Like Father, Like Daughter
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Vs the Forces of Evil or any of its elements.
Chapter 11: Crystal Clear
The Diaz household was nice and quiet as it was expected to be at night. Star Butterfly cracked the door open to find Marco fast asleep in bed as he cuddled a plush bunny.
Star had noticed that Marco had become quite a heavy sleeper lately. He'd started to train regularly, usually doing so with Seraph. They would wake up early for a jog with Nachos and the laser puppies. If waking up early was not enough reason for him to sleep he'd kept up with his training at the dojo and special training he did with Seraph to help her control her powers. Honestly, the exercise was doing wonder for Marco he'd certainly gotten fitter and he had built up a fair bit of muscle. He wasn't anywhere near as muscly as he was in Hekapoo realm but Star certainly noticed his chest getting more toned.
At the end of the day when Marco fell to sleep, he was good and out like a light.
Making sure he was asleep Star closed the door and tiptoed her way downstairs. She was on a mission that led her to the kitchen.
To her surprise she found someone in the kitchen eating the cereal she had planned on getting.
Seraph stared at Star with a spoonful of cereal. "Hello, Star."
"Hi! Uh, having cereal?" Star replied.
"Yeah, my dad said I could have a bowl."
She was in her third bowl.
"Yeah, your dad said I could have a bowl too." Star sat down across her and grabbed the box slowly.
Neither girl took their gaze off the other, they each suspected a lie but neither calling the other on it for fear they would be found out.
Star looked at the box of Captain Blanche's Sugar Seed.
The box had all sorts of sticky notes stuck on with all sort of messages from Marco.
'Property of Marco Diaz'
'No Touch!'
'Don't Touch!'
'I will find out!'
'That means you, Star!'
"Seraph, you can only have one bowl a day! Don't overdo it!"
Star grabbed a bowl and served herself a bowl and poured out some milk.
The girls were silent as they ate, neither really sure what to say in the situation.
"So, how're things going with your dad? Everything good?" Star tried to break the silence.
"Yeah, pretty much." Seraph not sure what else to say.
"Yeah, I can't see myself waking up that early to run."
Star was doing her best to do small talk but it was hard. She had never been left alone with Seraph. It's not that Star disliked Seraph, it was just when left alone with her Star couldn't help but be reminded of Hekapoo and Marco's time together and that made her feel weird. It was easy enough when other people around to take her mind off things, but alone together she didn't know how to act.
"It's not too bad, I mean, I like getting to spend some time with dad each morning."
"Must be nice to always have some time to be with Marco." Star had noticed that Marco hadn't spent so much time with her anymore.
Seraph raised an eyebrow at the comment sensing something behind those words but before she could ask a beam zapped Star encasing her in a crystal.
"What?" Seraph moved back startled by it.
She quickly found a large man with a crystal for a head moving towards them. Seraph quickly formed a ball of fire in her hand, "Free her!" Her eyes lit up with flames of anger poured out of her.
Seraph rushed at him and was quickly zapped herself.
Rhombulus let out a sigh looking at both girls encased in crystal. He had only come to get Star but when he saw her with her guard down he had to take her even if there was someone else there. The only problem was that now he had to take the other girl too or someone would figure it out right away.
He pulled out the pair of scissors given to him by Hekapoo and opened a portal. Quickly he pushed the crystals into the portal.
0000
Rhombulus was a bit nervous, Lekmet was on top of the stairs looking down at him, "My Liege. I come bearing an offering of great momentousness should it please thee."
Lekmet bleated, "Baw."
"Uh, well, it's kinda heavy. I was hoping that thee could come down here to see it."
Lekmet sighed and sat down on the stair lift. It began to move down the stairs and then it got stuck.
"Oh, dang! Is that on the fritz too? Oh, hang on. I've got you." Rhombulus hurried up the steps.
Rhombulus carefully picked up Lekmet and stretched his wings a bit with a flap. Carefully he carried him down and placed him on the floor. "So, um, speaking of the inter-dimensional fritz?"
"Baaa?"
"I've been doing some digging on my own and, uh, I think I've found what's causing it."
"Baa?"
"Stay right there. I present to you the source of the fritz." Rhombulus quickly pulled the blanket off the crystal that held Star.
Shocked the demon goat bellowed, "Baaaaa!"
"Evidence? I've got your evidence right here. My gut told me she's evil, so I took her out. Boom! No more fritz."
Lekmet stared at him before letting out a weary bleat, "Bawah."
"Yeah, I know she's Queen Butterfly's daughter, but…"
"Baw!"
"Okay, t-that kinda hurt. I know it came from a good place, you know, but…."
At that moment the socks over his hands burst open revealing a pair of snakes.
His Left arm who I shall refer as Lefty panted, "Okay, Chancellor, for the record, we had nothing to do with this."
