It happened in a blur, but later, looking back, it seemed like the moment dragged on for forever. There was so much she could've done...

...

Her mother, father, brother, and herself were sitting in the throne room. They weren't doing much of anything. It had been cloudy all day so the weather very much reflected on everyone's mood. Halley couldn't remember exactly what she had been doing at the time. Reading? Practicing some spells? Maybe she was texting Allison. She'd never know.

At around 7 o'clock that evening, the ground began to shake. They all looked up, wondering if they had imagined it. Sure enough, the rumbling became clearer and more frequent. Before they could react, hurried footsteps came from down the hall.

Marco came in, breathless, "Star, Tom. There's a...situation."

Her parents exchanged a look and got up to follow Marco. Phil and Halley followed not too far behind.

The General led them to the front of the castle. The huge door had been opened all the way, the only other occasions they were open like this were when balls were held for the public. Halley remembered seeing the clouds stretching on endlessly. They were so dark that the moon could barely be seen. There had been a rumble of thunder. The bottoms looked like they would fall out from under them soon.

When the Butterflys crossed the bridge and followed Marco to where he stopped at the edge of the stairs, the royal family were stunned into silence.

A sea of soldiers in black armor spread out in front of the castle. They stood in ominous silence as the monarchs looked over them.

Then it got worse.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Her mother finally spoke up.

One soldier in the front lines stepped up and removed his helmet. Halley heard Marco gasp, "Gallyson? What the hell is this?"

Gallyson paid the general no mind. He ascended the stairs about halfway and addressed the Queen.

"We, the Order of Iron, have been dealt an injustice as your subjects. You Star Butterfly, have tainted the Mewnian throne. Not only have you been integrating monsters into our kingdom and our children have been forced to coexist with the likes of scum, but you have also married a monster made one Mewni's soon-to-be queen. We will not stand for it any longer. We renounce your claim to the throne."

"Have you lost your mind?" Tom spat. "That is your Queen. You have no right to speak to her that way and I will ask you to leave."

"We renounce all of you," Gallyson repeated giving Halley and Tom a venomous glare. "From the throne."

"And if we refuse?" Star asked icily. Her eyes were narrowed and she looked ready for the answer.

"Then we fight." Gallyson responded.

Star clenched her fists and her magical yellow aura enveloped her hands. Tom stepped up beside her, ready to take on the army. Marco had unsheathed his sword and Halley noticed that Phil stepped in front of her, still very protective of his sister.

Gallyson nodded and returned to his ranks.

"Make way for the Iron King!" He called. The army parted, and Halley saw the fight practically melt from her parents' features.

Star's magic faded and Halley could see her trembling.

"James?"

"You will renounce your throne, Mother." Star didn't even seem to hear him, "James, honey, where have you been—"

"You will renounce your throne." Star flinched back. "Or I will have no choice but to take it." He said stoically.

"James..." Tom said softly. "You'd never do that. You don't mean that."

James glared at him with a hateful expression that had taken him aback.

"Give it up." Was James' only response.

"James enough." Marco descended the stairs and met the young Butterfly. "I don't know what you think you're doing but—"

James lashed out on him, catching Marco off guard. The general fell back but was quick to try and get up. He was stopped by a sword at his throat, held by Gallyson.

"Come now, Star," A familiar voice started. "Give the boy the throne." Aunt Etheria came to stand beside her nephew.

"This...this is all your fault." Star yelled angrily after a moment. "James would never want this."

"Actually, this whole thing was orchestrated by him." Etheria commented pointedly.

"What?" Star gasped. Her blue eyes shot over to her son, "Jamie...Tell me this isn't true." She walked slowly down the stairs. "T-Tell me you wouldn't do this to me. To your father, your sister—"

James replied coldly, "I think you know the answer to that. This is my last time asking, Mother. Hand over the throne and the wand."

"Son, don't do this." Tom stepped toward them.

Halley would remember what happened next for the rest of her life.

James clenched his eyes shut (A movement of hesitation? Halley wondered later.) and as their father moved towards the army, James raised his hand and aimed at their father. No one was able to react before a powerful dark purple ray shot out of his palm.

From behind, the King seemed fine when it was over; he was completely still. It was when he fell over to reveal pitch black eyes that Halley realized she was screaming.

Their mother stood, eyes wide, tears collecting, staring down at her husband.

"Y-you... What have you..." She whipped around to face her son. "What did you do?"

"What I had to." James clamped a hand down on her wrist and dark magic began to creep up her arm. "Take the castle!"

Halley barley noticed Phil pulling her along as they retreated back into the castle. As they ran, a wave of magic pushed past them and worked its way into the castle. Once inside, Halley quickly put up a barrier to stop the army.

She was shaking uncontrollably. Her mind was still trying to process what had just happened— what was happening.

