The fact that things were almost perfectly normal after that day, made her uneasy. Her mother and father discovered the damage done in the garden and Halley lied and said her magic had gotten out of hand.

She probably should have told her parents but every time she thought of even mentioning it, the memory of her telling the kids back in the village to "always make up with your sibling" came to mind. Of course though, Halley had no intention of speaking to her brother. Whenever she passed him in the halls, a shiver would run down her spine. Not to mention she'd been getting the feeling that she was being watched.

She'd had dreams about that day. About all of it, including her vision. She killed her brother. She managed to send him flying into a wall with one punch. The princess would wake up in a cold sweat, hands flaming.

One night, though, she had a particularly terrifying dream of her not being able to seize control of her own body. She had to watch as she killed everyone in her path. She woke up with her hands set ablaze and flames streaming from her eyes.

"Glossyrick!" She called. The blue being came floating from the spell book.

"Oh, that again." He looked at her with concern, "Halley maybe you should talk to your father. I'm an expert in magic. Not this."

"Gloss, telling Dad is my last resort. I told him I could handle this. Come on, could you at least try and help me?"

Her mentor sighed and gave her a nod. He floated over to her and took a look at her hands.

"We could try water." He suggested.

Halley wasn't so sure that would work but it was worth a shot. She slid out of bed and headed to her bathroom. She reached for the handle on the sink and was surprised to see that it didn't melt. With cool water running into the sink, Halley stuck her hands under only to shrink back in pain. The flames went out but only temporarily. They bursted back before she knew it.

"Water's a no go." She walked out of the bathroom. "Maybe magic would work."

Glossyrick nodded in agreement, "Maybe so. Since you posses the ability along with your father's powers, it could possibly cancel it out."

She retrieved her wand and went over to the Book of Spells. Cautiously, Halley opened the book. When it didn't disintegrate, she thumbed through the book for some sort of spell that would work. She and Glossyrick found a spell that would draw all of her magic out and they figured that was all she needed for the time being. The princess began to read the spell and the wand started to glow a bright pink and at first, all that happened was her veins started to develop a shining pink hue. Her hair started to rise and she figured the spell was working. Sure enough the flames died out in her hands and the color of the room lost the green tint. She put her wand down and smiled at Glossyrick.

"I think we did it."

He still didn't look satisfied, "Yes but for how long? Halley, maybe—"

The shimmering pink on her arms was close to fading but it soon turned to a familiar green, getting brighter and brighter. Halley clenched her arms and slumped onto the floor, biting back a scream. Her arms shook with tension until they burst into flame. Her mentor was now a hazy green color and she could smell strands of her hair burning away.

"Princess are you alright?" Glossyrick was hovering over her.

The pain had gone down to a moderate aching, but it appeared that trying to fix this on her own devices wasn't going to help. She pushed herself off the floor and walked to the floor, her steps heavy. Halley told Glossyrick to stay there, she could handle it, when really she didn't want to see the tears welling in her eyes.

She walked down the hall, painfully aware that she was burning the rug with every step she took. Tears fell down her cheek but evaporated before they could hit the ground.

She was supposed to be able to handle this. She was trying to be better—to get better. She'd come so far only to be thrown back again by all this fear.

She reached her parents' room and stood in front of the door before turning on her heal and heading the other direction. There was no point in crying to her parents over something that was her fault. She wiped at her eyes, not caring that it burned her entire sleeve off. Halley came to a door and swung it open, melting most of the handle off. Inside, Phil shot up in his bed.

"Hal? What are you doing?" He squinted at her, "What, did you fall off a cliff?"

She ignored his comment on her haggard appearance and walked into his room, "Phil, I need your help."

"With what?" He heard the pain in her voice.

"I need you to stop this."

He scratched his hair, "What do you mean?"

"I..." She looked at the ground. "I can't control it."

"Halley, I can only neutralize magic. I don't know—"

"Phil, believe it or not you have Dad's genes too. If you can neutralize magic you can neutralize this. Please. Just try."

Her brother nodded and walked over to her. He grabbed both of her hands.

"That's weird..." He mumbled to himself.

"What?"

"It's warm. I can feel it." He looked at her. "It's burning you. How is that possible?"

It was strange. Her father and her brothers weren't supposed to be able to feel the fire she created. The pain trumped her curiosity, however, "I don't know, but can you hurry? This isn't exactly comfortable."

