Marco watched the warriors scramble around as they seemed to set things up to welcome a guest for dinner of all things. They laid down a table and set it up with a table cloth and put down dishes as if they were setting up for a romantic dinner for two; with an old fashioned three candle holder making an appearance as well to top it off. Marco shook his head trying to figure out what exactly what they were doing as Mildrew walked up to one of the chairs and sat down putting his sword to the side. The other barbarians formed a group behind him with Selene flanking him on his left and Dumnorix on his right.
"okaaaaaay, this is getting weird." Marco said to himself and double took as food was placed on the table in front of Mildrew and the other seat. "This is getting really weird. You do realize Star is not going to go on a date with you right?" Everyone looked at Marco in confusion with Mildrew shrugging before replying.
"I don't intend it that way, just a way of welcoming her." He then tapped on his sword and a red flash emanated from the gem in the hilt. "Ole hiljaa poika. Hanki valmiita ihmisiä, hän tulee tänne pian." Marco blinked in confusion as the warriors respond with a unified grunt and made ready with Marco responding in confusion.
"Ummm, what did you just do?" When no one responded Marco shouted out again. "Seriously you are beginning to annoy me again." At this Dumnorix turned his head slightly and shook it as if to say his talking would do no good.
Marco was about to yell again but realized something about what had just happened, they were speaking the same language Star was when she turned off her translator. 'So Mildrew was allowing me to understand them just now… interesting.' Marco thought in annoyance as he slumped against the chair trying to keep his mind off of the revelations Dumnorix had given him about the conflict in Mewni. As he waited the warriors seemed to converse with each other even though he didn't understand a word they were saying. After a few minutes however he finally did understand what some of them were saying and shot up straight in his chair which got Mildrew's attention.
"Ah it seems the boy can understand us again, that means she is close. To entrance, don't let her see you, wait for my command." The barbarians other than Selene and Dumnorix went to either side of what appeared to be the main entrance and waited in ambush. 'Oh, I have a bad feeling about this.' Marco thought as he watched the entrance in worry.
Mavis led the way as she began climbing an ancient willow with nine trunks coming out of the ground that looked like something out of a fantasy story in Star's eyes. Buff Frog nodded his head in respect to how well hidden this place was only to nod again when the entrance was revealed to be a trap door in the center of where the trunks connected. Mavis looked up at them and spoke softly and nervously.
"This is the quick entrance to the hide out which turns into a slide to keep people from entering stealthily. However if stealth is the key there are a series of handholds on the inside ceiling which you can use to slip down slowly." Buff Frog nodded again with Mavis opening up the trap door and slipping into the tunnel.
"Well munchkin, time for the princess to rescue her knight da?" Buff Frog smiled at Star who nodded smiling nervously as he went before her looking for the handholds.
The ad hoc trio slipped down the passageway from hand hold to hand hold for a short while before coming to a small closet like space with a door on the opposite side of where they came in. Buff Frog went to open the door but Mavis stopped him shaking her head no and motioned for him to put his ear against the door. As he did so Mavis looked around the left side of the room before finding a hidden nook and opening a small crawl space area. After listening for a few seconds Buff Frog heard something and motioned for Star to go to the crawl space that had just opened up with Star nodding in worry. She slipped through the crawl space easily with Mavis right behind her and Buff Frog bringing up the rear. After crawling for about a minute they emerged into a room that looked like a side sleeping chamber with Mavis speaking up.
"Mildrew most likely knows you are coming and has planned an ambush at the main entrance. If you go out that door and down the hallway to your left you will come to the main gathering area. I will go to the main entrance and enter to try and distract everyone while you take on-"
"Hold up there." Buff Frog cut Mavis off fixing her in a distrustful gaze. "Why should we trust you. You seek the wand and would be alright with Star being dead." Star shuddered at the thoughts that had been at the back of her mind for a while as Mavis answered stoutly.
