in confusion, "Queen Crescenta? What are you doing here? How can you be here?"

"You tell me. Where do you believe this to be?" Crescenta smirked.

Star looked around, clearly she was within the walls of Butterfly Castle. The walls were a dull salmon pink color, they were probably a pastel color in the past, but the years have worn the paint thin. At the top of a few steps, centered in the back were two vacant thrones. On the floor was a red carpet with golden diamonds designed into it. There were multiple mushroom shaped windows that let the moonlight in. The only other source of light were scattered candles that desperately flickered.

"It looks like I'm home," Star responded.

"How dreary looking. It reminds me of my mother's throne room. I never had the chance to decorate my own, but do you think all the past queens had the same interior designer?"

"Wait, how am I here? How are we here?" Star noticed her clothing, "What am I wearing?!" She was in a light blue and white dress, the sleeves were puffy and a matching blue ribbon hung from her waist.

"Oh-ho-ho! You look lovely dear." Crescenta tried to cover her mirth behind her gloved hands. "We are both in the apparent throne room of your apparent parents. And as much as I find this informative, if you could, please take us to somewhere a bit more comfortable to discuss?"

"Take us? How? Am I supposed to ride a bike? Because Marco still haven't taught me the magic words for his invisible goat yet."

"Dear, I know you're a bit dense at times, but could you please catch up? We are currently in a place where we can't be. I am here when I should be sealed away. Now, unless I'm wrong there should only be one way this is possible."

Star nearly smacked herself for the revelation, "Oh… I get it. This is a dream…"

Crescenta sighed, "Yes it is. It is your dream. Now, take me somewhere… Less dreary and gaudy."

"Can I?" Star held her hands up and shrugged in uncertainty.

Crescenta rolled her eyes at the teen girl. "Use your brain, use your mind, and imagine us somewhere more comfortable."

Star did as she was directed. She closed her eyes and focused on a different place. Somewhere she was more comfortable. If she had them opened, she would've shared in Crescenta's spectacle as their surroundings melted and recreated itself around the two.

Crescenta put a finger on her chin as her new location dawned on her, "Ah, I know this place."

Star opened her eyes to see where she had taken the eager queen. To her amazement it was a place as close to home as the Butterfly Castle was in her heart. Both Star and Crescenta were standing in the dining room of the Diaz residence.

"It was right here that you and that boy sealed me away. I stood there and you there." The queen painted the details as if Star hadn't been there. "My, what an interesting choice of scenery. It is almost like… you're limited in your scope."

Star snapped at Crescenta's condescending tone, "Well excuse me, if you wanted to talk, I figured this would be the best for it."

In her irritation, Star hadn't noticed that her royal outfit had also changed along with the environment. She was wearing her nightly outfit, the usual simple lavender dress with a pastel blue crescent moon on the chest. However, unlike the usual, on her head was the red horned headband Marco had given her. She was always careful to take it off before sleeping, as she didn't want to damage the boy's gift.

"OH-HO-HO! Grown a backbone since we last spoke?"

Star corrected herself upon realizing her tone, "I apologize for my rudeness."

"Dear, you have nothing to be sorry about. I was never fond of the theatrics." The Undead queen walked over and sat herself at the dining table. "Now, come join me. You called me here and I have limited time."

Star paused before she could seat herself across from the queen. "I called you?"

"Of course dear. How else do you think I was invited here? I have no ability to interfere with your dreams. I don't even know if that is possible. One has to be invited before one can enter."

"Okay…" The young blonde teen sat down and corrected her nightgown. "Why did I call you?"

"I haven't the faintest clue. All I heard was a cry for help, so I answered." The woman placed her palms together as if in a prayer. "Though, I didn't need to respond. I did so in curiosity."

"Thank you, I guess?" timidly Star extended her appreciation. "But I don't know if I did."

Crescenta rubbed her palms against another. "Well… I am here now. So, is there anything you would like to discuss? Has something happened lately that you would like to talk about? How is that boy? Your squire, Marco, was it?"

Star's thoughts lingered on the boy's name for a moment. It was enough of a pause for Crescenta to understand exactly why she had been summoned.

"Things… are good. Marco is good."

"Good? My dear, you are simply so easy to read. And, you don't have to tell me anything, I have already seen everything. Ironically, you do realize that you utilize my Ace only second to my sister's Two. Which gives me quite a privy of knowledge."

"Wait, again, you're confusing me. I use you less than the Two of Hearts?"

Crescenta grinned at the girl's ignorance. "I'm sorry that old Glossaryck leaves out important information. However, yes, you are always using the Two of Hearts."

Star looked at the facsimile of the full moon through her recreation of the window. "I've never even seen the card before…"

"Oh, my dear, trust me. I mean it was that reason why I met with you in the first place. I thought you were Eclipsa."

