Author's Notes:
Alright, so there's a lot to say here. First off, I'm sorry that this chapter took so long. I struggled a lot at the beginning to get down solid plans for this chapter, but after a while, I finally broke through. My life has been super chaotic recently, but I promise that I've been trying my best to work on the story.
As for this chapter, like the last, and likely the next, I felt it necessary that I put a warning down so people don't get upset by my writing. Like the last chapter, the warning regards extreme violence, this time only implied, but this time it's a lot worse. Like last time, feel free to skip the next sentence of notes, as I will be giving a warning for where the violence takes place. Also like last time, the violence is fairly predictable, but if I actually did my job correctly, then it won't be as easy to see coming as last time. I'll just say this a certain knight doesn't hold up his end of a bargain. If that's all you wanted to hear, then skip to the next section of notes or just to the beginning of the chapter, but for those that want a better explanation, I'll say this: A child is killed by Sir Scarsguard. It's meant to be upsetting and I promise I didn't do it for no reason. This event is going to be important in the future. There, now do with that warning what you will.
Anyways, that's all I've got. I hope you enjoy the chapter. I'll see you at the bottom!
…
Chapter Seven: Revelations and Reunions
Marco stepped through the portal of Star's creation and despite still being on Mewni, it was like he was in a new world. The boggy mire ahead of him was shrouded in a thick fog. Immediately, he felt his shoes sink into the ground, squelching with each step.
"Gross," he remarked with an incredulous expression. He looked to Star with confusion, but she had already started ahead. His ankles nearly submerged in mud, he trudged forward, doing everything he could to avoid inhaling the horrible stench of the swamp.
"Where are we anyway," he asked as he got to her side. She held a crumpled paper in her hands. It looked like a map, but it was crudely drawn. Still, she seemed to know where she was going.
"We should be…" she began, glancing up and squinting through the smoke. She walked forward, her hooded companion close behind.
"...here," she said, stepping through the fog. Marco got to her side, glancing ahead with confusion. They stood at the foot of a small hut. Covered in mud, the structure's walls were hardly distinguishable from the swamp surrounding it.
Still, Star stepped forward with a level of confidence that Marco couldn't fathom, knocking on the hut's door without hesitation. Seconds passed as he stood at her side, his hand at his hip, ready to unsheath his blade at a moment's notice.
The door opened slowly, creaking loudly as a towering figure stepped through. Before he could even see their face, Marco stepped in front of Star, drawing his sword in an instant. Before he could blink, the figure raised its arm, swinging it down with brutal speed.
They knocked the sword out of Marco's hand and with a kick to his chest sent him flying into the bog. Star raised her wand to brace his fall, but again, not a spark flew from the wand's end. She groaned, running to his side and pulling him from the mud.
"Star," questioned the figure as he trudged out of his home, lit only by the moon. Star smiled as she helped Marco to his feet.
"Buff Frog," Star called back with excitement, springing in his direction with her arms outstretched as Marco brushed the mud from his hoodie.
"Is good to see you," he remarked with a chuckle, then glared at Marco, "Although Karate Boy needs to learn some manners…"
Marco rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"I thought-" he sighed, his face falling.
"Is okay, I understand," Buff Frog reassured, his voice coarse, "Crazy times we are living in."
Marco walked to Star's side as the large, rotund frog-man's eyes grew weary.
"You two should come inside," he suggested, his tone hushed, "I have much news to share with you."
The teens turned to each other, sharing the weariness that Buff Frog possessed. Without another moment of apprehension, Star nodded, following the monster as he turned back into his home.
As they walked in, Buff Frog quietly closed the door behind them, quickly turning back into his home. He struck a flint against a small chunk of metal, sparks flying off of its end until finally, the firewood was set ablaze.
With a sigh, he lifted a burning twig from the fire and held it near the end of a candle. He set the lit candle inside a lantern and placed the lantern at the center of a small table in the center of the room. Wordlessly, he gestured for the teens to sit, pointing to a single, small log.
Star walked to the log and sat down, scooting over to make room for Marco. She turned to him with a smile, but as he looked back at her, his cheeks flushed red. He shook his head, and despite her confused stares, as Buff Frog began to talk once more, she seemed to forget about his flash of embarrassment.
"Because you have come here," he began, sighing as he took a seat across from the princess, "... You must already know about-"
"About what," she questioned anxiously. Buffrog exhaled, leaning back on his log, taken aback by her lack of knowledge.
"Toffee," he began, his tone somber, "He has returned. He was spotted in the monster village an hour ago."
