Happy Halloween, and welcome back! This chapter is a nice sweet treat, perfect for today! Enjoy! Especially enjoy that hook at the end of this chapter.
"Electric Butterfly Storm!"
The Forest of Certain Death was filled with Orion's mighty roar and the sizzling of glowing butterflies splitting wood. The floating debris cleared, and the prince found himself standing in front of the charred remains of an old oak. A pleased smile grew on his face, stretching muscles he hadn't used in days. He did it. He finally produced a more powerful version of his spell. The other trees bowed and cracked by his fury stood as testaments to his diligence. But at last, he had something worthy of being written in the Notebook of Spells and pass to future generations of Butterflys. Queen magic flowed through his veins too—cool as mountain water yet as energizing as the sun. The proof of his royal birthright.
But it came with a price. A sudden easterly wind drew his attention towards the pink, mushroom-domed spires peeping over the twisted, black trees. Come home, the wind whispered in a raspy sailor voice, and Orion saw a pale-red moon rising. I've never seen you before, he stared in wonder. Yet the moon seemed intrinsically familiar—almost as familiar as his parents were to him.
"I can't," Orion was compelled to reply.
Not after what happened last week. Not after tasting his father's blood gurgling in his throat and seeing the horror in his mother's eyes. Ever since the Mewberty incident, Orion kept a low profile. The castle felt too constricting. The walls closed in when he ran into his family and friends. He couldn't bear to look them in the eyes after the girl-obsessed beast he became. In fact, he could hardly look at his hands without imagining blood staining his fingers.
As for Andromeda, he didn't know how he felt about her anymore. The bond was firmly shut on both sides to prevent interference again. But the silence haunted him. Her thoughts and emotions always played in the backdrop of his mind like a steady pulse. With it gone, Orion felt true loneliness for the first time ever, and it scared him. Did normal people walk around with such heavy, emptiness in their heads? How could they live like this? To fill the void, Orion spent his free time practicing his magic and venting his frustrations on foliage in the Forest of Certain Death. At least Mewberty made his magic stronger.
Come home, the red moon said again.
"Go away," Orion muttered, turning his back on it and the castle. He'd return for dinner and bed tonight—nothing more.
You can't run from Fate.
Frustration boiled under his skin, and Orion raised his wand to another tree. "Narwhal Blast!" he yelled and unleashed his mother's spell upon the wooden foe. But something was wrong. The whales came out green and frowning instead of blue and smiley. They obliterated the tree, leaving behind an oozing crater in their wake. That's odd, he studied the aftermath. The sour scent from the strange magic wrinkled his nose. He never knew he could do anything like that.
"Are you okay?"
Orion turned to see Aunt Jackie stepping out of a blue portal. Her pale hair was pulled into a short ponytail, and she wore a sword over her jean capris and black leather jacket. It swayed as she approached him.
"Marco told me he thought you'd be here," she went on. "We all miss you in squire training."
"I just needed some time to myself," he said simply.
"I know. It's why I gave you a few days off. But you gotta join the land of the living, Rye." She studied the burnt trees around him and sighed. "C' mere," she sat on a stump. "I think someone needs some Aunt Jackie therapy."
He obeyed only because he respected her too much to act like a brooding recluse. Otherwise, he would've retreated deeper into the woods where no one could find him ever. Jackie greeted him with a hug as soon as he sat down. It pulled him out of the darkness clouding his mind and into her pleasant warmth.
"You looked like you needed one," she smiled after letting go. "I know you've been through a lot."
"Yeah…" Orion breathed. If only he could erase his memories of that cursed day forever. While he wanted to be recognized as a royal in his own right, he never wanted to go through Mewberty; especially not after he witnessed what it did to Andromeda. I'm lucky she didn't kill me, he shuddered at the memory of their fight. She easily could've torn him apart, and if Star were there…
Jackie snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Come back to me," she said.
"I'm here," he partially lied. "It's just…I can't be at home after what I did. I'd rather just live out here in a yurt. Far away from girls and people and my family."
"You could do that."
"Really?" He wasn't expecting Jackie's answer. He assumed Marco sent her to drag him home, not to encourage him to become a hermit.
"Or," she continued. "You can confront your feelings, apologize, and move on."
"That sounds gross."
She leaned back and kicked her legs in the air. "Let me tell you a story. A long time ago, there was a magical princess who refused to face her feelings about her best friend—"
"—Is this about when you dated Dad?"
Jackie playfully cuffed his ear, "—I'm not done telling my story. Now, the princess easily could've dealt with issues between her and her best friend outright, but she chose to wait. Meanwhile, said best friend started dating another girl, but the princess still didn't say anything until the feelings festered and consumed her. I bet you know what happened next?"
"I do," Orion nodded. He knew about the disastrous end-of-the-year party and the aftermath of Star confessing her feelings to Marco. It was a story frequently brought up at family dinners.
"Point is, Rye, you can't run away from your problems. It's not good for you."
"But facing them sucks."
"Yeah, but it saves so much heartache," Jackie's earnestness brought him pause. He felt the old pain in her heart even years after the confession passed. She wasn't sad about losing Marco, but the turmoil brought on by Star's decision to bottle up her feelings still must've stung. "If Star had been honest, I would've backed off. I liked Marco, but it wasn't more than a standard boyfriend-girlfriend thing. We weren't Blood Moon soulmates. Now, do you promise me you'll stop roaming around the forest and do something about your situation? For your Aunt Jackie?"
"Fine," Orion muttered. "Where do I start?"
"Wherever you want to," she said. "You'll know in your heart."
"I think I do…" he gulped at the fear rising within him. Did he have the courage to do this? What if his transgression was unforgivable?
Jackie wrapped an arm around him, calming his nerves. "I'm proud of you for doing this. It's very kingly of you, Rye."
"Thanks, Aunt Jackie," he smiled slightly.
"Anytime, kiddo. It's an aunt's job to take care of her favorite nephew."
"I'm your only nephew."
"We'll see," Jackie giggled as if she knew something he didn't. "Now, you're seven days behind in training, and your other aunt isn't going to be as forgiving as I am about skipping class." She tossed him a sword and opened a portal to the castle training grounds. "I need to get you caught up by tomorrow."