"Halley!" Phil called. "We have to go. Now!" She nodded automatically and ran with her brother. It was when the windows disappeared did she realize that James had masked the castle in darkness. Nonetheless, Phil was able to lead them to the throne room where he shut the door. The thudding of the army trying to get through the barrier could be heard as Halley tried to sort through the events.

"How long will that barrier last?" Phil asked quickly.

"I-I don't know. Phil, what about Mom? Is Dad—"

"Halley not now." Phil told her. "James is coming for the wand."

"I don't give a damn about the wand! What about Mom and Dad!?"

"I...I don't know..." He replied. He may have been taking charge in the situation but she could tell he was just as scared as she was. "We...we need to get you out of here."

"What?"

"Did you hear them back there? James has this vendetta against monsters... I don't know what he'll do to you, Halley. You're not safe here."

Tears were pricking her eyes, "Phil, what are we going to do?"

He was silent for a few moments before slowly speaking up, "Do you have the wand?"

"Yes."

"Okay," he sighed. "Give it to me."

"What?"

"Give it to me."

"Phil, I—"

"Halley we don't have much time. Do you trust me?"

She nodded and handed him the wand. The room was illuminated as her wand changed into a blue violin. Phil put the instrument on his shoulder and began to tune it up.

"What do you think, Hal?" He asked almost good naturedly, as if there wasn't a deadly army trying to break their way inside their home. "Ave Maria or something from the Four Seasons?"

"What?" Halley asked in confusion. "What for?"

All of a sudden, they could hear the sound of marching within the castle. They had broken the barrier.

"Halley, go out of here and to the west wing. If you can, escape."

It dawned on Halley what he meant and he shook her head firmly, "No."

"Halley—"

"No! I'm not leaving without you. We're going to find Mom and Dad and then—"

"And then what? James will kill us. You have to understand that." He said grimly.

"Phil please," Tears were flowing now. "Please don't."

"If— no— when you get out, you have to stop him, alright? Lay low for a while, okay? Be smart."

"Search the whole damn place!" A gruff voice yelled.

Halley squeaked and looked toward Phil, hoping he'd change his mind.

"I'll distract them. Go."

She couldn't help sobbing. This was going to be the last time she'd see her brother.

"Hey," He hugged her quickly. "It'll be alright, sis."

Halley nodded hesitantly, taking in the obvious lie and running towards the west corridor. She turned and pulled a painting off the wall and crawled through one of the secret passageways. Before she closed the hidden door, she heard a quiet melody. This was an older one. She couldn't place a name with the piece but she remembered this being on of her favorites, despite the saddening tune. With a muddled sob she closed the door. She couldn't help wondering as she raced up the stairs, What was that song? With a firm shake of her head, Halley ran on and tried to block out the sound of Phil's sacrifice and strange men ransacking her home in search of her and her brother.

At the top of the stairs was another door that let out into the west corridor. With a quick look outside the large window, she realized in horror that the castle was completely surrounded. There was a purple shimmer in the corner of her eye and she saw that a forcefield had been put around the entire castle.

Halley slowly backed away. She was trapped. James was going to—

"Up the stairs! There are hidden passages, find them and block them! They are not to escape!"

Halley gasped and ran down the halls. She had some sense of hope seeing as she could still hear Phil's song. He was buying her time, and she couldn't waste a second.

Halley found her bedroom and locked the door. She ran over to her bed and pulled out the Book of Spells.

"Gloss!" She whispered urgently. "Glossyrick! You have to come out. James has come back and he..." Halley paused. The music had come to an abrupt stop.

"No..." She covered her mouth with her hand. "Phil no..."

"Gloss, please come out." The Book was still. She knew perfectly well that once closed, it could only be opened by the owner of the wand. Lava dropped onto the ground as she tried to pry the book open to no avail.

Halley knew she was supposed to be quiet but with no hope left, she openly cried out. She cried for her father, for her mother, for Phil...

Phil...

He had told her that she was the only hope they had. She had to be the one to escape. Halley rubbed her tears away and got up. She went over to her terrace and looked out into the darkness. The forcefield glimmered about a mile out. Halley wondered how she was going to break the field. James was much stronger now. Her efforts at magic would pale in comparison to her brother, but, she remembered, there was another way.

"She" was strong. Halley wasn't sure if she'd be able to control "her" once the princess let "her" out. "She" wouldn't just go and break the barrier. "She" would have to go down and face the army. Halley knew that "she" was highly capable of combat, but there was no telling what they'd do to her family if "she" attacked.

Footsteps could be heard not too far from her room. She had to think fast. Closing her eyes, Halley set to unleash the monster.

Hands were on her. She opened her eyes in alarm and almost screamed had there not been a hand over her mouth preventing her from doing so.

She raised a flaming fist to meet her assailant, but they quickly spoke up.

"Halley it's me!" She whipped around to face Tucker who was covered in leaves and mud. She was too shaken to say anything about it.

"Hal, we have to go. Now. We don't have much time."

Her confusion at this point was limitless, "I... How did you know—"

"There's no time!"