Star remained quiet as she struggled to remember information that had seemed to vanish from her memories.

"Don't dwell too hard on it. It matters little, dear." The Undead queen pondered for a moment. She wondered if she had said something she hadn't. Not that she was worried for the girl, she was worried if she had ruined the game Eclipsa had started. She decided to change subjects in hopes of salvaging the situation. "Let's move on to a more important topic. The boy."

"Marco?"

"Yes."

Star's tone had quieted, her usual energy lacking, "What about him? You apparently already know what happened."

"I do. But me knowing and you admitting it, are two separate matters."

"Admit what?"

"The truth dear."

"-Sigh-... Marco has a date for the dance..."

"Go on."

"... And it isn't me…" Star stifled a cry. "... Why isn't it me?"

Crescenta never had a daughter, both she and her sister were the last generation of the Butterfly family. So, when it came to comforting children, the queen was lacking in experience. However, when it came to men, she would deem herself quite knowledgeable. She had been with multiple suitors before she decided on her king.

"I don't know my dear. I don't understand how a boy like him could pass up on such a pretty girl as yourself." Crescenta attempted to cheer up the girl, to little avail. "However, all is not lost."

Star wiped the tears from her face, "Huh?"

"I said, all is not lost. Yes, you have lost this battle, but have you been defeated? Did you lose the war? No. It has only begun!" Crescenta proudly stood in front of Star. "You claim yourself as a Butterfly? Then do not lose your pride!"

The downtrodden girl felt a rush of fresh air as Crescenta's words resonated within her.

The queen continued her speech. "I fought tooth and nail to earn the love of my life! And if you shall not do the same, then you are not worthy of the Butterfly name! We Butterfly do not settle for anything but what we desire! Do not let a single defeat define you."

Star stood up from her seat, empowered from the words of the queen. "YES! I can do this! I am a Butterfly! YES! YES! YES!"

Crescenta looked astonished at the young blonde. The girl may not have been from her own royal blood, but she felt a connection with her. Star had deeply reminded Crescenta of her sister, Eclipsa. In fact, looking back on it, the queen had once used a particularly similar pep talk with her sister.

"Not too loud dear. I am standing right here. Oh-ho-ho!"

Star sheepishly smiled in apology, "I'm sorry."

Crescenta took her seat again and gestured for the girl to join her. "As long as we keep the volume down just a bit. I don't mind loud, but there is a fine line before you cross into obnoxious."

The princess bowed in acknowledgement before taking her seat. "Uh… I'm sorry, but if you would… Would it be possible to hear your stories?"

"Stories? What stories?"

"Could... you tell me of how you met your love?"

"Do you not have a mother who could share her own stories?"

Star averted her gaze with the Undead queen. "I do. But… mom doesn't like to talk about it."

Crescenta fixed her eyes on the girl. 'If I had a daughter, I wonder if she would've been the same?' She clicked her tongue and offered Star an answer, "Very well."

Star's eyes grew in appreciation. "Please and thank you."

"-Sigh- I guess we have enough time for me to regale you with my greatness. Oh-ho-ho!"

Crescenta felt like she did in the old days, gossiping about boys and men. Star was fascinated by the multiple stories the queen had shared. And when time came to discuss Crescenta's true love, Star could see a shred of regret in her eyes as the queen recounted her tales. A story about how the queen had managed to fall off her warnicorn, only to be swept off her feet as her love caught her nearly injuring himself under the massive beast. She spoke of the multiple times the man would bring her a new flower every day. Whether he met her or not, he had left a flower on her windowsill before dawn. That was until they had abruptly stopped. Apparently he was to be wed to another, it was a political marriage to foster strength between the alliances. And, it didn't help that he belonged to another faction within the Butterfly family. Yes, Crescenta had been in love with her third cousin. Closely growing up together, it was an eventuality that the two would share some sort of emotion. However, none of that stopped the queen. On the night of the Blood Moon, Crescenta crashed the wedding. She wrestled the bride to be into submission, declared her dominance, and took her man. Under the light of the Blood Moon, Crescenta shared a dance with her beloved, forever tying her fate with his.

An awestruck Star commented, "Oh that's so romantic…"

"I like to think so." The regretful look hadn't left the queen's face as she recounted her tales. "I would like to continue… but it seems time is up." She pointed to the sun that encroached the dawn sky.

"Can't you at least tell me what happened between yourself and your king? You can't just leave me hanging in suspense."

Crescenta offered Star a soft smile and nonchalantly responded, "I devoured him."

A bewildered look etched itself onto Star as the dream world faded into light. She sat straight up in her bed. Her hair frizzed and was a mess. Her expression had carried itself from the dream world. Star had remembered her dream with the Undead queen, and was at a loss of the final words the queen had offered before waking. It wasn't the first time she had heard those words, but this time they stood out prominently.

"She devoured him?"