Author's Notes:
So, as those of you who follow me on Instagram probably know, I've had a lot going on in my life lately. I won't go into detail here, but I had a big scare with my family and it's been really hard to deal with. So, from going through that to all of my college stuff and a bunch of other boring nonsense, it's been really tough to find time to write.
Nevertheless, I've finally finished the chapter and I really am proud of it. So, please, enjoy.
…
Chapter Nine: Restitution
Endless miles in all directions, the air in the lifeless magical dimension blew for an audience equally devoid of life. The wind whistled against its endless seas of dark, dense sludge. Waves calmly caressed the tall rocky structures that spanned across the dimension, heard by no one and seen by no one.
Not a source of luminescence remained in the usually vibrant dimension. Not a sound interrupted the rhythmic flowing of the tar-like fluid. The wind didn't whistle. The dark, imposing clouds above didn't spill. Not even the splashing waves dared to make a sound.
It was as if the dimension itself was dead—as if its rotting corpse was decomposing farther beyond recognition with every passing moment. The world that once had been was far past gone, leaving only the memories of what it used to be.
…
Voracius watched from a distance as Toffee stood at the foot of the Butterfly Kingdom's makeshift walls with a twisted grin. Piles of logs, hastily tied together by thin, withering ropes, were all that stood between the predators and their prey.
Voracius gripped his blade as he glared at his former master. In all of his years, Voracius had envisioned himself in Toffee's place, commanding the army that would tear apart the Butterfly Kingdom—the kingdom that took everything from him—the kingdom that would continue to withhold from him the one thing that he could ever want, the restitution that he so desperately sought.
Toffee was calm and calculating while Voracius was imposing and incomprehensibly strong. Toffee would rather stand behind the Butterfly Kingdom's defenses, savoring the incompetence of his foes. Voracius found no such pleasure.
Even as a duo of knights peeked their heads over the wall, trembling at the mighty army ahead of them, Toffee waited, not sated until he could feel their fear reaching its peak.
Toffee's smile deepened as he stepped forward. Voracius grinned his wait seemed to finally be coming to an end, but as Toffee met the eyes of the knights, Voracius's pleasure was robbed from him.
"Step aside," Toffee commanded calmly, his eyes locked with the younger of the two knights. He could sense the fear in him, growing with every second until finally, with a nod, the knight turned away, his partner following him as he sprinted as quickly as he could in the other direction.
Voracius sneered as Toffee smiled. With a single slice of his claw, Toffee cut the twine that held the wall together, dismantling it without breaking a sweat.
From a distance, the King and Queen watched. As the wall crashed down, the King turned to the Queen with an expectant expression. After a few seconds, she met his eyes, nodding.
Quickly, the King turned to the group of the kingdom's strongest knights, who stood behind him. He gained their attention with a whistle, pointing them toward the breached wall.
Again, River turned to his wife, once again waiting for her word. He ached to spring into action. Moon stared at her Kingdom with weary eyes, the signs of destruction growing near, and she felt the same way.
She wanted to fly toward the danger. She longed to banish the monsters beyond even where they came from, but as she met her husband's anxious eyes, she knew she couldn't let him go.
"No," she asserted quietly, her eyes lingering on the rising tower of smoke ahead of her.
"We lack the strength to face them head-on," she admitted, "We must be patient."
River's heart sunk in his chest as the screams of his people filled the air. He so desperately wished to be their savior, but in the end, he knew that Moon was right. With the magic of the Butterfly family being so mysteriously absent, their victory was far from certain.
…
"Come on," Star urged Marco, who followed her through the thick brush of the Butterfly Kingdom's surrounding forest. She pulled him along by his hand, oblivious to the fact that with every step she took, Marco was stabbed by the forest's unkind bushes.
Still, he didn't make any objections, following her intently as they snuck around the Kingdom's expanses, searching for their enemies.
At first, Star insisted that the duo check the back of the Kingdom, asserting that the monsters would have been too smart to attack the Kingdom's forces head-on, but as they reached the walls that were farthest from the monster Kingdom, all that she saw was the wall, standing tall.
"They'll come," Star asserted, standing confidently on the branch of a tree, her eyes fixated on the castle she sought to defend. Marco watched her. He saw her pain. He saw her dread. He wished he could somehow ease her, but if he was being honest, he was just as worried as she was.
