Chapter 4

Deeper Down

There was no way to tell what time had passed since Toffee left with his finger. Partly to blame was the prison cell lacking clock, or window to see the sky, or any other way to measure time passage. Partly because when you are searching the corners of your mind for answers, time was getting distorted. And Star wanted answers of some difficult questions.

What bothered her lately was her mother. Toffee had defeated Moon again and imprisoned her. Yet she seemed to be in good shape for somebody who lost a battle with a monster. Moon even looked calm when Star gave back Toffee's finger. She hoped all this was part of the Queen's plan to escape and stop the lizard man.

Familiar sound of door opening crept in. The Princess was laying on the wall she was chained to. Toffee entered with both hands behind him. Star crossed her own hands and greet him:

- What do you want? I don't have anything left to take. I guess you can have my clothes, but I need them...

Instead of responding Toffee shortened the distance with Star. His calm and cold expression got rid of Star's reckless act. Each step raised her panic level. Like a deer cornered by a hungry wolf. His right hand slowly went for Star's shoulder, or throat. Not sure, nor it mattered. She grabbed it with a hand of her own. Toffee focused on the mewman's grip around his pale blue wrist.

- That also work - he smiled lightly.

Puzzled by his words, Star also pointed her attention at the grip. A moment was all she needed to see what was wrong with the picture.

The monster hand in front of Star was perfect. The always open, never bleeding wound from a cut off finger was gone. As if it was never there to begin with. Also Star was holding Toffee's wrist, feeling its cold skin. His smile got rid of any doubt.

Toffee had freed himself from Moon's spell.

But his hand had something even more unusual, and disturbing.

At the center of Toffee's palm was embedded a crystal. Emerald crystal, like the one from Ludo's wand. Only this one was not a shattered piece, but a whole, perfect star. Like the one from Star's wand before the Whispering Spell.

- That's my family's crystal...

- Quite the potent crystal you got there, Princess. In the right hands, of course.

Star had seen a piece of shattered green crystal only attached to Ludo's wand. Until Moon told her, she had never realized the piece was actually from her own wand. Without the magical star, the wand hold no power at all. Still it was a Butterfly family treasure.

- If you have the crystal, then you don't need the wand anymore.

- And what are you going to do with it? You can't use it for casting spells.

- It's a family heirloom.

- Yes, it is. Still - the monster paused for a moment - the wand belonged to me long before it was given to you.

Another puzzling fact of Toffee origin. If Star was going to uncover who, or what he was, she needed more information.

- Yours? As if it was given to you? - Star asked with eyes widened.

- Inherited.

The lizard man turned his back at his prisoner and took few steps away in preparation to leave.

- It is part of the Butterfly dynasty for generations. How could you have it?

Familiar stone scraping sound echoed in the cell. Toffee stepped out and turned at Star.

- A great story. For another time. Now if you excuse me, - with one hand he closed the rusty door - I have an army to lead.

XXX

Star had waited long enough. Maybe half an hour had passed, maybe several hours. Besides the same monster guarding the cell, nobody had visit her again. Toffee was also gone, if his words could be trusted. It was a gamble Star was willing to take.

Waiting for a rescue was not in her style. Usually she was the rescue. Since the lizard creature had left with his finger, Star was evaluating her limited escape options. Or an option as she concluded.

Glossaryck had shown she did not need a wand to use magic. But nothing more than that. And Moon did not teach her anything about casting spells without the help of the magical relic. Two times Star had used magic on her own and barely remembered anything about it.

Doesn't matter. It was the only option.

With both hands Star grabbed the chains holding her arms. The rusty metal rings were several degrees colder than the air, and much more than her skin. She slowly closed her eyes and tried to both relax and focus. Her body shivered until the difference in heat did not bothered her. The only movement was her chest raising and falling with each breath. This cycle had continued for about five minutes.

Two hearts, one on each cheek, started to get brighter like a light bulb. Their faint glow illuminated Star's face and the nearby walls. Same kind of light was also coming from her fists, where she held both chains. The metal rings started to glow, then fall apart into tiny pieces shaped like hearts. One by one each ring went under the same transformation, leaving only glowing pieces dancing in the air. Like leaves falling from a tree. When Star opened her eyes, they were glowing as well. She kneeled and gently touched the remaining shackles around her legs. Seconds later they also disintegrated into tiny hearts.

