Ludo watches the fireworks from the party from the window in his castle, head in hand with a little smile on his face. He doesn't want to attend the event but he finds that some shimmering lights always wind up cheering him up. The booms and bangs are heard in the distance, muffling the sounds of the battle between Jade and Queen Moon below. Ludo has no idea something much bigger than a the event is happening. Suddenly, a hand pops up from below the windowsill to knock on the window. Ludo is startled and fall over. For a second he thought he was about to be burglarized before a familiar face, surrounded by a black hood, pulls herself up. Jade yells for Ludo and he rushes to the window to open it up to let Jade in.
Ludo: What in the world are you doing?
Jade: I need a place to stay for a little, until the heat cools down.
Ludo: But it's perfectly cool outside.
Jade: THAT'S NOT... that's not what I mean.
Ludo: What do you have in that bag?
Jade: I was just getting to that, but promise me, you won't tell anyone I'm here.
Ludo: But I_
Jade smooshes his cheeks together.
Jade: Promise me.
Ludo: Fine, I pwomith.
Jade: Good.
Suddenly, a large object descends from the ceiling, Jade falls over.
Jade: That... what's THAT doing here?
Ludo: This? This is just my baby.
Ludo coos his spider.
Ludo: Who's a good girl, you are.
Jade: You let her into your room?
Ludo: It's okay... my other darling's in here too. Ahem, I said_
Jade: Shush.
Ludo: Bird... get down from the shelf.
The spider stares at Jade like a piece of unfinished lunch, and Jade looks frightened.
Ludo: Are you afraid of my little darling? You know, the trick to her heart is through her stomach.
Jade: You wouldn't...
Ludo: Wouldn't what? Feed her a delicious bag of Gold N' Crisp potato chips, a delicious snack that is no way part of a healthy diet?
Jade: She eats... potato chips?
Ludo reaches into the bag.
Ludo: Try it. Just hold out your hand with the chip and she'll take it from you.
Jade is nervous.
Ludo: Oh, I get it. You're worried about my girl because of what happened in the cave.
Ludo holds out a bag of chips towards Jade with a smile on his face and she looks at him, and then Spider, nervously.
Ludo: All you have to do is show her that you have no fear. Spiders can sense whether or not you're afraid of them and they will use it to their advantage.
Jade reaches into the bag, pulling out a large, rounded chip with a slight curve, gulping. She holds the chip out in front of her. The spider walks in slowly, staring and observing Jade.
Ludo: If you want her to trust you, you have to trust her.
The Spider opens the pincers, revealing the inside of her mouth to Jade, before gently grabbing the chip whole out of Jade's hand. She nibbles on it.
Ludo: Now pet her and tell her she's a good girl.
Jade: I don't want to touch her.
Ludo: I can't guarantee she won't try to eat you again.
Jade: Fine... you're a good girl, spider.
Jade reluctantly touches the spider's head and she rolls her head in Jade's hand like a cat, eyes closed with an almost purr.
Jade: Ha ha... I can't believe this is happening.
Ludo: She likes you Jade. She trusts you.
Jade: This is really cool. I never thought I'd_
Lady Avarius knocks at the door. The two stop dead silent in fear she'll open it.
Lady Avarius: Ludo I'm just coming up to remind you that dinner's ready. Get your little bottom down there or it will get cold.
Ludo: Coming mom!... I have no idea what she's doing home so early.
He opens the door, just barely enough to let himself out without Jade being seen.
Ludo: Mommy! what are you doing home? You're missing the lovely party.
They begin descending downstairs to the dining room.
Lady Avarius: Party's over kiddo, someone tried to take the life of the Queen tonight.
Ludo's heart sunk.
Ludo: W-what!?
Lady Avarius: I know, who would want to hurt such a lovely woman? This has to be the work of Seth's people.
Ludo: Seth? Didn't he die many many years ago?
Lady Avarius: Yes, he was wiped out a long time ago, but his bloodline lives on and so long as it does, there will never be peace in Mewni.
Ludo: So, what's for dinner.
Lady Avarius: I brought home some leftover dishes from the party. I hope you don't mind.
Ludo: Of course not! I hope there's more of that Moon pie!
