Twilight was walking around her bedroom, grabbing anything that might be useful. A spare outfit, a small lantern with extra candles and matches, some fruit from the fruit bowl, some parchment with a quill and a small ink pot, small hair clips to pick locks, a compass and a warm but small blanket from her closet. She took her black cloak and fastened it around her shoulders with the violet butterfly pendant. Glancing at her nightstand, Twilight saw her wand sitting there. Without even thinking she grabbed it and tied it to her belt. Tying her boots tightly, Twilight tried to remember where her parents are at this time. Standing up from her bed, she dusted off her dress, remembering Star and Toffee are most likely in the study or their personal library, which is in the west wing.
Twilight walked to her door and waited for Morgana. Looking at her bedroom, Twilight grew a little sad. The Kingdom of Mewni was pretty far from the north and she has never been outside the castle grounds. Who knows when she sees her bed or her favorite writing desk again. The movement of the door brought Twilight back from her musings. Morgana poked her through the door and gave Twilight a small smile. "Are you ready, love?" Twilight smiled back with a small quirk of her lips. "As ready as I will ever be." she answered as the two women made their way through the palace. Morgana suddenly stopped in her tracks, signaling Twilight to get behind her. A couple of high-ranking guards walked past them without saying a word. "Be on your guard. It looks like your parents are moving about, meaning their most loyal guards are around and you know they won`t turn a blind eye to you." Morgana whispered. Twilight nodded and they started moving again.
Turning another corner, they finally made it to the east wing library. Max and William were already there with a few other soldiers, with who Twilight has trained with in the past. "There you guys are! I was already wondering if the old snake forgot about our little mission." the werewolf cheered. Morgana hurried next to him and slapped him. "Be quiet! High-ranks are on the move! And who are you calling an old snake, you dog!" Morgana whisper-shouted at him. The other soldiers started whispering among themselves, growing nervous about the danger lurking around. Max rubbed his cheek but nodded in understanding. "Twilight, here is the map of the mountain glen and the Forest of Certain Death. Thanks to our scouts, we were able to mark out the safest and fastest way to the kingdom`s capital. It is marked red on the map." William spoke up as he handed the rolled up map to Twilight. The girl nodded and placed the map into her satchel. "And for the record, we used glow-in-the-dark ink, so you can see the path during the night." William sheepishly added. "Thank you." Twilight whispered back with a small smile.
"Twilight, come here." Morgana said from the table behind them. Walking over, there was a huge map of the castle on the table. "We are here at the moment. The secret exit to the woods is here." Max started explaining, pointing from their location to the southern tower. "If the high-ranks are patrolling this hour, it means Mistress and Master are also moving about." William added. "That is right. We need to sneak through the grand hall, the place where they most likely are." Morgana said. "How are we going to get past there?" One of the soldiers asked. "I think I know how." Twilight spoke up. Everyone turned their attention to her. "I just recently learned an invisibility spell. But there is a time-limit to how long it lasts and I haven`t cast it on more than one person." she said looking back to the map. "Well, the most important is that you and one of us make it to the southern tower since we all know where the exit is." Max said, placing his finger on his chin. "The spell also doesn`t disguise sound, so we have to be extra quiet when using it." Twilight added with a growing frown. "We can do that. Stealth in part of our training." another soldier added with pride. The others nodded in unison. "Still, after the grand hall, we also have to deal with more high-ranks since there is more of them in the front sections of the castle." Morgana said. "That is why we brought these." Max said as he and the other soldiers raised their weapons and shields. "Are you planning on fighting them? What is wrong with you!? If we cause even a little bit of ruckus, Twilight will be discovered and all of us will be punished!" Morgana whisper-shouted again at Max. "We don`t have a choice. You know how sharp their senses are. Fighting is the only way to get through this. It will also make the perfect distraction for Twilight and someone to sneak away to the exit." the werewolf grabbed Morgana`s wrist before she could slap him again and looked her dead in the eyes. "You are right, I`m sorry." Morgana said with a calmer tone. Max nodded and let go of her wrist.
"Why are you helping me?" Twilight asked quietly, grabbing everyone`s attention. "You will only get in trouble. Why couldn`t you just give me the instructions and let me handle the rest of it?" the young monster looked at everyone at the table with a worried look in her eyes. "Have you ever wondered, that there is a better life waiting for us in Mewni but we haven`t left?" William asked her in return. Twilight shook her head. "It is because we are unable to. Master and Mistress placed a spell on us that forbids us from leaving since they needed soldiers for their plans and servants for the castle." Morgana said, lowering her gaze. Twilight suddenly understood why they are desperate to get her out of here. Because then she can find help and rescue them. "I understand. I will do everything in my power to get you, all of you, out of this cursed castle." Twilight promised with a firm tone. The other monsters looked at her with grateful smiles. "Okay, let`s get going." Max said as he pulled on his helmet and opened the library door.
