A/N: Breather ahoy! Just a little in-between action chapter, because what's a world without worldbuilding? Mind you, every chapter has a detail, so if you must blink, do it now. If you do so later, you will certainly miss something!
Than with Vinegar
You wake up feeling refreshed and calm. Despite yesterday's rough start of wrestling, kidnapping, and rescuing, the Diaz household seems stable. Putting on the school uniform, you have just enough time to greet Marco and Mrs. Diaz, eat a hardy breakfast that strangely didn't have corn, and head out to school.
"Ok, so a few things," Marco begins, double-checking his blazer's appearance, "I don't know if you knew this, but we have the same classes, so I'll be around to help you out if you need it, okay?"
"You bet!" you say excitedly. "I'm eager to see more of this 'human magic' this world has!"
"It's just technology, Sirius," Marco rolled his eyes, but with much less sarcasm than yesterday. "It's not that big a deal. Also, speaking of... the 'M' word, try to avoid using that. If Safety Patrol sees anything, well, out of the ordinary... and Brittney's already gunning for you..."
You wave off his concern. "Please, I'm not worried about Bratily. I can handle her. I can handle anything!"
WOOF! Was your only warning, as a furry missile knocks you over. Looks like Heartstopper did not like being left behind...
"Can handle anything, huh?" Marco teased as he helps you up. "You can't bring him to school, you know." Heartstopper seemed to understand that, as he snarled at the preteen.
"Sorry, my faithful steed," you kneel so you're at his eye level, "but Marco does know more about this world. If he says you can't come to school with me..." Heartstopper seemed unmoved. Right, time to break out the big guns.
"Even if you go home right now, I can always call you back to dominate and trample all who stand against me~" As he turns his nose up at you, you poke his jowl. "Also, I will owe you a grooming and treats later~" Heartstopper glances at you with one eye, before tapping the ground four times. "You got it! Four of the juiciest apples I can find!"
Mollified, the disguised warnicorn trots back in the direction of the Diazes. Marco blinks. "A horse disguised as a dog demanded a bribe... that may never not be weird."
As the two of you arrive at school, Marco breaks off to attend to his Patrol duties, leaving you to find your way to your first class... and you immediately become hopelessly lost! Marco made this look easy yesterday, did the whole school change layouts overnight?
Suddenly, you hear the warning bell! Shit! Which classroom was it!? You frantically try everything – counting the room numbers, asking for directions – to no avail, as the tardy bell rings! You look around at the alarmingly empty hallway. This could not get any worse-
"Well well well~ If it isn't the new kid?" Oh... that's how. You turn around to look at that annoyance from yesterday. "Are we lost? Need help finding your classroom, newbie~?"
You shoot Brittney a smarmy smile. "If you're offering, please lead the way."
Brittney frowns a bit at that. "Hmph. Is that any way to greet the Queen of this school? I will let it slide today, but you're on thin ice." She swipes your schedule and leads you down the hallway. "Here. Enjoy Algebra. Oh right! One more thing... here you go!" She presents you with a slip of paper.
"Um... thank you?" you shrug as you take the paper.
"... you have no idea what it is, huh?" The haughty wench 'oh-ho-ho's' in your face again. "Why, that's a demerit. Good for one whole month of detention!"
What!?
You give this... person the coldest stare you can muster. She doesn't wither, but it makes you feel better. "I'm sensing detention's a punishment. Why am I getting it?"
Brittney gives a very fake gasp. "Why Sirius! Do you not realize the rules you broke? Being late to class midway through the year is classified in our Code of Conduct! You have read the Student Code of Conduct, right?" The girl's smile hid a layer of smugness as she looked down her nose at you.
"One, I only just got here. Two, I had no idea there was even a code of conduct because I only just got here!" you snap back.
Brittney raises an unimpressed eyebrow. "Ignorance of the law does not mean you may flaunt it at your convenience. Besides, enforcement of these rules comes from the top. Over the principal's head." Right. Mr. Tilian the Fun Meiser. Would he seriously make rules this strict!?
"Of course, as the head of Safety Patrol, I hear and understand your pain," Brittney smile-sneers at you. "I can facilitate a loophole that makes all of this a misunderstanding. After all,... a benevolent queen always helps her subjects."