"Alright."
Orion followed her home, and the red moon faded into the afternoon sky.
I sure hope this works, Orion checked his watch yet again. The secondhand seemed to move backward rather than forward, defying his wishes to speed along. Stop acting like a baby, he gritted his teeth. Where did his courage go? Just a few hours ago, he confidently battled Aunt Jackie and talked over his plan, but the Orion of then had retreated just like the shadows under the glaring afternoon sun. Now, he was weak and clammy. His heart boomed in his tight chest, and he wheezed. Every breath was ripped out of his lungs and replaced with less air. Stupid heat, he wiped the accumulating sweat off his brow.
Southern California must be the dimension's version of the Underworld. At home, the hottest days were confined to midsummer and dwindled by the time Orion's birthday came in Dartuk. From there, cold swept down from the Jaggy Mountains, and he'd rather have that than the heat. Cold meant fires and mulled wine and plush coats. It meant gathering in the Great Hall to listen to Grandpa River's Stump Day stories. But instead of being there, Orion was stuck in a shrinking island of shadow outside of Echo Creek Academy. Spirits, please bring a cloud or something, he prayed, wondering if they could hear him on Earth even though the portal to home was only several blocks away.
As if in reply, the bell rung inside the building, and hundreds of students streamed towards yellow buses in a flood of bodies. Orion's nose twitched; he remembered every girl in the school. There went Andrea Rodriquez on her hoverboard down the street. Sharonda Louis stooped over to tie her shoe while Lindsay Sherling and Amy Lee continued to talk about what happened at homecoming. Gina Walker and her boyfriend, Shane, exchanged a sloppy kiss by the flagpole. Orion averted his gaze. Why did they act as if they'd never see each other again? They lived two blocks away, for corn's sake! Focus, Orion, he closed his eyes and kept tasting the air. A week ago, the scents of girls in the air turned him into a wild animal, but now, they tasted only mildly interesting.
"Oh my God! It's him!" A girl yelled from not too far away. "It's the bug boy!"
The students stopped and stared at the young prince. Fear tickled his nose, nearly making Orion laugh. "Hello, Madison R.," he greeted her curtly. "I'm glad you still remember me."
"You're lucky I didn't call my dad, bug boy," she sneered. "He's FBI. Wait, how'd you know my name?"
"I remember your scent," he tapped his nose. "I know everyone's name."
Her face turned red, "I'd be more offended if you weren't kinda cute."
"Cute, huh?" Orion grinned devilishly.
The flustered Earth girl stormed away.
Other students flocked around him, drawn by a growing sense of curiosity. Their eyes grew wide and murmurs floated among them. "Aren't you the queen's son?" Asked a girl with pretty brown freckles. Orion remembered her as Jasmine Quinn.
"The one and only," he said casually.
Awe spread on their faces. The students represented the first generation of Earth people born under Mewnian rule, and Orion knew the humans were still adjusting to the concepts of magic and other dimensions. It also did not help that Echo Creek humans were new to the monarchy. Their home country—called the United States—prided itself on electing a new leader every few years and eschewing the tyranny of kings and queens. Yet their own leader seemed just as corrupt as the monarchs of yore, hiding away in a white castle on the opposite shore and listening to smart, wealthy lordlings around him. New Echo Creek was lucky to be the subjects of a fairer ruler, whether the people completely understood it or not.
Amy Lee curtsied, "It is an honor to meet you, Your Royal Highness."
"No need to be formal," the prince swiftly stopped the others from bowing. "I'm just Orion."
"Are you sure?" She wondered.
He nodded, "My mother's trying to make the monarchy more accessible, so I'm fine without the title."
"Are you going to attack us again?" Another student, named Bensley, asked. Orion recognized the flaming redheaded son of his father's knight and rolled his eyes playfully.
"Oh, come on, Ben," he said snarkily. "You of all people should know what Mewberty is." Then more seriously, Orion said to the rest, "I really am sorry for last week. What happened was completely beyond my control, and I didn't mean to hurt anyone."
Bensley replied, "You got us out of class, so we were happy about that. I mean, I'd rather be chased around the halls than take Ms. Skullnick's math quiz."
His classmates rumbled in agreement.
"Glad to be of assistance," Orion grinned. "If you ever need a magical diversion from school, give me a call."
"Or we could just study like normal people," a new face joined the crowd.
It's her! The world shrunk to just the two of them. The students faded away. The buildings faded away. Even the sun and grass and earth disappeared until all of creation left only Orion and Mia rooted in place. There was no turning back. Does she hate me? The prince studied her intently, noting the way her brows creased and how she hung back from the others. But she wasn't totally detached either. She studied him too.
"Uh…hello, Mia," he nervously greeted her.
"Hi…" her timid response sounded more like a question than a greeting.
"Ooh, does the new kid have a crush on bug boy?" Sharonda sneered. The students began to giggle and whisper excitedly until Orion glared at them. They started to disband, still keeping the rumors on their tongues to discuss later on.
"Have fun, new kid," laughed Geraldo Dolittle as he raced passed.
Mia hollered after him, "Oh, can it, four-eyes!"
"I wouldn't worry about him," Orion folded his arms smugly. "My father has a million embarrassing stories about his father. If you need blackmail, I've got plenty."
"You know Mr. Dolittle?" Mia gasped. "As in Sir Mr. Dolittle?"
"Of course. He's a knight in the Earthsguard and warrior of the House of Butterfly. I was there when he and the other heroes of the war were knighted." He saw her confusion. "This isn't making sense is it?"
"Nope. You'll have to catch me up. I am the new kid, after all," she said with derision.
"Then let me start at the beginning." Orion got up and cast a fiery rainbow over his head.
"I'm a magical prince from another dimension!" He proudly declared.
"How'd you set a rainbow on fire?" Mia gasped.
"I dunno," he canceled the spell. "I've always made my rainbows like that. My name's Orion, by the way. I already know yours. Ugh, that sounded creepy."
"Can't be creepier than when you came here for the first time."
"True," he admitted. "Can we talk for a bit? I won't keep you long."
