…
An Aberration.
I suppose that's the most accurate term for it, isn't it?
That's what you were trying to create, isn't it, boy?
…
Let me explain something very simple to you. Something that even a Mortal like you should have been able to understand, and yet, you don't.
I've seen rebellions like these before.
Every Mortal who thinks they have a bright idea in their head decides to challenge my authority.
They think that they can change things.
They think that they can become masters of their own FATE.
And yes, I occasionally give them the illusion of success on that front.
But it always was,
Always is,
And Always will be,
An Illusion.
That's what you fail to understand.
These girls convince themselves that they can rise above their Station.
And they can't.
Because that's not how things work. That's not how things should work.
The way things work is that it's all fair. The Powerful are Powerful because they deserve power. The Weak are Weak because they deserve weakness.
This doesn't seem like a difficult concept to understand.
And Yet.
You.
In truth, I'm disappointed.
It's not that I thought you had potential… I Knew you had no potential.
What I'm disappointed in is that your potential was so low that you don't understand your negative potential.
Yes, yes, that is a problem that all of your kind seem to suffer from, but I'm tired of your egocentricity. Your compulsive need to be part of everything. Your compulsive need to disrupt my routine.
It's not clever. This String is a mockery and an abomination.
So I'm sure it's crossed your mind.
How you will be punished for your treason.
Well, I have good news for you.
From now on, you get to be a part of EVERYTHING.
Seeing and understanding the whole Truth,
and understanding the impotence of trying to change anything.
Both yours, and theirs.
…
There.
Do you understand your situation now?
Good. Very good.
And now you understand your own impotence now?
…
What?
Star sat on the edge of her bed, looking around at what she was certain was her bedroom.
The tendons and arteries crossed through the room like a web.
As she brushed her hand against one of the tendons, a stinging sensation ran through her hand, and she quickly recoiled in shock.
The stinging refused to go away, and she looked at her hand in horror.
Her skin was drying up, and sinking away, leaving behind a lattice of keratin, behind which were black holes, reaching directly to the bones in her arm.
The stinging got worse as the lattice began to spread along her arm.
Star acted quickly, taking her wand, and blasting away at the portion of her arm that was infected.
A tiny portion of her charred skin remained on the stump, and the lattice began growing again, now twice as painful.
Star blasted away again, and again, and again, until her entire forearm was gone.
The pain was immense, but she was safe now.
She tucked her arms inside her shirt and crept forwards again, careful to avoid the crawling organs.
In the distance, she saw the shimmering light.
The Iris of Truth.
Careful not to touch anything else, she made her way to it, and knelt down to read what it said:
"YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE, STAR BUTTERFLY."
"What?" Star tried to whisper, but the moment her mouth opened, she felt the thickness of the air, and no noise came out of her mouth.
"YOU CAN'T SAVE MARCO. WHY ARE YOU SO INSISTENT ON DENYING REALITY?"
"I will!" Star mouthed, unable to make any noise.
"ADMIT IT."
"No!"
"ADMIT IT."
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"… SO THAT'S YOUR STRATEGY, HUH? KEEP SAYING THE SAME ASININE THING OVER AND OVER, NO MATTER HOW UNTRUE IT IS, NO MATTER HOW INSANE IT IS, IN THE HOPES THAT EVENTUALLY, THROUGH SHEER FORCE OF WILL, IT BECOMES TRUE?"
Star shook her head, then mouthed, "why is that so crazy?"
"WHAT?"
"Everything that has ever mattered, and ever will matter, came about from people―Mewman, Human, Monster, whatever―doing exactly that. Why am I suddenly wrong to do it now?"
"POETIC, BUT INACCURATE."
"Like you would know!"
"I DO KNOW."
"How?!"
"… LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. IS YOUR HEART TRULY SO INFLEXIBLE AS TO NEVER BEND, EVEN IF YOUR PHYSICAL BODY WERE TO BE TORN IN HALF; WERE TO BE VAPORIZED IN AN INSTANT; WERE TO HAVE REALITY ITSELF TWIST YOU INTO LESS THAN NOTHING?"
"Yes!"
"… WHAT IS YOUR NAME?"
"… What? How do you not know my name?"
"WHAT IS YOUR NAME?"
"I… My name is..."
Star awoke with a start.
It was well before dawn, and her room was pitch black, except for a streak of moonlight streaming into the room.
She looked to her side. Marco was sleeping in his bed. She couldn't tell if it was a peaceful sleep or not; if his dreams were anything like hers, he certainly wasn't sleeping peacefully.
Her dreams…
Star held out her hand, and began to clench and unclench it, verifying that it was still there.
Once satisfied, she draped her arm over her face and tried to go back to sleep.
… Star Butterfly?
One more Mortal on the list.
So are you done? Or do you plan to keep up this pointless exercise even longer?