Oh. That's what this is about. Her control vs. your pride.
"What exactly does this deal entail?" you ask carefully.
"Deal?" she seemed genuinely surprised, save for the cutting look she was giving you. "You mean you would give back to me as thanks for sparing your social standing and permanent record? Well, I could use a new best friend, an aide..." Her smile grows downright sinister. "A toady."
She immediately perks up before you can respond. "I'm a very busy girl, you see! I could always use more help! Plus, I'd prefer to have a handsome, rich, one-of-a-kind guy on my arm. My own private Prince Charming~!" She looks you up and down, then wrinkles her nose. "But I guess you'll do."
Finally, the gears click together! She just wants a friend! You're not really thrilled to be a forced volunteer, but being friendly is one of the few things you can do without (major) damage!
"Well, if that's all," you scoff, before readjusting a little; when assuming proper etiquette, the first thing is always to appear graceful, yet strong. You take a stiff bow. "Prince Sirius Butterfly would be honored to be your steward for the time being."
Brittney blinks at your display, probably speechless for the first time since you've met her. She shakes it off and gives you a look. "Just get to class, New Kid! Oh, and hand over that demerit." Paper slip in hand, Brittney walked off to parts unknown, leaving you to your own devices again.
As the day progresses, you find yourself at lunch. You look around and see that Marco's not at any table. He was not kidding about those duties he had... Jackie's table is swarming with people who seemed as chill as her. She shoots you a smile, but there's no room over there.
Looks like there was only one open table, where two guys, one with an afro, were talking and laughing. The minute you arrive at the free space, Afro flinches. "A-ah! The Flip Kid!"
The larger of the two laughed. "Oh yeah, Flip Kid! Man, did you see how he grappled with Marco? Woo, I'd pay money to see that-" His friend turned him around to face you. "...uh. Hi."
"Hey. Name's Sirius." They look at you, half-impressed, half-fearful. "Can I sit down here?" The two trade looks briefly, before just nodding dimly.
As you take a seat, the afroed one spoke up. "So... you're, like, so awesome-"
"Alfonso!" the short and squat one elbowed his friend before smiling at you. "Excuse my friend. He doesn't know how to act outside of his house. I'm Ferguson, and that's Alfonso. Glad to have you at the Cool Table. Anyone who can beat Marco in a straight-up fight is always welcome here."
"Don't like Marco all that much?" you take a bite of your... meat patty... thing, chewing slowly.
Ferguson chuckled. "Oh, you misunderstand... Due to the sitch we find ourselves in, Al and I are playing the 'former best friends' roles, until such a time-"
"We don't hate him, but we aren't crazy about him either," Alfonso put in, cutting his friend off.
As Ferguson tried to recover his air of sophistication, you have a spork-full of veggies. "So, is Marco really that strong? You make it sound like he's unbeatable."
Alfonso nodded. "It's not that he's strong, it's just..." he trails off, and both of them look toward another of those dome things. Alfonso turns back to you. "I... can't really explain..."
Okay, this is getting silly. That weird thing on the wall keeps making people clam up! As you test the durability of the spork, contemplating its use as a weapon, you speak. "Well, let's go somewhere you can explain. I'm free any time after school."
The pair once more traded looks, more relieved ones this time, and stated they hang out in the arcade at Creek Center – a shopping plaza with a big fountain... except the fountain was now getting repaired. Some dingus drove a carriage into it.
As you agree, the spork you'd been testing for flexibility and strength flew from your hand. "Ow! My eye!" The three of you decide to vacate the lunch area, on the new blindside of one very large Safety Patrol officer.
Once you're home, you change back into your favorite shirt and you look around at all the unopened chests in your room. "I did not realize I packed so much. Hey, Marco!" You invade the Latino's room, where he immediately flails with a really thin book, like the one Glossaryck was reading last night. He stuffs it under his pillow, before getting up.
"Hey- hey! Hi, man. What's up?" He looks a little nervous and sweaty, but it is very hot in Echo Creek, so you don't fault him. You take him back to your bedroom and show him the pile of luggage. "Y-you want to unpack all of this? Sirius, there's no way all of this will fit in this room."
