Welcome, one and all, to the current LONGEST chapter I've ever done! At long last, the fabled Unity Ball has come to Echo Creek, and it's a time of celebration for everyone. But how will things turn out now that there's a new threat looming? Find out, and give it a read!
"MAROON AND THE EARTH-NI PROTECTORS!"
BOOK THREE: RESURGENCE
CHAPTER SEVEN: PROTECTORS OF THE DANCE
"A great evil has been unleashed."
This foreboding proverb, which came from a Chinese restaurant's fortune cookie of all places, foretold the perilous plot of one of the Butterflies' greatest enemies; Toffee of Septarsis. While the Machiavellian monster mastermind is long dead and gone, that ominous warning applies to another esoteric enemy, one with prodigious power, and even greater ambition; The Dragonfly of Cobalt Watch.
Little is known about the mysterious Dragonfly; To her subordinates, she was a reclusive genius, who used unfathomable means to create revolutionary weapons of war. To the foes she faced on the battlefield, she was a remorseless angel of death. But only Commander Cobalt and a select few others knew who the cryptic genius was before the Watch...
During the dark, lonesome hours of the night, Dragonfly was arming Cobalt's remaining four watchmen with cutting-edge weapons of her own design; High-tech energy rifles and working jetpacks, which were a huge step up from their typical military gear.
"Sweet, laser guns! Why didn't we call her sooner?" One of the watchmen happily remarked, as he equipped his jetpack. Oberon found his cohort's creations most intriguing; She was the only other engineer in the Watch intelligent enough to make such immaculate tech. However, there was something strangely familiar about Dragonfly's alien-looking armor...
"You really have been busy, haven't you?" The commander queried. "Why haven't you been on the battlefront?"
"Oh, Oberon. While you and your men crusade against Deviant hordes, I make advancements that will change our history. I've even discovered something that will help us win the war."
"Win the war? What do you mean?"
"That's classified information, between you and me only. Now, why are the Earth-Ni Protectors causing you so much trouble? A militia as mighty as yours should easily trounce teens playing dress-up."
"The Protectors aren't the problem. The reason I summoned you here is because of a much worse threat; Moon Butterfly." Oberon spoke, causing the insectoid inquisitor to fall silent for a moment.
"What about her?"
"Despite the apparent destruction of magic, she's regained her supernatural powers. I barely survived our last encounter; She's too powerful for us, but not for you."
"I'm flattered, Commander. You made the right choice informing me; After all, this is just what I needed..." Dragonfly commented, her interest piqued.
"Alright, boss lady. What's our next move?" Private Andersen asked.
"Tomorrow we launch an attack on Grynwald Penitentiary. To destroy the Protectors and their wretched allies, we need to form a team of our own..."
Today was a monumental one for the new world of Earth-Ni; At long last, it was the day of the Unity Ball! Various diplomats from both realms were on their way to Echo Creek to attend the big event; If all went well, the races brought together would be a great leap closer to a life of worldwide peace and harmony. While the Unity Council worked long and hard to make sure the ball ran smoothly, our six heroes treated themselves to a pleasant afternoon lunch, at the very same Chinese restaurant Star and Marco visited in the early days of their friendship.
The troupe of teens all sat together in a curved booth towards the wall. Today was the Sunday special; Authentic Chinese "hot pot," where customers could cook a variety of delectable delicacies in a simmering pot of broth. In the middle of the booth, Star and Marco were affectionately feeding each other cooked bits of mushroom and spinach, with the occasional quick kiss thrown in here and there. Disgusted by their blatant PDA, Janna buried her face in her hands and groaned.
"What a couple of dorks, amirite" Janna teased, then turned to see Tom awkwardly pointing a freshly-cooked scallop towards her face. "Really, dude?"
"Oh, uh...sorry. I just thought you might-"
"Screw it." Janna lunged like a hungry crocodile, chomped the cooked seafood off Tom's skewer, and belched uncouthly. "Sorry, not sorry."
On the other end of the table, Austin and Kelly were locked in a heated arm wrestling match. The two Protectors were seemingly in a stalemate; Austin used all his strength to contend with his hairy competitor. On the other hand, Kelly was rather nonchalant; The Woolett yawned, and slurped down some noodles she cooked in the pot. Once she was done snacking, she used the rest of her power to effortly pin Austin's arm to the table, startling him greatly.
"I win!" Kelly cheered, to which Star and Janna applauded.
"Of course you did..."
"Well, I appreciate the effort. If it makes you feel better, I beat Tom, too."
"Hey, that's between us and the Riders Club!" The half-demon snapped, when Star suddenly gasped.
"Look! Mom's on TV!" Star giddily pointed towards the television, causing Janna and Tom to panic; If it was footage of Moon's Butterfly form in LA, Star could be in for a nasty surprise. Lucky for them, it wasn't; The former queen was being interviewed by multiple national and international news networks.
"Councilwoman Butterfly, do you think the ball is still safe with the recent terrorist attacks?"
"I'm proud to say I do. Thanks to our police force and the noble Earth-Ni Protectors, the Watch's influence is dwindling by the day; By now, the rest of those reprobates should be behind bars." Moon informed. "Believe me, the safety of our guests is our highest priority." Star cheered for her mother, while the mage and demon exchanged knowing looks; Someday, the truth would have to come out...
"I'm so excited for tonight! It'll be my first dance with Marco as my date." Star swooned, and held her boyfriend closer.
"So, what is this big dance? This is the first I'm hearing of it." Kelly mentioned.
"The Unity Ball's a formal dance anyone can go to. It's gonna show the world that here in Echo Creek, all the different people can get along and have a blast." Marco answered.
"It's like a royal ball, but way less stuffy." Star added.
"Oh, like the Monster Bash!"
"No! Nothing like that disaster!" That parley party for mewman-monster peace was a sore spot for the rebel princess. She spent the whole celebration running around making sure everything was perfect, only for it all to fall apart; If that wasn't bad enough, it exposed the truth of Mewni's darkest secret...
"It's gonna be way better, with no Heinous, Mina or Rhombulus to ruin our fun."