At first, he expected her to decline, but she sat next to him in the dusty grass. They watched the last of the buses depart and the teachers return inside the building. Orion sent a silent prayer for courage and summoned a white box with the wand. "For you," he passed it to her. "I'm sorry about last week, and I hope you accept this as a token of my apology."
Cautiously, she opened the box, revealing a small cake inside. "Is this for me? You got me an entire cake?" she squeaked.
"It's a family custom." Orion's quick answer was partially true. A real Johansen apology required sacrificing a boar on the Altar of Incidents and bringing the meat to the offended. He refused to carry a ham around in the hot sun, so he hoped the Apology Cake still pleased the Spirits.
"I like your family then," she smiled. "C'mon, bug boy, let's chow down before the sun eats the cake."
"You aren't mad at me?" He was taken aback by her forwardness.
"I will be if we waste this cake," she jabbed him. They huddled under the last remaining shadow in Echo Creek, and greedily devoured the cake to outpace the sun. After they finished, leaving only a messy puddle of frosting and two spoons rattling in the bottom of the box, they talked. Mia had many questions about the royal family and the city, so Orion let her guide the discussion.
"And so, you aren't a butterfly-monster child?" Mia asked.
He shook his head, "I'm a Mewman—or half-Mewman actually. We pretty much look like humans, but the queens have magic and a Butterfly form. You only see her true form when she's angry." Or is in search of her mate, he shuddered remembering how Star chased Marco around the dimension for days when she was pregnant with Jupiter.
"You're basically a were-insect."
He snorted with laughter, "I've never heard it phrased like that, but sure. I'm a magical, were-butterfly."
She laughed too, and it rang in his ears like church bells. "You mentioned being only half-Mewman," she said after catching her breath.
"Yep, my father's a human. He was born here in New Echo Creek, but you'd hardly be able to tell now. The magic changed him, so he's stronger than an average man. And he has cheekmarks too."
"Was he that guy you tried to strangle over me?"
Orion sighed bitterly, not wanting to remember his rage, "Yeah…"
"And the flying woman was your mother then," Mia realized. "They look so young."
"They had me and my twin sister at eighteen," he said with a more cheerful note. "It was right before the Great War and the destruction of the old Echo Creek."
Mia scowled when he brought it up again, "I never learned about there being a war in history class. All I know is that a foreign nation dropped a bomb on Echo Creek fourteen years ago, and World War III almost happened."
Is that what the humans think happened here? Orion was intrigued but also disappointed. The real story was so much better than any boring Earth history. His mind suddenly hatched an idea—one he thought through to make sure it could work. There must be a million things Mia didn't know about New Echo Creek. A million things he could show her. The prince rose to his feet and summoned Cloudy. "Do you trust me?" Orion held out his hand in invitation. "I can give you the complete historical tour of the place."
"This isn't some sort of weird pickup thing where you carry me off somewhere bad, is it?" She eyed him skeptically.
"You have my word as Prince of Mewni that no harm will befall you," he swore.
"And you have my word too!" Cloudy replied in his shrill voice, which made Mia jump.
"D-did that cloud-thing talk…?" She stammered.
Orion nodded, "My mother's spells are sentient. Don't worry though; Cloudy's awesome!"
"D'aww, geez," Cloudy gushed.
Mia hesitated, but eventually placed her hand in his. "Alright, but you better not let me fall."
The contact was soft and warm and pleasant, like the rays of sun warming a meadow on a spring morning. Orion almost didn't want to let go, out of fear that he would never experience it again. Happiness seemed too fleeting to describe the fluttering of his heart. "What's that sound?" Mia asked when something faintly buzzed around them.
Orion's face turned red, and he dropped her hand. "You weren't supposed to hear that."
"Hear what?" she pressed him.
"My Mewberty wings," he awkwardly turned to show her the small, blue wings jutting out of his shoulder blades, framing either side of this tank top.
He both loved and hated them. On the one hand, they were cool, but they also chafed under normal shirts and buzzed loudly around females. He was about to say something else, but a shock rippled through his body. He yelped, but not out of pain. The electricity felt amazing—so much so that he tensed completely from head to toe before melting into a puddle of warmth. What was that? It took several moments for his mind to clear. He wanted more of it. He wanted to feel it over and over until the sensation sapped the life out of him.
Mia blinked in surprise at his reaction, "I thought I killed you for a second."
"Did you touch my wings?" He quivered.
"They just looked soft. I'm sorry," Mia apologized.
She touched his wings. Only a queen's mate touched her wings, and it was an act almost as sacred as sex itself. Probably even more so. While Orion had accidentally seen his parents get intimate before—and it was an appalling sight—he never saw his father touch his mother's wings in public. The prince shrugged off the matter. Maybe he was reading into things.
Once he and Mia were settled on Cloudy, they departed for their trip across New Echo Creek. "Wow…" she breathed at the world laying underneath her like a tapestry.
New Echo Creek was unlike any place on Earth and Mewni. It had tall, sleek skyscrapers in the downtown area—pillars of business and commercial trade—but the land around it was different. Sprawling in all directions around it were green agricultural fields with houses and barns dotting them along with animals, tractors, and farmers. Everyone in the city had access to the common fields and lived in close-knit neighborhood-towns. Despite the agrarian emphasis, New Echo Creek was on the cutting-edge of Earth technology. Just this year, the city finally freed itself from fossil fuels. Everything ran on magic, and scientists worked to find ways to share this knowledge with the outside world. Mewni corn already spread to farmers in other states.
"That's my house down there," Mia pointed excitedly to a brick house right by the road. "Dad moved us here because he wanted us to have a better life, and he's a total country boy. I always knew he was miserable in Los Angeles."
"New Echo Creek wasn't always like this," Orion began. "It all started when my father met my mother, who was sent to Earth as a foreign exchange student. About a year later, they got betrothed, and my royal grandparents gave my human grandparents titles and land. See that down there? That's their manor house."
"Oh," Mia made a face Orion couldn't read. "I've met the Diazes before. I didn't know they had grandchildren."
"Well, now you do. Now, here comes the real history. Fourteen years ago, my parents were sent into exile by Eclipsa, my sorta great-grandparent, and her Monster husband, Globgor."
"I think you win the Most Dramatic Family Award," Mia joked.