The monsters were coming, there was no denying that fact. Nor could it be ignored that the monsters were strong. They thought their cause was just, and Marco could when he met Star's eyes that she felt the same way. The debts of her ancestors had fallen to her now. The mistakes that her family had made so long ago, even before she was born, were to be punished.
He watched as Star's face fell. Slowly, she hopped down from the tree branch, turning to Marco with a downtrodden expression.
"I-" she struggled, "I don't-"
She couldn't put her thoughts into words. Again her face fell, her mind racing.
Marco sighed, pulling her hands into his own once more, her eyes slowly climbing to meet his own. He smiled as her beautiful blue eyes returned to vision, his thoughts escaping him for a moment. Still, seeing her face, he knew he couldn't keep her waiting.
"Just because they're monsters doesn't mean that they're wrong," he stated bluntly, watching as her skin grew pale.
He dropped one of her hands, carefully placing it on her warm cheek. She leaned into his touch, her skin warming as she met his eyes once more.
"Still," Marco explained, "We can't let them win. You know that."
Star sighed, her face falling even as she nodded.
"I just-" she paused, "I just wish I could have stopped it. I just wish that-"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a tower of dark, black smoke coming from the opposite side of the village. Her eyes widened. Her body froze in place. Marco followed her eyes, dropping her hands and facing the Kingdom.
"We-" Marco stammered, "We need to go."
Before he could even turn around, Star zipped by him, her eyes lingering on the billowing tower of smoke as she moved as quickly as her body would allow.
Marco followed as closely as he could, but Star was still much faster, growing distant with every second. He called for her again and again, but she didn't so much as blink, leaving his sight before he was even a quarter of the way to the breach in the wall.
…
The Monster Army tore through the Butterfly Kingdom, going house to house and leaving no more than a pile of debris. Voracius was not only a part of this destruction, but the catalyst. He wreaked more havoc than anyone else, bringing down the homes of the Mewmans who had so viciously shunned him and his kind—the same Mewmans who praised the Queen who had his parents killed.
His wrath was mercy compared to what he had seen. The slow, painful deaths that he gave to the peasants of the Butterfly Kingdom were kind by comparison.
Toffee didn't so much as bat an eye at the destruction, merely sauntering through the Kingdom as death seemed to follow him with every step. A smile graced his face as smoke wafted from the Kingdom into his long snout.
His goal was ahead of him. The King and Queen stood only feet away, glaring at him as his army ravaged their Kingdom, knowing that any action would be futile. The joy that this brought him was untold. After a lifetime of strife, a life full of struggle as he fought for his people, the hopelessness he saw in the King's eyes was enough to bring him joy for the rest of his days.
Still, as he met the Queen's eyes, he knew he couldn't stop. She clearly hadn't suffered enough yet.
"That's far enough," the Queen asserted, glaring down at Toffee from the top of a flight of stairs.
The Septarian stepped forward, only stopping once he reached the first step on the short staircase. He grinned as the Queen's glare only worsened.
Slowly, his army followed him to the stairs, standing behind him as they awaited his command. Voracius came to Toffee's side, but the Septarian didn't so much as meet his eyes.
"Are you sure, my Queen," Toffee questioned as he took another step forward.
Voracius glared at his former master as he ascended, hungry for the vengeance that had evaded him for decades.
The queen fell silent, her eyes fixated on Toffee's as the Septarian's cruel smile only grew.
"I don't think I've gone far enough," he remarked, taking another pair of steps forward, Voracius always remaining just behind him.
"Generations of our kind—those you call 'monsters' have been oppressed and abused by the Queens of the Butterfly Kingdom for as long as it has stood."
Voracius's face went blank. Cautiously, he came to his master's side, only one step below the King and Queen, whose knights stood at their guard.
"Even you, Queen Moon, have hurt us," he explained, his tone inhumanly cold.
His eyes penetrated those of the Queen as he took his final step, reaching her level. She stepped back unconsciously, her knights stepping ahead of her. Toffee smiled.
"You and I know your crimes cannot go unpunished."
Moon froze. She tried to give a response, but before the words could even form in her mind, Voracius lunged in her direction, nearly stabbing her in the neck. She slid out of the way, her knights pursuing her attacker, only to be smacked away effortlessly.
Voracius stood in place, meeting the Queen's eyes as the King slid to her defense.
"I thought I might have been satisfied after getting rid of your mother," he remarked, reaching into his back pocket.
He pulled out a cracked skull, holding it and observing it before turning it to face the King and Queen. Sure enough, on its cheeks were two symmetric markings—butterflies, still yet to fade even after so many years.
Moon's eyes welled over as she stared at her mother's skull, shaking her head as Voracius met her eyes.
"...but I think I need more," the Monster continued, "Who knows, maybe I'll go after your daughter next…"
The Queen's tears came to a sudden end as she stared into the eyes of her mother's killer. She tried as hard as she could to summon her magic—to erase the disgusting beast that stood ahead of her, but as much as she tried, nothing came of her efforts, not even a spark.
Toffee chuckled.
"No," he asserted, "Things are different this time…"
Moon's eyes fell on her empty palms. Again, she tried to summon the magic—even a small amount, but as they had been before, her efforts were in vain.
The Queen sighed, meeting Toffee's eyes with frustration. She balled her fists as the Septarian's satisfied smile only grew.
"You finally seem to understand," he remarked.
"Your daughter didn't defeat me," he spat, "...she helped me."
"I wasn't killed by her pitiful whispering spell. No, I was transported exactly where I wanted to be."
"Stop it," Moon pled as she stepped back.
River inserted himself between the two, turning back to his wife with confusion.
"You already know what I've done, don't you, Moon?"
The Queen shook her head in disbelief, her body trembling as the reality of the situation took hold.
"You couldn't have," the Queen muttered, shaking her head frantically as Toffee merely smiled in return. Desperation seeped out of her very pores. Hyperventilating, she did all she could to escape the monsters, but as every second passed, she more became thoroughly surrounded.
River raised his staff, backpedaling with his wife to no avail. No matter what direction they went, a foe blocked their path. On all sides, the monsters grew near, Voracius coming the closest with a merciless expression strewn across his face.
He reared his spiked fist back, fury in his eyes as he approached. The King raised his blade in defense, but as the monster's fist connected with his staff, his might was outmatched. His staff flew from his hands and into Voracius's grasp. His malicious grin deepened as he held the King's staff to his neck.
He glanced back to his wife with a soft expression, then once again met Voracius's eyes.
His cruel smile would have put any other man on their knees, but as the King stared death in the face, he didn't so much as tremble.
"Your courage will mean nothing when your Kingdom is destroyed," Voracius jabbed, pressing the King's staff forward until the King's blood stained its tip. Even still, the King didn't back down.
"Your need for restitution will be your undoing, Voracius," the King shot back calmly, his fists balling as he held the monster under his stern eyes.
Voracius sneered, rearing the staff back. The King kept his eyes locked with the monster even as his arm swung down.
"I love you, Moonpie," he whispered, squeezing his eyes shut as he awaited his demise. He heard the wind break as his staff swooshed down, but just before the staff's sharp end could meet his head, he heard a loud, metallic clank.
He hurriedly opened his eyes, greeted by the sight of his daughter, holding back Voracius's strength with her magicless wand.
She pushed with all she had, but even with as much force as she could manage, she still couldn't compare to the beast ahead of her. He pushed her back slowly, his blade grinding down the side of the Butterfly heirloom until finally, Star disengaged, pushing the blade to her side.
The sword sliced her hip on its way to the ground. She let out a pained grunt but still managed to dash away before Voracius could swing again.
"So," Voracius began with a chuckle, "The brat of the Butterfly Kingdom has finally arrived…"
The Princess gasped for air as she held her wand at her side. Her mother and father watched from behind her with astonishment. Of course, the King knew she would come, but was shocked to see just how much she had matured in only a short time on Earth.
Marco dashed to Star's side, visibly struggling to breathe as he held his blade in front of him.
"And the human as well," Voracius jabbed, "How's the arm?
Star too smiled, observing the Septarian's immense burns.
"How's your side," she mocked, "'seems like my whispering spell did a number on your face… not that it wasn't ugly enough already."
Toffee's smile didn't fade. If anything, it only grew.
"A small sacrifice," Toffee remarked with the same carefree look on his face as before.
He came to Voracius's side, his hands behind his back. He turned to his partner, a grin slowly creeping onto his ugly, scarred snout.
"Bring me their heads," Toffee commanded.
Voracius chuckled, his grip tightening on his blade, lunging for Marco a second later.
Marco raised his sword, blocking Voracius's spiked fist just in time, sparks flying from the end of his blade.
Star tensed, jolting in the monster's direction. Voracius snarled, smacking her away with his tail alone.
Marco's eyes widened as he watched Star land harshly. His fist trembled with rage as he met Voracius's eyes, only emboldened by his cruel smile.
Marco sprung forward, his sword grinding against the ground in a beautiful display of color. He swung his sword upward, the sparks transforming into equally brilliant flames.
Voracius dodged to the side but wasn't fast enough to avoid getting his arm singed. He winced, but as the actual sword swung in his direction, he didn't flinch. With the back of his hand, he slapped the sword out of Marco's hand, immediately countering with a punch of his own.
Again, Marco's eyes widened, but as Voracius's fist slammed against his chest, he felt no pain. The monster's fist crunched against his chest plate, his bones shattering on impact.
Marco smiled, landing gracefully in front of Star, who got to her feet slowly.
Voracius scoffed. Without a word, he lifted the King's staff from the ground, holding his fist in the air. He glared daggers into Marco's eyes as he sliced his hand away, snapping the end of River's staff and stabbing the blade into his arm.
He winced in pain but still snarled in the teen's direction.
"Well, that's not good," Star remarked as she came to Marco's side, holding her head in her hands.
"You think," Marco retorted. He shook his head, sharing a glance with the Princess.
"You gonna be alright," he asked, Star nodding in response. Marco sighed, refocusing on the monster ahead.
"So what's the plan," he questioned, lifting his blade once more.
Star flashed a sarcastic smile.
"...Do you really need to ask?"
Marco sighed, a smirk creeping onto his face. In an instant, the teens both zipped ahead. Star lept into the air, swinging a kick for the monster's cheek, but as he had before, Voracius evaded, immediately swinging his tail at Marco, who approached from behind.
Marco lept over the swinging tail, but Voracius quickly turned to him. Star once again lept into the air, but before her attack could land, Voracius swung his newly acquired blade. Marco's eyes widened. Again, he jumped over the attack, but once he was in the air, he couldn't dodge Voracius's next attack.
The monster grinned cruelly, planting his sharp, spiked fist in the center of Marco's stomach, just below his chest plate.
The monster's spikes pierced through his skin, slashing to the side as the monster pulled away. Marco slammed against the ground, blood flying from his mouth.
"Marco," Star screamed, her attack narrowly missing as she became distracted.
She felt her heart beating slowly. It felt like her soul had left her body.
Voracius swung his fist at her, but she evaded with ease, sliding to Marco's side on the grassy terrain.
She lifted his hoodie, images flashing through her mind of what she saw at the hospital—his open stomach. All of his blood, everywhere. Her hands shook as she tried to wipe the pooling blood away. Every time she cleared it away, more oozed out.
She lifted her blood-covered, trembling palms, staring at them in horror as Marco writhed in pain. Tears flowed from her eyes, dropping into his bloody wounds. He let out a pained scream, crying out as he saw the blood seeping from his body.
"Let's see you survive this time," Voracius taunted, laughing to himself as his skin grew pale.
Star's gaze snapped in the monster's direction, her heart ablaze with fury.
"Shut up," she muttered.
The endless seas of dead magic whined as the dark clouds above presided. A single, golden drop fell from the heavens, sending ripples through the surrounding ocean.
"All it took was one punch," Voracius continued to prod.
"Stop it," Star commanded, her fists balling.
Golden raindrops trickled down behind the first, coming together in a slowly growing pool.
"The time has come. I will get my restitution. I will devour all that stand in my way. I, Voracius the Devourer will be your demise!"
Star's hand glowed as she pressed it against Marco's chest. She didn't even get to her feet before a massive ball of energy formed. She held it ahead of her and screamed, the ball expanding as it flew in Voracius's direction.
…
Author's Notes:
Hey all! So, I finally finished the chapter! I know, it's a lot shorter than I said it would be, and this is obviously a cliffhanger, but believe me, it needed to happen this way and believe me, the next chapter will be well worth the setup.
As for this one, I hope you guys enjoyed. I put a lot of work into making sure this chapter went just the way I wanted, and now that we've reached chapter ten, the real climax can come. Now, there are a lot of issues to tackle and still two more antagonists even after Toffee and Voracius, so as I said before, the end of this climax will not be the end of the story, but I still hope that the next chapter can be a fitting end to a long-lasting arc.
So, as always, I'd love to hear from you. Please, feel free to leave a comment/review and also as always, your kudos, follows, favorites, and bookmarks are also greatly appreciated. I hope to see you soon in chapter ten: Restitution II.
Have a good day
~ lucash21
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