Notes:
allen Vth - Excellent suggestions! Thank you very much :)
imhere4svtfoe - I wanted the king to always be like this for this story - I don't hate River's character in the cartoon, but I just wanted it to be a breath of fresh air to read in this. Moon is Star's 'friend', she hasn't always been and she has a long way to go before truly reconnecting but it'll hopefully work out. Ophelia could indeed name her husband at any point and let it be over. But I don't think that's in her character, she'll want the maximum amount of time to mess around with people and manipulate everyone - it's a game to her. Everyday updates! I'm actually ahead of that right now, I uploaded 2 in one day twice I think :P
Hope you enjoy this chapter - I'm needing to think a lot more about where I want the story to go so it's been a little slower at the updates but I'm still making 1 a day.
Nurse's Office
White beds were strung across a long, rectangular room. The atmosphere was hard to describe, it felt clean, fresh, sterile – it felt 'medical' if that makes any sense. A few cupboards were scattered along the upper parts of the room that held things such as: Thermometers, stethoscopes, bandages etc.
On one of these beds, laid a small blonde ball of fluff, the fluff's name was Star. A girl who had been pushed too far and now reaped the consequences, her mother was sitting on a chair next to her, holding Star's left hand in both of her own. The Queen kept composure as any monarch should, not tears were shed but concern was radiating from her body. The small, petite girl had been like this for 30 minutes almost, the bandage on her right arm had become bathed in blood twice, Nurse Annie had replaced her bandage a third time a few minute ago. The blood was much less prominent in the time that it had been on compared to the first few minutes of the first bandage being applied.
It took a while, but Star eventually drifted back into consciousness. A few mumbles were all she managed at first, but given a little more time she eventually forced her eyes to flutter open. The first thing that the little Butterfly saw when her mind was transported back to reality was her mother's face. Looking down on her, a gentle smile fell upon the Queen's face. "Mom?" She choked out, her voice still a little hoarse. The teen tried to prop herself to a sat-up position, only to fall back down like a rag doll.
"You shouldn't move just yet." The Queen said softly. "You lost a lot of blood…" Moon had looked down into her own lap now, unable to make eye contact with her daughter. Aforementioned daughter replicated this movement. It took a whole 2 minutes to dispel the awkward cloud which had formed in the room, neither one wanting to be the first to come forward. However, after Moon cleared her throat she apologised, "I'd like to give my apologies… Star. For being a terrible mother to you." The Queen still hadn't looked at Star in the eyes, she held her head up though now, staring off into the distance as if reading from a teleprompt.
"Was I… A disappointment?" Her mother couldn't believe it. Queen Moon wanted to distance herself as far from Star as possible so that it wouldn't hurt as much, yet she forgot to stop for a minute and think of how that'd make Star view herself. Most of her maturing years she had spent with neglect and being reminded every day that her and River didn't care for her or want her. A large pocket of air made Moon unable to respond to the question for some time, stuck in shock.
"No… You weren't a disappointment, it was my inability to save you from River's concerns that led to your imprisonment… Like I said, I was the terrible mother for sentencing you without trying to help you." Moon had taken a hold of Star's hand once more, in need of some comfort as her hands were trembling.
Star could feel her mother's pain and felt confused, for as long as she could remember her mother had been comparing her to Ophelia. The little Butterfly wasn't used to this kind of emotion shown towards her, everyone else always felt so far away and out-of-reach. But it seemed to be that when Marco showed up, all of that vanished, he made her mother – who hadn't spoken to her like this in more than half a decade – apologise to her. Ophelia who was always a bitch – and still is, now has a second opponent, not just Star. It made her realise that when he came into her life, it all changed.
Thanks Marco
Garden
Matt had a servant bring him a towel to dry his hair, not wanting to catch a cold. Whilst waiting and afterwards, all they talked about was how to best make Ophelia pay. It could've been anything: Blackmail, Mind Games, Framing… It all boiled down to what they'd have the highest chance at success with. Had they attempted to blackmail her, it was obvious that even getting any dirt on her would've been a ginormous task even in of itself. Mind games would've been fun an' all, get her back with her own tactic – but could they really pull it off? She clearly had a lot of experience when it came to manipulation and scheming, they doubted that either one of them could pull it off. Framing her seemed like a logical conclusion, but even so, framing a princess? One misstep, one wrong head overhearing them, and they'd be executed. Or worse.
"This is a little harder than we thought, eh?" Matthew asked, grinding the towel into his hair, making it become slightly spiky during the process. "Think we could use Star?" Marco gave him a questioning look before sternly replying.