The light emitted from the spell was unnatural for Star's surroundings and attracted the guard's attention. He entered the cell, only to see its prisoner free, with light emitting eyes and glowing particles flying around. Panicked, the monster jumped outside the cell and ran away with yells.

Star peeked through the wide opened door and looked around. Her eyes were no longer glowing and she needed a few seconds for her vision to adapt. The corridor was giving her two simple options for escape: left and right. Since the monster ran away in one direction, it was logical to pick the opposite. With careful steps she went right.

The corridor itself was made from stones similar to Star's prison cell. Sparsely places torches were showing her the way. She passed a few rooms similar to her cell. They lacked any prison doors.

Jumping shadows first alerted her of somebody coming this way. One of the rooms was close enough and she hid in its unlit corners. Star held breath and listened. A pair of steps were quietly sneaking around, getting closer. Star realized her hands had formed fists. She waited for light from the nearby torch to become occluded. Then her heart rate skyrocketed. And so did Star.

Out of nowhere the monster got a princess stuck on his back. With one hand Star kept her balance, while using the other to lay down some punches. She looked for a sword to grab, only to find he had none. The monster was circling around and using his hands to cover where he was getting hit. Star had not noticed the other creature accompanying him. It spoke:

- Star? Star!

A well-known name, spoken by a well-known voice. The Princess immediately stopped her rampage. Puzzled she faced the boy who called her.

- Marco?

Then she realized that Marco was also a prisoner here and went back to attacking the monster.

- Don't worry, Marco! I'm here to rescue you! Just let me finish here...

- That's funny, because we are here to rescue you.

- Wha...? - she stopped once again. The monster uncovered his face and Star recognized Buff Frog. He wasn't wearing the disguise she had made, only his typical green shirt.

- I'm so sorry, Buff Frog! I... Wait! How did you find me?

- I tracked Star girl to this dungeon - Buff Frog took a breath - To get Princess out, I needed help. King would kill me if he found out. I got karate boy instead - he pointed at Marco with a palm wide opened.

- Buff Frog came and told me you were kidnapped. So we went to get more help and came to rescue you.

- More help? - the Princess raised an eyebrow. - Who else is here?

Marco's attention got attracted to something far behind Star. He titled his head.

- See for yourself.

Two old friends appeared from the other end of the corridor.

- Pony Head! Kelly! - Star recognized them.

Any moment now one of Toffee's monster could pass by and alert the rest. But Star had stopped caring when Marco appeared in front of her. She jumped right at the newcomers and hugged them both at the same time. A corner of her mind remembered she didn't hugged Marco. It used to be something so natural to do with him. Now Star felt it would be awkward, even when the boy was here to rescue her.

- We ran into some fat ugly monster, screaming something about a witch - Kelly said after Star let her go.

- And silenced him good! - Pony Head continued. - I mean, we knocked him out and hid him.

It was the guard Star had scared to death with her magic. This was bad. He might have attracted attention of the rest of the guards. Or maybe Kelly and Pony Head had stopped him early enough. And who knows how many monsters are in the dungeon itself. Catching up with friends would have to wait.

- Great, we're all here. Now we need to get out - Marco suggested, as if he read Star's thoughts. Not all of them.

- My mom is in a cell here somewhere. I'm not leaving without her.

- Girl, except for bunch of ugly monsters, we found nobody - Pony Head said.

- We didn't find anybody either - Marco continued. - Star, your mother is not here.

Star wasn't buying it. She saw Moon with her own eyes. The Queen must be here somewhere.

- Marco, Toffee had brought her here. I saw it. Did you search the whole place?

Instead of answering her, Marco pulled out a piece of paper, unfolded it multiple times, and handed it to Star. On it, a very small ring was surrounded by a much larger ring, connected together with multiple straight lines.

- When we got here - Marco put finger on the big ring - we split into two groups and went in opposite directions. Since we've met here, - he made and imaginary circle - that means we've must circled the whole place.

- What about the center? - Star pointed at the small ring.

