After the first chapter was released, a user, known as Julayla confirmed that in the Book of spells, there is indeed no backstory to the septarians. I always had my suspicions, but now I have confirmation as well. I decided to write this fanfiction also as a way to "fill the emptiness" when it comes to the world building, so you can expect tons of headcanons. I hope you enjoy.
chapter 2: Same old problems, same old faces
Star Butterfly was looking for a way to bring peace to both mewmans and monsters. The two races were still at each other's throats, even after Eclipsa was given the throne back and returned the lands to their rightful owners, the monsters of Mewni. There was still no sign of equality or harmony. What was the mistake, which Glossaryck was talking about?
Miss Heinous was turned to Meteora Butterfly again and given a second chance in life as the real heir to the throne. Globgor was free from his prison and was now living as the new king of Mewni, alongside his wife Eclipsa and daughter Meteora. Star's own parents, River and Moon Butterfly, were adapting to the commoner lifestyle after Eclipsa took the throne, causing the couple to give up their crowns. While Star's father River was enjoying every second of his new life in the forest, Moon was making a lot of effort to get used to it. Her friends Marco, Tom, Janna and Pony Head were there for her, to help her with everything she needed, but it seemed like it was not enough.
What was missing? What else had to be done? Suddenly, something caught her attention. A very familiar monster was passing by, carrying a bag with grocery. She knew him- that was Rasticore Chaosus Distravas...Disatravarius...whatever his last name was, she was certain it was him. He used to work for Meteora, back when she was still known as Miss Heinous, but now he worked as an assassin in a poor and badly-maintained office. Rasticore was one of the few monsters, who did not feel comfortable around Star, and if she had to be honest, she did not exactly blame him. Their last encounters were not friendly, but that was going to change.
Star followed Rasticore, and it did not take long for the septarian to notice that he was being followed:
- Uuh!- he sighed heavily.- What do you want now, kid? I'm very busy.
- Hi, Rasti!- Star greeted him innocently.- What are you doing?
- Why do you ask? Why do you even care?
- I just want to know.- she answered.- Is it really that bad?
- Yes, if it's you.- Rasticore said through his teeth.- Look, I have very important things to do now...
- Is it an assassin job?- she quickly asked him, without letting him finish.
- No.- he said.- Something more important. Something that you will never be able to understand. Now leave me be. I have no time for you.- with that last word said, Rasticore left Star.
Most people would listen to Rasticore and leave him be, but Star was different. Once she put her mind on something, even a battleship could not stop her. Curiosity got the best of her and she kept following Rasticore.
Star found Rasticore wandering through the town, seemingly looking for something, maybe even someone. The septarian stopped when something very intriguing caught his attention. He noticed a little septarian girl, probably 7 or 8 years old, walking around the market. Her skin was green, with a few spikes on her tail, long white hair with pink and green stripes, white dress, and strangely colored eyes- one eye had a pink sclera and a green iris and the other had a green sclera with a pink iris. She probably had a strange form of heterochromia. What was the strangest about this little septarian was that she was there at all. Besides, Rasticore, there were hardly any other septarians, outside of Septarsis. They were not a popular kind, so they prefered to be only among their own.
The little septarian girl got further away from the market and went somewhere else. Rasticore followed her, because he wanted to ask her a few questions, with Star following him, without him knowing. The girl finally reached her destination- it was a house, nearby a swamp. Not surprising, considering that septarians were fond of swamp areas. The climate in such places was beneficial for their body temperature, as they were cold-blooded creatures, and the water was very nutritious.
- Razzles! Get back here!- a familiar voice called for the little girl, who obeyed without hesitation.
Rasticore looked at where the voice came from and he could not believe his eyes. It was Toffee.
There they were. The two septarians were face to face, for the first time, after such a long time. None of them knew, that Star Butterfly was hiding in the bushes spying on them, but if she could not keep quiet, her presence would not remain a secret for a long time. After seeing that Toffee was alive, she made a lot, A LOT, of effort not to scream. She swore he was dead. She was there herself. She was the one, who blasted him. Why?! How?!