Lady Avarius: I knew you wouldn't turn your beak up at food, my little piglet.
They go downstairs where wrapped foods of various types are displayed along a long wooden table. Ludo takes a bunch of it like a glutton and sits down to proceed to eat half of it. The folks at the table jibber jabber at the shock of the events of the party.
Lady Avarius: It was definitely a Septarian, no doubt about it, a short little lass though.
Ludo: Short?
Lady Avarius: Yeah, a slight bit higher than yourself. She was one aggressive little thing too, like an angry kitten, but definitely not one to be played with. She held her own against the Queen quite well too.
Ludo: That's insane!
Lady Avarius: It is. You'd have to be a fool to take on the Queen as well trained as she is in combat. Ludo, aren't you gonna eat your food?
Ludo: What? Yeah, you know what, may I be excused from the table? I'd like to eat the rest of my food in my room.
Lady Avarius: Okay. Ludo, don't forget to bring your dish back downstairs. I'm not going up to fetch it.
Ludo: I will.
Ludo rushes upstairs with the food. He opens and quickly closes the door to find jade in the same spot as before.
Jade: You ate your food rather fast.
Ludo: I brought you something to eat.
Jade: Thanks but I'm not very hungry.
Ludo: I'll leave this here on the table for you if you change your mind.
Jade: Okay.
Ludo: You have some explaining to do.
Jade: She told you, didn't she?
Ludo: Are you out of your mind?
Jade: To be fair, I told you what I was gonna do.
Ludo: But you attacked Queen Moon, right in front of everyone, right in public.
Jade: You little hypocrite. Weren't you the one bragging about how you and your friends used to attack the Princess and try to take her wand?
Ludo: That's different.
Jade: Nu-uh, you even told me about how there were others there like this Marco kid and everything. I even remember the names.
Ludo: Star's not as dangerous as Moon, and I was only after the wand.
Jade: Well lookie here, check and mate.
Jade presents Ludo with the wand and his eyes grow the size of flying saucers.
Ludo: You have the... the wand?
Jade: It's for you, for all your help. Here take it.
She places it on top of his hands and he freezes. He looks at the wand like he has no idea what to even do with it. He stares at it and glimmers at it. before putting it in the drawer. To resist his sinister temptations.
Jade: Here, you might want to hold it with this.
She hands Ludo a long cloth to wrap around the wand.
Jade: Well, what do you say, Mr. Ungrateful?
Ludo: Thank you.
Jade: I did in one night what you tried to do for what I assume is years and failed.
Ludo: So did you succeed? Did you kill her?
Jade: Unfortunately, no. I really underestimated her. I'll have to get her alone.
Ludo felt like he could breath a sigh of relief knowing that the Queen wasn't dead and the kingdom wouldn't fall into a state of turmoil, especially knowing that that would put not only River Butterfly in charge, but Star as decision-maker.
Ludo: I told you that from the beginning.
Jade: Don't rub it in. I just wanted to make an example of her, in front of everyone. But now, I know how it has to be.
Jade holds her shimmering dagger with malice running through her veins.
Ludo feels uncomfortable looking at Jade as she sits there with such contempt in her heart as she feels her dagger.
Ludo: So, how did you like feeding Spider?
Jade: Huh? Oh yeah. I can't even believe it. I thought for sure she was going to kill me.
Ludo: What about eagle? She's a good girl too.
Jade: She's been quiet the whole time, just sitting there, staring at me.
Ludo: I tried to get Eagle to eat chippies too, but she just turns her beak up at it like a fussy eater.
Ludo looks at her with his hands on his hips, judgmentally looking at her. Jade laughs at him.
Jade: I don't think Eagles are supposed to eat potato chips Ludo. Unless I'm mistaken, they eat bugs and small rodents and stuff.
Ludo: Really? Oh man, If I knew that, I'd bring over some of those roaches that like to hang out under the castle.
Jade: It's kinda gross that you have roaches under the castle.
Ludo: Roaches? Gross? Believe it or not, I like them as a little snack myself.
Jade: That's because you're a bird too.
Ludo: Don't Septarians like roaches too.
Jade: Yeah but we like to add our own stuff to them. I must admit, your Eagle is very well behaved.
