Sugar and Spice - Chapter II: Sins of the Mothers

Sugar and Spice
Chapter II: Sins of the Mothers

After Moon hung up the call, Star and Marco didn't even have time to discuss the events any further. They were dressed and on their feet in a matter of minutes. Having found his hoodie torn to shreds on his bedroom floor, Marco was glad he had a few extras. Star had hoped to get more of the story before going back to the castle, but when the queen said she wanted them back right now, Star knew she wasn't kidding. In any case, she knew they'd be discussing it shortly. She had conjured a cane for Marco to get him back on his feet, and while he was still unsteady, he could at least navigate on his own again.

With a deep breath, Star cut a rift back to Mewni with her dimensional scissors, staring at the portal with trepidation along with her companion. "Ready Marco?"

Marco stared into the portal, still not quite stable on his legs, fearing what fate might await him on the other side. " ... no."

Star reached out and took Marco's free hand in her own, squeezing gently as she turned toward him, offering a small but warm smile. "Me neither."

Marco felt his heart jump slightly as he smiled back, before both teens turned back toward the portal. Whatever they were about to face, they could face it together. Feeling as ready as they would ever be, they crossed the threshold as one. They found themselves just outside the entrance to the throne room of Butterfly Castle. As they entered, they hesitatingly allowed their hands to slip apart just as they came into view of the king and queen.

As Star looked around, she found the room disconcertingly empty. All the usual scribes, courtiers, and attendants were absent. Star couldn't hear any of the usual bustle of the castle echoing into the main room through the halls. Even the guards had apparently been dismissed. If not for her parents occupying their thrones, she would swear the castle had been abandoned. Only Glossaryck accompanied the royal couple, floating quietly on the sidelines with the Book of Spells.

The pair slowly climbed the stairs to approach the thrones. Their footsteps echoed through the empty room, a knife through the silence as River and Moon rose to stand and step forward. They looked down at the teens with a mix of fear and concern, yet surprisingly neither Star nor Marco sensed any anger or judgment. Even so they were both sweating bullets, wondering just how much Star's parents really knew about last night's events. River was fidgeting with his beard, and even the usually stoic Moon started to look uncomfortable, none of them daring to speak. The tension continued to rise until River finally broke the silence. "So... anyone read any good books lately?"

"River!" Moon prodded her husband in the side wih her elbow. The king cleared his throat and became silent, stepping back to sit on his throne. Perhaps best to let his wife start this one off, he thought.

After a slight sigh, it was Moon's turn to speak. She had thought she would have more time to prepare. Maybe even prevent the whole thing, somehow. It wasn't supposed to come out of nowhere like this. But it was too late. The spark had already lit. Nothing to do now but try to get the fire under control. The queen stepped toward Star, suddenly kneeling down and pulling her daughter into a tight hug that lasted for several seconds. Star was too surprised to return it, eyes slightly wide with shock as Moon stepped away, all pretense of her usual regal posture gone as she spoke to the pair with an unusual softness. "You're not in trouble."

It was a rare phrase for Moon, and seemed to be directed toward both Star and Marco and she looked back and forth between them. It also told Star the situation was serious. Star would almost have been less worried if she WAS in trouble with her mother. That would be just another Saturday. But to not be in trouble for... this.

Star nodded, almost sadly. She somehow felt like she should be in trouble. If not for reading the chapter against Glossaryck's advice, then for hurting her best friend. Her more than best friend. Even if she couldn't remember the events, it was clear to her that she was responsible for Marco's current worn and weathered state. She had started to put the pieces together, but she still had a number of questions. What had she really done? For once, Star didn't want to argue, but she was afraid her mother would assume the worst. "Mom... I don't-"

Moon held up a hand to silence her daughter. "We'll explain everything. It may take some time. If we're going to be able to help you, I need both of you to be absolutely honest with me, no matter what. Do you understand?" Star and Marco turned toward each other, silently coming to an agreement together with only a brief look. The way Moon said it made the two fairly certain that they were at least all talking about the same thing. They faced back toward Moon, nodding in unison.

Moon returned the nod, finally resuming her usual, businesslike demeanor. "Good. Then we'd better get started. Star... how much do you remember?"

Having already done her best to organize her thoughts as she prepared for the trip, Star began with minimal hesitation. "Yesterday Glossaryck and I were training, and when I was looking through the book, I found Aphrodisia's chapter. I, uh... I think you already know about it."

Moon hesitated, as if deciding whether or not to speak. After a moment she nodded slowly, gesturing for her daughter to continue.