"Hey!" A loud voice shouted from outside. "I hear voices in here!"

She and Tucker's eyes met quickly and she gave him a firm nod. "Lets go."

He held onto her and she used her flames to lower them to the ground. Once at the base of the castle, Tucker flung her into some bushes.

"There are soldiers everywhere," he whispered.

He waited for footsteps to pass them before speaking again, "Can you make us invisible?"

She nodded as started the incantation but her hands weren't glowing. Halley tried again and realized James must have learned to indirectly sap her magic.

"I can't do it," She told him.

"What? What do you—" Rustling in their bush put Halley on high alert. Tucker didn't seem alarmed in the slightest.

"You got her?" A female voice came.

"Yeah, she can't cloak us so we'll have to go with plan B."

A little part of Halley wished that the soldiers had taken her. Not only had her entire family been captured, but she had to sit in a bush with Tucker and Celine. Her day was going marvelously.

"Halley," Tucker turned to her. "Just follow us."

"Fine." She muttered.

Halley did as she was told and the group snuck from bush to bush for about twenty minutes. She shouldn't be here, she thought. She should be inside, rescuing her family. Not running away like some coward.

As they were about to duck into another bush, Halley turned back towards the castle.

"Halley!" Tucker hissed.

She paid him no mind and ran away. Tucker followed closely behind and ended up tackling her.

Halley slapped at his wrist, trying to shove him off. He pinned her to the ground.

"What the hell are you doing!?"

"Get off of me!" She was trying to keep her strength in check, but he was making it very hard.

"You're insane! They'll kill you if you go back!"

"I don't care!" She yelled at him.

He seemed to search her face before saying softly, "You don't mean that."

"Yes I do Tucker, now get off of me!" She burned his wrist. Tucker flew back. He didn't look upset at all. Worried, more like it.

"Halley..."

"My entire fucking family is in there. They're in danger and I have to help them! Instead I'm running away! They could be dead for all I know and it'd be all my fault."

"None of this is your fault. You couldn't have seen this coming, but you can't go back."

"But..." She was crying again. She turned away from him. Damnit she was tired of fucking crying. "Mom, Dad...Phil. He sacrificed himself for me. I-I... can't leave them."

"Hey," He rested his hand lightly on her shoulder. "We'll come back for them. Your brother would never hurt them. Right now you're they're only hope. There's no point in getting yourself captured too."

The gesture disgusted her considering Celine was only a few yards away. Regardless, he was right. She sniffed and nodded, allowing Tucker to lead them on.

They soon arrived right at the base of the forcefield. Celine and Tucker looked towards Halley and she stepped forward. She slowly put her hands on the field, not entirely sure how to disengage it. Halley could feel it gradually draining her energy but the field was weakening. Not having much choice, she slowly brought "her" forth. Her skin turned red and she heard Celine gasp. Halley's plan seemed to be working but she needed more power.

Her horns grew and her cheekmarks began to glow green.

She could feel the field thinning out and it was when her hair and eyes turned that piercing green color, she was able to destroy it. Tucker was at her side instantly, holding her as she worked to fight the monster back down, clenching her torso, eyes tightly shut.

"Are you alright?"

"Peachy." She hissed up at him. (It did hurt a little when Tucker backed away at her glowing green glare.) It took Halley a few moments to fight "her" back down before they were able to keep moving.

Rumbling from the ground not long after, made them pick up their pace as Halley cloaked them. Soldiers marched past in search of her but soon gave up to look in surrounding areas.

Tucker led them to a wagon and turned to her. "You're going to need to get in the back."

Halley glared at him as he tried to help her up. She flew into the wagon herself, burrowing under all the hay. With a few quiet mumbles, Tucker and Celine got onto the wagon and they were off.

Halley sat with her legs gathered to her chest wanting to cry but refused to shed anymore tears. All she could do was put her head down and try her best to not think about how it all went to hell...

Finally after all that time, there was a crack of lighting and the rain started to pour. Another loud clap led her to sit up with a start.

That song...

It had been raining when Phil played it all those years ago. They were 12 or 13 and the storm was relentless. The triplets humored each other with scary stories as Phil worked through some old pieces of music Marco had brought from Earth. There was one selection that had been pretty beat up. The title had been ripped off and the notes were barely legible. Being the prodigy that he was, Phil was able to work through it. The song sounded so disheartening but there was something about the way they were all cozied up indoors, hot chocolate at hand, in the soft glow of candles, that made that song so special. It was one of their happy memories together. The ones that grew rarer as the years passed. Marco later told them the name of the mystery tune and naturally it faded from Phil's usually upbeat repertoire. She could still hear its now haunting melody echoing in her mind.

Halley curled herself into a tighter ball as the wind and rain whispered it into her ear,

Come, Sweet Death

...

Had to cut this one a little short but wanted to get it out to you all!

(Come Sweet Death is actually a very pretty song, despite obviously being a little sad; you should take a listen if you get the time)