"I think we did it!" Harmony said standing up. Looking around her, the magic had changed from the gross, dark green to the beautiful gold. She picked some up in her hands and threw it in the air. She smiled and collapsed into it. Looking around she saw everyone celebrating, except for one. "Artemis?"
She looked around some more. Quickly she saw him laying on the ground, a good couple of feet away from her. She immediately stood up to run to him but someone beat her to it.
"Greetings young Butterfly," Artemis looked up. Above him was a pure white unicorn with a dark blue mane. Its eyes were gold with no pupils.
"It's you," Artemis said in awe as he sat up. "You're the one who's been calling to me."
"Indeed," the unicorn said as her horn started to glow. "You have made it here. And now it is time for you to fulfill your destiny."
The unicorn's horn lit up bright. From it came a golden orb. In the center of it, was a darker gold half sun. Slowly Artemis reached out for it. As his hand reached it, the orb broke into small wisps of gold that surrounded him. He felt himself slowly being lifted up into the air. The wisps from in front of him formed into the same sun pattern. Before going into his heart. His body tingled all over and he giggled. When they were all gone, he was lowered back to the grown.
"Artemis!" Artemis felt himself being tackled to the ground. He felt his sister rubbing her face against his.
"Harmony I'm fine," Artemis said a bit annoyed. He pushed her off him. He started to brush himself off a little. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Artemis," Harmony began in a mix of shock and awe. "You-you have cheek marks?"
"I do?" Artemis asked quietly. He placed a hand on his cheek. Nothing felt different to him. He started feeling around frantically.
"Artemis!" Marco said catching up to the two of them. "I'm so sorry that this is how you found out. I've tried to tell you for a while but I was unable. Don't worry... Harmony what is he doing?"
"Dad, he has cheek marks now!" Harmony cheered as Artemis was frantically rubbing his cheeks.
"I can't feel anything!" Artemis cried in annoyance. He slowly lowered his hands from his face.
Marco walked over and placed his hands on Artemis's shoulder. Tears were starting to form in his eyes. "Trust me Artemis they're there. Bright orange half suns."
"You mean I can actually do magic?" Artemis asked in disbelief. Marco nodded. Artemis started crying and hugged his dad tightly. They remained there before someone behind them coughed. Artemis rolled his eyes to himself before letting go. Instead of his sister, he saw an older woman smiling at him warmly.
"Hello there dear," The woman said kneeling down. Artemis looked over at his father who gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Um hello," Artemis said with a small wave. He looked at the woman with a mix of confusion and intrigue.
"Artemis this is your grandmother," Marco explained gestured to the woman. Artemis slowly walked towards her. Moon held out her arms. When Artemis got close enough to her, she pulled him close to her. Artemis sat there for a moment before hugging her as well.
"My aren't you a sweet boy," Moon let go out him and held his face in her cheeks. "I can already tell there's a lot of magic in you."
"I hope so," Artemis said glancing down at his hands. Before he could think of anything else. Harmony held him tightly Artemis pouted a little and tried to escape.
"Harmony stop it!" He yelled successfully pushing her off him.
"I'm sorry it's just," Harmony paused for a moment. Artemis's face painted in anger still staring her down. "What can I do, to prove I meant no harm to you."
Artemis stood silent. His face changed from a look of anger to a look of somber. He looked down. When he spoke it was firm but also soft. "No more secrets."
Harmony took his hands in hers. "I promise."
"And we'll no longer be separated," Marco said joining the two. The three of them embraced in a hug. "Ever again."
"Star!" Star heard someone call behind her. She turned and saw none other than her mother. Standing in all her glory. Just she remembered her. Before she foolishly threw it all away.
"Mom!" Star called. She ran to embrace her but Moon disappeared. Star collapsed on the ground. "I'm so sorry Mother! Please believe me! I am!"
"Missing someone I see," a strange but all to familiar voice called to Star.
"Glossaryck?" Star asked looking up. The strange little blue man floated down to in front of her face. "How..?"