- No prison cells there. Only crystal chamber - Buff Frog joined the conversation.

- Where did you get his map? - she questioned the green monster. - How do you know all this?

- I used to play here when I was baby. Then it was not monster prison.

- And since Buff Frog's drawing sucks, I've drawn the map - Marco said half joking, half serious.

Something here wasn't clicking with Star. It seemed that Marco's arguments were valid. Many pieces of the mental puzzle were missing, but she needed one specific piece. For now.

- Marco, I left Earth two weeks ago. Is this the first time you see me since then? - the question sounded even more weirder out loud.

- Um, yes - he blushed barely. - Why?

There it was, the missing piece. It confirmed Star's theory. Toffee had used some kind of illusion spell on her. A theatre made by him to get his finger back.

- That bastard tricked me! - Star got angry. - Wait, why didn't you visit me? You have some explaining to do, mister - she cut Marco off before he could say anything. - OK, my mother is not here. Let's go!

- Actually - Kelly stopped Star's momentum - You're not the only prisoner here. Ludo is here as well. We found him, while searching for you, Star.

Everybody's gaze focused on Pony Head. Star's was particularly furious, but not disappointed.

- What? I didn't lie. He is nobody, so there - the floating head defended herself.

In the Princess' eyes, under the anger, Marco could see a bad idea brewing.

- Does it matter, Star? - he said with some worry in his voice. - It's still Ludo. The one who stole your spell book. We don't need him.

Not a single trace of doubt was in Star's voice, or her eyes.

- No. We're getting him out of here as well.

XXX

The rescue party was walking in the corridor of stones, half hidden in the shadows, half lit by the torches. Star had convinced the rest that Ludo wasn't the bad guy here, but a victim, as her. For most of their encounters they were pretty harmful, even entertaining. Stealing the Book of Spells was mostly part of Toffee's manipulation. Mostly.

Star and her friends were making good progress towards where Kelly and Pony Head had found Ludo. Marco had taken the lead. The rest traced his footsteps one at a time.

Suddenly the boy froze on one place and the rest followed his example. Many loud footsteps were coming from the same direction the party was heading. To confirm just how many Star peeked from behind Buff Frog and saw only shadowy figures not too far away. Each torch they passed was being occluded for two-three seconds, giving Star some idea how big of a threat was coming. Marco turned back and made silent gesture for going around. Buff Frog passed it to the Princess and she tried to do the same, when the monotone footsteps turned into dynamic stampede.

To Star it seemed that the rest understood how bad they had screwed, because everybody jumped and started running at the same time. She was amazed of their perfectly synced panicked reaction and joined them. Now running in columns of three, Star turned head to check on her pursuers. They were closer than when she saw then, but were not getting any closer either. Despite monsters' physic supremacy over mewnian kids, having weapons and armor was making them slow enough. Still, Star and her friends could not run forever.

- We fight? - Buff Frog suggested with a single breath.

- No, they're too many! - Marco disapproved. - If we start a fight, they will pin us down and overrun us.

Unfortunately he made a good case. You could always count on Marco to use his head in a dicey situation.

- Then let's spit up! - another suggestion came from Pony Head.

Her idea was uncharacteristically not bad. The rescue party was far fewer than the monster mini-horde. And the layout of the dungeon was simple enough to not get lost.

But Star had a better idea.

She stopped and faced the upcoming menace. At first the others passed by her, then they also stopped. She didn't saw any of that. Her eyes were already closed, becoming part of Star's focused expression.

- Star! What are you... - Marco left his sentence unfinished. He was mesmerized by the blinding light coming from his friend's cheeks.

The granite textures of the wall became one idea brighter. Star's eyes were glowing as well and she was seeing once again. The monsters immediately stopped their advancement, but only for a moment. Scaring them wasn't Star's goal anyway.

She spread her hands at the pursuers. They didn't stop. And why should they? Her spell was not activating, despite doing the same thing as back in her cell. Star tried to suppress her irritation and find... something.

Marco and the rest were silent. The monsters were close enough to see their faces. Star ignored the danger and continued to search. Whatever it was, she needed it now. To cast the spell. To help her friends. To protect Marco.

