Summary: Things always seem to get worse
Glossaryck watched as Ludo started to regain consciousness. "Ugh … where am I … what happened …" The kappa wobbled around, before turning to him. "Hey Glossaryck … Did we party last night?
"Nope, I just watched the chaos." The man shrugged. He saw it coming, but it was still a bit shocking to watch it all play out right before him. "The magical high commission came, and now they're gone."
"Wow … i'm more badass than I realized!" The deluded man laughed. "Thank you Glossaryck, you helped me reach an even greater level of power, now I can watch the corpses of my enemi-SWEET BABY GREENS, WHAT IN THE NINETY REALMS IS THAT!?" She shouted at the two headed hydra that gazed at him.
"The corpse of your enemies, though it's less of a corpse and more of a lost animal." Glosseryck explained as a giant Swan-like creature landed next to the hydra. "Remember what you did to Quartz a while back? This is the same thing with the crazy rock ladies."
"Oh … that makes sense." Ludo chuckled. "So they're mine now … one two … where's the third one?" As he asked, a giant dog-like creature jumped from behind onto his back.
"Gruff! Rff. Rff." The former Amethyst barks as it sniffed the Kappa's head. Honestly, this wasn't too far off from her original personality.
"Get off me!" Stand back. The corrupted gem obeyed, moving off him. "Well then, looks like I got a couple of enforcers … Eagle, Spider, take point! I'm giving you a new squad to rule over!" … He wasn't entirely sure how sane he expected the Kappa to be, even with the parental and isolation issues. Glad to see he could still be surprised.
"Looks like someone has really moved up in the world." Glosseryck thought out loud. He wasn't sure how far Toffee really thought of the long term consequences of this plan. Funnier still, was that he somewhat agreed with the lizard.
Only problem was that he was taking out both sides of the scale by screwing with both magic and the gems, which was bound to send the multiverse into whack eventually. The Koala may even be convinced to just hard reset everything. "Indeed I have! I've made history!" Ludo looked at the book. "And I will document the occasion to forever memorialize my success!" He plucked one of the eagle's feathers and dipped the end in mud, but the book shut itself close the second he tried to write. "What gives!?"
"It only lets the owner of the spellbook write in its pages." Sharing the same body didn't mean shared ownership.
"What, but I own it fair and square!" He shouted. "I stole it right from the hands of Star Butterfly!"
"I guess it doesn't know that then." He shrugged. Ludo wasn't the owner anymore, which meant he didn't have to give clear answers…at least clearer answers for when someone asked.
"In that case …" Ludo chuckled, turning to the swan … before looking back. "Wait, are these all the gems? I remember a blue one somewhere."
"That one's slightly more slippery and passive, like the water she controls." Lapis flew off the moment Moon left. Apparently the gem wasn't keen on following orders even under a corrupted transformation.
The kappa looked in thought. "Mmm … three out of four ain't bad." He shrugged. "Now you! Swan one! Find Star Butterfly and destroy her, so I have full ownership of the book!" That wouldn't work, but again, Glossaryck wasn't required to tell him anything anymore.
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"I can't believe it, she just left after confessing, and knocking us out!" Marco shouted as he paced back and forth. "The nerve, the absolute nerve!"
"Hey, at least you have something! I didn't even get a chance for a farewell kiss!" Kelly sighed on the table. "She could've given me five seconds before knocking me out."
"So let me get this straight." Peridot, waved a paw. "So besides the Crystal Clods learning that a lizard organic living inside of a small ocean dwelling organic was causing the corruption, they went after him, only to lose horribly with highly skilled warriors to boot, and now are enemies working under said lizard organic as Steven and Star ran away and left you here to … do nothing?"
"Pretty much. It's a thinking of 'if I stay away from you I can protect you'." Marco grumbled.
"That seems logical, only one person gets hurt." Peridot nodded.
"It's stupid, because no one should be getting hurt at all!" Kelly banged her head against the wall. "They only left us behind because they're scared for us, but now there's nothing getting in between them and that overgrown alligator."
"I thought we were talking about a lizard, when did an alligator come into play?"
"They're both reptiles, we're just too frustrated to keep track of his nicknames." Marco explained.
"You think you have it bad, look at this!" Peridot turned around, and there was a green puff of what looked like cotton on her backside. "I've had the urge to hop around on all fours for two days and frolicking in the grass!"
