"I'm sorry, what did you say…?"

Hekapoo narrowed her eyes down at the prince of mewni as he stood before her and the other members of the Magical High Commission. When he had been randomly summoned by them he'd expected the usual ridiculous complaints. Worries about the monsters members within their ranks, or the smaller monster tribes (rightfully) complaining about newman settlements encroaching their territory.

When he hadn't expected to hear was… an actual issue.

"I said that the giants didn't show up along with the other tribes to the gathering. You know, the one you kept on pushing for. The one to discuss bringing them into the court. The one you very specifically assured they'd be at."

"I understand," Astro said annoyed. He didn't get it though. When he talked to Maria, she said that they'd seemed fine with the idea of going into talks about joining the royal court. So why did they suddenly just… back out? It wasn't like the giants to just not show up after assuring they would. "Did they give any reason as to why?"

Moon cleared her throat. "We sent a messenger to go and ask if everything was alright. It seems that… well, perhaps you'd better just read this," she said holding up a scroll. "It was sent back as a response."

Astro walked up and took the scroll from her. "After careful discussion we of the giant tribe have… have decided we need further time to discuss open talks about joining the royal court. We hope you understand this decision, and wish the best for you and yours," he muttered. Simple, short, to the point. This was Antero alright. "I don't get it. I just… why?"

"Why do you think?" Rhombulus asked, crossing his arms. "You didn't expect those meat heads to actually want to bow down to Star did you? Giants are too stubborn to let anyone rule over them. Except that guy…"

Astro narrowed his eyes at him, and Omni quickly spoke up. "What we mean to say is, we're concerned that now that Typhon had returned and openly made himself known as the ruler of the new Monster Kingdom, that perhaps the giants have reconsidered their allegiances. It's quite possible that-"

"You're worried my father is going to recruit them and they could be a threat."

"That's not what-!"

"That's exactly what we're worried about," Hekapoo said bluntly. She had learned at this point it was just easier to shoot straight with the kid. "Your father hasn't made any moves against us, but… it's pretty obvious he holds a grudge."

Astro hummed. "That's odd isn't it? After you betrayed him, murdered his friends and family, and killed his wife, I can't see any reason he should have anything against you," he said, sarcasm dripping off of every word.

Omni frowned. "Curb your tone. We were at war, and we did what we needed to win and protect the kingdom of mewni. Our job is to protect and deal with any threat that could disrupt the order of things. Not everything we do may be seen as fair boy, but what happened to Rosetta was her own-"

Astro stepped towards Omni, his hand on his sword. "Say her name again…" he said dangerously. The others froze, noticing that he was holding his hand on his sword. "Go on, do it," he challenged.

Hekapoo held her hand up. "Look, there's a lot of bad blood between us and your father, and we understand just why he's angry. But you have to understand why we'd be concerned about the potential of the giants joining with him. There's already been talk among the smaller tribes about uniting under the monster kingdom. If the giants-"

"My father isn't planning on making any move against you. Even if the other tribes did align themselves with him, he isn't out to start a war. As long as you don't provoke him you have nothing to worry about," Astro said.

"You expect us to just believe that?!" Rhombulus asked, pointing at him.

"I'm sorry, are you actually accusing someone of lies and deceit? You of all people. The people who have not only lied and deceived the people of mewni, but generations of the royal family itself?" he asked.

Rhombulus grumbled and glared down at him, and Moon decided to speak. "It goes without saying that we trust your judgement when it comes to the matters your father is involved in. But we do think it would put the people's minds at ease if we had some confirmation that things are under control."

Astro let out a sigh. He thought this whole thing was a waste of time honestly, but he couldn't just blow the Magical High Commission off. And he especially couldn't blow off a request from his grandmother. "I'll go and try and figure out what's going on from Chief Antero. But I can't make any promises."

Moon smiled down at him. "Nor should you. We thank you for your assistance. I'll have a fresh pie waiting for you when you get back," she said pinching his cheek.

"Thank you grandmother…" he said, ignoring the snickers from the Commission.

"Sorry, but dad's in a meeting with the elders right now," Fee said as he sharpened his broadsword. "In fact, they're talking about whether or not it's still worth joining the royal court or not. Not sure how long he'll be in there, but I wouldn't hold my breath."