She didn't realized when a bright ball of energy had appeared between her hands. All she saw was it flying into the ceiling, exploding on impact. For a moment all shadows disappeared. Everybody was seeing bright burning spots. Except for Star. She watched silently as the ceiling between her and the monsters was collapsing. Somebody pulled her back, barely dodging a shattered rock.

When the dust settled, everybody looked at the newly formed blockade, then at Star. The glow was gone from her face. Somebody helped her get up. She had already forgotten who it was. Her friends exchanged something joyfully and laughed. Then congratulated her and started figuring out an alternative route.

If only they knew the spell was not the one Star meant to use.

XXX

The somewhat simplistic layout of the dungeon did not leave much options for reaching Ludo's cell. Fortunately, the one Marco picked up lacked any monster guards at all. Which could be explained with the fact that the enemy didn't know why was the party here. Or with the monsters being smart and reinforcing the exits.

The cell itself was left completely unguarded. Ludo was not chained to a wall at all. Then again, Ludo was not as resourceful as Star and Toffee probably didn't bother. He first focused on Kelly and Pony Head. When he recognized Buff Frog, his eyes widened from both surprise and joy. Then he saw Marco and Star.

- Well, well. If it isn't the lovebirds - Ludo grinned.

Marco blush a little, but did not get unconfutable from the monster's words. He turned his head at Star, expecting more rapid reaction. Her expression didn't change, as if she didn't heard a thing.

- Let's go, loser- Star said. - We're getting you out of here - she went for the cell's door. It had the same rusty bars as the ones from her own cell.

- But I'm so warm and comfortable here. Why would I ever want to leave?

The door didn't move at all. Unlike Star's, it had a lock, which she just noticed. The Princess gave up and put hands on her waist.

- Look - Star responded to Ludo's sarcasm - If you have a problem with me, we can settle it after we leave.

She called Buff Frog and snapped with fingers. The green monster stepped between her and the cell. Without breaking a sweat he ripped the door from its hinges and put it casually on the ground. Star tilted head at stunned Marco and said playfully:

- Betcha you didn't know he can do that.

Slowly Ludo got out, looked at Star, and shrugged shoulders. The rest also stared at her, as if they waited for an order.

- Now we're getting out of here - she said energetically. Then turned at Marco. - How do we get out of here?

The boy's look focused on some imaginary point. He gave Star's question a though for a few moments.

- We're going to have to use plan B.

- Plan B? - Star looked puzzled. - Marco, we don't have time for spelling riddles.

- It means alternative plan - he answered with some annoyance. - Look, we came here through one of the entrances, and the idea was to exit from them. They were very lightly guarded - no problem getting through quietly. But now, the monsters know we're here. If they are smart, then they will reinforce the exits.

Star almost asked him why. She stopped, remembering for some reason Eric's answer. "Because that's what I would do". Still, to her the monsters were bunch of idiots she had fought for years.

- I'm pretty sure they are stupid enough to not do that.

- Star, we can't risk getting caught. That's why we have plan B.

- And plan B is?

- The scissors don't work here. That means there must be a crystal somewhere around that stops them from creating rifts. We find it, break it, and leave before anyone noticed.

- Awesome! - Star raised her thumbs in approval. -Do we know where the crystal is?

- He does - Marco pointed at Buff Frog.

XXX

The path to the crystal's room was easy enough, or so Buff Frog thought. The chamber was in the center of the dungeon, with six different entrances, each placed symmetrically from the rest. The first and closest one turned out to be sealed with stones. Much like what Star did with her spell earlier, only more organized. So it was the second entrance.

The third one turned out to be the real deal, guarded only by two monsters. Marco assumed it was the only entrance Toffee had left. Star though their luck had improved.

Her mind changed when she heard the familiar noise of heavy footsteps. Either with purpose, or by a chance, the monster mini-horde was going to the crystal's chamber as well. It didn't mattered why, what mattered was to get out of this mess as fast as possible.

Again without saying a word Star and her friends started running away from the closing threat. The two guards saw them coming their way and prepared for a fight. With single simultaneous strikes from Marco and Buff Frog, they knocked out the monsters. Then took their weapons, while Star and the rest entered the room.

