A/N: Hey everyone! Before I begin, I just want to inform you all know that I'm on the Star Vs the Forces of Evil Amino, so if any of you have that feel free to follow me. My username is Jon-Ur and I'll be uploading artwork to the site once I'm a high enough level.

Okay, let's go.

A Dance with Destiny

Chapter Eight: Tourney

The tourney was held outside Flaagon Castle, located a few miles north of the Butterfly Kingdom. The castle was nowhere near as large as the one owned by the Butterflys, but it was still impressive; the towers were several stories high, with the banners of the Flaagons—a white drinking pitcher on a grape-purple field—flapped proudly in the wind. Outside the great castle, over two hundred tents were being prepared.

The king and queen led the royal procession toward their places in the camp. Everyone bowed when they walked past, and Griff puffed out his chest. You're not the prince, he reminded himself as he passed a maid who blushed cherry when he winked at her. You're a whore's son, nothing more.

A few acres away, a large open field was being prepared. Wooden bleachers and benches lined the outside, forming a circular enclosure. The contestants would fight in single elimination rounds, and whoever was left at the end of the day would be declared the winner and receive his knighthood.

They passed a burley man cooking sausages over an open fire, and Griff thought his belly might burst. He had left the castle that morning having only eaten a piece of cooked and buttered bread, and now he was paying for it. Behind him, Higgs let out a tiny groan; she was carrying all her equipment, as well as her knight's, and was looking ragged. Behind her, Baby Man and Old Guy weren't looking much better, and Griff wished he could help them. One of the Kingsguard was carrying his stuff, so Griff could walk with his arms swinging.

Their pavilion was located near the gates of the castle, with plenty of room for everyone to fit. Griff began to help unpack, but the king held a hand up. "What do you think you're doing?"

Griff looked at him, perplexed. "Um, unpacking?"

River waved a hand. "Bah, none of that! This is your event, Griff, let me—oh, my word, Count Crocula, is that you? Get over here you rangly old mister!" He left with a hardy laugh to greet someone else.

The queen let out a tired sigh and rolled her eyes. "You and your friends can go, Griff," she said to the squires, "we'll find someone else to unpack."

Griff looked with an excited grin to his friends, who all matched his expression (except for Old Guy, who looked like he had fallen asleep standing up). "Come on, guys!" he said.

It would still be several more hours until the first matches were announced, so the group decided to spend some time exploring the grounds. Griff got a sausage, Baby Man got three, and Old Guy lost his teeth (which they eventually found in the pocket of a traveling gypsy. How they got in there Griff didn't know, nor did he care to ask).

At nearly midday, Higgs said something strange: "Does any of this seem…weird to you?" she whispered.

"What do you mean?" Griff whispered back. Everything seemed fine to him—there were jugglers, mummers, a dancing bear, wenches parading around for extra gold, and hardy knights training their squires for the tournament.

"I mean most of these people were Dragonfly supporters!" she hissed.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

She leaned in close and whispered, "Most of the major houses here supported Luna Dragonfly in the last War of the Usurper."

Griff leaned back. "Are you serious?"

She nodded. "Sir Stabby told me all about it. When Luna was killed everyone who supported her had to give up a hostage to ensure their loyalty."

"The Dragonflys are dead, Higgs," Griff said, though he wasn't sure if he was trying to convince her or himself, "its probably just a coincidence."

She pressed her lips together and said, "Hmm."

The sound of a harp playing softly caught their attention, and they found a young man with dark hair and green eyes seated in front of a small tent, a green hummingbird on a black field flapping above him.

He smiled when he saw them, and Griff saw his teeth were pearly-white. "Good morrow, friends. Care to spare a coin for a hopeful musician?"

Griff tossed him a copper penny. "Sorry, but that's all I got."

The man shrugged. "Tis nothing, friend. Every little bit helps, I always say. Will you four be participating?"

"Darn right!" Higgs said enthusiastically. "You're looking at the future winner of this thing."

The singer laughed. "I had no idea you were a joker; perhaps you'd be a better fool than a knight."

Griff snickered. Higgs punched him in the arm. "Will you?" he asked, rubbing the sore spot.

"Indeed I will. My name is Jon, though most call me the hummingbird."

