Chapter 6
The Forces of Evil
Star's double stood frozen. The Princess, her friends, and the four mewnian soldiers had him surrounded. They were not moving either. The resemblance was so perfect, it left Star struck. A spell capable of making such an amazing double was not something she had heard of. Only differences were the torn hoodie against an undamaged one, and sword in hand, instead of a wand. A lifeless wand, with an empty star-shaped socket. One of a kind.
A year-long second passed. The double's eyes were jumping around nervously. His tense pose hinted that whatever was his next move, Star had to foil it.
Another infinite second ticked away. Nobody knew what the double was exactly, what he can do as the Princess, and what he can do on his own. When you don't know with what you're dealing with, not acting was the smart move. Instead be on you guard, try to intercept your enemy's actions. Basic tactics learned by mewnian troops. Star could swear the air was getting distorted by the building tension.
As struck by lightning, the double dashed straight for Star. Time was enough for only grabbing the swords with both hands, but not taking a defensive stance. The four soldiers had already stepped in front of Star. In a tight formation, they raised swords and shields, forming a barrier of steel. The double would have to get through them first.
But he did no such thing. At the last moment the he made a side step, without losing and momentum. In order to protect the Princess, the soldiers had left a gap between them and her friends. With lightning reflexes, the double used it to go around. For a moment Star saw her doppelganger passing through. His sinister smile looked both unnatural and familiar. Then he continued charging on towards the wall, ignoring the soldiers and the girl.
Before Star could trace his movements he was gone. The other troops had become a perfect cover for the double. Star Butterfly walking between them didn't seem strange enough for somebody to stop her.
Whenever the fake was trying to hide, escape or do something stupid, Star was not letting him go that easily. She jumped into the armored crowd, searching for clues where her double went. In a forest of grey metal, a lashing blonde hair was easy to notice. For whatever reason it was heading straight for the inner gate.
- Stop that princess! – Star yelled, pointing at the pursued. The order sounded just as bizarre as she expected. The troops found it hard to obey. A moment, or two, was needed, before abandoning whatever they were doing.
Two soldiers were assigned to watch over the gate. They never saw the strikes that made them lose balance and fell over. From one of his pockets the double pulled a dark red pebble. He squeezed it in his fist and placed it on the stone gate. The pebble, now glowing, stayed there without any support.
Star was close enough to see her doppelganger stepping away, when an explosion shook the world.
After slowly opening both eyes, she could only see clouds of dust settling in the air. The Princess lowered both hands from a protective stance, then wondered when did she raised them. The dust clouds were getting thinner, allowing to see only dark silhouettes. She used one hand to cover her nose and mouth, while the other tried to scatter the dust. The bruised shoulder painfully reminded of itself.
Through the greyish clouds a shadowy figure reached menacing. Star barely saw it and a dark plated hand grabbed her by the wrist. A wild instinct told her to bite, a panicked brain asked her where the sword is. She turned her head at the ground and found the blade simply lying there. Using the other hand Star reached for the sword, but only managed touched its grip.
Another reach, this time stretching both hands as much as the body allowed. One by one fingers touched the grip, getting it somewhat closer to Star's left hand. Then the shadowy figure raised the girl in the air, denying her the blade.
Out of nowhere Kelly jumped, with a sword with both hands. Midair she made a vertical slice right through the dark plated hand. Released from the grip, Star fell on her face, while the shadowy figure stepped back and disappeared. Kelly pulled the Princess up and both started running away. The dust curtain was getting thinner until they finally left its cover. A view of mewnian soldiers charging their position unveiled. They ignored Star and Kelly, and entered the dust curtain. Somebody shouted orders to defend their position. From the walls archers once again were rapidly shooting arrows. The doppelganger was nowhere to be found.
Star rolled back the last moments she remembered and combined them with what she was seeing right now. The explanation she came up was as dark as it was disturbing. Her double used some sort of magical bomb to blow up a hole in the wall and let his fellow monsters inside. And the explosion had killed him.
- Star? Star! You OK? - Kelly finally got her attention. They were still running.