Star took a deep breath and went on. "Nothing happened right then, but I looked at it again after Glossaryck went to sleep. I just started reading it, and then... and then..." She shook her head as her memory of the events hit a wall. It seemed a few of the blanks had turned into blurs, but even with Marco's confirmation of what they had been up to, Star still couldn't grasp anything of substance from the previous night. "Nothing."

Moon gave a small nod of understanding, then turned toward Star's partner. "And you, Marco?"

Marco looked a little uncomfortable as the flashbacks returned, his expression appearing pained. "Everything."

Moon and River exchanged a glance of understanding. Just as they had feared. River stepped down from his throne, placing his hands on Marco's shoulders and looking him straight in the eye, his expression full of compassion and concern. "And are you alright?"

Marco was surprised to find that the question seemed to be directed specifically toward him. He shifted nervously back and forth on his feet for a few seconds, looking over to a concerned Star, then back to River, trying to find the words. He wanted to honor Moon's request for honesty, but what could he say? After everything he had been through, he wasn't even sure himself. "Y- yeah. I mean, I think so. Everything happened so fast, at least at first. Then I guess after a while I realized I couldn't do anything about it, and I just... stopped fighting." Marco looked at his feet, sighing softly. "But at least it's over now, right?"

River wrapped one arm around Marco's shoulders in a fatherly gesture, shaking his head. "No, Marco... I'm afraid not."

Star watched as Marco swallowed nervously, then looked back and forth between her parents. "Huh? Dad, what are you talking about? How do you know so much about this anyway?"

River returned to Moon's side as they joined hands, sharing a brief gaze. Moon looked like she wanted to say something that she couldn't quite get out, as if the words were caught in her throat. River turned to look up at her, placing his other hand over hers as well, giving a small squeeze. "Darling..."

Moon nodded to her husband, then turned back toward Star, taking a deep breath to compose herself before speaking. "When we were younger... the same thing happened to us."

"Hubba-WHAAAAAAAAAAA?" Star's jaw dropped open wider than she ever thought possible. She could hardly believe the response. Her mother, Perfect Queen Moon, the most proper, straight laced, and restrained lady Star had ever know? She had read Aphrodisia's chapter and gotten horizontal with Dad? She gestured wildly, brain unable to keep up with her mouth as she attempted to process her mother's confession. "But, why, you- Mom... how could, if you're you, with the book-"

Moon decided to stop her daughter before she could confuse herself any further, holding up a hand to her. "I know you have questions, Star. As I said, we'll do our best to answer, but first thing's first. River." She nodded her head toward the king.

"Right. No time to waste." River placed a hand on Marco's shoulder, beginning to guide him down the stairs. "I need you to come with me, lad. We have a lot to talk about."

"Huh? Where are we going? Is Star gonna be okay?" Marco turned back toward Star as River led him toward an exit, the grip on his shoulder steady but firm.

River continued to guide Marco out of the room. He wasn't entirely happy about breaking them apart before they had a chance to talk, but under the circumstances, there was no choice. "Oh, she'll be fine. You're the one I'm concerned about." It wasn't entirely true. River WAS worried for Star as well as Marco, but he would have to leave that to his wife. "Step lively, now."

While Marco didn't feel as though River was threatening him, he could also tell that it wasn't a request. "Oh, uh... okay. See you later Star." He waved back to his partner.

"Marco!" Star reached out towards Marco as he walked away, taking a few steps toward him until Moon placed a hand on her shoulder. Star turned back toward her mother, who only shook her head sadly. If there was ever a time she needed him by her side, it was now, Star thought as she turned to watch him leave. "Where's Dad taking Marco?"

Moon waited until Marco was out of sight, watching as he and Star gazed at each other longingly for most of the trip. After Marco and River left the throne room, Moon turned back to her daughter. "Don't worry, you'll see him again soon enough. For now, Marco needs rest. Treatment. Preparation, emotional and physical."

"For what? Mom, what happened to me? What happened to Marco? What happens now?" Star couldn't handle much more mystery today. As much as she dreaded the conversation, she needed answers, and she was tired of waiting.

"I'll take this one." Star had nearly forgotten Glossaryck was there until he finally spoke. She turned to the sound of his voice as her mother got uncomfortably close to him.

Moon glared at Glossaryck, pointing a finger directly in his face. "Yes, you will. This is your fault, you know. Did I not tell you to inform me the SECOND Star found Aphrodisia's chapter?" It wasn't a question.

"Do you honestly think it would have changed anything?" Glossaryck responded with a dismissive shrug.

"She wasn't ready! Neither of them were!" Moon was nearly shouting now as she leaned in even closer to Glossaryck.

"May I remind you, My Liege, that you weren't much older than Star when YOU found Aphrodisia's chapter." Glossaryck pointed a finger right back at the Queen.