You look from Marco to your stuff; maybe he had brought too much, but it was your first time living anywhere but Butterfly Castle. If only you had more space-! Oh, idea! "Weeeeeeell," a grin spreads across your face slowly, as you pull out the Royal Magic Wand, "maybe I could... expand on that? Eh? Eh?"
Marco looked both parts interested and fearful. "Sirius, are you sure about that? I don't know if you can do that..."
"Not with that attitude!" You cheer as your Wand lights up.
"Sirius, I thought you said you have to be careful with how much magic you do," Marco pointed out, slowly backing away, Heartstopper following suit.
"Relax, I'll just focus on enlarging the room," you assure the worriers, "not changing the house. Now... time to REDECORATE!" With that, you slam the Wand down in staff mode, bathing the room in blue light!
As the light receded, the room's occupants blinked at the change in structure. Not only was the floor space a little wider, but the room now had a second-floor loft, complete with a spiral staircase to reach it.
"Hm. Not bad." Both kids, and one dog, jumped as Glossaryck appeared next to them, munching on a bag of potato chips. "Not great, either. Were you trying to grow a tower from the house?"
"What!?" Marco croaked, before booking it outside.
You and Heartstopper race after him. "Grab me a soda when you see me again," Glossaryck called after you. You meet Marco outside of the house and -! Good corn! There's a tower coming out of Marco's house!
"My house has a tower," Marco stated blankly.
"Well," you smile nervously, "I think it... adds character?"
"My house has a tower," Marco repeated.
"I'm so sorry, Marco," you plead to your first Earth friend. "I-I was just trying to recreate my room from back home!"
"My house... has a tower," Marco said once more.
"Yes, yes," Glossaryck spoke up, now sitting on Marco's head, "you've said that already. Really, the novelty's old. Sirius, where's my soda?"
"Glossaryck!" If anyone could help unscrew this up, it'd be him! "Please teach me how to fix this! I just need it to be bigger on the inside, not this!"
Glossaryck scratched his beard in thought. "Well... Nah. This was your spell, so until you get to a level you can even perform such a spell, the tower stays. I will however spare young Marco from having to explain this." With a wave of his hand, the djinn made the tower seemingly vanish.
"Tower... gone from house?" Marco muttered, still looking at the space the tower was just occupying.
"Just a glimmer. Much easier than a live magical animal," Glossaryck muttered the last part of his sentence, eyeing Heartstopper out of the corner of his eye. The djinn addresses you again. "No magic lesson today. I'm surprised you haven't passed out from overexertion yet."
"Overex-wha?" That last part was both a question and the exhaustion setting in, Marco moving to catch you.
"Do remember," Glossaryck spoke, as he floated back to the house, "your body has trouble with magic. Too much, without knowing the cost, you might find yourself in dire straits one day..."
"Whoa, easy," Marco helps you inside, as you try to get the room to stop spinning. "You okay, Sirius? Need to sit down?"
"I'm... I'll be fine," you groan through dry lips; you feel like all the moisture in your throat was just sucked out! "Just... need to sit for a second... or an hour... two tops." While Marco did get you to the couch, his kindness did not end there; for the next two hours, he got you some water, some soup, a trash can when the water and soup did not take, and some minty tea.
In no time, you were back on your feet – and you felt practically at 100! Well, 70 out of 100, as your magic felt really low still, but you were well enough to tackle that room! Between you and Marco, who could lift a surprising amount for his size, the whole room was set up and organized (Marco insisted on doing that; he even had measuring tape and labels to make sure everything had a place. Your weapons chest had never looked so... neat.).
When the two of you step back to admire your handiwork, it was a thing of beauty: while your Magic Mirror hung on the far wall, the wall parallel from the foot of your bed had a desk, where the Spellbook, Scroll of the Dragon, Scissors, and your personal Mirror rested. On the loft were some beanbags, and your weapons chest. No doubt about it – It wasn't Mewni, but this room was set!
The next morning, as you and Marco eat a hearty breakfast of huevos ranchero, Mrs. Diaz speaks up. "Marco, Sirius~ Don't forget, today's Early Dismissal."