- Razzles, go play in your room, please!- Toffee politely asked Razzles.
- Is something wrong, father?- Razzles asked Toffee.
"Father"? Toffee was the girl's father? How? Since when? That septarian had a lot of explaining to do.
Razzles obeyed Toffee and went to her room, leaving the two men alone. Toffee looked at Rasticore, as if he was disappointed of seeing him again after so many years. He did not say a single word. Rasticore was starting to feel uncomfortable, so he tried to begin some sort of a conversation:
- General?- he asked with hesitation.- You are alive?! How can that be? Everybody thought that you were dead for sure. I thought you were dead. I could not believe it. Did you regenerate?
Toffee still was not saying anything. One would think he was waiting for Rasticore to hit the road. Rasticore remembered why he came here in the first place and asked:
- So, her name is Razzles, huh? Since when do you have a kid?
- 7 years.- Toffee answered bluntly
- For 7 years, huh?- Rasticore repeated.- That means she is 7 years old, right? She seems 7 to me.
- Because she is.- Toffee confirmed.
- Oof, I can't take this anymore.- Rasticore hugged Toffee tightly, but the other septarian was very quick to push him away.- You're still mad at me?- Rasticore responded after Toffee rejected him.- Look, I am sorry about what happened the last time we saw each other. I was a coward. I shouldn't have done that. When I heard you were dead, I felt guilty. I regret what I did every day. May I, at least enter? There are a lot of things I need to tell you. Please! It's extremely important.
Toffee thought about it for a second. He did not want to talk to Rasticore, but part of him was curious what the other septarian was about to say. Maybe it had something to do with Septarsis:
- Fine!- Toffee sighed and let Rasticore enter the house.
Once they were finally in, they sat on a table. Rasticore started to talk:
- Toffee, this is about Septarsis.- Toffee was not surprised that he was right. Rasticore continued.- I was there recently. Things are looking worse than ever. The MDS epidemic is spreading. Septarians are missing, most of them are MDS patients. The military is in charge, because there is no one to rule, after Seth died. Not to mention those wretched marauders. This is why I need your help. Before his death, Seth asked for you specifically to inherit the throne, when the time comes. I think this time is today.
Toffee did not immediately say anything. He stood up, put his arms behind his back and started walking in circles:
- You want me to help you?- Toffee asked bluntly.
- The whole Septarsis needs your help. You are the only one, capable of saving our kingdom. You have been preparing for this your whole life.- Rasticore answered.
- Seth and my parents have been preparing me for this my whole life. Besides, why do you insist? You are a part of the royal family. I am just an orphan, whom Seth took in from the streets after my parents died.- Toffee said.
- Because Seth chose you, and he was wise to do so.
- "Wise", huh?- Toffee asked in disbelief.- You think he made the right decision? And yet you did not seem to trust his decision enough, at least, not to abandon me when times got though.
Rasticore gulped. He knew that Toffee was talking about the time when he and the entire army ran away to hide in the forest after Moon Butterfly blasted Toffee's finger off as a revenge for the murder of her mother, Comet Butterfly. Before that, all septarians thought that there is no spell in the mewmans' magic, which can cause any permanent damage to their bodies. Moon's spell prevented Toffee's finger from regenerating and he lived with a missing finger for the next following years. When Rasticore looked at Toffee's right hand, he saw that the finger has finally grown back, but Rasticore preferred not to ask about it. He tried to apologize:
- General, trust me. Running away from battle and leaving you there was the biggest mistake in my entire life. We have known each other, since childhood, and yet this is how I treat you. Please, please don't let my mistakes prevent you from helping others. Septarsis needs you. Don't punish the innocent, because of me.- Rasticore kneeled.