Star looked over at her mother. Moon had already admitted to finding it, but when she had said it happened when she was younger, Star had thought... well, older than 14, anyway. "What? Really?"

Glossaryck grinned, unable to pass up the opportunity. "Ohhhhohoho yes. And the first words out of her mouth were asking if there was a spell to add a few extra inches to River's-"

"HEIGHT!" Moon interjected, breaking out in a sudden sweat, her eyes darting from side to side. "I... preferred taller men back then. Star, you know I love your father, but he's, well... short."

"Pfft." Glossaryck muttered and rolled his eyes at the deflection, resuming his usual meditative pose. "Short like a horse."

"What was that?" Just as quickly as she had lost control, she composed herself again, fixing Glossaryck with an icy glare.

"I'm just saying that even back then River wasn't exactly lacking in the 'height' department." Glossaryck made air quotes with his fingers to stress the point as he turned his head toward Star. "Your mother might have still been just a Mewman princess back then, but she was already another kind of queen... weren't you, Moon?"

The queen's eyes narrowed dangerously at Glossaryck, leaning in inches from his face and hissing through gritted teeth. "And how would you know?"

Glossaryck didn't back down. Instead he abandoned his meditation stance and began a pelvic thrusting motion, pumping his arms back and forth a few times for good measure. "Maybe if you'd remembered to put away your spellbook while River was 'raiding the cave'..."

"STOOOOOOOOOOOOP!" Moon and Glossaryck looked toward the source of the scream to find Star curled up in a fetal position on the floor, body shaking violently, cringing at the increasing number of horrifying mental images that the conversation was forcing into her brain. "No more..."

Moon frowned slightly, reaching out a comforting hand. As concerned as she was with the recent events in Star's love life, she didn't want her daughter to get the wrong idea. "Oh, Star, no. It's a very beautiful thing when shared between two people in love."

Star rocked gently back and forth, groaning softly. "Not when those two people are your PARENTS!"

Glosaryck smirked ever so slightly. "How do you think you got here, kid?"

"Glossaryyyyyyyyyyyyyyck!" Star balled up tighter, trying to pull her hair over her ears for protection.

"Glossaryck." The hot anger had left Moon's voice, replaced with a low, steely tone that carried just a hint of a threat.

He could tell that the queen had finally had enough. While no being in the multiverse was above being subjected to his unique brand of torment, even Glossaryck was wary of pushing Moon too far. He rubbed his temples for a few moments before speaking. "Look... the POINT is. I'll handle the magic, but the emotional consequences are up to you. That's outside my expertise, and above my pay grade."

Moon raised one eyebrow slightly. "We don't pay you, Glossaryck."

"Exactly." Magic was easy. Emotion was hard. Why did the two have to be so tightly bound when dealing with mortals? "Which is why I'll be sticking to what I'm good at."

Moon softened slightly, apparently satisfied with the response. "So, you'll teach her like you taught me?"

"Like I taught you? Oh yes, I remember. The meditation, the fasting, the grueling discipline. Of course I can teach Star all that. But, ah..." Glossaryck gestured toward another part of the room.

Moon followed the path of his finger to see her daughter chasing after a stray butterfly that had floated into the throne room, hovering just out of her reach. "Hey, come baaaaaaaaaack! We're practically sisters!"

Moon turned back to Glossaryck, looking a bit sheepish. "Oh... right. Well, you have a plan, don't you?"

"Your Majesty." Glossaryck sighed as he tried one last time to persuade Queen Moon to change her mind, even knowing it was a futile effort. "I already told you what needs to be done."

Moon stomped a foot on the ground, shouting at Glossayrck. "And I forbid it! It's absolute lunacy!" Moon took a deep breath to calm herself, pausing to collect her thoughts. "I can't even believe you proposed it. For both their sakes, we have to find a real answer."

Glossaryck didn't even budge, maintaining his expression of barely supressed condescension. Though he respected Moon more than any queen in many generations, Glossaryck had always resented being told how to conduct his business. However, because it was about more than just magic, he was willing to bend just this once. He knew Moon doubted his judgment in the emotional aspects of the case. It was true that his emotions, such as they were, would be considered extremely alien by mortals. However, he also had countless years of experience training Mewman queens, and had already seen everything there was to see. Expect, perhaps, for Star. "For both their sakes, you should let me do my job." Glossaryck gave an exaggerated, resentful sigh. "Buuuuuuuuuut if you insist that you know better, I can try something else. Just remember, My Queen. You asked for it."