"We're all going. What about you?" Tom wondered. Kelly wasn't sure whether or not to attend the Ball, as she had no date. But all that changed when she looked upon Austin. The poor guy looked rather glum about going, most likely because of his tragic split with Sabrina. In times like these, it was a break-up buddy's job to be a shoulder to lean on.
"Sure, why not. I've got nothing better to do." The Woolett gave a knowing look to her buddy, who smiled in return.
"Awesome! This is gonna be the best ball ever!" Star cheered. Oh, the amazing potential tonight would have for the Protectors and their community...
After lunch, the six teens parted ways to prepare for the long-awaited ball. The girls headed over to Austin's house, to get all gussied up at Studio Rita. Star and Kelly both had on dresses of Rita's own design; The former's was blue like her eyes, while the latter's was green like her hair. The three ladies sat together on the couch, and chatted it up while grooming Kelly. Star was carefully brushing her Woolett buddy's fluffy hair, while Janna pulled all the loose bullets out with a large horseshoe magnet.
"You know, this won't be the first time Marco and I danced. We did it before at the Blood Moon Ball." Star reminisced.
"Then she did it again to break the curse." Janna added. "Because of that, I'm half demon. Good times." The raven-haired girl took a sip of her soda, and lazily leaned on the end of the couch.
"Wait, WHAT?" Kelly asked, surprised by the sorceress's shocking revelation.
"That's not how it works, Janna, you're not half demon. But I bet your kids will be!" The ex-princess teased, causing Janna to suddenly spit out her drink.
"Gee, it must be extra fun for you two, since you actually have dates."
"Isn't there anyone you could ask out?"
"I'm not getting back with Tad, end of story!"
"She means your new breakup buddy." Janna remarked, causing the Woolett to freeze up.
"YES! You should totally ask Austin out!" Star excitedly added.
"I dunno..."
"Aren't break-up buddies supposed to be all lovey-dovey, or whatever?" Janna inquired.
"Yeah, when I was with Marco. But things change." Kelly sighed. "Austin's nice, brave, and pretty cute, but I don't want my heart to be broken again...and I don't wanna break his, either..."
"So, you've given up on love?" Star asked, to which her fleecy friend sighed, and looked at the floor. While Kelly admittedly had a crush on her housemate, her experience with break-ups made her romantically burnt out. However, the Woolett's moping was interrupted, when she was approached by Echo Creek's finest fashionista, Rita Jean-Marcelin.
"Some advice, if I may? Kelly, you don't have to ask anyone to the dance if you don't want to. The choice is yours and only yours to make." Rita kindly advised. "But if you did ask my nephew out, I'm sure he'd be delighted. After all, I saw what happened in the yard last night; He's really warmed up to you."
"Thanks, I'll think it over." The heroine replied, moved by Rita's helpful advice. The visionary designer then turned to the Snatcher, who was still in her casual garb.
"Miss Ordonia, your outfit is finished. It's 100% custom from Yours Truly, and it's even in your favorite color."
"Sweet, black! I do love my darkness."
"That's odd, Star told me otherwise." Janna's eyes went wide, and she turned to Star; The blonde mewman had an uncontrollable grin on her face. Rita walked over to the display case and pulled back the curtain, revealing her latest masterpiece; It was a sleek, elegant dress, with two accessories to go with it; A bejeweled skull necklace, and a horned circlet to go over her head. But most shocking of all, it was pink. As much as she hated to admit it, pink was Janna's favorite color; The complete opposite of what her macabre demeanor would suggest.
"Ooh, you would slay in that dress!" Star excitedly cheered. Janna, on the other hand, felt quite conflicted by the surprise she had received.
"But it's pink."
"Yeah, your favorite color. Don't deny it!"
"Just be yourself. You already don't care what people think of you, why stop now?" Kelly suggested. Janna thought to herself; She'd already done tons of crazy, daring stunts as a roguish heroine; How bad could it be to wear her favorite color?
"If you don't like it, I have a black dress in the back."
"No thanks, Mrs. J-M. I'll take it."
"Excellent choice, darling. Now, I was also told about your cheek mark problem...something about them glowing from too much passion."
"Yeah, something like that..."
"Come on up. I've got a little trick that'll conceal them, and make you look like a goddess..."
Meanwhile at the Diaz household, the boys were preparing for the ball as well. Marco and Austin had painstakingly taught Austin some basic dancing etiquette in case he somehow found a date, although the young engineer was quite reluctant. After the calamitous crash course, the three teens headed out of Marco's room, and headed towards the stairwell.
"Well, Austin, now you know how to dance. Isn't Tom a great dancer?"
"Yeah, but he's no Michael Jackson." Austin coyly retorted, causing the demon prince to roll all three of his eyes. The young gentlemen headed down the stairwell, and saw the Diazes looking proudly at their son and his friends. Their attire was a grayscale of sorts; Austin wore a black suit with a red tie, Marco's outfit was the same grey suit he wore to prom, and Tom's was the exquisite white tux he donned for the Blood Moon Ball.
"Here come the handsome gentlemen! Can we get a picture real quick?" Angie asked.
"You heard the lady." Marco retorted. The three lads quickly struck dramatic poses, and Rafael snapped their photo with his instant camera. As the Diazes admired the latest addition to their scrapbook, the teens sat down in the living room, and sipped some lemonade that was prepared specially for them.
"So, how come you're not going to the ball?" Austin asked the lovely couple.
"Oh, we've been to plenty of dances in our time. It's time you youngsters have your fun." Rafael replied. "That, and we're afraid of Cobalt Watch..." The artist rubbed the still-aching spot where the watchman struck him; Even in its weakened state, the Watch was a dark shadow cast over the cleaved city.
"Well, you won't have to worry about them. If they come, the Earth-Ni Protectors will take them down."
"Let's hope they don't..." Austin sighed.
"Besides, we're gonna spend some quality time with our daughter, and her favorite playmate!" Angie added. All of a sudden, Meteora leapt out from seemingly nowhere, and launched herself right towards Marco. The Latino teen screamed and covered his neck, but Tom reached out and caught the hybrid baby. The demon teen tickled Meteora's tummy, causing her to giggle.
"Hi there! How'd you get here?" Tom wondered.