Phil gave her a firm nod and closed his eyes. Halley could see him struggling and for a moment she thought she was screwed.

"Okay. I think I've got it." Slowly silhouettes of red flames engulfed her own. They started to die out and it felt like someone was pulling a scorching blade from her arms.

"Phil," She bit out. "Hurry...up."

He opened his eyes, "Does it hurt?"

Her brother got his answer when she dug her nails into his skin.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm trying as fast as I can."

As fast as he could so happened to be three unbearable minutes that felt like hours. The flames gone— her power gone, Halley slumped against her brother. She could barely stand.

Phil careful leaned her against his bed and joined her on the floor.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine." She responded, eyes closed.

"What was that?"

"I don't know... it's been happening a lot but it never got that bad..."

"Do you know why you can't control it?"

She opened her eyes, "Dad said that my powers could get out of control if I didn't have a way to redirect some of it."

"Do you?"

"That's the thing," She insisted. "I tried to redirect some of the energy but I think it's what caused this. I saw this vision and...ever since then, I haven't been able to control it."

Her brother seemed to be thinking. He was studying her carefully. Phil finally spoke, "This is just a shot in the dark but could it be some sort of sign? You said it was a vision so maybe you're trying to warn...yourself? I'm not sure how that could work but maybe your body's defending itself, prematurely so it seems."

Halley really didn't want that to be true. The possibility of danger? She really didn't need this right now. The princess put her head in her hands.

"But really, are you okay?" Phil repeated.

"I think," she ran her hands over her face. "That I'm just stressed. Overexerting myself probably."

He put a hand on her shoulder, "You should take a break. I mean really. From training and everything. You've been at it everyday for weeks now. You're stronger, goal reached, right?"

"I don't think it was a strength thing... I sorta feel...obligated to do this. Like I have to."

"Halley you're sixteen years old. Get a life."

"Hey—"

"I mean it. Spend more time with Allison or something. Anything to take your mind off all this."

Halley rolled her eyes, "It's not that easy. If I lose too much focus, my powers could go haywire."

"Baby steps then," He shrugged. "Hal, you're way more responsible than you need to be. You won't let yourself get too distracted."

"I don't know..."

"Well I do know." Phil crossed his arms over his chest, "You're going to sign up for that competition they're doing."

She rolled her eyes, "The one that's supposed to 'unite monsters and Mewmans?' I don't think so."

"Halley the prize is a pair of dimensional scissors and I know you lost yours." He smirked.

"How did you—"

"I know everything, sis. You're signing up."

"Or else what?"

"Hal I've got a new power. I now can render you completely useless whenever I want." He shrugged, "Don't sign up. If you run off to train, which I know you'll do, I'll just drain you."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"James isn't the only one who can be ruthless." Halley knew it was just a joke but she couldn't bring herself to laugh.

...

The following week when school started back up, Halley went back as if nothing happened. As if a few loose strands of hair hadn't been burnt off. (She fixed it with a spell of course.) Halley wanted to maintain the illusion that she could handle everything when she knew she couldn't. Phil was probably right. She was worrying about this way too much.

"Hey Al...do you maybe wanna sign up for that competition they're holding? You know, the Mewmans and Monsters thing?"

Her friend started to choke on her lunch, "You're kidding, right?"

"No..."

Allison looked at her as if she had more horns than usual, "Halley are you crazy? Us, with Mewmans? The same ones, in fact, that make our lives a living hell?"

"I know I know," She relented. "I don't want to do it either. Phil's blackmailing me."

"Torture more like it! He wouldn't make you go through this if he looked like we did." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"It might be fun," Halley shrugged.

Allison rolled her eyes and took a bite of her apple. It wasn't really fair to ask Allison to endure that as well. Halley was the one who'd rule over Mewni some day. She alone was going to have to learn to get along with Mewmans.

"Okay I won't make you do it, but I'm asking you to consider. The winners get a pair of dimensional scissors."

Allison started at her, face completely neutral. Halley gave her her best puppy eyes.

"...fine. I'll consider. Don't get your hopes up Butterfly."

Halley grinned while her friend looked at her watch. "We've got 15 minutes. Wanna go?"

"We're not gonna make it, Allison."

"Yeah we will," She finished her apple and sling her bag over her shoulder. "Let's go."

Being monsters, they kept their heads down and went around the back way to get out of the cafeteria. Halley passed a table where the sign up sheets for the competition were held. She grabbed a few on her way out.