"Duly noted." In this case, Moon DID insist that she knew better. Glossaryck knew everything there was to know about magic, to be sure, but he didn't know nearly so much about volatile teenage hormones. Moon knew only too well. They couldn't just sit back and do nothing. One way or another, Star would have to learn self-control. "Star."

Moon commanded her now nearby daughter to break her from her distracted chase, tearing Star away just as she was about to catch her winged quarry. "Aww." Star frowned, but turned her full attention to the queen. "Yeah Mom?"

"Star, we need to discuss a few things before Glossaryck takes you to prepare yourself as well." Moon took a seat on her throne, motioning for Star to take River's. Moon needed to gauge more of the sitation before making her next move. "Other than last night, have you and Marco been, well..." Moon cleared her throat, attempting to phrase the question delicately. "... getting to know each other better?"

"Nnnnnnnnnnn-" Star REALLY didn't want to have this conversation with her mother right now, but quickly thought better of lying. She and Marco had promised after all. Absolutely honest, no matter what. "-nnnnnnnyyyyyyes. A- a little. I mean, not THAT much better." Star's cheeks heart glowed softly as she shifted back and forth in her seat, fidgeting with her fingers. She hoped her mother wouldn't get the wrong idea, and she hoped even harder that she wouldn't have to go into the details. She watched as Moon reacted with stone silence, an unfamiliar look of sadness on her face. As her mother remained nearly motionless, Star wondered if she had really done the right thing by admitting it. "Uhm... now am I in trouble?"

Moon wasn't mad, or even disappointed. Only hurt. "Dear. I have no objection to the two of you deepening your relationship, but why didn't you feel you could tell me?"

Star started to protest. She really hadn't intended to keep it a secret, but maybe she had put off the conversation longer than she should have. "We were gonna tell you! We were just trying to find the right time say something. But then all this happened, and... and... we didn't think you'd understand."

Upon hearing Star's defense, Moon... laughed. Not much, only a small chuckle, but it was enough to unsettle Star for a moment. She couldn't remember the last time she heard her mother laugh. "And do you still think that?"

Since the day had started, Moon seemed to already know exactly what she and Marco were thinking, maybe even before they did. Maybe just this once her mother really did understand. Well, today was proving to be full of surprises. She shook her head at the queen. She hadn't been sure if she could really open up before, but as difficult as it might be, she finally felt prepared to get down to business. She had already put some of the puzzle together, but she needed Glossaryck and her mother to fill in the rest. "So... what really happened? Reading that chapter did something to my head, didn't it?"

Moon turned and gestured to Glossaryck, who scratched his chin for a moment, looking for a way to phrase it that Star would understand. With Star's attention span, Glossaryck often tried to teach her without her actually realizing it, but in this case he felt it would be better to get right to the point. "Hmm. Not just your head. More like all of you. Body, mind, and soul. The short version is, reading Aphrodisia's chapter has the potential to awaken a variation of your Mewberty form."

"The heart sticker on my face before..." Star brought a hand to her cheek, scratching where the mark had been before she had peeled it away.

"In this case, more of a side effect. Mewberty hearts and cocoons degrade quickly. They aren't made for long term storage in the first place, since the transformation doesn't last very long. Especially this transformation." Glossaryck shrugged slightly. "I mean, it's not like you were saving him for later."

Star cringed as another piece fell into place in her mind. She knew the basics of what had happened from what little Marco had time to tell her, but from the look on his face when she woke up, she was extremely sure she hadn't been holding back. "I didn't forget what happened during Mewberty though. It still feels a little like one of those dreams where it isn't really you doing things, but I remember what was going on."

"There are a few differences from the usual Mewberty process. First of all, just in case you didn't think it was bad enough the first time around, the emotional surge is FAR more intense. Even to the point of inducing a sort of trance-like state." Glossaryck's eyes became hypnotic swirls for a moment before returning to normal. "Oh, and generally speaking, it only comes with one target, namely whoever the object of your affections happens to be at the time. Princesses who don't have one of those don't typically have much use for Aphrodisia's chapter. Once the target is found, well, the Mewberty form does what it does best. Aggressively and repeatedly."

Star shuddered at the thought. Not of being intimate with Marco, which she had been looking forward to doing someday, but of violating him like that. She briefly considered asking exactly what she had done to Marco in that state, but at this point, she had a pretty good idea. It was the why of it that had been a mystery. "Okay... so how did I end up like that just from reading the chapter?"

For once, Glossaryck had a simple point of reference available. He gestured toward the book, telekenetically flipping it open toward a toward a certain sealed section. "Do you remember what happened when Marco read Eclipsa's chapter?"

