Chapter 2

The streets are as they've always been, if not a little worse ever since Eclipsa took over. The position is debatable. Many oppose the fact that monsters are given the same rights as everyone else. Because of Eclipsa's favor towards monsters, many believe that they're actually given more freedom. Mewmans have been kicked out of their homes, allowing demi-mewmans and monsters alike to take ownership of what they've lost during the war between races. Despite new law, many, or most, still refuse to allow, even tolerate, the allowance of demons or other species into their everyday lifestyle activities. Some have come to accept the queen's position; yet, most hate her even more so because of what she's done with it. From what I've seen, there's even more prejudice between the races than there has ever been. Before, monsters and Mewmans separated themselves, allowing some form of peace to exist, but with the forced integration, I have never seen more havoc in the streets. That's saying a lot, given the medieval and cruel lifestyles that existed beforehand.

I have known Eclipsa long enough to know she's a good person. I just wish the people would put away their differences and see what I see. I guess that's asking too much of a world that's been at war far too long to change overnight.

I come across screaming and a crowd of ranting individuals. "What the hell." I make my way over when I see a stranger sitting on the sidelines. I notice the little hat and the horns and realize that I know her. "Hey, you." I sit beside her.

"Hey, Marco."

"What you doing? Are you off work?"

"I'm taking a short break from it. What are you doing?"

"You know, strolling." I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I'm sorry. I realize I've never asked for your name."

"Oh, it's, um, Elora. You can call me Lori if you'd like. Or nothing at all. That's fine, too."

"Why wouldn't I address you by name?"

"Most don't. It's usually 'hey, you,' or 'mail carrier lady.' I've gotten used to it."

I scoot a little closer to her, but not too much as to make her uncomfortable. "You know, Elora is a beautiful name."

"It really isn't."

"Don't say that. I think it is. So, why aren't you over there, joining in the fun? You know you want to."

"I tried."

"And?"

"They threw an egg at me."

"Hey!" A kid runs past us, joining in the festivities that they've got going on. "Did you see that pathetic creature over there, just sitting there?"

"Yeah. How embarrassing for her." One of them turns towards us and yells. "Hey, kid! Wanna join in? Have actual fun!"

Elora sits there, unfazed, as she's used to getting left out. "It's fine. I know you want to go over there."

"Not without you, I don't."

She looks at me for a second, then looks back at the ground. "You're just saying that. Really. it's fine. I understand."

"I'm not lying. I'd rather be here with you."

"Hey, kid in the red sweater. Are you listening?" One of the kids gets a little closer so that I could hear, but not too close as to be near 'the creature.'

"Oh, yeah. Loud and clear. I have to respectfully decline."

An egg splats over my sweater as I realize it's just what's left over from the egg initially thrown at Elora. The kids laugh. "Nice throw, man."

"I know. Did you see the looks on their faces?" Never have I wanted to pummel a kid so much.

"Hey, jerk! Apologize." I stand up, wiping the egg off my sweater, or at least, attempting to.

"It's fine, Marco. I'm used to this."

"One of the kids slowly walks towards me, stopping halfway. "Or what!"

"Yeah. What can you do!"

I feel my rage taking over, not for me, but for Elora's sake. "I can handle insults directed at me, but what has Elora ever done to you?"

"Elo-who?"

"E-Lor-A. Her." I point towards the little mail carrier sitting by.

The kids just laugh. "Are you really trying to defend that? That's hilarious."

I run over there without a second thought, lifting the boy my age up by his shirt. "You really don't want to get on my bad side."

He spits in my face. "Yeah? You can't do anything."

"Don't you, for a second, pretend you know what I'm capable of. Little man, I will fuck you up."

A man a little taller than the boy confronts me. He's a little built from the waist up. "Is there a problem here?... I will kindly ask you to let my brother go." I do just that. "If you don't get off my property, I will personally kick your ass."

"Sorry. I'm afraid I'll have to decline. All I want is for your brother to apologize for abusing that little girl over there."

He looks over to Elora. "That thing? Is that what this is about? Really? It's just a stupid monster."

"Apologize, or else. He egged her for no specific reason."

The man faces his brother. "Is this true, EJ? The younger brother nods in shame as the older one takes an egg. "Well, I guess there's no helping it." Right in front of me, he chucks the egg, as it hits Elora directly in the face.

