Butterfly


Nighttime had hit Echo Creek now. Traffic hour was just about over and not many people were out walking. Most public places in town were empty of citizens. Royale Park, however, was not one of them. Star was sitting on a decently kept wooden bench with a woman who looked to be around her sixties. They had been conversing for some time and have very much been enjoying each other's company.

"I had never seen an animal like that! It was all big and gray with a long nose!" Star went off about the elephant that Marco showed her on TV. Her excitement made the woman smile. "Then, Marco brought me marshmallows! They were so good! And the way they melted in the chocolate made the chocolate even better!" She waved her arms up, not able to withhold her passion.

"Did this Marco give you a lot of food?" The woman asked with a soft smile. "He sounds like a nice boy."

"Mhm! He even made me something called a burrito!" Star recounted fondly. "I tore it up."

"That's so cute!" The woman laughed. "Please tell me you like this boy."

"Oh.." Star put her hands together. Her shoulders raised slightly when the question reached her ears. "Like, like-like or just like him?.." Her face blushed a bit.

"Like-like.." The woman assured. "Can't remember the last time I said that.." She told herself with a slight head shake.

"Mmm.." Star giggled and looked down with a smile. "I.. I don't know!" She laughed, covering her face and getting all embarrassed.

"It's alright, you don't have to tell me." The woman told her, patting Star on the head. "It's getting late. I should be going home."

"Okay." Star agreed and stood up, as did the woman. "I had fun talking to you, lady!"

"Matilda." The woman corrected. "Call me Matilda"

"Ooh! You have a tough-sounding name!" Star complimented.

"I am tough!" The woman said with swagger. "I'll come back here tomorrow, in case you feel like giving this old broad some more of your time."

"I'll come back too!" Star told her with a big smile.

"Alright." The woman patted Star on the head, making her shiver with delight. "See you tomorrow—.. um.. I never did catch your name." She says with a chuckle.

"My name is Star Butterfly!" She informs with a little pose.

"The name is very pretty." Matilda tells her with a grin. She puts her hand on Star's shoulder. "...Before you go.. Star.. tell me.." The look in Matilda's eyes change. To Star, it looked like they held a great sadness.

"Yeah?.." Star asked softly.

"...You killed my baby, didn't you?"

"...Wh-What?.."

"It was you." Matilda's eyes sharpen and a terrifying rage fills them. "You burned her alive!" Her grip on Star tightened and fractured her clavicle.

"AH!" Star's body buckled at the sudden attack on her system. "That hurts!" Her cry didn't loosen Matilda's grasp, however, it only got tighter.

"She was just a baby..!" Her voice didn't sound anything like the person she was speaking with before. It was distorted and overflowing with anger. "...and you killed her, you monster!"

"Matilda!" Star put her hands on Matilda's arm, trying to get it off. "I don't know.. I don't.." Star was thrown to the ground. The force made her roll a few times before she rose on her knees. She felt surge of pain on her shoulder. Something was broken.

"I'll make this kingdom pay!" Matilda roared. "Everyone will see you for the demons you are!" She crossed her arms over her chest and dug into them with her nails. She was ripping through her clothes and into her skin. "Bring her back! Bring her back! Bring her back!!" Suddenly, blood gushed from her arms, covering the floor around her in it. The amount that escaped vessels was uncanny. It shot out like water out of a high-pressurized hose. It was then that Star realized she was dealing with another monster from her past. She took this time to use her light and heal her broken shoulder. Matilda's blood began to fog around her, immersing her in a redness and obscuring her presence.

Star was stunned. She wanted to run but knew she couldn't. She had to face this. Not just for herself but for her friends that she promised her safety to. Upon healing her arm, she rises to a stance and readies her magic. Star felt the surge of power she felt the last time she battled. It coursed through her body and illuminated from her hands. She was as prepared as she could be for an attack.


Janna was running past people and cars through downtown Echo Creek. Everyone was looking at her, wondering what was causing her to run with such urgency. She could feel her heartbeat in her head. Her breath was short and her legs felt like jelly. She hasn't had to run this fast in years.

"Marco!.." She pleaded between her breaths. "...Marco, wait!.." The boy she was desperately trying to keep up with slowed down. They both then stopped completely, trying to catch their breaths. Janna was having a harder time, however. She bent over with her hands on her knees. "Let's stop for a second.." She told him, struggling to keep her breathing steady.

"We can't yet!" Marco said in a panicked one. "We're close to her! I know it!" Janna looked at him, completely flustered.