Star nodded. She recalled when Marco had read the chapter and been taken over by it, filled with the power of Eclipsa's dark magic. Fortunately Glossaryck had showed her how to fix the problem with no permanent damage done, but it was still quite a shock at the time. "Yeah, I remember. Nothing happened to me when I read it though."

Glossaryck set the book aside, holding his hands up to Star. "Everyone has their own temptations, including you and Marco. Eclipsa tempts with power... " Glossaryck clenched his right hand into a fist. "... but Aphrodisia tempts with pleasure." He slid his fist half open and stuck his left index finger through the hole. "And last night wasn't the last temptation, if you know what I mean."

"You mean I'll transform again." It wasn't really a question. By this point, Star had realized what Moon was trying to prevent.

"Unless we take steps stop it, yes. The burn will return." Glossaryck snapped his fingers and conjured a small but growing flame in his hands for a few seconds before snuffing it out.

Star growled in frustration, rising from River's throne. "Grrrrrrrrrraah! It wasn't supposed to be like this! Marco and I... we talked about it, and we both said... we both said we weren't ready. Not for that." It was true that she had wanted something more from Marco, but this definitely wasn't it. "I didn't mean to hurt him..." Tears began welling up in her eyes as she thought of Marco recoiling in pain at her touch. "And I might hurt him again."

If nothing else good came of all this, Moon was rather impressed that they had agreed to wait. She wondered if it was mostly Marco who had encouraged patience, but at the very least, Star had kept her emotions in check up until reading the chapter. That was a good sign.

"And on top of all that, we were... it was our first..." Star yanked at her hair until she felt like it would tear out. "UGGGGGGHHHH! And I can't even remember it!"

Moon hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly nodded toward Glossaryck. Glossaryck returned the nod. It would be better for Star to know everything. At least Moon was willing to listen to that much. "In every case I've ever seen, the memories have come back sooner or later after the last cycle."

"Still, best not to think about it right now, dear." Images of her experience with River after reading the chapter, and the unquenchable thirst she experienced afterward, came to Moon's mind before she forced them back down. "That just makes it worse."

Maybe Moon was right. Star wasn't sure if she wanted to remember. Even if it was their first time, what kind of memory would that be, forcing herself on a confused and terrified Marco? Star was nearing her limit, anger at herself and hurt over Marco churning into a violent storm of emotion inside her. She was terrified to ask what was on her mind as a single tear rolled down her cheek.  "Di- did he..." She sniffled as she choked out the words. "Did Dad ever forgive you?"

"Well, yes, of course he did. We're still..." The answer had seemed obvious until Moon realized what laid behind the question, her expression shifting to compassion. "Oh. Oh, Star. Even when he was leaving with your father, all he could think about was you. He's a strong boy with a good heart. He still likes you enough to hold your hand, doesn't he?"

Star blushed slightly, smiling nervously and clearing her throat. Even if she and her mother were having an open conversation, getting caught in the act by her parents was different. Even if it was a small thing, it was still a little embarrassing. "You, uh... you guys saw that, huh?"

Moon smiled back warmly. It was sweet how the pair had waited until the last second to part, but they weren't quite quick enough. She reached down to wipe away the lone tear from one of her daughter's glowing cheeks. "You were together before, and you'll be together again."

Glossaryck rolled his eyes at Moon's willful blindness. Together indeed. "Sorry to interrupt this touching moment, but we have a more immediate issue. The clock is ticking. If we can't stop this here and now, you might reunite with Marco sooner than you think."

"Wh- what? Is that really why Dad took Marco? To keep him safe from... from me?" Just as she was starting to feel better about the situation, the very idea of Marco needing to be protected from her nearly caused Star to complete her breakdown.

"That's part of the reason, yes. And as I said, to prepare him for the next cycle when... if it happens." Glossaryck saw that Star was getting close to her breaking point, and knew he needed to get her mind on something else as he fixed her with a determined gaze. "If you want to stop it, we have to start now. It may not be the hardest thing you've ever done, but it'll be close. Are you prepared to do whatever it takes?"

Star dried her eyes, steeling herself and clenching a fist so hard her nails nearly drew blood. She wouldn't hurt Marco again, no matter what. She would protect him from anything, even herself. She nodded to Glossaryck. "Let's go."

Moon looked relieved as she saw her daughter's determination to conquer her demons. She just might have a chance at succeeding. "Well then Glossaryck, it's up to you now."

"She's in good hands, Your Majesty." Glossaryck bowed respectfully toward Moon, then turned back to Star. "Alright Star, let's head to your room. We have lot of work to do and not much time."

Star turned from Moon and marched toward her room. No matter what happened, she was ready to do anything. She whispered to herself under her breath. "For Marco."