The crystal itself was as big as Star, his weight supported by a wide and short pedestal made of marble. Its semi-transparent walls were filled with red-tinted reflections of Star and her friends staring at it.

- Damn. How are we going to break that thing? - Pony Head asked, still looking at the crystal.

- We better figure it out fast - Kelly responded. Her attention was focused at where they came from.

The monsters had already crossed half of the corridor. Kelly pulled a sword from her back and took a stance at the entrance. Pony Head joined her with a horn glowing from concentrated magic. Buff Frog stepped between them and prepared a morning star he pulled seconds ago. Not much space was left at the entrance, giving them the advantage of a choke point.

- Star, can't you use some kind of spell to break the crystal? - Marco suggested. He didn't bother hiding his worry.

- Sure I can - Star lied to him. Or did she? She wasn't sure her spells won't backfire like the last couple of times.

- Hey, you don't have your wand - Ludo pointed out. - There is no way you can't pull that off without the wand.

A few things motivated Star as much as small bird creature telling her what she can't do. Like before, she closed eyes and tried to focus.

Her attempt was disrupted by the sound of swords clashing. She couldn't help but look behind. Kelly swung her blade and disarmed a monster twice her size. Buff Frog slammed the morning star in a hairy creature's abdomen. Pony Head blasted another monster in his only eye. Four more enemies replaced their neutralized comrades.

Desperately Star wanted to help her friends. She tried focusing her magical potential again. High pitched screams reached her years. "Ignore that" she thought. Multiple blades clashing together. "Ignore that". Purple light flashed, followed by a cheerful yelling. "Ignore Pony Head". With a high pitched sound, a projectile passed millimeters away from her right cheek. "Is somebody shooting arrows inside?"

The Princess checked the battle again. The fallen monsters had increased. The space between the crystal and her friends had shortened.

She did not noticed it until she stared back at the crystal, and saw her own reflection. Her eyes, her hearts - they were glowing with a blinding light. No wonder monsters got scared from her.

- I'm going to help them - Marco had to yell to be heard. He dashed next to Buff Frog and grabbed a random blade from the ground.

Now Marco was fighting as well, buying Star much needed time. She whispered his name mentally. The light in her eyes died out. She didn't notice that either.

- What the in corn's name are you doing?! - Ludo screeched at her.

Snapped back to reality, Star closed eyes once again, and pressed the crystal with both hands. The surface under her palms started to shine. Light spread like a wave. Eventually the whole crystal got lit, becoming mini version of a shining star made of stone.

Star opened her eyes and let go.

A small and bright piece peeled off from the crystal's upper edged. It has taken the shape of a tiny heart. Dozen more followed it from the same place. Then the whole crystal collapsed under its own weight, leaving heart-shaped snowflakes dancing in the air.

After taking a deep breath Star searched for her friends. She needed a second to recognize them in the monster melee happening just a dozen meters away from her. A few steps away lied on the floor what seemed to be Marco's dimensional scissors. Who knows when he had dropped them, it did not matter. Star dived and rose with the sharp object in her right hand. With a swift swing she split the air in front of her.

Nothing happened.

Dozens of ideas why the scissors did not work passed through her mind. She went for a second shot, when Buff Frog called her. He had one hand in the air with his own scissors and tried to throw it at Star. At the last moment a dark gray hand interrupted him. For a split second Buff Frog identified the owner of the limb and smashed his face with a fist. Then passed the scissors in the air.

With a single graceful motion Star caught them and tore the space. The whirling portal appeared almost instantly. She yelled the retreat order at Marco and the rest. Out of nowhere Ludo jumped into the rift, trying to push Star away in the process. Pony Head gave up her position and passed through the blue portal. Kelly knocked a hairy monster off balance and followed her friend. Buff Frog yelled something and Marco retreated through the portal. Right behind the boy was the toad monster, with at least ten enemies right after him. He surprised Star by pushing her through the rift. She was glad to see Buff Frog joining her at the other side and not trying to be some kind of hero.

In the crystal's chamber a sharp edge of a scissors started to close the portal. It was half way gone when a monster with below average height tried to pass through. His attempt was foiled by green fist big as his head.

Then the rift was gone.