Toffee knew that Rasticore was right about Septarsis, but if he accompanied him there, Razzles either had to come with them or she had to stay here alone. None of the two was a safe option. Septarsis was full of dangers, and it's too much for a 7-year old child, but leaving her alone was much worse:
- What about Razzles, Rasticore?- Toffee asked.- Once she sees this, she will be scarred for life. I don't want this for her. Not until, she grows old enough to handle it, at least.
- Can't her mother take care of her?- Rasticore asked not knowing what answer to expect.
- I know nothing about her mother, nor about her father.- Toffee responded and when he saw Rasticore's confusion, he explained.- She is adopted.
- Oh!- Rasticore was very surprised, but at the same time, that explained a lot.- I guess that explains why she looks nothing like you. You adopted a child?
- I found her, when she was still a newly-hatched baby. She was lying in a basket, all alone in the forest. There was no note, no name, address, nothing. It was like she was abandoned. I could not just leave a baby all alone in the forest, so I took her in.
- Did you tell her?- Rasticore wondered.
- She knows. I have never kept it a secret.- Toffee answered.- Taking her with me is risky. This is not something a small child should be exposed to. I want her to have a normal childhood.
- You know she cannot be a normal child, no matter what you do, right?- Rasticore revealed the ugly truth.- She is a septarian, so she can never be normal. I know you just want her to have what neither of us ever had, but this is impossible.
- Sad, but true.- Toffee sighed.
- You can just take her with us.- Rasticore suggested.- We can find her a safe place to stay, while we work. What do you say, general?
Toffee took some time to think. He agreed with Rasticore's suggestion, but he was still unsure of it. On the other hand, if he went to Septarsis, he could not only take care of the MDS problem or the marauders, but he could also find his father's long lost journal. He remembered that back when he was a child, his father had a journal, where he wrote his thoughts. Nobody but Grisly knew exactly what was in there. This was Toffee's chance to learn how his father truly saw him as.
After so much thinking, Toffee turned his face to Rasticore and gave him the long anticipated answer:
- I'll go, but not because you asked me or because of the throne.
- It's fine, as long as you come.- Rasticore responded happily and relieved.- Thank you, boss!- he extended his hand for a hand shake, but Toffee refused.
- Father, what is going on? Are you okay?- Razzles had not so secretly went out her room, to eavesdrop.
Rasticore couldn't help but smile at the little one:
- Hello there, cutie!- he kneeled so she can see him face to face.- I am an old friend of papa. The name's Rasticore.- he extended his arm for a handshake and Razzles accepted it. She was so friendly. Nothing like her cold father. Rasticore turned to Toffee.- Boss, I think you should know that your daughter is adorable.
- I know.- Toffee said with a smile.
Rasticore was now preparing to leave so he can package his bags for returning to Septarsis. Once he, Toffee and Razzles were out of the house, they were met with yet another familiar face, which both of the two adults heavily disliked.
Star Butterfly was standing before them. Her mouth was open as physically possible as can be. She could not believe what she witnessed. She tried eavesdropping the entire conversation, but she could not hear anything through those thick windows. But she still heard important details, like Toffee's daughter or the fact that Toffee was still alive in the first place:
- WHY?! HOW!?- she pointed everywhere. She tried asking, but couldn't form the proper sentences.
Rasticore and Toffee were just standing there, watching her angrily with crossed arms. They kept wondering when will she stop and get away from here. Razzles was very curious what was happening:
- When will she go away?- Rasticore asked his general.
- Not until the she turns 60.- Toffee answered sarcastically.
- Can we help you, Miss?- Razzles asked politely. She was not bothered by the fact that there was a mewman in front of their house. Her father has been teaching her about the danger of mewmans all her life, but Razzles was not a monster, who could just hate somebody like that.
- Razzles!- Toffee addressed his daughter disapprovingly. He did not like her politeness towards a mewman, especially this one.
- I was just asking.- Razzles murmured.
- Did you follow me, kid?- Rasticore asked annoyed.
- I wanted to know what was going on.- Star answered.- And LOOK what I found.- she extended both of her hands to Toffee, pointing at him.- Toffee! You are alive! How?! Why?! Everybody was sure you were dead.- she gasped, once she came to another realization.- Are you planning to have another revenge on my family?! Answer me!
