Astro wasn't an idiot.

He was well aware that the odds were very much stacked against him right now. Taking on all of the Ten had worked out very poorly for his father, and he couldn't imagine it would work out any better for him. He knew this was an uphill battle. No, that was being generous. This was practically suicide.

But it didn't matter.

To hell with the odds. To hell with his chances. His father was about to be struck down, and in that moment he had to stop it, no matter the cost. All he'd thought about was getting there to save him, and as painful as it had been to force the portal open with his horns, he'd done it and leapt right through.

Whatever magic was being used to keep the effects of portal out must have been thorough, since it closed almost right after. He'd barely even had time to make it through himself, and honestly he was glad he hadn't lost his foot or his tail. He was also glad that Nia and the others hadn't been able to follow him.

"Can you move?" Astro asked, drawing his sword.

Typhon grunted, forcing himself back up to his feet. "You fool. What in the world do you think you're doing here? You're going to get yourself killed," Typhon said glaring.

"Wonder who I got that from…" Astro muttered. "Just shut up and stay back. I'll draw their attention as best I can. Try and slip away when they're focused on me." If he could draw at least half of them away then his father might stand a chance.

Typhon grit his teeth. "Are you honestly trying to sacrifice yourself to save me? When exactly did you get so arrogant?" he asked.

"Like father like son it seems," Python said walking towards them. "So Asterossa. You came to save your father. An understandable, admirable, but ultimately pointless attempt. If your father couldn't stand up to us, then you have to know you don't stand any sort of chance either."

Astro got into a fighting stance. "And you have to know standing beside and doing nothing wasn't an option for me," he said, glaring. "I'd like to say it's nice to finally meet you, but under these circumstances I can't say it is."

Echidna hummed and looked at the prince. "So, this is the little one your Butterfly mistress spawned. I can certainly see your traits in him. Not just his physical ones either." That look in his eyes reminded her of Typhon when he was younger. Not to mention his sheer arrogance in coming here. "A shame about those other features. Were you to wipe those cheek marks off, you'd never know."

Astro gripped Ocean's Kiss tightly, ready to make a move at a moment's notice. "I doubt trying to talk to any of you is going to do any good, but I'm not going to start this without being able to say I tried. Stand down, return the souls you took, and end this," Astro said. "This is a different mewni than the one you know. You can still find a place in it if-"

"Find a place in it?" Python asked, looking almost offended. "Do you really think we're content to just 'find our place' boy? Our kind once ruled all of these lands. Every square inch, from coast to coast. Then the mewmans arrived and began trying to take everything from us, and in our absence, they've succeeded. I will not stand by and simple be content to find my own little tiny corner in a land I once called my own."

"I'm not saying what happened to you wasn't wrong, but do you really think this is going to change anything?" Astro asked. "You are one of the most powerful monsters in history. People know about your influence and legacy to this day. Return the souls, show you want peace. If you do, others will follow. They'll look at your example and-"

Python cut him off again. "And what? Bow down to the Queen and the Commission?" he asked, crossing his arms. "No nephew. So long as those who are corrupt hold such influence, there can never be real peace. The death of your own mother should have made that clear enough for you."

The words cut Astro like a knife, because… well, it was hard to argue with them. The fact was the Commission still held influence in the court and mewni, and to the Ten that was seen as just plain unacceptable. They lied, they schemed, they kept secrets from the royal family itself. If he was in their shoes after all they'd done, he probably wouldn't want to take the chance either.

"Listen, I know what we have isn't perfect," Astro admitted. "I know you hate the commission. Frankly, so do I. I'd have had their heads by now if circumstances were different. And I know you don't trust the Butterfly family, and with good reasons. Their ancestors… my ancestors betrayed you. But peace between monsters and mewmans if not just wishful thinking or a silly dream."

"I've lived beside and for monsters and mewmans. I was raised with monsters and mewmans. I fought, and played, and laughed while we were all right next to one another. I've seen it on the battlefield, in my home, and in my father's very kingdom. It's possible. And I know it's a gamble, a huge one, but I'm asking you to trust and believe me. Help me put a stop to this before things get worse."