Orion playfully ribbed her, "It gets better. After living off the land for months, my mother decided to challenge Eclipsa for the throne to save Mewni from her husband. You see, Monsters and Mewmans have a complicated history. My ancestors were horrible people. They came to Mewni and stole the land from the Monsters, who were the original inhabitants. In fact, they're the reason why Globgor did what he did. Deep down inside, he was broken. He lost his people, his family, his freedom because my ancestors wanted more and didn't care who they hurt."
"That's deep.
We have the same history here."
"Yeah. In the end, the hurt and darkness consumed him. Anyways, my parents dropped me and my sister off to stay with my grandparents while they figured out what to do. That's when Globgor's armies came and razed Echo Creek to the ground to find us. I don't remember much after that…but I know something really bad happened." Something so bad, his parents refused to talk about it.
But his body remembered. Every time he tried to reach through the fog of memory, his chest tightened, and he heard screaming. He even tasted blood. After the terror came peace. A calm unlike anything else in the universe. He knew there was another place too. It was bright and surrounded by shimmering waterfalls of gold and colorful warnicorns. He also remembered being held by a woman with gray hair like moonlight…
"Are you okay?" Mia rested a hand on his shoulder.
He shook his head. "I'm fine. Just spaced out. After the war, Star connected Mewni and Echo Creek with a portal, so she could help rebuild the fallen city. It took almost a decade for things to return to normal, but now, here we are."
Orion steered Cloudy towards the arch on Boundary Street. From the air, the thin ribbon spanning the middle looked like a normal decoration placed there by artists, but up close, they say where Mewni began and Earth ended. Cars and oxcarts passed in and out on separate lanes, carrying goods and visitors. Mia's face lit up when she saw people on the other side.
"I've heard about this portal," she marveled. "The kids talk about going over to get cornshakes, but I've never been to Mewni." Then, she smiled and wrapped her arms around Orion, catching him off-guard. "But now, I do. I gotta visit my new friend."
"Friend?" The word tingled on Orion's lips. "You're dropping the soft f-word already?"
She looked at him, puzzled, "Is there a hard f-word?"
"It's the word my mom says a lot," Orion laughed. "By the way, I'm not done with the story."
"It would've been over by now without the tangents."
"But I like my tangents," he pretended to be wounded by her comment. "Mom and Dad led the human refugees back home after a few weeks, only to find out that the humans were on the brink of war because the president thought an Earth-nation attacked Echo Creek. This is where my Aunt Jackie comes in. She's the ambassador between the human world and Mewni, and she stopped the war by telling the Earth leaders the truth. Naturally, it took a lot of convincing for them to accept other dimensions and magic, but in the end, the war was called off. The president agreed to let New Echo Creek become a part of the Butterfly kingdom while letting the people retain their US Citizen status, and things have been great ever since."
"Excellent story," Mia gave him a round of applause.
"I'm a great spinner of tales," he bowed. "Where else would you like to go? We have a whole universe out there." After a long flight, Cloudy set the teens down on the tallest hill in the park, and Orion itched for more. He could take her to Britta's Tacos or to the mall or to the stop where his parents met or…
Mia sighed, "I wish I could stick around, but I have to study for a huge test tomorrow."
Orion's shoulders slumped, "Oh." Plus, it was late anyway. The prince had so much fun that he didn't realize how much time passed on the tour. The sun was sinking towards the end of the horizon, bringing the cool of night on New Echo Creek. Lights started to shine in windows, traffic accumulated in the streets, and workers were reuniting with their families after a long day of labor.
"You know there's always tomorrow," she reminded him gently. "I'm always free after school."
"Yeah." Hope returned to the crestfallen prince. This wasn't the end, but the beginning of an amazing friendship. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Have a good night."
"You too, bug prince!" she waved before heading down the hill.
She's such a cool person, Orion stayed on the hill until the last of the sunset, and he too went home.
"Bye, Mom, I'll be back for dinner!"
Andromeda looked up from her book as Orion streaked across the courtyard like a blond comet, stirring up leaves with his bounding steps. He was happy. She knew it even without accessing the Blood Moon bond just by the fleeting glimpse of him prancing through the grass. I wonder what's got him in a good mood? She wondered with a frown. Was he going to hang out with the princes, or practice his magic? Was it about a girl? The questions lingering in her head only made Andromeda more frustrated, so she went back to her reading. Plus, magic theory was more interesting than her stupid brother anyways. At least the books from the library didn't blame her for their misfortunes and ignore her so ungraciously.
Why did Orion have to treat her like this? Maybe if they talked about what happened, they could sort out their relationship. Proper royals dealt with things diplomatically. But no, instead, Orion was never around anymore. He hardly even spoke to her in passing. And now, he seemed to do swimmingly without her. Something wonderful had happened, and he didn't bother to share the good news with her.
Andromeda gritted her teeth and unsheathed her magical blade, letting the blue light glow pale as the moon. She lashed out at a practice dummy in front of her and turned it into ice. To follow up, she channeled her anger until the blade turned into a wisp of dark blue fire, using it to melt the dummy. Good, she relaxed, and the sword returned to its hilt form. Since Orion was too busy to socialize, Andromeda used her free time to unlock the secrets of the wand. After reading as many books as she could about Enchanter magic, she finally understood how to really tap into her queen magic. Seeing the results made her purple Mewberty wings tingle.
"Nice shot, Andie," Glossaryck appeared from the Notebook of Spells. "I haven't seen anything like that since Solaria—just without the crazy."
"Thanks," she said. "I'm trying to test the limits of my abilities."
"Limits?" Glossaryck chuckled. "Magic has no limits. I mean, it does, but you're the future Queen of Mewni and a child of the Blood Moon. There is no limit for you."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. While you seem to have your daddy's Enchanter magic, you can do more than that. Your magic goes deeper than Fate itself."
"Oh."
"Yes, oh. In fact, the magic has an important destiny for you and Orion," Glossaryck said coolly as he floated around. "It's why the magic let Orion go through Mewberty."
"Wait, it wasn't my fault?" I knew it! Andromeda inwardly cheered. She knew the Blood Moon bond between her and Orion was nowhere near strong enough to force him through Mewberty.