"Yes I do want the wand but I wish to see whatever has control of Mildrew gone more. And as long as that… thing is in place my comrades will be under its control. If you don't trust me, trust I wish to help out my comrades above all else." Buff Frog reluctantly nodded at that with Mavis slipping back into the crawl space. "If a fight does break out, go for Lord Mildrew first got it?" Not waiting for an answer Mavis slipped back through the crawl space with Buff Frog pulling Star along through the hideout.
As it turned out Mavis's directions were correct and they peaked around a corner to see what could only be described as a dinner for two set up in the center of the room. Mildrew was seated at one end with Selene and Dumnorix flanking him and Marco on the opposite side of the room. Star could also see a few barbarians in a flanking position to the main entrance doors as if ready to grapple anyone who steps through. Star looked up at Buff Frog who was scanning the room taking in every detail before he looked down at Star and spoke softly.
"Launch a spell in Mildrew's direction once Mavis has them let their guard down, I will rush in and clear out as much rabble as I can before engaging that big one. You focus on taking out the crystal prison Marco is in." Star went to speak up with Buff Frog cutting her off. "And yes I am aware of the sword Selene bears now, and have a plan for that." He gave a sharp toothed grin at Star which she returned with her own nervous sharp toothed grin as Mildrew seemed to perk up.
"Ah, I believe out guests have arrived." Everyone turned to the main entrance as the door was opened with Mildrew standing up and bowing. "Pleasure to meet you once again… Mavis?!" Everyone in the room looked in shock as Mavis entered the room with an air of confidence about her and spoke clearly.
"Pleasure to finally return. My apologies for leaving so abruptly but there were a few issues I needed to work out. Now I know what all of you are thinking and it is not true, Star did not put a spell on my mind to cloud my judgement. If that were the case I would have launched myself at you before Mildrew finished his sentence as that girl does not know how to use the wand right." Everyone looked at each other in confusion before seemingly consenting that she did have a point. "Selene, I apologize for my actions as I was not thinking clearly, but for a different reason then you might think. It has come to my attention that something is controlling Lord Mildew's mind." Everyone gave her a deadpan stare as Mavis continued. "I know that does sound crazy but here is the thing, what happened to me a few days ago was not magically induced but drug induced." At this Dumnorix got a thoughtful look on his face rubbing his beard in thought as Mavis continued. "I just wish to confirm my suspicions on Lord Mildrew so we can reconnect and become a group once more. We have been through decades of conflict together my brothers and sisters, you would know I would never lie to you right?" everyone looked at each other with Dumnorix speaking up.
"She does have a point there. I did see Lord Mildrew put a fine white powder in Mavis's tea several times just before she began acting off." Everyone looked at Dumnorix in shock as Mildrew looked at him in outright confusion speaking up.
"I never did such a thing! We are all in this to the end why would I betray Mavis like this?" Everyone looked at each other in confusion with a strange look passing over Mildrew's face, like he had lost consciousness for a second, before a dark look settled over it. "Star is here isn't she?" Everyone looked at Mildrew again in confusion as Mildrew continued. "She has in fact taken your mind and now Dumnorix's as well. Well little mud-blood, let's see how you like it when I play dirty as well." He picked up his sword and waved it at the crystal chamber making it suddenly start to slowly shrink in size with Marco panicking.
"AHHHHHHHHH! Someone, get me out of here!" Star seeing this immediately panicked and made her move leaping into the cavern.
