Thanks to my readers/followers/favouriters/reviewers for the continued support of Queensguard. Here's chapter 9!
Star was going to die. The monster that held her in its terrible clutches constricted ever tighter, squeezing the breath from her lungs and making black spots dance across her vision. She didn't understand how her mother stood there so coolly, while she was being slowly crushed by the horrible beast known as a corset.
"Mom!" She gasped, desperately reaching out to the Queen, sending her pleas to the corn gods for this torment to end.
"That is enough, Winnifred." Moon made a 'halt' motion with her hands, and the maid pulling the strings of death stopped and laced them through mess of hooks and loops that was the back of the garment. Star drew a few shallow breaths, then it was time for the next round of torture. Dainty sky blue shoes were slipped onto her feet (She would have blisters by the end of the night, Star was sure), and a heavy ball gown of the same color was jostled into place over her shoulders. Moon smiled warmly, desperately trying to comfort her daughter in these trying times.
"You look wonderful, Star. I'm sure every noble with a pair of eyes will look your way."
Star nodded glumly, trying not to mess up her hair, which had been painstakingly twisted and braided and pulled back into a bun. There was only one person that she wanted to notice her, but he was strictly off-limits.
"Ahem, Princess Butterfly?" Winnifred gestured for Star to step off of the podium.
"You're finished, and we have to get Princess Lilacia ready for the festivities." Star thought that festivities was the wrong word, but said nothing and stepped down. Her mother placed a guiding hand on her shoulder, and they made for the exit. Before they made it, however, Moon stopped and looked Star directly in the eyes.
"Star," Moon spoke in a whisper that was barely above audible. "I've assigned you an escort tonight, and I expect you to behave properly." An unsaid or else hung in the air between them. "Do Mewni proud." Two guards opened the doors, and there he was, clad in a white suit and golden shoulder tassels. Star nearly choked on her tongue. Woah, he's- What are you thinking, Star? He's not Tom, that's what. Marco Diaz sheepishly extended his arm to the dazed princess, and away they went.
Moon collapsed onto the bed, her uncombed hair pooling around her face. Everything hurt. Her joints ached, and it felt like someone had drilled spikes into her skull. She wished that she could magic away the pain, but this was the kind of hurt that dwelt in the very fiber of her being. The feeling had started just yesterday, when she had reached into the void for that sword. She had to reach farther than she ever had to before, just to summon a simple blade. It had gotten progressively worse from there. Now even little spells felt massively heavy and complicated. She didn't know what had happened, but she knew that no matter what, she had to remain strong and protect the people she loved. It was a queen's duty, after all, just as knights were to guard and kings were to lead and support. A pair of arms snaked around her waist and a bristly beard tickled the back of her head. She leaned back into the cushy pillow that was her husband.
"Hello River." Moon smiled up at her beloved spouse. River placed a gentle peck on her forehead.
"Our little girl is growing up so fast, isn't she?"
"Yes, but I have my doubts about her being ready-" River cut her off.
"Bah, she's ready. I think it's us that aren't prepared. Someday soon, we'll be handing her off to a man, and then we won't have any say in how she lives her life. It frightens me too."
Moon buried her face in River's chest, and all of a sudden she felt fourteen again, seeking comfort in his arms after the horrific death of her mother.
"That's not my worry right now. I'm concerned about Marco. I don't know if she's willing to fight him if need be. Can't we just put him in chains until this passes?" The king shook his head.
"Moon, you know as well as I that we couldn't put him through that. Besides, you've been training Star to fight exactly this. She's our last best hope."
"Yes, but what if he lashes out unexpectedly? What happens when his mind is gone and Toffee controls him?"
"I already said Star could take him. Besides, I have guards watching him, Moon, some of my best. When Toffee gains control, my men will pounce. Stop worrying. I have this handled. Tonight we will enjoy ourselves."
Moon relaxed.
"Thank you, River. I'd best be getting ready. It wouldn't do to attend dinner looking like this." Maybe, just maybe, they could make this day a happy one.