Righty burst out with a grunt, "Yeah, we told him it was a horrible plan, but Rock-head here didn't wanna hear it."
Lefty continued, "He never listens to us!"
"But he would listen to you, Lekmet!"
"Tell him, Chancellor!"
"Tell him!"
Lekmet stressed out yelled. "Bawbah!"
Trying to get the situation under control Rhombulus said, "Okay, everybody just calm down! Why don't you sit? I'll grab you a glass of warm milk, and then we can talk this out like rational people."
As he opened up the refrigerator Seraph still encased in the crystal fell out.
Lekmet stared dumbfounded as his eyes bulged, "Baaaaa!"
"Oh, her? Well, I'm not sure who she is. Maybe a minion."
"BAAAA WAAAH BAAA!" Lekmet waved his arms around in a panic.
"What? Hekapoo's daughter? I think you must be mistaken. Hekapoo's daughter is only a few months old. We really should go and visit her." Rhombulus smiled to himself remembered the small baby.
"Baa Waaah!"
"Rapid aging in her dimension? She aged up to a teenager? Wait, why did no one tell me about this before-"
"Baa!"
Lefty panicked, "You what? Oh, please don't call the Magical high Commission."
"Blaaa"
"You… you think we should make other living arrangements?" Rhombulus said heartbroken.
"Uh-huh." Lekmet simply said turning away from him.
"But… who's gonna take care of you?"
Lekmet ignored the question and went to the mirror.
"Lekmet, no. Stop please!"
Lekmet began to dial.
"You'll ruin everything!" Panic set in gripping his heart, "Stop! Stop! Guh!" Without thinking Rhombulus crystallized Lekmet.
He was stunned by his own actions.
"Dude! You crystallized the High Chancellor!" Lefty told him.
Righty eyes twitched, "Do you have any idea how much trouble we are in?!"
"He's right! Queen Butterfly would be furious at you for crystallizing her daughter but if Hekapoo finds outs you crystallized her daughter she will literally create a tear inside you and split you're every atom across the multiverse!"
"She's gonna tear us apart." Lefty started to weep.
"You have to do something!"
"Stop yelling at me!" Rhombulus shouted, "Look, I just really need a win right now. I mean, you guys are my hands! You're supposed to be on my side! Can't you just…?" He let out a long tired sigh.
His right hand looked at him, "Hey. I bet a few reps would clear your head."
"Huh. You know, that's not a bad idea." Rhombulus agreed, taking a look at the weightlifting table. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself down.
Righty continued talking, "Bench presses, a couple of biceps curls. Hmmm?"
Rhombulus noticed something, Righty glancing over to the side, "What are you lookin' at? Huh?"
He turned around to see his left arm holding a baseball bat.
"What? No! Uh! Hey!"
His right arm starts to dial the mirror while his left arm swung at him and missed hitting his right arm. Rhombulus ran away from the mirror smashing his arms against various crystals.
"Let's confess! If you do they might not vaporize us!"
As he struggled against his own arms he finally crystallizes both so them.
Rhombulus lets out a long tired sigh, he looked around and he was alone despite all the crystallized figures.
His eyes fell on Seraph as he walked over to her. His mind went back to Lekmet's words, could this really be Hekapoo's daughter? She had horns like Hekapoo and her eyes looked a lot like hers. Rhombulus let his mind wander back a few months back.
0000
Lekmet was sitting in his chair reading a book. Rhombulus himself was just doing a few bicep curls. It had a been a normal day, they still hadn't managed to find a lead about the fritz.
It had been a bit stressful so they were just trying to unwind.
Then a shiver went up Rhombulus' spine, it was an odd feeling, as far as he could remember he couldn't say he sense anything like that before. It was an odd sensation, yet there was something familiar about it.
Lekmet must have sensed it too judging by his surprised expression. Lekmet quickly got up and went over to the mirror.
"Lekmet?"
Lekmet quickly dialed up someone and Omni appeared on the screen. "Lekmet? Did you sense it too?"
"Uh-huh."
"What's this about?" Rhombulus questioned them.
"Yes, it was Hekapoo," Omni spoke confusedly. "I'm not sure, what happened."
"Is she okay?" Rhombulus looked over Lekmet's shoulder.
Omni took out a crystal of his, turning it to scan the universe. "I'm sure a lot of people sensed it, I doubt many of them could track it back to Hekapoo." Omni could check into every possible timeline and now began to scan this timeline to the source of that feeling watching events play out.
Rhombulus had known Omni for his whole life and he had never seen such shock on his face. "Omni? Is something wrong?"
"Baaa?"
"Hekapoo just had a daughter," Omni spoke quietly.
"Baawah?"
"You took the words out of my mouth, Lekmet." Rhombulus let out just as surprised.