"Early Dismissal?" you ask, as you toss an apple slice to Heartstopper. "Is that like a Magic Missile?"
Marco rolled his eyes, missing the Warni-dog sneaking away with some of his bacon. "Not really. Every Wednesday, teachers have a meeting, so students can leave school early."
As Marco looks back at his plate ("Hey, where's my bacon?"), Mr. Diaz walks into the kitchen. "Morning, boys! And buenos dias, mi hermosa flor."
"Oh, Rafael~" That was the only warning you and Marco got as the two adults greeted each other... very affectionately.
"Eugh, Mom, Dad! I'm eating over here!" Marco complained, shielding his eyes.
"You should be taking notes, or asking for tips" you point out cheerily, tossing out another apple slice that was lost to swift canine jaws. "Jackie might be into that sort of passion."
Marco blinked at that. "Ah, you're still on that? Look, Jackie and me... there's no way that's happening..."
"But she did help you when you were captured," you point out.
"Yeah..." Marco trailed off, looking away sadly. "Look, do whatever you want. I won't be walking home with you today, so... make sure you don't, like, set something on fire, I guess." With that, he gets up to grab his backpack leaving you at the table."
"He's got it real bad," you mutter, as Heartstopper jumps on the table to finish the leftover meal. "Don't worry, man. I can fix this, just give me time to work out what to do..."
As the last period of the day rolls around, you perform the usual (human) stretches in your gym clothes with Marco. The coach blows his whistle (which you remind yourself is not the sound of a bloodthirsty monster about to attack) for everyone's attention.
"Alright, cupcakes! Clean out your ears cause it I repeat myself; you repeat the whole class! Today we're doing sprints, so line up when I call your name. First name'll be in Line A, next one in Line B, and we'll keep going in that pattern."
As you line up, you glance at your opponent... who is built like a brick house. This guy looked like a knight trainee! Wasn't he the other Patrol that was with Brittney once?
Before long, the coach called out, "Armsburg! And... Butterfly! You're up!" As you head to the starting line, you hold your hand for a friendly handshake.
"Wait, is the new kid going up against Justin?" one kid whispered to his friend.
"He's a Junior and when we had a team, wasn't he the quarterback?" the girl whispered back. "Shrimp's toast." You hold back your mirth; these guys don't know what they're talking about! Your magic might need work, but one thing any Mewman was very good at, it's running. After all, you can't fight every monster.
The coach called for attention. "Alright, boys. At the sound of the whistle, run like your life depends on it! 3... 2... FWEEET-"
FWOOSH! And Justin almost eats asphalt on his takeoff, as you blow past him! You reach 500 meters 5 whole seconds before the beefcake. You look back to see Justin, the coach, and most of the class looking at you slack-jawed. The few exceptions: Marco, looking like he was trying not to bust a gut laughing, Jackie, shaking her head, and Beanie Girl, who finally looked up with something else other than ambivalence.
"Nice hustle, buddy!" you call out to the jock, before holding out a hand. "Name's Sirius Butterfly. Who're you?"
The boy seems to pause at the greeting, almost like his brain was still buffering, but he eventually shakes your hand. "Justin... um, Justin Armsburg..."
"Great! Gotta say you are in great shape!" You lightly punch his melon-sized bicep. "I knew there'd be people who can keep up with me here, but wow! You look tough, and you can haul butt – even with those muscles! Keep it up, man!"
Justin was still standing there stunned for a minute before the coach got class back underway. All in all, this had been a fun period!
After school and a quick snack, you make up your mind on which of your magic studies to focus on next. "I've put it off long enough," you say as you approach your desk, where the Scroll of the Dragon sits. "Let's see what you've got for me."
You open the scroll... and see most of it is written in an unknown language. Crap, note to self – learn other languages. "How do I... wait a minute..." Squinting at the margins, you see familiar handwriting that seems to be translating all the above messages. "Kagami... Alright, let's see what this does."
Honorable Warrior,
Congratulations.
If you hold this Scroll
It means you have earned your Gift,
However – stand fast!
In your hands is not power,
But knowledge. Follow these words,
And soon you will soar,
As our ancestors have.