- I'm all right - Star responded with some uncertainty. - What's going on?
- Your "twin sister" blew up the gate. Soldiers are trying to defend it. We're getting away from it.
So she got that part right.
- Where is the fake?
- Don't know.
Technically that did not disapprove Star's theory about the double's demise.
Suddenly a tall knight with a blonde mustache stepped in, blocking Kelly and Star's way. They tried to stop, but ended up crashing into him. The knight did not move. Star made a step back and took a good look at the man. His complex silver armor had the Butterfly family crest painted on the chest piece. This man was from the Royal Guard.
- Princess Star! I've been looking everywhere for You - the man said with little emotion. - Come with me...
"...if you want to live" Star finished his sentence mentally. Why in a time of crisis she had chosen to quote a comedy movie from Earth, it was a mystery even to her.
- ... to the castle. There the Royal Guard will protect You. Until the battle is over.
- No! I have to help my people. And find my friends - Star protested.
- The commander has the situation under control. It's his job to protect the castle at all cost. As it is mine to protect You.
- Star, get back to safety - Kelly said. - I'll get the others and we'll meet you inside. I got this.
Star hated to be once again in the position where she can't do anything, because her survival had to be prioritized. She hated even more the idea of leaving her friends to fight a war they had no role in.
- Ten minutes - she compromised. - Then I'm coming with the warnicorns to get you.
- Five is all I need - Kelly smirked.
The Princess could not hold herself and gave her friend a warm hug. Kelly embraced her back and the both girls stood like that for a while. Then they let go and each went on their own business.
While following the knight, Star regularly looked back at the walls. Mewnian troops had established a defensive line and were stopping Toffee's monsters from passing through. The archers were taking their time before shooting, probably because they were getting low on arrows.
The knight and the Princess passed by several towers, one of which had the main barrier crystal. Or used to have. Star wasn't sure what had happened to shut the barrier off. They reached a door made from marble, with golden frame. The knight opened it and invited Star inside. She was about to get in, when something high above attracted her attention.
A series of pearl blue and emerald green fireworks exploded in the sky. They were followed by a series of paired explosions with the same colors. Then a third kind of series flashed, casting creepily colored shadows everywhere.
Star realized that no matter how many men gave their lives to protect the castle, it would not matter if Moon lost her own battle.
XXX
Behind the door was a wide hallway, with walls and ceiling not too different from any other corridor in castle Butterfly. What made it different was the five armored men, laying down on the floor in an unnatural poses. Splattered blood was running down the walls, still fresh.
Star's heartbeat skyrocketed from the terrifying view. Slowly she made her way to the closest body and stared at it. The white armor and blooded crest were the same as the men from the Royal Guard wore. This man's lifeless face was absolutely the same as the knight who brought her here.
She was still trying to find a meaningful explanation, when a dreadful feeling overcame her. The adrenalin rush gave her the agility to jump away, avoiding a surprising attack. A thin red line had appeared on her right cheek, crossing the pink heart. She was too busy staring at the assassin to feel anything.
The knight stepped forward and swung his sword at Star's throat. With one ducking move down she dodged the attack and grabbed a nearby blade. Her enemy struggled to retract his sword-holding hand, when Star tried to cut it off. He raised his other hand to block the attack. The sharp end of the blade stopped halfway through the silver gauntlet. With a furious roar the knight swung his sword back at Star. She had to pull her own weapon to parry the counterattack. The blow threw her off balance and she tumbled down. Using her free hand, Star turned the direction of her momentum and gracefully raised back. Her left shoulder screamed to not do that again.
The knight had dropped his sword. One of his metal hand was squeezing the other's palm, both of them covered in blood. He stared down at them with bitter look.
- What on Mewnie are you? - Star yelled at him. - You're not from the Royal Guard. Speak before I cut more than just your hand.
- That body is really clumsy - he said, but not to her. - It's too slow. Why don't I change into something more...appropriate?
The silver armor started to lose its clear color. Its sharp edges were slowly joining together, forming a flat surface. The man's face was melting away to forge an inhuman expression.