"No time for that," Glossaryck said holding up one of his hands. "Now as I understand you're missing your missing your mother."
"Yes," Star embraced herself, her eyes just filling up in tears. "I just want to see her again and apologize."
"Even if it means magic coming back." Star looked at him in shock. "Your most world-changing decision. Even bigger than that, universe changing. Are you willing to undo it all."
"Who knows who else has lost family without the use of magic?" Star asked to herself. "There hasn't been a single day in the past eighteen years where I didn't regret my actions. So yes, I would like to undo my wrongs."
"Very well." Glossaryck created a golden heart the flew into her. The world around her crumbled until she was back in her room in the home. The dull grey wall angered her more than usual. She looked at the photo on her nightstand. Gently she held it and smiled. It was of her and her family shortly after her little Artemis was born. The last time she could remember she felt truly happy.
"Don't worry babies. Mommy will be back soon." Star kissed the picture gently before placing it back in its space. Slowly she stood up. She knew one of the caretakers would be in with antidepressants, despite how many of them failed. Walking by her mirror she halted. Running towards she stared into it. Her cheek marks were back. "It can't be."
Artemis woke up feeling very groggy. Slowly he got up and climbed out of a rather fancy bed. He yawned as he looked around confused. This wasn't his bedroom. Despite its large size, it felt very empty. Memories of the past day flowing back to him. The Realm of Magic. His counterpart. Magic. Everything he ever dreamed about was real. He ran towards the nearest window. Opening it to see a strange, beautiful world.
"I'm on Mewni!" He cheered. He ran to a small mirror. The orange suns still on his face. He started to jump around. "I'm gonna do magic."
Laughing he ran out of his room. Running through all the halls, he took it all in. It was even better than he could ever imagine.
"Who's the weird kid?" Artemis froze and saw a group of young guards whispering to each other.
"I think he's the princess' brother," Another explained.
"Princess Harmony has a brother!"
Artemis frowned before marching away. He started to mumble under his breath.
"Would you guys stop whispering and get to duty," Artemis looked up and saw a slightly older guard march up to them. Everyone froze a bit before scurrying off. "Everything alright You Highness?"
"Yes," Artemis said quietly. He noticed some spots of green on the guard's face. "I think you got something on your cheek."
"Oh, that's part of my skin. See." The guard removed one of his gloves to reveal that it was the same green color as the spots of his face.
"Wow," Artemis said looking at it. He then noticed the guard had a tail but part of it was missing.
"Training accident this morning. Don't worry it will be back in half in an hour." The guard smiled sweetly at him. "You hungry?"
"Yeah," Artemis said quietly.
"Come on I'll bring you to the dining hall. You like pancakes?" Artemis nodded slowly. The guard pulled out what looked like one of Harmony's compact mirrors. "There we go."
The guard led Artemis through the halls. Seemingly he knew every single shortcut and secret passage. When they got to the dining room, Artemis saw his grandparents sitting at the table. Already eating and fulling dressed. Artemis looked at his pajamas and squeaked a little. He noticed a girl around his sister's age standing by the table.
"Artemis dear there you," Moon said gleefully. "Come dear don't be shy sit down."
Artemis slowly walked over an empty chair. The girl pushed it for him. Much to Artemis's surprise.
"Thank you for helping him Cole," Moon said as the guard started to leave. He gave her a small wave before exiting the room.
"He didn't anything did he?" the girl asked.
"No," Artemis said shaking his head. He looked around and saw the other chairs were empty. "Where's Harmony."
"She already ate," the girl started to leave the room. "I'm going to make sure she hasn't killed Kit already."
"Ah there's a young prince," a chef said walking into the room. He placed a plate full of pancakes in front of him. The fluffiest Artemis had ever seen. "Here you. Enjoy."
"Thank you!" Artemis said excitedly taking the container of maple syrup to pour on it. He took a bite of one. Much better than the frozen ones he had at home.