Glossaryck laughed, "Of course it isn't your fault."
"Also, what's this about an 'important destiny?'"
He stopped floating around in lazy circles and replied earnestly, "I wish I could tell you. I know everything—how every little detail in the universe will work out in infinite lifetimes. I've seen your future, and it's something no other Butterfly queen has ever faced before. But I'm bound to secrecy about it. Plus, life's more fun when it's a mystery, am I right?"
"I guess." Although, Andromeda wanted to know about it now since her future was so special. What could she possibly do that was different from the other queens? Different than even her own mother—the Rebel Queen?
She was about to ask a question, but she sensed a sinister presence stalking along the sheltered path around the courtyard. Tap. Tap. Tap. A wooden cane struck each paver, followed by the slow shuffle of slippered feet. "Andromeda Butterfly!" A raspy voice yelled. "Where are you? What are you doing out here?"
It's Diaz-Butterfly, Andromeda curled her hands into fists, but politely replied, "Here I am, Etheria."
The older woman squinted in her direction and departed the path to meet her in the field. "There you are," she spoke too loudly. "I heard you went through Mewberty not too long ago."
"I did."
"You know what that means, right?"
"I do."
"You're about to be the next queen, and your mother allows you to roam around in the dirt?" Etheria flicked a clod with her cane. "Shame, shame, shame! She should be teaching your proper princess things."
"Mom is still a young queen," Andromeda said dryly.
"So? You still need to know how to run this vast kingdom. What if something happened, and you're the one sitting in the throne?"
That's not going to happen! Andromeda wished to yell. Her mother wasn't going anywhere for a long time, so why rush the "proper princess" crap? Why add that pressure now? She knew what the constant badgering did to Star when she was her age, and Mewni was lucky that she didn't run away and live on Earth with Marco. If I had the chance to never come back…the dark thought whispered in her head.
"Etheria! Uncle Heartrude wants a word with you about castle decorations for the Silver Bell Ball!" Star flagged Etheria down just before things got ugly between the royals. With a huff, the older woman hobbled away, leaving mother and daughter alone in the courtyard.
"One of these days, she'll be gone," the queen muttered under her breath.
Hopefully, soon, Andromeda agreed, though something bothered her still as she glanced at her mother. What if Great Aunt Etheria had a point? The other young royals shadowed their parents around already, but so far, Andromeda remained largely excluded from the queen's royal business outside of attending balls and quests.
Star furrowed her thin eyebrows, and the princess knew she was likely sensing her thoughts. "I mean, I can include you more," she admitted reluctantly.
"Then why don't you?" the princess asked firmly.
"But wouldn't you rather, I dunno, figure it out on your own? That's what I did."
"I'm not you, Mom!"
Andromeda regretted her sharpness when she saw her recoil in shock. Yet at the same time, she remained firm. Things were different back when Star was younger. She grew up in an age where the Butterfly queens wielded absolute power but with limited reach. Now, their kingdom spanned dimensions, the allied kingdoms were greater in number and in influence, and new complexity emerged from including the Monsters as equal citizens. None of the changes were bad, but the next queens had a tougher job than any of the others before them.
Star sighed, "Alright, I'll start training you. I just wanted you to enjoy your carefree teen years before dealing with the responsibility of running Mewni." Her voice trailed at the end, and Andromeda understood how her mother regretted having to grow up so quickly after Queen Moon's death. Would her mother have been happier without ruling Mewni…without having kids so young?
Andromeda shook her head to dispel her lingering unease and said, "I'll be fine, Mom. I can handle this."
"That's the spirit," the queen smiled. "I'm about to meet with Tom and Janna. You can come along if you want."
"Let's do it!"
Star opened a portal to the Underworld, and the royals emerged in Lucitor castle, miles beneath the sunny land above. In contrast to the brightness and splendor of the Butterfly throne room, the Lucitors ruled from a place that was dark and ominous. Stalactites hung from the domed ceiling high above like fangs poised to devour any soul brave enough to tread inside the castle. The floor was treacherous too—comprised of shifting tiles that floated with the lava under them. In some places, the molten rock burst from fissures in arching sprays and cooled into raining shards of glass. Despite the creepy atmosphere, the thrones always took Andromeda's breath away. The four massive chairs, carved out of pure obsidian, loomed like tall, black shadows, lit by the orange of lava and the red from the elaborate Rose Window behind them. The way the color dappled on the glossy stone reminded the princess of blood pooling on a sword's blade, swirling with a complexity of deathly, monochromatic hues. She could only imagine how powerful one must feel sitting in the dark heart of the Lucitor kingdom.
Suddenly, three red ovals opened in the gloom and glowed ominously. Star rolled her eyes, "Still being mysterious and broody, aren't we?"
"I'm not brooding. I'm thinking," Tom's voice rang clear despite being far away. He slid off and emerged in the half-light to be more presentable. The King of the Underworld was a strange sight with his purple skin, three eyes, and shaggy, pink hair, which he wore tied in an imperial bun. His red tail twitched as if unable to remain still for even a second. Once he saw Andromeda and Star, his harsh eyes softened, and he greeted them warmly.
"I'm glad you brought Andie here," Tom smiled. "I take it that this is her first royal meeting."
Star nodded, "Yep. I need to show her how things are done."
"Excellent. Now, if only I could get my son interested in royal duties…"
"I remember certain young prince who didn't care about politics either," she smirked.
Tom swished his tail, "And I remember a certain young princess who tried to kill a mermaid to avoid being queen."
"That was only one time!"
Andromeda watched them continue to banter about the old days and found it hard to imagine their romantic history. Everyone knew Star and Tom were as compatible as oil and fire. When they got along, as they did most of the time, the Butterfly and Lucitor kingdoms prospered, but there were occasions where passionate arguments got the better of the rules. They fought with the bitterness of a divorced couple, and only their spouses could calm them down before either one melted the universe. But there was nothing a few rounds of ale couldn't fix. The Butterflys and Lucitors always had a close bond, and none was closer than that between Star and Tom.
"Why look who's come to visit us in the Underworld?" One of the Lucitor lords stumbled into the room, cheeks rosy from the heat. His piercing cackle stabbed the air. "The fair Princess of Mewni is out with Her Majesty the Queen." He knelt and took Andromeda's hand. "It is certainly an honor."