Star turned to Marco with wide eyes, then back to the frog, her brow furrowed.
"How do we beat him," she asked, leaning forward. Marco came to her side, grinning.
Buff Frog shared none of their confidence, however. He sunk into the log on which he sat, sighing deeply.
"Princess Butterfly," he addressed, his somberness growing, "You don't beat Toffee. You run and hope that he spares you."
"I already beat him once. I just need to do it again," Star argued, thrusting her wand in the air triumphantly. Not a spark flew from the end of her wand, but still her confidence remained.
Deep silence hung within the room. Star's smile remained for several seconds but faded as she met Marco's downtrodden eyes.
"What," she asked, "I'm serious. I can beat him!"
Again, her audience remained silent until, after several moments passed, Buff Frog met her eyes.
"No," he muttered, "You can't. No one can."
Star crossed her arms, scoffing loudly.
"You don't understand, Princess-" Buffrog tried to explain, but Star quickly interrupted.
"No," she shouted, "You don't understand! I'm not afraid of him! I don't understand why all of you guys are!"
"Princess," shouted Buff Frog with a stern voice. Star scoffed, turning away.
"Toffee isn't like Ludo," Buff Frog reiterated, sounding desperate, "Something was different last time you met him- something-"
He paused, his eyes wide as he came to an epiphany. Star turned to Marco with evident confusion. Marco came closer, squinting as he awaited the monster's words.
"He-" Buff Frog stammered, "He wanted you to destroy the wand. He must've-"
"He must've what," questioned Star frantically.
"He knew that the wand would explode," he explained, "...but he didn't try to escape."
Star's eyes widened and her mouth hung open. She turned to Marco, who seemed equally shocked.
"He wanted that to happen," Marco remarked, the entire room silent in an instant.
"But-" Star objected, "That can't be true- no."
Marco's face fell, but as he heard Star pleading with denial, he knew that he had to help. He reached out, placing his hand on her shoulder. She met his eyes quickly, utterly distraught.
"No," she kept repeating, getting to her feet as she began to pace.
Marco watched her with weary eyes. After a while, he turned to Buff Frog, but still, not a word was spoken. Maybe what Buff Frog had said was true. Maybe Toffee was truly… unbeatable.
…
Not an hour had passed since word of Toffee's return had reached the Kingdom, and it was already abuzz, even despite the late hour of the night. Common people flooded the streets leading up to the castle gates in a panic.
The King and Queen quickly made their way toward the crowd from the opposite side of the gate, doing all they could to ease the crowd.
"Please," Moon desperately pleaded to the crowd, "Return to your homes. We are doing all that we can to handle the situation in the Monster Kingdom."
The crowd roared, pushing against the gate.
"If it's safe, then why don't you people come out here," a man cried, pushing against the gate.
"At this very moment, we are hunting Toffee down," River shouted, approaching the gate.
"I assure you, we-" River began.
A Mewman reached through the bars of the gate and grabbed his coat, pulling him into the gate. In an instant, a Mewman punched him in the jaw, and in another blink, a flurry of knights came to his aid, drawing their swords in an instant.
"No," River shouted just before the knights could attack, returning to his wife's side as he held his cheek in his hand. He met her eyes, but couldn't manage a word. The Queen took a step forward, but just before she could speak, Manfred ran to her side, grabbing her arm as he gasped for his breath.
She turned to him with confusion, and the second that he was able, he explained himself.
"You-Your daughter-" he struggled out, taking another deep breath as the queen gave him her full attention.
"Star- Has been spotted- In the monster- swamp…"
Moon's eyes widened, and in an instant, she turned to the same troop of knights that had come to her husband's defense.
"Sir Scarsguard," she began, "Assemble the Knights of Mewni… Every single one you can, and bring my daughter back."
The Knight nodded, immediately turning away and springing away with the knights all following. The King and Queen watched as the knights left. Moon was stern, but River was worried.
…
"Okay," Star remarked, questioning, "Then what can we even do?"
Buff Frog let out a sigh before once again repeating himself.
"There is nothing to be done," he asserted, "Princess, your wand doesn't even work. Toffee's plan has already started. If you two want to survive, you need to leave Mewni… forever this time."
Marco's eyes lingered on the Princess, even as she turned to meet his gaze. She was uneasy. He could see the cogs in her head spinning. He could see the panic running through her. He wanted to say something—anything that could help, but as he returned his hand to her shoulder, she broke the silence.
"No," she said, all eyes in the room returning to her.
"Star-" Buff Frog tried to argue.
"I am the princess of the Butterfly Throne," she asserted, "I will die if it means protecting this place."
