Turq didn't really like when his family had royal gatherings.

Putting aside the fact that they were too stuffy and rigid for his taste, he never failed to notice how a bunch of the adults always stared and muttered behind his back.

He didn't like it. Not one bit. But his father insisted he show his face and be all polite and stuff. He wanted him to smile and wave just like his sister did. Delphine was a natural in these types of gathering. She took to it like a fish to water. Turq on the other hand prefered sneaking off once his father was busy and laying low.

Just like he was doing now.

He swung at the training dummy in the courtyard with his wooden sword. It was a dingy thing he had made himself since his father wouldn't get him a proper one. He kept trying to convince him to use a trident, but he thought swords were cooler.

If he had to choose between polishing his sword skills, or getting dressed in a stuffy suit and smiling for a bunch of old people, he'd picked sword skills every time.

He stabbed at the dummy, hitting it right in the chest. "Nice lunge." Turq jumped and then turned around to see someone sitting up against the wall nearby. Turq quickly recognized his uncle, who was holding a bottle in his hand as he looked down at the boy. "I think you got him," he said with a smirk.

"Uncle Astro… what are you doing out here?" Turq asked.

He held up the bottle of giant slayer in his hand. "Trying to brace myself for a night with your family," he answered. "But, I don't think there's a bottle in the world deep enough to make your father tolerable."

Turq chuckled. "Yeah. He gets super uptight whenever we have these parties. I don't even know why he makes me go. Not like I need to be there anyway," he said as he made his way over towards him.

He always liked talking with his uncle Astro. He was easy for him to get along with, and he always had some helpful advice to offer. His dad didn't get along with him though. Apparently they had never gotten along. And even though he didn't stop him, he didn't exactly hide how much he disliked them spending time together.

Astro hummed. "Well, you're still the lucky one here. At least you get to sneak off and avoid all of this nonsense. I'm expected to go back in there sooner or later," he said.

"Even kings don't get to do what they want, huh?"

"Kings especially don't get to do what they want," Astro said before taking another drink from the bottle.

Turq looked up at the bottle curiously. "Can I have a sip?"

Astro raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you suddenly jumped from seven to eighteen. I have to be sure to send you gifts for all the birthdays I missed," Astro said amused.

Turq frowned. "Aw c'mon uncle Astro. I know you used to drink when you were younger too. Aunt Maria told me all the Queensguard got to drink," he said.

Astro scratched the side of his head. "That was different. By that time I had…" He'd fought and bled on the battlefield. In the Queensguard if you were old enough to draw blood, you were old enough to handle a drink. "Besides, I was twelve. Still a fair bit older than you."

Turq sighed and crossed his arms. Astro patted his head. "Tell you what. When you turn twelve I'll let you have a bit of giantslayer as a present. That sounds fair, right?"

"You promise?"

"Promise," the king said nodding. "In the meantime, why don't you keep working on those sword skills of yours? Your technique isn't bad, but your footing could use a little work. You're overextending when you lunge. Let me show you."

Astro pulled out Ocean's Kiss and then lunged at the practice dummy, stabbing right through it. "Stump, your father is going to want me to replace that…"

Turq looked amazed. The boy wasn't nearly as experienced as his uncle, but even he could tell how flawless the strike had been. Plus he got to see Ocean's Kiss. It was said to be the most powerful sword to ever be crafted by the waterfolk kingdom. Nowadays it was said he rarely wielded it for some reason.

"Cool…"

Astro sheathed the sword back and then finished off the last of the bottle. "Well, I'd better get back before your aunts notice I'm missing."

Turq frowned. "You sure you can't hang out here longer?"

"I wish I could. Believe you me I do. But I can't have your aunts mad at me now can I?" he asked, chuckling. "I take it you won't be showing your face there?"

Turq shook his head. "Nah. I don't like going to those parties. Everyone's always talking behind my back and stuff. It sucks," he said scowling.

Astro blinked, standing still for a few moments, and then made his way back towards him. He knelt down and then put his hands on his shoulders. "Listen very closely Turq. I know all the muttering and looks are annoying. Believe me, I do. And I'm not going to tell you not to let it bother you, because it always will. You won't get over it, you just learn to live with it…"

Turq looked at him confused, but nodded. He didn't know what his uncle knew about being a bastard, but he sounded like he knew what he was talking about. Astro poked his chest. "You may not have a crown, but you have something nobody else in your whole family does. Sooner or later, everyone is going to see it. So no matter how much they mutter or stare, don't you ever forget what you really are."

The boy slowly nodded, not entirely understanding what his uncle was getting at. Was this some adult thing he would get when he was older?

Astro sighed. "Sorry, I'm getting nostalgic and starting to babble," he said shaking his head. "I have to get back. I'll try and throw your father off the trail when he comes looking for you. Have fun, and remember to watch your footwork."

Turq shook his head. "Right. See you later uncle Astro!"