Higgs snickered. "The hummingbird? Seriously?"

"Why yes," said the singer. "They call me that because I'm thin and nimble as a bird, and my songs are so sweet most of the maids tear up." He gave a flirtatious smirk and wiggled his eyebrows. "I can demonstrate, if you like?"

"Higgs crossed her arms. "Sod off."

Jon let out a sigh and shrugged. "Very well, then." He reached behind him and pulled a water skin out and drank. His lips came back blue like the ocean.

"What are you drinking?" Griff asked.

"Hmm? Oh, this? My friends call it the wine of wisdom, though I prefer to call it dreamer's draught."

"And why is that?"

"Because it gives me strange dreams, of course. I can see the future."

Higgs sneered. "Yeah, right."

"Don't believe me? I've seen you, girl. You won't win this competition; in fact, I know you'll lose during the second round!" He looked at Griff. "I've seen you, too. You're standing in a great stone temple with monsters all around you. They lift you up and put a crown on your head."

Griff cocked an eyebrow. "A crown? You must be feverish."

"Truly?" He offered the boy a sip. "Drink, then, and see what is to be."

Griff took the skin and took a little sip. The liquid was thick and viscous, and it tasted sweet and sour and salty all at once.

"Tonight," the singer said, "when you dream, you'll see what I see."

Before Griff could respond a loud trumpet went up from the castle. Higgs gasped and grabbed Griff's arm. "It's starting! Come on."

-o-

He would be fighting someone named Timmy in the first round. After that he'd either fight Jon or someone named Antony, depending on who on their fight. After that he'd fight a few more squires until he made it to the final round. And after that, knighthood.

The first few matches went by quickly. Higgs managed to beat her opponent by hitting him in the face with his own shield; Baby Man knocked his opponent out with one hit; and Old Guy broke a hip getting his armor on, so he was forced to forfeit.

Jon the Hummingbird fought after that, and he seemed untouchable on the field. His opponent—a dark skinned woman from the Pigeon Kingdom—would either swing too high or too low, and the hummingbird would always manage to get a few hits in before he had to duck away. One time his opponent got a good hit on his helmet, but instead of being hurt it looked as though she had barely tapped it. Something isn't right here, Griff thought, but then Jon hit her with his shield and she made a big show of being injured and had to be carried off the field, much to the crowd's delight.

After that, Griff's name was called.

"Remember, don't give away what you're going to do," the king said he helped Griff put his armor on.

"Yes, Your Grace."

He handed Griff his right gauntlet. "And be sure to keep your feet close together; if your feet are too far apart, you have less stability."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Oh, and be sure to hit him nice and hard!"

"Yes, Your Grace." He slid on his sword belt and picked up his shield.

"Yes, but—"

"River," the queen said calmly, "let Griff focus. I'm sure he knows what he's doing."

The king cleared his throat. "Oh, uh, yes, of course."

The queen smiled at him. "Good luck, Griff," she said sweetly. In the weeks prior, the queen had warmed to him remarkably. He guessed it was because he'd tried doubly hard to be good, but a small part of him wondered if it was just because he'd be out of her hair when he was a knight.

He smiled back at her and donned his helm. Outside, he could hear the crowd cheering. He took a deep breath and exited his tent. His opponent was across the yard from him, sword in hand already.

"Well met," he called.

"Same to you," Griff said back.

"I am Timmy of Grenendale."

"I am—"

"—Griff of Mewni, yes I know."

"Soon to be Sir Griff," he said with a cocky smile.

Timmy laughed. "Then let us see if you are worthy of the title." He swung across his chest. Griff caught it with his sword and shoved back with his shoulder, forcing Timmy to stagger. Griff aimed a jab at his chest, but the young squire sidestepped and sent his shield into the side of Griff's head.

The king's squire fell back a step, clutching his helm. It was only a second later that he realized he'd dropped his sword. Timmy gave a triumphant shout and raised his sword above his head, but Griff lurched at him, grabbing him around the waist and lifting him off the ground. He would often wrestle with his sisters when they were younger and was no stranger to fighting enemies heavier than him.