(As the rest is more flowery language, I took the liberty of simplifying it. You're welcome –Kagami)
How to discover your Dragon Gift
Day 1: To earn the senses of a Dragon, you must shield your eyes and let your third eye guide you.
Day 2: To earn the fighting spirit of a Dragon, you must run 10 miles in 20 minutes.
Day 3: To earn the lungs of a Dragon, you must sit in a heat haze of their breath. (I'll spare you the math. It's 50 degrees Celsius.)
Day 4: To earn the tongue of the Dragon, you must drink Oni Blood and live.
Day 5: To earn the scales of a Dragon, you must swim the Oden River when the sun is highest
Day 6: To know the flight of a Dragon, you must fall from Heaven. (Around 1,000 miles.)
Day 7: To earn the claws of a Dragon, you must strike iron fresh from the furnace 10,000 times.
Now, the rules:
1) Do not do these out of order!
2) Do not do more than one task a day! Your body will need to rest after performing these tasks.
3) Do not try to cheat! If your body cannot 100% take this, then you will only hurt yourself, and shame your memory to others! (The original text is... a bit more damning. Just be careful)
Only after you have done all of this, will your Gift be earned.
I wish you safe passage on your trials, young warrior.
"Oh... is that all..." The amount and extremeness of it all was a bit unnerving, but you could do this. This was just going to take a week at best... "Well, no time like the present. The first step was... 'shield my eyes and let my third eye guide me.' ...I only have the two though. I might need help with this..."
You call up Tom on the Magic Mirror. After a few rings, he picks up but seems to be talking to someone. "No, damn it – that soul belongs in the Circle of Starvation, not the Lake of Fire!" He paused as if listening to someone speak. "How can I tell!? His fucking ribs are showing through his skin!"
As you hear someone run off in tears, Tom takes the time to calm himself, before addressing you with a calm, if brittle, smile. "Hey, man. Long time no see. How's... E-Arth going? Am I pronouncing that right?"
You laugh at your friend's confused face. "Sounds like the Underworld is pretty busy?"
Tom groaned as he exhaustedly massaged his face. "You have no idea! I cannot wait for the 'rents to come home from vacation – these soulless mounts are so brainless, too! So, what's new with you?"
"Oh, it's great!" you cheer. "I've already made new friends, and, like, one mortal enemy..."
"Only you, man," Tom shakes his head in disbelief. "Sorry we haven't hung in a while, but next chance I get, I'm coming for a visit!"
"Can't wait! Oh yeah, I was also attacked by monsters the other day," you toss in, then note Tom's shocked face.
"Wait, what!? You were attacked!? Already!?" Tom pinched the bridge of his nose, as his third eye looked around frantically. "Dude, you just got there..."
"Wasn't my fault!" you defend. "They figured out where I was, and tracked me down. But don't worry! I sent them packing! Besides, that's not why I called you today."
Tom takes some calming breaths, his anxiety-fueled flames receding before he looks at you again. "...Okay. What's up?" You explain the Scroll and the trials written; Tom gives you a flat look. "...Did you call me because of my third eye?" he asks, pointing to said part.
"If I said yes..." you trail off, trying to look unconvincedly innocent.
"Not that kinda third eye, man," Tom retorts. "A 'third eye' is more spiritual and mental – gunk like that."
"Well, you've got like 667 souls in you," you point out, "and Glossaryck's hardly any help. So, don't you know anything about this?"
Tom scratched his chin in thought. "Well... my aunt Asura said that you can only open your third eye when all others are closed. Maybe, like, blindfold yourself, and do something that requires sight?"
That sent your brain whirling. "No sight, huh? Well, either by fighting or anything else, I'll just have to do everything blindfolded! Did your aunt say anything else?"
Tom scrunches up his face in thought. "Well, I think you work it out when meditating."
"Media- oh! I've done that! I know what to do! Thanks, Tom!" You hang up swiftly, excited by the idea of what new ability this could create. Rapping on the Spellbook, it opens up, Glossaryck making a house of cards. "Glossaryck! Mediating's like dipping down, right!?"
Your yelling brings down the tower, and Glossaryck gives you a slightly irked glare. "Hm. Yes, I suppose it does. In fact, I can help you expedite the process of your self-training. Or, you can just use that training fight dummy your father packed. Your choice," he said with all the finality of an executioner.