Turq smirked as he sat down at the table and crossed his arms as he looked at his uncle. Astro was enjoying his (fourth) slice of birthday cake. "So uncle Astro… haven't seen any present's from you yet," he said, smirking.

The king hummed. "Oh, that's because I forgot…"

"Aw c'mon uncle," Turq said, scowling.

His mom made such a big deal about his birthday. She wanted to throw this huge party inviting all of mewni like always, but he managed to talk her down to just a few friends and family. It was a nice humble little gathering with just friends and family, and it had been pretty fun. But more than anything else today, he'd been looking forward towards his uncle's gift, which in his opinion was long overdue.

Astro smirked. "Alright, alright. I'm only kidding. Still can't believe you remember that after these years," he said before pulling out a small flash. He grabbed a cup nearby and poured some into it. "As promised, a sips worth of giantslayer."

"Just a sip?"

"Yes just a sip. If you can handle that then maybe next time you get an actual gulp," Astro said sliding the cup towards him. "Brace yourself kid. That's a monter's drink."

Turq smiled before taking the cup, and then drinking it down. His eyes widened and he set the cup down, letting out a small cough. "Wow, that… that burns," he said rubbing his throat. "But… it's pretty good."

"Figured it would be. Giantslayer isn't something most can handle, but the ones that can all love it. Congrats on your first proper drink. You're a man now," Astro said holding up his flask.

Turq smiled back and held up his cup. "Thanks uncle."

"Don't thank me yet. I have another present for you." Astro reached to his side and pulled out something wrapped in paper before setting it on the table. He gestured for him to open it.

Turq looked down at the gift, and then slowly reached up and tore some of the paper off. His eyes widened as he saw what looked like a very familiar blade, and he quickly tore the rest of it off. "No way!"

It was Ocean's Kiss!

Astro nodded. "Since your father finally pulled that stick out of his butt about you using swords, I thought this would be a fine time to pass it on," he explained.

"But… this was a gift from aunt Maria right?" Turq asked. "I can't take this."

"Yes you can, and you will. I already told her about it. She approved," Astro said. "She gave me that on behalf of the waterfolk kingdom so I could protect myself and the people close to me. Now I'm passing it on to you so you can do the same. So the sword if yours now, and I'll hear no more about it."

Turq looked over the weapon. "Cool…"

Astro gave him a serious look. "Now, I want you to be careful. That's not a toy. It's a man's sword, and it takes a man to use it. So you're going to have to focus much more on your lessons and-"

"Can you teach me?" he asked.

Astro looked at him confused. "What?"

"Can you teach me to sword fight. Like for real?" He didn't just want the occasional advice or lesson. He wanted him to actually be taught proper swordsmanship.

The elder titan looked like he was thought. "I… I'm fine with it, but i'm not sure your father is going to approve of that." Hody already thought he was bad mouthing him behind his back… which to be fair, he was. But still.

"You can get aunt Maria to convince him. If you both asked him he'd say yes. I know it," Turq said looking hopeful. "Please?"

Astro looked down in thought for a moment, and then shrugged. "I'll see what I can do. But I can't make any promises."

Turq pumped his fist. "Yes!"

The moment Turq had shown back up towards the others, Whirl had spotted his gift and looked shocked. "Dude! Is that Ocean's Kiss?!" he said amazed.

Everyone turned their heads towards the young half-breed, including his parents. The look on his father's face was a mixture of shock and confusion. "What the hell…?" Hody muttered. Surely Astro couldn't have…?

"No way!" Jez said walking up to him.

"Wow, that's amazing. That's one of the legendary swords of mewni," Whiff said in awe.

"Indeed it is. Well, don't keep up waiting, Let's see it," Scent said eagerly.

Turq held his hand up. "C'mon guys, it's not a toy. My uncle says-"

"Oh to hells with that! Show us the sword!" Scent demanded. "Sword! Sword! Sword!" Before he knew it, all the other children were chanting along with her. Turq looked over towards his uncle who just smirked and shrugged his shoulder.

He smiled before pulling the sword out and holding it up into the air. They all cheered as he showed the weapon off, and Hody walked over towards Astro. "You just couldn't resist, could you?" he asked with a scowl.

"You know, not every nice thing I do for my nephew is a personal slight against you," Astro said, narrowing his eyes. "He's getting to the age where he's ready for real training. He needs a real weapon."

Hody grunted. "I suppose you're right…" he said annoyed. "I still wished you would have asked me before you did it."

"You would have made a fuss over it. And it's not worth making a fuss about," Astro countered. "He's happy. Just let him have this."

Hody rolled his eyes. "Fine. But try not to make a habit out of this. You have your own children to worry about after all…" he said.

"My children are fine."

"Lacerta Butterfly! You put that cake down and grab a plate and a fork right now! You're not an animal!" They heard Maria yell out angrily.

Astro scowled. "Most of my children are fine…"

A/N: Some future AU content with Astro and his favorite nephew!