- Is that why you came here for?- Toffee asked casually in his usual deadpan tone.- You don't need to worry. We are going to our home country, so you will not be seeing our faces here for a while.
- Whaa? You guys have your own country?
- Yes, it's called..-Rasticore was about to reveal his and Toffee's birth place to Star, but Toffee bumped him with his elbow, as if telling him to keep quiet.- Nevermind. Don't even think about following us again! We might eat you, if you do.- this gained him a confused expression from Toffee. As much as they hated mewmans, septarians never ate mewman meat- it was considered very taboo, to the point that "mewman eater" was used as an insult in Septarsis and was the equivalent of being called "trash". Toffee knew Rasticore was just trying to discourage Star from following them, but he himself would not have used this as a threat.
- You will?- Star disbelieved.
- Uh, yeah.- Rasticore answered hesitantly.- So you better stay away.
- Enough bigotry for today. Let's pack.- Toffee put an end to this.
- Of course, boss.- after which Rasticore went to his own home to pack his baggage.
- For how long have you and Rasticore known each other? Why does he call you "boss"? Since when do yo have a kid? And where exactly are you going?- Star asked one question after another, without waiting for an answer. She was way too excited to wait.
- All things you will never find out.- was Toffee's only answer. Toffee gently touched Razzles's back, as a way to tell her to get inside the house and he was about to get inside either, before Star grabbed his arm to stop him:
- Wait, I haven't finished yet.
- Yes, you have.
- Toffee, I really need to know. I want to come with you guys.
This surprised Toffee a little bit. She wanted to come?
- What?- he asked.
- You heard that right. I. Want. To. Come.
- Why?- Toffee sighed.
- Because there is still an ongoing prejudice between monsters and mewmans, no matter what I do. I don't know why they still don't get along. But if there's a chance to make life better for everyone, I'm taking it. Your home country is one step.
- You have no idea what you are getting yourself into.- Toffee warned her.- My home is dangerous even for us. A mewman would not survive even for a second there.
- I can take care of myself.- Star suggested.
- Even if we tried, we cannot bring a mewman there, everybody will think we are traitors.- Toffee tried to convince her to give up the idea.
- I can wear disguise.
- Little butterfly, listen to me, at least, this time.- he placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her with a stern stare.- The things seen there, cannot be un-seen. You're biting more than what you can chew.
- I have seen Buff Frog's tattoo. I can handle anything.- Star exclaimed.- Besides, you killed my grandma before I even met her. You took my chance of meeting my own grandmother away from me. You owe me.
- I owe you nothing.- Toffee bluntly said, placing his hands on his hips.
- Now you listen to me, Toffee.- she pointed her finger at him.- I am doing this so that Mewni can be a better place. Not just for me or my family, but for everyone, which also includes your species. Besides, you have a daughter now. Don't you wanna safer home for her?
She just had to use the "daughter" card, hadn't she? As much as Toffee hated to admit it, Star did make a pretty good point there. Also as much as he hated the Butterfly family, maybe working with them was not such a bad idea. Besides, he could keep on eye on Star this way. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. All of his previous plans unfortunately failed, humiliating him in the process. He tried everything he could to make life in Septarsis better. Giving this method one try, would not hurt. If it failed, he could always think of something else, he was a master of planning. But this did not mean that he would ever start to like mewmans.
Toffee finally spoke, after finishing the thought process:
- Okay, little butterfly. I'll accept your help.- he was still not willing to give her a hand for a handshake though.- But if you cause me any trouble...
- I won't, I promise.- she gave him the puppy dog eyes.- YES!- she celebrated her little victory.-Where is your home country?
- Septarsis.
- Great! Byee! See you soon!
Star turned to her home's direction and was about to leave, until Toffee asked her a very appropriate question:
- How are you going to explain this to your parents?
This caught Star off guard:
- Oh, boy!- she murmured.