The knight was gone. His place was taken by a serpent monster in dark leather clothes. Eye sockets covered by purple rings. A long purple line separating his forehead in two equal parts. Star recognized him from back when she was Toffee's prisoner.
- You... you are a changeling?
- I am a shape-shifter - the monster pulled a dagger from behind.
Star only saw a dark green blur charging at her. A loud echo from colliding steel came when she parried the serpent's strike. Her body had raised the sword without consulting with her brain first.
- Posing for you mother was pretty fun - the monster said and attacked again. Tilting her upper body backward, Star barely managed to dodge. Golden strings of hair danced freely in the air.
- But acting as your boyfriend - now that was even better.
A flashback surfaced. During the city evacuation Star had gone after a troublemaker. In the forest she had lost his tracks, when out of nowhere Marco had appeared. That was not her friend, but the creature she was fighting right now. He was the one who tricked her into giving the wand to Toffee.
He was the one who had changed into Star Butterfly to enter the castle, and shut down the barrier.
The serpent's distraction had worked on Star. He used the moment to execute a low sweeping kick, knocking the Princess off balance. Before her body hit the floor the monster was once again on the move. He stepped on Star's right hand and pressed on until she dropped the sword. The serpent used both hands to raise the dagger above his head, preparing it for a final blow.
A faint glow stopped him from finishing off Star. Underneath him a pink energy globe was growing rapidly. The monster leaped away from its target, putting as much distance as he could. Star was back on her feet. Strong light was coming from her cheeks, eyes, and the pink sphere. She stood there without making a move. Her whole body was somewhat relax, as if Star's mind was somewhere else. The energy ball had become big enough to cover her chest.
Troubled, the serpent searched for something in one of his back pockets. Star's energy ball stopped growing for a moment, then shot itself straight for the monster. At the same time the assassin pulled two crystals the size of a pebbles. The green one he threw at the incoming magical attack. The crystal disintegrated on contact with the pink sphere. The other one he dropped in front of him. Azure light emitted from the pebble and a semi-transparent blue wall grew.
Moment later both magical objects collided, exploding into blinding two-colored light.
When the rainbow spots vanished, Star found herself knocked down on the floor. So was the assassin. Almost simultaneously they got up and something got both their attention. On the floor, closer to Star, was the magical wand. She remembered her doppelganger was holding it, even when they unexpectedly met. The explosion must have knocked it out from him.
The Princess and the serpent exchanged a glare, before both dashed towards the magical relic, both holding a weapon in one hand. The monster wasn't as fast as before, which gave Star the much needed advantage. The assassin was a few steps short from the wand, when the girl grabbed it from the floor. Immediately she pointed the lifeless stick at him and yelled "Narwhal Blast".
"I knew it wouldn't work" Star thought, when nothing happened. But it did made the monster stop for a moment. Then the moment vanished and he swung the dagger at her.
This time Star decided to counter the attack with an attack. "After this move, I'll have to put a whole iceberg on the shoulder". With the wand in one hand, and the sword in other, she jumped and made a flip in the air. On her way down, first the magical artifact collided with the serpent's dagger. The attack's momentum was enough to make him lower his weapon. This was the opening Star expected and swung her sword at the exposed throat.
Just as graceful, the serpent made a side step with one foot, avoiding Star's attack. She landed on her legs and tried to turn around to face her opponent. The assassin used his superior speed to pull the dagger up and attack Star. The strike barely missed her back. Instead the blade landed in her back arm, making its way deep into the triceps.
The sudden pain was too much at once to ignore. Star dropped her sword and collapsed, but still holding the wand. She barely turned her head to see the monster slowly approaching her. With one leg he stepped on her back, pinning Star on the floor.
- Well, Princess Star. This is how your luck ended - he picked up Star's sword. - Now, your life will follow it.
The serpent got interrupted by a loud banging, coming from the entrance of the hallway. Kelly must have found the rest of Star's friends and came back, as promised. Or any moment now, a horde of armed monsters was about to bust in here.
- I stand corrected - the monster said with disappointment.