'Sparkly scythe Slicer!' Star shot a gigantic scythe that twirled towards Mildrew cutting through everything in its path immediately getting everyone's attention. Selene leapt in front of Mildrew drawing her sword bellowing out 'Ryūjin no ken wo kūrae!' sending out the golden Shimazu spirit within. As the dragon went to redirect it however Buff Frog emerged and threw something that looked like a mudpie at Selene's head making her lose focus just enough for the scythe to not be redirected at them but at the crystal prison. Everyone held their breath and winced when the scythe made contact but it simply shattered against the crystal prison not leaving a scratch. Star breathed a sigh in relief which turned into a sigh of exasperation as she realized this was gonna be harder to destroy then she thought. At this the whole area turned into a gigantic brawl with the forest barbarians charging the duo and Mavis tackling one of the warriors wresting them to the ground before taking his weapons. Selene outright charged the duo her sword held high and with a look of murder on her face with Buff Frog stepping between them. Star left the two to fight and shot a 'Rainbow tusnami' across the battlefield forcing the warriors to either scatter or be swept aside by the tide. Two of the barbarians tried dog-piling her but she turned her wand into a pollaxe and flipped one over her head before smashing another one down. She tried charging across the field but Lord Mildrew had moved to intersect her and stood with an arrogant smirk on his face.
"So, we meet at last Star. I must admit you do have a bit of your mother's charming appearances and free spirit." Star tried looking at him defiantly but the cold arrogance in his eyes made her shiver in fear. "I see you know who I am given your reaction. Now I don't like mixing business with pleasure, but I'm really gonna enjoy this!" He swiped his sword at Star which she just barely managed to block rolling away from him enough to shoot a spell at the prison.
'Pillbug Pill bombs!' Star shot a few glowing turquoise see through bugs at the crystal beeping a little before they exploded… only to leave no mark as well. Star couldn't shot another spell however as Mildrew was on her fast and with skill that clearly outclassed Star's. Mavis had knocked out one of her men and was trying to fight two more with limited success. She blocked the blows of one and smacked him down with a half-sword technique but due to her weakened condition could not react fast enough to block the other one. She came up behind Mavis holding her in a tight embrace and went to subdue her until a large fist came out of nowhere punching her into the wall. As she fell leaving an impression of her in the wall Mavis was helped up by Dumnorix who smiled and spoke to her.
"I know that you must be telling the truth to dare side with half-blood princess and her Froggy bodyguard. I got confirmation from Marco that Star would not do such a thing even if she was capable of it." Mavis nodded and sighed in relief as another barbarian came up confused.
"Um Dumnorix, shouldn't you be trying to-" He was cut off as Dumnorix punched him into the wall as well leaving another impression in the dirt.
Buff Frog fought Selene showing that he was surprisingly agile for his bulk and age dodging her swings and landing blows in return. Selene grunted in frustration at such a well-trained opponent and threw her sword to the side pulling out her trench knives to fight with something familiar to her. At this Buff Frog was allowed enough room to pull out his Iron fists and engaged Selene again this time managing to get in a glancing blow with his Iron fists. Selene stumbled just enough for Buff Frog to land a more solid punch to her chest making her fall gasping for breath as Buff Frog spoke.
"Well, not much padding there munchkin. Don't worry you will grow some eventually." Selene glared up at him and spoke in frustration.
"I am 22 years old, don't make fun of me mud roller." Buff Frog blinked in shock at this and stepped away slowly smiling nervously.
"I'll just leave you be then." He turned and ran for Star who was still engaged with Mildrew.
'Magical Hamster Ball' Star created an orb around her but was shattered by Mildrew's black sword with him chuckling in amusement. He did a strange twirl with his blade scoring a few superficial scratches on Star as if he was just toying with her. Star went to heal those wounds… but nothing happened. She looked at Mildrew in real fear now as he smiled in a strangely sweet fashion tapping his blade slightly striking at her again. However his attack was interrupted by Mavis who knocked his sword aside with her own sword making Mildrew stop in shock. Star shot a magic missile at him to force him back and turned back to the prison shooting a 'Raspberry panzer blast!' that hit the crystal hard but didn't even scratch it.
"How much punishment can that thing take?" Star muttered to herself nervously as the prison had shrunk to the point where Marco was kneeling down now trying to hold it up.
