Let Sleeping Butterfly's Lie
Everyone waited outside to see if the queen was alright. Shortly after she had collapsed, River had carried her until he found a doctor. Now they were waiting to see if it was anything serious, unaware it was just the spell wearing off. The door to the infirmary opened to reveal the royal family's doctor.
"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for right now. It wasn't a seizure, but she will be on pain medication once the shock wears off. You can go in and see her." The older man opened the door.
River rushed in and was immediately at his wife's side. He grabbed her hand and kissed it. Star and Marco sat on chairs around the bed and looked the queen. Every now and then, Moon's face would twitch or she would fidget like she was having a nightmare.
"I wonder if this is because we were talking about Eclipsa. Well, Star, you're in danger. You hold the wand, so she'll come after you to kill you. She might even try to kill your mother so she can reclaim the throne. Marco, you're not allowed to leave Star alone, at all!" Heckapoo pointed at Marco to scare him into submission. "The fate of Mewni rests on your shoulders, do not fail! King River, please notify us when the queen wakes up. We still have much to discuss with her." Heckapoo motioned for the rest of the Commission to follow her and left.
"Perhaps the two of you should run off and let Moon rest. I'll stay here. Star, I think you should work on those spells some more. I don't know how bad Eclipsa is, but if she can scare your mother then she's not someone we can take lightly." River kissed Moon's hand again, giving it a firm squeeze.
"Come on Star, let's do as your father says." Marco grabbed Star's hand and led her out of the infirmary.
"Marco, I don't want to try and remember anymore. Not if it's going to come back in the form of nightmares."
"Okay, we can…play a game after you work on your spells." Once they were in her room, Star pulled out her spell book and moved on to the next spell. "Which one is it Star?"
"It's called Cupcake Blast. I gotta practice the moves first."
"Okay, just don't eat the cupcake. Trust me, it's not tasty or healthy." Marco shivered at the thought of what happened when he tried the spell. Star continued to practice the moves before looking at Marco.
"I think I'm ready to cast it."
"Wait, we should go somewhere where it won't damage anything too badly. We can stand outside in the garden and you can fire it into the air."
"Okay, is it destructive. I thought is just made cupcakes because that's all the description says."
"No, the cupcakes are meant to hit your enemies. They hurt and are dangerous to eat." Marco led the way to the gardens and found a spot that wasn't surrounded by plants or structures. "I think this'll do. Let her rip, Star!"
"Cupcake Blast." Nothing came out of the wand. "Did I say it wrong?"
"I think you use a bit more energy when you yell it. Imagine something is coming to attack you."
"Cupcake Blast!" A pink light erupted from the wand and a series of crystallized cupcakes fired into the air. "Whoa! Are you sure we can't eat the cupcakes?"
"Trust me Star, it's a bad idea. I was sick for days after I ate one. Ready to try the next one?"
"Yeah, I'm feeling pretty confident that I can master these. Thanks, Marco, what would I do without you?" Star hugged Marco.
"Oh, come on, I'm the one who owes you everything. You changed my life. Now, what's the next one?"
Moon saw the rest of her life flash before her eyes. She struggled to remove herself from the strong current but was completely helpless. She was happy to learn that she was remembering everything now, making the pain worth it. She saw what happened when Star tried the memory spell, understanding why she was affected differently.
River was still holding her hand when she snapped opened her eyes and gasped for air. Moon looked around, trying to figure out where she was. Her eyes finally rested on River who was on her right side.
"River, where am I?" Her body felt stiff from the uncontrollable way her body had reacted. She rubbed her temple with her left hand.
"Oh no, don't tell me you lost your memories again?" River slouched, disappointed and worried.
"On the contrary, I remember everything now! I remember the spell and I know why I only lost part of my memory." Moon explained to River that when the spell was split, she was hit with a smaller beam, and Star was hit with the largest. "Where's the Commission and Star and Marco?"
"The Commission left and I'll have to tell them you're awake now. I told Star and Marco to go work on the spells she wrote down. What will you do about Eclipsa, dear?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I have to keep Star safe."
"Heckapoo said that Eclipsa might try to kill the both of you. Moon, I'm worried!" Moon hugged her husband tightly and tried to reassure him.
"Everything will be okay. I just have to reteach the spell to Star and then this mess will be over." River nodded to Moon and then held out her crown. "Let's go find Star so we can get her memories back."
Star had already mastered six more spells thanks to Marco's help. Princess Pony Head had arrived to check on Star, so Star decided to take a break.
"Girl, one time your mother told you that you couldn't go to the Bounce Lounge, so you stole her dimensional scissors and partied anyway. Then this other time, your mom said she would send you to St. O's if you didn't clean your room."
"Why is she so demanding of me?" Star crossed her arms, remembering all the chapters in her diary about her strict mother. "I'm just a kid, why can't I have some fun?"
"Star, you're the future Queen of Mewni, you have to be prepared. Sure, you can rule however you feel, but if you're not careful, you'll make a lot of enemies and never be happy." Marco was desperate to make Star understand that she couldn't play around with her position. "I mean, look at Eclipsa, she's known as the Queen of Darkness. You don't want some horrible title after your name. 'Star, Queen of Destruction' or 'Star, Queen of Ruin', I'd hate to see you labeled as such."
"Marco's right Star, as your best bestie, I can't allow you to throw away your future." Pony Head began to side with Marco.
"Yes, Star. Being Queen of Mewni leaves no room for fun and games. You're in charge of everyone's life within your kingdom." Moon walked up to the trio and stared down at Star.
"Great news everybody, Moon has regained her memories. Now we can get Star's back as well." The blonde king began to dance around merrily with Marco.
"Star, do you have the wand?" The young blonde held up her wand in response. "Good, now I'm going to teach you the spell."
"You have to teach me the moves first. I don't add the words until later." She stared blankly at her mother.
"I know, it's weird to see Star practice a spell, but she's mastered most of her already." The young boy held up the small spell book in triumph. "All she has to do is practice the moves."
"All right, Star, watch carefully and do as I do." Star tried to follow Moon's movements, but she kept messing up. She was beginning to get frustrated with her lack of progress.
"I can't do it! Can't we just leave me like I am?" After the fifteenth try, Star was tired of trying to learn the spell. "What if I don't want to remember?"
"Star now is not the time to be selfish. Eclipsa is on the loose and you need to be prepared. Not stop whining and try again." The queen was annoyed by Star's behavior. She's acting like an infant. Why doesn't she understand that this isn't the time to be difficult?
"I don't want to. I don't care about my memories or this Eclipsa person. I want to be normal like Marco. I don't want to be queen someday and live a boring life and I certainly don't want to be like you!" Star pulled out her diary and threw it at Moon's feet.
"Star, stop this at once and apologize to your mother!" River was disappointed in Star's behavior. Star turned and ran out of the garden.
"Star, wait!" Marco ran after her.
"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault! I told her you were really strict before the two of you showed up. I'll help Marco and tell her I lied." Pony Head dipped her head in respect before leaving to find Star. Moon picked up the diary and opened it. Inside, she saw all of Star's thoughts on her, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Tears spilled over the wounded queen's eyes. If she had ever doubted Star's feelings, now she knew what was real.
"Sh…she does hate me after all." In defeat, the queen sank to her knees, head in her hands, and wept loudly. Her husband held her, doing his best to comfort her. He looked out, hoping Star would realize the blow she had just dealt to her mother's heart.