Today is a big day in Mewni, or at least it is for Ludo Avarius. The little prince marches up to his large throne and valiantly tries to climb onto it before snapping his fingers and getting a small boost from a much taller monster. He sits on the throne with pride as he gazes over his monster army with a big, dumb, smug grin on his face. Everyone is murmuring and not paying attention to him. Ludo doesn't like that. So he clears his throat.

Ludo: "Ahem..."

Still, no one pays attention. They all wonder why they have been summoned at one o'clock in the morning to the throne room.

Ludo: "AHEM!"

Still conversing...

Ludo: "EVERYONE SHUT UP!"

Silence.

Ludo: "Okay. So, I'm fairly certain that all of you know why you've been summoned here on this lovely Friday morning."

It is literally pouring rain, and they had to trek through that rain just to get here. Nobody has a clue. They all shrug.

Ludo: "Really? None of you. Not one of you morons remember what today is? It's only the single most important day in the entire year, and you bumbling buffoons can't even remember why?"

Frill-Necked Monster: "Is it payday?"

He looks forward with a deadpan expression on his face.

Ludo: "No, it's not pay day!"

Frill-Necked Monster: "It's not?"

Crocodile Monster: "Isn't pay on Friday?"

Spikeballs: "You guys are getting paid?"

Ludo: "No! It's not payday! I gave you your 3 pieces of bronze earlier this week."

Just for context, 3 pieces of bronze is maybe enough to get, like, a single candy bar. Just roll with the currency.

Ludo: "So, none of you remember?"

They all just stare at him in confusion. This makes Ludo furious.

Ludo: "It's MY BIRTHDAY you dolts!"

All: "Oh!"

Murmuring

"It's boss' birthday."

"I didn't get him anything."

"So? He got me nothing for mine."

"It's my birthday too."

"Oh! Happy birthday!"

"Thanks!"

Ludo sits on the throne, disappointed once again.

Ludo: "So, nobody remembered my birthday? Oh well. It's no different than any other year. I'll just go to my room then. You're all dismissed."

Ludo climbs off his throne and sighs. As he's getting ready to walk out of the room, the castle door bursts open.

"BOSS!"

A soaking wet Bearicorn comes stumbling down the hall. He slips and falls on his face; the others just laugh at his boobery. He gets back up, running all the way to Ludo, who just stares at the bear trying to catch his breath.

Bearicorn: "Boss... I... got you..._"

Ludo: "Out with it man! What is it?"

Bearicorn huffs for nearly a minute, raising his paw to indicate that he just needs a second to catch his breath.

Bearicorn: "I got you a gift, boss."

Ludo: "What is it?"

Bearicorn: "It's a surprise! Open it!"

Ludo holds the poorly-wrapped gift in his hand. He raises his eyebrow as he turns it around in all different directions, shaking it, sniffing it, among other things. It's an odd shape, lightweight, soft, wrapped in Stump Day paper, and there are already holes in the wrapping. He examines it curiously before shrugging and ripping the paper off. Bearicorn stands there with large sparkly eyes as he watches Ludo open his gift with excitement.

Bearicorn: "You like it, boss? I made it all by myself!"

Bearicorn puffs out his chest, folding his arms and closing his eyes with pride. Ludo stands there, holding a teddy bear that looks just like Bearicorn right in front of him with a dumbfounded look on his face. It's a goofy creature, albeit accurate, delicately and precisely stitched with embroidered eyes, soft cloth, and filled with cotton.

Bearicorn: "It took me months to make. I planned half a year ahead of time for this, boss."

Ludo just looks at the thing almost entirely aghast and begins blushing in embarrassment. The others in the crowd start to chuckle at Ludo and Bearicorn. Bearicorn smiles at Ludo and Ludo just looks at him, angrily.

Ludo: "You got me a stuffed doll? What do I look like to you, a small child?"

Bearicorn: "Huh?"

The laughing gets louder. Ludo turns to his minions, waving an arm to command them to silence. He points at them in a judgmental manner.

Ludo: "Shut up, all of you! The last thing I want is to be ungrateful to the ONE PERSON that got me a gift! I'm sorry, Bearicorn."

He turns to Bearicorn, looking towards the ground and avoiding eye contact. Bearicorn also looks at the floor in shame.

Ludo: "Begone! All of ya! You all make me sick!"

They all start leaving, grumbling as they march back out into the pouring rain.

Ludo: "Except for you, Bearicorn. You stay right there."

Flower: "Ooh, you're in trouble!"

Ludo: "Get out!"

The Flower follows the others back out into the thunderstorm, miserably. Everyone is gone. Ludo scowls at Bearicorn with a stern look on his face. He walks over to Bearicorn, and Bearicorn just cowers, embracing impending punishment from Ludo for publicly humiliating him before his henchmen. Ludo leans into him and whispers.

Ludo: "I love it. This is a wonderful gift, and I will cherish it forever."

He backs up. Bearicorn is confused. Ludo smiles at him.

Ludo: "You realize, of course, what this means? I have a reputation to uphold. I'll go and put this—"

(He looks at the handcrafted plush doll)

Ludo: "... in its 'proper place'."

Bearicorn looks at Ludo in even further confusion. Ludo responds with a wink, and Bearicorn finally gets the picture. With the wave of his hand, he dismisses Bearicorn.

Ludo: "You may leave."

Bearicorn does.

Ludo:" And Bearicorn... give the others a really big frown right as you leave... like I punished you really bad or something."

Bearicorn: "Duh, oh yeah!"

Bearicorn rubs mud all over himself and punches himself in the face.

Ludo: "Jeez, you didn't have to do that. I just wanted you to look all sad and stuff."

Bearicorn: "Oh. Sorry."

He leaves, making sure to pretend to be as miserable as possible. Ludo goes back to bed. He puts on his favorite fuzzy dark green onesie and he climbs into bed.

Ludo: (Yawns) "Why did I choose to do this at one in the morning again? Eh, to heck with it."

Ludo looks around his room with an aura of suspicion and paranoia. Realizing he is truly alone, he reaches under the pillow, pulls out the Teddy Bearicorn, smothers the doll with a massive hug, and proceeds to go to sleep.