Marco was in a world of trouble as the crystal prison slowly but unceasingly moved down onto him. Marco grunted pushing against it as best he could but was becoming clear that he was having no impact on it whatsoever. He looked up to the fight seeing people striking at each other desperately with Star having to turn and hold off Forest Barbarians who had recovered from her wave of rainbows. He watched Selene recover from her beating at Buff Frog's hands leap at Buff Frog only for Dumnorix to body slam her sending her flying across to the wall right next to him with a muttered 'For crying out loud…' Marco chuckled slightly but was distracted by Mavis trying to fight Mildrew who seemed to be holding back and trying to convince her that he was not her enemy. Marco shook his head trying to get a clear view and idea of what was going on focusing on Mavis in confusion, wondering why she was helping Star. He also noticed that she wasn't wearing armor or camo leaving her loose and somewhat tattered clothes to hang limply on her athletic and slightly curvaceous body…
"Damnit Marco, now is not the time to think about Butterfly Milfs." He paused when he realized he had said that out loud and looked up to see Selene had heard him and was staring at him wide eyed. "Ummmmmm… it's not what you think?" Selene surprisingly chuckled at him and spoke up.
"Yeah, my master is kind of hot isn't she?" As she spoke she slipped out of the notch she made in the wall through her impact landing on the ground limply. "*thump* Ow."
"Ooooooookkaaaaaaayyyyy-" He felt the crystal shift again shoving him down so he was on his hands and knees with the crystal pushing him down still further. "AH! SOMEONE, ANYONE, HEEEEELP!" At Marco's cry Star turned towards him with a look of horror crossing her face as she knew what was going to happen to him… and her eyes turned a red veined cat pupil yellow as she turned to the crystal.
"No." Star spoke in a vicious determined voice that got everyone's attention immediately. "Leave Marco alone."
Three of the barbarians leapt at her only for Star to just wave her wand in a long arc spitting out green corrupted magic. As she continued walking the three warriors felt a sharp pain in their chests that, upon looking down, revealed that Star had shot a bleeding hole clear through them. As they fell to the floor gasping their final breaths everyone, including Lord Mildrew, shied away from her in fear as she closed her eyes and raised her wand towards the prison. Her cheeks glowed a brilliant white as she gathered green corrupted magic and her ordinary pink magic to her wand at the same time. She opened her eyes and with an exhale shot the combined magical energy towards the prison in a brilliant flash of power that sent smoke billowing through the room. Everyone coughed heavily looking up slowly and waiting for the smoke to clear to discover Marco's fate. But as it turned out they didn't need to wait that long as Marco came flying out of the now shattered prison landing a kick to one of the warriors faces sending her reeling before yelling out.
"Star, I'm alright! You managed to break the prison!" Marco turned back towards Star who looked at him in shock for a second before leaping onto him with tears in her eyes.
"Marco, *sniff* I was so worried." The two stood there hugging for a second before the prison repaired itself and returned to its original height. "Good thing you got out of there so quickly huh?" Marco chuckled and replied to Star.
"Yeah. It's alright now Star. Now then let's teach this 'Lord' Mildrew a lesson." Star nodded and the duo turned towards Lord Mildrew who was looking at them in shock.
"But…. how… did you… manage…" He looked around seeing the other warriors were either to wounded, too dead, or to worried about their comrades to help him fight. Selene was still down and trying to get up with great difficulty and Dumnorix and Mavis were backing away unsure of what to do now. Buff Frog had also joined Star and Marco facing down Mildrew together. Mildrew growled and raised his sword up staring the trio down. "It does not matter; I am down but I am not…" He stopped however when his right arm moved on its own and snapped its fingers. "… out?" Buff Frog, Star, Marco, Selene, Dumnorix, and Mavis looked on in confusion at his snapping fingers until Marco fell to his knees in pain holding onto his arm.
"Gahhhh, what's going on?" Star immediately knelt next to him and shouted worriedly at Lord Mildrew.
"Wha-what did you do to him!?" Mildrew looked at his hand in shocked confusion and spoke slowly.
"I have no idea." At this Dumnorix and Mavis looked at each other with their suspicions confirmed and moved over to Selene picking her up and moving away to the Forest Barbarians. Meanwhile Marco pulled back his t-shirt to look at his arm.