Captain Centauri wanted his bow. He wanted to take it out and peg the boy that accompanied the princess right between the eyes. He knew that he wasn't the only one that thought Moon was being unduly reckless by keeping the kid close to her daughter, and if he silenced him now, maybe, years after his own execution, of course, he would be regarded as a hero. Not only would he prevent Princess Star's inevitable death, but he would also bring down the weak link in Mewman society. But he could not. His commander, General Diaz, was stationed across the room from him, and no matter how bad his gut twisted at the thought of Diaz Junior, he couldn't bring himself to murder the General's son in cold blood. Instead, he busied himself with observing some of the other early-arrivals to the dinner. A blonde in a shimmering silver dress chatted with a tall prince, Tom Lucitor sat alone in an alcove, counting the minutes till food was served on a silver pocket watch, and a girl in black leather appeared to be systematically pickpocketing everyone who crossed her path. Centauri frowned. He wasn't about to let that one slide. He walked over to her just as she slipped a gold ring out of the pocket of an unfortunate noble.
"Hey, you in the leather!" He was proud of the way his voice boomed around the room. It made him sound official. "A word, if you would." He grabbed the thief's arm and dragged her into a side room. Janna blinked up at him, a carefully crafted look of innocence in her big dark eyes.
"Yes, Mr. Guard? What do you need?" Centauri was very afraid. If this was who he thought it was…. He choked back his fear.
"Hand over the valuables, Miss Ordonia. Turn out your pockets, one at a time."
Janna put her face uncomfortably close to his, and the Captain's heart raced. This was worse than bad.
"Not gonna happen." Something sharp poked him in the neck, and his vision blurred. The Queen of Thieves waved her hand to the comatose guard and smirked. She had a feeling that this Ball was going to be very profitable indeed.
At seven o'clock, dinner was served in the Aerie Ballroom. Tables were set up, each for a visiting family- with the exception of the Butterflies and the Ponyheads. The two great families were seated at the High Table, which was elevated and stretched lengthwise across the room. Marco squirmed in his chair. How he had ended up here, sandwiched between the Princess of Mewnie and her mother instead of watching one of the entrances was beyond him. When Moon told him that he was on duty, he was sure that it meant standing at the doors, watching the dances from afar. This was not the case. Earlier that day, he had been whisked away to the land of epaulets and suits with no warning, and was informed that he had to keep the princess away from Tom Lucitor as much as possible. Afterwards, he had gotten a mouthful of Star's world, and he found himself empathising with her. Royalty really were suffocating. The sharp clang of metal on crystal derailed his train of thought. King River stood on the table, taller than everyone around him for once.
"Today," he began, "marks the end of my little girl's childhood." A wet sheen covered the king's eyes. "She, as you all know by now, is sixteen, and thus, of m-marriageable age." Tears flowed freely now, streaming down River's face. "I would like to, for the first time as an adult, introduce you to the Crown Princess of Mewnie, Star Butterfly!" River sank into his chair as Star stood to a cacophonous round of applause. When Star sat down again, she was visibly embarrassed.
"Ugh...Dad…" Star groaned to no one in particular. Marco, however, heard her, and was struck with a memory from long ago, of his parents crying over him growing up at some birthday party come and gone. He leaned over to his friend(?) and whispered in her ear.
"Don't worry," he tried his best to sound comforting, "my parents would have done the exact same thing." Star smiled a little half-smile, and he knew that he had succeeded in making her feel better.
Out of the kitchen came trolleys stacked five feet high with elegantly prepared dishes from every corner of the world. Crabs from the Mer Kingdom, fireflower wine from the Underworld, and, to crown it all, platters and platters of corn from Mewnie's legendary fields. Everything was delicious, but for some strange reason, Marco kept dropping his fork. He didn't pay attention to that small detail, but a pair of eyes more trained than his did. Moon Butterfly watched the boy for the entire duration of dinner, hoping against hope that he wouldn't snap. However, Marco stayed Marco all through the meal.
After everyone had finished eating, the tables were pulled away, and the Mewnian orchestra replaced the High Table at the head of the room. Star scrambled away from the throng of nobles who were seeking partners, her escort not far behind her. They were alone in the corner of the ballroom. A long second passed.
"Umm, can I ask you a favor?" Star looked at Marco nervously. He quirked his brow.
"Yeah, shoot."
Star took a deep breath.
"The princes out there are creeps. Can I dance with you?" Star was resigned to her fate. She didn't want to dance with any of the foreign nobles, and Tom was not an option anymore.
Marco nodded. He liked dancing, but he would feel out of place dancing with princesses that he didn't know. Besides, if Star danced with him, he wouldn't have to worry about her going off with Tom. It was a definite win-win.