"Sorry bout that, she's just really excited." Globgor politely changed his size to fit through the doorway easier, and stepped into the house. The friendly monster was dressed in an immaculate black suit with a maroon bowtie; It was specially designed by Rita to change size with him, using a fascinating Mewnian plant size-shifters used to weave their clothing.
"Globgor, welcome to our home! We made some veggie enchiladas just for you." Rafael warmly greeted.
"I really shouldn't eat before the ball...oh, what the heck!" While Globgor made a beeline for the kitchen, Tom set Meteora in Mariposa's playpen, where the placid baby was kept company by a couple of Star's puppies. The two tykes babbled happily upon seeing each other, and partook in the world's cutest hug. While the babies played together happily, the boys started up a conversation.
"Gentlemen, the day has finally come. Tonight we party!" Tom excitedly exclaimed.
"You ready for some fun at the ball?" Marco wondered. However, Austin looked rather glum, and exhaled deeply.
"I don't know about this. What if Cobalt Watch attacks?"
"It'll be okay, the place is crawling with guards."
"Plus six of the world's greatest heroes." The half-demon added.
"Okay, you're right. I'm just feeling kinda down right now. Really wish Sabrina was still around..." Austin admitted, garnering sympathy from his friends.
"Poor guy."
"Well, Austin, you aren't hopeless. When it gets lonely, you've got a break-up buddy to lean on!" Marco suggested. "You know, you and Kelly can kiss when the mood gets-"
"Nope! Bad idea, BAD IDEA! What if we start going steady? My last relationship fell apart when Sabrina moved, but Kelly's from a whole different world! She doesn't deserve to be put through that again." The young vigilante refuted, making Marco feel rather guilty.
"Well, with the advances in dimensional travel-"
"Besides, my father's still out there. What if he hurts her to get to me? Dating Kelly is too dangerous, I won't do it and that's final." Austin mandated. It took all of three seconds for his stoic facade to shatter. "But she's so cute! And she's really sweet, and an awesome fighter, and her beautiful hair is soft as a cloud...Guys, I think I'm in love with her..."
"You've got it bad, bro." Tom retorted.
"Excuse me!" After finishing off his enchilada, Globgor walked over to the living room and stood over the boys. "I see you're having lady problems. May I impose some monsterly advice?"
Austin sighed, and looked up at the suited size-shifter. "Go for it."
"I know how it must feel having a father like yours. Mine was the mighty king of the monsters, and Eclipsa's was Solaria the Monster Carver."
"Right, the magic skinhead. What's your point?"
"It was pretty scary dating the daughter of Solaria, but the moments we spent together and the love we shared made it all worth it. If you really feel the same about Kelly, then you should go for it. Cobalt Watch be damned!" The monster proudly exclaimed, while the babies joyously babbled.
Truth be told, Globgor's advice was just what Austin needed. Yes indeed, his life had become so strange that a former man-eating monster gave better advice than his own father. He looked towards Marco, who smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Thanks, man. Maybe I won't be so lonely tonight..."
As evening came, the city of Echo Creek had come alive. Hundreds of guests gathered at the magnificent Monster Temple, for a night of wonder and whimsy at the long-awaited Unity Ball. Humans, mewmans, monsters, demons and Pony Heads of all ages were among the people attending tonight's celebration, as it was history in the making.
The three male members of the Protectors rolled up to the temple in Tom's custom carriage, and stepped out looking their sharpest.
"This is it, fellas. Hottest party of the year." Tom announced.
"Let's make it count." Marco enthusiastically added. The teens gingerly strolled through the courtyard outside the temple, where plenty of people were walking and talking. The guests included some familiar faces, including classmates from school, former royal servants, and a handful of Ludo's old henchmen. However, their attention was caught when they saw who but Jackie Lynn-Thomas, who was feeling quite lonely on the eve of the dance.
"Hey there, Jackie! You feeling alright?" Marco asked his former flame.
"Hey, Marco." The skater girl glumly replied. "I'm fine, it's just pretty lonely here without-"
"Bonsoir, mademoiselle."
Jackie's face lit up like a Christmas tree when she heard that familiar French accent. She turned around, and her heart became filled with joy when she saw her girlfriend Chloe standing in the temple courtyard. The two skater girls ran towards each other, and embraced in a comforting hug.
"Chloe, how did you get here? I thought you were still in France?"
"Well, I wouldn't miss this for the world." As the two lovely ladies shared a kiss, Marco smiled warmly; He was glad to see the girl he crushed on for so long in such an enduring relationship. Austin felt happy for her as well; At least someone got to reunite with their long-distance boo...
A few moments later, Austin's attention was caught by a familiar black Lexus that rolled up to the curb. Recognizing it as Aunt Rita's car, the three boys headed down to greet their lovely company. Rita rolled down the window and waved to her nephew; Then, out of the doors came her glamorous clientele.
Marco was taken aback when he saw Star all dolled up for the ball; In addition to her cerulean dress, she wore a pair of white high-heeled boots, and her golden hair was done up in a stylish braided bun. It was modern Earth chic, a far cry from the archaic traditional outfits she wore to royal balls; Needless to say, this was the type of clothing she preferred.
"You look amazing, Star." Marco complimented, then gently kissed his girlfriend's hand.
"Oh, stop it, you." Star giggled. "Such a gentleman..." While the lovely couple continued to flirt, Austin and Kelly were discreetly checking each other out.
"Nice suit. It fits you pretty well."
"Thanks. I, uh...like what you did with your hair. All of it." Austin remarked, causing Kelly to giggle. Flirting wasn't exactly his strong suit, but the Woolett warrior found his awkwardness endearing.
"Hey, where's Jan-" Tom asked, when a stunning sight left him breathless. Exiting the car like a force of nature was his beloved Janna, who was wearing a pink dress, of all things. Even more astonishing was her method of concealing her cheek marks; Pointed black streaks of makeup ran down from her eyes, just like the makeup worn by her demon love. Tom's knees went weak, and he fell speechless as the pink-clad woman walked up to him.
"Someone's happy to see me." Janna playfully teased.
"Janna? Y-you're wearing pink?" Marco was quite shocked by the mage's choice of apparel.