Ludo: My girls are the best. They're always there for me.
Jade: Yeah. They're pretty good pets.
Ludo: Pets? They're not my pets. I consider them companions, allies. They fight for me because I treat them well.
Jade: So, you must have been a pretty good leader to your monster army, huh?
Ludo: No, not really. I was actually pretty bad to them. I provided them with a place to live, but I can't help but feel that if I had treated them better, I would have successfully gotten the wand myself and a lot of the bad stuff that followed wouldn't have happened. I was pretty verbally abusive towards them and only now that I've had an opportunity to speak with them again have I tried to mend my relationship with them.
Jade: Bad stuff, like what?
Ludo: Like getting thrown in the void. Like getting stuck on trash planet. Like having my mom and dad fight over me and wind up splitting up.
Jade: You blame yourself for that stuff?
Ludo: Yeah, I kinda do.
Jade: But didn't your mom and dad wind up becoming better people because of what you did?
Ludo: Well, you know what, yeah. Mom has become a lot more assertive, even aggressive honestly, after I told her what a coward she was. And father, after spending so much time with me, we eventually bonded too. It was especially difficult with him because he gave me a hard time for a long time. I think eventually though he realized that I just wanted to help him.
Jade: It's because you love your parents. No matter what they do, they're still your mom and dad. It's that blood bond that motivates you to care about them no matter what. It can be really hard to get rid of that. It's also why I do what I do in the name of my dad.
Ludo: You know, you always talk about your dad, but what's your mom like?
Jade: My mom? My mom's name is Emerald. She and I are pretty distant ever since dad was killed. In fact, she and I have always been a bit distant. You wanna hear something weird? I swear my mom was jealous of me because dad liked to spend so much time with me and because of it she spent little time with her by comparison. Is it weird to be jealous of your kid?
Ludo: I don't think so. I was always jealous of my older siblings for taking a lot of attention away from me. Nowadays, I don't know why, but I kinda find myself just wanting everyone to leave me alone.
Jade: I get that sometimes.
Ludo: It's getting late. The heat's not gonna die down tonight. Those guards are everywhere and questioning everyone. I can set up a bed spread in my closet.
Jade: I don't need sleep.
Ludo: Don't be so stubborn. I can see the bags under your eyes, your pre_... your green eyes.
Jade: What was that?
Ludo: Nothing.
Ludo blushes again in front of her and she pretends not to notice but her smile in reaction towards his slip gives her away.
Jade: You're right. I'm tired. Who knows. Maybe things would have worked out perfectly if I'd just listened to you.
Ludo: Well, I hope this closet setup doesn't bother you.
Jade: I've slept on rocks Ludo. This is like a 5 star hotel compared to my previous living conditions.
Ludo: I've slept on rocks too. Maybe after all this is done, we could do something together. Maybe we could go out camping in the wilderness or something and see which of us is the better survivor.
Jade: I don't think that's happening anytime soon, or ever. Not after all the trouble I've gotten myself into. But that would be nice.
Ludo: Really?
Jade: Yeah... but we all know I'd be the better survivor.
Ludo: Don't go and jump to conclusions on that. I'm tougher than I look.
Jade: I know your tough, Ludo. You told me all the stuff you went through, and I believe you. Now, lets get some shut-eye before neither of us get sleep.
Ludo: Good night.
Jade: Good night Ludo.
Ludo closes the door and locks it so that nobody can just waltz right in and find Jade in the room. Jade curls up on the little spread in Ludo's closet.
Ludo climbs on his bed which is comically much larger than he is and pulls the covers over himself. He turns out the lights and closes his eyes. Ludo sleeps very little and stirs. Visions of the wand haunt him. Ludo feels good knowing that all of his ambitions have finally paid off. He sees all sorts of fruits of his possession of the wand. Ludo sees himself as a towering colossus, with lasers firing from his eyes, people screaming and running around as the towns and cities set a blaze. He cackles maniacally as he hoists his massive wand in the air. On the ground there is a tiny, regular-sized Star Butterfly.
Star: Why, Ludo?
Ludo: What is this, a teeny tiny little piece of Stardust?
Star: I trusted you. I thought we could be friends. I wanted to be your friend, Ludo.