0000
The hospital had given Hekapoo a rather spacious hospital room and was keeping everything quiet. Being part of the Magical High Commission came with some benefits. They even let her keep Nachos with her, the dragon curled up at the front of her bed sleeping. Nachos helped her get there and stayed near her as to guard her. Nachos was as loyal to her as she was to Marco and now… Hekapoo appreciated it. She liked having someone there even if they weren't much for talking.
Hekapoo was tired, more so than she had ever been. She was in bed sewing up something, her clones had gone and got her the material for her to make it. She wasn't much with sewing but she had a lot of experience got a lot of things over the centuries, she was sure she could make something good.
As she finished she looked at the side of her bed wherein a hospital bassinet lay curled up in a yellow blanket her baby. Her baby, that thought was so weird for her. It seemed so strange but just looking at her sleeping face made her heart feel full.
She was so small, she had her eyes and a lot messy brownish red hair. She looked so human, she wondered if the girl would take after her, maybe grow some horns later on. She knew she'd have to tell everyone about this, she'd have to tell Marco… but she just wanted a few moments alone with her baby right now.
The doors flung open, Rhombulus walked in with balloons, "Hey!"
Hekapoo tried not yell at him.
Lekmet quickly followed pushing the same crystal ball set up they always used to talk to Omni.
"Sorry about that?" Omni apologized.
Lekmet closed the door behind them Rhombulus was already by the baby. "Oh, look at the baby! It's sooo cute! I love babies!" He turned back to Hekapoo. "It's your baby! You have a baby."
"Yes, I think I noticed that during labor," Hekapoo told him, too tired to put up with him.
"Why didn't you tell us? We would have loved to help, you know the High Commission helps its members. Plus we're family."
Hekapoo patted him on the head, "I know, I know, I didn't mean to keep it from you. Something just happened, I was pregnant for just a few days. This all just happened so suddenly."
Lekmet and Omni shared a look with each other.
"Still, I didn't know you were dating or anything." Rhombulus turned to her.
"Ugh, that is complicated," She bit her lower lip. "A guy I met recently, we spent 16 years together in my dimension, and we parted ways. I haven't had a chance to tell him because this all happened so suddenly. "
"Do you love him?" Rhombulus asked innocently.
"That's complicated,"
"Not really, when you love someone you just know. What's so complicated about that?" He glanced at Lekmet who agreed with a nod.
"Well, whatever." Rhombulus turned back to Hekapoo. "Whatever happens with this guy just know we will be there for you."
Hekapoo actually smiled at that, "Thanks."
Rhombulus was not the smartest guy in the multiverse and he got on her nervous pretty easily but he did have a good heart.
"Oh!" Rhombulus held out the balloons. "We stopped on our way here to get you some balloons. I'll tie them to your bed." He moved to do just that.
"Huh? I don't think that such a great idea." Hekapoo tried to stop him.
It was too late the balloons got to close to her and once they got close to her horns they popped.
The loud noise startled the baby and as babies do she cried loudly.
"Oop!" Rhombulus let out.
Omni spoke up, "Yeah, I told you we should have just gotten some flowers or a stuffed bear or maybe a fruit basket."
"Come here." Hekapoo leaned over and grabbed the baby, soon she cradled her in her arms. "Look at what mama has for you." Hekapoo grabbed the plush red and yellow dragon she mad just finished making and nuzzled it close to the girl. "It's like a small softer Nachos you can cuddle. Boop." Hekapoo playfully lets the nose of the plush dragon tap her baby's nose.
The small baby quieted down marveling at the plush doll. She reached for the doll pulling it close. She cuddled it enjoying how it smelled like her mother. The baby was pulled close Hekapoo, her mother's heartbeat softly lulling the baby.
The commission was a bit surprised seeing Hekapoo act so tenderly to her daughter. Hekapoo was not particularly mean-spirited or anything but it was rare to see her act so tenderly to anyone like that.
Nachos pulled away Rhombulus, "Let me go, you big lizard."
The dragon let him go with a snarl.
Rhombulus moved closer to them to get a better look. Hekapoo was losing her patience with him.
"Goo goo ga gaa," Rhombulus waved his snake-like hand before the baby trying to get her attention.
The baby fussed and gripped the dragon tighter.
"Stop, Rhombulus. You're upsetting her."
"Oh come on, I'm just trying to be friendly. She should get to know her Uncle Rhombulus."
Hekapoo groaned at the prospect.
"Come on little one, can you say uncle?"
The little baby just whimpered, and Hekapoo had enough. "Rhombulus time out corner!" Cradling her baby Hekapoo jumped off the bed and did a mid-air spin kick kicking Rhombulus right into a corner. Hekapoo landed back in bed holding her baby close, even tired her physical skills were top notch and she made sure to give her baby all the support she needs.
"Seraph, you okay?" Hekapoo whispered to her baby.
The young Seraph simply giggled as she looked up to her mother.
Rhombulus slowly started to black out as Nachos moved over to him to stand between him and his masters.