"Yeah, what about it? Come on, Your Highness, let's have some fun." She took the lovestruck demon by the hand, and the odd couple walked together up the temple's winding stairs. Star and Marco giddily followed after them, leaving Kelly and Austin by themselves.
"We should probably go now." Austin suggested. Kelly nodded in agreement, and the two began heading up the stairwell, passing partygoers of various shapes and sizes. Suddenly, the excitable princess Pony Head zipped across the air above their heads, startling Austin. He nearly stumbled off the stairs, but Kelly grabbed his hand just in the nick of time, and pulled him back up. The pair of Protectors smiled at each other, and continued holding hands as they went into the temple...
From the Monster Temple's stone-carved balcony, the six members of the Unity Council were watching guests arrive at the ball. Just now, several of Ambassador Penn's contacts had reached Echo Creek. Various human diplomats from the cleaved countries had come, as well as several royals Moon recognized; The Rich Pigeon king and queen, Prince Larry Kelpbottom, and Princess Penelope Spiderbite, who was escorted by her monster boyfriend, Slime.
"It looks like the turnout is going well." Moon noted.
"Good, good. This ball is gonna change the world." Desmond enthusiastically added, when a great shadow was cast over the room. Standing tall at his towering height was none other than Eclipsa's cherished monster love.
"Greetings, my velvet rose." The size-shifter spoke in his sultry voice.
"Hello to you too, my love." Eclipsa gingerly strolled into Globgor's palm, and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. The gentle giant then shrunk to his standard size, set his wife on his shoulder, and headed into his ancestral home for a night to remember.
"Ah, romance. Not my thing, no, but is good to see them happy." Buff Frog remarked. The council members began heading toward the stairwell, with the exception of Moon.
"Aren't you coming to welcome the guests?" Asked Exasperella, who was still healing from her gunshot wounds.
"No thanks, I'd rather stay up here."
"You sure?" Desmond asked.
"Absolutely." The ex-queen stated. As the council went downstairs, Moon kept watch over the temple, to spot any potential attackers. If the worst came to pass, it was her duty to defend the fair people of Echo Creek. As she continued to watch the royals and diplomats enter the castle, a question crossed her mind.
"Hold on...where are the Johansens?" Moon's train of thought was suddenly interrupted, when she heard the unmistakable screech of an eagle. Lo and behold, her husband River was flying towards the temple on a giant bird of prey.
"MOONPIE!" River boisterously exclaimed. Overcome by shock and joy that her husband had returned, Moon felt her diamond-shaped cheek marks begin to glow. Unfortunately, she still had to keep her magic powers under wraps; So, she used all her self-control to restrain her intense emotions, which faded with her marks.
River leapt off the eagle, did several flips, and landed right in front of his wife, then respectfully bowed. "Moon, my dear, I've traveled across the sea, from the plains of wild Kenya, to attend the glorious Unity Ball! With you as my partner, of course."
"Oh, River." Moon leaned down and kissed the former king, happy to see him after a couple months spent apart. "Let's get going. Star will be so happy to see you again..."
Grynwald Penitentiary. A maximum-security prison in the outskirts of Los Angeles, which had a mostly mundane slew of inmates. It only held human and mewman criminals; For safety reasons, monsters, demons, and other non-human beings were kept in a separate specialized prison. Still, Grynwald had all the best measures to keep its inmates from breaking out; However, they couldn't say the same for breaking in...
It all happened so suddenly; The guards were going about their normal rounds, when one of the walls was brought down by a thunderous energy blast. Before the security team could retaliate, they were struck dead by precise heat-seeking darts. Dragonfly menacingly hovered into the room, backed up by Commander Cobalt and his posse of teched-out troopers.
"Commander, head to the west wing! That's where they're holding your men." Dragonfly spoke. Oberon nodded affirmatively, then he and half of his men ran down the hall to free the rest of their army. Dragonfly flew off in the other direction, blasting guards left and right with her formidable nanotech hand cannons. The other two troopers hurried to catch up to her, by using their specialized jetpacks.
The armored inquisitor eventually reached the hallway's end, which boasted four special cells with higher security than the others. However, the insectoid villainess used wrist-mounted energy beams to slice through the cell walls like they were made of butter.
But just who was the Dragonfly freeing? A quartet of criminals renowned for terrorizing Echo Creek and its diverse inhabitants. Prudence Goode, Remus Loeb, Richard Masters and Indra Watts; Four card-carrying supervillains, and enemies of Earth-Ni.
"Who are you?" Prudence sneered, suspicious of the alien-looking warrior.
"Your guardian angel." Dragonfly proudly spoke. "My associates will escort you to the armory, where they're keeping your gear." The villains and tech-troopers began rushing down the halls, but their benefactor had other plans for one of them.
"Stay here, Indra. I have something special for you." Indra stopped in her tracks, and the mysterious menace gracefully landed on the ground. Dragonfly transformed her cutting-edge nanotech armor into its true form; A man-made Magitech wand, with a glowing cobalt-blue rod, a head like that of a dragon's, wings like a dragonfly, and an X-shaped crystal at its core. This was what made the Dragonfly so powerful; The ultimate combination of science...and magic...
In the ballroom of the Monster Temple, formerly the room where Globgor lay crystallized for centuries, a good time was being had by all. There was dancing, merriment, and a table stocked with delicious hors d'oeuvres. While Star and Marco were reuniting with River, Janna and Tom hung around the snack bar, sipping punch.
"Hm. Punch is decent." Janna noted.
"That's cause it's actual fruit punch, instead of unicorn blood."
"Wait, this could've been BLOOD? From a unicorn? Why the heck not?"
"Well, my aunt wanted this to be more like the Blood Moon Ball, but the rest of the council turned it down. They didn't want to scare the diplomats." The demon prince explained.
"Weak." The well-dressed sorceress scoffed.
"There was one thing she suggested that made it in, but it's a surprise."
"Good. I do love surprises..."
While the witch and the demon continued to chat, a boogie had broken out on the dance floor. From her booth, the DJ played the hottest pop hits for a more casual experience. The youngsters, be they royal or commoner, were having a lively time; On the other hand, the older folks like Moon and Globgor were rather alienated by the new generation's music tastes.