He threw Timmy to the ground and kicked his sword away. He straddled the squire and raised his shield above his head. He drove it down on his enemy's helm again and again and again before he ripped it off and threw it to the side. He raised his shield again, but Timmy yelled, "Yield!" and held his hands above his face.

Griff dropped his shield and removed his helmet. At once he was drowned in the sounds of cheering and the stomping of feet. He could hear Higgs and Baby Man and the king hooting his name, and the bystanders yelling in victory or anger.

"Well fought," his opponent said from underneath him. He was bleeding from his nose, but his smile was still intact. His hair was orange as the sunset, and his eyes a cozy brown. "Might I get up now?"

"Huh? Oh!" Griff rolled off and offered him a hand. When they were both on their feet, Griff shook his hand and said, "You did well."

"As did you." His opponent pulled him in close and whispered in his ear, "Be cautious. A man in a black robe offered me a dozen gold quarters to end your life."

"What?" Griff said, reeling back.

"Peace," Timmy said, raising a hand. "I refused him; I am too honorable to be bought, but I thought you should know—someone doesn't want you to win this. Take care, Griff."

Griff swallowed. "Thank you, Timmy of Grenendale."

His former opponent inclined his head. "You are welcome, friend. Should you find yourself in Grenendale, do not hesitate to find me; I would gladly buy you a flagon of ale and trade stories of our adventures."

Griff smiled. "Perhaps I'll take you up on that offer."

The rest of the day went by uneventfully, and it was after dark that everyone was allowed to return to their tents.

Griff went to bed sore and tired. Bruises as purple as grapes and large as apples polka-dotted his arms and legs and chest, and his shoulders ached from the weight of his armor. The rest of the squires looked just as bad—if not worse—than him, and they were all groaning and moaning from their injuries.

"Well done, everyone!" the king said, clapping his hands together once, smiling widely. "But the competition isn't over yet; tomorrow, you get up bright and early! Can't let that ingrate Crocula's squire win." He said the last part quietly.

Everyone groaned at the thought of getting up early, and each of them retired to their own tents with a quiet farewell and hisses of pain as they limped away. If this is what knighthood is like, Griff thought, it might not be for me.

He fell asleep face-down on his pillow. He didn't even pull the blankets over himself.

His dreams were surreal and strange.

He saw a woman with grey skin laying on a bed of mud and fur. A massive man and six children stood near her. A woman with dark skin passed the woman a wriggling bundle.

"Oh, he's beautiful," the woman said. Her voice was weak from strain, and Griff could tell she had just given birth.

"He is," the brutish man said.

"What's his name?" asked one of the children. It was a female. She was shorter than the rest of them, with tiny horns on her head.

"Argalac," the woman said. She held the baby out to one of the children.

"Look, my love, you're a big brother." The child didn't react, and his eyes were almost empty.

The vision faded like ripples in a pond, and the next one was more somber. The same woman stood over a patch of fresh dirt on her knees, sobbing. The large man had a hand around her, and he looked angry. The children were all around her too, sobbing just as hard her—except the boy. He stood behind them, his face blank. The dark woman put a hand on his back. "How are you feeling?" she asked, softly.

The boy's blue eyes didn't move. "I don't know."

Who…who is that? Griff thought to himself. He felt like he should have known, but he didn't.

Next he saw an army of monsters marching north, toward a delate and ruined castle. A boy in a red hoodie held out his arms, his skin black as night and red eyes as crimson. There was a dagger in his heart, and a butterfly made of starlight was perched on the handle.

A hummingbird flew about, singing its cheerful song. Then its feathers seemed to melt away, revealing four transparent wings, a long green tail, and two large beady eyes. Near it, a butterfly was perched on a yellow flower. The dragonfly flew from its spot and soared at the butterfly, who took to the air with graceful ease. They circled one another, again and again and again, and Griff saw the dragonfly fall into the mud, a crowd roaring with laughter.

A boy in armor stood on the prow of a ship. He had long blonde hair and pale eyes. On his back was a hand-and-a-half sword, a large red gem on the hilt. Next to him, a girl with long black hair held the railing of the ship, skin almost green.

"We must leave soon," the boy said. A storm raged around them, and their ship rocked with the waves.