Ludo shrinks, tinier and tinier until Star now dwarfs over him.
Star: I trusted you... trusted you... trusted you...
Star raises her boot heel over Ludo. He screams and she steps on him. As the boot descends, Ludo bursts awake gasping and sweating.
He looks over at the clock. Several hours have passed. He notices the food on the table that he left for Jade has been eaten. He peeks in the closet and Jade is fast asleep, curled in a ball, her tail covering most of her features. Ludo smiles at Jade as she coils in his closet. "She's so cute when she sleeps" he thinks. Ludo goes into the drawer and pulls out the wand. He takes it downstairs into the living room, no longer holding it with the cloth around the hilt to protect him from the coveting effect of the wand. Everyone else has gone to sleep. Ludo just wants to be alone, just he and the wand, the very thing he'd coveted since day one. He could feel the wand calling him from the drawer all night. He aims the wand around, saying made up spells under his breath and giggling.
He stares with glee at the wand, the shimmers of gold and the encrusted Star in the center reflecting his glare. He starts thinking. The illusions of his dreams rush back to the front-center of his mind. Ludo imagines he is big and tall, he keeps thinking, keeps imagining. But then Ludo starts to feel things he hadn't anticipated before. All of the bruises, the pain, the times he'd coveted the wand, the times he verbally abused his friends, the tantrums, the times with Toffee, the deception, and everything he'd been through started rushing back to him. With that rush, Ludo's razor sharp grin recedes. He find himself all of a sudden filled with insurmountable anger. Ludo grips the wand tighter and tighter, until he's practically strangling the wand in his hands. The blood rushes from his hands and up his arms. His eyes are filled with fire and rage as he stares at the greatest vice in his life.
Ludo: I HATE THIS THING!
He throws the wand. It clinks against the wall and lands on the floor near the fireplace. He folds his arms, staring at it. The longer he looks, the longer the allure recedes. For the first time, he looks at the wand and all he sees is a stick. Curiously, he picks it up once again. Just some metal, gold and a gem. A trinket. Nothing more, the glimmer on it is gone. It's just a stick. All it ever was was a stick. Some piece of ornamentation for which a mage is to channel magic. Ludo is not a mage. This stick has brought him nothing but grief since the beginning. Ludo can no longer feel the coveting urges even as he holds the wand in his bare hands. Ludo has finally done it. He has beaten his curse. The wand now means nothing to him. He smiles at it. It has no affect on him, so he smiles, mocking the wand, sticking his tongue out at it and how he for so long let a stick control his life. Ludo holds it over the fire. He wants to destroy it, just to put it in the fire and be rid of the foul thing. Ludo stops when he sees her face once more in the fire.
Star: I trusted you.
Ludo stares at the wand.
Ludo: She's trusted me, and I broke her trust just now. Star is my friend. I must do what's right. I'm doing the right thing. You're going home, wandy. You're not my wand. You're the wand of Star Butterfly and I'm gonna take you home where you belong.
Ludo is cautious. He leaves the castle, not making a peep. He covers the wand, but only so he won't get caught. He ventures through the Forest towards Mewni. The woods were swamped with guards on high alert, but at least it meant that the surrounding Septarians had fled. A curfew has been placed by Moon, and any out and about would be thrown right in prison. Ludo is careful not to be seen. As he approaches the castle, he remembers a little secret entrance from his old days, a mere loose block in the wall. Ludo pulls it out, and sneaks into the walls behind the castle. The entrance is a secret passage swinging book shelf. He navigates the dark wide halls, hiding around corners looking for Star's door. He knows she keeps a Star on the door itself. It's so easy to find. He does find it and approaches the door. He's about to knock.
Guard: Lookie what we have here.
Ludo: Oh no.
The guard lifts Ludo up by the collar.
Ludo; Let me go you big oaf!
Ludo yells, hoping Star would hear him outside the door. She approaches the door and opens it sleepily, in her PJs rubbing her eyes.
Star: Ludo?
Ludo: Star! I have it! I came back with it! I brought it back, the wand! Your wand!
Guard: Oh really? Finally confessing to your crimes you little thief? That was YOUR assassin, wasn't it.
Ludo: What? No, let me go! There's been some mistake!