Among the teens grooving on the dance floor were the other four Protectors; Austin, Kelly, Marco and Star. The latter couple danced together without a care in the world, just like old times at the Bounce Lounge. Kelly noticed her breakup buddy awkwardly shuffling around, which gave her an idea to spice up the celebration.
"Everyone do the sword-hand dance!" The bushy-haired dancer exclaimed. She rhythmically moved her arms to karate-chop the air, and the others soon followed after her. The move was a popular trend in the Mewnian dance scene, and one inspired by Marco, no less.
Austin followed the crowd, and started dancing like the others. He was actually enjoying the silly little dance, albeit a little too much; He got so into it that he accidentally chopped Kelly's arm, without even realizing.
"Oops! Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!"
"What's that? You challenge me to a duel? Then let's go!" Kelly playfully hit Austin with some mock karate chops, causing him to laugh and return the favor. As the pair of Protectors play-fought on the dance floor, Star and Marco looked at each other knowingly, and smiled. However, the two breakup buddies' playful prodding was ended by Austin's sudden hunger.
"Hey, I'm gonna get some food from the snack bar, I'll be back in a second." Austin walked towards the table, and fixed himself a plate of authentic Mewnian corn-puffs. While he was gathering more snacks, a teenage girl clumsily bumped into him.
"Oops, sorry bout tha-" The girl gasped when she looked at Austin, who dropped his plate on the floor in shock. She was the last person he expected to see at the Ball; His former girlfriend, Sabrina Backintosh.
"S-s-Sabrina?" Austin nervously stammered. Boy, this was going to be an awkward reunion.
"Hey, Austin..."
"What are you doing here, I thought you said you couldn't come back?"
"Yeah, well, my parents said I could come to this party and see my old friends." The cheerleader explained. Austin glanced behind her, and saw both the Spirit Squad girls and the pair of mewmans Sabrina befriended, all watching the ex-couple attentively while eating popcorn.
"Oh, fun. So...how are things in Parkersburg?"
"Kinda boring, but it's okay. This is the longest I've gone without getting injured." Sabrina boasted. Due to her constant grievous mishaps, her body built up a tolerance to physical injuries. Why, her legs had healed completely in the span of a couple months!
"Really? That's awesome!"
"I know, right! I feel so much better. So, how are things going for you?"
"Ummm..." That was a loaded question; Between the return of his fiendish father and the Watch's resurgence, things could certainly be better for Austin Capers. "I'm kinda going through a lot right now, but my friends are helping me through it. Especially my break-up buddy, Kelly."
Sabrina looked towards the wooly-haired girl Austin gestured to, who was competing in a dance-off against a monster teen. Believe it or not, she recognized Kelly from Marco's end-of-the-school-year party, on the night Star left for Mewni. That cut-short celebration was the most awkward party either girl had ever attended.
"Break-up buddy, huh? You mean a friend with benef-"
"No, no, not that! We're just friends!" The flustered boy exclaimed.
"Got it." Sabrina nodded. "It's been a while since we last talked, Austin. Why don't we be friends, too?"
Austin smiled, and hugged his former flame. "It's good to see you again, Sabby." The cheerleader reciprocated his hug, and patted him on the back. After suffering from the fallout of their breakup, Sabrina had finally healed, both physically and emotionally.
"Attention, everyone!" Spoke Ruberiot, the royal songstrel turned freelance musician. "This song goes out to all the lovely couples here today." The minstrel began playing a slow, serene melody on his lute, and the other assorted musicians played along with him. The many lovely couples attending the dance all paired up, and began slow-dancing to the romantic music.
"Well, it's been fun, but you should probably go. Your break-up buddy needs you." Sabrina retorted, then headed over to join her friends. Austin looked to the dance floor, and saw a certain Woolett standing alone; Now was the time to be the buddy she needed...
Kelly awkwardly stood in the center of the dance floor, where a plethora of couples were waltzing without a care in the world. Star and Marco, Janna and Tom, Jackie and Chloe; It seemed like everyone had a partner but her. Feeling defeated, she was about to leave the dance floor to seek solitude, when Austin approached her.
"Leaving so soon?"
"There you are! Where were you?"
"Just catching up with an old flame." The teen vigilante then extended his hand to his secret crush. "Anyways, may I have this dance?"
Kelly smiled proudly, and eagerly accepted Austin's offer. The two heroes started to slow-dance together; Their choreography was basic, and not very flashy, as neither had much experience in the art. They even made a few mistakes along the way, the most embarrassing of which was accidentally bumping into Eclipsa and Globgor. Still, they were enjoying themselves, and that was what truly mattered.
Now that her confidence had grown enough, Kelly decided to try a daring dance move. She spun her partner around, and dipped him towards the floor. Needless to say, Austin was caught off guard by her "role-reversal" trick; His crush on her was growing harder to hide, and vice versa.
"Looks like they're having fun." Star remarked, as she waltzed with her beloved boyfriend. Marco chuckled, and smiled at Star; The power couple continued dancing the night away, until the room suddenly went pitch-black. Then, the whole ballroom became bathed in crimson light, as a hauntingly familiar piece of music began to play. The song immediately brought back memories for both Star and Marco. Memories of an unforgettable event:
"The Blood Moon Ball..."
Equally surprised was Janna. She had read of the legendary event, which only occurred every 667 years; She was also well aware of the soul-binding dance that occured beneath the light of the Blood Moon. And here she was, about to do said dance with the lovely Prince of the Underworld.
"No way..."
"Here's your surprise, babe. It's artificial, so it won't really bond our souls, but-" Tom explained, when Janna shushed him by pressing her finger to his lips.
"Shut up and dance, demon boy." Tom tenderly held his girlfriend's hands, and led her on an unforgettable experience. For so long, he had dreamed of dancing under the Blood Moon with his beloved; While it was someone much different from who he imagined, it made no difference; This dance was meant for Tom, and he was going to make it count.
Star and Marco were both frozen in place, as memories both good and bad came flooding back like a tidal wave. The couple was at a loss of movements and words, until Tom and Janna came near them during their dance. Tom glanced towards his friends and winked; This Blood Moon surprise was just as much of a gift for them as it was for Janna. Knowing this, the two teens tenderly gazed into each other's eyes. They had done the Blood Moon Waltz twice before, but as the adage goes; Third time's the charm.