"Er, thanks, my good sir," she curtsied politely though she erred in not addressing the lord by name. A real princess tried her best to get to know her lords, but Andromeda forgot his name. Was it Sir Bloodstone, Sir Brutus, or Sir Brimstone? Except for Tom, all of the Lucitors looked the same with their pale skin, red eyes, and curly, dark hair. It was a uniformity perfected by generations of close marriages between branches of the same royal family. The Butterflys never had that problem since the old queens often pursued many lovers. No one dared question the legitimacy of her heirs.
Nevertheless, the lord smiled and returned to his feet. "I can't believe you're already old enough to start your princess duties. Soon, you'll be ready to court a young prince."
Star and Tom rolled their eyes as the lord babbled on. "It's never too early to look around," he said. "Especially since we have a whole generation of young lads to choose from. If I may make a suggestion, Prince Lucitor wouldn't be a bad choice. He's quite handsome."
Andromeda pretended not to care, but a subtle blush rose on her cheeks—one she tried valiantly to hide.
"Do you really think so?" The princess's heart nearly stopped when Dante materialized out of thin air next to her. You cheeky oaf! She threw her blue hood over her head. The prince smirked and leaned against a stone pillar, "I appreciate the praise, noble kinsmen, but I'm not too much in a hurry to find a wife."
"And neither am I," said Tom with a huff of smoke. "Leave the kids alone, Sir Brimstone. We've got more important matters to discuss."
Sir Brimstone dipped his head, "Absolutely, Your Majesty. The troubles in the Borderlands only continue. I'll fetch the queen and the other lords."
Not too long later, Sir Brimstone returned with Janna, Persephone, and the other lords of the house, but there was little greeting when they arrived. The royals immediately gathered around the great mahogany table to start their discussion about the Borderlands. They spoke in low, intense voices, hardly loud enough for everyone to hear over lava swirling in eddies. Andromeda tried to catch the conversation but felt lost in how quickly it changed from fires to disappearances to Demoncisms. Hours bled into one another, and she grew bored with their passing. She assumed that a meeting with the Lucitors would more exciting. She imagined flames and talk of quests. Instead, she got politics. It put her to sleep. If I were queen, I'd just charge straight into the Borderlands and fight, she yawned.
Just as her eyes drifted shut, something smacked her forehead and jolted her awake. Ow, she rubbed her head and spied a crumpled wad of paper rocking back and forth. She opened it and scowled. It was blank. What was that for? She huffed. At least, she could occupy her mind by drawing pictures.
As she fished for a pen in her pocket, red words mysteriously appeared on the page: Wanna get outta here?
Holy shit! This paper's haunted! Andromeda panicked. She reached for her wand, but Persephone put a hand on her arm and gestured towards Dante at the far side of the table.
Oh, it's just you, Andromeda wrote in reply.
Of course, he responded. Just a simple writing spell Mom taught me. Now, do you wanna go out with me? He later scratched out the last part and substituted it with: Do you wanna hang out with me?
Was he actually asking her out or not? The thought made her spine tingle with anticipation. Dante never asked her to go on an adventure with him before. Alone. Usually, Orion tagged along since he was her shadow. Maybe—just maybe—something might happen between her and the Prince of the Underworld… Or I'm just reading into things, she dismissed the fantasies. There was no need to make this more than a simple, friendly hangout. Plus, it's not like it could happen anyways—at least, not right now.
Dante, seeming to sense her unease, wrote again: Would you rather stay in this lame meeting or have a little fun? Nothing important is happening anyways.
Whether she wanted to admit it or not, he had a point. The adults were talking about the Borderlands—a lame, sparsely-populated patch of soot between their kingdoms. There were always unfounded rumors about creepy stuff happening in the charred woods.
Alright, she agreed. But how are we getting out of here without being noticed? Instead of getting a reply, she felt a tap on the knee. She peeked under the table and spied Dante crawling on his hands and knees.
"How are you down here and at your seat?" she hissed, eyes darting between the two versions of the prince.
"Illusion Spell," he whispered. "Now, c'mon!"
She slipped under the table with him, and he left a perfect effigy behind to fool the adults. Anticipation prickled Andromeda's skin as she watched Dante create a portal for them. After you, he signaled proudly with his eyes, and the princess crawled out of the meeting and onto the warm sand. Oh wow! She burst with excitement, exploding to her feet. Lava Lake Beach. Though she hadn't been in ages, the dark shoreline was just how she remembered. Embers sizzled in the hot air, flecking the gray sky where diffuse sunlight from the Overworld trickled underneath Mewni. It cast weak, fuzzy shadows on the volleyball net, pier, and couples snuggling on colorful towels that dotted the landscape. They watched the lava tides roll in lazy waves and leave behind a trail of obsidian when it retreated back on itself.
"I can't believe you brought us here!" She kicked off her boots and skipped around, digging her toes in the sand.
She was suddenly a kid again during one of the Butterfly family Soulrise barbeques. She imagined Grandpa River and Abuelo engaging in a silly contest, and Abuela taking pictures. She could see Star and Janna getting wasted while Tom roasted sweet meat and marshmallows on the open fire. She could hear Aunt Kelly tease Marco about the old days, and her father groaning at the tales of his youth. Aunt Jackie and Aunt Chloe were out on the waves on lavaboards. Orion, Dante, and Darrion were daring each other to do something stupid. Persephone and Jupiter were busy nagging them to play while Marco Jr. was trying to hit on girls at the volleyball courts. Andromeda's memories flashed vividly in her head, and she laughed uproariously. She hadn't felt like this lively since before Mewberty!
"Do you need a moment with the sand?" Dante teased but amusement flashed clearly in his eyes.
"This was an amazing idea, Dante!" She smiled. "Forget that royal shit. We're just a couple of teens on the beach."
"Yes, we are," he wrapped an arm around her. "And you know what that means…?"
Her eyes widened, "Oh, I think I do, Lucitor…"
The prince snapped his fingers and balanced a volleyball in his palm. "Game on!" He cheered.