She and Allison ventured to the basement exit. Outside was dense forest and the two princesses walked along a dirt path. It led them to a clearing with sunlight streaming through in the most perfect way in Halley's opinion.

Allison threw her bag onto the grass and flopped back herself.

"Finally," She breathed. Her tan skin gradually turned into the green that tipped her fingers and hair. Shortly, she was nothing but a slimy green puddle. Halley paid no mind to her friend's routine. She kneeled in the grass and started inspecting the flowers that grew. There weren't many that ever grew but the few that did were very delicate. She raised her hand to the flower and lifted it out of the ground. She let it rest in her hand and she found it a spot in the sunlight.

Allison looked over at her and rolled her eyes, "Really Flower Girl? It's just a weed."

"Whatever," She retorted. "I've got a weak spot for foxgloves."

"You won't be saying that when they take over the forest and end up killing all your precious plants."

Halley waved her hand over the plant and it gradually started to straighten, "With all these trees growing around it'd be a miracle if this one even survives." Halley dusted her hands off, content with her work. She walked over to the boulder on the other side of the clearing but not before purposefully stepping on her friends arm— well, her goo.

"Hey!"

"It's just an arm." She commented mockingly.

Her friend mumbled under her breath and closed her eyes once more. Halley climbed up the boulder and sat on the top. It was a good four feet in the air so Halley tried to make an effort to not fall. She crossed her legs and rested her hands on her knees. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes.

Halley had made small attempts at trying meditation again. She was scared, yes, but what good would it be if she accidentally burned the castle down in her sleep? Halley's plan was to focus on one thing in particular. Her garden was today's subject. Something serene usually worked. It kept her calm and that seemed to be the solution. Her powers were more regulated and she hadn't had an incident since.

Halley pictured herself working on her garden. Every time she would go to inspect a flower there was always someone in the corner of her eye but she could never see them. She went to write something down in her notebook. They were there. She couldn't turn her head to see who it was. It wasn't like she minded though. Somehow she didn't mind. That is until she turned around. A blurry figure stood before her but she couldn't make it out. She squinted and tried to concentrate on clearing the image.

"Halley!" Halley's eyes shot open and she fell from where she was hovering above the rock towards the ground. She managed to catch herself about two inches above the ground and sighed in relief.

"What the hell, Allison?"

Her friend was up and fully solid looking at her with a pretty pissed expression.

"I've been calling your name for a whole minute! The bell rang, we're gonna be late!"

"What?!" Halley rushed over and grabbed her things. She and Allison ran out of the forest and back towards the school. At this rate they weren't going to make it.

"Grab onto my hand." She said to Allison. Her friend obeyed hesitantly and Halley barely gave her a moment's notice before blasting off as fast as she could. What normally would've taken them about 3 minutes running took Halley 10 seconds flying. Her friend seemed shaken to say the least.

"What the...Halley when were you going to tell me you could do that?"

She smiled nervously, "Surprise?"

They ran up the basement stairs and rushed down the hallway. Their classes were all the way on the other side of the end massive school. They ran up the stairs and down another hallway maneuvering around the loitering people. They were almost there with about 20 seconds to spare. The two turned a corner and would've been home free had Halley not run smack into somebody. She backed away, her nose sore. When she looked up, she forgot all about her nose.

"...Tucker?"

"Halley?"

She stood there looking at him slack jawed. He stood there in all his mystic glory, "What? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I...I...No, I..." She stammered. "I just didn't expect to see you. Here. What are you doing here?" She nervously adjusted her bag on her shoulder.

"I go here now. Figured I'd get a decent education." He shrugged.

The bell rang but Halley didn't move. She just stood there staring.

No no no no no... This can't be happening. Halley thought.

"Hello?" Tucker waved a hand in front of your face. "Are you there, squirt?"

That name drove a knife into her heart. She blinked, "I'm fine. You just surprised me... I didn't think I'd see you again."

"Consider yourself lucky then," He winked, twisting the knife.

"I uh..." She still couldn't seem to find the words. "I gotta go to class..."

"Sure thing. I'll see you around?"

It was a question. It was a damn question... He knew what he did to her when he was like that. She knew what he did to her when he was like that.

Yet her answer came out automatically, "Yeah."

Tucker turned the corner, leaving Halley standing there in shock. She hadn't noticed that Allison was standing just ahead of her, watching the whole exchange.

"Who was that?" Allison finally asked.

Halley snapped out of her trance and began walking stiffly down the hall.

