Upon Jade's return to Septarsis, the first thing she does is run home immediately. As she walks in the door, she finds Ludo among a group of Emerald's friends.
Jade: Ludo!
Ludo: Jade! You're back! How did everything go?
Jade: No time. I have great news for you. You've been exonerated. You can go home!
Ludo: That's great!... I mean, I like it here, sure, but I can go back home now?
Jade: Yeah.
Ludo: Wait, I'm confused. Did you, ya know... whack Queen Moon?
Jade: Don't worry about that. You should really go home.
Ludo: But that means I won't get to see you anymore. Isn't that right? You're acting funny. Is something wrong?
Jade: It's a long story, but I really don't want to discuss it here. Not now. We really don't have time.
Emerald: Why not?
Jade: Not now, mom.
Emerald: Why not now? You bring this little fellow into my home and the second I start to warm up to him, you want to whisk him away? Shame, such a lovely kid, too.
Jade just massages her head in grief.
Jade: No time. Lets go!
Ludo: Wait a minute! What's the rush?
Seth: Yes Jade, what's the rush?
Jade: Seth?!
Seth has been in the doorway for nearly a minute and nobody even noticed. He stands there with his arms folded, leaning on the door frame, looking at Jade in dismay.
Seth: This is twice now, that you departed for Mewni, and not only didn't finish your job, but this time... you brought some intruders with you.
Jade: I-Intruders? What are you talking about?
Just a few moments ago, Brudo and Crocodile Monster had found Septarsis, after a terrifying ride that left Crocodile Monster clinging to the chair for dear life, and managed to breach it, where they were immediately caught by the guards.
Brudo: So, that was a fun ride, huh Croccy?
Crocodile Monster: You're insane! You drive like a madman!
Brudo: I'll take that as a compliment. Tell ya what, you get this door open, I'll do you a solid and let you ride back with me in the car.
Crocodile Monster: With all due respect your majesty, I'd rather walk back to Mewni than get back in that death trap with you.
They then just stare awkwardly as neither of them know what to do now. Brudo looks around and doesn't see any sign of Septarsis, just grass, and/or water.
Brudo: Well? I didn't come here to view the beautiful scenery. This is the spot, right? This is where you said Septarsis was, right?
Crocodile Monster: Yeah, I know... but my Septarian isn't that great.
Brudo: Well, try it out anyway.
Crocodile Monster: Okay, here goes.
He starts speaking in a hissing tone, an ancient, no longer spoken tongue of the Septarians. The only time they use thing language anymore is to communicate with this very door. The ground starts to shake, and a massive serpent rises from the water.
Brudo: Holy smokes! What is that?
The serpent starts to lower.
Brudo: What is it? What happened?
Crocodile Monster: You distracted me!
Brudo: Well, get that thing out of the water again!
Crocodile Monster: Okay! Fine!
He starts speaking again and the serpent rises from the water, this time, all the way. The snake leans over, bright red slits beaming into the eyes of the croc standing before him.
Crocodile Monster: Okay, now comes the retinal scanner. You might want to stand away. Don't want the snake catching your yellow orbs by mistake.
Brudo mumbles as he stands off in the distance.
Brudo: This is the weirdest thing ever. I can't believe Croccy has to scan his butt just to get into Septarsis.
Croccy looks into the eyes of the serpent of Septarsis, whose irises dilate to a snakelike slit, Croccy's do the very same, and the serpent pauses for a moment, before lowering it's head and opening it's maw gaping wide.
Crocodile Monster: Looks like I pleased the serpent.
Brudo: Well, time to go into the belly of the beast, literally.
Crocodile Monster: Maybe you should stay out here. You're no Septarian after all.
Brudo: Look here, Croccy. My boy's in there, and I'm mad as hell. Those scaly freaks better not have so much as misplaced a single feather on Ludo's head, or I'll make Solaria look like a ray of sunshine by comparison!
Crocodile Monster: This is a really bad idea.
Fast forward to now, and yeah, they got captured. It's no big surprise.
Ludo: What happened? Who got captured?
Seth: It appears as though Jade here was not only TWICE a failure at taking Queen Moon, but this time, she led a few stragglers back to Septarsis with her.
Ludo: What? Who?
Seth: Don't you mind, Ludo. Just some nobodies.
Jade: What are you gonna do with me?
Seth: Well, I hate to do this, Jade, but you leave me no choice. I'm gonna have to place you in prison until we sort this little deal out.
Ludo: No, please, Seth! Don't!
Jade: It's okay Ludo. I'll go. It's my fault you're here. Besides, it's not the first time I was in a cell today.
Seth: Guards, take her away.
Emerald: Where are you going with my daughter?
Seth: She's just being held until we interrogate the captives. She'll be back out once this whole thing is sorted out.