Once again, Buff Frog attempted to object, but as he opened his mouth, his words died in his throat.
"Then you will die a hero's death," Buff Frog affirmed. Marco's face fell, but before he could even take a breath, there was a knock on the hut's door.
The home went silent in an instant. Buff Frog got to his feet quickly. Squinting at the door, he quickly gathered what was going on.
"No matter what," Buff Frog whispered, "Make sure my children make it out of here."
Star and Marco nodded without a second of objection, and immediately, the two hid, watching as Buff Frog made his way to the door. His hand lingered around the door knob. After several seconds, he let out a deep sigh, pulling the door open.
His eyes widened as he took in the sight ahead of him. There must've been at least fifty knights of the Butterfly Kingdom, each looking primed for action. Having been in a similar situation before, Buff Frog immediately held his hands above his head.
"I want no trouble," he frantically said.
Star peeked over the couch and gasped. One of the knights at the door looked past the large frog, but Star had already returned into hiding. She turned to Marco, panicked, her eyes slowly drifting to her wand.
"This isn't good," she mumbled to herself.
Marco slowly reached for his sword, ready to unsheath it at a moment's notice.
"There'll be no need for trouble if you cooperate," explained the frontmost knight of the order that stood at his door.
Still, the knight's sword was in hand with several bowmen kneeling at a distance. One wrong move would cost him his life. They weren't just ready for something to go wrong, they were hoping for it.
"No problem," Buff Frog remarked with a smile, despite the sweat on his brow. He bowed for the knight as if he was royalty himself.
"Good," the knight remarked with a twisted smile that made even Star's guts squirm.
Buff Frog returned to his former posture, holding his hands above his head. The Knight sighed, his knuckles cracking as he tightened his grip on his blade.
"Luckily for you," he began, seeming upset that Buff Frog hadn't attacked, "We're not here for you. The Princess is missing and she's been sighted in this swamp."
The knight squinted as if he was peering into Buff Frog's very soul.
"You wouldn't know anything about that, would you," he questioned, drawing his sword and pushing it against the monster's neck.
"No," Buff Frog shouted, "I haven't left my home today!"
Star squirmed, gripping her wand. Marco grabbed her hand, holding her down behind the couch.
"Oh yeah," the grizzled knight questioned, pushing his blade further into Buff Frog's neck, "I think you're lying."
He drew back his sword and quickly swung for the frog's neck, but in an instant, Star lept from her cover, hurling her wand at the knight's sword, knocking it out of his hand immediately.
Stunned, the knight's eyes lingered on Star for a moment before he finally realized what was happening.
"Princess," he questioned, turning back to his men. He pointed through the door and shouted as Buff Frog dove out of the way.
"GET HER," the knight cried, his knights stampeding through the door of the small hut.
Marco slid in front of her, holding up his sword defensively. He swung for the knights, sparks of light flying off of his blade as he knocked several of them to the ground. His eyes glistened with amazement, but as the kingsmen continued to swarm through the door, he couldn't let himself be distracted.
Star wasn't one to stay put and be protected. She sprung to the side of her best friend and used her most dependable weapons, her fists.
With dazzling ease, she dodged incoming attacks, returning them with blazing speed. With a single jab, she disarmed a knight, snatching his sword out of the air and immediately swinging it in the direction of another knight. Years of training were finally paying off in a moment that she never saw herself being trapped inside of.
Buff Frog got to his feet, quickly throwing himself into the fray. Despite his size, he moved incredibly fast, pushing through the knights effortlessly. even managed to land a few attacks of his own, despite taking a lot more hits than either teen seemed to be taking.
Still, there were so many knights and the room was so small. It seemed like the teens would be overwhelmed soon, but with every attack that the knights launched, the children would escape and throw two of their own.
They practically flowed between one another, even using each other on several occasions. Star used Marco's back plate as a surface to leap off of, landing high-powered kicks to the faces of her foes while Marco used her as a distraction, knocking away the knights with ease.
Images flashed through their minds of the endless adventures that they had been through together—the hordes of monsters that they dispatched together. Their synergy was unmatched and they wouldn't be defeated.
Eventually, the knights slowed down, but as he watched it happen, a certain, cunning knight peeled away from the fight, escaping into the home's second room.
The crowds around the teens began to thin when suddenly, a voice pierced through the action, immediately garnering the attention of the teens.
"GIVE UP," shouted Sir Scarsguard, his sword at the neck of one of Buff Frog's children with the others close behind.
"LET HER GO," shouted her father, desperately, "KATRINA HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG!"