0000
Rhombulus looked at the crystal again. He saw her fire, the fierceness that had always seen in Hekapoo. He couldn't help but admit to himself that she had to be Hekapoo's daughter.
He was surprised she looked like a teenager already. He was certain it had only been a few months since he last saw her, was this some sort of thing with Hekapoo's dimension?
As he stopped to think this over he felt guilt. He had trapped a lot of people in crystal but never had he ever trapped an infant and she was much more than that. She didn't do anything, for all he knew she just got caught up with the bad kind of people.
As he looked at her, he could help but think back to that small bundle that Hekapoo was holding, the small baby he tried to make laugh. The small baby that made Hekapoo smile in a way Rhombulus had never seen her smile.
Before he even realized he was doing it he zapped the crystal and freed her.
"Hey are-" Rhombulus stopped talking when a ball of flame struck his eye.
He had forgotten she had been mid attack when he crystallized her.
He tumbled backward and as Seraph stepped out of the goop that was the leftover of the crystal, her fist was aflame.
All that Seraph knew was this crystal guy zapped Star and her. All the karate training she received started to kick in. She rushed forwards and with her flaming fist hitting him in his abs as quickly as she could.
Normally Seraph would try and hold back but not this time, her father and karate had told her not to attack first and to have control. She was strong and powerful and she could hurt people so she had to be careful. This guy was clearly tough and magical and more to the point attacked her and her friend in their home so there was no reason for her to hold back.
Rhombulus quickly found himself being pushed back. He moved to block her when she changed things up as she spun into a kick delivered straight to his chest.
Rhombulus couldn't help but be reminded of her mother as he tossed backward and into the crystal that held a pizza delivery guy.
He tumbled to the ground stunned. The crystal cracked and the pizza delivery guy was freed.
"I'm free!" he quickly ran leaving behind his pizza.
Looking around she found several crystals holding many people, she quickly spotted a goat man that she couldn't help but feel looked somewhat familiar.
Seraph noted that and quickly spotted the crystal holding Star and moved towards it. She took a deep breath and pulled back her fist and struck it.
"Ow!" She waved her hand shaking the pain off.
The large crystal started to crack, the pieces all fell apart leaving Star behind.
The princess gasped, "What? What happened?"
"Star? Are you all right?"
"Yeah," Star shook the cobwebs off her mind.
"Some big crystal guy showed up and zapped us and brought us here. I managed to escape and free you."
Star looked at the girl, "Thanks."
She sometimes saw so much of her father in her, his bravery and his kindness.
Seraph helped her up, Star noticed Seraph's knuckles were red and bruised a bit of guilt bubbled up.
Before Star could say anything Seraph turned to their captor, "That's the guy."
The girls moved closer as he groaned in pain.
"Who are you?" Star took the lead.
"My name is Rhombulus, I work with your moms."
"Rhombulus?" The Princess asked rubbing her chin, Seraph gave her a confused look. Star suddenly remembered, "Rhombulus? Oh, oh! You're the time-out guy."
"What?"Rhombulus looked on confused. "Who calls me that? I bet it's Glossaryck, isn't it?"
"Omnitraxus calls you that too. And my mom and dad, really all of the members of the Magic High Commission call you that. Time-out guy."
Rhombulus let his shoulder's slump.
"Why did you come for us?" Star questioned him.
"Why did you cause the dimensional fritz?"
"Fritz?" Star returned his question, "What's that?"
Seraph vaguely remembered her mother mentioning that word before.
"The leak in the universe!" Rhombulus shouted flailing his arms around, "The reason nothing working up here?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Star shrugged.
"Oh! Something has been draining the power of magic from the universe." He waved at all the crystals, "See? Crystal orbs are down. And then there's the green hole over there."
He pointed to a swirling green vortex in the sky.
"Yeah, that part definitely looks broken."
"And look at the crystal I trapped Lekmet in. This stuff used to be hard as diamonds. Now its like... rock candy or something."
Star looked back at him, "I'm sorry your powers are all crazy, but it's not me."
Seraph backed her up, "Yeah, I live with Star for a while now haven't seen her do anything that could cause this."
Rhombulus objected, "You have to be the source! You see all these guys?" He gestured towards the crystals. "My gut told me they were evil, so I crystallized them. There's Zedlord, who blew up an entire planet. Astrobell and the black hole she created. Stopped that one just in time. Then, of course, I am most proud of the evil twins," He pointed to his chest. "John and Jack. They're pretty hard to tell apart, but one of them was definitely evil. This is what I do. I find the source of evil, and I encase it in crystal forever."
"So your snake hands. They're evil too?" Star asked him.
"What? No, they're my hands."
Seraph pointed at Lekmet, "And what about that old goat man? Is he evil? He seemed pretty nice to me."
Rhombulus scoffed, "There's nothing evil about Lekmet. He's the most pure-hearted, hard-working angel goat demon there ever was."