Ludo: Can I go and visit her?
Seth: Maybe later, once things have cooled down. Until then, keep good old Emerald company.
Seth leaves, and closes the door behind him.
The other ladies leave behind Seth, signifying that the awkwardness of the situation has caused the group to disperse.
Emerald: Later Bellatrix, goodbye Eleanore.
Bellatrix: Later doll. So long Ludo.
She waves at him flirtily.
Eleanore blows Ludo a kiss and giggles as she shuffles out. All that is left was Emerald and Ludo. Emerald stares at the floor and Ludo is about to leave.
Emerald: Ludo?
Ludo: Yes?
Emerald: I have one more question.
Ludo: What is it?
Emerald: Is it odd... to be jealous of your daughter?
Ludo: What do you mean?
Emerald: The way you answered that question, earlier. It gave me the impression you're much smarter and wiser than you let on. Why is that?
Ludo: I don't know. I just answered with what came to my heart.
Emerald: Jade was close to my husband, Toffee. I may seem distant, like I don't care about Jade, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Toffee used to be my world. He and I were so very much in love before we had Jade. But when Jade was born, it's like all his focus had shifted to her, like the passion in our lives started to dwindle. Is it strange to be jealous of your own daughter?
Ludo: Yes, it is. I must admit.
Emerald: Why is that?
Ludo: Well, to answer that. I need to know. Why are you so distant with her?
Emerald: I suppose I'm afraid, Ludo. When I lost Toffee. It destroyed me on the inside. I felt nothing but sadness, all the time.
Ludo: I think maybe its a defense mechanism. I think maybe you're afraid to ever express that sorrow ever again. Please, don't be.
Emerald: Why?
Ludo: Well, my parents were always really distant with me. Only in the last year have we grown so close to each other, and that's only because they had a big fight, and I got to spend all this individual time with them. I'm one of 50 brothers and sisters. My family is a mad house. People go neglected, but I guess, you really don't know how much you love someone until you've had them taken from you, and they're no longer there. For the longest time, I never got along with my parents. But I never stopped loving them, even as bad as things got. It's what motivated me to be strong, and to take the Butterfly family wand for all those years. I thought I needed to be strong for them to love me. But no, I spent nearly a year in isolation before my mother came looking for me, worried sick.
Emerald: A whole year? Why?
Ludo: I burned a lot of bridges over the last few years of my life and only within the last have I tried to mend them and rebuild friendships. I've come to cherish people that I never thought I would have. I've come to see things so much differently than I have before. Emerald, you shouldn't be distant with your daughter out of fear that you'll lose her. Love her, before it becomes a guarantee that you lose her. Learn from my parents. You should cherish her as much as I do, because you never know when that last second will come.
Emerald: Ludo, I really underestimated you. You're such a wise young man. It's been a treat having you here.
Ludo: It's been nice being here. I'm afraid I'll have to go soon, though. There's still something I want to tell Jade before I do though.
Emerald: What is it?
Ludo: Emerald, how much do you miss your husband?
Emerald: Probably not as much as she does.
Ludo: Then I know what I have to do.
Ludo goes to visit Seth some hours later. He walks into Seth's office. Seth is sitting by the fireplace, gazing into it for some reason.
Seth: What is it?
Ludo: It's me.
Seth: Ludo? What's up?
Ludo: Would I be able to see Jade now?
Seth: Man, she's really been bugging you, huh?
Ludo: No, not bugging me. There is something I wanted to tell her though.
Seth: Well, my guards are busy interrogating our intruders as we speak, so they won't be able to let you in.
Ludo: Oh.
Seth: But I could let you in.
Ludo: Really? You'd do that?
Seth: Ludo, you and I are pals, right?
Ludo: Yeah, of course we are.
Seth: Well, that's what friends do for each other. They look out for each other. Turns out, those guys so far are saying they never saw Jade in their lives. We'll get the truth, with or without Jade. Mind you, she can't leave the cell yet until we're done. But I see no harm in letting you visit.
Ludo: Thank you!
Seth: No problem. Follow me.
Ludo follows Seth down a few hallways lit with torches. Screams of anguish can be heard in the background.
Seth: Hey Ludo, you used to have an army, right?
Ludo: Yeah.
Seth: If I distinctly remember, there were a few reptilian fellows following your lead.
Ludo: Oh yeah! That's my army. There was Frill-neck, and Lizard Man, and Crocodile, we called him Croccy!
Seth: Tell me more about these guys.
Ludo: I think Croccy mentioned to me once about having relatives here.
Seth: You don't say.
They reach Jade's cell door.
Seth: Well, here we are. How does a half hour sound?
Ludo: That should be enough time.
Seth unlocks the door.
Jade sits there, in the corner , looking sadly at the floor.