"How?!" She grilled, aggravated.

"I—.." Marco looked down at his right hand, seeing the dark infection getting wider. It was almost to his fingertips. "I think it has something to do with my hand.." He showed Janna, making her eyes widen with concern.

"Your hand?.." She inspected it. There was no doubt it had something to do with the way it was damaged before.

"Just believe me, Janna!" His words tugged at her heart. She didn't want to believe him but his sincerity and emotion didn't allow it.

"..Fuck.." Janna looked down, dreading what will happen once they find Star. It seemed like no matter what, Marco was going to involve himself with her. Janna grits her teeth and reluctantly accepts Marco's decision. "Alright.." She says enervated. "Let's go."


Back at the shadowy park, Star was sitting back against a tree. Her breath was shaky and her body was covered in deep cuts and large bruises. She had to remain hidden for now. At least until she had the energy to heal herself and get back to fighting. She could hear Matilda walking around. Her stomps of fury were impossible to not hear.

"Come out, murderer." The uncontrollable woman hissed, scaring Star. "I know you're here." Star couldn't wait any longer. Matilda was getting closer and Star was in no condition to protect herself. She took a deep breath and tried healing herself. She struggled but her light appeared and soothed her wounds. She exhaled sharply when she was done, feeling no pain but now feeling an enormous strain on her energy.

Then, something snapped. Her eyes widen and she jumps away from the tree she was pressed up against. The tree was cut cleanly in half and slowly tipped over. Star rolls up to her feet, ready to move swiftly. She sees the monster she must defeat. Matilda had grown at least three times her size except her body was horribly contorted. A deep blackness cocooned her, similar to the last monster she faced. Most notably however, was her disembodied head being held by her left hand.

Star doesn't waste another second. She points her palms at the monster and fires her light directly at it. The beams of magic traveled furiously and with accuracy but her target was too nimble. The way Matilda moved unsettled Star. The way her body maneuvered around danger looked limp and unstable. Like a puppet with a few strings cut.

Star lets out a sharp exhale, getting fed up with how little she was hitting her mark. Matilda only got closer by the dodge and it was only a matter of time before she would attack. Even though she was afraid of what would happen if she overexerted herself, Star makes the choice to call upon her ultimate weapon. She takes a deep breath and placed her hands on the floor. A bright light suddenly overlays itself on the ground around her and in no time, an elephant made of her magic emerges powerfully from the depths of the brightness.

The magical beast trumpets confidently, ready to protect and attack. Star falls to her knees. Her body was beginning to feel numb. Conjuring the beast took more out of her than she thought but she felt safe. She could take this time to rest while Matilda was held at bay.

In one vigorous motion, the elephant dipped its truck into the light it stood in and flung it out like water at Matilda. She dodged most of it but a few large drops hit her and sizzled on her body. She reels in pain and backs off further from Star and the elephant. Star smiled, feeling like she finally got the upper hand. The elephant shielded her, making sure to not let Matilda pass. She growled and began to tear at her own arms again. A dark liquid shot out like before.

"It doesn't matter how much you hide.." She menaced as she continued digging into herself. "They will notice me gone and send you all to hell.." Her words cut Star deep. She was scared to find out just what happened to this woman.

In a blink of an eye, Matilda jumped up into the trees, completely hidden in the darkness and brush of the leaves and branches. Panic filled Star. She looked up and around, hoping to see even a glimpse of her opponent. She just heard her furious growls and the snapping of the twigs moving all around. The sounds were getting closer and closer but Star didn't know what to do. If she began firing madly at random, she'd waste all her energy and be even more vulnerable.

"I know!" Star exclaimed, overjoyed. She dashed as fast as she could underneath her conjured familiar. She smirked, feeling like a genius by using her elephant to cover her overhead. Star waited patiently for Matilda to act. She knew the monster was a lit fuse. There was no way her patience can outweigh Star's.

Then, as if they were never there, the sounds emanating from Matilda's actions stopped. It was as if they were muted. Star could hear her own breath. It made her feel like she was at a huge disadvantage. But she couldn't be. Could she? If Matilda even touched the elephant, it would scathe her. The beast was an impenetrable cover against a monster of darkness. Before Star could have another thought, a loud snap from above jolted her.