Star asked the obvious question, "Well, why did you crystallize him then? Hmm?"
Rhombulus didn't have an answer to that.
Star patted him on the shoulder. "Look, time-out guy, I think you need to think stuff through a little more before you rely on your gut. It's making you crystallize innocent people."
Rhombulus let a tear out of his eye, both girls feeling a bit sorry for him, "Maybe you're right. I could trust you, gut!" He then punched himself. "I suck at this, I can't find the leak, I captured a princess, and I even crystallized my own niece." He looked at Seraph deeply ashamed of himself.
"Niece?" Seraph pointed to herself.
"Yeah, didn't your mom tell you?"
"Huh?" Star remembered something on a page of the spell book, something Glossaryck put in as an introduction. Something she barely skimmed. "Yeah, I think I read something about that."
"Glossaryck, created me, Omnitraxus, Lekmet and your mother. So, well, I'm kinda your uncle. We actually visited you the day you were born. We all sensed something happens and Lekmet and Omni knew it was related to your mom."
"Why did mom never tell me?"
"Yeah, your mom can be a bit of loner but she's very protective about those she cares about. And…. And I've never seen her as happy as I did when she was holding baby you."
Then he realized something, "I've been wrong about everything lately. The commission thinks I'm a joke. I thought I could find the source of the fritz, my hands and I could earn the appreciation of the Magical High Commission again." He looked back at Lekmet, "I actually crystallized Lekmet. And I love Lekmet!"
Star picked up one of his tears noting they were crystals, "Ooh, pretty!"
"I'm gonna be in time-out for the next ten thousand years. If Hekapoo doesn't rip me out of the universe. Oh, Glossaryck is gonna have a field day with that. Let me tell you."
Star settled next to him, "Ah, I wouldn't worry 'bout him. He's not coming back."
"What? Glossaryck's gone?"
"Oh!" Star chuckled, "Uh, yeah…."
"Glossaryck's gone? This is amazing! I mean, it's actually really bad." He chuckled to himself, "But its good for me. But yeah, wow. That's bad news for the universe."
"Whose Glossaryck?" Seraph questioned them.
"Yeah, I guess you wouldn't have met him," Star admitted. "He's a small blue man that lives inside my spell book. He's a tiny jerk."
Rhombulus added, "Yeah, not surprised your mom didn't tell you about him. He is a jerk. The thing about Glossaryck is he may be a jerk, but he's the most powerful all-knowing magic jerk in the universe. That's why I can never win an argument with him."
"He's just so hard to deal with, right? Even when I tried to rescue him, he didn't want to come back."
"You know that fancy crystal in his head? I gave it to him! But did he ever thank me? No."
From what he was hearing about him Seraph was pretty sure she didn't want to meet him.
Seraph looked over to where the pizza delivery guy dropped the delivery. Opening the box she found the pizza was still nice and warm. "Yuk!" She tossed the box aside when she realized it had pineapple on it.
"Every time we got donuts, he just sat on them." Star sighed as she continued to talk about the little magic man. "What a waste of donuts."
"You know, I made some donuts for a meeting yesterday, and I think there's some left over. Uh… you want any?"
"Yes," Seraph answered eagerly, she was still a little hungry as she didn't get to finish her cereal and that pizza was not appetizing.
Rhombulus grabbed one of the crystals and placed donuts and a tea kettle on it.
The girls sat around the makeshift table and took out some of the donuts. Star found the donuts encased in crystal. She tried to bit through but found it too hard, Seraph chomped through the crystal enjoying the crunchy sweet.
Star marveled at the donut, "Ooh. You know, you shouldn't feel so down on yourself Rhombulus. Your crystals are really pretty."
"Uh…. Uncle Rhombulus?"Seraph began.
Rhombulus had to repress a squeal of delight to being called that. "Yes?"
"Mom doesn't talk much about you guys. I want to get to know the rest of my family more. Can you tell me a little about you guys?"
"Well, we already told you about Glossaryck. Uh, well, let's start with Omnitraxus…"
Rhombulus told Seraph about her other uncles. How Omnitraxus was helpful and kind guardian over all of time and space. About how Lekmet was the kindest person anyone could ever hope to meet. And about how Hekapoo often kept them together. How Hekapoo was fierce but only because she expected everyone to try and be their best.
Rhombulus started to tell stories about their adventures together against the forces of evil that would dare face against them.
"Your mom does give us a lot of grief but it comes from a good place. She's always trying to make sure we're doing our best. When we do have to fight me and her are always the front line keeping everyone else safe. Though she never says it she is always making sure I'm safe too. Always covering my blind spots, I try to keep her safe too but she's just so fast it's a little hard for me to keep up."
Seraph marveled at her uncle as she learned more about her family.
