Marco stood in the familiar halls of Butterfly castle. He walked down the hallway to the throne room. He couldn't remember why… just that he had to reach the room. He arrived, and no one was there. Marco slowly walked in and looked around. When he turned back toward the throne, he saw the crown from the room with Nova's tapestry.

*Ba bum*

Marco looked around a bit, hearing the heartbeat again.

*Ba bum*

Marco tried to walk out, only to find himself back in the throne room again.

*Ba bum ba bum ba bum*

"Okay… that's getting annoying…"

*BA BUM*

Marco felt a chill go up his spine. The heart beat got louder.

*BA BUM BA BUM BA BUM*

Marco started to shake. This was crazy! It had to be some stupid dream!

Little butterfly… a fiery passion... only to be forgotten…

Marco woke with a start. His breathing was heavy, and he was sweating. He looked over to his window to find the sun having yet to rise. After a few minutes, Marco lied back onto his pillow, unable to close his eyes again.

"The young…" A realization spread over Marco's face. His expression fell back into thought. "I wonder…"

After breakfast, Marco made his way to Star's room, knocking on the door. Star flung the door open and pulled Marco inside. Sitting in the room was, not just Star and Marco, but also the familiar faces of Pony Head, Tom, Kelly, and Janna.

Marco turned to the princess, confused. "Um… Star?"

Star moved among the group and sat on her bed. "I thought of another lead about Nova! I also already told everyone else already!"

"Okay… Why?"

"Well, I thought it was best to do this as a group! We can cover more ground this way in small groups!"

"That makes sense… So, what lead did you find, anyway?"

"I thought I could ask Onmitraxus Prime! He knows all about other, crazy dimensional stuff. I figured he might know something." Star grabbed her wand and jumped from her bed to the center of the group. "Alright! We'll split up into two teams!"

"Actually, Star," Marco interrupted her, "I thought of something last night that might help the search."

"Really?! What is it?!"

"It's an old proverb I heard during Hekapoo's trial… I don't remember the specifics, but I remember something about a forgotten butterfly. It may have something to do with Nova."

"Okay." Janna leaned forward, sitting backward on a chair. "So, three groups then. That can work. Now… who's going where?"

Marco turned to Janna, "Considering my lead is in Hekapoo's dimension, I'll lead that team."

"You sure?" Star seemed a bit worried.

"I'm sure."

"Alright…"

Janna raised half-raised one hand. "What about the other place? What's that about?"

"Supposedly, there's a magic guy that lives out in the monster lands."

"Nice~ I call dibs on that one."

"Okay… If Janna's going to see the mage," Star turned to Tom. "Tom… Can you go with her and make sure nothing happens?"

Tom had an inner debate for a moment. He wanted to go with Star; spend time with his girlfriend, you know? But he also knew her friend was just human and would probably get herself killed without an escort. His decision was made for him when he looked back to Star and saw her pleading eyes. Tom sighed, "Fine."

"Thanks! We need to make sure neither Janna nor the monsters get hurt and if Marco and I are going to other locations… That means Pony Head and I will talk to Omnitraxus!"

Kelly turned to Star, "So… I'm going with Marco for this one?"

Star was distracted by a thought for a second before answering. "Yes. But I have to warn you… when you reach Hekapoo's dimension, try not to get… distracted."

Kelly leaned back a bit and raised an eyebrow. "Okay?"

"Alright, everyone! Move out!"

\/

Star and Pony Head walked through the Time-realm… thing. Pony Head would occasionally complain about life or some transgression against her most people wouldn't think was too big; like a parent embarrassing them at a party. Eventually, they ran into time and his hamster wheel contraption. They asked if Onmitraxus was around, only to be told that Time didn't know. Both princesses groaned a bit and kept walking.

After about two hours, they eventually found Onmitraxus. As they approached the guardian of Space-Time, Star introduced Pony Head and told him about their mission. "So… do you think you could help us?"

The Space-Time guardian rubbed his chin in thought. "Strange… My memory of this… Nova Butterfly is failing…"

Star groaned, "Dang it…"

"How odd…"

Star heard a tone in Onmitraxus' voice that made her perk up.

"It seems my memory of the old Butterfly is still there… but something feels off."

"What do you mean?"

"I feel the presence of the one called Nova… but it feels broken."

"Wait a second." Pony Head floated to meet Omnitraus' eyes. "How can a memory be broken? But you still remember them? You tryn' 'ta play us?"

Omnitraxus took a moment to understand what she said. "Um… no? Look, I can see the pieces of the memory. Strange as that sounds. But I feel that it's not complete. Like my memory is broken as though made of glass. Pieces are missing that keep me from truly remembering anything."

Star used one of the many platforms to join them at a similar height. "Okay… So, how do we fix that?"

"I am uncertain. In theory, if the memory could truly be broken; then by gathering the pieces, one could reform the memories."

"Okay. We just have to find the pieces of memory! That can't be too hard!"

"Do you have idea where they could be?"

"Not in the slightest!"

Onmitraxis shook his head. "Okay… I'll look into this, but I can't do much else until the Magic Commission approves action."