Guard: Off to the prison with ye. Queen Moon will give me top honors for bagging a little runt prince like you! Oh yes, indeed! I'm sure to get a HUGE bonus for nabbing you.
Ludo: Star! help me!
Star: I...
Ludo: Star?!
The guard hauls Ludo off to the cell. Ludo knows he's really done it this time. He's gonna spend the rest of his life in that cell. The guard tosses him in on his face, slamming the cell door.
Guard: Queen Moon's gonna chew you up and spit you out, Avarius. You betrayed your family, your kingdom, and your Queen. You'll hang! Ha ha ha!
Ludo is rattled, terrified. He lays on the uncomfortable cell bed. Star comes downstairs, still in her PJs.
Ludo: Star!
Ludo runs to the bars. He grabs Star's pant legs and looks up at her in pure desperation, tears running down his pitiful eyes.
Ludo: You have to believe me, Star. I promised, I was done with stealing. That's your wand, not mine. I'm not a dirty thief. Please! you have to believe me!
Star looks down at Ludo. She is filled with uncertainty. She can't tell if Ludo is being genuine, or just a really good actor.
Star: I don't know what to believe anymore.
Ludo: I was returning your wand to you, Star! You know the old me would never in a million years do that.
Star: The guards are informing my mom that the wand is back in my possession. With that knowledge, she'll rest more soundly. There's no getting into her room right now. There's guards literally surrounding her. That's how afraid everyone is right now Ludo. That's how paranoid this has made people.
Ludo: Star, I didn't take your wand, I swear.
Star: But you were caught with it. Luckily for you she won't deal with you til morning. Luckier for you, your mom won't find out 'til then either.
Ludo: Do you believe me?
Star: It doesn't matter what I believe.
Star leaves.
Ludo: Star? Star!
Ludo cowers in his little bed all night. His sleep was poor before, but now he has none. He lays there trembling with his bloodshot eyes wide open, all night. He stares at the wall through the bars, looking toward the entrance to the cell every time he hears so much as a single creep of the dank dungeon. He watches as a small rat scampers across the floor, much smaller than the ones he had in his army. It bathes itself in the middle of the floor and Ludo is transfixed on it. He acknowledges the creature just to try to take his mind off of the notion that Queen Moon coming to execute him for treason. It goes on for several moments before the rat leaves and Ludo is alone again.
Ludo: No... p-please don't leave. I don't want to be alone again... in h-here.
A voice came from outside the bars.
Jade: You're not alone.
Ludo: Jade?
Jade: Shut up you dummy! You want me to get caught?
Ludo: What are you doing here?
Jade: I came to get you out. Now, I suggest you get away from this wall, far away.
Ludo backs away towards the cell bars.
Ludo: Why did she_
KABOOM!
The wall bursts open, debris flying everywhere. Jade is outside. Ludo coughs. Ludo looks in shock at Jade as she rides atop Spider and Eagle sits atop.
Jade: Hurry! Get on, they're coming!
Ludo hops on top of Spider. The Eagle lifts them all away through the night sky as the guards rush the cell. They flee through the night sky, far away from Mewni. From the distance they hear the alarms terrorize the night. The horrendous noise starts out loud and blaring, but slowly muffles as they ascend into the starry night sky and far away from the castle. They are as high in the sky as the Eagle can get them.
Ludo: You did it! You gained their trust.
Jade: The bird was easy once I mastered the Spider.
Ludo smiles at Jade. He is so proud of how quickly she managed to gain the trust of Spider and Eagle. Jade just looks onward in pure concentration.
Jade: We have to get out of here. We have to get out of Mewni and go somewhere where Moon's forces won't have any authority. We need to go somewhere where we can be safe and where they won't dare look for us.
Ludo: We can go to another dimension.
Jade: Moon's gonna be plastering our mugshots all over ever dimensions she can reach her hands into. I hate to say it, but we have to hide where the law of the land won't ever reach.
Ludo: Where is such a place?
Jade: Septarsis.
Ludo: What?! You want to take me to the forbidden Septarsis?
Jade: I'll have to hide you. As much as I really don't want to take you with me to Septarsis, there really is nowhere else. I'm already breaking so many rules just doing this.