The group walked quietly across the hall. Max was leading the way, followed by Twilight, William, Morgana and rest of the soldiers. Raising his paw, signaling that High-ranks were walking their way. Ducking behind a wall, they waited patiently as they passed and started moving again. The entire time they were sneaking, Twilight`s heart was pounding in her chest like it wanted to break out of her ribcage. She has never left the castle or even been outside of her room at this time during the night. Her hands were shaking but she tried to hide it by grabbing the skirt of her dress. Twilight felt like she could throw up at any moment. Suddenly, she felt something on her arm. Looking at it, she saw another`s hand on hers. She looked up and locked eyes with William, who gave her a reassuring smile. Twilight gave crooked smile back and continued to follow Max.
"Keep up, soldiers." Max said in the quietest whisper he can manage. The group nodded and walked down the next hallway. The whole castle was a huge maze and if you didn`t know the way, you could get lost really easily. The group finally made it to the back doors of the grand hall. Everyone looked at Twilight as she took her wand from her belt and casted her spell. Twilight learned a while ago to cast spells without speaking the spell out loud. The group felt a cold shiver go down their spines as the spell took effect. They still saw each other but could make out the blurred outlines that surrounded everyone. Morgana was the only one who wasn`t affected by the magic. They agreed she was going to be their shield/distraction. Taking a breath, the woman opened the door to the grand hall. As they expected, Star was there, using magic to write numerous reports at the same time. Different quills, papers, envelopes and pens floated around the room. The woman in the center looked up from her work at the sound of the door opening. "I apologize for disturbing you, Mistress. I just need to get through." Morgana apologized as she started slithering across the room, going to the main entrance of the hall. Unknownst to Star, the rest of the company was quietly walking behind Morgana, her slithering sound disguising any other sound coming from the group.
"Morgana, may I ask you something." Star suddenly spoke up. The servant stopped suddenly in her tracks and rest of the group walked into each other, trying to make as little noise as possible. "Of course, Mistress. What is it that you wish to know?" Morgana asked as she felt the group quietly start walking to the door again. The spell had started fading.
With a frown on his face, Toffee was making his way to Twilight`s room. Why was always he the one to bring her messages? Did Star just not know where her room was and to save herself the embarrassment, she asks Toffee to do it? Now that is an amusing thought. With an amused smile, Toffee signaled the soldiers following him to wait outside the door.
"Twilight, tomorrow morning you will-" the lizard started to speak but stopped abruptly when he saw the room was empty and the lights were out. Maybe she was in her bathroom? Toffee walked deeper into the room and opened the door that led into the connected bathroom. Opening it, Toffee found a cold and dark bathroom with no Twilight. Stepping into the main room again, he started looking around. She wasn`t on the windowsill, not behind the bed either. That is when he saw a lump under the duvet. Grabbing the fabric, he tore the duvet from the bed. Under the covers were just pillows piled to look like someone was sleeping there. Panic was starting to rise in Toffee as he looked around the room, trying to figure out where Twilight might be hiding. But that was when he noticed the missing parchments from her desk and the slightly open closet door where clothes were obviously missing. Toffee tore the closet door fully open and his eyes went wide with panic and surprise. Twilight`s warmest clothes, satchel and spare blanket were missing. The lizard`s mind started racing as he tried to find a reason why all of these things were gone. Overcome by paranoia, Toffee dashed out of the room in the direction of the grand hall.
He had to find Star.
"Do you... Ahem, Do you think I have been a good parent?" Star asked her servant. Morgana was taken aback, not expecting Star to bring something up they talked about years ago. "Well, Mistress, Twilight smart, strong and polite. Those are all good signs you have thought her well." the older monster replied, feeling sweat roll down the nape of her neck. The group was almost at the door but they can`t open it on their own without being discovered. "I know I have been a good teacher but have I been a good mother?" Star continued, her face growing more worried by the second. This was the first time she was alone with Morgana in a long time and she had some things to tell her, most importantly why she left the Butterfly Castle. She hasn`t spoken to anyone about it, not even Toffee, and it was growing heavier in her heart each day. "Morgana, there is something-" the mewmian was abruptly cut off as Toffee pushed open the second entrance doors, all sweaty and eyes full of panic. Star`s softer expression turned into her usual cold one as she turned to the tired lizard. "What do you want?" she asked, annoyed by being interrupted.
"It is about Twilight. She is missing!" Toffee shouted with built up anger at her partner. Star`s own eyes went wide at that as she turned to a very worried Morgana. "I will gather the servants and ask them if they have seen her. Excuse me." Morgana bowed quickly and hurried to the main door. "I will have the guards search the castle and I will..." Toffee trailed off as he and Star looked in the direction of Morgana.
There she stood, with a panicked look, and Twilight. She was dressed in her warmest dress, boots and her black cloak. She was obviously dressed for traveling. With her were a few soldiers, including Max, one of the generals, and William, the youngest soldier they had.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Toffee shouted as his face grew dark with anger. High-ranks poured in behind him and the company could hear footsteps of the other high-ranks closing in. Twilight took a deep breath as she closed her eyes and took out her wand. When she opened them again, Star and Toffee could clearly see the fire in them. The desire to live and be free. Twilight`s wand also manifested its blade, surprising everyone in the room. Star`s own eyes started glowing green and a magical aura started forming around her.
"Where do you think you are going?" Star asked with her dark tone.
"I am going to the Kingdom of Mewni." Twilight countered back with an equally terrifying voice.
All Hell broke loose.