"What is going… AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Star and Buff Frog looked down to see a slowly spreading patch of purplish skin that was slightly slimy. "STAR, IT'S THE SQUID ARM! I CAN HEAR ITS VOICE ALREADY!" Marco convulsed as another wave of pain racked him with Star raising her wand. 'Returnio Armi-'
"That's not going to work again." Star stopped mid spell and looked up in shock at the suddenly deep voice that came out of Mildrew's mouth which seemed to shock even him. "Ah mmm, ahem. Yes well, I can restore your friend back normal but this sword has lost some of its power over time. I will require the wand to do so." Mildrew shook his head as if coming out of a trance before smiling at Star confidently.
Star looked down at Marco who was now writhing in pain and at Buff Frog who shrugged with a worried expression on his face. Star looked over at the Forest Barbarians who were gathering up their wounded and dead shooting them fearful glances. Star looked down at her wand and realized she had no options at this point unless if she wanted Marco to turn into- *Throb pang* Star shuddered and stood up walking over to Mildrew slowly and staring him straight in the eyes held out her wand to him before speaking.
"Just… save Marco you bastard." Mildrew nodded before replying.
"I always keep my promises." He reached down for the wand but as he touched it a powerful purplish force blasted Mildrew back 20 feet and Star into Buff Frog's arms. This got the attention of the retreating barbarians who were now watching them in morbid fascination. "Grrrr, she booby-trapped the wand." Star stood up from Buff Frog's arms blinking in an attempt to clear her vision and yelled to him.
"I didn't do tha-"
"I wasn't talking about you." Star blinked in confusion taking a deep breath and smelled something… off. She looked up at Lord Mildrew who was seemingly holding his eyepatch in place now as he moved back towards Star. "No matter, there are other ways to…"
"Wait." Star interrupted him and walked up to Lord Mildrew with everyone watching closely. As Star got up next to him she leaned in slightly and breathed in deeply taking in his scent and recognized something that shouldn't have been there. "You're… not Lord Midlrew are you?" Everyone stood stock still and held their breath as Lord Mildrew chuckled.
"Clever girl." He let the eye patch fall away exposing that he in fact had an eye there… two yellow eyes placed close together with no whites and black slits for pupils. "Lord Mildrew is still in fact in here but he is… secondary so to speak. He is the body but I control him more or less." There were several shocked mutters from the barbarians as they took everything in. "Of course that changes nothing at this point. Mildrew may not be able to but I can cure Marco of his affliction… for a price." Star held up her wand only to be stopped by him speaking again. "No no I can't wield your wand at the moment due to what… she has done to it." For a moment his voice seemed to hold great emotional pain in it before he put himself back on track. "I want you to destroy it." Star stood there in shock as Selene and Mavis immediately made a run towards them with Dumnorix attempting to stop them but only got Selene.
"NO, DON'T YOU DARE!" Selene beat at Dumnorix as best she could desperately yelling out to Star with tears in her eyes suddenly. "I NEED THAT WAND!" Mavis continued to charge forward with her sword held high until, almost lazily, Mildrew cut a portal with the black sword that sucked Mavis up into it before disappearing. Star blinked with dull shock at what had just happened and looked down at her wand and spoke again.
"But… I don't know how." The thing that possessed Lord Mildrew chuckled and spoke again.
"You do even though you don't know you do. What is the first spell every queen teaches her daughter?" Star blinked in recognition and looked up at him for a second with him smiling slightly. "That's right, the whispering spell. I suggest you hurry, Marco is waiting." He pointed to where Marco was still writhing on the floor in pain with the purplish patch spreading slowly.
"Alright." Star spoke shakily and knelt down onto the ground and began whispering into her wand. As she whispered into the wand an eerie stillness took over the room as if life itself was slowing to a standstill. The star in the wand began to lose its color fading away into black with the wings on the side of it dissolving into dust as Star continued whispering. As Star finished the spell the crown on the end of it shattered into tiny pieces with the wand going dead in Star's hands. Star then set the wand down reverently as her eyes went a depressing grayish–green with tears streaming down her face as the ghost of a small unicorn emerged from the wand and galloped away disappearing into thin air. Star looked up at Mildrew and spoke with a shaky whisper.