"No. Absolutely not, I can't drag her into a revenge plot." His face was adamant about it, but Matthew didn't want to give in to it.
"We could try and win over the people with her, she's the rightful heiress, they'd fight for her. If she could win us both over in 20 minutes, I'll bet she could do the same to the kingdom."
Marco pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath, "It's too risky, getting revenge on one girl is one thing… But you're talking of overthrowing the entire monarchy. Undermining all that had been set up."
"Maybe it's time for change!" Matt cried, "Look around you! All this, it isn't real, it's make belief. Us! We're forced to come to the capital and marry a princess none of us even know well. That's not right, while people are dying of starvation out there, we in here are eating like kings. I've always dreamt of changing this world for the better, with you, Alfonzo and Star we can win, not in strength but other ways."
"What you're saying, is that four 16-year olds are going to tear down a country and rebuild it, Correct?" Matt looked around for a moment, moving his tongue around his mouth before starting again.
"Yeah. It sounds insane when you see it like that but when you think –"
"No. We aren't here to overthrow a country. Besides, Star would never agree to something so-"
"Let her decide then." Marco had realised when he said the last clause of his sentence that Matt would likely pick up on it and challenge him to let Star decide what she wants to do. And now his hands were tied, if he denied Matthew then he'd be announcing that he hadn't any faith in Star. Had he accepted then it could honestly go either way, with what mental state Star's in now she could very well want to end this kingdom.
Mr Diaz conceded, "Fine."
Nurse's Office
"The bleeding has seemed to have stopped now. Try not to strain your arm too much over the next two weeks or it may reopen. Keep coming to see me everyday to change your bandage too, it'd be bad if that thing developed an infection." Star's body was more or less back to normal, she could sit upright and most of her strength had returned. Her mother was still sitting by her side.
"Thank you, Annabelle." Queen Moon said, the Nurse humbly bowed her head before returning to crushing up some herbs in a mortar & pestle. On timing once again, a servant peaked in through the door, addressing Moon.
"Your majesty, King River has requested you in his study." At the mention of this request, Star had noticed shock pass through her mother's face, she took a moment to respond but understood and left immediately. 'Wonder what that was about…' When Moon left, Star climbed out of the bed and started to leave, she was about to pass by the Hall's entrance when she heard steps coming from the entrance to the garden. Turning around, she was greeted by Marco & Matt who looked up.
"Star!" Marco cried with glee, "You're alright!" He went in for a hug, she hadn't been hugged in a long time and didn't really accept it – she just sort of let it happen. He backed off after a few seconds, realising the uncomfortableness of the hug.
"Hi Matt." Star said, now taking note of his presence.
"Hello Princess." He replied, "If you don't mind… I'd like to cut straight to business, is there any place we can speak private?"
Marco's Room
"Why my room?" Marco complained, laying on his bed.
"Stop whining." Ordered Star as she took up refuge on a small chair in the corner. Matt remained standing. "So, what is it you want to talk about?" Matt and Marco looked at each other for a moment.
"Matt, wants to start a coup." Marco said bluntly, Star raised a questioning eyebrow to Matt who was currently leaned against the wall. He just nodded in reply.
"No, why would I want that?" Star replied.
"That's what I said…" Marco casually responded. They both looked towards Matt who pushed himself from the wall and raised his hands in defence.
"Alright, alright! No coup, that's fine. We'll stick to revenge on Ophelia for now." That was a plan that everyone could get behind, but their first step was to set in on what they wanted to do. Marco and Matt explained the three options they resulted to, and asked if Star had any ideas on more options.
She hmmm'd for a minute before speaking, "I don't have any other ideas, but if it's blackmail you want. I know something." Both raised up at this, Marco positioned himself upright and Matt snapped his head towards Star. "I think I'm the only one that knows this so far, but Ophelia has been spending time with a boy from the local town called 'Markus'. I don't know his last name, one of my associates said that they have been very… intimate. To say the least." Marco began to nod his head before noticing something about what she just said.
"You have associates?!" He cried, to which she looked at him and one of Ophelia's infamous smiles smirked its way onto her face.
"A princess has her secrets."
That was when Matthew interjected, "So if we want to use this. To really damage her, what would we have to do?"
"Well… I suppose a confession from him would be good, from what I hear he's a bit of a bad boy. The kind that may just go bragging about sleeping with a princess. But you'd have to get him to talk somehow."
"I know how." Marco pinned on at the end.
"And… I suppose that'd mean that we'd have to go to the town ourselves, but… I doubt we could get past Ophelia and my father missing us for a few hours." It had a dilemma alright. But Matthew stepped up to take one for the team.