A massive tree tips over and lands on top of the elephant. The beast of light trumpets, the weight of the wood alarming it. It remains stable but its legs were shaking as if they were on the verge of collapsing. As Star realizes what had just happened, the trunk of the elephant reaches under and wraps around her before tossing her away. The princess lands on her side and raises her torso with her arms to see the large oak crush her familiar into specks of light. The wide puddle of light gradually dimmed until it was completely gone. The sheer fright Star felt at seeing this made her freeze up. She looked at the trunk of the fallen tree to see that it had been crudely cut with many chops. She was now on the floor in the dark, unsure of that to do.

The moment Star began to catch her breath, Matilda falls from a tree above her and lands face to face with the princess. The young girl screams and uses her arms to back herself away from her enemy. Matilda just hunched over and followed her, not looking away. Star's legs felt too weak to stand and had no choice but to use her last bit of energy to fire a blast, lest she got cornered. She stopped moving back and rose her hand at Matilda, ready to fire her magic.

In an instant, Matilda grabbed Star's risen wrist and drove her nails into it, getting a scream of agony from the girl. Star felt all of her energy dwindle, her consciousness was starting to fade. It was like she was unwillingly falling asleep. After that, she felt her body slowly leave the ground. Matilda held her up by her pierced wrist and was ready to deal the final blow.

"It won't just end with you.." The shadow hissed and grabbed Star's throat to rip it out. The young teen felt her eyes water. She couldn't stay safe for the sake of her friends but at least none of them had to get hurt any more than they already have. Even if she was to die without knowledge of her past, their safety is what gave her piece of mind.

Star could feel her body fall toward the floor. Was she dying? She didn't feel anything. Matilda let go of her wrist but her throat was fine. Her death felt so sure yet she was still breathing normally. She looked at her enemy and saw that her body was sliced in half at the waist. Matilda's upper half was writhing on the floor as her bottom half stood tall. There was a figure standing behind the shadow, it was Marco. Something was different about his right arm. It was blackened with a dark aura, similar to the shadows Star fought. His fingers were sharp like claws and the rest of the arm had spikes from the wrist-up. Was Star dreaming?

Something was dragging Star away from the fight. She turned her head up and to the right to see Janna trying her hardest to get her to safety. Her friends have come to rescue her.


"Star! Star, dammit, get up!" Janna yelled after setting the girl up against a tree. She can see Star's eyes struggling to stay open. Her wrist was bleeding heavily. If she were to pass out, she'd die from the blood loss. "Fuck, fuck!.." Janna panicked and took her knife out of her back pocket. It was a small pocket knife with a brown handle. Just short enough for her not to get into trouble for having it in her possession. She stretched her top out at the waist and began to cut. She made sure to cut enough out to wrap around Star's wrist a few times.

When she was finished, most of her top was torn. Only a small amount on her side connected the chest area to the lower region, exposing most of her midriff. Janna wrapped Star's wound tight, suffocating the blood flow. "Okay.. Okay.." Janna's voice was in terror, completely unsure what was going to happen. She looked to her right and saw Marco in a ready stance next to them. His body was facing Matilda, who's lower body was still separated from her upper. "Marco! We have to go! Star's dying!" Janna cries to him. Marco stares at the monster thrashing and twisting. He was in shock at what he did to it.

"...All-Alright!" He agrees and dashes to them. He helps Janna raise Star, making sure not to use his deformed arm. They both occupy one of the injured girl's shoulders and begin to stride away. They struggled though, it was difficult to move with Star dragging her feet. "What do we do?!"

"Just—..! Get somebody's attention!" Janna commanded in distress. "Fucking anybody!" With that, they started yelling for help. Hoping to get the attention of a citizen or hopefully a police officer. Not one of their screams seemed to reach the ears of anyone though. The streets were empty. A weeknight in Echo Creek was usually a quiet one. Marco looked back at the monster he left on the floor. They must have made quite the distance by now. He didn't even see it. Nor did he hear it. They really moved that quick?

Marco realized something and it made a pit in his stomach. Before he could say anything, he heard the rustling of leaves and branches above them. The shadow creature emerged from the tangles of the trees and dove at the trio with deadly intent. Marco pushed his friends away and used his dark arm to block the attack. He caught Matilda's swipe but fell to the floor with the impact. Janna and Star fell just about a meter away. The human girl screamed and dragged Star away as fast and far as she could, getting about another meter or so away.

"Marco!!" She shouted in worry, seeing her love pinned to the floor by the monster.