"An old friend..." She mumbled.

"He seemed like more than just an old friend," Allison nudged her playfully. Halley didn't respond, keeping her eyes ahead.

"Well whoever he was, he was pretty cute. Is he a monster? I couldn't tell from behind."

"What? No. He's not."

Allison's eyes widened and Halley expected a scolding from her friend. Instead she grabbed her hand and started jumping up and down and squealing.

"What's going on?" Halley asked her.

Allison's eyes were shining when she came to a stop, "He likes you! I can tell!"

"What!?" Halley couldn't help her cheeks from glowing.

"See!? You like him too!"

"No I don't!" She objected, although they grew brighter.

"Halley my dear, call it best friend's intuition," She put a hand on her shoulder. "Whoever Mister Mystery is, I could tell in just a few seconds that he liked you."

"Allison he doesn't like me and I don't like him. We met once." She insisted.

That only made her eyes wider and her smile bigger, "It's true love! You guys are star crossed lovers! A monster, a Mewman, a forbidden love!"

"You're crazy." Halley stalked of towards class. Allison was a sucker for anything pertaining to a romance, as uncharacteristic as it was for her.

"Hal, come on. I was only kidding."

Halley rolled her eyes and continued her route.

"Hey look!" Halley's hand was on the doorknob to her classroom when Allison pulled out the sign up sheets from her bag. "If you really don't like him, it's no problem that he's on our team right?"

"He probably already has one," She stammered.

"Or he doesn't. If he doesn't we'll ask him to be on our team. He doesn't seem to have a problem with us." She shook her head, "If only all the others could be that open minded."

"Fine..." She groaned. Allison gave Halley a thumbs up before parting ways with her. Halley opened the door and snuck in as quickly as she could. Study Hall was this period so her being late wasn't so much of a problem. She made her way to the table in the back as usual and flopped her head into her arms. When she closed her eyes, she knew who was in her vision. The face she couldn't see. It was Tucker.

Fucking great.

...

After school, Allison dragged her all around campus looking for Tucker. To Halley's dismay, they found him. He was standing by a tree surrounded by a handful of girls.

"Allison do I have to?"

"If I'm doing this stupid competition with you, he has to be on our team."

Allison pushed her all the way over to his spot. They parked right outside the group of giggling girls and waited for an opening. Halley kept her head down, trying not to draw more attention than necessary. She'd simply wait until they left.

Apparently that wasn't Tucker's plan.

"Halley!" Her head shot up and she was met with the stares of all Tucker's admirers.

"Ugh what does she want?" Her eyes darted over to the voice and she saw none other than Celine, her childhood tormentor.

Don't you have a boyfriend? Halley questioned in her mind. Of course she did. It was her deranged brother.

What the hell was she doing flirting with Tucker?

The boy in question was walking towards her, and the girls parted as he went by. He looked down and smiled at her, "Hey."

"I wanted to ask you something." She muttered.

"Okay sure."

"Alone."

He turned back towards the girls and nodded to them, "If you'd excuse me."

They walked a good distance away with Allison in tow. When they reached a spot that was out of earshot with anyone Halley stopped.

"I was...oh," Allison elbowed her. "This is Allison. Allison this is Tucker."

Allison held out a hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Tucker shook it, "The pleasure's all mine."

Halley stole a glance at the group of girls that were watching them intensely. She exhaled deeply, "I wanted to ask if you'd be apart of this team for a competition. It's a Mewmans and monsters team building thing and uh we need Mewmans."

"What's the prize?"

"Dimensional scissors."

Tucker snorted, "I see the prize is definitely worth your wild."

Allison looked at her with a puzzled expression. Halley cleared her throat, "Do you wanna be in it or not?"

"Yeah sure, squirt."

She shoved the application into his chest and quickly walked off. She swore he did this on purpose. She ever so casually rubbed at her cheeks to try and stop the blood rushing to them.

"That went well," Allison said breathlessly behind her. Halley guessed she was walking pretty fast.

"Hal? Where are we going?" She was heading towards the most barren part of school.

"Halley? Are you okay?"

She could feel the tears pricking her eyes. Why'd he have to come back into her life? No distractions. She was doing so well with that and he just showed up. Now she'd be focusing on girls falling head over heels for him and how she could never...

She wiped at her eyes.

"Halley—"

She took off towards the castle before Allison could get another word in.

No, it just wasn't fair. Given who she was, things probably couldn't ever be fair.