"Thank you, Onmitraxis!"

\/

Janna walked through the monster lands without a care in the world. The demon tasked with keeping her alive, however, was miles passed a last nerve. Monsters constantly attacked thinking they were an easy target. Tom didn't blame them for that. He was a prince, after all. No. His problem was the human that walked through the land like she was immortal. Tom burned away most of the threats pretty early, but one thing gets through and turns tail and the chick thinks she's invincible! They better find this mage fast…

A small blue fireball appeared in front of the two.

"The heck is that?" Janna examined the fireball.

The fire moved from side to side before jumping toward Tom. After a moment, it turned red and flew off into the distance. The fire reappeared, as though expecting them to follow it.

Janna folded her arms. "So… Is this, like, some weird monster trap?"

Tom took a moment to respond. "No way. That's a hell fire caller. It's a technique used by demons to keep out intruders. If this was a trap, we'd have already sprung it."

"Brutal~ Then let's check it out!" Janna ran after the fire.

"Wait!" Tom tried to keep pace after her.

The two followed the little flame until they reached a modest cottage in the middle of the woods. The fire floated around in the air a bit before turning blue again and leaving.

Janna turned back to the cottage, "Think this is it?"

Tom growled a bit but kept it low enough to ensure Janna didn't hear. "Better be…"

They approached the door, only to have it open just before impact. Standing behind the door was an old Mewman man with greyed hair and the expression of a man that's seen some shit. "What do you want?"

Janna was the one to answer. "Uh… We're looking for a Mewman mage that lives out here somewhere. Is that you?"

"Who's asking?"

"Well~ I'm Janna. And that's Tom, some demon prince or something…"

The old man glared at the two a moment before sighing. "Yes. I'm the mage. Now get lost."

"Hey, hold on! We came out here for a reason!"

"I know. I can read it all over your face. You're here for your magical curiosity. I can't help you. So, get lost!"

As the old mage tried to slam the door, it was caught a demonic hand. Tom put his foot in the door and forced it open. After a few seconds of eye contact, Tom bowed to the old man. "Please. We need your help."

Janna looked at the scene like Tom had grown a second head. She heard horror stories about Star's demon boyfriend when he was still her ex. She heard about his explosive temper and trigger happy argumentative state. Yet here he was, bowing his head to the old guy that shouted at them to leave.

The old mage raised an eyebrow. "Young demon… why are you here?"

Tom never rose his head, "We're here to try to shed light on something that has been in darkness."

The man looked at Tom for a second before folding his arms. "Now I know you're a prince… That silver tongue will serve you well. But that doesn't mean I should help you."

"I'm not asking as a prince."

This caught the mage's attention. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for Tom to elaborate.

"Someone very important to me discovered something no one else remembers. We heard you might know something. Thus, we've traveled here to ask this of you."

After a minute of silence, the mage spoke again. "An odd day when the most sincere person in the area is an anger prone, teenage demon…" The old mage sighed. "Alright. What was this thing everyone seems to have forgotten?"

Tom rose back up to a standing position. "An old monarch named Nova Butterfly."

"Nova Butterfly? Nova… Nova…" The mage stepped outside and floated a book toward him from inside. "The name isn't familiar. Strange."

Janna tried to rejoin the conversation, "If everyone else wouldn't remember, what would make you different?"

"Memory is fickle for those not versed in my field. However… for me to forget something is rare indeed… And this book tells me nothing!" He tossed the book back into his cottage. "Okay… Plan B, then."

"So… what's plan B?"

"We ask him."

Janna's eyes widened in anticipation. "Dead king séance?"

"Basically…" The mage raised his hand and waved toward the ground. A section of the ground shifted from the grassy floor to a flat stone square. He raised a hand upward with two fingers extended before slamming it toward the stone, causing a magical circle to appear chiseled into the stone. Four lit candles rose up from the corners.

"Awesome~"

The mage sat cross-legged in the air and his hands began to glow. The candles started to flicker in and out until they blew out with rising smoke. The smoke gathered above the circle into a large sphere. It continued to swell until it burst.

After a minute with nothing happening, Janna asked, "Is… is that it?"

"It shouldn't have been." The mage landed on the ground again. "Seems I can't help you two any further."

"What?"

"The spell worked. However, the target is not there. Nova is in the past, but something is keeping the spirit from crossing. Like it's not complete. If I had to guess… the pieces are captive somehow. Still of this plane, but separate as well…"

\/

Meanwhile, a dragon-cycle rode over the arid wastes of a far-off land. Two figures sat atop the cycle. One was the adult Marco, eyes trained on the land before him. The other was a shocked Kelly. The young, aqua-haired fighter had every right to be shocked. Marco went from pretty scrawny teen to muscular warrior just by going through a portal. Then there was the dragon-cycle, which he apparently named Nachos. Kelly was holding on for dear life as Marco sped over earth and sky atop the beast.

The two rode the cycle for nearly two hours by that point. Kelly tried to use conversation to pass the time or at least distract her from the ludicrous speeds they were traveling at, but Marco never answered. It was like he was trying to avoid something… Like their speed was motivated by something recent.