"I'm fine!" He assured, willing his strength to keep his attacker's limb away. "Get away!!" He commanded. Janna couldn't think straight. She only wanted one thing, to protect the boy she loved. She looked down at Star and grit her teeth. If only things could have been simpler. If only Star didn't have these ridiculous circumstances tied to her. Janna wanted to hate her but just couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Star.." Janna held her close, their foreheads touching. "Please.. get up.." Janna began to cry, putting all of her faith in the girl she held.

"Janna.." Marco strained. "..GO!!" He felt like he was losing the battle of strength, he started to lose hope. He didn't know if they were going to make it out of the situation. He wanted to keep fighting and win but he just didn't have the power. Then the pressure Matilda was putting out was starting to ease. Marco felt this and looked at the monster. She held her disembodied head closer to the strained boy, as if to smell him. Marco just held still with a sickened expression, certain he was about to die.

"Prim.." He heard the monster say something. Though he was unsure of what it was. "Primrose.. baby.." Marco remembered the name. He wondered if this was her mother. "I can feel you.." Matilda began to moan and sob.

"Come on, Star.." Janna held her close. She didn't hear what Matilda had said. "You have to protect Marco.. Please.." Even though Star was unconscious, she could still hear Janna. The word "protect" especially, as if two people said it to her. She heard it again.

Protect

It was Janna's voice but it had a faint sound of another's.

Protect

The other voice was louder this time. Star got a sense of familiarity from it but wasn't sure whose it was.

Protect

The other voice was louder than Janna's now. Star recognized it now. It was the voice of her mother.

Protect!

Star's eyes open wide. Light shone from them, making Janna sit up straight in surprise. Star sat forward, feeling her health and strength return. The surge of power left her stunned.

"...Hey.." Janna put her hand on Star's shoulder. This made her look at her surroundings to see Matilda above Marco on the floor. Instinctively, Star put her hands up and fired two blinding beams of light at the monster. The force of them moved the wind around her and Janna, making their hair and clothes flow sporadically. The blast hit Matilda and launched her away, looking like a blazing meteorite. It left Janna and Marco in awe. Even Star herself was left with her arms shaking, trying to recover from the energy she just put out.

Star stood up and grabbed her own shoulders. Something was making her feel uncomfortable, like a part of her had to be let out. A light from her chest began to expand and cover her entire body. It was too bright for Marco and Janna to look straight into. The light enveloping Star slowly unwrapped itself and formed the shape of wings behind her back. They were massive butterfly wings that reached from the back of her knee to a foot above her head and their width covered two meters across her.

In the near distance, Star can see Matilda recovering from the blast that hit her. The places she was struck sizzled before the light of it faded into the darkness of her aura. She quickly stood and rushed to Star with an animalistic rage.

"You will not take her from me again!!" She bellowed as she grew closer with each offensive stride. Star stood tall and unflinching, watching the attacker approach.

"Star!!" Marco shouted in dismay and was about to stand.

"No!" Star turned her head to him, making him stop. She looked at him with a confident smile. "You've done enough." Marco didn't know if it was a good idea but he decided to trust Star's resolve. Matilda was just about to reach her. The monster leaped at the butterfly girl, bringing her arm up to slash at her. Star dodged and flew away from her in a blinding speed. Matilda yelled in frustration and looked around to see Star around 10 meters away. The girl was cupping her hands together. A few small rays of light escaped from the crevices of her fingers.

Matilda slammed her hands on the floor and charged at Star once again like a mad bull. Star lifted one of her hands and a small dot of light floated high above her. It flew higher and higher, reaching even above the trees in the park. When this small sparkle stopped at about 40 meters up, it exploded and lit up the sky. In that moment, Janna and Marco believed the sun had risen and made it daytime. The light was inescapable, making Matilda cover herself with her arms in agony. She dashed under the shadow of a tree to lessen the damage she took.

"Now." Star whispered to herself and opened her wings as far as they could go. Matilda wasn't far and in perfect line of sight. Star rose her hands at her enemy and prepared to fire a blast. The four ends of her wings sent a stream of light to her palms, creating a dazzling orb. Matilda looked at Star and saw a large beam of light barreling at her. Upon impact, the light surrounded Matilda until her body fizzled away into nothing but a small shadowy orb. The day-breaking light in the sky ceased as quickly as it shone and the night sky occupied the atmosphere once again.

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Fight, Star, Fight!

Thanks so much for reading this chapter! \( •‿• )/

I'm excited for the story to reach the third act. I got some neat ideas!

Please, oh, please come back for the next one, okay?

Byyyyyyyye!