Ludo: Wait! You might not have to hide me. Just take me back to Castle Avarius, quickly.
Jade: No time.
Ludo: Trust me.
Jade: Ugh, fine! But make it quick. You don't have time to grab your teddy bear, if that's what you're thinking.
Ludo: Dang, I really like my Teddy Bearicorn.
Jade: What?
Ludo: Nothing. Just descend us to my window.
They approach the upper floor outside of Ludo's window and go into his room. He heads right for a big box.
Ludo: It has to be in here somewhere?
Ludo grabs the ridiculous dinosaur Halloween costume from the box quickly puts it on. On his way back towards the window, he grabs his Teddy Bearicorn and stuffs it down his shirt, making sure Jade isn't looking.
Jade: What in the world are you doing?
Ludo: Ta-DA! What do ya think?
Jade: You look absolutely ridiculous. You're not fooling anyone with that.
Ludo: I look awesome! I'll fit right in, I'm certain.
Jade rolls her eyes.
Jade: Come on.
He runs outside in the silly dinosaur costume and hops back onto Spider. They sail for miles on end. Far from Mewni, over plains of grass and a lake, a place somewhat familiar to Ludo, they descend.
Jade: Okay. Put this blindfold on.
Jade holds our a piece of cloth.
Ludo: Why do I need this?
Jade: Absolutely nobody is to know of this place, not even you.
Ludo: What am I not supposed to see?
Jade: Just do it!
Ludo: Fine jeez. You don't have to be so bossy.
Jade waves her hands over his eyes just to make sure he can't see. As soon as she is certain. She looks down at the lake before her. Jade closes her eyes and utters a snakelike incantation of hisses and unknown words, a reptilian dialect only the coldblooded can understand. From the lake, a large metal snake head peers out. Its massive red glowing eyes stare at Jade in judgment. It raises out of the water and Jade and the snake make eye contact. Her eyes turn to snakelike slits and the snake head does the same. The head then recedes into the lake and opens it's great maw, and a light emerges from its belly. She takes Ludo by the hand.
Jade: Watch your step.
She leads him down the snake's tongue. The snake closes it's mouth, descending back into the lake without so much as a single drop of water seeping into it as it goes deeper and deeper into the lake. As they descend, the snake's long forked tongue transitions into a staircase. They keep descending until they get to a marketplace.
Jade: Okay Ludo. You can take your blindfold off now.
Ludo: Wow!
Jade: This, is Septarsis. Now be quiet. Our people sleep too.
Stone structures ascend into the sky, hundreds of feet above them orbs of light, ornamental Septarian structures provide the world with visibility. Septarian architecture is quite bizarre, both derelict but beautiful, like a disease. Vines wrap around the stone structures, holding them prisoner. The houses are homes to plants just as much as reptiles. Septarsis is hot and humid year round, just as the Septarians of cold blood, enjoy it. The lights on the roof of the snake are dimmed and red. It's almost like a giant reptile tank. The lights would turn fully on during the day when the market would run with life and the Septarian local economy would bustle. Seen as degenerate, the Septarians do not abide by such laws as Mewni.
The whole town is a black market. Anything goes in Septarsis. The only reason it hasn't eaten itself alive is because of the core values of the Septarians. While they are scum to the outer world, anarchists to the surface, down here there is order among them. The Septarians are content with the fair but tough as nails strict order of governing. A vast majority of the offenses committed by Septarians are on the surface, and they dare not soil their own home. There aren't many people about in the dead of the night, but they all give Jade and Ludo dirty looks. To Jade, the looks are a mere hello. To Ludo, they come off more like a "I'll gut you like a fish" look.
Ludo: Where are we going?
Jade: To my place.
jade Leads Ludo before a massive building, Jade's home. Toffee's home.
Ludo: Wowee, this is your house?
Jade: Yep.
The tower erected before them had a big snake head above the door, torches to either side, and vines curling into the upper windows, flowers blossoming down them as they wrap around the tower like a boa. The inside is gorgeous: stone and marble black and white tile floors, long Persian rugs, a white marble staircase ascended into the upper floors, wrapping like a snake, with an angry serpent wooden railing following the stairs. The gothic architecture rivals that of old Castle Avarius itself, before the destruction and rebuilding.
