The fanfiction is a one-shot story, taking a lot of inspiration from the episode "Storm in the room" of the animated series Steven Universe.
The story is just about Toffee and his late mother. It takes place after the events in "Septarian Jesus".
Today was Mother's day and everyone in Mewni had already made plans to celebrate with their families. Marco invited his mother, Angie, on a one-day trip in Mewni for the occasion. Eclipsa went on a picnic with Globgor and Meteora, while Star and Moon simply went shopping.
Moon decided to visit her mother in the mausoleum. Once she entered the building she saw Toffee sitting on the floor, in front of one of the graves. After he noticed the mewman's presence, the septarian quickly stood up, dusted himself off and, without saying anything, he passed by her and was about to leave:
- You are not bothering me.- Moon informed him.- You're here to see your mother, aren't you?
- I'll just go.- Toffee replied.
- You know.- the blue-haired woman continued, hoping to keep him there.- Star told me what happened. How old were you when your parents died?
- Why do you ask?- Toffee was suspicious of her intentions.
- Not sure.- she answered.- But I remember I felt sorry for you when I heard that. I guess, you could say, I am trying to start anew.
Toffee thought that maybe he should tell her. Since Star had already told her mother the most important details, what was there to lose:
- I was my daughter's age.- Toffee revealed.
- You mean 7 years old?- Moon asked, checking whether she understood correctly. She got a nod from Toffee.- I am sorry!- she confessed, while placing flowers on the top of Comet's grave at the same time.- What was your mother like?
Toffee looked Moon in the face for the first time, since she arrived at the mausoleum. Her question surprised him a little bit. He never expected her to ask about his mother. But he still agreed to tell her. Where to start:
- She had long blonde hair- soft and smooth like silk.- he smiled.- Her claws were so sharp, and yet her touch was so gentle. Her voice was like an angel's, and yet she crushed her enemies like insects. I thought I could always count on her, but...
He stopped right there. He did not finish. Moon got worried:
- "But" what?- she asked him, hoping he would explain. When the septarian did not answer, she asked again.- Toffee, did something happen? Something other than the fact that she died?
- Moon- he spoke sternly.- this is personal.
- I understand. My apologies!- Moon lowered her head in both shame and disappointment.
That was pretty refreshing. If she was Star, she would have insisted on him to talk. Moon, however, was different-a complete opposite of her daughter.
Something distracted the septarian from the conversation. He felt someone's touch on his shoulder, but when he turned around, he saw no one. Only Moon was there, but she was a couple of feet away from him, so there was no way it was her.
Maybe he was overthinking it. Toffee exchanged another look with the mewman, not saying anything. He looked at Comet's grave, then at Moon again. He hesitated a little bit, before finally saying:
- I am sorry!- after which he left the building.
Moon remained in the mausoleum alone, still staring at the exit, where Toffee left from. She was trying to understand what did he apologize for. Although, judging from the position his eyes were in, he was mostly likely referencing Comet's death. Did that mean... that after all those years...Toffee apologized for killing her mother:
- I guess, he has changed.- Moon thought out loud.
Toffee was working in the royal castle, performing his duties as the king of Septarsis with no problem. Today, though, his mind was somewhere else.
He was looking through the window, watching how his daughter Razzles was playing with Katrina and her siblings. Seeing how happy she was to play with someone, who was a little bit closer to her age (he was not sure exactly how old Katrina and her siblings were, considering that frog people aged very rapidly, but they were still closer to Razzles' age) made Toffee happy on the inside. As an only child himself, he has always been curious what was it like to have brothers and sisters. The closest thing to a brother, he ever had, was Rasticore, especially after Seth adopted him and the two boys started to live together.
Besides, nowadays Toffee had more responsibilities than ever and he did not have as much time for Razzles as he used to. Who knew how bored or lonely his daughter always felt when he had to leave her with a babysitter? Or maybe even annoyed that she could not see her father as often as before? The fact that Toffee himself also missed being with his daughter did not make things any easier.
The marauders were still locked in the dungeon, their wrists shackles and chained. Each of them was feeling physically weaker than ever. Made sense, considering that Toffee sentenced them to death via starvation. The doctor visited regularly to check on the inmates. One inmate, in particular, caught his attention. Montezuma's case seemed different, but he was not sure why. He made some tests to make sure his theory was correct and at the same time, constructing a speech in his head about how to explain this to the king.
The night in Septarsis was very quiet. Monsters patrolling the streets, to make sure of the citizens' safety and the septarians themselves were enjoying their deep slumber. Toffee was sleeping peacefully, but he was having a very strange dream.
He found himself in a garden, not a single soul around. He saw only a figure of a woman in the distance. From his position, he could not tell who she was, but he managed to notice a few familiar features. The woman appeared to have a long blonde hair and a long tail, covered in white scales with black stripes. A combination, which Toffee knew way too well. And once the woman turned around and faced him, there was no denying who that was:
- Mother?- he whispered in disbelief.
Yolanda approached her son, her warm smile not leaving her face. Now, when the two were face to face, she spoke:
- Hello, baby!- she tried to touch his cheek, but he rejected her.
- What are you doing?- he asked accusingly.
- I haven't seen my son for 3 centuries.- she replied.- Look how much you've grown! You are just as handsome as your father.