"Brother, we can't," the girl said. "If Mercury isn't back—"

"—then we leave without him," the boy said sharply. "He was a fool to go on his own; if he is caught, then it's his own damn fault."

"But—"

"But nothing!" The man in the armor let out a heavy sigh and gripped her shoulders with his hands. "Our enemies grow stronger every day, sister. We must stay together if we are to best them. If Mercury doesn't return within a fortnight, then we have to assume the worst. Mother would want us to stay strong—can you do that?"

She nodded solemnly, but Griff saw that there were tears in her eyes. "Mm-hmm."

"Good."

The final vision he was of an army marching past a ruined Castle Butterfly, the throne of Mewni itself shattered to pieces, and leading them was a tall figure with black daggers molded into a crown. At his side was a woman with pale skin and a white dress, and there were suns on her cheeks.

Griff woke with a gasp, panting and sweaty on his bed. The others weren't up yet—it was only him. He gripped his sheets tightly, his knuckles going white. Fear gripped his heart and he felt his eyes water. It would still be a few more hours until sunlight, he could see. I must rest, he thought. I'll be fighting the hummingbird next.

Then a thought came to him. No. Those were nothing but dreams of someone who is too lost in fantasy to think straight. He isn't…Griff shook his head. No. It's not possible.

He closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep, but then he saw the army moving south, and the two children on that boat…

Griff didn't sleep for the rest of the night.

-o-

Higgs lost her second round against a boy from the Johansen Kingdom—a strong young lad with brown hair and large muscles.

She had to be carried off the field, muddy and cursing. Her opponent had gotten some good hits in and had taken some as well. He was bleeding in several places, and one of his arms didn't seem to be able to move. When she found them again, Higgs was quiet and brooding. Griff decided to give her some space.

Baby Man beat his opponent easily; a young girl from the Kelpbottom Kingdom with gills and scales and webbed feet. All Baby Man had to do was pick her up and slam her on the ground and she gave up.

"Good job, dude!" Griff said eagerly, patting the big guy on the back. Old Guys laughed and did the same, while Higgs just scoffed and looked away. Griff steeled his jaw. If she was going to act like a child, she'd be treated like a child.

When they called his name a few hours later, the king hooted louder than anyone else. "Go, Griff!" he called. "That's my squire, yes he is."

Griff's armor was heavier than the day before, likely due to his lack of sleep. From across the field, Jon the Hummingbird saw to his own armor. When his knight handed him a one-handed sword, he gave it a few swings and plucked up his shield.

Griff took his own shield and advanced onto the field.

"Good fortune, friend," the hummingbird said. "Sleep well?"

Griff didn't answer. I'm just imagining it.

The hummingbird gave a soft smile through his half-helm. "Nothing to say? Very well then."

He launched a slash over his head, but Griff caught it with his shield. The wood splintered a bit, but it did its job. Griff jabbed with his sword, but Jon caught it with his shield. They both drew their weapons back and charged again, hacking and slashing at each other, looking for some opening they could exploit. The musician gave a laugh as they fought, his bright teeth flashing. He thought it was a game, but Griff didn't; he didn't care about knighthood or even of winning—all he cared about was beating the laughing bird in front of him.

…most of these people were Dragonfly supporters!

Then its feathers seemed to melt away, revealing four transparent wings, a long green tail, and two large beady eyes.

If Mercury isn't back—

Griff knocked his opponent back with his shield. Jon let out a heavy breath and swung his sword back and forth, testing the weight. It seemed that the musician wasn't a well-rested as he seemed. His armor was dented in several places, and he had a cut above his left eye.

"I know who you are," Griff said as they circled one another.

Jon raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"That drink you gave me revealed it."

He let out a smile. "So you did drink it."

"And I know why you're here."

The singer's smile was arrogant and egotistical, just like his ancestors had been. "Then why don't you tell them?"

"Very well then." He said the next words loudly, enough so everyone could hear: "Your name isn't Jon the Hummingbird. You're Mercury Dragonfly, a bastard pretender.

A/N: Okay everyone, if you enjoyed then please review. If you want to be alerted to when I update, then follow and favorite. Finally, would you all want a Battle of Mewni chapter(s) from Griff's POV? Please let me know ASAP so I can re-watch the movie and write out an outline.

Bye!