Python stared down at his nephew for a long while, and then sighed and shook his head. "You seem different from the rest of your family. At least the ones I knew in my time. You actually have a conscience I think…" he said. "You clearly believe what you're saying. I can tell just by the look in your eyes. But, I'm sorry. You're asking me to take a chance I just can't afford to take."

He stomped his foot, and then glared towards him. "This is the final chance for you both. Vow to stand aside and let us finish what we started, or else we'll have to put you both down," he warned. "If you really do care about your precious people, then go back and prepare them for what's to come."

Astro grit his teeth, drawing Ocean's Kiss and then stepping forward. "I will not," he said simply. "I'm a knight of Mewni, and sworn to protect every innocent within it. If that means that I have to bring you down to do that, then so be it…" He charged forward towards them, hoping his father would take the opening to run, unlikely as it was.

"Asterossa!"

Typhon reached out to try and stop his son, but suddenly a massive wall of ice shot up, separating the two. Astro yelled out as he approached Python, and the others looked like they were about to move in until he held his hand up. "No, stay back." His nephew had shown a great deal of spirit charging them head on like this. The least he could do was meet it with his own.

Python charged back at him, and Astro leapt off the ground and aimed Ocean's Kiss at his face. Python dodged, the blow, swinging back and nailing Astro in his side. The boy went flying, landing on the ground and sliding back before letting out a growl and charging once more.

He swung his sword, sending a wave of ice towards Python, but the elder titan flew over it, speeding right towards Astro again and bringing his fist back for a punch. Astro raised his other hand and swung to meet it, and their fist clashed. A shockwave went through the air, and Astro tried to hold his ground, but was pushed back and sent crashing into another building.

He grunted in pain. His arm almost felt like it had been going to shatter when they connected. Was he stronger than his father was? That couldn't be possible. Had Typhon really just been holding back on him this much all this time?

"You're thinking too much…"

Astro looked up and saw Python was already upon him once more. He flipped back, just barely able to avoid the stomp that had crushed the ground he once laid on, only be struck by his uncle's tail. Once again, Astro felt himself dumbfounded at the power such a simple blow packed. He rolled over and grabbed his side.

"In a fight with everything on the line, there's no time to think. You have to rely on your instincts," Python said as he approached him. "You're a monster, and a titan at that. You shouldn't have to plot out your next move or overthink. To beings like us, fighting should come as naturally as breathing."

Astro glared at him. "If I wanted a lecture I'd have stayed back there with my father…"

Python smirked. "It's hard to imagine my brother lecturing anyone. Looks like he did mature a bit over the years. Clearly not enough however." Python struck at him again, and Astro just barely managed to leap out of the way. He made a pillar of ice behind him, landing and then jumping off of it towards Python.

The elder titan once again dodged the slash, then headutt Astro. This time, before he could go flying back, he grabbed him by his leg and then turned around, slamming him against the ground. "You have spirit nephew," he said before throwing him aside into a nearby stand. Astro didn't even have time to try to get up before Python stomped on him.

He hissed in pain as his uncle pressed his foot down. "And I'd say physically you're on par with your father at this age. Maybe even stronger." He raised his foot, only to bring it back and kick Astro in his side. The boy went sliding across the ground, only managed to stop himself using Ocean's Kiss. "But it's clear your time among the Butterfly family dulled your senses. It'll be a few hundred years before your fit to take either of us on."

Astro grit his teeth as he forced himself back up to his feet. The gap between them was insultingly wide, but… he'd known that coming here. It wasn't like he could just turn around and leave. Python was fighting him one on one. This might have been his best, his only chance, to take out the strongest among the Ten.

And he wasn't going to waste it.

His eyes turned black, and the dark magic around him began to spike once more. Python raised an eyebrow. So, this one had a talent for dark magic as well. That was a bit surprising. While his brother was capable of it, he wasn't particularly talented at it. He must have inherited it from his mother.

Astro roared before raising his hand at him, and to Python's surprise, rather than another wave of ice, black flames shot out from his palm. Python flew up, to avoid them, only to suddenly be tackled by Astro, who had jumped from the ground. The force he had hit him went managed to send him flying back, and Astro raised his fist and began punching him as they sped towards the ground.

Python was rather surprised. The boy looked far more wild. More feral. More of what he and his brother were. He was fighting coming at him like a monster possessed.