"I can keep Ophelia occupied for a few hours." Marco, having spent the most 'intimate' time with Ophelia out of all three of them thanked Matt gratefully and apologised for what he'd probably endure when trying to keep her under control.
"My mother can probably keep my father busy while we execute the plan." Star added, it made sense for a wife to be able to keep her husband's attention for at least a few hours while they made their errand. But it slightly worried Star as she knew how her father could be if he didn't get his way – and the look that Moon wore when she left was one that Star recognised all too well. It was the same one that she'd wear if called upon by her dad.
It seemed as if the three had a plan of action, it was rough. It was unlikely to work, and if it didn't it'd most likely result in Star's permanent abuse for life and the arrest/hanging of the other two for conspiracy against the in-line princess. Marco looked at his watch, 5PM?! Where did the time go? "Hey Matt, we need to get going – dinner just started." Matthew looked at the watch he was wearing, he didn't receive one in his room – instead he was just using his father's old watch. It had a brown strap and a steel case surrounding the inner workings.
"Oh crap, we need to get going!" The two darted up and opened the door in a mad fury.
"See ya later Star!" Marco shouted back before the two ran like lightning towards the curling staircase.
Dining Hall
5:03PM.
Luckily the two had made it just as the rest of the candidates were walking in, apparently, they received a small speech out front before walking in. But the two schemers missed it. Al saw them rush in and slowly inched his way through the small crowd to them. "Where were you guys?" He asked, eyes still looking forward.
"We had, uh—a meeting about… Horses." Marco blurted out the first thing that he could think of when it came to royal duties. Alfonzo broke his line of sight for a moment to turn to Marco with a non-believing look. It didn't last too long though because every Chosen stopped in their tracks like last time. Unlike last time, Marco hadn't accidentally walked into anyone: He was learning.
The meal this time was a lot more modest than the banquet they had yesterday. A simple three-course meal containing of a Starter, Main and Dessert. The trio of friends ate the food like regular high-class men, but imagine them then speeding up by 2.5x. Technically speaking there wasn't anything wrong with the way in which they ate, but it was strange to see them eat so quickly.
Once they had finished, they began to silently chat – they hadn't wanted to include Al in on the plan. It was very need-to-know and they had all the necessary personnel to complete it. If he knew it'd only allow him to be accused of treason. "Hey Marco, River isn't up there." Matt lightly nodded his head towards the main seating, once Marco glanced up he noticed that indeed River wasn't present in the hall. Yet, he also spotted a slight blue tinge on Moon's cheek, one that could be mistaken as some soft light just hitting her in a strange way. The teen knew better though, if Moon was called to River, now Moon has a 'bruise' on her cheek, and he isn't present at dinner. He added the pieces together and realised that he had to go check on her, he stood up and presented himself to the royalties. "Excuse me your greatness's, I'm afraid I need to freshen up." He greatly emphasised the 'freshen', hoping that the Queen would understand: She did.
"You may leave." The Queen accepted his request.
Star's Room
The door unclicked, Star was chilling on her bed by now. "Hey, I was thinking about the-" That was when she realised who was standing in the doorway. A gruff, blonde old man. A face that could burn its way onto steel laid before her – eyes that shared no sympathy or care, only rage penetrated into Star's mind.
"What do you think you're doing?" He spoke with no venom, not spite – but with a voice that could get a lion to cower in fear. It was direct, protruding, it oozed both confidence and authority.
"I was-"
"You were staying in your room and doing nothing, right?" Despite the questions that he used, there wasn't an answer you could give which would satisfy him, once he stared into your eyes he could sum you up in a word or less. 'Pathetic'. The man was a beast incarnate, you could tell why he chose Ophelia to be his successor, she hadn't the same aura around her yet – but given a chance. That girl could easily ascend to the level at which this mountain stood. "Next time, I see – or hear a peep from you or your activities. I will be back here, standing in this doorway; I won't just stop at the doorway, I will come right up to you, stare at you. And then break you." A moment passed by, uneasiness couldn't describe the atmosphere, nor could cold. There wasn't an atmosphere, whatever this man was he wasn't human. Forget dispelling an awkward cloud, this man sucked whatever emotion didn't fall in line with his own from the air. "Understood?"
"Y-yes si-sir." She looked at his feet. He left, closing the door with a quiet click and then descended into a symphony of *thumps* until he gradually faded out.
Notes:
I forgot to check for spellings :P Oops, I'm only human alright, and I can't because I'm too lazy tonight :P And I wanted to get it out for you ASAP.
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