The pair took to their dance like birds to the sky; The elegant moves of the waltz were ones they knew by heart; Not just by memory, but by instinct as well. This time, there was no curse of bound souls, nor were there any unspoken feelings causing them conflict; They could fully enjoy this special time in their lives, and that they did.
As Star and Marco continued their tender trip down memory lane, Kelly and Austin were dancing beneath the scarlet faux-moonlight. The pair of pals simply rocked back and forth with their hands placed on each others' torsos; A far cry from their friends' graceful waltzes. Still, they were having a great time being close to one another, and that was what truly mattered.
Then, the music reached its harmonious climax. At the height of the dance, Star and Marco shared a passionate kiss, then Tom and Janna followed their lead. Moon and River, Eclipsa and Globgor, Jackie and Chloe; Across the ballroom, all the couples sealed the night with smooches, to make their dance an unforgettable experience.
While the other couples kissed, Austin's heart was pounding, and his hands began to shake with anticipation. Noticing his nervousness, Kelly decided to let her teammate in on a secret perk of being break-up buddies.
"You know, break-up buddies can kiss when it's romantic." She suggested, a smile on her face. However, Austin's next response was one she didn't expect.
"Kelly, I don't want to be your break-up buddy." That sentence practically shattered the poor girl's heart. First she went through breakup after breakup with her clingy ex-boyfriend Tad, then came her rebound with Marco which only made things worse; Now, she had been rejected a third time...or so she thought.
"I want to be something more..." Austin closed his eyes, and leaned in to softly kiss the Woolett on the lips. Kelly was downright shocked by his sudden advance; It was unexpected, but certainly not unwelcome. She shut her eyes, placed her hands on his shoulders, and savored her new lover's kiss.
After a few seconds, the couple pulled away, both of their cheeks blushing red. "I love you, Kelly."
Kelly smiled, and hugged her blushing break up buddy. "Love you more." Neither of them wanted this moment to end, but alas, it did. Something shocking had happened, and judging by the gasps of shock and awe, it was big.
All eyes were on Janna, for a most concerning reason; The secret sorceress's verdant eye-shaped marks were glowing brightly on her cheeks, even through the special makeup meant to conceal it. Her cathartic, emotionally charged dance with the demon prince came at a high cost; Her secret life as a superhero was finally out.
"W-why's everyone staring at me?" Janna wasn't sure what was going on at first, but once she saw Tom's mortified expression, she realized what had happened. "Oh no..." She quickly covered her cheeks with her hands; Moon instinctively did the same, just to make sure her marks weren't glowing as well.
As numerous partygoers began crowding Janna with questions, Tom instinctively stepped in front of his girlfriend to block the unwanted gawkers' view. However, thanks to his enhanced demon senses, Tom could hear something far worse coming for them fast.
"EVERYONE, GET DOWN!"
All of a sudden, an explosive blast shook the temple to its core, and shattered part of one of its stony walls. While the attendees were shaken and terrified by the explosion, it was a miracle that no one was hurt. The dust then settled, revealing a truly terrifying sight; Six sinister supervillains.
First, there was the deadly Dragonfly, whose highly advanced weaponry caused the deafening blast. With her was the Watch's leader, Commander Cobalt himself; However, he was far from her only company. The crazed crusader Paladin was back from prison after only a day, and with her were a trio of costumed criminals from the Protectors' past; Ringmaster, Steel Wolf and Lady Lightning. To top it all off, the last of the villains had regained her mystical electrokinetic abilities, courtesy of Dragonfly. The worst had come to the Unity Ball; Five old enemies had returned, along with a new threat deadlier than any other...
"People of Echo Creek, your saviors are here! I am the Dragonfly, and we are a team dedicated to protecting humanity, and destroying the invaders that plague this Earth." The armored warrior spoke, striking fear into the hearts of the innocent civilians. "This pathetic attempt at diplomacy will only worsen the world. Your treaties and peace parties mean nothing to us. Nothing will protect you deviants from justice, at the hands of the Earth-Ni Attackers!"
The Attackers all activated their weapons, and prepared to strike down the poor partygoers. As for our heroes, they were in a tough spot as well; If Austin transformed into his masked alter-ego, the secret of Maroon would be revealed in front of everyone. It was a difficult choice, but the Protectors' leader knew it was the right one to make.
"HERO UP!"
The mantle of Maroon magically formed over Austin's body, much to the disbelief of most of his peers. The cat was out of the bag, and there was no going back from tonight. His teammates repeated the two magic words, transforming them into their alter egoes as well. Most of their identities weren't as confidential; As famous royals, Star and Tom's personas were considered "open secrets," Janna's cheek marks had already been revealed, Marco as Martial Boy wasn't that much of a stretch to figure out, and Kelly was the only Woolett on the planet.
"If you want them, you'll have to get through us." Star threatened, standing her ground against the supervillain crew. It was a standoff in the ballroom between Protectors and Attackers; The tension could be cut with a knife.
"My pleasure." Dragonfly activated her nanotech hand cannon, and charged it up to fire at Star. The mewman heroine barely dodged the blast with an acrobatic flip, and landed in a three-point stance. With the first shot fired, an all-out brawl had begun in the ballroom; An epic battle between heroes and villains...
As the chaotic clash began raging through the room, River, Globgor and the Unity Council began escorting their guests out of the war zone. They led diplomats, royal ambassadors and other civilians down the main hallway, then Globgor used his monstrous strength to cave in the entrance, sealing them off from the sinister supervillains. With almost everyone evacuated, it was free play for the Protectors and their fiendish foes.
The Wooly Warrior was up against an unfamiliar foe with a circus flair; Ringmaster, the Scottish, ring-throwing acrobat with deadly aim and a ridiculous mustache. Kelly used her new Neverzonian sword to deflect the razor-sharp rings he lobbed towards her, then leapt up and swung her sword towards the cad. He avoided the greenhorn hero's attack, whipped out his dual ring-blades, and clashed against Kelly in a duel of ring and sword.
"How 'bout a haircut, mop-top?