Eventually, they arrived at a large monastery. "This is the place." Marco had Nachos park and jumped off the dragon.

Kelly followed him shakily. "Okay… So, what is this place?"

"The cloister of the dimensional scholars. A place of knowledge beyond our understanding."

Kelly took in the monastery and couldn't help feeling small in its presence. "Neat."

The two walked into the monastery. Marco led the way passed robed figures toward the library.

Kelly looked back at the figures as they walked, "Um… Are these the dimensional scholars?"

"Yep."

"Why are they… see-through?"

"Because they aren't really here." His point was made as one passed through the duo as they walked.

"What?"

"It's a technique they call Dimensional Dissociation. Short version is they're spread across multiple dimensions at once. They're here, and not at the same time."

"Weird."

"It's done wonders for them so far…" The two reached a room in the back of the library with old, black stone tablets. "Here we are."

Marco searched the tablets until he found the one mentioning the butterfly. It was written in the ancient language, which he was thankful he remembered from his time chasing Hekapoo.

Little butterfly, born on wings of stardust. Singing your song of truth and life.

Little butterfly, rebellious and kind. Yours was a world of war and strife.

Seeing injustice reign, you set out for a new course for your land.

A fiery passion burned within you to end the war at hand.

Young butterfly, flying on wings of fire, you burned brighter than any star.

But your bright beacon attracted the vilest of beings, a true monster.

Glorious butterfly, mighty king, you took this beast into your hearth and home.

How could you know this vile being planned your end when she sat by your throne?

Peaceful butterfly, you were betrayed by one you trusted so much in this world.

She clipped your wings and you fell to your end, your peace unfurled.

Broken butterfly, avenged by your next, no war would need be fought in.

You brokered a peace unlike any other, only for you and your peace to be forgotten.

Marco placed his hand on the tablet after reading it. He saw the story before him. He noticed something odd in the pattern. He traced a pattern somewhere underneath the symbols. Marco pulled out a marker and started to trace the symbols beneath it.

When he was done, Kelly looked at the new phrase before them. "So… what does that one say?"

"Roto a través de mundos. Roto más allá de la muerte."

"Uh…"

"Broken across worlds. Broken beyond death." Marco looked back to a scholar passing by.

\/

Once all of the teens returned to Star's room, they recounted their findings. Star paced around her room and nibbling on her wand as she thought. "So…" she turned back to the group, "We've established that Nova's memory is broken somehow. And we need to put it back together for anyone to remember anything about him."

Janna nodded, "That's about it, yes."

"But we have no idea how to find them."

"Also correct."

"That doesn't help."

Star was interrupted by her mirror receiving a call. [Call from: Omnitraxis Prime.]

Star saw the caller ID and quickly answered the mirror. "Omnitraxis?"

The dimensional being appeared in the mirror. "Hello again, Star Butterfly."

"Did you find something?"

"I have, actually."

"Seriously?!"

"Six somethings. Six signatures that match our dimensional sign in six separate locations."

"Awesome! Tell us where to find these things and we can…"

"I doubt you can."

"What do you mean?"

"These pieces of memory aren't across dimensions… They're in separate realities. Dimensional scissors can't break reality to travel across them."

"Then… we can't do anything?! It's over?!"

"I didn't say that."

This caught the group's attention. How would they be able to travel across realities to collect those memories?

"I can allow you all to traverse to these realities."

"You can?!" Star didn't sound surprised. More like… hyper-enthusiastic. A thought came to her and she stopped. "Wait… I thought you couldn't do anything else without the Commission's permission."

"He can't." Star spun around to find her mother walking into the room in her armored dress.

"Mom?"

Moon Butterfly wasn't alone. She was accompanied by the remaining members of the High Commission, Hekapoo and Romulus. Moon walked toward her daughter, "When Omnitraxis told us about this… Nova Butterfly, our decision was simple. If there is something going on, we need to find out and deal with it appropriately."

"Yeah!" Romulus raised his arms and shouted.

Omnitraxis cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "I can grant you all access to the six portals. However, and this is important, only one of you can go through each at any time to avoid too much damage to the barriers between the realities."

"So, six of us have to go through six portals…" Moon thought for a moment. "Romulus, I need you to stay behind and watch after the castle. River can run the kingdom, but I don't want to take chances with Eclipsa here…"

Romulus nodded with a look of determination on his face, "Got it!"

Star turned to her own group. "Janna. Pony Head. It might be best for you both to stay behind as well."

Janna snapped her finger and ended the motion point at Star, "Sounds like a plan."

Omnitraxis let them plan before taking a deep breath. "Okay then… Let's get started. Oh! I almost forgot. You're going to see some very familiar faces. But keep in mind that these are not people you know. Everyone you meet in those realities are strangers to you. I also have no idea what form these memories will take, only that they will feel out of place to the people of that reality. Good luck out there."

/\

King: It continues. What will they all find in these realities? Who will they meet? Hope you enjoyed and are looking forward to the next chapter. I know I am.