It wasn't a trip to Lava Lake Beach without a Butterfly-Lucitor beach volleyball game. She and Dante used to play for hours until Marco called them in to eat. Often, Tom and Star joined, and the games lasted even longer, pass the Darkening and into the dead of night. Neither side wanted to yield. Occasionally, the matches got too heated, and Marco carried Star away while she cursed Tom and his lineage for cheating on foul calls.
Dante and Andromeda raced to the closest net, kicking up a spray of sand as they ran across the shore. Once they arrived, they each picked a side to defend and stretched to warm up for the battle at hand. Andromeda shed her hoodie, revealing her Goblin Dawg shirt, which she wore over her jean skirt and leggings. It's time to get serious, her muscles ripple under her frame and dropped into a low stance. The prince served the ball over the net, which she deftly tapped to return it to the other side. He dove to prevent it from hitting the ground, but his efforts were in vain. The ball weakly hit the net and slumped back into the sand.
"Ha!" Andromeda gloated. "I've gotten stronger since the last time we played!"
"That doesn't count!" He huffed. "I let it fall."
"Sure…" she rolled her eyes.
"I'm stronger too!" He served again, but Andromeda knocked it passed him with a definitive strike. When he tried again, it was met with the same result again. And again. And again. As time wore on, Dante's ears turned dark purple and became tufted with flames. Every time the ball hit the sand, his frustration only made the flames grow brighter and taller. He looked even more like a demon.
"Can't take the heat, Lucitor?" Andromeda jeered. She watched his tail lash side to side like a whip.
He grumbled a curse in Demon in reply. Don't be such a crybaby, she shook her head at his antics. The pout on his lips was adorable.
"I'll serve this time," she lobbed the ball over.
Dante snarled and used his rage to hit the ball back with blinding speed. Andromeda rushed to meet it, but the ball changed directions at the last moment and hit the ground. What the fuck? She dusted the sand off her clothes and tried again. After a few failed attempts, she realized what was going on—the ball was enchanted. "Hey, using magic is cheating!" She hollered.
The demon prince laughed wickedly, "I'm Janna's son. I don't play clean."
And I'm Star's daughter, Andromeda waited for the ball to drift towards her and channeled magic to her fists. She smacked the ball with such force that it nailed a seagull high above before slamming a crater into the ground. Dante leapt out of the way, but he smiled wickedly at the challenge ahead. Neither would back down until they obtained victory. No matter the cost.
The battle dragged through the afternoon and late into dusk, long after the sun had vanished in the Overworld. There were many casualties: the ground was pockmarked with craters, poles were twisted and snapped, and beachgoers were scared far away. Andromeda panted heavily and wiped beads of sweat from her eyes. I think I did it, she finally sank to her knees, utterly spent. Her arms were blistering red, her legs had turned to mush, and her soul felt depleted of magic. Never before had she fought so hard, and the residual adrenaline still made her giddy. It spun her mind until she drowned in euphoria. She both wanted to run to the ends of Mewni and crash in her bed forever.
The dust cleared, revealing Dante face down in the sand. His outstretched arms were caked with sweat, but their last efforts saved him. The ball rested on his wrists, neither hitting the sand nor sailing in the air towards Andromeda. It was a tie. She hated them, but the game would have to stand there for today. "I'll get you next time, Andromeda!" Dante mumbled into the ground.
"I'll get you next time," she countered.
"Even if it takes forever," Dante continued after she helped him to his feet. "Even if it takes until the end of Mewni. Even if it takes until the end of our lineage!"
"Whatever, demon boy," she smiled at him. "C'mon, let's chill. We earned it."
They found a secluded spot further down the beach, past the families grilling dinner and the couples making out. Dante summoned a towel and spread it on the ground, and they watched the glowing tide in silence for a long time. Andromeda leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling it rise and fall with each breath. This was too much fun, she smiled at the scent rolling off him.
The usual male mustiness tasted more pronounced and aggressive. He smelled like a man—like a king emerging from a victorious battlefield. I wonder what he'll look like then, her mind wandered into a fantastic realm where the lanky prince transformed into a menacing ruler with longer hair, sweeping horns, and bulging muscles concealed under obsidian plate armor. Would he have scruffy facial hair like the other men of his House—halfway between a beard and nothing? Why am I thinking about this? She felt stupid. As stupid as one of those romance heroines in the books Aunt Higgs secretly read. Why was she thinking about this when he didn't do the same about her? The thought made her sad.
Then, she suddenly became aware of his eyes beholding her, blazing with heat that rivaled the lake. As soon as he noticed her watching, Dante pulled away and retreated to his own corner of the towel. He eventually drifted back, though he shied away from her contact.
Instead, he leaned back on the towel, taking in the fullness of the warmth, and broke the stubborn silence between them. "If I may ask," he said. "Why were you trying to eat me during Mewberty?"
"Eat you?" Andromeda burst out laughing. "I wasn't trying to eat you, Dante. Why would I do that?"
"Then what were you trying to do?"
Oh. Her cheeks stung as they turned scarlet, and she looked away in embarrassment. How could she say this politely? Her Mewberty form wanted to pin him down to the ground and…do all sorts of naughty, horrible things to him until he passed out. She couldn't just tell him that. She couldn't tell anyone that. I wonder how Rye managed to stay sane? She thought as she remembered the lust burning her blood.
"Andie?" Dante prodded her when she failed to respond.
"N-nothing," she stammered.
"You can tell me," he said.
"I really can't…"
"Aw, c'mon. We've been best friends since we were babies."
That's the problem, she almost blurted if she hadn't covered her mouth with her hands. She didn't want to be just best friends anymore. She wanted to hold his hand. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted to absorb the essence of his being in more private moments like this. She wanted a million more adventures with him across the cosmos. She liked him, and it scared her. Maybe I should just tell him, she glanced at the prince through the curtain of her auburn hair. What would go wrong if she did? Would the world stop turning? Would he grow mad and hate her? I doubt the latter, she knew him too well. Her mother always told her that good things only came to those who seized them out of the hands of Fate. Why not seize the moment?
"I…uh," she began slowly. "You see, I wanted to—" she paused to find the right word to use. Court sounded too formal and distant. Seduce was too direct and sensual. Flirt was too playful and innocent. "I think I like you," she rushed on one breath.