"Alright… I gave you what you wanted *sniff*… now give me back my Marco." Mildrew chuckled and patted Star on the head and spoke almost condescendingly.
"Oh I wouldn't worry; a quick visit back to some magical healers and he will be right as rain with the taint gone for good. By my best estimate you have about 12 hours before the change is finished…" He was interrupted however by a glow suddenly emerging from the wand as power seemed to course through it in an unstable fashion. "… but you have bigger concerns for now." He smiled as the barbarians ran off elsewhere at full speed and Buff Frog dragged Star and Marco into the crystal prison which had unlocked for some reason. "The name by the way is Alucard just to let you know, second child of Mewman and Monster." He reached onto his sword and pulled out the red gem from the hilt throwing the black blade to the side and bowing to Star dramatically. "Until we meet again." As Buff Frog closed the door to the crystal prison the wand exploded.
A bright flash of light a faint whoop of force lasted for only a split second with a layer of black covering the surface of the crystal hideout they were in. After a few more seconds of silence Buff Frog tentatively pushed open the door and looked around beckoning to Star and Marco. Star heaved Marco up onto his feet with an arm around her for support and stepped outside to take in the damage. Where there was once a hideout was only a crater now with bits of ash and smoke floating about like mist and dead leaves. Star ventured a look to where she had destroyed the wand seeing the now colorless haft of the wand sitting partially covered by the ash. Star looked around lost and disoriented by what had just happened until she locked eyes with Marco whose eyes were glazed with pain at his current transformation. Star pulled Marco in close for a comforting hug with Buff Frog joining in as she spoke softly and sadly.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help you Marco." As they did this another voice called out in question.
"Is it gone?" The trio turned to see Selene stepping out of the wreckage who got her answer from their eyes. "No… no…" Dumnorix pushed out followed by the other Forest Barbarians who had lost expressions as well. "Mavis is gone, Lord Mildrew is gone, the wand is gone… my mother is gone." Dumnorix came up next to her and spoke softly.
"We will find your mother, it just may take awhi-"
"SHUTUP!" Everyone backed away from Selene as she turned on Dumnorix. "The only way I could track my mother down is gone as is the only one who would wield it for me! Don't you get it… we've lost; we're nothing!" Selene turned and ran from the group out of the wreckage area into the Forest of Certain Death as the barbarians watched her go; until they turned towards Star with angry eyes.
"You… will not live to see the next sunrise!" Dumnorix went to charge them with the warriors at his back until a flash of energy struck at one of the warriors ensnaring them in some sort of magical electrical vines. "GUARDIANS! Scatter!" The warriors immediately scattered in all directions as more of those vines struck down ensnaring several more with one trying to ensnare Dumnorix but he just tore right through it and kept on running.
As they dispersed several female figures wearing light plate armor and wielding what looked like their own magic wands began storming the area attempting to cut off escape for the barbarians. Some who were cornered tried to engage them but the Guardians easily beat them off and ensnared them with more vines. In particular was a Mewman who had green eyes and hair a similar color who seemed like the one in charge giving out orders to round people up. As they were doing this Buff Frog and Star began calling out to people who didn't seem to hear them at first until a familiar screech was heard by Star. She looked up to see red and black feathered hawk and silvery black spotted leopard aspects of BuckBeak swoop in depositing two more Guardians before turning to Star.
"*Always getting into trouble I see; can't you exercise a little-*" Star cut off BuckBeak and yelled at him.
"Please help!" BuckBeak looked at Star in confusion until he noticed something was wrong with Marco. He leaned in close sniffing closely and backed away in revulsion shaking his head to clear the scent from his nostrils.