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" Kelly struck the supervillain with a powerful swing, which knocked him back six feet. Ringmaster reached into his coat of many pockets, and hurled an explosive metal ring towards the hairy heroine. She quickly ducked down and barely dodged the deadly disc, which hit the ceiling and burst.
"You missed, circus freak!" Kelly jeered. However, she wasn't the one in danger; The exploding ring dislodged a large chunk of debris from the ceiling, and it was about to fall right on poor Sabrina!
Kelly stopped what she was doing, and sprinted as fast as she could towards her breakup buddy's ex. The sixth Protector pushed the cheerleader out of the way, and used all the strength she could muster to catch the falling rubble, then lifted it over her head.
"T-thanks." Sabrina stammered.
"Don't mention it." As Sabrina fled to the ballroom's nearest exit, Kelly lobbed the chunk of wreckage towards the Attacker who caused it, resuming their arduous skirmish.
The Violet Devil was fighting his most hated foe; Paladin, the demon hunter with a hatred of all things occult. Tom attacked the white knight with overwhelming literal firepower, but she tanked his anger-fueled attack with her heatproof shield.
"You've corrupted this town long enough, demon prince! I'll rid the world of your wretched kin, and burn that witch at the stake!"
Enraged by Paladin's murderous threat, Tom flew towards the armored cad like a rocket, and collided into her with a flaming dropkick. While staggered, she shrugged it off, swung her flail's chain in a circle like a whip, and struck the demon prince in the face, slamming him to the ground. But before Paladin could land a killing blow on Tom, a large, black-scaled boa constricted around her torso, and hissed.
"SHADOWY SERPENT SNARE!"
Snatcher swung her magic fighting sticks, and the serpentine snare followed, slamming Paladin into a wall. The teenage mage leapt towards her hateful rival, and grinned with malicious intent. But before Janna could invade the militant's mind, a bright light flashed in the corner of her eye, and her raven hair stood on end. Janna quickly turned face and crossed her Kali sticks to make an energy shield, which absorbed the brunt of a deadly lightning blast.
"You're not the only one with magic!" Lady Lightning pointed her potent fingertips towards the Snatcher, and fired off another electrical strike. Janna dodged with a combat roll, and clapped back with rapid-fire energy bolts.
While the two Ichor-powered women battled it out, Martial Boy was in the midst of a daunting duel against the sinister Steel Wolf, an armored Earth man posing as a vicious werewolf. While Marco's hand-to-hand combat skills were rivaled only by Kelly's, he was up against a most difficult foe; A walking tank with a wolf motif.
Marco used his catlike agility to dodge the wolfman's claw swipes and laser blasts, and swung his sword at the armored villain. Sharp as his blade was, it only scratched the surface of Steel Wolf's impenetrable metal hide.
"Was that a joke?" Steel Wolf lunged towards Marco, but the teen hero jumped out of the way, and tried to hit him with a jump-kick. The false monster grabbed him by the ankle, and slammed him into the floor. "You're nothing but a little wimp. Where's my real enemy? Where is-"
"TALLY HO!"
Like a mighty eagle in glorious flight, River leapt towards Steel Wolf, and let out his telltale battle cry. The famed wrestler had changed into his Wild King outfit, and he was even brandishing the huge, ram-headed club he favored in battle. River smacked his faux-canine foe with it, knocking him into a pillar and freeing Marco. While the villain was down, the king helped his daughter's boyfriend to his feet.
"Tag me in, Marco!" The two heroes assumed their fighting stances, and faced down the ironclad Attacker. "Prepare to face Wild King's wrath, evildoer!"
"Want a rematch, huh? Too bad it'll be your last." Steel Wolf leapt towards River and Marco, and the duo of heroes engaged him in another round of climactic combat.
As his teammates battled the other attackers, Maroon was locked in a dangerous duel with his dark counterpart, the demon who haunted his dreams with terror; A man he was ashamed to call his father. As the two armored warriors clashed blades, Commander Cobalt stared down his son, an icy glare emanating even through his helmet.
"Loving a monster? Look how far you've fallen from grace."
"That "monster" loves me more than you ever did!" Austin activated his rocket boots to distance himself from the commander, and rapidly fired energy blasts from his wrist-guns. Cobalt blocked the blast with his collapsible wrist-shield, and activated his suit's jet thrusters to fly after Maroon. The two masked men exchanged blows in the air, until Cobalt struck his own son with a powerful punch, knocking him into a wall. As the boy cried out in pain and fell to the ground, Oberon loomed over him like a wrathful specter.
"It's time I correct your misguided ways." Before the commander could punish his unruly child, a furious yet familiar voice called out.
"OBERON!"
Standing in one of the hallway entrances were the guardians who raised Austin in Oberon's absence; Rita and Desmond Jean-Marcelin. Both of them glared towards the masked menace, with ice-cold fury in their eyes.
"So this is what you've become." Rita snarled. "What would Rebecca think of you?" Her mention of her late sister's name caused Oberon to freeze up, then point his fist towards the Jean-Marcelins.
"How DARE you say that name!" Cobalt was about to execute his treacherous relatives, but Maroon got back up, fired up his jet-boots, and tackled his arch-nemesis to the ground.
"Get out of here!" Austin cried. His guardians heeded his word and fled, while their nephew continued to fight his most personal foe...
Alas, poor Star had the worst matchup of all. Unlike the other villains, Dragonfly was an enemy the Protectors had never fought before; Her abilities, weapons and fighting style were all a mystery. Even worse, she no longer possessed magical powers, and her mechanical wings hadn't been repaired; Her only weapons were her trusty bow, a quiver full of arrows, and thirteen additional years of combat experience.
Utilizing her enhanced agility and stamina to their fullest, Star narrowly avoided the Dragonfly's lethal blasts. While the mewman had no idea what she was up against, she still made it her goal and duty to defeat the draconian malefactor. She quickly loaded three arrows in the bow's drawstring, pulled it back, and opened fire on the armored warrior. They merely broke up against Dragonfly's nanotech armor, and the Attacker retaliated by firing a flurry of miniature rockets towards Lady Butterfly.
Star put her decades of experience to the test, and parkoured across the pillars and walls of the temple to avoid the Dragonfly's missiles. She tumbled to the ground in a combat roll, as the last of the rockets exploded against the castle's marbled stone.