"Okay, princess." He bowed elegantly. "May I have this dance?" Star accepted, and took his hand.
"Of course, Sir Diaz." She couldn't hide the grin that crept across her face.
The two of them stepped out onto the floor for the first dance of the night, a mewniet. The tune was light and fast, layered with fiddles and piano. Together, they flew across the room, forward and back, blue shoes and black boots alike barely touching the ground. The other couples parted, creating a path for the two dancers. Moon looked on, a faint smile touching the corners of her mouth. She remembered dancing with River like that, to this same song.
Star was dazzled. Every step they took was perfectly in time, every hand motion perfectly executed. She spun again, the ruffles on her skirt flying out around her in a perfect circle. He caught her hand and pulled her backwards, finishing the mewniet face-to-face. She was officially in awe.
Marco bowed again, bending from the waist, and she hurriedly curtseyed, remembering the people looking on. The next selection was a quickstep, and the orchestra gave the stage away to a band. Marco took her hands in his, and they raced down the sides of the ballroom, skipping and twirling and spinning until the rest of the world dimmed to nothing.
"Where did you learn to dance?" Star breathed, completely blown away by her partner's skill. The boy smiled. He was actually having fun, against all odds.
"That," he paused for dramatic effect, "is a Diaz family secret."
A few more songs found the two tired and thirsty. Marco flagged down one of the many servants that were serving drinks, and ordered two glasses of the special cloud punch.
"Star," said Marco, in between gulps of his drink, "you're not so bad."
The princess polished off her punch.
"Heh. Same to you. You surprised me."
Marco raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
"Well, I've never had a knight who was friends with criminals. Or monsters."
"And that's a good thing?"
"Yeah it is! You can dance too, which is a total bonus."
Marco dropped his punch, setting sparkling shards spinning on the floor. The princess of Mewnie, a land that hated and degraded monsters, accepted that he was friends with them?
"Uhh...you okay?" She waved a hand in front of his face, startling him. "You dropped your glass."
He nodded, looking down at the servants who were scrambling to clean up his mess.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to!" The staff waved him away, saying that it was their job to clean it up. Suddenly, all the lights in the room went down as the conductor announced the final dance of the night. Star's heart pinched. It was the same waltz that she had danced to at the Ball of Beginnings, all those years ago.
Prince Lucitor straightened his bow tie and sighed. Star hadn't sought him out as a dance partner all night. In fact, he hadn't seen her since dinner, when she stood up to be recognized. He found himself wondering what kind of nobles she had found herself with, and if she liked any of them. But Tom was prepared to wait. He had an ace in the hole, and if it didn't work then he didn't know what would. He had threatened to consume the conductor's soul if he didn't play his waltz, and the terrified man had agreed. Star was definitely going to come looking for him. The lights dimmed. All according to plan. His pocket watch ticked, counting the seconds he spent without Star. Tom crushed the annoying thing in his palm. Where was she? This was his dance. He looked up to see a crowd gathering around the center of the ballroom. Intrigued, he shouldered his way to the front of the mass. In the murky half-light of the room, two dimly lit figures dipped and swayed to the music, each movement pulling their shadows into distorted shapes on the floor. The crowd held its breath, captivated by the display of elegance. But then it all went wrong. A faint red light trickled hrough the darkness, and Tom's jaw dropped. For a split second, he saw Star's face. She was dancing to this waltz without him? Tom's body erupted into flame, starting the floor behind him on fire, and causing the assembled nobles to rush for the exits. Her dance partner wheeled around, assuming a fighting stance.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Tom's normal voice was replaced by a feral roar. "THAT DANCE….WAS MEANT...FOR ME!" Tendrils of fire snaked toward the two. Marco shoved the princess out of the way, taking the brunt of Tom's attack. His clothes smoldered, and angry red welts were already forming on his arms. Star unholstered her wand, but the demon prince had jumped on her knight, making a clear shot impossible.
"Tom! Stop! I don't want to fight you!" Star said, tears of confusion and betrayal pouring from her eyes. His head snapped up, momentarily abandoning Marco. The guard slammed his fist into Tom's stomach, sending him flying. Star had had enough. She collected herself and coolly approached the demon. Star pointed her wand at his face.
"This man," she pointed to Marco, "is under my protection." A blast of water doused the fires that surrounded her. "That was your last chance." Star turned on her heel and exited the ballroom, leaving the drenched demon lying on the floor.