For what might be the first time in history, you step away from an obvious trap and choose the dummy. With a strip of cloth wrapped around your head and over your eyes and Wand staff in hand, you're ready to get your third eye open!
'Ok,' you coach yourself, 'all I need to do is hit this dummy a few times, and I'll awaken my third eye? Easy!' Sure enough, your first swing connects with the dummy! However, you were unprepared for the hit to spin your target! You grazed the arm on one rotation, but the second one smacked you right in the face!
As you grumble about your sore cheek, the dummy... actually laughs! "Hehehe! Who's your daddy?"
"Why you!" Heartstopper bites your pants leg as you try to go over and wreck the piece of driftwood!
Later, still grumbling from your humiliating defeat by dope slap, you pick up your portable Mirror, with a small smile. "Chloe gave me her mirror number," you muse. "I'd be nice to hear from her. It'd certainly cheer me up..." You dial in her number and wait. Finally, the image turns on, but it's not Chloe.
"Um, hello?" the nervous redhead speaks up. "This is the mirror of Chloe Bourgeois, Heir to the Bourgeois Family, and the Princess of the Ghaulic Peninsula! In the name of her Great Light, whom may I inform is calling?"
You grin; time to freak her out... "Well, this Prince Sirius Butterfly, Heir to the Mewni Throne, Holder of the Magic Wand, and Tamer of Wild Warnicorns! I request Miss Bourgeois' presence on this call right now!"
The boisterous attitude worked; the girl turned pale as a sheet as she rushed off to grab Chloe. There was a small bout of silence, before a loud "WHAT!?" sounded over the connection. What sounded like hurried footsteps came closer to the surface, before Chloe's smiling visage popped up. "Sirikins! Hello~ I wasn't expecting a call so soon! How have you been?"
"Fabulous, darling! Just grand!" you mimic her over-the-top greeting, before adopting a more open appearance. "But seriously, I miss you, Chloe."
The blonde's face breaks out in red, before looking away, as she messed with her hair. "G-geez, there you go again, not playing to form. Really..." As her blush recedes, she looks back at the mirror.
"When I'd heard what that bitch tried to do, I asked Daddy if we could hire bounty hunters to find her! He didn't say no, but he keeps dragging his feet! As if he really cannot find 50 bounty hunters! Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!" She frowned as she filed her nails as if they were holding up the manhunt.
"Oh, don't you worry, Chloe. I'll find her," you grin like a lion thinking of his next meal. "And when I do, I will personally kick her face in! There's just something more satisfying about hunting down your enemies yourself... before their annihilation."
Chloe shrugged. "I'd prefer someone more suited than moi do such a disgusting task, but I'd still be happy to put her in the guillotine myself..." She judged her nails for a second longer before nodding in approval. "So, I heard you've been sent away... for safety reasons, I imagine? What's it like where you are? How many servants? Towers? What's the view like?"
Your vengeful mood is lifted as you think of your second home. "Oh, Earth is great! Echo Creek is pretty small, I have a great view from the tower I kinda grew from my host family's house, and I have no guards or valets to tell me what to do, wear, or eat! My warnicorn not being able to hang around in full form's a downer, but I've never been so free in my life!"
Chloe blinks at that. "Wait, for real? No servants? So… you can go wherever you want, whenever?" Chloe seems wistful at that before her eyes suddenly widen. "A-ah! I-I-I need to go! Au revoir!" She pauses in her rushed hang-up, and mutters, "...And call back soon."
And before you can say anything, Chloe ends the call, leaving you bemused. Afterward, Dinner passes with no incident... or Marco. According to Mr. And Mrs. Diaz, this is normal for him every Wednesday. In any case, you crash into bed; despite Glossaryck saying you shouldn't be astrally up in the air like last time, your dreams are filled with honey, blonde hair, blue eyes... and stupid wooden hands that slap your face. Damn...
A/N: Well, what's you think? Anything I can do to improve the narrative? Before you go, a discussion topic for you to think on: what kind of power is Dragon Gift? If you want to discuss it, feel free to drop a review of your thoughts. Maybe if you guess right... nah, I shouldn't!