- No.- Toffee strictly denied.- I am nothing like him. Nothing like you either. You are not even real. You are just a product of my subconscious.
- What's so bad about that, dear?- Yolanda asked him.- Don't you wanna see me?
- It's not that, it's just...- Toffee did not finish.
- Just what?
Toffee remained motionless, without saying anything. Yolanda could not describe what his face looked like- he was not showing signs of a specific emotion. Not wanting to leave him like that, she hugged him:
- Why don't we do something to cheer you up?- Yolanda proposed. A basketball materialized in her hands.- How about a game of basketball?
- Seriously?- Toffee sighed.
- Come on! Afraid?- Yolanda teased him.
- No, just...
Toffee could not even finish that sentence, as his mother did not let him to:
- Think fast!- she threw the ball right at his face.- I said "fast", sweetie!
Toffee frowned and grabbed the ball right from Yolanda's hands:
- Okay. Try and take it!- he raised his hand, holding the ball, as high as he could, watching his mother, who was shorter than him, desperately trying to take it back.
- Making fun of your mother's height?- the woman commented.- Look at you! You take after your father and his family of giants.
Toffee let go of the ball and it fell on the top of his mother's head:
- Ouch!- she joked.
The two septarians finally got into a real game of basketball, but they both played by their own rules by sometimes inserting elements from other sports, such as cornball, rugby and others. It did not matter. They were both having fun.
After they were done playing, they sat on the grass cross-legged to take a break. Yolanda spotted her son's smile:
- You seem to feel better now.- she commented and touched his hair.- Never knew what a beautiful smile you had. Maybe because you don't smile much.- Yolanda frowned.- Then again, it's not like you have had many reasons to smile. That right there was our first game together, after all.
Yolanda was now caressing her son's cheek and he placed his own hand on the top of her's:
- It was fun, even if it's not real.- he spoke.
- Come here!- Yolanda encouraged him to lie down and place his head on her lap. So he did.
This felt strange, but not in a bad way. It was just different. He did not even remember the last time he had done that with his mother, or even if he had ever done that at all:
- We haven't done that either, right?- Toffee asked.
- I am afraid so.- Yolanda answered.- Seems like we haven't done a lot of things.
Toffee stood up and looked his mother in the eyes:
- We should stop.- he said.- This is pointless. It's just a dream. A dream cannot make up for 3 centuries.
- Toffee...- Yolanda tried to say something in defense.
- Even if it was not a dream- he continued.- do you really think that a simple game is enough?
- Toffee, I know I...messed up... a lot.
- No need to apologize.- Toffee asured her.- It doesn't matter. You are just telling me the things I want to hear. I will never know what I truly am to you.
- You are our son.- Yolanda gently touched his cheek.- And we love you. More than anything.
- And yet, I was never good enough for you two. Especially, when I cried.
These words were the final hit for Yolanda. This made her feel incredibly ashamed, as well as heartbroken:
- Hunny, I have no words to describe how sorry I am.- Yolanda's voice was filled with sorrow and regret.- Your father and I...- she looked for the fitting words.- we...failed. We failed at being parents and his condition takes only part of the blame.
- You two wanted to raise the perfect soldier.- Toffee spoke.- So that's what I did. Is that why you are apologizing now?
- No, of course not! It's because I wanted you to know how much you mean to us.
- I had already read that.- he replied.- In father's journal. You never even tried to say it to my face. And yet, you had the stomachs to call me a "coward".- he clenched his fists and his eyes teared up a little. He was quick to wipe away his tears, but his mother already saw.
- Don't!- she told him and placed both of her hands on his cheeks.- Don't you ever be ashamed of crying!- she embraced him tightly.- You are right! You have always been a good child, and you deserve much more. I thought I was giving you space, but I just made you feel neglected. I never even asked you how you feel. I am sorry!
The two remained like that, hugging each other, without saying anything. After a few minutes of silence, Yolanda spoke again:
- At least, you make a much better parent.
Toffee chuckled:
- I hope so!
- You are!- she asured him.- Razzles is one lucky girl to have such an amazing dad by her side!
- Thank you, mother!
- I guess I must go now!- she stood up and dusted herself off.- Love you, sweetie!- she kissed him on the forehead.
- Love you too, mom!- he replied.
- I'll kiss your father from you. You can kiss the grandchildren from me.
With this Toffee woke up. It was early in the morning. "Grandchildren"? Why the plural? Did she simply wish for him to have more children? It did not matter. That was only a dream. However, it was still a good way to get all of this out of his system.
- I did not mean to do anything, prior to your approval, sir!- the doctor had already expressed his worry to Toffee.- I made a few tests to make sure my theory is correct.
- Theory?- Toffee still did not know what this was all about.
- Montezuma is pregnant, Your Majesty.- the doctor shared his discovery with the king, much to the latter's shock.
Wait? Was that what Toffee's mother meant, when she said "grandchildren"? Did she knew? But how? That was only a dream, unless...
A few hours later, Toffee visited the mausoleum to see his mother:
- Thank you, mother!- he kissed his fingertips and then touched the gravestone, as a form of indirect kiss.- Rest in peace!- then he patted his father's gravestone.- Take good care of her, father!