"Big mistake."

He grabs me by the shirt and pushes me back. "You can't do anything. You're scrawny. A fucking twig."

"Maybe, but I'm far stronger than you think."

"We'll see." He positions himself in fighting stance, prepared for me to take the first punch.

"I get to choose the venue."

"I'm not going anywhere just to show you how weak you are."

"Don't worry. You don't have to trouble yourself." I take out my scissors, cutting a hole in between us. "All you have to do is step through."

"So you can just trap me there? No way."

"I'm a man of my word. Face me there, and the loser has to do whatever the victor orders."

"If you're so sure of yourself, then I'll just have to prove to you. Fine. Let's get this over with." He steps through the portal. I follow close behind, closing it behind me. "Okay punk." He turns around, as he finds himself staring at the built body of a warrior. "Who the fuck are you?"

I step towards him, as he steps back. "You know. Those kids are twice the size of Elora, which counts it as an unfair fight."

"No. You're telling me you're—"

"I only find it fair that you, the older brother, gets what's coming to him. To pick on someone who has no intension for conflict is completely despicable."

"Look, man. I'm sorry, okay. I apologize."

"What ever happened to that fighting spirit? You don't even realize. I'm not the one seeking an apology." I ready myself for combat. "I'll even help you out, by not fighting while carrying a weapon." I drop my sword, kicking it a little closer to him.

"What? You expect me to apologize to that? Absolutely not. It's beneath me… Fine. Okay."

"Sorry. Too late to back out. Now, fight me here and now, or I'll just have to return with blood splattered across my clothes. I won't even shed a tear when I tell your brother the breaking news that his brother didn't make it."

"Look, man."

"Pick it up!" He slowly wields the weapon, shaking as I confront him. I stand, completely still, waiting for him to make the first move. He slices forward as I catch the blade between my palms, thrusting it out of his grip. "Again!" I see the fear in his eyes. He bends down and retrieves the weapon, lost in a single move. His hands shake. He jumps at the opportunity to end this, but I push the blade aside, cracking him one in the ribs. He falls to his knees.

"Okay, okay. I'll apologize to her."

"Say her name."

"I'll apologize to… El-ora."

"Great." I notice him shaking uncontrollably. He's wet himself. "You know. That fear. It's most likely what Elora feels when she's confronted by those, twice, even triple her size. Which really pisses me off."

"You said—"

"We'll return. After you get what's coming to you. I doubt you'll change after one confrontation. People like you are never that easy to persuade." I grab him by the hair and slam his face into my knee, hearing a slight crack. I notice the gap between his teeth. "Did you seriously just swallow your tooth? That is hilarious." I pick him up by the throat and slam my head into his chin.

"Stop, stop!" He's knelt over on the ground, sobbing into his knees.

"I'm done… Come on. Straighten up. Where's your sense of dignity?" I tear a whole into the air, helping him through it. We're back on Mewni. He's on the ground with dried tears stained on his cheeks. He reaches for his face. "Yeah. Injuries sustained in that dimension usually disappear when you cross over. Death, on the other hand, is final. The pain, however, will take some time to relapse… Well?" He looks up at me as I look over to Elora.

Hesitantly, he walks over to her. "Look. I'm… sorry for what my brother and his friends have done. And I'm sorry for not being grown up enough to apologize sooner." I can hear the regret in his voice with every word he speaks. It's not regret out of what he has done. It's regret in having to speak such 'shameful' words. To stoop so low that he'd have to apologize to a lower life form, as he'd say. It's actually painful to listen to.

"Okay, okay. That's enough. If I ever find out that you haven't stopped torturing her, or even your brothers and their friends—" I lean in to speak into his ear, "I will kill you." I push him back, watching as he cowers back to his brother.

I hold out a hand to Elora. She blushes and takes it. "You didn't have to do that."

"Yes, I did. I'd do it all over again just to prove a point."

"But, how did you beat him? You were gone for a second."

"Heckapoo's dimension."

"Oh."

"There's a lot about me that you don't know."

A hand touches my shoulder as I back away in caution. "Whoa, there, muscles. It's just me."

"Heckapoo? What's so urgent that you need to confront me in such a public place?"

"Look. It's not easy to say this, okay, so I'm just going to have to come out with it. I need your help!"