There was a moment of silence when Rhombulus started up, "So, I guess you've got to turn me in, right? I mean, crystallizing the princess is kind of a big deal. I'm probably gonna get in big trouble."
Seraph frowned at the thought.
Star shrugged, "Uh, not necessarily. Okay, look, if you don't tell the Magic High Commission about Glossaryck or the Magic Book of Spells and how I lost both of them, then I won't tell them about it." Star looked over to Seraph, "Besides, you're just getting to know your niece I'd hate to get you in trouble with Hekapoo when you're just getting to meet each other. If I did that I doubt Hekapoo would let her visit."
Seraph quickly perked up. "Really?"
Star smiled, "Yup, we just all have to keep everything that happened here a secret."
"Deal!" Rhombulus quickly agreed.
"Uh, but what about Uncle Lekmet?" Seraph couldn't help but point out.
"Well, don't worry about him. I'm the only one who can understand what he says." Rhombulus got an idea, "Both of you close your eyes."
The girls did as he asked.
"Now open!"
They opened their eyes to find him holding out the two gems that were on his chest. The girls quickly took them.
Star looked on, "Ooh, is this evil twin Jack?" She held out her before looking at the matching one Seraph had.
"Huh? Not sure. Either way, I want you two to have them."
0000
A portal opened in the kitchen as the morning light started to filter in. The girls stepped out with Rhombulus poking his head out.
"Thank you." He told them softly.
"No problem." Star smiled holding out the gem he gave her.
Seraph quickly gave him a hug, "Goodbye Uncle. Be sure to visit anytime."
"I might just do that."Rhombulus chuckled still loving hearing someone call him uncle.
He waved goodbye before the portal closed behind him.
"Morning." Marco came in ready to go on his jog. "Seraph, you got up early? Are you ready for our jog?"
"Oh, just give me a minute." Seraph quickly raced to her room to get changed.
Star marveled at how much energy Seraph had, she'd been up most of the night talking to her uncle and was just ready to go for a jog.
Marco started to stretch out, "Your up early." Marco questioned the princess. "Wait, we're you trying to get my cereal?"
"No!" Star moved so she was blocking the bowel she had started to eat from. "But your daughter was having a bowl. She said you told her she could have one."
"Yeah, she can. She just seems to get a little hyper when she has too much and then has a big sugar crash. Wait, so what are you doing up so early? Did you want to come with us for our jog?"
"…..Ah, yeah." Star said she couldn't say anything else without getting into trouble.
"That's great," Marco said happily, "I'll go get Nachos and the puppies, I'll meet you outside."
As Marco went to the front of the house Star sighed already tired, "Today is gonna be a long one."
She held up the gem with one the twins, wondering which one she got. She shrugged, decided she might as well try to enjoy spending some time with Marco and Seraph.
0000
Rhombulus returned to his dimension and to Lekmet intending to free him from the crystal. He poured out some nice warm milk hoping to put him in a good mood. He planned to apologize for it, he was going to tell him he freed Star and Seraph and they accepted his apology. He hoped that would help smooth things over. Maybe even talk about his conversation with Seraph and how she wanted to get know them better, maybe that help his mood.
As he was about to free him he started to recall something… something from that hospital visit.
0000
Nachos was sitting on him, probably to make sure he didn't get close to the baby. Not that he thought he could get up the room was still spinning and he was shoved into the corner. He felt like he might pass out again, he could barely make out what was going on.
Hekapoo had a good kick.
He opened his eyes and saw the other by the bed.
"How is that you have a baby?" Omni spoke through the crystal ball.
"Seraph, Seraph Celosia Diaz, that's her name."
"Baa?" Lekmet let out.
"…That's a nice name." Omni said as he smiled a bit, "Diaz means day, doesn't? I take it her last name came from her father."
"Yeah, it's not like I have a last name to give her." Hekapoo continued to rock the baby to in her arms as she gently nibbled on the plush dragon.
"So, what exactly is her father?"
"Marco is a human."
"Baa!" Lekmet let out surprised.
"How's that possible?" Omni added, "I didn't think you could even stand humans."
"What can I say? I had some time to reevaluate my position on the matter. Maybe not all humans are so lame." Hekapoo smiled looking at her daughter in her arms.
Lekmet leaned over giving the infant a small smile and a wave. Seraph reached over to him and Lekmet returned the gesture by offering her his hoof. But she instead tugged on his long beard tugging at it.
"Baa!" The old goat groaned.
"Sweetie, let him go."
"Bwaa." Lekmet waved over her concern not wanting to upset the newborn.
"Hekapoo," Omni went back to the topic, "you shouldn't even be able to have a child, much less with a human."
"I know, " She said softly, "I talk to the doctor about his-"
"You told the doctor-?"
"Didn't have much of a choice, I knew I couldn't have a kid but one was starting to come out of me. Don't worry he's keeping it a secret even from the rest of the staff. The most we could figure out that somehow me and Marco pulled a million to one shot, all the needed factors aligned just right at the right time to make this little miracle possible."