Ludo: Oh man, this place is almost as big as Castle Avarius.
Jade: Almost?
Ludo: Okay, maybe as big.
Jade: My father is quite wealthy, for a Septarian anyway. This tower is centuries old. Almost as old as the founder. He used to live here. Now he has a much bigger estate.
Ludo: I don't understand. I thought Septarians were_
Jade: What? Poor? Degenerates?
Ludo: This is not what I expected is all.
Jade: It isn't what anyone that isn't Septarian expects.
Ludo rubs his eyes.
Jade: Tired?
Ludo: Yes... I haven't gotten a wink.
Jade: It's been a really long night. I understand. Hey, I got an idea. I slept in your closet. Now you can sleep in mine.
Ludo: I'd sleep on the cold floor at this point.
Jade: Nah, I wouldn't do that. Unlike your place though, it's just me and my mom, we won't go anywhere near her room. I'll make new arrangements in the morning. We obviously can't just keep you here. My mom will inevitably find you. We have like a billion free rooms though, so pick one and you'll sleep like a king.
Ludo: I like this one.
Jade: Good pick.
The room is massive, with a canopy bed, beautiful navy blue drapes and sheets neatly cloth the bed. A wooden set of cabinets line a massive windowsill peering out into Septarsis. A fireplace that hasn't seen life in years sits adjacent to the bed with a closet that puts Ludo's to shame next to it. A burgundy sofa with pillows of Native design hug an otherwise relatively bare wall. save for a large portrait of Toffee that ominously hangs on the wall above the sofa, making him look much taller. The portrait has the kind of look that broke the fourth wall and peers into the viewer's soul. It creeps Ludo out. He jumped onto the canopy bed. It is the most perfect soft be he's ever laid on. it feels so alien though. The idea of sleeping in Toffee's house blows his mind. He feels unwelcome there. He shrugs it off though, as at least he wasn't in the Butterfly Castle dungeon anymore.
Ludo pulls the sheets over himself. Even in the dinosaur Halloween costume, Ludo manages to fall asleep like a baby.
Ludo sleeps for about 10 hours before Jade decides enough is enough and stirs him awake with a pillow to the face.
Jade: GET UP!
Ludo: Ah, I'm fine, I'm... What?
Jade: Ha ha!
Ludo; What was that for?
Jade: I'm gonna go get us something to eat from the market. Stay here, and stay away from my mom. She doesn't know this room is being used.
Ludo: So what am I supposed to do, just stay in this room for weeks on end?
Jade: Well, yeah. Got a problem with that?
Ludo: Yes! I want to see the city during the day!
Jade: Will you pipe down? Fine.
Jade walks over to the window, pulling the matching navy blue drapes apart, Ludo is hit right in the face with the artificial light of Septarsis.
Ludo: No, I mean I want to go see the city itself. This place is all new to me.
Jade: That's not what we're here for. We're here so that you can lay low.
Ludo: Let me at least go to the market with you.
Jade: Fine. But don't say a word, and keep your head down low.
Ludo: Okay.
He hops out of bed. Jade grabs a gold coin purse of Septarian currency and heads outside. They walk for a bit and Ludo finds a coin on the ground.
Ludo: Ooh, money! Finders keepers. Who's the guy on the front?
Jade: That's Father, the founder of Septarsis.
Ludo looks at the coin which depicted a green, thick-necked lizard with peering, evil eyes, spikes coming out of seemingly every pore of his skin, hair like a white fire, and a grin like a shark.
Ludo: Scarier than I thought.
Jade: Okay I'm gonna talk to the vendor. Stay here.
Jade is distracted. Ludo is bored because she's taking forever. He begins to play with his coin, throwing it up in the air, twirling it in between his fingers until he drops it. The coin rolls and he chases it.
Ludo: Get back here!
He runs through the crowd of people following the rolling coin, bumping into passers by until the coin rolls to a chunky Septarian boy slightly taller than Ludo.
Boy: Cool, money.
Ludo: Hey give it back! I found it first.
Boy: Why don't you come over and get it, shorty?
Ludo tackles the boy, who drops the coin. They wrestle, and Ludo is pushed back, his hood falling back off his head, revealing his birdly appearance.