They crashed down, both quickly rolling up to their feet. Python shot a blast of dark magic at Astro the moment he came into his line of sight, but Astro swung his sword. "Backflow!" The blast was sent right back at Python, who leaned back to avoid it.

Astro took the chance to rush his uncle, sliding underneath his feet and knocking one of his legs from under him as he did. Python stumbled, and Astro jumped at him from behind, grabbing the back of his head and slamming it into the ground. Then he began punching him in the back of the head.

He let out a feral growl as he kept on swinging. Right now he didn't just see another enemy. He didn't see his uncle. He just saw yet another person threatening to take away everything he had. Everything that was his. Everything that belonged to him.

He growled angrily once more as he raised his sword. No, he wasn't going to lose everything, or anything for that matter. He'd cut down everything and everyone that threatened what was his.

Just before he was about to stab down Python's tail whipped up and wrapped around Astro's neck. Python pulled him away, slamming him back and forth on the ground. He held Astro up in front of him and brought his fist back, then swung. Astro raised his own arms and blocked it, but the blow sent him flying off. He tried to land and steady himself, but Python flew forward and loomed over him.

He brought his fist back again and swung, and Astro twisted his body and swung Ocean's Kiss. At this angle he would take both his hand and his head in one clean swing. He yelled out, putting as much strength as he could behind the attack.

CRACK!

Astro's eyes went wide at what happened next.

Ocean's Kiss shattered like glass…

Python's fist slammed into Astro's face before the reality of what happened could really set in, and a cloud of dust kicked up as he was smashed into the ground. Python stood up, looking down at his nephew as he laid in the crater in the ground. Astro struggled to catch his breath as he tried to push himself up.

He could see the shattered pieces of Ocean's Kiss blade scattered on the ground around him. He reached out for one more of them, but then Python's foot came down on top of it.

"Are you done swinging that toy at me, nephew?" he asked. Astro glared at him, and then continued pushing himself back up to his feet. "I must admit, I'm impressed. It seems you know how to tap into some of those instincts after all. But not nearly enough to topple me. You're still too young to go head on against me."

Astro let out a breath, sheathing what was left of Ocean's Kiss, and then raised both of his fist. "Don't say I can't win until the fight is actually over, old man…" Dark magic started to flow around his fists.

Python hummed. The boy was bruised, battered, and bleeding. And it looked like he was on his last legs. "The fight is already over. Stand down boy."

Astro growled. "I'm still breathing. It's not over."

Python stared down at him for a bit, and then raised his hand to strike. "Well then, you really are your father's son," he said, preparing to swing. "Don't fret too much. When this is all over, both you and your father will wake up to a truly different mewni. One that was as glorious as it was before mewman-kind arrived."

Astro braced himself for the attack. He was tired. His whole body was ringing with pain, and he felt like he was barely clinging to consciousness. He very much doubted her could dodge this. The best chance he had was to trade blows with him. Try and take him down with him.

Python swung, and Astro got ready to counter it, but then suddenly…

"Foolish boy…"

Astro felt something grab him by the back of his neck, and suddenly he was pulled back and into the air. Everything suddenly became a blur, and Astro heard a sickening sound from below. He quickly turned his head and looked down to see his father, who was holding him up and away from Python.

He was shocked to see his father back on his feet, and even more shocked to see Python's arm piercing right through his chest and out of his back.

Astro looked stunned. "I… what are you doing?! I told you to run! You idiot!"

Typhon glared back at him. "You stupid ignorant boy…" he said, tightening his grip on the back of his neck. "Do you expect me to sit back and watch you throw your life away for mine. I'll never claim to be the greatest father, but even I'm better than that…" He brought his arm back. "I'm not burying you. You're burying me."

"What are you doing?!" Astro asked wide eyed. "Stop?! What are you-?!"

Typhon let out a yell before throwing Astro. He went shooting through the air, and suddenly Typhon's horns began to glow. "Stay safe, you foolish boy…"

"Typhon!" Astro yelled. He tried and failed to slow himself down as he kept on speeding through the air, unaware of the portal Typhon had opened up behind him. "Typhon, stop! Typhon! FATHER!"

The second Astro went through, Typhon closed the portal behind him. He let out a sigh of relief, then then brought his arm back and knocked Python away. His younger brother slid back, pulling out one of Typhon's hearts along with him. "That was the last of your power," Python said, before crushing the heart in his hand.