Seth: Jade, you have a visitor. Have fun you crazy kids. Remember, Ludo, half hour.
Jade: Ludo!
Ludo: I'm glad to see you again!
Jade: Me too. So how's my mom been?
Ludo: She likes to talk a lot with these older women. She's nice though. I think she's starting to warm up to me.
Jade: Lucky you. I wish she'd do the same for me.
Ludo: Your mom cares about you Jade. She's just afraid.
Jade: Afraid of what? Her own daughter?
Ludo: She says she's afraid to get close to you.
Jade: What's she doing telling you all this stuff for?
Ludo: She just doesn't want to lose you, the way you lost your dad.
Jade: Can we just change the subject, please?
Ludo: Really? Okay, then, what about?
Jade: I don't know. Ludo? Do you like me?
Ludo: Jade...
Jade: Yeah?
Ludo: I feel... I feel... weird around you.
Jade: Weird?
Ludo: Yeah. It's like, when I'm around you and when you smile at me like that, it's like I can't breathe. I start losing control. It's not a bad feeling, but I don't know how to describe it but weird.
Jade: Ludo... do you like me though?
Ludo: Yeah. I do. I really do, especially when you smile and laugh. I start to feel all funny and warm when I'm around you and I never feel that way around other people.
Jade: You know, I feel the same way around you. You make me happy. It made me happy when I met you, and happiness is something I haven't felt in a long time.
Ludo: And that one time when you kissed me after we first met?
Jade: I just thought you were cute and I was grateful that you saved my life.
Ludo: When you did that, I felt like I could actually fly.
Jade: You mean you could never fly already?
Ludo: No. My wings are too short. I don't have those extensive feathers like all the rest of my family does. I mean like, meta, meta... what's that word?
Jade: Metaphorically?
Ludo: Yeah, that word.
Jade:... Ludo. I like you too. I like you a lot.
Ludo: Do you love me?
Jade: I think I do. It's crazy. I barely even really know you, but you make me happy.
Ludo: You do? I think I do too. Love you, I mean.
Jade and Ludo are both blushing because of how much they suck at getting out those awkward words. But at the same time, it makes them both happy to hear those words from each other. Ludo then realizes something... something unfortunate. He realizes, that it was inevitable, and that the only way he'd ever be free of the burden is to tell Jade the more unfortunate truth, the one he feels like he can't ignore anymore, the one that he feels like is just becoming a ticking timebomb, that if he doesn't diffuse, it will blow up in his face. He'd rather tell Jade himself, than have to face the shame of having another expose this revelation to her.
Ludo: Jade, you know how they say the truth will set you free?
Jade: I've heard that term, yes.
Ludo: The way I feel about you, it's making it really really hard keeping something in.
Jade: What do you mean?
Ludo: There's something I've been hiding from you.
Jade: Something, like what?
Ludo: It's a really unfortunate and ugly truth, one that could make you not feel the way you do about me anymore.
Jade:...
Ludo: Sigh... here goes. You might want to sit down for this one.
Jade: Ludo, you're scaring me. What's wrong? You can tell me. If it's bad, I'll listen. I really care about you and I want to know you can trust me. I trust you.
Ludo: That's what's making this so hard.
Jade: What is it?
Ludo: Okay, so you know how I used to have an army, right, and how I used to go after Star Butterfly and her wand and stuff, right?
Jade: Yeah? Where are you going with this?
Ludo: Could you promise me something?
Jade: What, Ludo?
Ludo: Promise you'll just let me say whatever I have to say without interrupting or getting furious at me. It's really kinda long-winded and I need to get it off my chest because it's eating me alive.
Jade: I don't know what this is about... but yeah, sure, whatever.
Ludo: Back then... I knew your father. Sometime last year, I held interviews for monsters to come in and manage by army, an "efficiency expert". Your father applied for the job and he got it. Your father worked for me. He was in charge of getting my army organized and ready to battle Star Butterfly for her wand. He was really good at it, but then he betrayed me. He rallied my army against me and stole my castle. Star Butterfly returned to claim her boyfriend after he'd been kidnapped by your father and held for ransom in exchange for some weird favor. I'm not entirely sure what happened but my castle was blown up and your father was gone.
Star Butterfly threw me through a portal that took me into the wilderness of Mewni and that's where I met Spider and Eagle. I went back to the ruins of my castle to find a weird wand in the shape of a bony hand... your father's hand. I was able to use the wand but it was corrupted and didn't function properly. In addition to that, I heard a voice coming from the wand... your father's voice. It led me to conquering Mewni but I came to realize later that your father was manipulating me and using me for whatever plan he was doing. I was angry. I hated your father for what he did to me... Jade... I killed your father.