Dante frowned, "What did you say?"
"I like you, Dante," she confessed a little slower and louder. "I kinda have for a while, and, I dunno, Mewberty made those feelings stronger."
"Oh."
"Is that all you can say, Lucitor?" She glared at him.
"It's just well…I kinda like you too," he blushed. "I guess I never knew what to say because you're such a strong princess, and the thought of admitting my feelings to you always scared me."
She laughed, "I'm not that scary."
"You're the Crown Princess of Mewni—of course, you are," he joined her.
They continued in their laughing fit for a long time until the beach practically reverberated with their joy. Others walking by stared as the princess and prince rolled on the towel, holding their sides. So, this was what it felt like to be in love? A joy that burned so much it kinda hurt. Andromeda recognized it in her parents too through the silent jokes that led to their spontaneous laughter. She never thought she'd feel this way. Not so soon. But it was wonderful!
Finally, the air returned to their lungs, and they sat upright again as the last of the light disappeared. The crystal stars of the Underworld glittered like a million eyes above the soft glow of the lava lake. Dante's eyes burned deep red, reflecting the night and a mysterious red moon, and Andromeda found herself lost in them. Did we just confess to each other? The moment felt too surreal. It had to be a fever dream. It had to soon dissolve like snow. But it didn't. Reality stubbornly clung to this new timeline, and the princess knew their lives were different now. Different in many ways—some of which scared her. Now, what were they going to do?
"What's wrong?" Dante seemed to notice the change of mood.
Andromeda sighed, "I want this to work. I really do. But…you know what's at stake. I'm the princess, and you're the Crown Prince of the Underworld. If the others knew we were dating…" Her voice trailed away, and she knew he understood. They both knew the stormy romance of their parents, which partly failed because the Lucitors and Butterflys put so much hope in the two of them getting married.
Dante placed a hand on hers, and the contact sent a small shiver down her spine. "Hey, listen," he said softly, just above the crashing of waves against the sand. "We don't have to rush anything. Love is whatever and however we want it to be."
Did he just say love? Andromeda suddenly became aware of their faces drifting together as if caught in a gravitational field.
"You're right," she smiled. "We don't have to tell anyone."
"I'd prefer it that way."
"Me too."
Their lips met each other as the night deepened in the Underworld, and they both knew there was no turning back.
"Marco…"
"Yeah, Star?"
Star continued to kiss his neck, giving him a quick nip to the ear, which made him moan slightly. Truthfully, Marco didn't need to hear her answer. Her fingers combing through his hair, desperately tugging him closer while their lips meshed again, told him all he needed to know. It was time. She was ready for him, and like an obedient king, he didn't question her timing. And how could he when she straddled him and broadcasted her deepest desires through the bond? Her nightgown teasingly fluttered in the breeze.
He moved his hands to her hips, guiding her lower on his torso without even breaking the kiss for a second. "Your wish is my command," he murmured to her.
"I love you so much," she moaned into his lips.
"And I love you," he smiled.
In all honesty, love felt too weak of a word after years of saying it to one another. What he felt for Star transcended it—transcended a thousand universes and a thousand lifetimes. He adored her, worshiped her…could not possibly imagine existing where she did not. Their love defied Fate itself, but even if she intervened, Marco would stop at nothing to break her hold and find his beloved again. Over and over. Even if it took forever.
"And I'd do the same," she vowed. "You're mine forever. By the way, be gentle with me today."
"Of course." Although he loved it when she demanded him to give in to his deepest Wild Man instincts and sink into the primitive depravity that dictated the rawness of physical desire, he also loved showing his softer side.
He took hold of her, ready to perform his sacred act to her, when he heard a loud crash on the other side of the room.
"Greetings, Marco and Star! I—"
"Creepy Blast!" The queen hurled a spell at the newcomer and covered herself.
Marco immediately rolled from the bed and grabbed both his robe and his sword. Who dared enter his bedroom during his special time with Star? Sneaking a look at the queen was a capital offense. Before he could defend his wife, the Kingsguard rushed through the door and surrounded the intruder in a circle of swords. Jackie and Kelly sent each other a knowing glance when they noticed Star and Marco. Higgs shielded her eyes.
"You have five seconds to convince me not to kill you!" She barked.
The intruder slowly got up, and Marco found himself staring aghast into a pair of familiar shining, green eyes. Marco Jr. smiled, seemingly unphased by the situation.
"Star and Marco, I'm here to become a knight!"
Review Roundup
Starco4everr- Thanks!
robertkellett- I think Mewberty is an interesting concept. It elevates Star from just another magic-girl to a full-blown alien. The fandom has done a lot to flesh out what Mewberty does to a poor princess, so naturally, it's something I had to add. And yes, there are differences in how Star, Andromeda, and Orion reacted to Mewberty, and it shows their personalities.
For Star, I basically added a couple of things to what the canon showed us. Ever wonder if being around Marco a lot (whom she definitely had something for) might have triggered Mewberty to happen in the first place...?
Andromeda's experience shows you how different she is from the other queens. She displays Marco's calmness and ability to be reasoned with. Plus, she's scared. She's scared of what being queen might do to her (aka a hint to the future and a reference to Ch 1). Meanwhile, Orion loves (in the moment) his newfound power. He flaunts it to his girls. He's Star's wildness on full display. Now, we have to see the fallout of what happened.
viceversa96- This chapter was a blast to write. Might as well take Mewberty and really expand on it. Yeah, Orion had it the worst. I wanted a creepy yet humorous tone to the chapter because usually other fanfics just play up the sexual aspect of Mewberty. That's there too, no doubt, but I also liked the horror part of the experience.
Alfonso Sparda- Thanks! We'll see how things are different between the siblings because of Mewberty.
saturn- Thank you! I just love exploring this series! (Looks at the last time I updated Sign Redux) Lol, I will start working more on that as my other project Starco Vs. The Forces of Evil wraps up.
Aldal- I mean the show pulls no punches on what Mewberty is for lol. If you want my headcanon about Star and Oskar, it's because she knew he wasn't her true mate. That's my two cents. We're gonna see how this changes things for the twins. P.S. LOVE the art. Especially Orion in his royal suit!