"You know, I really thought the antlers looked more dear than rabbit-like, but what do I know?" Marco shrugged. "But yeah, it's not looking good and we have no clue where they are!"
"And they took Lion with them, so there goes any chances at tracking them either." Kelly thought it over. "If they were worried about Toffee finding them wherever they went, then the safest bet is that they're on Mewni."
"But not in the castle, they'd storm that." Marco began pacing. "They must be looking for that fountain, and if it's well hidden …"
"Then Toffee's probably going to raid the castle and try to lure them out by attacking." Peridot answered. "Simple military psychology, destroy their dwelling of sentimental value until they surrender."
"Almost forgot you were from a warmongering alien race." Kelly muttered. "Okay then, if he's going to attack the castle then let's defend it." She smiled. "So what if he murdered the entire Magic High Commission and has all the Crystal Gems under his control as unreasonable monsters?"
"Yeah!" Marco shouted. "We have Karate and a Sword, we can do this!"
"... I thought you were the reasonable one." Peridot fell to the ground. "Couldn't you let me have that as one of my last sane mental tangents?"
"Again, I have sixteen years of experience fighting against hopeless odds, I've been able to do more with less on my hands." He pulled out his scissors. "Also we have an entire kingdom to help if we can convince their dad to join."
"And my sword is a gem poofer, we're going to need it." Kelly waved the pink blade in the air.
Peridot grumbled. "Fine, good a plan as any. Just open the portal so we can all go through."
"Wait, why are you coming?"
"I'm going to be corrupted either way. Before I lose my last rational thought I thought I'd explore the moon Homeworld wanted for so long. You know, 'live a little'."
"That's the spirit! Dive into the crazy and embrace your inner Star and Steven!" Kelly cheered.
"Alright people, operation 'save the castle' is a go." Marco really hoped this wouldn't bite him in the butt.
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"The one time it would've paid off to join your father on one of his lectures, and I decline. I swear sometimes the universe just hates me." Mom said as they traveled through the forest of certain death on Lion. Being dragged behind them on strings was the skull of Omnitrackis and the limp body of Heckapoo, whose eyes were pitch black, both commission members being floaty like a pair of balloons.
"Don't worry mom, me and Steven listened to all of them." Star smiled. "First things first, find your direction. We can check the moss for north-"
"No!" Steven shouted. "You can't trust the moss on trees. All it does is eat you and attract lightning bolts." Too many close calls, and one redirected strike. "We need to find a blue feathered bird, then we'll force its skull to magnetize itself in true north."
"....What conditions were you forced to live through in Hekapoo's dimension?" His mom asked him with the maternal care he's grown to adore.
"Harsh and barely livable ones. The fritz was getting worse, so I couldn't rely on my gem powers to keep me and Kelly safe. Not to mention seventy percent of sapient life was reduced to carnivorism … and in some cases cannibalism." That feeding frenzy was intense. "I had to become one with the wild and hunt down fresh meat in order to keep us going, so I'm basically never going to become a vegetarian."
"Is that something you genuinely feel or is it out of spite for Tad?" Star looked at him with a questioning look.
"… Yes." He answered. "Although now that I think about it we may want to check on him … I don't remember him mentioning any friends other than us." Then again there were a lot of things he didn't remember about Kad ever since he came back…did Kelly's ex even talk to anybody in the group?
"Quartz, as much as I want to have a conversation about your dating life, and believe me when I say we WILL have that conversation later.." Damn it, he was hoping to keep his parents away from this. "Right now we need to focus on getting to the sanctuary."
"Oh come on mom." Star waved off. "We're not even in the dangerous section of the forest. We can take our time to-" There was a large thud behind her, Steven saw white feathers as Star's eyes stayed wide open. "… I said the expression didn't I?"
"Yes, yes you did." Steven replied, throwing out his arms to focus on making a shield. "Stay behind me, I can keep it off us for a sec-"
"Caawwww." [Horn girl found. Must eliminate. Reward with praise.]
"What the…'' Steven was baffled. "It's like Centipeetle, I can hear her…that voice…" Steven looked to his mom in horror. "No, don't tell me…!"
"That's not just any monster, that's Pearl!" Mom shouted his fears verbally. They could see the gem on the forehead of the swan, striking them with a spear tipped beak. "Please, come to your senses!"
"Caaaaw." [Miss. Strike again.]
"I don't think she's in the mood to listen! Toffee's probably too deep in her head!" Star waved up her wand, the broken crystal glowing green. "Mega Narwhal..!"
"Star, don't use your wand!" Mom shot his sister's arm down as they all ducked underneath her beak. "Toffee could use it to track us if it's active!"
"Well we need SOMETHING to poof her. It's not safe for Pearl to be about herself and for others." Steven looked at his spike covered body. "Maybe if I can just shapeshift…AGH!" Flaw, form. His arm swelled up with pain when that pink glow covered his arm. "Bad idea, I'm a sitting duck too!"
"Well then forget everyone else!" Moon grabbed him and Star, jumping over a log. "We need to get out of here, it's after us!"
"Easier said than done, she's taking flight!" Steven pointed to the corrupted gem chasing them in the air. "Pearl, there's got to be some part of you that knows how to fight this! You don't bow to anyone!" [Pleading. Desperation. Praise. Attachment.]
She stopped, hovering for a moment. The gem stared at them … only to be smacked by a wave of water. "I guess Lapis is after us too." Star muttered.
They all turned to the gem in question, who looked almost like a mermaid, if the fish half was part piranha. Gills and scales covered the girl top to button along with wavy blue fins on her arms and head in replacement of hair. "Lapis, please, you've cared for my son, you're one of the few people I can trust on a personal level!" His mom pleaded, keeping her hands ready to fire some magic.
The blue gem hovered above them for a second as the white gem began to recover. "Sccaawwaah!" [Companion. Protect. Enemy. Destroy. Drown in the abyss.]
"She's on our side … I think." Steven muttered the last part. "I'm half worried she's going to shatter Pearl."
"It's better than her attempting to drown us! Let's get moving!" Star dragged the two of them back on Lion as the two flying gems above them began an aerial assault.
"Quartz, I have never been more happy for your ability to befriend problematic figures before now." Moon looked back at the fight happening above them. "I'm so glad you kept that mirror."
Steven looked at the two fighting gems as he was carried away by Lion, a weight in his chest. "… Me too."
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The swan carried the blue rock down to its master. It was a long battle, but faking her loss of consciousness proved instrumental in victory. "Oh, you came back! That must mean Star is gone!" [Expectation. Standards. Praise.] It felt so warm to be expected to accomplish a task…a task that she ultimately failed in succeeding in.
"Brreeee." [Failure. Obstacle. Enemy. Defeated.] She set the rock down on the ground. [Monster. Minion. Compensation.]
"Wooof." [Condensation. Amusement. Smug.] The dog was most annoying during times like this.
"So Star managed to escape…huh, she must've grown." Tiny blue man said, floating above the book.
"What do you care?" [Confusion.] Master stared at the blue man. "You haven't once tried to break out to go back to her." [Accusation.]
"I'm just saying, it's nice to see one of my pupils grow a little, even if they're no longer under my guidance.
"Well maybe you could be my master and tell me how to use a book that's under my rule!"[Rage. Bafflement] He shouted.
"Hisss." [Guidance. Tranquility. Patience.] The hydra tried to calm down Master to no avail.
"Your rule? Who said that you're the one that owns it?" The blue man said with a chortle.
"You did! It's me! I have my wand! I stole the book! I defeated the magical high commission! IT WAS ALL ME!" [Anger. Impatience. Disappointment. Hatred.]
"You? Defeat the Magical High Commission? You're putting yourself on a pretty high pedestal for someone that only knows one spell."
"Then teach me another spell! That's your job isn't it!?" [Demand.]
"It is my job to guide the owner of the book and wand…both of which you don't own anymore."
"Grrgh." "Fughr." [Confusing.][Jerk] The hydra moaned.
"Fine, If you're not going to teach me anymore, then I don't need you anymore!"[Rage. Contempt. Murder.] Master picked up the book, as well as the man sitting on it, and threw it on top of the fire, where the pages started burning in a green flame.
"Huh, this happened a lot sooner than I thought it would." The blue man sighed, turning to master, who's eyes became green. "Looks like you got him to do what you wanted."
"This wasn't what I was going to do, this was all Ludo's doing. I'm just as surprised as you." [Truth. Satisfaction.] "But now that you're out of the way, I can actually get to the next stage of my going without a problem."
"It's funny when you see the end coming, but you're not ready for it." The blue man spoke calmly, roasting a marshmallow. "You know, there's one thing you overlooked, Toffee."
"Oh, a bit of friendly advice? Why not, tell me the 'big secret' as it was." [Taunt. Interest.] The man possessing their master spoke.
"You're only controlling them through magic. Once the wand breaks … back to wild animals."
"As long as they don't have the capacity to think anymore, I don't care. I'm more than capable of putting down a couple of wounded animals." [Confidence. Success.]
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Moon sighed in relief. "We finally made it, the sanctuary." She hopped off of Lion. "This is a small well connected to the heart of magic itself."
"Mom, this is just the swamp." Star pointed out to the large body of water in front of them. "I doubt we're going to be any safer swimming in swamp water while Toffee's chasing us."
"It's what's underneath the swamp that we need." Moon corrected, pointing to the gator swimming to them. "All I need to do now is communicate with the guardian." She hopped on all forces and proceeded to communicate with the guardian as her mother taught her. "Waggh."
"Waggh."
"Waaagh."
"Waagh."
"So this is where I learned to make peace with animals." Quartz muttered to himself.
"That or she just lost her marbles." Moon would've been offended if she didn't make the exact same comment thirty or so years ago.
The gator gave her what some would assume to be a brainless look before swimming out into the water again, where it dove downwards. Seconds later, a stone and crystal structure popped up from the water, just like it always has.
"Secret Crystal entrance!" Quartz shouted with childlike glee she missed. "Is this more Rose stuff?"
"For once, no, although the gem homeworld is somewhat involved with its establishment." Moon explained as they entered. "The Queens of Mewni have been coming here for generations."
"Ugh, did they have to cover it with Glossaryck so much?" Quartz rolled his eyes at all the carvings and statues of the man. "This place got ten percent less impressive."
"I'm just curious on how this place is gonna help fight Toffee." Star spoke. "Secret power up, weapon to spring out?"
"The well pours out directly from the realm of magic itself. It's possibly our last chance at fixing Star's wand…and hopefully your condition." Moon said hopeful, gazing down at the well. "Just as long as…" The well…it was full of black sludge. "No…no…he's infected it all." She smashed the bricks on the wall. "THAT DAMN BASTARD!" She cried out. "I should've killed him when I had the chance! If I wasn't such a damn fool, none of this would be happening!"
"You fought him before, didn't you?" Star looked at her with a steeled gaze. "I..I went into my wand to get Toffee's finger out of it, I saw your tapestry. It was of you blasting his finger off."
"Yes…Yes that was me." She ignored the concerns of her daughter's dangerous exploit for the moment. "It..It was the only way to get him to back away."
"You said you would tell us everything … so start at the beginning." Star sat down on the ground, staring with a determined expression. Quartz sitting down next to her with a softer expression.
Moon sighed, taking a seat next to the fountain herself. "… Your grandmother tried to make peace with the monsters … with baking of all things." She smiled. "Everyone from Rose to Glossaryck loved the woman. She just loved everything and everyone equally."
"She's the reason why your pies are so good." Quartz speculated.
"Yes, all the best memories I have with her were in the kitchen. She was so close too, so close to bringing about peace with all of Mewni, without having to lift a single sword." Moon couldn't stop the tears from flowing. "And then … the Serptarsis came to power with Toffee as their new leader … he killed her in cold blood in front of Rose and me …" She hugged herself tightly. "He trampled on any and all ideas of unity, with the claim that monsters needed to listen to no one, as they would never fear death."
"Grandma Comet is…you always said she was resting at the Grandma farm, with all the other grandmas.." Star looked down.
"I'm sorry … I thought you would have figured it out on your own at some point …" She apologized genuinely. "I was just so lost and confused, my mind was being tortured with so emotions and feelings and I wasn't allowed a single second to process it in peace because the kingdom needed a queen to lead them." Moon gripped her hands. "So, in my desperation…I talked to Eclipsa."
"Talked to…Queen of Darkness Eclipsa?" Quartz asked. "You mean you read her chapter?"
"No…Eclipsa is alive." The fact astounded the two of her children. "And I made a deal with her." Moon stayed quiet for a moment. "It all started at a meeting."