Typhon winced, his hand making its way to the hole in his chest, but then he chuckled. It was true. With the barrier Argus had put up to keep everyone else in and out, he'd had to pour far more magic than he'd planned into making that portal. But at least Astro was out of the way. "Yes, it was. You think it foolish of me to waste it like that, don't you?" he asked with a smirk.

Python frowned. All those years ago, after his son was born, everything has changed for him. It was a change Typhon never seemed to understand or agree with. But he could see now after having his own child, he'd done quite a bit of changing himself. "I've never respected you more actually… I'm sorry brother…"

He charged in towards Typhon, who raised both his arms and braced himself.

Astro crashed down on the ground hard, rolling back and slamming against a wall. He quickly scrambled up to his feet, heading back towards the portal. But it closed before he could even start moving towards it. "No!" he shouted, rushing over to the spot it closed. "No! No! No!"

He tried to open up another portal, both using his horns and his scissors, but nothing seemed to work. "No! Damn it! Open up!" The stubborn old fool! What had he been thinking?! He'd already been on his last legs! There was no chance he'd be able to take on his brother, let alone the rest of the Ten. "Work! Please work!"

"Astro…?"

He looked back and saw Corona and Morel standing nearby, both had confused expressions on their faces. "What the hell happened to you man?" Morel asked.

The castle! He was back at the castle! "Sear! Sear, come out here, I need you!" he yelled, turning towards the entrance. It didn't even take the dragon a minute to respond to his rider. He could hear the urgency in his voice, and knew he had to come as quickly as he possibly could.

Astro got ready to jump on his back and ride off, but then another voice called out. "Astro, no! You can't!" He looked back again and saw Nia, followed by his grandmother and the rest of the Commission heading towards him. "Guys, you have to stop him!" Nia yelled. They had seen most of what happened through the eye, though it had cut out after Astro had been shoved through the portal.

Nia had sensed that her brother was back here, and she knew exactly what he would try to do. She also knew that she had to stop him. He quickly jumped on Sear's back, and got ready to ride off, but Morel suddenly tackled him off. "Get off!" Astro yelled, shoving him away.

Morel stumbled back, but quickly rushed forward again and grabbed him by the shoulders. "No way man! You're trying to do something crazy and stupid! I know it!" He had seen that look in the boy's eyes enough times to know when he was about to jump headfirst into danger, and normally he would have let him. But given what was going on and Nia's reaction, the risk was too much.

Astro got ready to shove him back again, but suddenly felt another pair of hands push down on him from behind. He looked over his shoulder and saw Puff looming over him. "Puff?! Stop! I have to go! Get off of me!"

"No!"

Corona stepped towards them. "Astro, please calm down and-!"

"He's going to die!" Astro shouted, pushing both Morel and Puff away from him. He made to move to Sear again, who looked rather conflicted, but then suddenly Moon stepped in front of him. "Grandmother, move!"

"I will not…"

"I have no go!"

"You can't Asterossa."

"They're going to kill him!"

She reached up and placed her hands on his shoulder. "And they're going to kill you too if you go back," she said, a look of sympathetic sadness on her face. "Your father knew what was going to happen. And he still chose to do everything in his power to keep you alive. Don't spit on his sacrifice by throwing your life away in vain."

Astro stared at her, gritting his teeth. For a moment it looked like he was going to try and push past her, and the other stepped forward to try to stop him. But then he lowered his head. "It's not fair," he said, his voice sounding broken. "That's not fair...I was right there! I was right there next to him!"

Moon stepped forward and reached up, patting the back of the boy's head and letting him rest it on her shoulder. "I know," she said, trying to comfort him.

Astro looked like he was struggling just to hold himself together, but he couldn't keep tears from rolling down his face. He had been right there. His father had been right there. And in the end all he had really been able to do was annoy his uncle and end up having to be saved by his father. All that training, all this power, and not a single thing seemed to have changed between now and then.

"How come I can never protect anybody I care about…?"

A/N: Astro does his best to try and rescue his father, but Typhon ends up being the one to rescue him instead. It looks like one of the heaviest hitters in mewni is out of commission, and Astro now knows the gap in power between himself and in Ten. Things aren't looking good!