"*What in all of Nash Dom…*" He immediately turned and gave an ear piercing hawk cry that got everyone's attention with Buff Frog immediately following him up.
"MEDIC!" At this the leader of the group immediately rushed over letting her subordinates handle the captures.
"What happened?" She asked with Star responding with tears in her eyes.
"H-he's changing into something else. I don't know how to stop it and my wand was just destroyed and…" The leader immediately took charge taking Marco from Star and using her wand to 'scan' the infected area on Marco. "Please help him." The leader looked at Star and nodded turning to Buckbeak.
"Get this boy back to Castle Butterfly immediately; I will contact Moon and Oogway and get them to your location." BuckBeak nodded and scooped up Marco immediately flying off for the castle with Star staring after them.
"Don't go Marco… please don't go…" Star stared after them with Buff Frog turning to the leader grasping her in a bear hug sighing sadly with her returning it.
"Lily Forest, what took you so long?" Lily pulled away and shrugged speaking in a calm tone.
"Do you know how difficult these forests are to traverse. If it wasn't for the Gryphon helping us out we would have taken far lon…" Lily was cut off by a voice speaking to them in Italian from below.
"*Pardon me*" The two backed off looking in confusion at a horse that appeared to be wearing a black tank top and carrying a lunchbox. "*When I was a baby horse, mama told me the day would come when I would be called upon to fulfill a responsibility greater then myself." He pulled his mane back into a ponytail and opened the lunchbox pulling out a horn which he attached to his forehead. "*A fate which decides the very well being of the cosmos; that day is today.*" He then walked over to the now dead wand and opened the crystal on it like a lid and stepped inside of it.
A rumbling echoed across the whole area getting everyone's attention as the wand sunk into the ground. As they all looked in the area crystals began springing up from around in a sort of encircling forest of sorts with one in particular rising up where the wand had sunk into the ground. Buff Frog and Lily got Star's attention who looked up to see the crystal and blinked in shock as it opened like a door revealing her wand. However, it had changed; the haft was now a red so dark it was nearly black with dark green leather grips going around it. The orb that held the jewel was now a swirl of lilac and rose with blends of the colors and the gem itself now a darker pink with half of it seemingly gone placed on an Indigo background with a silver crown resting on the end. The white bat's wings and black bird's wings were gone to be replaced by a larger pair of dark grey wings; one a dragon's with pink tints and one a swans with green tints. Star held out her hands by reflex catching the wand looking at it softly.
"New upgrade." She blinked and looked up to Lily and Buff Frog. "Can I go home now; I want to see Marco."
Rhombulus was looking up from his cards with shifty eyes as he tried to discern the motives of his opponent. Across the table from him sat a humanoid goat with bats wings and wearing a brown robe looking at his cards calmly glancing up at Rhombulus. Rhombulus distracted his gaze by looking around at the various entities he had frozen in crystal over his long lifetime feeling a sense of accomplishment. Of course it was immediately soured by that fact that many of these people might not have deserved it and he trusted his gut a little too much. He shook his head a little as the goat baaaed at him.
"*Are you in or out my friend, there is not middle road here?*" Rhombulus sighed and spoke.
"I'm in Lekmet; whether I want to be or not." Lekmet baaed and showed his cards making Rhombulus slam his cards down in frustration. "Not again!" Lekmet baaed in a type of laugh until a sudden sound of cracking interrupted them.
"*What was that?*"
"Not sure." When the cracking sounded again Rhombulus leapt up and ran in the direction of the sound with Lekmet flying right behind him. "If it is that gigantic eye looking for his ring again I swear…" He rounded a corner leading to a special chamber reserved for a particularly special entity.
"*Oh gods… it's her. We need to reapply the crystal…*"
"No." Lekmet looked up in confusion as Rhombulus spoke. "Contact Moon, I think she wants to talk to this one." Lekmet nodded in concern and walked away. "After all these years, the promise you and Moon made is complete. Time to see if you are really as bad as everyone says you are." As if to punctuate his words the crack over the crystal widened even further.