"Shut up," spat the knight, "I'll paint the floor with her blood if you so much as move an inch.
Star furrowed her brow, glaring at the knight. Slowly, his eyes drifted in her direction, his cruel smile returning to his scarred face.
"What's the matter, princess," the knight taunted, "Not used to things not going your way?"
Marco balled his fist, prepared to throw himself at the knight if he said another word.
Seconds of silence passed. Finally, Star sighed, shaking her head.
"Fine," she remarked, her hands slowly lifting above her head. She dropped the sword that she had stolen, still glaring at the knight.
"Oh how the mighty have fallen," jeered the knight, gesturing toward his knights.
"Let her go," Star commanded as the knights surrounded her, tying her hands behind her back.
The knight smiled back at her, his grip tightening on the child. Star's eyes widened as the knights pulled a sack over her head.
She heard several high-pitched screams as she felt the knights lift her from the ground and carry her away. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She sobbed as she heard Buff Frog get to his feet, diving for Sir Scarsguard.
She heard a blade slice through flesh, then a body hitting the ground.
"BUFF FROG," she cried, flailing as she was carried away.
Several knights ran back into the room, but the group that carried her and Marco never stopped. With an effortless slice of dimensional scissors, they were returned to the Butterfly Castle.
Star kicked and squirmed as the felt the air around her grow colder.
"Let me go," Star shouted as the guards dropped her on the ground.
"Star," called Marco, panicked as he was dropped beside her.
She didn't acknowledge him, however. She continued kicking. She got to her feet and tried to get the bag off her head.
"I'll-" she struggled, "He won't get away with this!"
She heard several sets of footsteps approaching but refused to put an end to her struggle.
"Katrina didn't do anything wrong," she cried, tears continuing to stream down her cheeks. Finally, her vision was returned to her as the bag was pulled off of her head.
She was in the throne room of the castle. She saw Marco on the ground, squirming even as the knights got him to his feet. Then, she saw them.
"Do you have any idea how much danger you put yourself in," questioned her mother with a glare.
Star scoffed, pointing to the knights with her hands still bound.
"I want Sir Scarsguard banished," Star asserted, "He- He shouldn't have-"
"I don't care what you want anymore," hissed her mother, River cringing at her side.
"But-" Star desperately tried to argue, her mother quickly interjecting.
"Take her and her friend to the dungeons," she commanded her knights.
Star's reddened eyes widened. She turned to her father, but he could offer no solace. He merely shook his head, his face falling with a sigh.
"I will keep you in the dungeons until the end of the war if I have to," spat the Queen, her typical grace slipping away as a single tear fell from her eye.
Without warning, the knights lifted Star by her arms, carrying her away. Still, her eyes lingered on her mother, even as she lost control of her breath.
She could practically hear her own heartbeat as the knights raced down the stairs, her body bouncing with every step. She turned to Marco with desperation in her eyes, but as he looked back at her, she found no new hope.
Minutes later, the knights finally made it to the bottom of the stairs, racing down the halls of the dark, gloomy dungeons. Within seconds, the knights found an empty cell and tossed her inside. She quickly got to her feet, facing the knights as they held Marco, considering whether to place him in the same cell or another.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she fell harshly to her knees, the tough, wet ground doing little to break her fall. She winced, meeting the eyes of the knights.
"Please," she begged, "I- I don't wanna be alone."
The knights shared a glance, and finally, with a sigh, the knight that held Marco let him go with a light push. He nearly fell to the ground but kept his balance. As he turned to face the knights, they pushed into the cell, pulling his sword and its sheath off of his waist.
Without wasting a second, they brushed past him, padding down the princess and pulling her scissors out of a hidden pocket at her side.
Star sagged into the ground as the knights pulled the cell door closed and closed it behind them. Marco quickly knelt at her side, but there was little that he could do to ease her, even as the knights raced away, leaving only a lantern to illuminate the massive prison underneath the castle.
There wasn't another prisoner in sight. It was as if the dungeons had never been used, even despite the evident age of even the cell that the teens sat inside. Only the trickling drops of dirty water from the ceiling polluted the absolute silence.
Marco sighed, his face falling as he sat down, watching as a large rodent scurried across the ground. He turned to the panicked princess, almost unable to meet her eyes.
He wanted to tell her that everything would be fine. He yearned to tell her that their problems would simply vanish, but he couldn't force himself to lie to her. Several times, he opened his mouth, trying to find some words—some perfect phrase that would make her feel better, but every time, the words died in his throat.
"He-" Star stammered, sitting up slowly, "He killed her."