Omni didn't know what to say, none of them had ever thought this was possible and didn't know what to do when it happened. He thought about asking Glossaryck for help none of them liked spending time with him. That and was there anything wrong, Hekapoo seemed happy the baby seemed healthy and happy.
"Have you told the father yet?"
"No, not yet. This just happened so suddenly, I'm going to tell him when I get a chance. I just wanted to take her home and settle before I do."
"Do you need anything?"
"No, I've got everything I need right now. Before I go home I'll send some clones to pick up some things."
"Okay, we'll let us know if you need anything, a babysitter or anything."
Hekapoo looked at those gathered around her, "…Thanks." They were not the ideal babysitters but she appreciated the thought behind the offer.
Rhombulus blacked out again his last thought being of playing with that baby
0000
Lekmet sat in a comfy chair drinking some milk. After being freed and talking to Rhombulus he agreed not to tell the commission about his actions since the girls themselves seemed to forgive him. That and Rhombulus did feel guilty about his actions and learned his lesson.
He slowly sipped on his milk, he thought about the girl feeling a tad guilty himself. He and the others had been keeping a secret from Rhombulus too.
0000
Lekmet was planning on doing something special, they never even had a chance to give Hekapoo a baby shower, he just wanted to give her a gift for her baby. As he planned something out when a portal formed before him and a hand pulled him in.
He stumbled forwards realizing that Hekapoo had done so and brought him back to the hospital.
He wasn't the only one Omni phased into the spacious hospital room.
"Hekapoo, what is the meaning of this?" Omni hovered above them.
Lekmet noticed something, her usual calm, and laid back demeanor was replaced with something else. Something he never saw in her, true fear and despair.
Her eyes were red and her hair a tattered mess.
"I thought you had already left the hospital," Omni asked, worry starting to pepper his voice.
"Help her!" Hekapoo demanded, she looked desperate.
Both of them turned to a girl sleeping a bed, a teenaged girl with red hair and horns.
"Bwah?"
"Who is she?" Omni asked curiously.
"Seraph, that's Seraph."
"But she's a teenager, is this about your dimension time difference?"
"No, we only spent about a month in my dimension. Then I realized she aged a decade and got us back to the hospital. The doctors tested her and…and, they think my dimensions timeline is messing with her. That my dimensions timeline and her father's timeline are doubling her aging in my dimension. She's mortal, every day is months for her there and…" She sobbed, for the first time in ever those two saw Hekapoo cry, "I- I-I- can accept that she's mortal, that one day I'll have to say goodbye. It will break my heart but I can accept that if she had a nice long life. But my dimension is taking years from her. So, I'm begging you please help her!"
It broke their heart to see Hekapoo like that.
They didn't say anything, Omni raised his hand and moved it towards the girl. His hand glowed faintly but then it stopped as he pulled his arm away.
Lekmet moved the sleeping girl's side and held out his hands to a similar effect.
Both of them looked at Hekapoo disheartened.
"Baa."
"I'm sorry," Omni told her solely, "there is nothing to do, there is nothing wrong with her. Time is running like it's supposed to with her, and judging from Lekmet's reaction she's perfectly healthy. This is just how her body reacts to your dimension, mostly because of your nature and …" He let his words trail off.
Hekapoo sobbed, "I know… the doctor said the same thing I just had to try." The tears started flowing from her eyes. She tried to keep quiet not wanting to wake the girl, she was a heavy sleeper but she didn't want to risk it.
"Please Omni…" Hekapoo said between sobs. "Use your power search through the other lines, one of them had to have a solution."
Omni was quiet as he searched, "Hekapoo…. It's not easy. She's unique, Seraph doesn't show up, there are other versions of her in some way but they're not like her. You're not like your other selves… I'm sorry."
Hekapoo continued to sob unable to stop.
Nachos had come with them, that dragon never wanting to leave the girl's side and sensing the mother's distress wouldn't think of leaving her alone. Nachos nuzzled against Hekapoo. Lekmet moved over and hugged, Omni stretched out his hand and rested it on her back.
If all they could do was comfort her then that what they would do.
Omni and Lekmet thought of her as a sister and pained them they couldn't do anything to help. The issue was that it was her nature and even Glossaryck could do nothing about that.
She wept silently and they held her, and she came to the conclusion that she had to do what was best for her daughter.
Even when it would break her heart.
0000
Seraph was running track during PE, it was easy for her even after taking a jog with her dad earlier that morning. She let her mind wander as she ran.
Her talk with uncle had started to make her think about her mother and how her life changed so much so fast.
She wondered why her mother kept that from Rhombulus and never told her about Glossaryck. Seraph wanted to know more, as she ran she thought about her journey to Earth.