Astro sighed and ran a hand over his face. When he'd traveled here he had hoped to catch the chief before he'd headed off on some hunt or something. But it was just his luck that he missed him. "I just don't get it. When he talked to Maria it sounded like he was one board. Why the second thoughts now?" he asked.

Fee hummed. "Astro… let's be honest here. As good as a Queen Star has been all these years, we were never going to really be able to follow her. When it comes down to it she's the Queen of mewmans, not mewni," he said.

Astro looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. Fee was someone he considered a pretty close friend. He'd always done his best to back him in the past. So it was a little surprising to hear him talk like this. "If that's how you felt, why'd you even bother pretending to be interested in a treaty?" he asked.

"It wasn't pretend. We wanted to try and bury the past between us, but…" Fee sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look Asterossa, it's different now that the monster kingdom is back. Typhon is out of hiding, you're the heir now, and… to be honest, you were the only reason we considered joining the court in the first place."

"Me?" Astro asked. "What do you mean?"

"Look, I know Star is a good woman. She's doing everything she can from the throne to help us, but it's just not enough. I don't think a queen of mewmans can really do anything, or even really understand. It's just…"

Astro kept staring at him for a few moments, and then narrowed his eyes. "It was you, wasn't it?" he asked. "You were the one who suggested it to your father."

Fee stared back at him in silence, and then looked down. "I wasn't the only one. But yeah, I made it pretty clear where I stood. I'm sorry Astro, but I never agreed with the idea of joining with the royal court," he said shaking his head.

Astro stepped toward him. "Is this about what happened to Rosetta? Or is it just not being able to let go of your people's history?" he asked, feeling a tinge of anger.

Fee narrowed his eyes. "Hey, watch it…" he said warningly.

The prince let out a breath. "I'm sorry," he said waving his hand. "I just… I felt like if you had joined the court it would have sent a positive message to the other tribes. Is there anything I can do to make you reconsider?"

"I'm sorry, but I already made up my mind. And soon enough it's gonna be my call," he said casually. Astro looked at him curiously and he went on. "My dad is getting on in years. He can't hang on to the title of chief forever. And Fum… he's stronger than all of us, but he's too young. Too inexperienced. Until then I'm filling in for him."

Astro grew wide eyed. "He's… he's naming you chief? When?"

"Soon he said," the giant answered. "And I'm sorry, but… if I'm gonna be in charge, even temporarily, then I'm gonna do what's best for my people. And I think what's best is declaring our allegiance to Typhon," he said. "The Monster Kingdom is back, with a proper heir and all. It only makes sense."

Astro looked up at him worried. "Fee… the commission might spin this as an act of aggression," he said. "Staying neutral would be one thing, but…"

Fee shrugged. "I don't care how they try to spin it. Their honestly the main reason I don't want to join the court. I can't trust them. Not after everything they do," he said before looking back down at him. "But I trust you."

Astro wanted to argue with him. He wanted to tell him this was a huge mistake. That his father was immortal, and it wasn't like he'd ever need to take the throne. He was an heir in name only. But Fee sounded like he'd already made up his mind, and he knew how stubborn giants could be. It'd be a waste of breath to keep on going.

"You really think this is what's best for your people…?"

Fee nodded. "Without a doubt."

"Then I don't have any right to argue with you on it. I'll do my best to try and downplay this whole thing," Astro said as he turned to leave. "Hope it works out."

The giant grunted. "I'm sure it will." He watched as the prince walked off, doing his best to hold his tongue and just let this whole thing slide.

A part of him wanted to tell him about how they'd be talking with some of the smaller tribes. He had no doubt what they'd been planning would cause a bit of an uproar to the royal court. But he decided against it. It didn't look like he needed the extra stress right now. "Hey Asterossa, be sure to grab a few barrels of Giantslayer before you go!"

Astro stopped for a moment, then held his hand up. "As if I'd ever forget," he said with a chuckle. He really needed a drink right now. And a slice of his grandmother's pie. He didn't know how he was going to explain this to the commission…

A/N: Some more buildup for the Titanic Ten arc! There's going to be a bit of some political stuff going on in mewni too! Not so much that it bores your out of your mind, but just showing how some of the politics in mewni work.

But yeah, Fee was never down with the Royal Court, or more specifically the Magical High Commission. So once he found out that Typhon was back for real and the monster kingdom came with him, he knew who he wanted to side with. Wonder how the Commission will react to the giant tribe siding with one of their most feared old enemies?