"What are you?" Star muttered, stumped by the almost alien foe she was fighting. One thing was certain; She couldn't take Dragonfly on alone. "I need backup!"
The first to answer her plea were two of the people closest to her; Marco and River. "Leave my daughter be, you flying fiend!" The two heroes leapt towards the Dragonfly, but she easily blasted them away with an energy pulse. The insectoid menace turned her focus back to Star, and lunged at her with a pair of nanotech plasma blades. Star ducked, dodged, and kept her distance from the dangerous Dragonfly, and called out for help once more.
"I got you, Star!" Tom flew towards his amicable ex, but Paladin swung her flail like a whip, and knocked the demon prince out of the sky. He landed next to Lady Lightning, who was still battling Janna; The electric warrior hit him with a shocking strike, and continued to fight her Ichor-powered adversary. As for Kelly, she was being overrun as well, having to fight Ringmaster and Steel Wolf at the same time!
Austin saw his loyal teammate losing her fight against the mysterious new villain, and knew he had to help her. The masked vigilante leapt towards Dragonfly, but felt a whip-cord wrap around his ankle. Hardly a second later, he was jerked back to the ground by who but Commander Cobalt.
"NO!" Austin drew his wrist-blade to try and cut himself free, but he was immediately hit with a couple of non-lethal energy blasts from his father's wrist-blasters. Oberon continued punishing his son with overwhelming fire, and the boy felt him losing consciousness with each hit. Austin felt his vision go dark, and the rest of his senses faded mere moments after. Once he fell unconscious, the sinister commander looked down at his beaten, battered son.
"Austin, my son, it's time for your redemption."
Star felt her strength waning with every moment she spent fighting against her galvanized enemy. All her teammates were occupied by the other Attackers, leaving her alone with the deadliest one. She eventually slipped up, and got too close to one of Dragonfly's blasts; The shockwave knocked her to the ground, where she lay helpless against the Watch's most lethal agent. Dragonfly levitated towards the fallen Butterfly, with malicious intent.
"You're pathetic, Butterfly. The death I'm giving you is exactly what you deserve." She poised her bladed tail to execute the humbled heroine, but the armored Attacker was suddenly struck by a bolt of magical lightning.
"GET AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!"
Everyone, be they hero or villain, looked to the ballroom's main entrance to see an impossible sight; Moon Butterfly, with her cheek marks glowing, and pure, powerful magic emanating from her hands.
"MOM?" Star cried out, completely floored by the fact her mother somehow had her magic back. As the others gawked in amazement and horror, Moon turned into her powerful Butterfly form, and furiously flew towards the mechanical monstrosity who harmed her beloved daughter.
Moon proved herself to be much more of a match for Dragonfly than Star. The former queen was swift enough to easily dodge her energy blasts, cast sturdy energy shields to bear the brunt of her missiles, and was powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with the master of Magitech. She used her telekinesis to hurl chunks of rubble at the Dragonfly, then punished her malevolence with a concentrated blast of energy straight to the head. The overwhelming power of Moon's attack caused the villainess's helmet to break open like a vase, revealing her astonishing true identity.
Beneath that draconian mask laid the face of a woman; A pale-skinned lady with green eyes, brown hair shaved in a buzz cut, and most surprisingly, a pair of blue, dragonfly-shaped marks on her cheeks. While she seemed unrecognizable at first, the Protectors and their allies realized just who was hiding beneath the helmet.
"Wanda Watts?" As bewildering as it was, the fallen CEO of WattWorks International Industries was here in Echo Creek, wielding a weapon of indescribable power. The malicious magnate quickly reformed her helmet with Magitech nanomachines, and continued to fight the regal Butterfly.
Watts' first attack was an energy blast stronger than her usual ones, and it actually managed to damage Moon. The Undaunted Queen struck back with lightning fired from all six of her arms; As strong as her attack was, it barely scathed Wanda, who struck back with a laser ray so strong it knocked Moon into a wall. It was then that she realized the Dragonfly armor's secret; It absorbs magic.
Dragonfly lunged towards Moon with her white-hot plasma blades, and the Butterfly created a pair of energy swords to fend her off. The two magical warriors exchanged blows with their blades, and became locked in a stand-still. It seemed like Moon was gaining the upper hand once more, but Wanda had a secret weapon; Her barbed mechanical tail. The sinister Attacker's tail slithered between Moon's blades, and stabbed her right in her side.
Immediately, she cried out in pain, and reverted to her regular form as she fell to the ground. As searing pain coalesced through her body, Star and River rushed to their fallen family member.
"Mom!" Star cried out in horror. Dragonfly and the rest of the Attackers (sans Cobalt) surrounded the heroes, with the intent to bring them down for good.
"Now, to finish you off." Before Wanda could execute her most hated enemies, a portal suddenly opened behind them. Out of the wormhole walked Doctor Reyes and Doctor Tran, the latter of which armed with a Rhombulizer gauntlet. Elisha used the Magitech tool to make a wall of magic crystals, which separated the heroes from the villains.
"Get in the portal!" Reyes exclaimed. Star and River picked up Moon, and rushed towards the scientists' escape portal. As Tom, Janna and Marco followed close behind, Kelly realized someone important was missing. On the other side of the ballroom, Commander Cobalt was holding his unconscious son.
"AUSTIN!" The Woolett cried in horror. "I gotta save him!" She ran towards the crystal wall to try and climb over it, but Dragonfly was hovering above.
"Kelly, come on!" Not wanting to let her friend die, Janna used her Levitato spell to restrain her, and hurled her into the portal. The dark apprentice fled into the wormhole as well, and it closed mere moments before Dragonfly could destroy her foes.
Now, things looked bleaker than ever. Old enemies returned, Moon was incapacitated, Austin had been captured, and the heroes were defeated. Unfortunately, this was not the worst our heroes would have to endure; The darkest hour is still yet to come...
Mic drop. Things just got a WHOLE lot worse for Echo Creek, now that the Protectors have a dark counterpart team to rival their superheroics. In addition, their ace in the hole is gravely injured; This fight's not gonna be easy, that's for sure. Stay tuned, because things are going to go into OVERDRIVE!