"Juice?" A servant asked and Artemis nodded. He filled up a glass of it, before placing the pitcher near. "Feel free to help yourself."
"Here you go boy," River said pushing a bunch of bacon on his plate. "You're a growing boy. You need plenty of energy."
"Oh thank you," Artemis said taking a small bite. It was very crispy and salty. It had been a long time since he had bacon this good. Especially since Harmony insisted on only having turkey bacon.
"Um, Grandma?" Artemis asked after a bit.
"What is it dear?" Moon asked before taking a sip of tea.
"How long do you think it will take until I can do magic?"Artemis looked down.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news." Moon slowly placed her teacup down. "But there is no way to tell for sure. As the second-born, unless Harmony allows you to borrow the wand, you won't be able to do magic until you learn to dip down. The age of that occurring depends on the user. I was nineteen when I learned how to do so, while your mother was still fourteen. The only for certain prerequisite is going through Mewberity. And you are around the age for that to occur."
"That doesn't hurt does it?" Artemis asked in a panic.
"No, you'll barely remember it." Moon paused for a brief moment. "But now that I think of it, this magic could be very different than what I know before. As long as you keep at it, you'll be performing magic before you know it."
"Star?" Marco asked walking into her room.
"Marco!" Star yelled running over to him. She quickly buried her face in the shoulder. "Marco it's back. Magic's back."
"I know," Marco said gently.
"The kids." Star started to shake.
"They're fine." Star looked up at him. She could tell from his face he wasn't lying. "You know, I have gotten so used to you without them that it looks weird seeing you with cheek marks back."
Star laughed a little before placing a hand on her cheek. "Marco..."
"I know," Marco said before she could finish.
"But I didn't even finish." She noticed that Marco had a duffle bag on his shoulder. She gasped a little.
"If you think you're ready too." Marco started to move the bag off his arm. "We can get you home."
"Magical Color Blast!" Harmony yelled holding her wand in front of her. As usual, nothing happened, except for some small sparks. "This is hopeless!"
"Can we do something else?" Kit yawned before collapsing on the grass.
"Not until I create one spell!" Harmony demanded. Holding on to her wand tightly.
"Maybe it will work better if you tried learning a spell first!" Kit yelled gesturing to the spellbook.
"I agree with the Kuting," Glossaryck pointing at Kit with a pudding covered hand. "Oh look there's your brother."
Harmony looked over to seeing Artemis emerge from the golden gates that led to the garden. He looked at his surroundings in awe. Holding a book close on his chest. He noticed a decent size tree. Running over to it, he slowly sat in its shade.
"Wait a minute Artemis is a dude!" Kit exclaimed in shock. Artemis looked at them in surprise.
"Okay I know it's strange he's named after the Greek Goddess of the moon or something like that. But it's actually..." Harmony started to ramble on.
"What I think Kit means is," Azealia said glaring at her. "She's just surprised as a male hasn't born into the line of succession in generations."
"Well that's not true Eclipsa has a son," Harmony shrugged it off.
"But she gave up the throne before Alphonse was born." Kit said shaking her head and one of her fingers. "So he doesn't count."
"Don't worry when fall comes around, you and Artemis will start official lessons so it will all be a breeze."
"Of course even as a princess I can't escape school." Harmony took a deep breath before holding up her wand. She cast the spell a few more times with the same results. After a bit, she noticed Artemis peaking over the edge of his book. When he noticed her looking at him, he quickly looked back to his book.
"I'm not letting you use the wand Artemis!" Harmony yelled at him. He slammed his book close before marching away. "Now where was I?"
"Marco where are we?" Star asked looking around. They were in a vacant lot and from the looks of it. All the buildings seemed to be vacant as well.
"I'm sorry it's just this needs to be private," Marco explained as he got out of the car. Star sat there silently. Soon Marco pulled out a set of scissors before cutting them in the air. The all too familiar glow of a portal illuminated the area.
"Mother," Star said voice breaking. "I'm coming home."