Star Butterfly blasted him with a big beam of magic... and I finished him off by pushing a pillar on top of him. I am responsible for your father's death. I couldn't tell you because even early on back then I had feelings for you, and because of that, I knew this was a forbidden truth. I really do love you Jade... and it's because of that, that I can't hide this from you anymore. You deserve to know... you deserve the truth... I'm so sorry.
Jade just stared at Ludo for a long time.
Ludo: I'm done. You can say something_
Jade: Shut up.
Ludo: I_
Jade: I said SHUT UP!
Ludo just looked at her like a shamed puppy.
Jade: I trusted you, and not only did you lie to me... you let me believe that an innocent woman killed my father, you let me go through with my plan to KILL her. I could have actually done it! I could have killed her when I should have gone after her daughter... and YOU!
Ludo sits curled up in the corner.
Ludo: Are you gonna kill me?
Jade: Don't...
Ludo: Don't what?
Jade: Don't TEMPT ME!
Jade paces around angrily, after a few minutes of Ludo watching her like a lion about to kill it's prey, she stares daggers at Ludo.
Jade: I'm getting out of here.
Ludo: Great! Lets go.
Jade: No... I'M getting out of here. You can ROT in this cell for all I care. I'm DONE with you! I don't care if you stay or go or what you do. I never want to see you again!
Ludo: I understand.
Jade tries several different methods over the course of the next few minutes to get out of the cell. She has no bombs like before. She looks around for vents, but no such luck. The only air getting into the room is through the bars on the small window on the top of the cell door, and it is too high for Jade to reach, and she's far too angry to ask Ludo for help. Eventually she just gives up and sits with her arms folded. Ludo stares at her and she ignores his glances. Something in the distance gets her attention.
Jade: Follow my lead. I have a plan.
The guard comes to the cell to feed the inmates.
Jade: Guard! Guard! Help! He's not breathing!
Guard: Nice try, squirt.
Jade: I'm serious! You don't want Ludo's death on your hands do you?
Guard: Of course I do! I hate that little runt!
Jade: Well do you want to incur the wrath of Father?
Guard: Well uh... no I guess not.
He opens the cell to come in.
Jade: He's not breathing. Go on, check his pulse.
The guard leans in on Ludo laying on the floor playing dead. As he leans in close, Jade kicks the guard hard in his rear and and the guard slams his head on the wall, falling out cold on top of Ludo, who proceeds to struggle to push the guard off as Jade makes her escape. Ludo runs out into the hall, closing the door on the guard as Jade marches down the hall, ignoring him.
Ludo: Hey! Wait up.
Jade grabs Ludo by the collar of his robe, and pins him against the wall.
Jade: You listen here and listen good, we get out and we split. Never look back! Go home to your family! We never see each other again!
Seth: What the hell is going on here?
Jade: Seth! I'm outta here!
Seth: I was just coming to get Ludo and let you go. If you want out of Septarsis, by all means, just leave.
Jade: Fine! Come on Ludo.
Seth: Ludo's not going anywhere. You wanna go, fine. Bye. Don't let the door slam on your tail.
Jade: Fine, I'll go on my own!
Seth: What a troubled young lady.
Ludo: Why can't I go? My name has apparently been cleared and I can go home and not worry about being arrested anymore.
Seth: I'm sorry Ludo, but you're an outsider, and I can't have you blowing the cover of this place. Look at what's happened since you showed up. Now we have random strangers stumbling into Septarsis.
Ludo: I won't tell anyone, I promise.
Seth: Look. Give it another week at least. Please. For me.
Ludo looks down in the dumps, like he really does just want to leave Septarsis.
Seth: What's the sour puss for?
Ludo: Jade hates me now.
Seth: Well jeez, what did you do to her?
Ludo: I told her the truth.
Seth: Yikes. Well, that was stupid.
Ludo: What was?
Seth: You don't go telling girls you care about the truth.
Ludo: Why not?
Seth: Well, obviously, because they just can't handle it. You saw how mad she got.
Ludo: What an understatement.
Seth: I'll tell you what Ludo. Forget about her. I got something I want to show you. Now that you're free.
Ludo: What do you mean by that?
Seth: I guarantee, if you wanted to leave Septarsis before, you won't after I show you.
Ludo: What is it?
Seth: Tomorrow. I need time to prepare. Visit my office tomorrow afternoon, and I will change your life... forever.
Ludo: Okay.
He looks down at Ludo and sees that his disposition hasn't changed since Seth enticed him with the surprise. He insists on reassuring Ludo.
Seth: She'll be back. One thing about Jade. She's like a boomerang. No matter how hard you try to get of her, she always comes back.
Ludo: What makes you think that?
Seth: She has nowhere to go. Might not be right away. Might be a few days. But I assure you she'll be back.