0000
Seraph was in the hospital waking in the morning. Her mother had started to panic just a day ago and took her to the hospital to have her checked up. Nachos was there and probably the only thing keeping her from going into a full-blown panic.
Seraph petted Nachos as her mother explained the situation.
She didn't realize at first but she was aging too fast in her mother's dimension and now she was going to meet her father. She couldn't stay in her mom's dimension anymore so they'd turn to her father, Hekapoo was certain he'd say yes.
Hekapoo didn't know how his parents would react but would hope for the best. If not she was sure some of the other commission members would be happy to take her in. Either way, it was time for Marco know about her.
Seraph was nervous about all this but she was far more excited to finally get to meet her father, her mother promised that when she was older she'd take her to meet her father. Hekapoo had told her about Marco and his adventures and now felt like she knew him.
Hekapoo made a couple of clones and opened two portals. "Okay, I'm going to talk to your dad. I'll see you soon." She kissed her on the cheek before she stepped into the portal.
Hekapoo found herself in her home, in her room, she looked herself in a mirror. Her eyes were red because how much she cried, her dress was wrinkled and messy. She gave herself a moment to calm herself, this would be tough but she had to be strong for Seraph. She cleaned herself up. She opened a portal right to Marco's front door.
The clones finished checking out of the hospital and getting her things.
The clones, Seraph, and Nachos used the other portal to go back the Forge.
Seraph felt strange standing in her mother's home, her home, knowing very well it might the last time she could stand there.
The clones helped her pack her things, there wasn't much but it was a slow process. Then when she was done she sat down at the dinner table, some of the clones had prepared her favorite dishes.
They sat down and had one last meal together in their home.
As the meal came to an end one of the clones lead her towards the forge and where Hekapoo made the scissors. Seraph remembered making her own scissors there once and a few metal sculptures.
The other clones got Nachos ready, packing all the bags onto Nachos' back.
"Mom?" Seraph asked.
Hekapoo opened a drawer and pulled out some scissors. The handle was ruby red and it almost seemed to be made of flower petals. Seraph noticed Her mother's emblem on them, glimmering in the light of the forge. "I wanted to give you this later, but this seems right."
Seraph looked on confused, "Wait are those the scissors I made? Did you make them dimensional scissors for me?"
"Yeah, sweetie, your old man has his own scissors but it can't hurt to have your own. So, I took the scissors you and made a modified them a bit. You remember what I told you about owning scissors?"
"That I have to be respectful about them, never misuse them, and to be careful. Otherwise just think about where I want to go when I use them and not to let my mind wander."
"Right." Hekapoo created a portal to where the real Hekapoo was.
She placed the scissors into Seraph's hand, Seraph held them in her hands and noticed her name on them glow in her mother's language and in her father's language. She smiled before slipping them into her pocket.
"Thank you," Seraph said giving her a hug.
The other clones brought in Nachos all packed up, "Its time to go."
The clones were all connected to Hekapoo and could tell she was talking to Marco so it seemed like the right time for Seraph to show up. Seraph climbed onto Nachos and gave the clones a smile before driving into the portal.
Slowly the portal closed behind her and the clones stared for a moment. They started to weep already missing the girl, knowing it was just the pain they shared with Hekapoo prime. Now the burden was on Hekapoo alone, they moved to do their duties and guard the castle forge. In the meantime, they only hoped she'd be happy and safe.
0000
Seraph remembered all this as something hit her.
Her sugar crash, the one that Marco warned about.
Seraph fell to the ground with a thud, she'd been running on a sugar high and hadn't slept all night so it was a miracle she had lasted this long.
Assistant Couch Minerva checked and Seraph's horn just crossed the finish line. "Okay, close enough." She made a note of it to give her full credit.
The rest of the class still had several laps to go.
Minerva moved over and helped her up noting how Seraph was fast asleep. "You had that cereal again? I thought your dad told you only one." Minerva started to help Seraph over to the benches, "Let's get you a sports drink."
Seraph wasn't hurt, she was tough and honestly, it wasn't the first time she tripped at high speeds.
0000
In the deepest darkest dimension of the multiverse, someone sat fast asleep and woke up.
Slowly they rose, smacking their lips, they felt a shiver go down through their body, sensing something unique. "Hm, that's different," They pondered it for a moment more, "And is it tied to Hekapoo?" They chuckled to themselves, "Maybe it's time for a visit."
Author's Notes: Hello again. Good news, my big writing project is almost done, just editing and should be done by next week so I might be able to write more often. Probably not so in this month because other Christmas projects. I'll still try to update. Here's a a hint about the next chapter :first date.
Okay, I'm not all that happy with this chapter. During the middle I felt that I went too heavy in dialogue, but I could really picture anything because nothing much happened. But overall lore wise I'm happy with that. We got to see some scenes and I know you've been asking about the commission and heres your answer. Also there are stuff… for later… yeah…
Anyway, please leave a review and tell me what you think.