Boy: Hey, you're not a Septarian.
Ludo pulls his hood up quickly
Ludo: Yes I am. See?
A tall Septarian grabs Ludo by a tuft of the suit.
Septarian: Hey, the kid's right. This is an imposter!
Ludo: No I'm not, I'm just a regular everyday lizard boy!
Septarian: You're coming with me. I know someone who'd LOVE to meet you.
Jade finishes her transaction and turns to reclaim Ludo.
Jade: Sorry that took so long. Ludo? Ludo!
Jade runs around looking for him, asking if anyone seen her "little brother", describing Ludo as best as she could to nearby people. She panics, but then, in the distance she can hear his cries for help. in the distance she spots a tall Septarian carrying a tiny character by the collar and he struggles to get away.
Ludo: Put me down!
Jade follows the big guy hauling Ludo off up a great big set of marble stairs, down a blood red carpet to some oak doors with faces that could either be snake people or demons on the door. The room is moody, lit with torches and hellish imagery. The Septarian passes some rooms where other Septarians work some rather strangely mundane jobs: parchment paperwork, micromanagement of files and history, and past some paintings of men and women that look like they would rip Ludo apart until they get to a doorway with only some black curtains guarding it. They walk through into an office with a big dark wooden desk, several gold tall lamps with serpentine designs. Behind the desk is a rather large fireplace of stone and iron. At the desk sits a large brown leather chair. The chair is turned around. Some spiky hair can be seen from above the chair but nothing else. The man sitting in it is preoccupied. As his attention is gained, a booming, deep voice comes from behind the chair.
Stranger: Have you something to report, my son?
Septarian: I brought you something you might be interested in, or should I say, someone.
Stranger: Well, who is it?
Septarian: I don't_
Stranger: I didn't ask you. Who are you that is brought before me?
Ludo: L-L-Ludo, sir...
Ludo is terrified. For several seconds there is no noise. Then, a big, muscular being, rises from the chair, silhouetted against the fire. He turns around, amber eyes peer right into Ludo's soul, the slit of his snake irises cutting into Ludo like a dagger. A very tall, pale green Septarian stands before him, with white hair standing like fire, a body covered in spikes, with two long whiskers extended from either side of the bumpy nostrils of his snout, meeting at length a long goatee at the chin of the same color. He walks slowly towards Ludo, the heels of his leather boots click loudly on the floor like a slow heartbeat as he grows closer and closer. This is the man whose likeness is on the money Ludo found.
Stranger: Ludo? You said your name was Ludo.
The Septarian stands not a foot from him, towering over him. He kneels down on one knee to address Ludo eye to eye.
Stranger: Ludo...Avarius?
Ludo: Y-yes sir.
Stranger: Take off that ridiculous hood. You're not fooling anyone.
Ludo pulls the hood back and looks at the stranger with his own face.
Stranger: I have just one question for you Ludo. Is it true that you stormed through a town, breached Castle Butterfly, and took over Mewni... with an army of RATS?
Ludo: Yes... sir.
The stranger smiles widely, and relaxes his face into that of a happier expression.
Stranger: That... is so... awesome.
Septarian: What do you want me to do with him?
Stranger: Nothing. He will stay here with me.
Septarian: What? No dungeon? What happened to all outsiders must_
The stranger grabs the other Septarian by the arm, forcing him down onto the table in compliance.
Stranger: Must what? Hm? I can't hear you. Allow me to remind you who's boss around here.
Septarian: You are.
Stranger: Who makes the rules?
Septarian: You do-OW!
Stranger: That's right. And I get to decide when to break one of my own rules. I and only I. Is that understood, son?
Septarian: Yes.
Stranger: Yes, what?
Septarian: Yes, Father!
Stranger: Good.
He releases the Septarian who walks away angrily, shooting Ludo dirty looks and massaging his twisted arm.
Stranger: Ludo, I hope you forgive his rudeness.
Ludo: I guess.
Stranger: You guess. Oh, how rude of ME! I never introduced myself! Hello Ludo, I'm Seth.
Seth holds out a large hand and Ludo presents his own tiny hand, which Seth closes around entirely in a gentle handshake.