Star felt the pressure on her back disappearing. Trying not to scream from pain, she just stared at the assassin, he stepped next to one of the walls. From a back pocket, he pulled a tiny ruby and placed it there.
- But I promise you, Princess... - the red crystal started to glow. - ... by the end of the day, somebody will be burying a Butterfly.
For a second the wall got covered in glowing crimson cracks, then an explosion shook the hallway. When Star opened her eyes, a giant hole had appeared where the ruby was placed. Her assassin was gone missing. Then her eyelids started to fell on their own. She did not resist.
XXX
Star got snapped back from daydreaming by a gentle slap on the cheek. Somehow she responded by slapping back the slapper, then opened her eyes. Marco was staring at her, holding his right cheek, and smiling.
- She's awake! Everyone, Star is awake.
Looking around, she met the happy faces of her friends. Buff Frog used both hands to support Star in sitting position. One sleeve from Kelly's hoodie was missing. She was using it as a bandage for Star's right hand. Pony Head pushed Marco away and locked herself on Star's shoulder. It was the floating head's way of having a hug.
- You scared the rainbow out of me! You have no idea how hard it is to frighten me. And there, now you know.
- I'm alright, Pony - Star put a free hand around her friend's body. - Help me get up.
With the help of the others, the Princess managed to stand up. Pulsating pain from both her hands reminded Star of the injuries. A few seconds of dizziness passed before she smiled, letting her friends know she was OK.
- Star, what on Earth happened to you? - Marko asked without hiding his worry.
- Turns out my double is a shape-shifting monster. The knight that brought me here - that was him. He did all... this - Star turned her head around. The bloody hallway looked grimmer than she remembered.
- Did you kill him? - Kelly asked.
- No, but I did saw his real form - Star raised head at the hole in the wall. - When you knocked at the door, for some reason he decided killing me was not worth it, and ran away.
- You said he's a shape-shifter, right? Maybe he didn't want others to see his true form.
- Or he knew he can't handle all of us - Pony Head said with anger - He better run, cuz when I get to him, he's dead.
- Yeah, beating him might be a bit difficult than that - Star disappointed her friend. - But at least I got my wand back.
With the help of Buff Frog, the Princess kneeled down and picked the magical relic with her left hand. Except for the missing yellow crystal, it was the same wand she used for the last year. Star took another look at the hallway, then said:
- Let's get out of here. There is still a war to win.
- You're in no condition to fight, Star - Marco protested.
- And what should I do, Marco? Mewnian men are trying to stop a giant monster army. My mom is fighting Toffee. And a shape-shifting assassin is out there. Should I just sit down and wait till it's all over?
- Getting yourself killed won't be of help to anybody. Maybe we should find your father.
Star though about Marco's suggestion. Since nobody have a better one, she had to agree. It was a better choice than fighting a monster army mindlessly. But first, they had to figure out where exactly was King River.
- Alright, Marco. Then let's go get the commander. He should know where my dad is.
"Knowing dad, he's somewhere slaughtering monsters. Somewhere where the situation is most dire."
Without anybody's help, Star left through the entrance on her own. She took a few steps, before stopping to look at the ongoing battle.
The mewnian soldiers were still holding on their own. Monsters were relentlessly coming through the destroyed gate, but they could not advance through. A strict defensive formation of men was surrounding the entrance, creating a trap of steel for Toffee's warriors. But their ranks looked a bit thinner to Star. Their heroic actions would not last long.
Suddenly a bright blue shooting star fell through the sky. She crashed into one of the towers' upper floors. Another star followed her inside, leaving a menacing green line of light behind.
- No, mom... - Star said quietly. She turned at Marco and the rest. - That's my mom up there. She is alone with Toffee. We have to help her!
- Star, this is Toffee you're talking about. We... we have to find you father - Marco said to her. She could see him regretting those words a bit, but still believing them.
- If we leave now, then she... - Star swallowed a painful lump - ... then she is going to lose. And if my mom lose, we lose!
The boy hesitated for a second, before speaking again:
- You better have a good plan.
- Actually... - the Princess looked down at her wand - ... I have a terrible plan.