She leaned against her best friend, if for no other reason than for lack of strength, and without hesitation, he let her sag into him, wrapping his arms around her.
Still, he couldn't manage a word. He felt her tears seep into his shoulder, even through his hoodie and the straps of his new chest plate. He felt her overwhelming warmth, and even as he remembered what he'd seen, he felt at ease.
He pulled her close, hoping to give her even a modicum of the same comfort that she gave him, even if he couldn't manage a word.
…
Toffee's left foot dragged against the hard, dirty path. He took frequent, shallow breaths as he trudged through the dark Monster Kingdom. The moonlight alone illuminated the path ahead as if guiding him toward his destination.
Slowly, the terminus of his journey came into his vision. A building long since abandoned beckoned to him. He limped forward as quickly as he could, ignoring the few spectators that watched him from a distance.
Finally, he reached the building's nailed-down door. He leaned against it for a moment, balling his fist as his entire body screamed with pain. He gritted his teeth, gathering the strength that he needed to pull the old pieces of wood from the door.
Before the boards on the door even hit the ground, the door swung open, a towering figure standing in their wake. His voice thunderous and imposing, Voracius glared at his former master.
"You shouldn't have come," he remarked, his hand fastened around the grip of a sharp, curved blade at his hip.
Toffee struggled to breathe, but still managed a smiling response.
"I disagree," he chuckled out, doing little to hide his immense pain.
Still, Voracius only glared in his direction for what felt like an eternity. After a while, he scoffed.
"Come inside," he finally suggested, turning back into the building and trodding to the back of the small room, taking a seat in a chair. Only a single candle at Voracius's side lit the thrashed room.
"It's been too long, my apprentice," Toffee remarked with a smile.
Voracius glared in Toffee's direction, knowing Toffee well enough to know that the offense was entirely intended.
"You have no apprentice," Voracius remarked with a grin, "Not anymore at least."
Toffee's smile faltered for a moment and Voracius took advantage.
"You're weak," he observed in a cold tone, "The once mighty Toffee of Septarsis is no more, old master."
Toffee balled his fist with frustration but remained calm.
"That may be true," Toffee admitted with a sigh, "...but you know as well as I do that our cause remains."
Voracius chuckled, shaking his head dismissively.
"Not only are our goals very different, but I'm sure you're aware that we stand no chance as things are. As long as the Butterfly family has its greatest weapon, we-"
"Ah, but that's just it," Toffee interrupted, "Did you think that my scars came without purpose?"
Voracius's eyes widened.
"You couldn't possibly mean that-"
"Yes, I've done it."
"That's impossible. You wouldn't be here if that was true. You-"
"But I am, and I have."
Voracius sagged into his chair, exhaling with wide eyes.
"Then does that mean-"
Toffee smiled, "Yes. Their magic is gone… entirely."
Voracius once again leaned back, shaking his head.
"This changes everything," he remarked.
Toffee merely smiled, a familiar sense of satisfaction surging through him. Voracius's eyes met his own, and seeing Toffee in his current state, Voracius couldn't believe how perfectly the stars were aligning.
The war was theirs to win, and with Toffee as weak as he was, he knew that once it was all over, he could finally take control of the Monster Kingdom's fate.
His expression hardened, and with his fist clenched, Voracius nodded.
"I'll do what I must. We will finally have our restitution."
…
Author's Notes:
So… that was a lot. The pieces of the puzzle are coming together and finally, the plot is reaching its first climax.
I feel like this chapter just kind of fell together, and I couldn't be happier. As I said in the notes at the beginning, I was struggling at first to write my plans for this chapter, but after a while, I finally figured out what I wanted to do, and that involved the insane events that happened at Buff Frog's house. As I said in the notes before, that didn't happen without reason. I promise that I wouldn't kill a child without reason, at least in this story. I won't explain it here, but believe me, that needed to happen.
Other than that, I don't have much to say. I really wish that my life wasn't so chaotic right now so I could write more, but there's nothing I can do about it. I have my senior finals coming up next week, I'm graduating from high school, and I'm trying to get a job lined up over the summer, so I really just don't have the time that I wish I did. Still, as I said, I'm trying my best to find time and I'm not letting myself rush this.
Either way, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. As usual, all interactions are appreciated, especially the comments, as they are my main motivation to continue writing, and in general, I just really enjoy talking to you guys. Whether you just want to say hello or if you have something to say about the chapter or the story as a whole, I'd love to hear it.
Anyways, that's all I've got. I'll see you guys again… hopefully soon.
~ lucash21
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ALSO THANKS FOR 500 VIEWS! I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT!