Summary:
Conquering a mighty foe
Centi didn't ask for much in this life. Her head was a buzz of confusing emotions, and it made it hard to know exactly what she needed. Thus, she asked for four main things. Warmth, friends, chaps, and enough space to sleep. The last one was harder with Centi and her pack always wanting to be in the same room, and thus, always sleeping in the same room, but they somehow managed to make it work.
Especially with the glowy stick powers they had, which expanded the room even bigger than it already was, giving enough space for them all to live comfortably. They all stared as the girl with said stick rested, slowly gaining consciousness. "Who … what … Did I do it?" She muttered. "Where's mom?"
"She wasn't with you." The girl turned to their master, who stood solemnly with the annoying and tasty chew toy. "We found you naked behind the castle …"
"And I didn't take a look at anything private, I swear!" The chew toy said with a red face.
"I put you in clothes …" The master muttered. "It … looks like we both failed."
The girl sat quietly, small wet spots in her eyes. "Who did we lose?"
"Everyone…" The master didn't sugarcoat it for even a second. "We were going strong, and then Opal fell apart, and everything else fell from there. Lion, Heckapoo, Kelly..," The master got especially weepy speaking the name of his mate.
"We bought more time with Steven fusing with Pearl, but that only lasted so long." The chew toy spoke with a defeated tone.
"After that, we were losing faster." The master said. "So Tom jumped in to save Marco … and lost half of his souls as she powered up."
"Not my best decision, I completely regret it." Chew toy spoke immediately. "... But I feel calmer than I've ever felt in my life and it scares me."
"No, no, no, this can't be happening, this can't be.." The girl looked out the window. "Did Marco make it out okay at least? Please tell me he got out of there!"
"Star….he was the one that forced us to go." The master sobbed, and Centi allowed him to use her fur to wipe his eyes. "He and those that were left stayed behind to let us escape…I don't think any of them could have made it out of there."
"I …" The girl began crying. "I told him to make sure you got out …" She held herself. "We failed … we should have just ran …" She shook in place. "I couldn't even get mom out, I lost my mind."
"You couldn't have known, we were all charging into impossible situations." Chew toy patted her back. "We don't have time to dwell on it. Meterora's going to be here at any minute, and your dad can only hold her off so long with those eagles."
"Dad's doing what now?!" The girl looked out the window to see several chickens in the air swarming with a purple beast.
"He said he wanted to buy time until you woke up." The master continued to nuzzle into her. "I tried to help but he said you'd need me …"
"Please, please don't go…" The girl immediately wrapped her arms around the master in a tight squeeze. "What are we going to do now? My first act as queen, and I completely failed everyone."
"We go Starry Quartz." He answered. "We fuse, take her down, and win for a change."
"I don't know, if we fail, either one of us or both of us get absorbed…we can't beat her. We can't beat.." The girl looked like she was in a trance.
"We do have one option." The Chew toy closed his eyes, and a pillar of fire came into the room. "We go to the underworld. We'll be out of Meterora's way, and we can have time to think from there."
"... Alright." She nodded. "We can plan there." She rubbed the Centipeetles. "Come on guys, we need to take you someplace to hide."
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"Wow…it's a lot warmer than I remember it being." Tom heard Steven say as they entered his house.
"Yeah, it's getting close to the hot season." Tom said, side stepping the geyser of flames. "Help yourselves to anything in the fridge that hasn't gained sentience yet, and bear with me when my Mom starts getting embarrassing."
"I get yah. Kelly's mom was pinching my cheek and telling stories about Kelly's childhood while trying to punch me into the ground."
"You know, all things considered, our mom hasn't embarrassed us once when we got romantic." Star said aloud.
"Maybe she went through the same thing with grandma comet and didn't want us to go through it." Steven pondered. "Or Rose told one too many stories about her love life and felt the need to shut that part of her brain off."
"Despite that we still keep getting backhand comments about it." Star noted.
"So, let's go over our options." Steven said. "We are literally the only ones left that can take her on."
"She has the power to go pretty much anywhere she wants with little to no resistance." Star continued.
"And me, and by proxy, every demon in the underworld, are basically walking all you can eat buffets for her." Tom noted.
"Right." Steven noted. "So it's up to me and Star is what you're saying."
"No, not at all! We came here to talk about other options." Tom tried to shut down. "So….wanna use that space ship you got and live in space from now on?"
"You're right!" Star asked, finally seeing the bright picture. "We have a space ship, we can ram her with it to catch her off guard!" NO!
"And when she's distracted, we don't give her any time to recover." Wasn't Steven supposed to be the guy who HATED fighting!
"Or, and just here me out here, we become pirates and loot everything from every planet we visit."
Star looked contemplative. "Haven't really encounteredencountered any pirates … Steven, you got anything?"
"Some guy with a Straw Hat seemed nice, but he has a very clear motive on if it's not bothering his crew, it's not his problem." He responded. "So we won't be getting an army there. Maybe we could get something along the lines of a hired bounty. Rasticore messed with her mentally the first time."
"Bounty hunters eh?" Star thought. "There was this guy in a red suit I ran into a while back, but he talked to himself a lot and kept stuffing his face with chimichangas." Star kept thinking. "What do we know in terms of super heroes?"
"Last universe I checked had this flying mustache guy punch through people's chest like crazy, so not sure if anyone there will be helpful."
"Maybe we should sleep on these options." Tom suggested. "For like, a week or two." Or until he could convince them to stop.
They stared at him for a moment. "Tom. Baby boo. Honey." Star spoke with a voice as sweet as sugar can, sending even the parts he found hot about temper into cold terror. "If this is all some elaborate ruse to have me and Steven hide out instead of facing her, I will gut you inside out and feed you to the Centipeetles while you're still alive." She told him in the same sickly sweet tone. "So why don't you suggest a plan for fighting her , okay?"
"I-I.." He sighed. "I don't want you to fight her at all. It's obvious we're going to lose, and Marco made it pretty clear the only thing on his mind was that he wanted you two safe, especially you Star." He relented.
She sighed, patting him. "While I admire the desire, Meteora took too much, we're not going to stop." She told him bluntly. "And nothing you can say or do will change our minds."
He looked at her, that fierce and attractive determination that he fell for all those years ago..he never thought he would hate to see it. "Steven? Are you on this too?"
"I gave up trying to make peace the moment mom was gone … I gave up locking her up the moment Kelly was too." Steven's face glared up pink. "And the longer she's out there, she's just going to keep spreading that same pain to everyone else. I won't be selfish and let her keep going just because I feel bad for her situation."
"Fine." He closed his eyes. "If you're going to do this..you'll have to do it on your own." Tom led them to the door. "I'm a liability, and I only want to keep you safe Star….obviously can't happen now."
"Tom…I'm sorry." Star morphed into that butterly mode and grabbed ahold of her pink brother, and the two of them were gone in a blur.
"You're not…this is what you want to do."
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The two of them walked forward, seeing the castle in ruins. They quietly walked past the animals and guards, floating and lifeless … Steven took a glance at his father. "Dad…"
"Stay focused, Steven, we can grab them later."
"I know … my powers work on emotion, remember?" He asked, feeling a buzz under his skin. "I'm just … fueling the tank."
"Powered by trauma, oh joy." The two of them passed through many buster and shredded rooms, one in particular standing out to them. "She even tore apart the grandma room."
"Not as much as you would think." Steven pointed to the paintings. "She only ripped apart everyone after Eclipsa."
"Cause they weren't blood related …" Star muttered as they walked. "... Magic isn't helping anyone, is it?" She asked.
"Everyone I know seems to make really bad decisions with it." Steven found himself agreeing. "But it helped us, didn't it? We became bonded by magic, and became family."
"The one golden nugget in a world full of crap." She commented, a contemplative look on her face.
They made their way into the throne room, everything destroyed as bodies floated everywhere. "Princess." The bitch on the throne smirked. "I see you finally made it, I even gave you a courtesy call." She displayed Marco taped to a flag. "Your little boyfriend, as my symbol of victory … Princess Turdina is defeated."
"I remember back when you were just a sad old lady forcing herself to watch brainwashing videos." Steven growled out, horns on his head popping out. "You've come a long way since then, crazy headmaster to psychotic kingdom crusher."
"Yes I have." They said, "I actually wonder if I should start up a new school since I have the experience … meh, personal project." She shrugged. "It's so hilarious in hindsight. I hated Turdina so much I completely disregarded his little friend group." Those eyes of pure evil glowed green. "All this time, I was focusing on the wrong Princess!"
"My family may have made a mistake by kicking you out, but i'm fixing it." Star growled. "Just because you were hurt doesn't give you the right to hurt everyone else."
"You and I both know that as long as Mewmans live, they'll never accept monsters." She spoke coldly. "Monsters may even hate me for being a hybrid … but i'll adapt." They stood up, a reptilian growl emanating from her throat. "I suppose it's time to crush this fake family once and for all."
"Nothing about my family is fake!" Steven shouted as he readied his shield. "They may not have the Butterfly name, but the memories we have are real, the love we share is real!" He let claws form on his fingers.
"Love that you don't deserve." She spoke coldy. "Love that was supposed to be mine!!"
"Oh, shove a narwhal down you pipehole!" Star screamed as she sent a flood of the sea creature right into Meteor's face. "As if you ever did anything that was worth loving!!"
"Oh you vermin!" Metroa's lasers blasted through Star's attack, so Steven created a spiky bubble above his head and flung it right into the woman's torso.
"You're the one with the tail! You might as well be a giant rat!" Steven dashed ahead with his blitzing speed and punched her right in the back. This would end today, one way or another.
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Meteora screamed with rage, letting her powers flow as she stretched her arms, sending a barrage of punches in all directions. "You can't beat me, I'm superior in every way!" She knocked the prince back. "I'm stronger, faster, more experienced, and I have more powers!!" She sent out a wave of lightning.
"Yeah, you can pretty op, but you lack the one thing I am a genius on! Imagination!" The princess shouted. "Honeybee Hurricane devastation!" A swarm funneled around her and stung her everywhere. "Crystal Dagger Heart Attack!"
She was cut along the sides, screaming with rage as she fired off her blast. "Tricks won't save you from me!" She shouted at the princess.
"Good thing I'm here then!" A wall of pink light was shoved right in front of her, before it grew spikes and rammed her into the tattered remains of whatever walls were there before.
"That still isn't enough!" Reaching deep within herself, she let a rumble grow within her throats, and let it all out through her mouth. "Rrrrrrrrraaaaaaaagggh!" A thunderous roar came out and shattered the barrier.
"Is she dipping down!?" The princess shouted in confusion.
"No, I'm pretty sure that's Lion's growl she's using!" The prince answered with a shout. "These forms can only push her back for so long..we need the big guns now." The boy reached out his hand."
"Way ahead of you bro!" The princess hugged the boy with her multiple arms and began swirling as they shot themselves at Meteora like a spinning torpedo. A golden flash of light later, and the two form into a dragonfly like creature that hit her head on like a dozen freight trains at once.
"Oh you think you're cute?" Meteora snarled, charging energy. "You think you have power?"
"Bitch, we're adorable!" They did hit … hard. Meteora was knocked through three walls. "I'm sibling power pushed to the max!"
"Your family is trash!" Meteora spewed green fire from her mouth and surrounded the flying pest in it.
"I know I'm terrible, but when I do something bad, I make sure to fix it for everyone, not just myself!" The fusion shouted. "Here's a little gift from Steven! Emerald Sapphire Sournote song storm!" Multiple shiney and razor looking music notes began raining down on her.
"I think … there's something … you didn't account for." Meteora panted out, a bit exhausted from the brawl already.
"What's that, skunk face!?"
"You all … really trusted … the blue gem." She pointed at the massive pile of water that was about to crush the fusion.
"Oooh shit!" The dragonfly forced all their attention on creating a bubble to protect themselves from the brunt of the attack, forcing them downward into the ground as the pressure kept building and building, until they were pressed deeply in the ground. "I'm not that strong of a swimmer!"
"Too bad, because it looks like the two of you have finally reached the deep end!" Meteroa fired at the bubble, keeping them down and forcing them to expend their strength. "Sooner or later you'll pop, and I'll be rid of every serious obstacle in my way!"
"What then Meteroa?! You take out souls, you rule a throne on top of rubble, and then what!? You expect everyone to accept you or die!?"
"Exactly! I don't care how many I must devour, or how many worlds need to be turned to ash! I will be accepted! I will be the Queen, one way or another!"
"Not … if we have anything … to say about it!" The wand began to glow bright. "Unlimited … Shining … QUASAR!" With a burst of energy, everything was launched back, and she could barely feel anything around her, every nerve feeling like it was on fire.
Meteora got out of the wall, seeing the dragonfly painting on the ground in exhaustion. "Take that…tale that…you stupid…ra…" The fusion disbanded, into two, tired, and very vulnerable little brats.
"End of the line…Butter.." Meteora began to hack blood. Apparently Rasitcore's healing hit a wall she just reached.
"Star..get out of here." The prince held up an arm and attempted to raise a shield, but it flickered out after a few seconds.
"Stay back.." Princess raised her wand weakly. "Narwhal….Narhwal…"
She doesn't have magic. "Too little … too late." She began to slowly inch her way forward, let's not feeling as up to it as they should be. "You both … are mine."
"No!" A voice called out, and a sight that should have filled her with comfort and warmth now filled her with dread. "Stay back Meteora!" Mommy grabbed the wand, and it turned into a dark purple umbrella…that was pointed right at her. "Step away from my family!"
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"Mommy?" Star watched as the woman that had been brutally trying to kill them, stare in bafflement. "What are you doing, the enemy is right there?" Meteora asked. "We can get rid of them, then have fun!"
"Have fun?" Eclipsa said with a disbelieving scoff. "You're gonna 'have fun' all over Mewni and take the lives of everyone that gets in your way!?"
"Of course! We're free to do whatever we want! That's why you married Daddy, right?"
"I married him because I loved him!" She shouted.
"But-but Mommy, you saved me." She spoke in confusion. "You love me too. And the Butterflies want me gone." She continued to grow, those green eyes pointing right at them. "And it'll all be better when they're gone!"
With a single tear falling down the woman's face, Eclipsa opened up her wand and waved it. " Midnight Shriek." A black ghastly butterfly was formed and struck Meteora's arm, burning it with black fire.
Meteora stared at her arm. "Mommy … you hurt me?" She responded with a hint of confusion and horror.
Eclipsa gave no response as she continued to fire off the same spell, burning her daughter more and more as she sent the monster back. "Eclipsa.." Steven said breathlessly, looking at the Queen of Darkness with worry. "It doesn't have to be you!"
"You've all proved someone has to … it may as well be my sin to bear." She spoke solemnly, raising her wand. She was serious…Eclipsa was going to kill her daughter.
"Mommy…why…?" Meteora spoke like a wounded animal.
"Eclipsa, wait!" Steven stumbled to his feet, his face marks glowing white.
"Black Velvet Inferno." With a wave of the wand, and tears in her eyes running down her own glowing marks, black material began to cover the giant.
"Mommy, mommy please no! Please don't hurt me like everyone else does! Please pleas-" They were covered completely, only faint muffled screams heard … until the entire thing began to glow. "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"
It was only for ten seconds, but those cries of pain might as well have been for days. She was an awful person…but in those few seconds…Star saw the pain of a lost, scared little girl, losing her mom again.
"I'm sorry..Im.. sorry.." Steven said from behind Eclipsa.
"No … I'm sorry I let her get this far." The woman's voice wavered, watching as the outline inside the ball of light vanished bit by bit. Eventually, the black sphere broke apart … and out came a torrent of souls.
"They're being released?" Star wondered m. "If that's happening…then.." Star looked to the lifeless body of Marco, who became less floaty as the color returned to their eyes.
"Take that you old coot! And that, and …" He paused, realizing his situation. "Wow, almost seamless."
"Marco, you're back!" She jumped up and hugged him, ignoring the fact her body was screaming with pain.
"Star! What are you doing here!?" Marco finally started looking at the world around him. "And…where is here exactly? And why am I tied to a pole?"
"In opposite order, Meteroa took your soul and paraded your body like a flag, we're in the remains of Butterfly castle, and Starry Quartz came to kick their ass." Star explained, as she looked to the queen of darkness and Steven holding each other. "And then we almost failed but Eclipsa …" She paused, turning to the former queen. "Eclipsa…thank you."
"Please don't…I…I was just cleaning up my own mess for a change." Eclipsa wiped off the tears from her eye and presented the wand back to her. "Sorry for taking this, I couldn't think of anything else to do."
"No problem.." Star looked at the wand…the heirloom of the Butterfly's….but she wasn't a Butterfly, was she? "... Keep it." She pushed it back. "We've taken a lot from your family … let me give you something back for a change."
"Star..I.." Eclipsa's looked stunned, but Steven shushed her mouth, giving her a silent nod. "Thank you.."
"You saved us..I just wish there was more we could've done." Steven looked at the crater where Meteora stood, the only thing left of her being a pile of raggedy clothes. "I never..wait…what's that sound?"
"Awaba." The silent cry silenced everyone there, watching the smoke clear as it showed … a single baby. "Awago."
"It can't be…it's..its.." Eclipsa nearly stumbled into the crater, running towards the infant, and lifted the baby up in her arms with warm motherly affection. "Hello there, Meteora." The old queen cried as she rubbed the baby's face.
"... The spell was labeled 'Black Velvet Inferno'. How does that translate to 'turn her into a baby'?" Star asked with bafflement.
"I don't know..that spell shouldn't have had that effect at all.." Eclipsa said with a smile and a stream full of tears, before noticing the glow on her marks, as well as the matching glow on Steven's. "... Thank you …" The woman cried out with immense joy and tears.
"I … just wanted her to have a normal life as your daughter." Steven said, obviously bewildered by what he had just done. "I didn't know this would actually.."
"Accident or not, I'm proud to call you family, Steven. Both of you." Eclipsa bowed to them both, before opening her umbrella wand and began to fly off.
"Wait, Eclipsa, where are you going?" Star asked, and the old lady didn't respond as the mother and her child disappeared into the night. "... We did the right thing, right?" She asked Steven. "Did..did I make the right call giving her the wand?"
"I hope so." Steven said with an equally confused expression.
"Globgor, Globgor!" Glossarcyk ran around the two of them, soon three when Marco finally got free.
"Yeah yeah, we all know, Globgor was a person Eclispa knew." Marco deadpanned.
"Oh, so you know that Eclipsa's been planning to free her husband from the Crystal inside the monster temple this entire time?" Glosseryck said with a strange new and deeper voice.
"... You could talk!?" Star shouted in confusion.
"Well of course I was, i've been trying to warn you this whole time. The man went mad with anger and started a slaughter fest that Rose had to help put down." He shrugged, standing up.
"Why haven't you said anything!?" Steven asked.
"I did, I was using clever yet obvious hidden messages so Eclipsa wouldn't pick them up, but I guess you weren't smart enough to pick them up." The bastard sighed. "On the bright side, I got to cross out 'saying nothing but Globgor for half a year' off my bucket list." The man formed an umbrella from that gem in his head and began flying as well. "See you two around."
Star stared off as Glossaryck floated away. "So did anyone else notice his voice change?" She turned to the passed out Marco and her brother, who trembled in silence. "Steven, you okay?"
He took a deep breath. "GLOSSARYCK YOU SON OF A-" And then proceed to list out a long line of expletives and curses she didn't even know existed. He continued on and on, walking around and punching stone walls as he kept up the endless tirade of hatred.
"Please tell me I didn't just screw over the kingdom." Star said to no one in particular. "Because I just handed the throne to the Queen of Darkness."